Harveyj
Boise, Idaho
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Just got back from a two week trip from Boise, Idaho to the Ca. coast and North along the Oregon coast and, finally, back to home base.
I don't know how many of you travelers have been on Hwy 20 from 101 to Hwy 1 (30 miles) but, it can be a harrowing experience when it's pouring rain and darker than the inside of your pocket.
We started with plenty of daylight but, the strong winds knocked a very large tree across the road and traffic was backed up and absoutely no place to turn around due to the narrow road. We sat it out for three hours until the hwy dept. was able to clear the tree and by then the wind was really howling and the rain had increased.
The narrow, winding road was almost impossible to see (rain-x helped) and it took us over two hours to make it to Hwy 1. Luckily, all of the drivers were taking it very cautiously but, it was still a white knuckler most of the way.
During daylight, it is a very beautiful drive but not something I want to try again in that kind of weather.
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RV my private jet
Portland,OR
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Joined: 09/10/2007
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I have had many a night driving in those conditions along the Oregon coast. I agree it is very scary and and I always end by saying I need fog/driving lights and some rain-x. Of course, I never get "around" to it and end up doing it again. It reminds me of my maiden voyage where the highway to the beach was closed due to a fatal accident. It was pouring rain and I ended up on a logging road with towering douglas firs and many, many sharp curves to get to the other highway. There wasn't even a place to pull over and rest. The kids and the wife were asleep in the back so there I was alone, trying to navigate this road. I swear it took 4 hours (prob more like 2) but it gave me a great lesson on repecting the rig and it's limitations/capabilities. God Bless the Pacific Northwest.
"...sometimes your the pigeon, other times the statue."
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mockturtle
Northwest
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Joined: 05/31/2005
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I'm not quite clear where you mean. Are you talking about CA 20 between Willits and Fort Bragg?
Husband: Derek
Dog: Bucky
RV: 2000 Aerolite 19RB TT
TV: 1996 Chevrolet Blazer 6 cyl. 4WD
This car used to be our toad, now is our TV!
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Harveyj
Boise, Idaho
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Mockturtle;
That's exactly where I'm talking about. Should have explained it more clearly in the topic.
Beautiful in nice weather and during daylight...especially around Clear Lake.
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Bubby's RV
CA
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Joined: 07/22/2003
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It is a beautiful drive. We take Hwy 20 from Grass Valley to Ft Bragg every December.
A friend of mine was taking it from Ft Bragg to Willits one day when it started to hail. He slid right over the edge. He lived to tell about it, but doesn't remember quite how he landed upside down next to a tree.
Clear Lake is between US 101 and I-5.
So Harvey, where did you stay on the coast? December of 2006 it was quite windy, they closed the State Parks, and power was out for a week because the high-voltage line from Ukiah blew down.
John, Winnebago Minnie 24V
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Harveyj
Boise, Idaho
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Bubby,
We stayed at the Westport RV campground for a few nights then drove up 1 through the Avenue of the Giants (awesome redwoods) and spent the night at an RV campground (ranch). From there it was to the Sunset Bay campground in Charleston which is a great park with some good Calico Bass fishing in the cove. Next it was on to Waldport at the KOA and we were lucky enough to find a site on the clif overlooking the bay. (also a short drive to Newport and some of Mo's clam chowder). From there it was the long drive back to Boise. Gas averaged from $3.49 to $4.44 a gallon.
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Frosty's Mom
Idaho
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Joined: 01/29/2008
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Harveyj wrote:Bubby,
We stayed at the Westport RV campground for a few nights then drove up 1 through the Avenue of the Giants (awesome redwoods) and spent the night at an RV campground (ranch). From there it was to the Sunset Bay campground in Charleston which is a great park with some good Calico Bass fishing in the cove. Next it was on to Waldport at the KOA and we were lucky enough to find a site on the clif overlooking the bay. (also a short drive to Newport and some of Mo's clam chowder). From there it was the long drive back to Boise. Gas averaged from $3.49 to $4.44 a gallon.
omigosh! we used to stay at that campground....for years and years every summer so the hubbies could do their abalone diving (yum!). have they EVER fixed the bathrooms? what about that little bridge over the creek? how'd that work with the RV? i remember hwy 20 very well also--and have certainly been caught on it during those inspirational rain storms--once on a motorcycle coming back from mendocino when it started out warm. by the time i got back to the sacramento valley i was a teethchattering bikecicle......those mountains can turn on yah.....real fast.
wee3-gin, clyde & the bichon frise
2003 Minnie Winnie 30V - "The Frosty Hauler"
May the Angels guide your wheels and ride on your shoulder.
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Harveyj
Boise, Idaho
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Frosty's Mom,
If you are talking about the Sunset Bay campground, the bathrooms are very clean and functional and, as far as a bridge, I'm not sure where you are referencing. No problem getting into any of the areas we stayed.
They still have many deer "visitors" roaming the campground.
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Bubby's RV
CA
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Joined: 07/22/2003
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Harveyj wrote:Frosty's Mom,
If you are talking about the Sunset Bay campground, the bathrooms are very clean and functional and, as far as a bridge, I'm not sure where you are referencing. No problem getting into any of the areas we stayed.
They still have many deer "visitors" roaming the campground.
I think she's talking about Westport. That's prime abalone territory. It also has a bridge over the creek.
We've never stayed at Westport; we've always stayed around Mendocino or Ft Bragg. When we've gone up to the redwoods, we usually bypass Mendocino ans go up 101.
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Frosty's Mom
Idaho
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Bubby's RV wrote:Harveyj wrote:Frosty's Mom,
If you are talking about the Sunset Bay campground, the bathrooms are very clean and functional and, as far as a bridge, I'm not sure where you are referencing. No problem getting into any of the areas we stayed.
They still have many deer "visitors" roaming the campground.
I think she's talking about Westport. That's prime abalone territory. It also has a bridge over the creek.
We've never stayed at Westport; we've always stayed around Mendocino or Ft Bragg. When we've gone up to the redwoods, we usually bypass Mendocino ans go up 101.
yeah, sorry for the confusion. when you said westport, i just automatically thought of wages creek (campground)--right on the ocean with that creek running thru it into the pacific. wages creek is just above (north) of westport, maybe 1-2 miles and i didn't realize there was another rv park/campground there.......early yet to have the campground be so full they'd bring in portables....
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