Southbound again! BC to California

16 November 2014  Aldergrove BC

We pulled out this morning to head down to the US border crossing a few miles south of Aldergrove on highway 13. After a friendly welcome we drove straight to Eugene Oregon on I-5. Soon after Bellingham we began to see why Washington calls itself “The Evergreen State” We were very pleased to enjoy glorious sun this day.

The towel is mopping up leftover BC condensation from the ceiling

Easy traveling other than the usual city congestion through Seattle, Portland and Salem. Because it was Sunday traffic was light. Here’s the view from Norene’s seat going through Seattle.

16 November 2014  Eugene Oregon

We had a trauma free trip all the way to Eugene and our overnight campground (Shamrock RV Village). Cold night (24F) since Eugene is at a low point in a valley. Made for interesting pictures the next morning:

 

Looked like snow at first. Was only heavy frost so I didn’t need CPR. Sun burned off the fog quickly and we headed toward Siskiyou Pass – a milestone on our voyage south. The Pass has a reputation for quickly turning ugly (witness the “chain up” lanes long before you get to the Pass). Since the temperatures had soared up to the 50’’s Norene got off easy – while she was sleeping I elected her our official chain monkey.

First you go up:

Then more up:

And you start to think you are near the top:

And you are wrong:

Then you get a downhill. Wait a second – did you see a summit sign? Nope.

More up with Mount Shasta in the background:

Finally - clues that the summit is near.

After the summit things go downhill real fast.

This sign is telling you that you will be dropping down in elevation about 2,200 feet over the next 7 miles:

This one is telling you that you made it to California:

At the end of day 2 we pulled into a park in Red Bluff California. With the ill placed confidence of the uninformed I assumed the worst driving was over.