It had rained a lot while during our stay at Humboldt, and when we left, the wind was blowing brutally cold and it was raining. Nonetheless, as Humboldt did not have a dump station, we needed to deal with the poop. A shell station in Fortuna has a dump station that is free for their customers, so we turned there for our needs, filling gas and propane, too.
General Delivery
As my credit card had been hacked, I needed to get mail sent to me on the road in order to get the new card. Most campgrounds are a no go, at least the ones I prefer to stay in. Plus, timing the mail to make sure it gets to a campground while I am there would also be a bit of a gamble. So, I learned you can have mail sent to a post office addressed to a person care of General Delivery. The Post Office will hold it for up to fifteen days, and you can claim it with your ID. This allowed me to plan down the road far enough to know it would be there when I got there. So, I arranged with Victoria to send me the new credit card in Arcata, CA. It worked beautifully!
Ironically, now that I have the prepaid debit card that I got to tide me over for gas purchases, I’m liking the pay as you go approach, to avoid a giant credit card bill each month. Unfortunately, the prepaid card does not work in Canada. (I don’t like to use my checking account debit card, as it has too much risk.)
Prairie Creek Redwoods – Golden Bluffs Campground
Driving into the Golden Bluffs campground was an experience never to forget. The first six miles was basically a one lane road with potholes every so often and many blind curves weaving it’s way up and down redwood covered mountains. Beautiful, but traffic was two way! So, that was exciting enough; but, then after you clear the entrance booth, you have two more miles to go. This section is two lanes and flat, but so full of potholes that you are constantly swerving all over the road to try to miss them. In some places you cannot miss them and must choose the ones that look less egregious. It took fifteen minutes to drive the 2 miles!
Reflections on California
I have been thinking a lot about the people and what I saw in California. It was really interesting that almost all the other campers in the campgrounds were Californians. That was not true in any of the other states I went through. People were from all over the US with a smattering of home state visitors.
And, I have to say Californians are a hardy lot! This Michigander was hanging in her RV staying warm or out of the rain. These Californians would get out their umbrella tent, pitch it over the picnic table, put on a down jacket and tuque, and light their fire no matter how inclement the weather was. I even saw kids with their Dad running around in rain ponchos playing a game in the rain. Californians seem to have a real zest for life!
Another observation is that they camp in tents! There were on average about 50% tents versus 10% everywhere else I went. Now, to confess, I did not count and do the math, this is just an estimate of what I witnessed.
And, they talk to each other, play games and do active things…ok, perhaps because cell coverage was so bad. Nonetheless, it was encouraging to see this. The campers were generally younger; either groups of 20ish year old friends hanging together, or young families with kids; and, I swear, all pretty much in tents! I’m not sure how California does school, but I saw a lot of school age kids in the campgrounds. That was not true in the other states.
So where did the retirees all go? They had been around me everywhere else. At first, I thought perhaps it was just too expensive and they were wiser than I. But, then as I thought about it, I realized I would not want to drive a class A or Fifth-wheel on these hair pin curvy mountainous roads. (Most retirees had bigger rigs.) And, even if they did drive the roads, where would they camp? The campgrounds all had size limits for the most part and the pull outs were dicey enough for Clarice. Perhaps they just did their homework?
And One Complaint
Finally, my one gripe, which is not gas cost related, although that would be a gripe for many. No, my gripe, is that California is the LEAST DOG FRIENDLY place I have been. Dottie was as limited in where she could walk in every park we visited as if it were a national park. Beaches were a bit more hit and miss. Some would allow dogs, but many did not. Dottie could only hike around the campgrounds roads. Now what harm could she do to a redwood forest? Honestly!
Summing Up
California has so many different types of environments from desert, mountains and even rain forests, it has much to offer anyone. And, to quote my friend Sue, it has a “rugged beauty” that is just knock your socks off gorgeous. I’m sorry to be leaving the state, but it’s time to move up the coast to stage for Alaska. However, I do still want to see the Sierra Nevada’s some day, so I hope to be back.
Definitely go back to see the “High Sierras”!! They are beautiful!
Ugh Karen- That’s awful that your credit card got hacked! Sounds like you’re managing though. Interesting thoughts on California 😀
You’ve certainly done well with the driving!! I’m loving your pictures 🤩. Looking forward to hearing about next stop.
I am absolutely blown away with the scenery! Vicariously enjoying your journey. 🙂
Oh, Marni! So awesome to hear from you! Glad you are enjoying the posts. I’m having a great time!
Miss you, my friend! Hope all is well!