The Gas Pump Taketh Away

When one leaves one place and goes to another one must buy gas to get there…. Now that is not only a statement of fact, but also sort of like heading out into the unknown since one (especially this one never knows what the price of gas will be in any given state or actually any given town within that state and since most of the time I am not sure what state or state of mind I am in or for that matter I could be in the state of confusion???????


And so it was or maybe it wasn’t?????? One can never be sure for it could be two or maybe even three, but I am sure that when I left Oak Hill there was only one so it is safe to assume that the one was me??????? At least I think it was me????? I know it was me when I got to where I was going so I can only assume that it was me all along????? Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh but I dally, not dilly or maybe I dilly dally but I know for sure that I don’t dilly dally daily, but I did leave Oak Hill heading west and this time I kept track of gas prices so that whomever/whoever (not sure which is right so it is always safe to use both) reads this will have an idea of what gas costs coming across the U.S.

My route was up I-75 in Florida to I-10 and then I-10 all the way to Arizona where I took 70 to 60 to apache junction and then on to Kingman, AZ. On up to Las Vegas and then on to Tonopah, NV. And then on to Sparks, NV. And then Susanville, CA to McCloud, CA. and then on to Grants Pass, Ore.

Below are listed all my stops for gas so you can see the difference in prices from state to state. I try and avoid buying gas in California and if I need to, I only buy what will get me into the next state…..

California has the highest prices and their pumps are a pain in the A@#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And so here are the prices listed by date, city & state, and price per gallon….

4/12    Deland, Fl     $3.56.9                      4/17 Lordsburg, NM       3.45.9

4/15 Ocala, Fl            3.44.9                       4/18 Apache Jct., AZ     3.55.9

4/15 Marianna, Fl      3.37.9                       4/21 Mesa, AZ               3.49.9

4/15 Biloxi, MS         3.29.9                       4/22 Kingman, AZ        3.39.9

4/15 Vinton, LA         3.29.9                       4/22 Beatty, NV            3.69.9

4/16 Seguin, TX         3.29.9                       4/23 Fallon, NV            3.75.9

4/16 Comfort, TX      3.34.9                       4/23 Sparks, NV            3.69.9

4/16 Ft. Stockton, TX 3.49.9                      4/23 Susanville, CA        3.91.9

4/17 Van Horn, TX     3.55.9                      4/23 Central Point, OR  3.55.9

And so if you are contemplating a drive across the country at least this will give you an idea of what gas prices are…… I took I-10 because of the weather. I do not like snow and everything above I-10 had weather problems and so the prudent thing to do was stay south until it was time to turn north!!!!!!!!
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The Happy Camp Candy Parade--2

Since Happy Camp is a small town, the parade is obviously not that big, but it is one of those fun parades where everybody knows everybody even if you don't live there!!!!!!! The staging for the whole parade actually takes place on one of the 2 main streets in town and takes about 15 minutes and that included staging us 3 times. The parade route is probably a ½ mile long, but it is packed with people and everybody has a camera. They have there own website and if I could remember or find it I would put it in the blog because some lady came up and took a picture of the hummer for the website showing the parade.

After the parade every one drives down to a park that is alongside the Klamath River where we had a picnic and the parade awards were handed out. The Old Volks and Folks took second place in the overall category???? Anyway we won something and we were asked to come back this year/next year (since it happened last year, but I am writing this year I used both) and that the last I heard was the intent.

The pictures I have of the staging are limited as we were staged and then restaged and then moved once more before the parade started. But a good time was had by all and then it was on to Cave Junction for a parade there!!!!!!!!
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The Happy Camp Candy Parade

When the term/saying/euphemism/or whatever other word that you feel can be used to describe the following statement “over the river and through the woods” when used it is normally associated with going to “Grandmother’s house”.

But it can also be used literally to describe the road from Grants Pass, Ore. To Happy Camp, Calif. The town that sits right in the middle of the woods!!!!!!!! Yes folks there really is place called Happy Camp!!!!!!! I have no idea how the town  got it's name but I googled the town and your home work assignment after reading this story is to read about HAPPY CAMP, CA.………

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Camp,_California

The road as you can see by the map pictures (find CAVE JUNCTION) at the top of the map (picture #3/upper left) the one without the bullet hole and as you can see the road really does go through the woods to the Klamath River. It is a fun and challenging road for those who like to see how fast they can go over a mountain road with a lot of curves and hairpin turns!!!!

