Mount Shasta, California to Blue Ox RV Park in Albany, Oregon

We drove our coach 292 miles, about six hours of driving, from Mount Shasta City KOA Holiday in Mount Shasta, California to Blue Ox RV Park in Albany, Oregon.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading north:

Route map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

Back through the narrow KOA driveway:

Back through the narrow KOA driveway

Entering I-5 North:

Entering I-5 North

Black Butte:

Black Butte

Barn:

Barn

Anderson Grade Summit Elevation 3067 Feet:

Anderson Grade Summit Elevation 3067

Klamath River bridge:

Klamath River bridge

Oregon Welcomes You:

Oregon Welcomes You

Siskiyou Mountain Summit Elevation 4310 Feet, Highest Elevation on I-5:

Siskiyou Mountain Summit Elevation 4310 Feet, Highest Elevation on I-5

Truck speed guidance:

Truck speed guidance

6% Downgrade:

6% Downgrade

Emigrant Lake looking mostly full:

Emigrant Lake looking mostly full

Oregon Welcome Center rest area:

Oregon Welcome Center rest area

More barns:

More barns

Table Rock:

Table Rock

Ouch:

Ouch

Exit 99:

Exit 99

Seven Feathers rest area:

Seven Feathers rest area

Paladin on the dash:

Paladin on the dash

Downhill:

Downhill

Willamette River:

Willamette River

Fuel stop:

Fuel stop

Exit 233:

Exit 233

Arriving at Blue Ox RV Park:

Blue Ox RV Park

They recommended (in the reservation email) parking here to check in:

They recommended parking here to check in

Office:

Blue Ox RV Park

Campground map:

Map

Blue Ox RV Park

Blue Ox RV Park

It’s them again:

It's them again

Our site, #144:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

A mostly long-term RV park, but decent short-term spots.

Lodi to Mount Shasta City KOA Holiday in Mount Shasta, California

We drove our coach 255 miles, about five hours of driving, from Flag City RV Resort in Lodi to Mount Shasta City KOA Holiday in Mount Shasta, California.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading north:

Route map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

Entering I-5 North:

Entering I-5 North

Sacramento River:

Sacramento River

Rest area:

Rest area

Billboard for Granzella’s… truck & RV parking, eh? Interesting… I quickly investigated them for a lunch stop:

Billboard for Granzella's... truck & RV parking, eh? Interesting...

Swimming pools:

Swimming pools

Granzella’s parking looked compatible, so exit to Williams:

Exit to Williams

Williams arch:

Williams arch

The aforementioned truck & RV parking:

The aforementioned truck & RV parking

Parked:

Parked

Granzella’s Restaurant:

Granzella's

Granzella's

Granzella's

Granzella’s

Granzella’s

Granzella’s

Tasty:

Granzella’s

Later, a rest area:

Rest area

Mount Shasta in the distance:

Mount Shasta

Shasta Lake:

Shasta Lake

Bridge

Paladin asleep:

Paladin asleep

Mount Shasta:

Mount Shasta

Castle Crags:

Castle Crags

Mount Shasta:

Mount Shasta

Pointy peak:

Pointy peak

City of Mount Shasta:

City of Mount Shasta

City of Mount Shasta

Arriving at Mount Shasta City KOA Holiday:

Mount Shasta KOA

A narrow access road:

A narrow access road

Mount Shasta KOA

Campground map:

Campground map

Our site, #32:

Our site

Take note of the neighbor RV; we saw them again at our next stop, too:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

A tight access road, but a perfectly fine place for a one-night stop. Though some train horn noise. Not a lot of options in this area; KOA is easy.

