Awake: 6:40am Temp 55 sleep 7+26 sunny overnight @ Wal-Mart, Santa Rosa, CA.
We were joined overnight by (3) tractor trailers, (4) smaller RV’s, & a few automobiles. Kathy is still focused on getting more CA info for the area; so 1st thing this morning, the GPS gets programmed for a visitors center & the Valero Diesel station.
We spend too much time (wasted) trying to find that visitors center in our Suzuki; the closest we came: “Chamber of Commerce” sign with an arrow & the place was not to be found. Finally….we survey the Valero Diesel station checking for pull in parking, height clearance, pulling out & hooking up again. Back to our bus @ Wal-Mart for a breakfast muffin. Fortunately Kathy found a nearby campground with available space a mere (9) miles away. Where did they hide that campground last night!
Driving the motorhome, I follow Kathy in the Suzuki to the Valero station; a few cars blocked my pulling right in but about (8) min later, they cleared out. During my sitting time, I motioned to a fellow who was gassing his Bounder RV to double check my clearance before I pull all the way under the overhang. He climbs up his permanent ladder & gives the “thumbs up” signal.
(20) gallons of diesel for each credit card swipe, then the unit would automatically shut down. (3) different swipes for one card was the total limit unless you use another credit card. So (60) gal @ 3.60 per gal is good enough for now.
After hooking up the Suzuki in a nearby parking lot, we head back north on US-101 to Route-12 East to the Sonoma Fairgrounds RV Park arriving @ 10:28am. This campground is big rig friendly; sites are gravel with plenty of maneuvering space.
Today’s travel: 11 miles +51 mins 3 gal used 3.8 mpg 13 mph avg speed.
After driving the Suzuki down to the administration bldg to pay our camping fee, Kathy relays our frustration in trying to locate the official visitors’ center for Santa Rosa. Julie, the attendant, tells us where it is but does not have a physical address. So out in the parking lot, we make a cell phone call & get that address from a genuine person. Lady Garmin does a good job &, (20) min later, we have located the Santa Rosa Convention & Visitors Bureau & California Welcome Center in the restored 1904 train depot located in the downtown Historic Railroad Square. The former ticket office/telegraph room has been transformed into an interactive museum of children’s activities, incl a model train.
We load up with brochures & magazines for the regional area including the many wine touring opportunities.
Dinner: Chicken stir fry with brown rice, fresh green grapes & whole wheat toast.
Late DVR movie: “Bull Durham” with Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Trey Wilson, etc. Smart sassy film about minor-league North Carolina baseball team & its attentive, intelligent groupie (Sarandon) who feels it is her mission to live with one young player per season & help him mature. Costner is a hardened young veteran of the game whose job is to help one particular player….cocky, undisciplined, but talented pitcher Robbins; literate & funny. 1988. Good entertainment but not for children.
High temp=65 Lights out: 12:13am
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