We said goodbye to Lake Tahoe and each other, sending everyone home except Pat, Steve, and us for the next phase of the adventure.
While trying to abide by RV Rule #1 we planned to split our first day of our voyage to a 250 mile day putting us in Clearlake Oaks, California well rested after a relatively few hours of driving (comparatively speaking). God laughs the hardest when we make plans. RV Rule #3 learned the hard way: Siri sometimes doesn’t know what the hell she is talking about. Exiting Interstate 80 (yes, Jack was driving) onto California Route 20 west, Siri promised all kinds of gas stations. She guided us miles and miles down the road to the center of Nevada City. Have you ever been to Nevada City? The roads are narrow (quaint but who has time for quaint when your gas gauge says you are 50 miles to empty) and congested for a Saturday Art Festival and Farmers Market. Did you know Siri stops talking to you when you curse at her?
Jack: If Karen doesn’t stop yelling I’m going to park this thing in the middle of the street and disappear into the crowd. None of whom, by the way, knows where a gas station is.
Karen: If Jack doesn’t find a gas station soon we are going to be parked in the middle of the street whether he likes it or not. Shut up Siri.
Willow: Who the hell is Siri?
Can’t Make This Shit Up Moment of the Day: Get to Campground after realizing the address was Island Road not Circle (Thanks again Siri). We step out of the RV to a stench so powerful it makes our eyes water. Apparently, California’s one hundredth millionth disaster of the year (drought) has caused many of the lakes to fill with algae. Stinky Algae. Can’t find the RV office but someone whom lives there (yes, lives there) offer to call the RV Park Manager. The RV park manager finally arrives. Stumbling drunk. He actually staggers towards us when we tell him we won’t be staying at no Stinky Lake. Pat and Steve arrive. Pat says she won’t be staying at no Stinky Lake. We leave. The drunk RV Manager actually follows us down the highway out of town, tailgating and weaving, until he turns off into a Liquor Store.
Jack: Not staying at no Stinky Lake.
Karen: Not staying at no Stinky Lake. The drunk RV park manager is going to kill us. Better than a fiery crash.
Willow: What’s that glorious smell?
Not a picture worthy day. Couldn’t find another RV Park. Ended up in a Travel Lodge in Ukiah after breaking RV Rule #1 obeying RV Rule #2.
Best Moment of the day: A hot shower to rinse off Stinky Lake.
Jack and Karen's Big Adventure 