Orange to Flag City RV Resort in Lodi, California

We drove our coach 379 miles, about six hours of driving, from Orangeland RV Park in Orange to Flag City RV Resort in Lodi, California.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading north:

Route map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

Following the coach to toad up by the office, as usual:

Following the coach to toad up by the office, as usual

Toaded up

Tight corner for a motorhome and toad totaling over 60 feet, but easier when we can take both lanes:

Tight corner for a 60-foot motorhome and toad, but easier when we can take both lanes

In the correct lane for CA-91 East:

In the correct lane for CA-91 East

Exit to CA-91:

Exit to CA-91

Exit to I-5 North:

Exit to I-5 North

I-5 North:

I-5 North

Downtown LA:

Downtown LA

California freeways doing their thing:

California freeways doing their thing

Traffic and hill:

Traffic and hill

Wildflowers:

Wildflowers

Rest area:

Rest area

Hills:

Hills

Exit to CA-269:

Exit to CA-269

An interesting toad:

An interesting toad

Fuel stop:

Fuel stop

Spendy fuel:

Spendy fuel

Paladin keeping the seat warm:

Paladin keeping the seat warm

Hills:

Hills

Aquaduct:

Aquaduct

Closed rest area:

Closed rest area

Exit to CA-12:

Exit to CA-12

Arriving at Flag City RV Resort:

Arriving at Flag City RV Resort

Campground map:

Campground map

Our site, #E14:

Our site

Annoyingly for a one-night stay, we had to untoad, as the site was too short to remain connected. That might be my fault, though; they let you choose your site when booking, and I must not have measured it with Google Maps:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

If we stay here again in the future, we’d choose a better site.

Baseball: Anaheim Angels vs Seattle Mariners

We attended a game of the Anaheim Angels vs our Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium in Orange, California.

Jenn’s game summary:

Opening day in Anaheim stumbled out of the gate, with the anthem singer mugging for time due to a botched flyover by vintage fighter planes. The crowd booed the outgoing president of baseball ops and remained agitated throughout the game. Fans seemed more into the party than the game itself. Bryan Woo was electric for the M’s, but our bats were quiet until the 10th when Cole Young tripled to score the ghost runner, and Josh Naylor hit Julio and Cole in. The Angels got one back with a sac fly in the bottom of the 10th, but too little too late. Overall, a subpar experience at a subpar park, but the Mariners won, so a net positive.

An interactive map of the ballpark:

Angel Stadium

Angel Stadium

Angel Stadium

Pressed penny:

Pressed penny

Looking for a pin for our board:

Looking for a pin for our board

Chicken burger and fries:

Chicken burger and fries

Batting practice:

Batting practice

Earthquake instructions:

Earthquake instructions

Waterfall:

Waterfall

Dessert waffles:

Dessert waffles

Mariners vs Angels:

Mariners vs Angels

Welcome to Opening Week:

Welcome to Opening Week

Players lining up:

Players lining up

Angels arriving:

Angels arriving

Big flag:

Big flag

Late flyover:

Late flyover

Play ball:

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Beachball:

Beachball

Baseball

Churro:

Churro

Baseball

Exploring the ballpark:

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Challenge:

Challenge

Pacman race:

Pacman race

Hat game:

Hat game

Hat game

Replay:

Replay

Challenge:

Challenge

Cheerleaders:

Cheerleaders

Baseball

Conference

Baseball

Baseball

Big hats:

Big hats

Disney Springs and Paseo

We went to Downtown Disney in California, and the Paseo restaurant, to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

An interactive map:

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Paseo, a fancy Mexican-themed restaurant:

Paseo

Paseo

Paseo

Paseo

Paseo

Paseo

“QUESO FUNDIDO; gruyère fondue, roasted wild mushrooms, salsa macha, chorizo verde, shallots, charred masa bread”:

Paseo

“CARNE ASADA; goat cheese fondue, oven-roasted tomatoes, roasted shishito, fingerling potatoes g f 12 oz ny steak”:

Paseo

“SHORT RIBS; braised short ribs, oven-roasted tomato, charred avocado, pinto beans, blend of guajillo & ancho chiles, salsa verde, flour tortillas”:

Paseo

Paseo

“PAVLOVA; classic meringue, fresh orange pee purée, guava pâte de fruit, horchata foam” (a tasty variation on the Kiwi classic):

Paseo

Paseo

We stopped in the Star Wars Trading Post on the way out:

Star Wars Trading Post

Star Wars Trading Post

Star Wars Trading Post

Star Wars Trading Post

Star Wars Trading Post

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Bonita to Orangeland RV Park in Orange, California

We drove our coach 104 miles, about two hours of driving, from Sweetwater Summit Regional Park in Bonita to Orangeland RV Park in Orange, California.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading north:

