BROOKINGS & REDDING

Two unexpected but enjoyed towns, the first being Brookings OR along the coast that was sort of in a valley and held a more moderate temperature than there neighbors to the north and south. They called it the Banana Effect because the wet and cool weather that comes off the ocean wraps around the area and leaves the town cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

This gave us the first time that we had a chance to play golf and the weather was cooperative. We were also fortunate to be staying at the Brookings Elks #1934 and they had Monday as there regular golf outing at a very nice and challenging Salmon Run Golf Course.

 

 

 

A beautiful course with lots of elevation changes (reminded me of Tree Tops in Michigan) a first for Sandy, but she played well. The steep cart paths were also a challenge to get used to with some holes having six switch backs and reminded us of some of the roads that we have ben on this trip.

 

 

The bell is to ring when the coast is clear on a course where there are blind shots...so people behind you know when you have hit and moved on. This course had three bells.

 

 

We hated to get away from the Ocean but we know we will return later this trip. As we headed east on 299 which is the only...or should we say the best option to get to our next unexpected gem of a town (Redding CA). We remember this road from a previous trip but with no options we just kept going. Like 146 miles that took us close to 6 hours.

 

Some of you know why we took this shot...

 

Lots of twists and turns but we finely saw our first Elk after seeing over 100 signs warning us about them.

 

 

So we finely got to our destination of the day, the Redding Elks #1073. A number of things extended our stay in this town other than wanting to take a break from driving. The weather was again more moderate (very nice) because of being in a valley. The Sacramento River ran right next to the lodge with a great hiking/biking trail with some very interesting bridges.

 

    

   

    

 

 

But the Elks was one of nicest lodges we have ever stayed at complete with swimming pool, workout room, showers and a very nice dinning area with specials like $4 taco night.   

 

 

We then left and continued east along route 44 with a noticeably different type of terrain in thick forest, so thick that when we stopped at a scenic over look, but we couldn't see anything.

 

 

A number of the lakes we came across in the high country were all dried up and was sort of eerie look after seeing so much water along the way.

 

 

After a much more pleasant drive than just a few days earlier, about the same distance, we puled in at the Diamond Mountain Indian Casino in Susanville CA, and when we asked for permission to stay in the lot over night they told us we could us the electric outlet on the light poll.

 

Next stop "Lake Tahoe" 

 

  LIVE

LAUGH

  LOVE

SanTony