As we travel around the country, we occasionally encounter toll roads. But different parts of the country have different systems:
Our diesel fuel discount program also has a solution to that problem, called Freedom Pass. It is a set of transponders that support toll systems around much of the country:
The transponders come as a package with self-adhesive that can be mounted to the windshield:
We have it mounted in the top-center of the windshield, behind the TV (shown here with our Magne-Shade on):
It works well. The toll charges go on the same account as our fuel purchases. Very convenient.
The Redwood National and State Parks is interesting, in that it is jointly managed by the National Park Service and the state of California. Their headquarters are in Crescent City, with a small book store (not a gift store, thank you):
We visited several of the component parks, starting with the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, which includes a fun scenic drive through the redwoods:
While at the coast, we visited several lighthouses. The first (southernmost) was Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City.
It is interesting in that you can only get to it (without a boat) at low tide. At high tide it is an island, but at low tide you can walk across to it.
We had a pull-through patio site and enjoyed the semi-private space provided by the large hedges between sites. Our site was long enough for our 40′ motorhome and tow vehicle, which we disconnected and parked behind. The patio had a nice table and chairs, a fire pit, and a swing seat. This was a good campground for heading to various units of Redwood National & State Parks. The main downside was the extensive clearing of some additional land, presumably to expand the campground, so there were chainsaws and construction equipment going all day. There’s not a lot of signage to guide you to the park, and it would be pretty easy to miss it if you weren’t paying attention. We camped at Crescent City / Redwoods KOA Holiday in a Motorhome.
Tip for Other Campers: Stop by the Redwoods NP info center in Crescent City for info on the best hikes and drives in the area. Check out Grove of Titans, if nothing else. Battery Point Lighthouse was also cool.
Interactive map:
Campground map:
Our site, a large deluxe site:
Amused by Banana Slug Lane:
Patio:
Other sites:
Cabins:
They have lots of tent sites:
Office:
Rec hall, bathrooms, etc:
Dump station:
Kinda sad playground:
Dog park:
Goat:
They have a chicken run, but only one chicken; apparently they used to have more, but something got them. Rather sad — chickens are social animals. They said they’ll get more soon:
They are expanding the campground, cutting lots of trees:
We drove our coach 140 miles, about three hours of driving, from Meyers Flat, California to Crescent City, California.
Here’s the map route, heading north:
An interactive map, with potential and actual stops:
Ready to depart:
Not the most successful departure, though; it was a rather tight corner getting out of the site, between a couple of signs, so we had to disconnect the truck so we could back up and try again:
Another sharp corner at the exit:
Outside the RV park was a rather sketchy road:
7% downgrade:
Eel River:
Bridge:
For the first time ever, we stopped at a casino for lunch. We parked behind another coach in the parking lot of Bear River Casino in Loleta, California:
Back on the road:
Interesting murals in Eureka:
A rest area stop:
Inside the coach with slides in:
Low clouds:
Entering Redwood National and State Parks:
Damaged building:
Klamath River bridge:
Roadworks with a temporary bridge:
Trees of Mystery:
Ocean:
More one-way roadworks:
Redwoods:
We tried a Pacific Pride fuel station, to see if it’d work, but it didn’t (which was fine, we didn’t need it, just wanted to try it, since our Open Roads fuel card is the same network, but Pacific Pride is more picky):
Every six months we sanitize the pipes and fresh water tank in our coach using diluted bleach.
As part of that process, we run the water though the taps, down the drains, then flush them out with fresh water.
But to get the last of the bleachy water out of the fresh tank, I open the fresh tank drain. But I don’t want to just dump that water on the ground, so I rigged up a temporary pipe and quick-connect to hook up to the sewer pipe via the hose sewer rinse cap:
Do not let the sketchy road to the park deter you; this is an idyllic campground amongst trees and along the river. We had a “big rig” site with power & water only. Even though we were on a grassy surface, our site was wonderfully level. None of our cell carriers worked particularly well, and Starlink was a no-go under the trees, but the campground Wifi was decent enough to work during our stay.
I put “big rig” in quotes because, although our site was plenty long and wide, it was a tricky corner to get out of when we left, requiring a lot of finesse to dodge the trees and signposts on either side of the road. We camped at Giant Redwoods RV & Cabin Destination in a Motorhome.
Tip for Other Campers: Avenue of the Giants is a must-do. One of the best trails to see huge trees is just across the road from the Humboldt State Park Visitor Center. Don’t bother with the coffee shop in Myers Flat; I’m not bitter, their coffee is.
Interactive map:
Things to do booklet and campground map:
Our site:
Paladin watching a family of quail outside our door:
Entrance:
A cute little garden between the entrance and office:
Office:
Other sites:
Cabins:
Bathrooms:
Dump station:
Dog park:
Path to the river:
A wide area of riverstones:
South Fork Eel River:
We had fun “collecting” interesting rocks — just taking pictures (“take only photographs, leave only footprints”):
