Wednesday November 28
We met with the insurance adjuster yesterday and were able to leave the Miata in a body shop just ten minutes from where we are staying in Fortuna CA. Hopefully it will be ready for us Friday, if not we will pick it up on Monday
We have several good prospects for a new posting: just waiting for the phone to ring.
We woke up this morning to the sound of rain pounding and the wind kicking up. Both the dogs were so nerved up that they threw up. Cruise does this occasional but I have never seen Vinny vomit before. They both settled down after we assured them we were no longer in a flood area and doctored their drinking water with Rescue Remedy. I have to admit I woke up with a start when the first wind gust hit the RV. I think we all have a little PTSD from the flood episode last week.
The forecast is for more rain over the next few days but we are staying put as the Miata is under cover at the body shop and we are parked in a nice park with paving and no mud!
We have been very busy with dealing with the insurance and job-seeking that Phil has not gotten in his golf game nor have I gone riding..... We are hoping to get in a viewing of Skyfall during the inclement weather as it is playing in town here.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Flooding post script
Being stranded is interesting. Suddenly one feels as if one has a lot of errands to do. The road to the park was washed out for 36 hours. That this was Thanksgiving eve added to the anxiety, as people had plans.
I admit I was very anxious about the situation. We had some wind gusts and rain on the night after the flood and I was wide awake all night. We had received lots of information about tsunami in the area and started planning how we would escaped if there were an earthquake and tsunami- and no road out. Phil and I decided that we were not comfortable with the situation at the park and let the owners know that we were pulling out as soon as the bridge was complete.When the excavator made its final pass there were guests lined up to exit the park. We left the following morning. I was very relieved when Phil made it to the other side of the little makeshift bridge with the motorhome.
We headed down 101 and with daylight running out spend Black Friday in a mall parking lot i Eureka. We actually went into the mall in search of some dinner and I bought a pair of boots at the Boot Barn (something we had tried to do but failed during our drive across the West) I can't believe we actually went shopping on Black Friday!!
We managed to avoid mall security for the night and took the dogs for a walk in the morning and stumbled into a disturbing homeless settlement in the scrubby woods around the mall. We loaded up ad hit the road for a short 20 miles drive to Fortuna where we checked into a super nice and dry RV park. After 30 seconds both Phil and I agreed we should stay here for a few days to regain our composure.
We hooked up the RV and went for a drive along the Avenue of the Giants and enjoyed spending time with the beautiful trees. We are spending the next few days walking among the trees and talking to the insurance adjuster. Phil is planning to go golfing and I am going horseback riding.
We are not sure of our next move we are looking at Camp Host jobs in California......stay tuned! In the meantime here are some photos. Enjoy!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Stormy weather.....
Well we have had a little excitement since the last posting. Friday November 16 a storm system hit us in Gold Beach bringing heavy rains (10" in 24 hours) and high winds (35 mph with gusts of 60mph) Friday night I slept very little as the RV shook and rattled in the heavy winds. Saturday it was the driving rain pounding the roof. It was so windy that I was physically unable to walk out to the beach to see the 20-25' waves. Sunday and Monday the rain never stopped. We watched the pond behind our RV site rise and Hunter Creek 100 feet from our site became a rushing, muddy rapid.
We were pretty much holed up in the RV (with the slides pulled in because of the high winds) with the two dogs while the storm hung over us. I hid under my covers certain that the pond was going to swallow the RV. I asked the locals if we should be worried about the rising waters and they waved me off with a "this is nothing, wait until December and January"
Phil and I were both up early Tuesday morning driven to desperation by the pounding of rain of the roof. About 5 am I see blinking red and blue lights and get up and look out the window to see the local police cruiser driving through the park. In his headlights I can see the entire park in under water and yell "Phil you are gonna want to see this...." Phil got on the Park walkie-talkie and alerted everyone then opened the RV door to see water rushing over the top step. He stepped down and we could see the propane tank had floated and wedged itself under the front of the Toyota which had rushing water up to its front bumper. Phil waded around and disconnected the utilities (it makes me shudder to think about him pulling the electric cable standing in two feet of water!) Before we could move the RV to higher ground we had to move the Miata which was parked perpendicular to and in front of the RV. When Phil opened the door of the car, the muddy water rushed in. Thankfully it started and he was able to drive/float it to safety, he managed to start and drive the Toyota to higher ground while I battened everything down in side to be ready to move the RV.