The OLD VOLKS and FOLKS were part of the annual “BIGFOOT PARADE” and for those of you who/whom (not sure which is correct so I will play it safe and use both) have never heard of “BIGFOOT” I suggest you Google him. Anyway Happy Camp is the supposed home of BIGFOOT and the town has a parade every year to celebrate the famous local resident. According to the LORE (not sure what that word means, but I figured I would throw it in anyway) of the west, BIGFOOT has been seen everywhere from Northern California to Washington state??????

Upon arrival at Happy Camp which by the way when you come out of the woods and around the curve you are there!!!!!!!!! The OLD VOLKS and FOLKS registered for the parade.

The reason for the strange title of this story is because all or most of the parade participants throw candy to the children along the parade route. I am going to stop here since there are more than five pictures and I know how much everybody likes reading this stuff. So you have even more to look forward to!!!!
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The Trees--4

I suppose I should have quit while I was ahead but there was just

“NO WAY” I was going to end this day trip with the word PIZZA!!!!!!!

Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the PIZZA PLACE we went to in Cave Junction which is in Oregon (you can google this also) for those of you who have no idea where I am?????? There is another story coming about Cave Junction that will give you more information, well maybe not more information, but at least you will have something else to read about what happens in this town………

Now back to the final paragraph of this exciting SOJOURN into and out of the FROZEN HINTERLAND!!!!!!! How about those words????? Pretty neat, HUH?????? Although it is easier for me to use words of one syllable or less, sometimes I like to slip in a fancy word just to prove that there is something besides a PERFECT VACUUM between my ears!!!!!!!!!! And so with the pizza place being the final stop I felt like it was necessary to show you what a bunch of REALLY COOL PEOPLE look like after driving/riding in Volkswagens of various makes and models all day!!!!!!!!!!! with a lot of them not having tops and that is the REST OF THE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!
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The Trees/DID YOU KNOW????--3

Unfortunately we did not have enough time to enjoy the entire Trees of Mystery as it covers more area than what I assumed and having a time limit made for an abbreviated tour. We were some where in the Trees at 3 pm and by the time we got back to the hummer there was a note telling us that everyone was at the beach.

I could only assume that being at the beach meant somewhere north of where we were since we all had to go back the same way??????? And so, on with the jacket, stocking hat and gloves, I was all bundled up, toasty warm and we were heading up the road to the beach???? Some five miles later I came around a corner and there on the left with no warning and a short time to turn I skipped the turn signal, went down one gear made a hard left and shot into the beach parking lot!!!!!!!

After a few minutes of break time we all loaded up and headed back toward Crescent City where all would make a right turn and head back over the mountain and back into summertime!!!!!!! Upon arrival at the TUNNEL REST AREA it was time to switch back into SUMMER CLOTHES!!!!!! since the temperature had risen from below freezing to somewhere around 80 degrees!!!!!! And my comfort level had gone from below 0 to around a positive 9 out of a possible 10 on the STORZ COMFORT MONITORING SYSTEM.

Another short pause and it was on the road again and off to Cave Junction for the 8th DEADLY SIN--PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!
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The Trees--2

And so here we are again at the Trees of Mystery……. Well we aren’t really there, point of fact nobody is there now…… Well that is not really true. I am sure somebody is there, just not me or you…… Because I am here and you are there and where I am is not there and where you are reading this is not there, but I was there and Carla was there because I have pictures to prove it………

Upon arrival at the Trees the rule was everybody does their own tour thing so Carla and I began the tour of the Trees. I am not exactly sure how big an area the Trees of Mystery covers, but it has a chair lift to take you up where you can see forests to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West. There are hiking trails that allow for different story lines along the way all of which make for a very enjoyable experience.

We were on part of the Forest Experience Trail which allows you to learn about the Giant Redwoods and several other varieties of trees. We were also on part of Trail of Tall Tales. This trail tells the story of Paul Bunyan and his adventures with chainsaw carvings.

I never realized just how big this place is because upon arrival from the parking lot it actually just looks like another part of the forest!!!!!!!!!

I could actually make this story longer, but it will only be three parts and the reason for making it three parts is to allow for more pictures.
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Trees of Mystery?????

Well now that Harold's shed is finally done, well I am not sure if it is done since I am someplace other than where Harold's shed is. If I was where Harold's shed was then I could tell you whether it was done or not, but since I am not I guess the only thing to do is tell you that the shed was done to the point that I could build it and when I get back out there I will find out just how done the shed is?????

But for now Harold’s shed will remain a previous story and we or I or us together or maybe just me since I am writing and you are reading will go on to another day and time……..

