As mentioned in the last post, I’m on my way from Marin County in California to Anacortes, Washington, to meet up with fellow Pleasureway owners to cruise the lighthouses on the Pacific Coast. My brainstorm to post everyday using my iPhone got busted when I traveled through national forests and parks with no cell service. So, this is a recap of yesterday.

From Andersen, I drove through Shasta-Trinity National Park and over Shasta Lake.

Soon, Mount Shasta himself loomed ahead.

The Castle Crags towered to my left.

I turned off Interstate 5 (old Hwy 99) to Hwy 97 at Weed.

Then, as you can see from the screenshot above, it’s just over two and a half hours to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.

Before climbing the mountain that was once a huge volcano and now a bowl of water, I drove through a beautiful green valley that, said a roadside placard, is at the same altitude as the bottom of Crater Lake.

20 minutes later, Annie and I were in a place that gets more snow than any other inhabited place in the US.

Only a short section of the Rim Toad is open. I had to be happy with what I could see of the continent’s deepest lake from Rim Village.

There was also a terrific movie about the lake played every half hour in the visitor center. After getting my National Parks Passport stamped, I retraced my steps to the town of Chiloquin on Hwy 97 where the Parks Ranger told me I could find two good campgrounds.

Colliers State Campground to the right was crowded. I then went to Williams on the left, run by the US Forest Service. Perfect. And only $5/night with my National Parks Senior Pass.

The next day (this morning) I was off to Portland where I am spending the night in Ramsey parked in the driveway of my college roommate Jane’s house. Tomorrow I make my final trek to Anacortes and you will start seeing some lighthouses in my photos.

This is my first attempt at blogging from my phone as a road trip progresses. On May 6, I will meet up with 20 other PleasureWay Class B RV owners in Anacortes WA. From there we will cruise south along the Pacific Coast from lighthouse to lighthouse, ending our “rolling rally” in Trinidad CA. First leg, get to Anacortes from Marin County CA.

Yesterday, I made it to Andersen at the northern end of California’s Central Valley. I was aiming for Redding 12 miles farther, but I called the WalMart there and learned that a city ordinance prevents them from allowing RVs to park overnight. The ‘associate’ helpfully suggested I call the Andersen WalMart and here I am. I’ve seen so many videos about staying at WalMarts that I’m excited to finally try it.

I arrived around 7:30 and took Annie for a walk enjoying a warm evening. I then steamed some asparagus to go with the roast chicken I’d bought at Sprouts and ate while watching the world go by in the Andersen super center. What a kick.

Tomorrow I head to Crater Lake National Park.