28 June 2005: Yesterday just about dark, Sadie and Harry wanted to go out. I put their harnesses and leashes on them and we ventured out to sit at the picnic table until a fox scampered right up to us! I grabbed the cats, stomped my feet at the fox, and we ran for cover back into the RV. Another escape...

Today, we drove into the town of Weaverville to do laundry, shop, and make return phone calls to insurance agents. Ruby's windshield came in, but we're waiting on insurance approval before we get it installed. Now Tom has to find a repair shop for the body work on the RV. This is tough to do without cell phone service. He's making the calls from the pay phone in the park.

As we were driving through town, I checked out the movies being shown at the local theatre. It's a three-some! Tom Cruise stars in War of the Worlds, his ex-wife Nicole Kidman stars in Bewitched, and his current fiance Katie Holmes stars in Batman Returns, all in the same theatre. Go figure.

27 June 2005: Yesterday, we took Harry for a walk behind the RV. He followed us and explored a little. We happened upon bear scat. Park owner says that they have not seen any bears in this park in a few years, but this was not more than a few weeks' old. Hmmm...

This morning I was taking photos of the local backyard birds. I saw Harry hunkering down to go after something. I called him back, thinking that he was probably going toward one of the park owner's three cats, and was ready to go get him when I saw a streak of black fur run back into the RV. I looked from whence he came and there was the biggest fox I have ever seen! Thankfully, he out ran it this time. I hollered for Tom who chased the fox away, for now. If these nocturnal animals are parading themselves around the park mid-day, imagine how aggressive they must be at night. Harnesses and leashes for the cats from now on!

Tom has been spending lots of time at the pay phone talking to our insurance agents trying to get the paperwork done so we can get the RV repaired and Ruby's windshield replaced. The windshield has been ordered and it will take about 6 hours for the work to be done in Weaverville. There is a local movie theatre in town so we'll see a film or two then hang-out and explore the historic part of town that day. The RV work will need to be done in Eureka. So, we'll leave this park early and drive there to get this work done. We'll probably have to stay in a motel for a night or two while the sanding is done and the paint dries. More dirt and dust! I think that we'll leave the cats in their cat-condo overnight. They hate hotel rooms more than we do!

23 June 2005: Today's "boo-boo": As we were driving to the nearest town of Weaverville, a truck threw a rock and cracked Ruby's windshield. More repairs. Good news. Park owners apologized for the grungy site and spoke with the neighbors about cleaning up after their pet puppy. I bought some lime to spread around to deodorize the area. Harry and I will clean-up the site tomorrow. Deer are numerous here and are munching on the new leaves on the trees. The steller's jays are also visiting. I'll hang-up the humming bird feeder tomorrow to attract those fast fliers and put some seed out for the jays. We ate some tasty meatballs in an Italian restaurant where country music was playing. Odd. The Trinity River is green and flowing. There were several rafting groups on the river today. We have to travel back "into town" tomorrow for my chiropractor's appointment, so I'll try to get some photos of the river as we follow it up the mountains. Hope the "bone cracker" can fix my right shoulder which stays stiff with limited mobility probably caused by driving and hunching over the computer, both necessary activities for being an "image nomad."

22 June 2005: Today, I'm tired of RV'ing and want to quit. Yesterday, as we left Groveland, CA near Yosemite, a distraught mother backed out of a parking lot into us as we drove down Main Street. Happened right in front of the Iron Door Saloon. How could she miss us?! We're as big as a house. Her daughter, who was in the car, had just been diagnosed with pneumonia, so her mind was elsewhere. No one was injured. Her car's bumper left a long black streak down the right side of our RV. Time for more body work, mostly sanding and painting.

Today, we had a long drive. First on CA I-5 North. Drove our rig through the truck wash. She came out looking good. Then on CA 299 W, we came through miles of road construction; tar, gravel, and dirt jumped up from the road onto our clean rig. She's not clean anymore.

This area of California is called the Trinity Alps. We drove through the nearest town of Weaverville which has a quaint historic section. We easily found the woodsy, quiet campground on the Trinity River, and it's not as advertised. The campground website stretches the truth, as does most advertising, and the ratings are way too high for this place. I will ask that the litter, rusty old fire rings, and doggy-poo be picked up before I put the tablecloth on the picnic table. Leave nothing but footprints...

On the bright side, Mt. Shasta is an awesome sight to see with her snowy cap. I did see a deer in the site as we backed-in, over and over and over to get it just right, and I heard the river flowing by. Of course, the river breeds pesky mosquitoes! There are always pros and cons, pluses and minuses, good and bad ...

Just after dark, Harry escaped and took off hunting under a nearby cabin. I worried about him because we don't know this place or the dangers it holds for our cats. When I opened the door to call him again after he'd been gone for about an hour, he was sitting on the picnic table watching the night critters. He's back home, safe and cozy in his cat-condo.

Yep, tonight I'm tired of this nomadic lifestyle. Maybe I'll change my mind tomorrow after a good night's sleep, morning tea, and a chat with the owners/managers of this park about renting us a littered, poopy site. I will ask them to clean it up. If they don't, we'll search elsewhere for our next "rent-a-yard." The grass is always greener ...