And so it came about that on the 4th of August it was time to get together with the OLD VOLKS and FOLKS and take a road trip. This trip was a day journey to the Trees of Mystery in Klamath, California. In all the years that I lived out there I had driven Highway 101 numerous times and had passed the Trees all those times, but had never stopped there. I guess it is like living in Florida. I am about 7o miles from all the WORLDS, Disney, Sea, Universal and whatever other world are over there and I have absolutely no urge to go there. But the Trees sounded like fun so Carla (who had been there) and I were looking forward to going there.

Unfortunately a problem arose and we were delayed so I called the leader and told him that we were running (well not really running, more like sitting and waiting) I cannot understand how you can be sitting and waiting, but still be running late (but that will be a story for another time) and with a little luck we would catch them at the rest area on the west side of the Oregon Mountain tunnel. As luck would have it the problem was resolved to a point where we could take off and away we went using the back roads and exceeding the speed limit only slightly to make up time!!!!!

We arrived at the rest area to find everyone there and the weather cooperating nicely at about 80 degrees with blue skies. So after a short pause we were back on the road. The reason that I mentioned the weather is because as we went through Gasquet, California (you can google it)  the temperature DROPPED and what was SUMMER on one side of Oregon Mountain was WINTER!!!!!!!!!!!! on the other side. So the dress code changed from shorts and t-shirts to long pants, jackets and for me a pair of gloves!!!!!!!!!!

We stopped somewhere along Hwy 101 for a lunch break and then headed on south to the Trees and the story continues..............
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Harold’s Shed--9

I took these pictures on October 2nd with a good share of the siding put on. Little Jim gets all the credit for the siding. It actually turned out really good considering that all that siding was taken off of another building. I left before the siding was done so I have no idea what the final structure looks like????? But when I get back I will take a look and probably post some pictures???  Now haven't you had a good time learning how to build a PALLET BUILDING???

The stories from now on won't be an every day thing.  This series just worked out that way, but the next one isn't to far away.
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Harold’s Shed--8

On September 5th the electric was installed and a small lighting ceremony was held. Nothing spectacular, just a few thousand fireworks to light up the sky before we lit up the building!!!!!!!

The building now has lights, light switch, and receptacles and what started out as a "I am not sure what this building is going to look like" actually turned out to be a good strong building. I am going to add one more chapter to this story even though I had nothing to do with it.
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Harold's Shed--7

At this point I had two parts left for my part of the construction. That was to Wrap the building with TYVEK, a type of moisture proofing paper which is stapled to the outside of the building.


Then put some electric into the building which will be the final two parts of the this story.......... Wrapping the building with TYVEK is not that hard just more time consuming. It only requires two people, a staple gun and a razor knife. Little Jim and I got the building wrapped and stapled on August 28th.

Harold's Shed--6

On August 27th we started on the roof early in the morning for as you can see the clouds were turning a bit ominous and I did not want all the wood to be getting wet and then drying and taking on shapes that would allow me to sell the wood for MODERN ART  instead of what I wanted it to be!!!!!!! So with a little luck and the weather holding off we were able to get the entire roof on and sealed before any weather got to it!!!!
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Harold's shed--5

August 20th and the roof base is completed!!!!!!! As I said previously putting something like this together is like putting a jigsaw puzzle together.   It definitely takes some time to get it done. Notice how straight the roof beams are?????


BUT IT IS JUST SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!{;-/

We finished the roof as far as all the wood work on the 20th and then the next step was the final roofing material which is the next part of this story!!!!!!!

I should also say at this point that when I build something I never use nails!!!! I hate nails.  The only reason we used a hammer was to remove nails from the used boards.  This entire projects was put together using screws!!!!!!!!
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Harold's shed--4

On August 18th we started on the roof!!!!!!! I must explain why the delays. Unfortunately do to financial constraints and parts available there were certain time delays. But the weather was cooperating and I had other commitments and LITTLE JIM was also working so as time and parts would allow construction would resume..........


Because of the way the roof had to be constructed with each roof support being cut separately (as the wood had some age on it) and trying to make it all fit to the size of the plywood (which was not your normal 4x8 sheets, they were 5x9 and some change) it was obviously a time consuming job. But I must say at this point that it was a true learning experience.
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Harold's Shed--3

On July 24th the fourth wall went up and the door was framed in. I was forced to use clamps as the pallets are not the most cooperative pieces of wood!!!!!!! Once the door header was in, we were able to remove all the 2x4 bracing to actually see if the walls would stand on their own?????? and as you can see the walls did not come tumbling down and I considered this another RANDOM SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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