the trail from Blaine, WA to Santa Monica, CA

[Pete Masterson]

We've stayed at the Jantzen Beach RV park near Portland -- the one
that's just to the west of the Portland Airport. While it's in the
take-off path from the airport, we noticed that there are very few
departures after 8 PM and none between 10 PM and 7 AM.

Heading south, I've stayed at Franks Landing RV park in Grants Pass
-- I was having some work done on my WL at Henderson's Line Up in
town. It's a very clean park with a bunch of easy pull-through sites
as well as some back in sites. Close to the freeway -- with the noise
that suggests -- but it's a pretty good choice for a simple
overnight. If you go to the next exit (from Franks) toward the south,
there's a Walmart on the left (but you need to enter from the street
behind it, so go past, turn left, then left again, and enter their
lot). Another 'bird parked there one night while I was in town. Park
in the front edge of the lot by the main street and ask permission.
There were signs about "no truck parking" but Walmart does allow RVs
to park.

If you leave fairly early from Portland, you may arrive too early in
Grants Pass for you to stop for the night. Note that there are
several heavy grades between central Oregon and the California
border. Take your time and watch your water/oil temperature. Cool
weather in December will make it less of a problem than it was for me
in June and September when I last went over those grades.

I've also stayed at an RV park along I-5 near Weed. I can't recall
the name -- but it seemed like it was off the road aways -- but
(surprise) the road had curved back, at it was hidden in trees just
below the freeway. A bit noisy -- and it had some tricky turns for my
42' unit (I had to drop the toad and back-up once to get around a
curve while avoiding a tree).

Further south, there are several RV parks just south of Redding that
look fairly decent -- and probably pricy. I haven't stayed in any of
them, so far. (Once I get to Redding, I figure I'm close enough to
home to just drive on through as I'm located about 3 hours or so away.)

As for the Grapevine, the weather in December should be cool enough
that normal monitoring of your temperatures should be all you need to
concern yourself with. Be careful with your retarder (depending on
the type you have) so you don't overheat it.

Can't comment on how busy RV parks will be -- since winter is a great
time to head south, they'll probably be busy. It seems, to me, that
CA has a moderate shortage of RV campgrounds, especially along the
coast. Of course, the high land prices and development costs in CA
probably play a role in that.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lockhart, Texas



On Nov 16, 2007, at 10:29 PM, Jo-Ski wrote:

> Greetings, folks--
>
> Well, we may just be spontaneous this year and head south towards
> Santa Monica, CA in December--<snip> [we'll] take the I-5 route.
>
> Some questions, please:
> a.. Any suggestions for pleasant campgrounds once you get south,
> past Portland, OR please? <snip>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
> <snip>
>
> d.. And, what about the notorious stretch of I-5 known as "the
> grapevine" at this time of year? <snip>