Category: State Parks

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Northern California – The Redwoods

Most visitors enter the redwoods from the South, coming up US 101 from San Francisco. This approach gives you a bit of a gradual introduction to the big trees; you see a few mixed in with the pines and firs in Mendocino County, then the redwoods become more frequent and the stands denser as you drive North. Coming in from the West, the transition is more abrupt. One minute you are in the rolling hills and dry grass valleys of the King Range, and then suddenly you plunge into the back side of the state park that protects the largest forest of coastal redwoods left in the world.

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Northern California Coast – Klamath to Arcata

Gas Issues

I’ve never had the knack for timing purchases in the fields of investments or real estate, and this weakness apparently extends to gas stations as well. When in Idaho, I thought I could save ten cents a gallon if I waited a few miles. Then suddenly I was in Washington, and the price went up forty cents a gallon.

Oregon was a little cheaper, but they have a peculiar rule: you aren’t allowed to pump your own fuel. It’s not a Back to the Future deal; you won’t get your windshield washed or oil checked, you are simply forbidden from operating the pump. This means you have to wait for an attendant, who in a big station may be handling a dozen pumps. Nobody I asked could explain why the State mandates this, only that it had been that way for a long time.

The final surprise came in California, where the price of diesel fuel increase a full dollar a gallon. I suppose I should have expected it, since everything is more expensive here. My tip for travelers is you might want to check here on your phone as you approach state borders to help you time your gas purchases. I know I will from now on. Continue reading “Northern California Coast – Klamath to Arcata”

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Oregon Coast – Depoe Bay to Florence

You’d be hard pressed to find a prettier coastline than Oregon’s. A big part of this is the 1967 law that gives ownership of all beach land to the State. As a result, the Oregon coast has not been carved up by condos and hotels, leaving miles of pristine natural vistas and a continuous chain of parks and recreation areas for the public. A drive down US 101 takes a lot longer than you expect, purely because you will find yourself pulling over every few miles to enjoy another spectacular view.

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