The Oregon Coast, Redwood National Park and Twin Lakes, California

Updates from Debbie...
Steve and I have been feeling so very blessed to be living this life. Catching up on the last few weeks, we have felt like we're living inside a picture postcard or scenic calendar! We give thanks daily to our Creator for the majesty of this incredible land.  We just left Twin Lakes, California which is a couple hours south of Lake Tahoe.  So beautiful and peaceful.  We met up with extended family there - Chuck & Louise Lewis and their son Steve as well as other family friends.  Good times!  Steve went fishing with the guys and we both enjoyed the quiet.  No internet or satellite reception. I'll use that as my excuse for being slow to update this blog! It was a great time to catch up on reading God's word (my favorite pastime).  It never fails to put things into perspective for me by painting a clear view of the bigger picture.

Driving alongside of Twin Lakes, California on the way to our camp site 

Here's Harley running thru a stream near our campsite

We saw deer everyday outside our window

Today we are in Sparks, Nevada (spending just one night), en route to Fresno, CA to visit Steve's sister Bonnie and her hubby Scott.  Scott's been very ill and Bonnie has a broken wheel so we hope to bring them some cheer and offer our moral support.

On the road today, we drove past a wild fire near Topaz Lake in western Nevada.

There was a helicopter overhead dropping water

We were held up on the road awhile and eventually passed the fire trucks & firefighters right there beside the freeway

God bless and keep the firefighters!

We spent a restful day in Red Bluff, California at a pretty new RV resort that was incredible.  Each RV slot had a well manicured lawn, beautiful landscaping, immaculate grounds, plenty of space and every amenity you could ever want. And it was a gated community!

Fountains at the Durango RV Resort 

It bordered the scenic Sacramento river

We spent nearly two weeks with my sweet sister Jeanne and her groom of 44 years (Chris) in Oregon & California.  We'd been planning this rendezvous for quite some time and it certainly lived up to our hopes & dreams!  Earlier this week, we all stayed a couple days at Crescent City, CA on the beach just south of the Oregon border.  The little town was awfully gray... actually pretty blah but the redeeming quality was its close proximity to the famous Redwood National Park. Wow!!!! I've always wanted to see it but it really surpassed my expectations.  The Redwoods are the worlds' largest trees and stand in excess of 350' and can live up to 2,000 years!  Apparently there are no forest fires there -- too moist, I guess. What a fabulous day we spent among these unbelievable trees.

My sister Jeanne and me

Steve looks (and feels!) like a speck

Chris & Jeanne

Gasp!

The fog and clouds were heavenly

As magnificent as the Redwoods were, it was actually an afterthought to our original plan of spending a week on the beach at Lincoln City, Oregon.  It's Jeanne & Chris's favorite vacation spot.  We stayed in an RV park near their rented Condo that opened right onto the beach.

Chris & Jeanne right outside their condo's sliding glass door

We enjoyed it too!

We had a fabulous time together.  One day we drove to Newport, Oregon (on the coast just north of Lincoln City) and saw the sights like this lighthouse pictured below.  We ate clam chowder at Mo's local diner.  Another day we toured the Tillamook Cheese factory in... you guessed it - Tillamook, Oregon. Free samples! And a great little cafe with super yummy ice cream made right there in the factory. Darn, forgot to take a picture there. 

The Yaquina Head lighthouse built in 1873

Before we got to Lincoln City, Steve & I had a great time in Astoria, Oregon - the northern most city on the coast.

We ate awesome fish & chips (tuna!) from the Bowpicker in Astoria, Oregon

This was another awesome RV park we stayed at in Astoria, OR called the Lewis & Clark Golf & RV Resort.  Our campsite felt like it was on the fairway!  It was one continuous greenbelt adjacent to the course but there was a stream and blackberry bushes that separated the RV's from the actual golf course.  We will definitely stay here again if we're ever back this way in the future. 

This was our first glimpse of the Oregon Coast

Until next time -- take good care and enjoy life!