Wonders of One State

By the Never-Bored RVers

California, a state revered and reviled for its politics, personalities, productiveness, progressiveness, produce and … most important, its diverse [Dales] beauty.  Over the past two months, Monique and I journeyed down from Oregon to the High Desert of Southern California.  I personally have an almost love/hate relationship with the state, but when it comes to the grandeur of its natural wonders, it is definitely love.

On this trip, we have revisited places we saw years ago with a few new sights along the way.  It’s hard not to be embraced by the incredible wonders.

As a non-native, I know that most people across North America think of California as one state.  Its residents, on the other hand, recognize it as two entirely separate entities – Northern California where San Francisco is the unofficial capital, and Southern California, dominated by Los Angeles.  They are totally different beasts.

You may think of any state of the union as having two separate cultures – the cities versus the rural areas or the coast versus inland, usually with differing views about politics and accepted behavior.

California is far more complex, and I’d better add now that this article is about why you should plan a trip or two to The Golden State.  To remind you where I’m coming from, I hail from New Orleans.  I moved to Orange County, Calif., in 1988 (I called it Dixieland to Disneyland back then), and was immediately awed by the beauty and lifestyle among which I found myself surrounded.  Four years ago, Monique and I sold our home in San Clemente between L.A. and San Diego, and we have never regretted our decision.

On this trip, rather than hug scenic Hwy. 1 along the coast, we entered the state below Klamath Falls, Oregon, and journeyed through Lava Beds National Monument and into the Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge.  In the background for much of that time was magnificent snow-topped Mt. Shasta.  Put them all on your list of “Must See” spots.

Then, a Bucket List stop – Lassen Volcanic National Park.  So much to see, including the Cinder Cone Volcano and the bubbling pits, fumaroles and fissures.  It’s not as sensational as Yellowstone N.P., but it provides more variety.

California is the largest producer of many fruits, vegetables, nuts (I’m referring to the agricultural ones) and lots more.  Driving down the major inland north-south highways exposes RVers to seemingly endless miles of orchards, vineyards, and lands laying fallow, flanked by the Sierra Mountains including Mt. Whitney on the west and other ranges to the east.  Far from exciting but it puts into perspective the vastness of the lands where our food grows.

On our drive down, we swooped westward to Ventura in Southern California, where we stopped by the impressive home of the Affinity Group, nesting place for blog.rv.net as well as 42 publications (as listed on the website), and featuring its Good Sam Club hospitality lounge on the ground floor.

Had we taken the coastal route all the way down from Oregon, among the scenery flanking the road would have been Redwoods State Park and Wine Country.  Neither can be appreciated until you set foot there.  That would have also taken us through San Francisco, one of America’s most fascinating cities.

Meanwhile, the powerful waves of the Pacific slamming into coastal rock formations make drivers want to stop every few feet to breathe in another breath-taking view.  Seeing just one massive wave spitting thousands of white stars from atop the fold of an aqua drapery can never be captured by even the best photographers.

After staying in Orange County for a month, we are now at Monique’s son’s hide-away in the High Desert, planning to depart next Sunday for Encampment Days in Death Valley s to commemorate the unbelievably tough journey of 19^th and 20^th Century pioneers looking for their own promised land.

In this short trip-log you’ve been reading, I’ve touched on lava beds, wildlife, volcanoes, America’s most massive trees, agriculture, cultural centers, mountains, the desert and the Pacific Ocean.

On your list of places to visit, you might want to include the Gold Country, home of the ‘49ers Gold Rush.  Luckily you won’t be far from Yosemite and its sister parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon.  Seeing Hollywood is not, in my opinion, a thrill.  Going to the original Disneyland is special, but I like Universal Studios and Knott’s Berry Farm better.

Yep, California is complex, good and bad.  I’m sure there’s no place on Earth like it.  Whether you’ve been here before or not, these days of shorter outside hours provide more time to sit down with a map and plot out places you would like to see in the Golden State.  Keep your eyes open to a vast variety of new adventures.

From the “Never-Bored RVers,” We’ll see you on down the road.