Route map

An interactive map, with a potential stop pinned:

Tight turn for a big coach:

Tight turn for a big coach

Big skeleton, narrow road:

Big skeleton, narrow road

CA-54 West:

CA-54 West

Exit to I-805 North:

Exit to I-805 North

Heading to LA:

Heading to LA

I like when they have helpful markings in each lane:

I like when they have helpful markings in each lane

Traffic:

Traffic

Traffic

A large chandelier in this car:

A large chandelier in this car

Rest area, but it was full; that’s okay, we didn’t really need to stop:

Rest area, but it was full

Exit to CA-57 North:

Exit to CA-57 North

Passing Angel Stadium:

Passing Angel Stadium

Exit:

Exit

Still working on this new garage:

Still working on this new garage

Arriving at Orangeland RV Park, our fifth stay here, the last just back in December:

Arriving at Orangeland RV Park

Arriving at Orangeland RV Park

Campground map:

Campground map

Untoaded:

Untoading

Our site, #29:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Always a nice place to stay when going to Disneyland… and in this case Angel Stadium.

Baseball: San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants

We attended a game of the San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants at Petco Park in San Diego, California.

Jenn’s game summary:

The Padres beat the Giants 7-1, with an excellent start from Nick Pivetta, who limited the Giants’ offense. Adrian Houser allowed a couple of early runs and was hobbled by sloppy defense. The game stayed fairly quiet until the 8th when the Padres scored 5 runs, including a home run to break it open. The Giants managed just one run late and never really threatened. Petco Park is absolutely beautiful with decently priced seats and excellent food options, including tri-tip nachos and banana pudding (in a helmet). Friendly staff and perfect weather for a ballgame.

An interactive map of the ballpark:

Petco Park

Petco Park

Hall of Fame:

Hall of Fame

Team store:

Team store

Museum:

Museum

Museum

Museum

Seaside Market:

Seaside Market

Seaside Market

Seaside Market

Seaside Market

Tri-tip nachos:

Tri-tip nachos

Banana pudding:

Banana pudding

View from our seats; section 101, row 17, seats 19 & 20:

View from our seats; section 101, row 17, seats 19 & 20

Seat selfie

Fun Padres mascot:

Fun Padres mascot

Umpire assignments:

Umpire assignments

Petco Park:

Petco Park

Play ball:

Play ball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

ABS challenge:

ABS challenge

Baseball

Out at home:

Baseball

Exploring the ballpark:

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Pretzel:

Pretzel

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Sun City, Arizona to Sweetwater Summit Regional Park in Bonita, California

We drove our coach 354 miles, about six hours of driving, from Encore Paradise RV Resort in Sun City, Arizona to Sweetwater Summit Regional Park in Bonita, California.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading west:

Route map

An interactive map, with potential stops pinned:

Pulled out of our site in Encore Paradise:

Pulled out of our site in Phoenix

Pulled out of our site in Phoenix

Leaving Paradise:

Leaving Paradise

Exit to I-10 West:

Exit to I-10 West

Teacups ride trailer:

Teacups trailer

Rail crossing:

Rail crossing

Dinosaurs:

Dinosaurs

Another Tiffin Allegro Bus (with poor lane placement):

Another Tiffin Allegro Bus

Oversize load:

Oversize load

Train:

Train

Rest area:

Rest area

Mountains:

Mountains

Mountains

Arizona centennial sign:

Arizona

Fuel stop before leaving Arizona:

Fuel stop before leaving Arizona

This short handle isn’t all that useful for washing RV windshields:

This short handle isn't all that useful for washing RV windshields

Spendy fuel, but cheaper than California:

Spendy fuel, but cheaper than California

Interesting bridge art:

Interesting bridge art

California State Line:

California State Line

Welcome to California, and Pacific Time Zone:

Welcome to California

Agricultural Inspection Station:

Agricultural Inspection Station

No Inspection Today:

No Inspection Today

Rest area (with a dump station):

Rest area (with a dump station)

Interesting rocks:

Interesting rocks

Interesting rocks

Tecate Divide; Elevation 4140 feet:

Tecate Divide; Elevation 4140 feet

Closed immigration inspection:

Closed immigration inspection

Exit to CA-125 South:

Exit to CA-125 South

Arriving at the campground of Sweetwater Summit Regional Park:

Arriving at Sweetwater Summit Campground

Entrance station:

Entrance station

Campground map:

Map

Our site, #134, with a nice concrete pad:

Our site

Very level site:

Level site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

A nice campground; we’d stay here again.

