West Coast Trek - Videos

A few years ago we learned that Bill and Rosemary were planning a trip to Los Angeles to handle a matter. Now Bill had spoken many times about a desire to visit the Columbia River Gorge and yet he had never gotten there. We discussed this and I suggested that they consider a trip through some of the national parks to the Columbia River and then back south along the coast. I suggested that they take a train north from LA and we'd pick them up in San Francisco or Oakland. 

I began planning a route, with overnight stays, generally manageable daily distances and so on. After we decided upon the nightly budget (for this trek we were to stay in motels) I began looking at all of the possible staying points along the route. That was one of the more difficult things because for some legs there were few motels, hotels or dining spots. I decided it would be necessary to tailgate at various points so G and I planned on coolers, ice and transporting food for lunches and snacks. 

After three or more months of planning we were set. 

I've finally put together some video segments of this trek and posted it on YouTube. Enjoy. 

Part 1. Yosemite and Bodie:

Part 2.This segment includes Lassen Volcanic Park and Crater Lake:

Part 3.This segment includes the Columbia River, Vista House and numerous waterfalls:

Part 4. This segment includes the Oregon coast:

Part 5.  South on the Oregon Coast, to California.  

Part 6. This segment includes more of the coast and California to San Francisco:

Note: Updated May 27, 2017 to revise description of Part 5 and add Part 6.

West Coast Trek - Lighthouses - Cape Meares

During our West Coast Trek we stopped at many lighthouses from Cape Meares in Oregon to Point Reyes in California.  This post will be the first in a series on those lighthouses.

Lots of seabirds:

Next on the itinerary: Oceanside Beach

In the Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area spans southern Washington and northern Oregon. It runs from the mouth of the Sandy River to the Deschutes River. It is designated as a National Scenic Area and encompasses nearly 300,000 acres.

The gorge offers many beautiful vistas, hikes and waterfalls.  These photos were taken on our west coast trek.

Lassen Volcanic National Park - West Coast Trek

Lots of Vistas

Lassen Volcanic National Park is in Northeastern California, east of Redding. The park is home to steaming fumaroles, alpine meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. According to the national park service all four types of volcanoes are represented in the park. These include  shield (Prospect Peak), plug dome (Lassen Peak), Cinder Cone (Cinder Cone), and Composite (Brokeoff Volcano) volcanoes.

An alpine meadow

Flowers abound

Flowers attract butterflies

Sulfurous fumaroles leave residue

Fires add haze

There is snow the year around

Bodie State Historic Park - West Coast Trek

Bodie State Historic Park is an authentic California ghost town which was once a thriving mining town. It is a National Historic Site and a State Historic Park.  It nearly closed in 2008 due to a lack of funding by the state of California. Visitors can walk through a portion of a town that once had a population of nearly 10,000 people.

If you visit Yosemite National Park and drive from west to east, you will exit and go north on US 395.  Going north you will reach state highway 270, which is a gravel road. Take that east about 13 miles.

On the road to Bodie

Nearing the Entrance

The Boom and Bust of Bodie

A cemetery and ruins

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More than a flat tire

Looking into the storefront window

The bluebirds remain

More on our 2392 mile trek - Yosemite

On this particular trek, I took on average about one photo every two miles. We assembled the best 516 photos into a slide show, put them to music and sent them to the guests we took on this trip, as a memento.

This particular trek required three months of planning on my part. At the time I told G that this would be "the trip of a lifetime." She doubted this, but after and on reviewing the many photos and videos she said "It was!"

Now, for those living in their RVs full time, this might be normal. However, I challenge the reader to consider that if life is a journey, and for each of us I do assert that is so, then each and every day is one in  our personal "trip of a lifetime."

The Tools

We have the internet and that is useful. I used Microsoft "Streets and Trips" as a planning tool. That software included a GPS dongle and real time updates. Unfortunately, MS has suspended this software and will only continue "mainstream support" until July 14, 2015.

MS is promoting "Bing.com/maps" as their replacement. Not even close in my opinion. Ditto for Google Maps.

On this particular trek, there were times cellphone coverage was nonexistent. Try to access the internet when your cellphone is down. The version of MS streets that I use performed flawlessly during this trek because it doesn't matter where one is, it is always possible to get line of sight to the necessary GPS satellites. My maps had been previously constructed on my PC. So I didn't require a cellphone connection.

A Yosemite meadow:

On the trail with family walking toward the El Capitan Bridge:

Near the "Four Mile Trail":

MS Streets & Trips Real Time view on my PC (via GPS)