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Camped at Bookings, Oregon. Any suggestions for next 9 days?


Gup

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<p>I'm trying to decide where to head next. I have to be in Las Vegas on October 10th. The Oregon coast has been spectacular but the weather not so much. It's windy and cold, between showers. Breathtaking in places, though.<br>

Any and all suggestions appreciated, as always.<br>

WIFI little and far between but I'm doing my best. I've never seen the insides of so many MacDonald's.<br>

I'm in a campervan and prefer to avoid the urban areas.<br>

Thanks.</p>

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<p>Ok, assuming you are at B<strong><em>r</em></strong>ookings down on the Californian border and you are heading roughly south eastward to be in Vegas in a week's time.......... I see you have a couple of options.</p>

<p>1) You have Lassen National Park in central NoCal which is the best kept secret in California - simply stunning scenery, great access (road is still open according to the internet as I type) and not as madly popular as Yosemite etc so not so crowded. Then take California State Highways 89 and 385 down the Eastern Sierra Nevadas to see Lake Tahoe and Mono Lake - again stunning scenery all the way from Tahoe - stay down at Bishop and go see the Bristlecone Pines then down to Mojave via Red Rock Canyon and onto the State Highway 58 and then the Interstate 15 that will take you through to Vegas.</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>2) You follow State Highways 101 and 1 all the way down the NoCal coast and see the magnificent redwood forests. Just over the border Crescent City is a good base to see Jeddadiah Smith, Ladybird Johnson and Prarie Creek Redwoods. Further south there are other great statnds of Redwoods at the Avenue of Giants, Humboldt Redwoods, Grizzly Creek and Cheatham Redwoods. The coastline between the Oregon border and San Francisco is also divine like southern Oregon. Head down to Point Reyes Coastal National Park before heading inland to catch the Insterstate 5 and all the way down to State Highway 58 to catch the Interstate 15 to Vegas.</p>

<p>If you want some cool places to visit in the Mojave desert before you cross the Nevada border then sing out...........</p>

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<p>Hi Gup,<br>

Hope you're having a good time, so far. My suggestion is to go into California and spend time among the redwoods. Take a look at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm">Redwoods National Park</a> and you'll see that there are a few sections with state parks all around. Above Matthew mentioned some locations, and all are good suggestions. Spend a couple of days as you'll be awestruck by these trees. You can take Rte. 299 over the coast range (the Trinity Alps), into Redding, then Rte 44 on to Lassen. I agree with taking 395 south around Susanville, and follow the east side of the Sierras. Keep abreast of the fire situation. Happy trails.</p>

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<p>You can follow the Rogue River from Gold Beach to Agness, just north of the confluence with the Illinois River (used to service the gages with 2 miles of there). There are several resorts to stay and see the area. You can also drive up the Rogue River to the bridge which goes over to Powers in the Coquille River basin (used to service those gages too) and to highway 101 to Bandon or Coos Bay. Nice loop drive to see the Oregon Coast Range and towns.</p>
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<p>After all that you can head to Las Vegas along U.S. 395 on the east side of the Sierra Nevada. Fall colors are now peaking, the tops of the mountains are dusted with snow, and the lower sun angle this time of the year is favorable. I'd be there myself in a few days if I weren't laid up with a health problem. Alternate routes are nowhere near as interesting.</p>

<p>Be sure to check out Lundy Canyon and Upper Rock Creek road while you're in the area.</p>

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<p>Thanks all for the great suggestions. As I've mentioned, wifi isn't always available where I end up. Although lately I've had more wifi opportunities than cell phone signals. <br>

Update: I'm currently in a park just north of Mendocino, having only yesterday survived the trip down #1 from Leggett. An adventure worthy of a small novel...<br>

Yes, Mathew, I meant Brookings and when I left I hugged the shore whenever possible and explored all the redwood groves I could find. The most spectacular for me was a hiking loop just south of Red Crest that took me to the aftermath of a catastrophic forest event that took place in 1991. One tree falling and taking others with it. The resulting shockwave registered a 5.0 on the Richter scale, apparently, and terrified everyone in the vicinity. I was told it could be heard 6 miles away. The resulting wreckage reminded me of a freight train derailment.<br>

One nice surprise was finding Ferndale, California by following a sign to an animal refuge that led to a breakfast cafe that led to a helpful waitress. A beautiful Victorian town that took me by surprise. Does anyone remember, 'Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman'? I believe that show was set in a town called Ferndale.<br>

So, I'm planning to head east before San Francisco and haven't got the atlas in front of me at the moment but will trace your various suggestions before leaving. Somewhere a bit warmer will be welcome. I wasn't quite prepared for the wind, rain and fog I've encountered all the way down from Florence, Or. Although, it shouldn't come as such a surprise, I was raised on almost the same latitude line. The southern most point in Ontario is actually on the same parallel as Northern California, and it's no longer summer there, either.</p>

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<p>"The southern most point in Ontario is actually on the same parallel as Northern California, and it's no longer summer there, either."</p>

<p>Not many people in the U.S. know that the southernmost point in Canada is actually south of the north edge of California. Ironically, I just flew by Point Pelee a few weeks ago while headed east!</p>

<p>As for the weather, the coastal areas you've been traveling through tend to have fog and wind all summer long, while just 30-40 km inland it's warm and sunny, sometimes 15-20 C. warmer. There's a huge and relatively stable difference between the coast and the interior all summer long that's nothing like what you'll see on the eastern side of North America. Granted, the past few days have also had the first fall storm in northern California after a normal summer of virtually no rain and the interior has now cooled off. Still, these coastal areas don't get the dramatic seasonal temperature changes you get in eastern and central Canada.</p>

<p>Gup, if you want to head east now, remember that it's a slow drive through the Clear Lake area due to windy roads but it's pleasant and you avoid the traffic and rush of an urban area. If you do decide to try U.S. 395, it's best from the Bridgeport area south to Lone Pine.</p>

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<p>Well, I just couldn't resist the seascapes encountered driving that #1 southbound so I've ridden it all the way to Pismo Beach. Now I'm putting my feet up for two days before heading inland to Las Vegas for Monday. <br>

The driving was very 'spirited' and demanded just about all my attention. A one ton campervan doesn't turn or slow as quickly as a car or smaller truck and it was often a handful. I think that was also the reason I enjoyed it so much all the while imagining what I'll drive the next time I do this. A convertible at the very least. Perhaps even two wheels. (I did have new brake pads and shoes installed in Springfield, Or after my trip through Yellowstone).<br>

The California coast line from Brookings, Or to the Golden Gate bridge is at times just breathtaking. It reminded me often of Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island in Canada. The scenery, not the road!</p>

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