The RV started up and we were able to drive a short distance along one of the park roads to a high spot. By this time high tide had passed and dawn was breaking. Some of the park guests were trying to leave - at this point the water was rushing well over the road and it was not possible to see the narrow track between the pond and the Creek. Soon it was all too much for the little track and it collapsed sending large culverts bobbing down the river like giant licorice sticks.
Phil and I took stock and we had the two cars and the RV safe and although we were now stranded in the Park we were relieved that we were all safe. fortunately the rain let up and the river went down and things calmed down. We were able to move the RV to an un-flooded site and started to clean up.
The Miata took the brunt of the storm - we had several inches of water on the floor. We began bailing and soaking up the water and started a dehumidifier to run inside the car. The trailer was parked in another part of the park and was completely submerged and was left caked with mud and everything in the storage unit was ruined. So Phil pretty much spends his time toweling up water from the carpet or attempting to communicate with Geico by phone.
Here are some photos of our little adventure:
We were pretty much holed up in the RV (with the slides pulled in because of the high winds) with the two dogs while the storm hung over us. I hid under my covers certain that the pond was going to swallow the RV. I asked the locals if we should be worried about the rising waters and they waved me off with a "this is nothing, wait until December and January"
Phil and I were both up early Tuesday morning driven to desperation by the pounding of rain of the roof. About 5 am I see blinking red and blue lights and get up and look out the window to see the local police cruiser driving through the park. In his headlights I can see the entire park in under water and yell "Phil you are gonna want to see this...." Phil got on the Park walkie-talkie and alerted everyone then opened the RV door to see water rushing over the top step. He stepped down and we could see the propane tank had floated and wedged itself under the front of the Toyota which had rushing water up to its front bumper. Phil waded around and disconnected the utilities (it makes me shudder to think about him pulling the electric cable standing in two feet of water!) Before we could move the RV to higher ground we had to move the Miata which was parked perpendicular to and in front of the RV. When Phil opened the door of the car, the muddy water rushed in. Thankfully it started and he was able to drive/float it to safety, he managed to start and drive the Toyota to higher ground while I battened everything down in side to be ready to move the RV.
The RV started up and we were able to drive a short distance along one of the park roads to a high spot. By this time high tide had passed and dawn was breaking. Some of the park guests were trying to leave - at this point the water was rushing well over the road and it was not possible to see the narrow track between the pond and the Creek. Soon it was all too much for the little track and it collapsed sending large culverts bobbing down the river like giant licorice sticks.
Phil and I took stock and we had the two cars and the RV safe and although we were now stranded in the Park we were relieved that we were all safe. fortunately the rain let up and the river went down and things calmed down. We were able to move the RV to an un-flooded site and started to clean up.
The Miata took the brunt of the storm - we had several inches of water on the floor. We began bailing and soaking up the water and started a dehumidifier to run inside the car. The trailer was parked in another part of the park and was completely submerged and was left caked with mud and everything in the storage unit was ruined. So Phil pretty much spends his time toweling up water from the carpet or attempting to communicate with Geico by phone.
Here are some photos of our little adventure:
Friday, November 16, 2012
November 16
We have enjoyed three stellar days in a row. We were able to get out on a couple of hikes in addition to long twice daily walks on the beach.
On Tuesday we took the Rogue River Walk trail. a nice meandering trail from a parking area about five miles east of Gold Beach on the Jerry's Flat Road. We had driven this road a couple of times but were surprised to find a mossy fairy land in the short distance between the road and River. This was a good leg stretch and the trail was well maintained. It gave us our first close up of the gravel bars that alternate along the Rogue River. We found more mushrooms! We have been cooking up the chanterelles and the king bolete mushrooms.
