Craig & Betsey Edevold
2002 - 550 Ultra, Camp-Inn #002
Tow Vehicle: 2004 Subaru Outback
5,659 mi.
14 Nights
July 2010
Major Stops:
· Craig’s 29th High School Reunion, Gonvick, MN
· World’s largest buffalo, Jamestown, ND
· World’s largest Holstein Cow, Salem Sue, New Salem, ND
· Lolo Pass and 99 miles of the crookedest road. ID
· Old growth cedar trees
· Walla Walla, WA
· Columbia River Valley OR, WA
· Mount Hood, OR
· Crater Lake, OR
· Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, CA
· INTERNATIONAL REDWOOD GATHERING
· Pamplin Grove
· Avenue of the Giants, Humbolt Redwoods State Park, CA
· Cape Mendocino (farthest point west, continental US)
· Lassen Volcanic Park, CA
· Bonneville Salt Flats, Wendover, NV
· Hyrum, UT (visit friends)
· Chimney Rock, Scottsbluff, NE
· Carhenge, Alliance, NE
· Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD
· Porter Sculpture Park, Montrose, SD
For years, we have wanted to attend the International Redwood Gathering (IRG) in northern California. Past years, the timing didn’t work out and we were unable to fit it in. This time, we were determined to make it work. We knew that we would have to drive over 500 miles a day (driving days) to meet our schedule.
We started the trip by heading to Craig’s 29th High School Reunion in Northern Minnesota. Coming from a small town, (graduating class of 21 students) the entire town holds a reunion every five years. Craig rode on his class float in the parade. (picture a flatbed trailer with streamers and lawn chairs) Family members that didn’t grow up in Gonvick were the audience. In addition, the front half of the parade was also viewed by parade participants who would in the back half of the parade. Then those front half participants became viewers to the back half of the parade. Gotta love small towns!
Heading out early the next morning, we wanted to make it to Billings, MT the first night. This first leg was about 750 miles, so we didn’t have time to take it slow. We did break up the trip across North Dakota by stopping at the World’s Largest Buffalo in Jamestown, ND and the World’s Largest Holstein Cow in New Salem, ND. We figured out that they fit in with the “BIG” theme for this trip. Craig, for some unexplained reason, is fascinated with large sculptures of people and animals. Apparently others also have this attraction, otherwise why would there be so many of these sculptures around? We had traveled this route before, so we didn’t feel the need to stop for any more sightseeing.
Day three, we got off the interstate in Missoula, MT and took highway 12 through Lolo Pass. After Lolo Pass, there was a sign that said there was 99 miles of curvy roads. Along the way, we stopped at an old growth cedar forest. It was the first time Betsey had seen trees larger than 10 feet in diameter. The curvy roads were fun for about the first 40 miles…. By the time we made it to Kooskia, ID we were all “Funned Out” on the curvy roads and glad to be able to see at least ½ mile of straight road ahead. We spent the night outside Lewiston, ID. (560 miles)
Day four, we got up early and headed toward Walla Walla, WA. Coming out of the valley west of Clarkston, WA, we came upon an interesting farm landscape. The very hilly fields were an interesting change from the Midwestern flat fields we are accustomed to seeing.
After Walla Walla, we followed along the Columbia River valley on the Oregon side. At Umtilla, we crossed over to the WA side to take a slower pace off the freeway. We were fascinated by the large dark boulders that littered the areas alongside the road. Coming around one bend in the river, we could see the white peak of a mountain apparently hovering in the air. Upon quick reference to our map, we determined we were seeing Mount Hood about 80 miles away. That explained that the interesting boulders are volcanic. We crossed back over the Columbia at The Dalles to take Hwy 197 toward Crater Lake. Along the way, we stopped to look at Mount Hood and several other volcanoes along the way.
We made it to Crater Lake just before sunset and got to see the sun set from one of the observation platforms overlooking the lake. The wind was blowing about 30 mph and it was only about 40º out. Interestingly enough, there were LOTS of mosquitoes & still quite a bit of snow…not a combination you often see. We decided to push on a little farther and stopped for the night east of Grants Pass, OR. (580 miles)
Day five, we got up early, hoping to spend some time in Jedadiah Smith Redwood State Park, CA. We crossed the CA state line at about 7a.m. and made it to
Jedadiah…Park before it opened at 8a.m. When we stopped at one of the groves, there was only one other car there and he left shortly after we parked. We had the redwood grove all to ourselves. We walked around looking up until our necks hurt. It was incredible watching the early morning sun stream through the mists among the giant trees. Walking amid ferns that towered over our heads, we felt like we were in the movie “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”. I expected an 8 foot beetle to come crawling over a log at any moment.
