Four Wheel Rally 2015 Spring Trip

       With the 2014 Tax Season over, it was time for a change from numbers and fine print government regulations, to the sunny outdoors of California.  I had just finished another 5 months of volunteering with United Way in Everett, Washington doing taxes. Now back to the outdoors and discovering of new places.

      This was our first time to attend a Four Wheel Rally, put on at the Sugarloaf Ridge State Park outside Santa Rosa, California.  It was nice to get on the road and head south for some camping and photography.  We took three days to get there, taking our time with a stop in Washougal, Washington with our son's family, then a leisurely drive onto Rogue River, Oregon and Whiskeytown Lake where at both places we would get in to camp early and enjoy the afternoons.

Crystal Creek Falls in the Whiskeytown National Park, California.  (above photo)



Rainbow over Whiskeytown Lake  (left photo) 



Cloudformations in the Whiskeytown National Park (below Photo)

      On Friday the 24th of April, we crossed over the California coastal mountain range from Williams at I-5 and traveled to Calistoga, where we made our final climb over  a winding steep hill, up and then down into Santa Rosa.  Some of the downgrades were at 18% and the curves seemed to turn at a 360 degree.  

      We arrived at the rally at about 3PM and most of the campers where already there.  We found out we were the outsiders, 2 of us from Washington and another 2 from Idaho, the rest all from California.  Tom, the owner and his crew from Four Wheel Pick Up, put on a terrific rally and I thank you.  The rally was very informative, the crew was well organized, friendly, all full of information and served some great food.  Me and my wife met many friendly owners, all 
with informative information, of their own rigs and places they have traveled.  Unfortunately I can not remember all the names of the people I did met.

 

 Most the campers had arrived by the time we got there, but we still had a nice spot down near the stream.  Was nice to be able to hear the water and frogs at night.

First evening get together.

Saturday Morning I was able to get out and take an early hike before breakfast and see an abundance of wildlife: turkeys, jack rabbits and deer.

 

On Saturday we took a tour of all the campers, where we learned how each camper had a special something done to their camper, to personalize his or her camper, in a special way.

Here a vintage camper from the 80's on left.

The above camper was only a few hours old when the owner arrived at the rally, just picking up their camper Friday at noon. 




A special owner's touch, where the owner had added to his camper, an outside wine holder and bottle opener.

Owner, Tom         lead a question and answer session in the afternoon and latter reported on the companies history and future.

A pot luck was added to the main food and drinks supplied by 4 wheel Camper, was enjoyed by all.  A time for more stories lasted into the night. 

Raffle winner with builder of the home crafted cigar box uke.

While most of the campers packed up and head out after a great weekend, some of us stayed an extra day. 

Some of the few that stayed an extra night enjoyed more hikes and shared more experiences around a campfire.

 After surviving the first cold, rainy and windy Friday night, the rest of the weekend was great with lots of sunshine.  We even stayed an extra night, Sunday to soak up more of the California Sun before heading back up north on route 101 along the California and Oregon Coast.

April 27, 2015  Monday   Santa Rosa, California   

                                          Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

        Another beautiful clear day to travel up north to the Redwood Forest.  We arrived at the Prairie Creek State Park, which runs the campground in the Redwood National Park.  We settled in an open campsite out in the sun along the elk viewing meadows.  Unfortunately the elk had not yet moved north to this area, so there was nothing for us to view.

Prairie Creek State Park

April 28, 2015    Tuesday  Orick, California  

                                            Prairie Creek State Park,                                                                     Redwoods National Park

        The fog rolled in during the night, hanging to the tree tops in the morning.  We rolled out of camp and continued up through the Redwood Forest on old route 101 viewing nature’s grandest trees.

  

Redwood National Park, California 

        The further north we drove the clearer the skies became.  At the Oregon boarder a mist did follow us into Brookings where we arrived at noon and camped at Harris State Park.  After claiming our campsite, the sun broke out and the skies once again cleared up. Good chance to down load a weeks worth of image gathering and to start some editing.

      The sunset was extra colorful, as the round bright orange glowing ball fell below the horizon, of the Pacific Ocean.  Another beautiful end to a restful lazy day.

All images are at sunset from Harris Beach

April 29, 2015  Wednesday   Brookings, Oregon   

                                                Harris Beach State Park

          Woke to clear blue skies and warmer temperatures.  It was such a beautiful setting with the campground across the road from the bluff overlooking the rock islands close off shore and a beach below, that we decided to spend another day here and enjoy the rare sun on the coast.

        Another most beautiful red ball of a sunset burned below the horizon again, I witnessed this evening from down on the beach.

April 30, 2015   Thursday    Brookings, Oregon   

                                              Harris Beach State Park

        Pulled out of our campground early, creeping north with more sunny skies as we followed the rocky Southern Oregon Coast.  The surf was a bit calm, not as feisty with excitement as I have seen in the past, but then that was during the winter months and I will take the sun this time.

       Towards mid-afternoon we stopped at Beachside State Park, a bit pass Yachats and found an open sunny spot off the beach.  Nice to hear the surf all through the night.

The shadows grew longer as the sun lowered further into the Pacific Ocean for the end of another day.

May 1, 2015   Friday   Yachats, Oregon  

                                     Beachside State Park

       Up the road at Reedsport we crossed over the Oregon coastal range back to Corvallis, catching I-5 North to Portland where we caught I-205 back to Washougal, Washington for a couple days.

May 5, 2015  Tuesday   Wasco, Oregon

                                        Cottonwood State Park

        Heading east up the Columbia Gorge today to a new Oregon Park, the Cottonwood Canyon State Park, along the John Day River south of the Dalles or closer to Wasco, Oregon on route 206.  It’s  a primitive campground at present, as the park is being developed with large  private campsites.   The winds did gust down the canyon at times, but then it was clear, sunny and warm most of the two days we spent there.  Great hiking trails especially the Pinnacle  trail down along the John Day River and a steep trail up to the top of the canyon with a great view of the river flowing through the canyon. This park is a glimpse into the past of Oregon pioneer ranching.

Cottonwood State Park.
Dust storm gusted down the canyon through the park. (above photo)
Trail follows the banks of the John Day River. (middle photo)
Wildflowers bloom along the trail following the John Day River.  (below photo)

May 9, 2015 Saturday Washougal, Washington

        Before heading back north home to Everett, Washington, we attended our Grandson Frank’s graduation from the Washington State University in Vancouver.  Could not of asked for a better day here in the northwest.  It was  87 degrees with no humidity.  Great way to finish our three week trip. 

Dunn Family proudly poise with grandson Frank Dunn, now a graduate, from the Washington State University.