03-19-22 Saturday Benbow to Cloverdale/Healdsburg KOA
03-19-22 Saturday
Cloverdale/Healdsburg KOA, Cloverdale, California
Jeeps in Parking Lot: 2
Drive Time: 2.5 hours
Miles: 122.2 miles
Arrived: 3:30 pm
Raining this morning so getting ready to leave was a bit messy for Barry...poor guy. Fred and Helaine came over and we exchanged contact information. They also wanted to see our RV and check out the ceiling lights we replaced. They are thinking of doing the same thing.
Barry was still concerned about the front left tire but said he would just keep an eye on it. He thinks the tire sensor may be failing.
We stopped in a little town past Willets called Hopland for gas. He was able to get into the station but getting out may be another story. If you are not aware, when towing a vehicle we can’t back up.
This station you have to enter on an upward slope and turning right onto the road is going to be challenging. As it turns out Barry couldn’t turn right, so I get out with my walkie talkie and guided him past the pumps and the concrete posts on the right. We’ve had one too many encounters with a concrete post, like an $8,000 encounter. He ended up turning left, leaving me there, going down the road, making a right turn then a left turn through a parking lot and back onto the highway. Pulled up to the side of the road where I was waiting and picked me up.....LOL! You do what you have to do! Must of looked funny for people passing me by.
We made it to Cloverdale in two and a half hours. Before we came to Cloverdale, I checked out how far the KOA was off the highway. It’s five miles off the highway! I asked Barry if he knew that, and he did not. When he made the reservations, he didn’t check that out. Oh well. We got off the highway and went east per Google. We followed Google’s directions, the road narrowed and at times was somewhat concerning. We finally made a left and proceeded up a windy, steep, one lane, hilly road. At one turn we passed a sign that said, “Don’t worry. You are almost there.” I bloody hope so.
We made it to the top and the KOA office. It’s surrounded by grape vines and an incredible view. Rain stopped while we checked in. Barry walked down to our campground spot to see which way he felt comfortable parking. I thought about going with him after the gas incident earlier!!
We drove down a hill, winding to the right then to the left and parked in our spot. It started pouring!! We decided to sit in the RV and wait out the downpour. Ten minutes later it stopped, and the sun came out. Barry leveled the coach, hooked up power, water, and sewer.
We drove down a hill, winding to the right then to the left and parked in our spot. It started pouring!! We decided to sit in the RV and wait out the downpour. Ten minutes later it stopped, and the sun came out. Barry leveled the coach, hooked up power, water, and sewer.
Our spot was right across from the pond. Active with a family of white American Pekin ducks, two geese, and a few mallard ducks. The red-winged blackbirds serenaded us while swaying on the pussy willows. We took a walk around the pond. One of the signs posted stated the pond is catch and release only. There are a few cabins close to the pond but looked like they were empty. We also walked by the laundry room and restrooms. There is a building next to the laundry room. During the summer it’s filled with games and activities for families, and a snack shack.
The neighbors next to us pulled in after we were settled, and their oldest son headed to the pond with his fishing pole. They stay at this KOA 4 or 5 times a year. It’s close to their home and their kids love fishing here. Their dad had on the exact Lagunitas shirt Barry did and naturally the two struck up a conversation. The dog’s name is Nova, dad is Brandon and can’t remember any other names. Barry and Brandon chatted up a storm while watching the kids fish.
For dinner I made a Caesar salad and Barry cooked shrimp and that was our dinner, yummy. After all the dishes were done we made s'mores. It was cold outside but our firepit kept us warm. Turned out to be a great investment. Now we want to rid ourselves of our fire chimney at home and replace with a firepit. We will see how long it takes us to get to that project. We each ate two s'mores, solved the world problems and turned in for the night. Seemed like a long day. Only one more day on the road. I don’t think I’m ready to go home yet.
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