In the Words and Footsteps of Muir

“The world’s big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.”

We count ourselves among the many who are inspired by the words of John Muir and are grateful for his immense contributions to the creation of our national parks. As we traveled through California back in March and April we did so in the context of his writings and sometimes even in his footsteps. The quotes contained here are from John Muir.

“I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature’s loveliness.”

Our first stop after leaving Arizona was BLM land at the southern edge of Joshua Tree National Park. We boondocked there for two nights and spent a day exploring the park. Coming in the south entrance to the park it was over 30 miles before we saw a Joshua tree which highlighted for us that there is more to see here than just the trees. In the northern part of the park we saw many of the signature plants and more of other fascinating plants, rocks and sights.  

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”

For a couple weeks we stayed at regional parks in the Victorville and San Bernadino areas which allowed us to visit family. One day we visited the Calico Ghost Town. On another we went to a dog beach at Huntington, completing our Atlantic to Pacific traverse of the country.

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”

Next we moved up to the Fresno area to moochdock with family there for a few days, putting our solar power to good use. We did a day trip up to Shaver Lake which is very low. On the way to Shaver we drove through a lot of burn area from the 2020 Creek Fire. California is so dry.

“The mountains are calling and I must go.”

Then it was time to head up into the mountains to Yosemite Lakes RV Resort, a Thousand Trails park. It is only 5 miles from the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park. Part of the route we took going through Snelling and Coulterville is the same route John Muir took when he walked from San Francisco to Yosemite in 1868. During our stay we explored Yosemite Valley and Hetch Hetchy. In the evenings back at our camper we watched the first couple episodes of the Ken Burns special on the National Parks where they talk about John Muir’s contributions to Yosemite.

“Another glorious Sierra day in which one seems to be dissolved and absorbed
and sent pulsing onward we know not where. Life seems neither long nor short,
and we take no more heed to save time or make haste than do the trees and stars.
This is true freedom, a good practical sort of immortality.”

Returning to the Central Valley we headed north to Sacramento and stayed at the Lake Minden Thousand Trails RV Campground for a couple nights. We had a wonderful visit with friends of ours who were neighbors back in Minnesota till they moved to California right before the snowiest February on record. Smart folk.

“Beauty beyond thought everywhere, beneath, above, made and being made forever.”

We continued our push north heading up to Redding and the lovely Mountain Gate RV Park. We only had one night here but wished we could have stayed longer. This private park was beautiful.

“Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue.”

We were now up against the mountains again and also were running into winter even though it was the second week of April. A couple days before we arrived the passes to the north on I-5 had been closed because of a snowstorm. We had hoped to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park but it was still snowbound and not open yet.

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine into trees.”

Fortunately, our plans were turning us west towards the coast. We took 299 winding over and through the mountains in that direction. There were 3 or 4 passes of around 4000’ that had snow in the woods along the road but fortunately the roads themselves were just wet when we crossed. Just west of Redding we went through Whiskeytown National Recreation Area which was at the center of the 2018 Carr fire, the most destructive fire in the history of the National Park System.

“As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing.
I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche.
I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens,
and get as near the heart of the world as I can.”

At the west end of 299 we arrived at Blue Lake and stayed at the casino there which has a special parking lot where RVs can stay, without hookups, next to the drive-through COVID testing. It was our base for 3 nights as we took care of taxes and other business. This would be the launching point of our trip up the Pacific Coast.

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while,
and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”

In our next post we will share our stories from the Pacific Coast of C.O.W. – California, Oregon, Washington. It was so beautiful and peaceful, definitely a highlight of our travels.

“Writing is like the life of a glacier; one eternal grind.”