Are they STILL in California??

(Today's blogger: Fr. Michael). I imagine that those of you who have followed this journey for a while now have probably whispered to yourself at some point, "They're still in California?" Seeing that we'd traveled almost two months and still hadn't managed to leave the state where we began the trip from, I was also very surprised that we were still in the Golden State. Like most southern Californians, crossing California is what you do when you go to Vegas or Phoenix, and you count the time it takes in hours (about 4) not months. It is true that we've been in no hurry, but it's also true that California is one darn LONG state. Not so wide, but LONG. I would get so frustrated when we were in the Bay Area and I'd open the Northern California map only to find it didn't include the Bay Area. Really now: what kind of Northern California map doesn't include San Francisco. From my experience up until recently San Francisco WAS northern California. In fact, in my 44 years, I'd never been farther north in California than San Francisco.
Then came this trip. We left San Fran heading north (quite the novelty), only to find there was MUCH more California to go. If you don't believe me, look at a map. All the Southern Californians will be surprised to see that the San Francisco bay is barely more than halfway up the coast. Who'da thunk it!
Anyway, all that long rambling is a prelude to our accomplishment on May 17, when we saw the "Welcome to Oregon" sign. We had left that morning from the Klamath River, heading north on the 101 through Crescent City where we bid farewell to the highway that has brought us on most of the journey up to this point. Heading up Route 199, the momentous event occurred. Cheers went up, some hoots and hollers were heard. And then Vicky went back to sleep and the kids went back to their books and Nintendos (if you think none of us have any alone time on this trip, guess again). Anyway, it was nice to see some tangible proof of the length of our travels. We made it to a campground near Grant's Pass, OR (that's right: no CA in that address!) and enjoyed some Oregon beauty.
Since this was mostly a driving day and not much to take pictures of, I'll put in a few more from the stop at the "Trees of Mystery," including one of Muskini enjoying the sky tram through the trees and another posing besides Paul Bunyan's dog. Muskini is the smaller one.