Week 98 - Durham, Redding to Oregon CA - 06-29-2008

Hello from Northern California,

On Sunday we visited Emily's in-laws in Durham. Steve and Esther hosted a wonderful smoked BBQ lunch for their relatives. Emily and Chad, the guests of honor, came up from San Diego. We were fortunate to be in the area. On the left is Chad's sister Stefanie and husband Joey, parents Esther and Steve, grandparents Lloyd and Bernice with Chad and his bride. On the right are three generations of beautiful ladies !

From Durham we arrived in Redding to spend a few days with Pete's sister Donna. There were many fires in the area and it was very smoky. We met up with Janice and Frank as they were on their way home from Klamath Falls. We had dinner at the Puerto Vallarta restaurant. Donna is between Ellen and Don, Donna's long time friend. We recommend this restaurant.

The Redding Sun Dial Bridge was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava Valls. It was completed in 2004 as a cost of $23 million dollars. It is a pedestrian bridge with glass panels covering the entire length.

From www.wikipedia.org "Sundial Bridge's shadow is cast upon a large dial to the north of the bridge. The shadow cast by the bridge is exactly accurate only one day in a year - the summer solstice, June 21". We were at the bridge on June 22nd, so we have no idea what time is was.

The 700 foot bridge is supported by 14 cables bound to the 217 foot tall "sun dial" tower.

The bridge at night.

This photo from www.wikipedia.org shows an angle that we could not get. The steel cables from the Sun Dial support the bridge. There are no pillars in the river.

The Sacramento River Trail in Redding. Donna, Pete and Ellen rode six miles in 100 degree heat. Ellen's is now riding her bicycle and her knee is feeling better each day.

Mount Shasta viewed from Highway 5 heading North.

We stayed at the Blue Heron RV Park along the Klamath River. This is the nicest park we have ever visited. The RV section is about 20 acres of the 588 acre ranch. The owners were extremely generous with the site spacing.

The park's name sake sat for hours like a statue waiting for dinner to swim by.

You are just 50 feet away from the Klamath which is wonderful for drifting along casually with a few small rapids.

The park has water, sewer, 50 amp power and Wifi Internet. The nightly rate is $62 (06-2019). We rated this 4.5 out of 5. The WiFi did not work for us and there was no cell phone coverage so we could not stay during the work week. Given a working WiFi this is definitely a 5!

We cruised through Ashland, Oregon. Cute town and the home of Southern Oregon University and the 8 1/2 months long Shakespeare Festival.

We left Hwy 5 and followed the 99 highway along the Rogue River to see these cool bridges just south of Grants Pass, Oregon.

We settled in for the night at the Escapees Timber Vally RV park in Sutherlin, OR. This snapshot of Bambi was taken out our bedroom window as he nibbled on trees just three feet from the Moho.

Oregon's weather, even in June, has a reputation of being cool and overcast. But we rolled into the state at over 100 degrees. It should cool down to the 80's which will be great!

Our prayer for you this week is that you celebrate the birth of our nation and appreciate the glory and beauty that God has given to the USA. Pete is one of the first to point out how politicians are constantly taking advantage of the people. But, we recognize that there is no other nation on earth that comes close to the greatness of our nation, in governance or generosity.

May God bless the USA!

Love, Pete and Ellen

Photos from Jun 2008