California again, 2013

[ssicarman]

Finally getting around to posting this years trip.

I went to the same general area this trip that I did last year. Tried not to do the same roads and stops all of the way but some of the same can't be helped to get from here to there. Some of the same is done because it is worth seeing again or seeing different things in the area.

I left Calgary November 10 and returned November 20. Headed home a bit early this year to try and avoid some nasty winter storms due to go through northern Idaho and southern Montana where I would have to drive through to get back. I managed to make it through the beginning edges of it. What I caught made me glad that I left early.

First set of photos are for our world traveller XCovlov70. A bunch of North American RV's. No particular order, just taken through out the trip.

RV and its toad
http://www.rv-insight.com/RV-Towable-Vehicles.html.



DSCF1387 by ssicarman, on Flickr



DSCF1397 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1403 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1406 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Another toad


DSCF1413 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Another toad from the front end


DSCF1433 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Another toad


DSCF1686 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1690 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1708 by ssicarman, on Flickr

[XCovlov70]

WOW! You certainly have some 'Toads' crawling along the roads over there!

We get the odd '5th Wheel Hitch' as they call them on this side of the 'Pond' but as they are quite LARGE you have to be careful which roads you travel down otherwise you can get 'wedged' between the wall sides!

[ssicarman]

Now for the trip.

Left home with the weather like this. Cold, snowy and it was considering turning into a blizzard.



DSCF1362 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Heading south out of town.


DSCF1365 by ssicarman, on Flickr



DSCF1366 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Last year this shot would have had the mountains in it.


DSCF1367 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1368 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1369 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1371 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1372 by ssicarman, on Flickr


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DSCF1374 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Started getting nastier along here so camera got put away for awhile.


DSCF1375 by ssicarman, on Flickr

First shot after getting into the USA after some careful driving wondering if there was actually a road.


DSCF1377 by ssicarman, on FlickrA bit further south and much nicer weather.



DSCF1379 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Coming into Spokane and losing daylight.


DSCF1380 by ssicarman, on Flickr

The next morning after a night in Ritzville WA.


DSCF1382 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1383 by ssicarman, on Flickr

[XCovlov70]

WOW!
What a change going across a few lines of Latitude, but very nice pictures, while I guess you needed to sets of clothes in the suitcase? (Winter & Spring).

I would think that the XC still felt surefooted in the snowy bits?

I just wish that they had some of the nice wide roads/lanes over here in Morocco, it might just stop the regular 'smashing' of offside mirrors as two vehicles going in opposite directions pass each other!

The guy we spoke to in Tagazhoute reckons he sources between 40 & 50 replacements each year for unlucky RV owners!

[ssicarman]

Driving style is certainly modified as the packed snow on the roads is nearly as traction less as ice is. Slower speeds and common sense rule the day.

Unlike over there the most of the roads here are designed to take semi's so the narrow roads are rare. That said there will be some shots that even your rig is not able/allowed to do.

[Da Tow'd]

great photos they make me feel like I'm in the passenger seat
cheers
hank

we are heading out tomorrow on a winter trip

[ssicarman]

Thanks

Hope your trip goes well. where are you off to?

[ssicarman]

Second day of the trip.
South from Ritzville through my disliked tri cities area of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland in southern WA. It went better this year with a different GPS and no construction detours. I did begin to wonder though as the GPS routed me through residential areas. In the end though it went well.
From the tri cities followed the Columbia river to Portland and south to Roseburg OR for the night. Roseburg is a favorite stopping point due to a very good Mexican place called Dos Amigos.

The last batch of pictures had the morning shots in Ritzville so onto the road pictures.


DSCF1384 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1385 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1386 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1391 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1392 by ssicarman, on Flickr


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DSCF1395 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1396 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Seems to me that I got this shot last year. Perhaps even in the same spot. Makes you wonder if the barge moved at all....


DSCF1408 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1409 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1411 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Getting closer to Portland now.


DSCF1412 by ssicarman, on Flickr

Road side stop to take in the view. Nearly got blown away by the wind, it was enough to rock the car a bit when parked. Take not of the white caps on the river.


DSCF1414 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1415 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1416 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1418 by ssicarman, on Flickr


DSCF1419 by ssicarman, on Flickr

[XCovlov70]

The 'History Lesson' on the board was very interesting.

Seems like you have a lot of very straight roads in that neck of the woods as well?

The Bridges seemed strange as one went 'UP & Over' the other seemed to go 'DOWN' but did it go Under?

Did you realise that 'Flickr' pulled a fast one and stuck 2 identical pictures in? (DSCF1386)

[ssicarman]

Sadly it was not Flickr that did the 1386 double. It is fixed now.

The bridges run beside each other and were built at different times. I think that this is what makes the area difficult to navigate. The highways have been built up over time and not with the same design.
The road south from Ritzville that is now a very good four lane divided was a two lane secondary highway when I first drove it. The area has grown economically and money has been put into the road system.

The straight roads may be an illusion on my part. Easier to take pictures on the straight bits. The last picture is south of Portland where the land is flat and the interstate likes to go straight. South end of Oregon has more hills/mountains.