While having lunch with a friend a few weeks back, I was telling her what our plans were once the Flip House sold. I told her we’ll live in the RV for I don’t know how long, we’ll travel the U.S. to I don’t know where really, and we’ll be home for Christmas probably, but nothing is really certain. My friend sat back, shaking her head. For the more than 15 years she’s known me, I have been the planner. The make-a-list, check-the-boxes girl. I needed the plan, the steps laid out in front of me. I needed to know what was on the docket every day. My anxiety and temper flares if I didn’t have control of the work and family schedule.
But now? Now I’m just along for the ride. Jason takes care of everything. Don’t get me wrong, I still need to do my basic duties, if I want to keep myself centered. I vacuum, clean, straighten, and re-straighten every cupboard and surface inside the RV (Bae, as she’s affectionately known) to keep our living quarters tidy. However, for the most part, Jason is holding the reins on our excursions. He plots the map, the pitstops, the overnight stays, the hikes. He drives all the miles, hooks us in at every campground, fixes the leaks, tends to the car, sets up the internet. He is literally driving this bus.
Honestly, I can’t believe I’ve let go so easily. When Jason had a job, I was staying home, and we had built the house of our dreams, I checked most the boxes for the family unit. Jason was exceptional at his job, and put in the hours it required. I kept the boys where they should be for school, sports, doctors, and friends. I maintained the home (except dinner – I have never been good at cooking). Now, three years after selling the dream house, I am sitting back with the kids, asking “Are we there yet?” or “Where are we going again?” I still make my lists, and I still require order around me to feel calm, but I have released any sense of control in our road ahead to the captain of ol’ Bae, and I’m soaking it up.
Last week we set out on our latest RV trip. Destinations penciled in by Jason, but flexible. First stop was at Crane Hot Springs. I was not thrilled about the low temperatures we were expecting there. But, turns out, when one can soak in a natural mineral hot spring, the outside temperature doesn't sting so much. We were only there a couple nights, and the campsites themselves were very rocky and hard on our old dog's paws, but it was a great first stop with another activity we hadn't experienced before. We had one full day to explore the area around us. Again, Jason had planned out a great adventure, and the rest of us had the ease of jumping in the car, along for the ride. Our first stop was the legendary FrenchGlenn Round barn.
What an impressive masterpiece! Built decades ago for horse training through the winter months, the barn is maintained and looks close to new with the new lumber blending with the original. French, the man behind the structure was a mean and ruthless rancher who ended up getting shot for his dirty ways. I always hated history class in school – all the reading was boring, and I couldn’t get myself to care about any of it. But now that we’re walking, seeing, feeling, and listening to it all around us, it’s pretty darn awesome. I hope the boys are enjoying their history class lessons more than I did.
After reading about French’s demise, we picked up a map at a local shop, and Jason drove us through a series of volcanic craters. There were a total of 10 craters to see as we bumped along a dirt road that would not have been manageable in the rainy months.
Now let me be honest here, I LOVE a good, scenic picture of nature. It’s beautiful and idealistic. I do not, however, enjoy nature when it slithers around without any legs. I do NOT appreciate the majesty of snakes. Or bugs, actually. I could do without the creepy crawlies of nature. At the first stop, Jason took the boys ahead to see the crater while I read the history of it on the map. By the time I got out of the car, the boys had crossed a short field to the crater’s rim. There were zero paths to where they were, and because I’m not about to get eaten alive by an anaconda out there on the unbeaten path, I stayed on the road and watched from afar. My cautious actions were redeemed when we were all getting back into the car and Ryan tells me he saw a freaking rattlesnake about five feet from him! As you may guess, I was hyper-vigilant from there on out. Sure, some may say obsessive or a “drag”, but I’m keeping everyone safe out there! By the end of the 10-crater tour, we had seen a variety of volcanic rock and past explosions. There was one in particular that had all of these incredible pink flowers growing out of the red dirt. All along the path and down the sides, the vibrant pink brought color to the otherwise drab landscape. Unfortunately, we found out that these little, abundant beauties were also the culprit behind that tremendous stench that was swirling around us with the winds. They’re still rather stunning in a picture though.
The shopkeeper where we bought the map, excitedly told us that Crater #10 had water in it. After some off-road trekking, we finally found the tucked away crater. I would compare it to a model-sized version of Crater Lake with really muddy water.
