Quick Northern California Tour [Archive] - Honda Element Owners Club Forum

: Quick Northern California Tour


colin.sama
06-09-2008, 12:30 AM
I took a trip down to visit my sister in Grass Valley and a friend in Arcata this weekend. I left from "E" on the map on Friday morning and just got back earlier this afternoon.

http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/map.jpg

My first stop was Grass Valley (C on the map) via Sacramento (B on the map). My sister and I wandered around the town for a while. There is a great bookstore called "Booktown Books & Tomes" in Grass Valley. It's a store made up of different book sellers, each having their own section and style.

http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/bookstore.jpg

After buying a few books, we went to feed her horses. She has 3 now and is almost finished with her documentary film about horses www.stormymay.com.

http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/horse.jpg

My sister is renting a cabin up in Grass Valley at a larger home. The homeowners have two big German Shepards that were checking out the E, they were very friendly.


http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/shepard1.jpg
http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/shepard2.jpg

After staying Friday night at my sisters I drove over to Arcata (D on the map) to visit my friend. I wasn't sure if I would have a place to sleep at my sisters or at my friends so I had set up the bed in the back of the E. Here's Ginger keeping an eye on my stuff. Fortunately my sister had an extra bed and my friend had enough room on the floor for me to sleep inside.

http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/ginger.jpg

In Arcata I had arrived just in time to help teach a couple of young women (by 'young' I mean my age) how to shoot (guns). It always gives me the warm fuzzies when I can teach young women how to shoot :-D We had a good variety for them to try, a S&W .38 revolver, a Glock 26, a Ruger 10/22 (pictured), and a 7.62x54R Chinese military rifle. Why is she wearing a mini-dress? She and her friend were going to see Sex in the City after shooting so didn't want to change clothes. Yes, I have lots more pictures. No, you can't see them.

http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/shoot.jpg

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST

colin.sama
06-09-2008, 12:31 AM
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST

I left Arcata earlier this afternoon (Sunday June 8th) and arrived home a few hours ago. I stopped along Hwy 101 to take some pictures of the ocean and the E.

http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/coast.jpg

Here I am, still feeling the warm fuzzies from teaching the ladies how to shoot. Ginger usually takes the drivers seat when I'm not in it.

http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/me_coast.jpg

Final picture, the only way home for me was by going toward the light.

http://onlymica.org/share/images/ca_trip/tunnel.jpg

These pictures will probably go away sometime since I'm hosting them, if there aren't any pictures here, feel free to delete this thread (unless it serves some other purpose).

Flashbox
06-09-2008, 02:36 AM
Looks like you had fun!

scanrps
06-09-2008, 05:56 AM
Nices pictures, Thanks for sharing.:)
I did almost the same route last month, but reverse and no Grass Valley.
I really love the North coast up there, here is my E at Gold Bluff Beach.

jdiane
06-09-2008, 04:27 PM
Great pics!:D How's the road between Redding and Arcata? it looks VERY curvy and twisty and one lane-y on our map. We're thinking of camping up there for the 4th, but I dont want to get stuck behind a bunch of rental-RV driving europeans on a tight road... :rolleyes:

Jojo
06-09-2008, 04:29 PM
Thanks for the pics:D

colin.sama
06-09-2008, 04:46 PM
Great pics!:D How's the road between Redding and Arcata? it looks VERY curvy and twisty and one lane-y on our map. We're thinking of camping up there for the 4th, but I dont want to get stuck behind a bunch of rental-RV driving europeans on a tight road... :rolleyes:

It is very curvy for a while between Redding and Arcata. It is also a beautiful drive. Definitely Bigfoot country. There were enough slow vehicle passing lanes to keep me satisfied and a couple of rest stops to get out and stretch at. I was cruising at the speed limit to save gas (55mph) so didn't have too many problems getting stuck or sticking anyone else. There were A LOT of CHP patrolling the road too.

Willow Creek is interesting, it just comes out of nowhere as you're driving.

wgwood
06-09-2008, 07:52 PM
Great pics!:D How's the road between Redding and Arcata? it looks VERY curvy and twisty and one lane-y on our map. We're thinking of camping up there for the 4th, but I dont want to get stuck behind a bunch of rental-RV driving europeans on a tight road... :rolleyes:

I believe that it is 299, a great road that follows the Trinity River for a bit. Neat towns just off it, like Lewiston. At Willow Creek, which is where the 96 splits off, you can go up to Somes Bar (town) which is kinda funky. In fact, 96 is called the Bigfoot Highway, and if you are coming south on I5, you can take the 96 (about 10 miles north of Yreka) down to the 299. You will pass a wonderful campground called Trees of Heaven on the Klamath River. This route is a lot less travelled than the 299 from Redding and is very picturesque. Cool little towns as well. If you do the 299, near Lewiston is a campground called Mary Smith. Tents only and no reservations, it is on Lewiston Lake, which is the afterbay for Trinity. You and Mel would love it.

Regards,
Greg

jdiane
06-11-2008, 10:53 PM
You da man, Greg!! ;-) i think we just found our July 4 plans! Looked up those campgrounds in our NorCal camping book- sounds perfect! :):)

wgwood
06-12-2008, 07:50 PM
You da man, Greg!! ;-) i think we just found our July 4 plans! Looked up those campgrounds in our NorCal camping book- sounds perfect! :):)

Your welcome.

Regards,
Greg

tribalelement
06-12-2008, 08:12 PM
Thanks for the pics This is why we Love Kali :)