Perfect travel day: July 6 2018
Yreka California to Eugene Oregon about 220 miles. We could
have gone farther but for me this was kind of day, especially after David went
low last night I was awake at 2am. After breakfast in the really lot, headed
out on hwy 5. Stopped at Rogue River state park/rest area. Took a nice hike/walk
along the river trail. It was a busy place. Back at the rig we pulled forward a
bit to give more room to others. We then napped which I needed after a mostly
awake night. Then we decided to eat lunch before continuing on. More driving.
Later stopped at another rest area for a short walk and coffee. We were very
close to our planned stop, a place we have been before. It is near the college,
by a park with walking/biking paths and a very nice rose garden. One section of
the mall parking lot is for rv ers. You check in with security put a pass in
your window and are good to go for one or more nights. You can now walk, swim
at the small river beach, ride your bike, go to the movie or eat all conveniently
right here. It's lovely and restful.
The Good Old Days:
Oh the new world of campers/rv ers, the other day one asked
me the best app to use to find a campground. App, my goodness, I remember an
entire cupboard dedicated to the various books and maps we used. A couple of
large, fast, heavy books that listed campgrounds that listed them by state with
various ratings and the legend I had to keep referring to because I couldn't
remember the abbreviations for facilities and amenities. I then would add my
own notes in what little white space was available. Making and savings
favorites meant you turned down the corner of the page! Similar to the old
Sears catalog/wish book. I'd circle an item I wanted to find again, then use a
bookmark(paper variety) only to have my sister move my bookmarks (wait, maybe I
did that to her). That's the old fashioned, non computer method.
Maps, a lot of space tucking all these in someplace and the
revolving, if you've never tried to neatly refold a state map, well, you
haven't lived. Not to mention the making pins I wouldn’t loss my place as we
traveled along unknown roads. The best part was collecting the maps. We stopped
at every state welcome center. They usually had nice large parking sometimes
water and an rv dump. Going inside to get the state map and browse the
brochures arranged by area for things to see and do with a bonus of the few
that has free coffee. There was always a helpful volunteer at the counter to
offer suggestions along with requesting you to “ sign in” so you're visit would
be counted. It was always a nice break in the drive, Igood information and
maybe even a place to spend the night. We had favorite we’d go to year after
year. Plus I'd need a new state map because by then the old one had been folded
and marked up and falling apart. Not as easy as, Hey, Google, but a lot more
fun.
Anybody remember or use trip ticks from AAA?
The giant atlas from Wal-Mart was another must have. We
always got the one from Wal-Mart because it listed all the Wal-Mart's in the
back by state/city. It gave you info as to if it was a super Wal-Mart, and
which departments it had, like pharmacy or tire shop. If I recall it might have
indicated something about parking because I know we used it to find that over
night parking when in route from point a to b. Another large oversize reference
“ book”.
Exit Authority then called The Next Exit was a great
reference book. It was good for inter state highways but great value as to, you
guessed it, what was at the next exit! Gas stations, with or without diesel,
restaurant, hotel, campground. No details but which side it was on and listed
in red if there was large parking available. This too I marked up in tiny print
because of course there wasn't room for my notes. I noted if we stayed the
night or the fuel price or maybe even not to take this exit again. It was
helpful as to had we better fuel up now because the next station is too far, or
is there a campground and do I now need to get out the Good Sam giant book to
research camping options. It was a lot of juggling and frustration, I mean fun,
trying to make the decision before the exit is upon us!
Ahh, the good ole days….
