Redwood Run - Part 2

The first two days, Friday and Saturday, were spent near our camp ground, Richardson Grove State Park. Everything was within 15 miles, Garberville - where we bought groceries and ate out, Piercy - where the actual Redwood Run rally was being held and Leggett - where the drive-thru Chandler Tree is.

Here is my favorite hollow tree 25 feet from our campsite.Looking up at the sky!

One of the many trails around our campsite leads to the Eel River.Bob cooling off!Bob & Tia Danny, Bob, Jeff & all the bikes!

The Redwood Run is held just outside of Piercy, CA in an area that looks down into the Eel River and is backed by a cliff. In the evening, everyone sits on the hill to listen to the rock bands or stands in front of the stage. There are vender booths on the left where you can get something to eat or drink and there are bike vendors at the top of the hill

As you can see, some people camp by the river to keep cool. I like our camp site better - I don't think is too comfortable sleeping on rocks! And we have trees and shade!

Friday night we saw Delbert McClinton and Creedence Clearwater Revisited. Turn up your volume, click on the arrow and listen to Creedence.

Saturday afternoon, we drove over to Leggett and drove through the Chandler Tree. Last year, I was so excited just to see it and this year I actually got to ride my own bike through it!!

Barbara was here!!

Michelle & me & Tia sitting in a fallen redwood tree

Jeff, Bob, Danny, Michelle & Me

Later that afternoon, we are heading back to the rally through the redwoods. No - I'm not driving my bike while I take this picture! I was riding with Danny and took this one over his shoulder. Some more video of the bands - this is a group called "Ten Years After". I don't know which year they are ten years after but they were pretty good.

This video is of the Marshall Tucker Band.

Part III to follow!

Redwood Run - Part 1

Every year, on the second weekend of June, is the big Redwood Run. It is a big motorcyle rally with 2 days of concerts from 5 pm to 2 am! So we spent the weekend before cleaning the bikes and getting the camping gear ready!

I finally got some new decals for my bike.

The Redwood Run is near the coast and about a 325 mile trip. We left Thursday morning at 8 am. We rode about every type of road to get there. Through the curvy mountain road to Red Bluff and Interstate 5 to Willows (at 75 mph!). Then curvy Highway 20 to Clear Lake. Below is Danny and I on the road to Clear Lake.

Had to stop for some road construction - thankfully, we only had to wait for 15 minutes in the hot sun with all our leathers on!

Then onto Interstate 101 to Willets and then through the curvy roads (that go up and down and right and left, with cliffs on each side) through the mountains and forests.
Finally, we made it (8 hours later) to Richardson Grove State Park.

Boy, was I tired!

Spent the rest of the day setting up camp. We kept telling Jeff & Michelle that they needed to put the air mattress in the tent first before blowing it up, but they thought this was easier!!!

Part II to follow!

Mark's Graduation At Shasta College!

Mark worked really hard and saved all his money from the last fire season so that he could attend the Fire Fighter Basic I course at Shasta College. It is an intense 5 month course. Well, Mark finally graduated from his Fire Fighter Basic I course over Memorial Weekend.

The class started with 40 and only 30 finished!

Fireman Mark!

Danny's Chopper

Danny has been busy for the last month working on his bike. He wants his bike to look "old school" !!

He extended the forks out at a 13 degree angle.

Added another decal .

Put on a new exhaust pipe and air filter - the two curved pipes at the bottom and the pointed cone-shaped thing!

All Done!!

Totally different looking bike!! Looking Cool!!

Mark "The Fireman" Ward

Here are some pics that Mark sent me from the fire academy. He is getting ready to graduate from his Fire Fighter I course. It is an intensive 5 month course that you need to work at any fire station. It includes physical training, some studying on weekends and some community service. It is such a demanding course that you can not work part time at the same time. He worked and saved all his money last year from working with Cal-Fire on a few of those big fires so that he didn't need to work for the last five months. Of course, after he completes this course, he still has to complete his AA degree in Fire Science!!

"45 foot doom raise, climbed up one side, got to the top, then you stick you hands out in the air with one leg on each side supporting you, then you go back down on the other side. Used to help gain confidence with heights." quoted by Fireman Ward

I think Mark is the tall one on the right!!