We were happy that we found it after a few mis-leads from the map and Google, but I was also ready to be safe inside the car where there were zero snakes. As usual, Ryan jetted out first towards the car and I slowly, carefully brought up the rear, steering clear of any rock crevice or snake-sized holes in the ground. Wouldn’t you know it, Ryan yells out that there’s a big snake under our car. Cue the dread. Jason, knowing me like he does, takes the lead and gets low to the ground with the boys as they take in a closer, fascinating look at the legless demon. I stayed a solid four car lengths away. After the pictures and marveling, the men got into the rig and drove up to let me in from my secure non-snake position. The boys and Jason really loved the crater adventure. But I think I could have enjoyed it more in a protected bubble situation. Remember in Jurassic Park when the two brothers are touring through the park in a motorized bubble car checking out the dinosaurs grazing the plains? That would have been perfect for me!
After a couple days at the hot springs, Jason drove until we had reached the edge of Oregon. We literally took a turn right in front of the “Welcome to California” sign and stayed three more nights in our home state at Goose Lake State Park.
Goose Lake was the quietest and cleanest State Park we’ve ever stayed in. There was no camp host on duty, so we paid on our honors for our stay. At most, there were five campsites filled, including ours, out of the 25 spots available. We had limited power and water hook-ups, but no sewer – which meant we used their showers instead of Bae’s to prevent us from filling our holding tanks. As for the women’s bathroom/shower units, they were great! Clean and dry. No graffiti on the walls, no broken locks in the stalls, and an instant-hot shower that was calling my name. Not so much as a pine needle was cluttering that floor. From the reports from Jason and the boys, the men’s side may have been just as clean, but I don’t know because that’s not what the focus of their assessment was. Each time the boys came back from the bathroom or shower, they dished about how many frogs were in there. Jason said there were TWO inside the small overflow hole for the sink. Barrett came back from his last shower having counted SEVEN frogs in the shower! I was grateful I never saw a single frog.
The history of Goose Lake is rather interesting as well. I think we had ourselves a modern day reenactment of the lives of a couple of the settlers here when we attempted to find access to the lake. Though we were staying at the lake’s namesake park, we couldn’t find access to the water anywhere within the park. We set out on a drive to find it. We drove for over 30 miles trying to find any signage or semblance of some direction to the lake’s edge. Never found it.
On one of my walks after our unsuccessful drive, I found a bulletin board with a snippet of a story. Essentially, back in 1849, a couple of well-intentioned men set out to grab some water out of the lake. After walking over two miles past the original half-mile to the water, they came back empty-handed. The story ended, “…we were doomed to disappointment…a truly horrid sensation.” Same here, gentlemen. Same here.
Our last full day at Goose Lake came with some insane winds. We made the best of it and hunkered down inside for an impromptu family game day. After three rounds of games, and me coming out on top every time, everyone decided they wanted to do something else. Sore losers, I say. I jest, but truly, it can be so lonely up on this triumphant mountain top. After the card games, Jason and Ryan “hopped on the sticks” to play video games, Barrett read and watched YouTube, while Cord and I knocked out some old Lego kits we’ve been packing around. All-in-all, the stay at Goose Lake was a perfect low-key, easy stay.
We hit the road again yesterday, September 26th, for about three hours to our next stop at the Mt. Lassen/Shingletown KOA. After a steady up and down road through a mix of desert and mountainous terrain, we arrived here mid-afternoon.
For a KOA, this is one of the smallest we’ve been to, but it’s a great fit for our family. There’s a playground, dog park (even a K9 obstacle course!), tree swings, yard games, basketball, and a sand volleyball court. And for my choring pleasure, there’s a clean, cozy laundromat! Though simple, this little room of washers and dryers has been the perfect mini getaway from the noise while I write this blog. Bonus for knocking out four loads of laundry while I’m here!
Traveling has certainly made me a better laundry finisher. I can’t leave a load in the dryer for re-fluffing every couple days until I decide it needs put away. It’s in and out all in 75 minutes start to finish. And since we don’t have an extra chair, corner, or treadmill to drape the clean clothes on to be forgotten for another couple of days, the laundry gets put away immediately, too. It’s mind-blowing how efficient I am. Out of necessity sure, but still astonishing.
We’re here for four nights, I think. Jason will tell me (again) what the departure day is and where we go next when I ask him (again) what the plan is. But for now, it’s a relaxing day of laundry, and this afternoon, we’re going to drive into Redding for some big city shopping to re-stock the cupboards. We’ll probably get a few new organization bins, shelves, hooks, etc. because even though we’re sharing the space of a 36’ motorhome, I’m still finding a way to create projects for myself.
So here’s to easy State Park livin’, seeing less snakes, and enjoying the ride from the backseat.
Kommentare