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Had to stop by The Trees of Mystery and get a picture of Tom with Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox!!
Then it was off to see the drive-thru tree! Before we took a side road and got up close and personal with these wonders of nature!
This is looking straight up
a "big tree"!!!
We stayed in Arcata, CA our second night at a very nice Howard J's and headed over to Redding, CA Thursday morning. Stopped at Weaverville, CA to stretch our legs and grab a bite. While checking out a local pottery store, the very nice sales lady suggested we see the Joss House down the street and then maybe the the local museum to get some history of the region during the gold rush of the 1850's. We're so glad we took her up on it!
The Joss House, built in 1873, it the oldest operating Chinese Taoist Temple in California and maybe the United States!! If you ever get to that area, you really need to check it out. Our guide, CA Parks Dept. Ranger, Lori, was a wonderful fount of information and we could tell she really enjoyed the subject matter. The museum wasn't open, so we went to a nice little cafe for lunch and then headed to Redding. Our ultimate goal for that day was Chico, CA and my Uncle Jack/Aunt Jean's home. We hadn't seen them in a couple years and Tom had never been to their home. The trip over the coastal mountains was glorious and we made it to Chico around 3 in the afternoon. Their 2 sons, Tom and Bob came by to see us and we had a wonderful visit with them all.
Bob, me, Tom and daughter, Maya
My Tom had been 9 or 10 the last time he had been trhough the Redwoods, so he was very impressed. He read in a flyer where the Giant Sequoias were even bigger and really wanted to see them, so we altered our plans and headed to Fresno and on to Sequoia National Park Friday around 7:30 am. The 5 hour trip was well worth it!! OMG!! Those trees are gigantic!!! And OLD!
One of these is 103' around the base and over 2,000,000 tons!! Amazing!! They're alot like humans, they only grow so tall and then they just get bigger around!! HA!! Another must see!
Saturday, we travelled across the bottom of the Mojave desert and over to Kingman, AZ, a Route 66 town, for the night. Did some sight-seeing/shopping downtown and had a great dinner at Calico's Restaurant before calling it an early night. Sunday morning would find us on our way to Sedona and a week of R&R!!
If you've never been to Sedona, you need to go at least for the day.
This is some of the scenery from the area - breathtaking!!!
After spending a fantastic week at Los Abrigado's Resort and Spa in Sedona, 
we headed home. Went north through Flagstaff and spent the night in Provo, UT. The next day was an 11 hour drive day that landed us in the friendly town of Pendleton, OR. We stayed at The Rugged Country Lodge, a very reasonably priced combo hotel/b&b. Rustic, but comfortable and they had some killer cinnamon rolls with the rest of the complimentary breakfast. It looked kinda iffy when we drove up, but the clerk was so friendly and the place was just so cute, we had to give it a try. 
For dinner, we drove through town and checked out the available restaurants. We settled on Stetsons House of Prime and we were glad we did! Two winners in the same night - wow!! What a way to end our vacation! It was a little spendy, but you got plenty for your money and excellent service. Check it out if you're ever in Pendleton.
The next morning, after biscuit and gravy, cinnamon roll and mocha (hey, I was on vacation!), we continued West on I-84 to Troutdale, OR and lunch with my daughter, Kellie and grandson, Derric. Derric was enjoying his last days of freedom before being sworn in as an Airman and heading to San Antonio, TX for basic training. Of course, you can't go up I-84 without a side trip on the Historic State Rte 30 and a stop at Multnomah Falls!
I had never driven West on 30 past Multnomah Falls, so we decided to continue on this picturesque route for a while longer, are we were rewarded with beautiful Fall colors and a surprise stop at Vista House.
We met up with Kellie and Derric at Elmer's in Gresham. Had a great visit and a very nice gentleman offered to take our picture when we were leaving so Tom could be in it. Thanks!!
After one more stop at my Aunt Kay and Uncle Alan's in Longview, WA, we headed for home and, curiously, we arrived almost exactly 2 weeks to the MINUTE from when we left! Try to do that on purpose!!
All in all, it was a great adventure and we are already planning our next one. I suggested we could fly to the E. Coast and rent a car, visit with my daughter and son-in-law - Carman and Matt - and family a few days and drive back across the US. There's so much to see in this country and I want to see as much as I can before I say that final "Good Bye" - I guess that's my bucket list item #1!
Well, that's it for my travelogue.
Till next time!
Jackie