Baseball: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Detroit Tigers

We attended a game of the Arizona Diamondbacks vs Detroit Tigers at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jenn’s game summary:

At Chase Field, the roof was open to a warm desert evening as Opening Day unfolded—pregame ceremonies, a military flyover, and a packed crowd setting the tone. The D’backs built an early lead (Corbin Carroll had a triple and a home run) and held off the Tigers 9-6 to secure their first win of the season. Michael Soroka set the tone in dominant form, including an immaculate inning, before turning things over to the bullpen, which promptly imploded, giving up 6 runs in the 7th inning. The home crowd booed their own squad before the D’backs got another homer in the bottom of the inning to get things back on track for Paul Sewald to close it out. The churro dog was interesting, but it was no Disneyland churro.

An interactive map of the ballpark:

Chase Field

Chase Field

Team store:

Team store

Chase Field

Dessert first: Churro Dog, a hotdog-like form factor made of a cake donut, churro, and ice cream; not the best churro, but pretty tasty:

Churro Dog

Churro Dog

View from our seats: Section 319, Row 14, Seats 1 & 2:

View from our seats: Section 319, Row 14, Seats 1 - 2

Roof opening:

Roof opening

Roof opening

Roof opening

Got a couple of burgers from a mini Chick-fil-A:

Chick-fil-A

Legends mascots:

Legends mascots

Opening Day ceremonies:

Opening Day ceremonies

Opening Day ceremonies

Opening Day ceremonies

Play ball:

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Baseball

Dillon Dingler is a very baseball name:

Dillon Dingler is a very baseball name

Home run:

Home run

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark:

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Exploring the ballpark

Bigger Chick-fil-A on another level:

Bigger Chick-fil-A

I went to Streets of New York for some garlic cheesy bread:

Streets of New York for garlic cheesy bread

Garlic cheesy bread

Play review:

Play review

New pitcher:

New pitcher

Legends race:

Legends race

Home run:

Home run

Baseball

Another home run:

Home run

Hat game:

Hat game

More hats:

More hats

Organist:

Organist

Velocity Truck Centers for engine air heater repair

As we were arriving in Phoenix, we got a Check Engine light on our dash. Never a welcome occurrence!

Error codes on dash

Looking in the BlueFire app, it showed more details of the codes; clearly a short of the engine intake air heater:

BlueFire faults page

Later in our stay, we started the engine again to see if the codes were still there. They were, so I contacted NIRVC to see if they could fix it. They referred me to Velocity Truck Centers, which is a Cummins dealer, and has an RV department.

Travel route, heading south then back north afterwards:

Travel route

Our appointment was for 7 AM; we considered arriving the day before, since they had a few full-hookup spots, but decided to just go very early in the morning. Probably a good thing, as their RV department was very busy that day; there may not have been a spot for us.

We toaded up just before sunrise:

Toading up early in the morning

Toading up early in the morning

Sunrise:

Sunrise

Exit to the truck place:

Exit

A hot air balloon in the distance:

Hot air balloon in the distance

Arriving at the truck service center:

Truck service center

Velocity Truck Centers:

Velocity Truck Centers

The RV waiting room was so crowded that one couple brought in camp chairs:

Crowded waiting room

We decided we didn’t want to hang out there, so went to Chick-fil-A for second breakfast:

Chick-fil-A for second breakfast

Then some chores, and to Starbucks to spend the next five hours:

Starbucks

They completed the work in the afternoon; the issue was a metal-wrapped line intermittently touching the heater relay, causing a short. They secured the line, and replaced the relay, since it had been damaged by the arcing. Just over one RV Buck (about $1,300) to fix.

Heading back to the RV park after the work was complete:

Heading back to the RV park

Arriving back at Paradise:

Arriving back at Paradise

Back to our site, which looks a bit weird without the RV there:

Back to our site

Back to our site

A hassle, but I’m glad it was a relatively easy fix.