Remainder of Cruise America Part Deux

My intention was to post every day of the trip like Part Une, but slow or non-existent internet connections prevented that from happening. So, here it is in one shot, which I will keep brief as I know people don't like reading long posts.

On day 2 we crossed the border and I officially got my F-1 Student Visa. From there we drove through Washington during a rainy day with not much to see. The highlight of the day was the inadvertent detour into downtown Seattle, and subsequent tour of Pike Place Market. I took a wrong turn and ended up right there, so I figured we could have lunch there as Mom had never been. After the delay we made it as far as Cannon Beach, Oregon and decided to hotel it since the weather was yucky.

Goodbye Canada
Hello America

The famous Pike Place Fish Co.

Since our hotel was right on the beach, Mom and I took a stroll down to Haystack rock in the morning. It was cloudy and yucky but luckily the skies soon cleared up and we had a great day for sight-seeing on the Oregon Coast. We stopped at Tillamook, Cape Meares, Cape Lookout, the Oregon Dunes, and Yaquina Head. We called it a day and camped at Bullard's Beach State Park near Bandon, Oregon.

Mom at Haystack Rock, Oregon

Mom at Cape Meares Lighthouse

Oregon Coast

Seastacks at Cape Meares

Dunes

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

While Mom was showering the next morning I discovered that we had a flat tire. So, as I am an expert now, I changed the tire before mom even got back to the campsite. Since I only had a donut on I had to go inland to a tire shop to get it fixed. Rather than double back to the coast, we decided to check out the Umpqua National Forest and Crater Lake instead. Good choice! Crater Lake was stunning! I highly recommend it for anyone traveling this way. From there we crossed into California. As we were driving, we came over a rise and suddenly saw Mt. Shasta looming before us. Another incredible sight. It was mostly shrouded in clouds but what we could see was gorgeous. We camped at the base of the mountain for our last night on the road.Umpqua River

The Pumice Desert near Crater Lake

Crater Lake

Mom and I at Crater Lake

Wizard Island, in Crater Lake

My new home away from home

Mount Shasta

We arrived in Davis the next afternoon and have been getting stuff done since then. Yesterday we took a trip to the Napa Valley to do some wine tasting. We only stopped at a couple of places and then took the scenic route back.

Our picnic lunch in Yountville, Napa County

Tasting at Sequoia Grove Winery

Grapes in Rutherford (Soon I'll be able to tell you what kind of grapes)

Mom at Luna Winery

Mom left early this morning and now I am alone in a new city. I have a lot of school stuff next week, and classes start next Thursday, so if I can stay busy over the next couple of days it's bound to get better.

Calgary, AB to Hope, BC

Going to California with an aching, in my heart (Zepplin)

Mom and I hit the road at about 8:15 this morning after a tearful goodbye and a last look at my first condo. With the morning light shining the city looked beautiful as I drove down Memorial Dr for the last time as a Calgarian.

Our first stop was at the Spiral Tunnels on the Kicking Horse Pass, something I had never actually seen before. As we came up to the pass I saw a train was on its way so we pulled in to the viewpoint/interpretive center and watched it descend through the tunnels. It was really something to see, a great Canadian engineering feat.

Next we took a drive up to Takkakaw Falls. I always get a kick out of the road that goes up there, with the switchbacks basically going up a cliff. I was hoping to see a bus pull it off but no such luck today. Once at Takkakaw Falls we did the short walk to the best viewpoint and took some pictures.

From there it was pretty much straight driving until we got to Hope, BC where we grabbed some groceries before finding a campsite for the night. We are now at Wild Rose Campground, wasting time before an early turn-in. I’ll keep you updated as to how Mom handled camping for the first time in over 20 years. My next post may be from a hotel.

(I'll add photos later, my connection is slow)