After about 1 ½ hours, other people started showing up and we felt it was time to get going. We were going to be camping in a redwood grove for 5 days, but we were glad we could spend some time, by ourselves, amid the trees first.
We continued on to Crescent City, CA where we got our first view of the Pacific Ocean. We spent over an hour on the beach and at a lighthouse. Betsey got her first taste of the west coast version of fried clams. Being a New England gal, fried clams are her favorite food. While New England fried clams are most commonly made from Ipswich belly clams, these were made from razor clams. She said there was a definite difference but could tell they were still clams and well, you don’t turn down an opportunity for clams!
We continued on to the IRG and after a wrong turn, made it there about 4pm (220 miles for the day). We arrived on Wednesday, figuring that we would be early (although
Betsey kept saying it would probably already be pretty full) but when we got there we were told that the camping spots under the trees were already full. Smart gal! Fortunately, some of our friends, Toby and Sue from Minnesota, had gotten there even earlier and saved a spot for us.
We spent several days at the IRG, seeing old friends and making new ones. We got a chance to meet in person several people that we had chatted with on discussion forums and by email. We had a great time and being among the redwoods made it even more special. We would like to thank Dean and Joanie for putting on the gathering.
Craig got to meet a few Camp-Inn owners that had their trailers shipped to them or had bought their trailers used. He did a quick inspection on their trailers and even fixed a couple minor things. Always working, that one…I thought this was a vacation….
Betsey grew up in New England near the Atlantic Ocean and is an ocean lover, so we snuck off a few times to go visit the beach. We wanted to see the sunset over the Pacific but the ocean in that area seemed to have a constant fog over it.
Day 9 After leaving the IRG Sunday afternoon, we went to Humbolt Redwoods State Park and the Avenue of the Giants. We visited many of the big trees. It was amazing how many categories of “Big” there were…Tallest, biggest around, greatest weight, tallest fallen tree…etc… We also visited the Drive Through Redwood and the House Inside a Redwood.
Looking at the map, we noticed that Cape Mendicino was nearby (at least that’s what the map said), since it was the “farthest point west” for the lower 48 states, we decided to check it out. The map showed that it was only about 40 miles, but the road looked pretty curvy. We stopped to ask the Ranger at the campground in Humbolt Park how long it would take. She said it would take an “hour or two.” I mentioned that we wanted to see the sun set over the ocean and therefore had to make it there before the sun set. “She helpfully suggested “If you miss the sunset, you could camp in your trailer and then watch the sunrise.” After waiting several seconds to see if she would realize what she said, I bit my tongue and said “Thank You very much” and off we went. Either California’s educational system is seriously lacking or this gal just didn’t pay attention in geography class…unless you are on an island, the sun doesn’t rise on the Pacific Ocean. We made it to Cape Mendicino about 5 minutes before sunset. There was no fog and the sunset was worth the trip.
After the sunset, we decided we weren’t going to wait to watch the sunrise over the ocean, so we pointed our car and trailer eastward, since that was the only direction to go without a boat. We spent that night east of Eureka, CA along Hwy. 299, in a National Forest campground. (200 miles)
Day 10, we started off again, stopping for a bit at Whiskeytown Lake. Ate lunch in Redding, where we also experienced the temperature “high” for our entire trip…113º. By late afternoon we made it to Lassen Volcanic National Park and spent several hours sightseeing. That night we stopped outside Reno, NV. (350 miles)
Day 11 started early and we drove hard across Nevada. We stopped in Winnemucca, NV and looked out over the Bonneville Salt Flats. We had to be in Provo, UT to pick up some stuff our son had put into storage. That evening, we went up to Hyrum, UT to visit some friends. (695 miles)
Day 12, we said goodbye to our friends in the early afternoon and took off across Wyoming. Since we had traveled this route several times before, we didn’t stop for any sightseeing. That night, we stopped south of Scottsbluff, NE. (551 miles)
Day 13, we headed out and stopped at Chimney Rock, NE then at Carhenge, north of Alliance, NE. We have wanted to stop at Carhenge for years but have never had the right timing. Carhenge is a recreation of the famous Stonehenge, but this version is done in grey painted cars. We stopped at Mitchell, SD to check out this year’s murals at the Corn Palace, and later stopped at the Sculpture Garden at Montrose, SD. Had a very pleasant (and interesting) visit with the sculptor. We stopped for the night in Albert Lea, MN. (657 miles)
Day 14, We got up VERY early (SOMEBODY – and we won’t name names, but it wasn’t the teacher – had to be back to work) and headed for home and made we made it back to Tomah by about 9am after traveling 5,659 mi. total including side trips.
Craig had to immediately go work to relieve his business partner, Cary, who was leaving for his one week long vacation to the EAA Air Venture at noon. Craig had to find out what had happened while he was gone and what needed to be done the following week.
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