Redwood National Park

this small building was completely full for services

The message this morning in a small Native American rancheria town :
Facing Life with God's Help -Psalm 46- by Pastor Fred at Trinidad Christian Assembly.
Growth and maturity come through stress, struggle, and strain. 
Trouble in Hebrew means pressed in.
1. I will not fear (verses 1-3)
2. I will not be moved (verses 4-7)
3. I will not be filled with stress anymore. (verses 8-11)
     a) God is always near and available to us.
     b) God's power is greater than anything in this world.
     c) God's help works even when we can't help ourselves.

This church ministers for Teen Challenge. Three vanloads of men and women arrived in Teen Challenge vans. A couple sitting behind us told us that Eureka is so full of homeless people because they get sent up here out of San Francisco with a one way ticket and the government benefits are better in Eureka.

Trinidad Beach, after services

scenic drive back to our rv

We moved on to the Redwood National Park visitor center. Just a short path out the back to the beach. How could we resist!

stones skip even in the ocean

Annie immersed in the ranger booklet

Just a few miles north in the park, we drove to Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail. This historic 1&1/4 mile loop walk winds through old-growth redwood and Douglas fir trees where President Johnson's wife dedicated Redwood National Park in 1968. Shannon & Riley walked to the dedication sight, then went back to the van with sleeping Cora & Meg. He took the camera! Annie, Caroline, & I quickly finished the loop...filtered sunlight on tangled underbrush, then a lush clearing of sword ferns as tall as Annie on either side of the damp path. No sounds except wind in the tall, tallest branches. Ancient fallen logs cut to open up the trail; some fresh, some old, moss covered nurseries for young seedlings. We are in awe of our Creator of these massive giants!

Annie reading the trail brochure while Cora sacks out

another ranger badge given by volunteer Mark

We moved yet on a little farther to Revelation Trail at Prairie Creek visitor center. After our walk in the woods by the stream we spotted deer and elk across the road in the resident housing area. Evidently the elk like shade when it's sunny and come out in the open when it's raining. We were blessed to have sunshine along the coast today!

Roosevelt elk resting in the shade of an orchard

In and out of tsunami danger zones, this drive is indescribable. We are in a huge shady forest, then the road makes a bend, and the ocean appears straight ahead; foaming whitecaps rolling in to shore, water spraying high against  big boulders blocking its path...

We stopped at Crescent City Park to let the children play while supper was prepared. It's a very neat park with well-groomed lawns, frisbee golf, softball diamond, large playground, horseshoe pits, and picnic tables, all next to the ocean! Then down the way is a lighthouse. We were too late to tour it and the tide had come in to cover the drive up to it, but we enjoyed the sunset beside it!

(far left) the drive ends in water

Battery Point Lighthouse

Homeless in Eureka, CA...by Annie

When we woke up Saturday morning sitting in a Big K-Mart parking lot, there was this white car just sitting there. Finally after a long time, 3 men, a woman, and 2 dogs got out to stretch their legs and for the dogs to get some fresh air. After a while the lady went inside the K-Mart and 1 of the men went and stood beside the road holding a gas can saying "Need Gas". After another really long time the car left and 1 of the men in the car had a cigarette he gave to the man standing beside the road with the sign. The man took a few whiffs and the car left. While the car was gone 2 men came by with a dog and luggage on their backs. The 1 man gave the man holding the sign 2 small things. 1 of the small things was blue. The man with the gas can took them and then gave them back to the man. Then the guy with the gas can looked to see if anyone was watching then licked something the other man had given him. Then the guy who had luggage on his back left with the other man that had stuff on his back also. After a while the man standing beside the road with the sign on the gas can lit something underneath his shirt. We think it was a homemade cigarette. A few people coming into K-Mart gave him money, then the car he was in came back. 1 guy gave him some gas after the white car had come back. There was a different lady in the car and she went into Big K-Mart twice.The people looked kind of grungy and dirty. Then we left. That was the last of them that we saw. It was really interesting entertainment. 

At Eureka, CA we went to Rescue Mission Thrift Store. There were so many different kinds of people and smells, most of them looked really poor. We got a few things for Daddy & Mommy and then left. It is very interesting what a day RVing may hold!!

one of our first views of the Pacific

rest area beside a coastal redwood forest

rainforest in CA

fun hike; like a whole new world in the trees

rest area view on the opposite side of 101

high above beach

The Pacific Ocean was so fun to watch and drive by. We stayed at a Casino in Trinidad and took a hike beside the road to see the water. When we got back we had strawberries and Nutella, a chocolate thick yummy treat!!

enjoying more gifts from friends

Northern California

Friday April 19 we continued north through California on highway 101.

the beginning of a long scenic trek on 101

family favorite salad with fresh spinach & strawberries from Garretts and CA walnuts

Down the road we wheeled into an Eco Living Solar place that offered free tours. Shannon had Cora throw our 2 trash bags away in the dumpster we parked beside. It was grand entertainment to watch her try, try, trying again to toss the bag high enough. After twenty or so attempts, she succeeded and raised her hands in triumph. So sweet to see her cheerfully persevere! We had about an hour to peruse the real goods store, swing in a hammock, play in the fountains and children tunnel.

how much electricity can you generate?

strange water fountain

Our tour guide had apprentices scurrying around getting ready for the next day's big Earth Day celebration. He showed us a couple houses made of cob: dirt, water, sand, and straw. We saw inside the little greenhouse where he grows wheatgrass for a local juice place. We walked though the garden that feeds the residents and fed fish in the large pond surrounded by willow trees. Quite an interesting place! Shannon enjoyed learning about all the solar panels that power the facility.

one cob building

Caroline peddling the blender for earth day smoothies

another strange fountain
the pipe empties onto the plants

Farther up 101, near Leggett, we saw signs for a drive through tree. After wiggling around to it, we came on in, but couldn't fit the motor home through. The redwoods are majestic!

This was one of the few days we drove on after nightfall. There were not a lot of options for camping. Shannon took us into Eureka while everyone else went to sleep.

Jelly Belly and Napa Valley

Last morning hurrah before leaving Modesto. Shannon fixed pancakes. Gina got fresh strawberries and scrambled some eggs. And we all ate breakfast before school together. The Bowmans sent us off with several treasures tucked away in various parts of our RV. More blessings!

We drove about 1 and 1/2 hours a little past The Delta, to The Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield. We took a tour up above the plant, walking and looking through large glass windows at the machines and workers below. Periodically we watched a short video of the process of what was happening, then got a sample jelly bean. Annie wrote down all the flavors we tried: grape crush, red apple, & island punch. Black licorice, buttered popcorn, & very cherry are the top 3 sellers. We couldn't take pictures, so here we are in the store afterwards and outside.

so many possibilities

We continued on through Napa Valley to Calistoga. Shannon and Riley have hunted geese in Sawyer with Kim Suenram, so we stopped at his place to say hello. He offered for us to stay in his pasture, gave us some short history of the area, and recommended a few sights to see. We got into the van to explore! Unfortunately, the Bale Grist Mill was closed. We did spend an hour or so meandering through the grounds of a castle winery. An impressive structure!

castello drive entrance

back down the drive

Tours inside Castello di Amorosa were available, but we opted to enjoy the outside views. Riley enjoyed the castle chickens, peacocks, turkeys, and baby emus. 
Napa Valley, a beautiful, but crowded place. And rather tight & hilly for a long motor home.