GELO TRIP UPDATE 4

This is the 4th installment of Jim & Cathy's trip out west to ride the Pacific Coast Highway.  The first three updates can be read in the previous posts.  It looks like we have quite a following on these reports, so I hope Jim & Cathy keep them coming!

"Hi Bob,

Day 6

We headed out for Yosemite National Park.  Worked our way down through Nevada into California.  Took all two lane roads and had some very nice scenery and roads.  I did notice California roads are rougher.  Went to Lee Vining and took 120 all the way through the park.  The mountains are always impressive.  The waterfall picture was in the park.  The national parks seem to be very crowded this time of year but it was worth seeing.  Coming out of the park on 128 we had some very winding roads and it was dry.  As we got closer to Napa Valley you started to see lots of green.  A lot of corn, garlic, sod, potatoes, and orange groves.  Made it to Lodi, CA for the night.  Sorry, Bob, this one was Microtel.

Day 7

The prettiest day by far.  Took 12 out of Lodi to 128 through Napa Valley.  This area is beautiful to see.  All the vineyards, flowers, colorful trees, and the wineries.  Stopped at Castello di Amoroso winery.  That was impressive.  The towns are small and friendly.  Food is good there but they need to talk to Gunder on the burgers.  Mine was a big bun small burger.  Stopped to see a petrified forest.  Continued on 128 towards HWY 1.  Found ourselves riding through huge redwood forests.  Nothing like riding in a tunnel of redwoods.  Hard to capture on a picture.  Came to HWY 1, I guess we will have to stop going west, seems to be a big lake ahead of us.  We will head north and see if we can get around it:)  Lots of corners, makes the Dragon seem like a straight road.  Drove through the Chandelier tree at Leggett, CA.  Pulled into a state park to camp for the night.  Picked up a new air mattress in Lodi.  Much nicer sleeping on that than the ground.  I found a new vehicle for one of the support teams to follow the WNR with.

Day 8

Followed HWY 1 and 101 north.  The shoreline is beautiful and so rugged in places.  Stopped for a taste of fresh seafood at the Chart Room in Crescent City, CA.  Good food and reasonable for what we had.  Talked to some locals there that showed us where the tsunami that hit Japan so hard had wiped out a bunch of their harbor that had just been rebuilt.  Also saw some seals basking in the balmy 62 degree overcast day.  Headed out to Oregon and spent the night in a hotel in Florence, OR.  I am typing this in our room, it is raining outside and I have the wastebasket next to me catching the drip from the ceiling.  It just doesn't get any better than this!  We are planning on checking out some sea lion caves, and Thors Well just north of us and then I'm not sure.  I think I'm giving up on trying to get around this lake, it must be a big one!"

Jim, now you know that when Bob leads on the trips, he always has the disclaimer--Your tour guide is NOT responsible for rough roads, lousy weather, poor food, or dumpy motel rooms.

Sounds like a GREAT trip.....keep the reports coming!