At one point the trail took us back up on to the road and we came across a buck meandering down the road. We quietly scrambled to get our cameras out and while we did this he walked right up to us - to the point we were a little nervous! He went on his way and we got some photos.
On Wednesday we joined the Gold Beach library and checked out books on Mushrooms and panning for gold - getting into the spirit of things around here. It is an amazing library for a small town - brand new with a huge selection of e-books too! I think this will be a big help as we have rain in the forecast for the next six days.
Yesterday we drove a half hour north on 101 to Humbug Mountain. There is a really nice State campground there and large parking area at the trail head. It is a three mile hike up to the 1700' summit. The trail guide described this hike as strenuous. It turned out to be a lovely hike on a smooth, well maintained path. We stopped at the summit for a while to enjoy the fresh air before heading down the east side of the mountain.
We have enjoyed three stellar days in a row. We were able to get out on a couple of hikes in addition to long twice daily walks on the beach.
On Tuesday we took the Rogue River Walk trail. a nice meandering trail from a parking area about five miles east of Gold Beach on the Jerry's Flat Road. We had driven this road a couple of times but were surprised to find a mossy fairy land in the short distance between the road and River. This was a good leg stretch and the trail was well maintained. It gave us our first close up of the gravel bars that alternate along the Rogue River. We found more mushrooms! We have been cooking up the chanterelles and the king bolete mushrooms.
At one point the trail took us back up on to the road and we came across a buck meandering down the road. We quietly scrambled to get our cameras out and while we did this he walked right up to us - to the point we were a little nervous! He went on his way and we got some photos.
On Wednesday we joined the Gold Beach library and checked out books on Mushrooms and panning for gold - getting into the spirit of things around here. It is an amazing library for a small town - brand new with a huge selection of e-books too! I think this will be a big help as we have rain in the forecast for the next six days.
Yesterday we drove a half hour north on 101 to Humbug Mountain. There is a really nice State campground there and large parking area at the trail head. It is a three mile hike up to the 1700' summit. The trail guide described this hike as strenuous. It turned out to be a lovely hike on a smooth, well maintained path. We stopped at the summit for a while to enjoy the fresh air before heading down the east side of the mountain.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Mushrooms
On our hike we found an amazing array of mushrooms. We collected some and enjoyed them sautéed in butter. Our identification must have correct because we are still here!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Pretty much the moment we crossed into Oregon it began to rain. For the first 48 hours at our new home in Gold Beach we experienced driving rain, 50 mph winds, more rain. We were beginning to doubt the wisdom of our decision. We amused ourselves by visiting tackle shop and reading about hiking locally.
Happily the sun has been regularly appearing after its initial shyness and we have been enjoying walks along the beach which is conveniently situated only 2 minutes from our RV.
On Thursday we had our orientation at the resort. We have met a few of the other workampers. Friday afternoon Phil went to work doing maintenance and I started in the office. Our work schedule is pretty light. Fridays 1:30-5:30 and Saturdays 9:30 - 1:30 That leave plenty of time for dog walking and other outdoor pursuits.
Photos are sparse because 1) Phil can't seem to remember his camera 2) there has been a lot of fog along the shore.
Happily the sun has been regularly appearing after its initial shyness and we have been enjoying walks along the beach which is conveniently situated only 2 minutes from our RV.
On Thursday we had our orientation at the resort. We have met a few of the other workampers. Friday afternoon Phil went to work doing maintenance and I started in the office. Our work schedule is pretty light. Fridays 1:30-5:30 and Saturdays 9:30 - 1:30 That leave plenty of time for dog walking and other outdoor pursuits.
Photos are sparse because 1) Phil can't seem to remember his camera 2) there has been a lot of fog along the shore.
Why it is called Turtle Rock
On our daily beach walk
Vinny looking guilty because he just ate the bait off the hook
Cruise playing in the sea foam
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