getting to Redding

 We got into Redding after stopping at a rest area to pan for gold and mainly throw rocks into a stream of snow and rain runoff.  I think that Oscar would be happy to just throw rocks in water all day if we’d let him.  We head into town and try to look for accommodations, but this doesn’t pan out very well and decide to head to Turtle Bay Exploratorium first.  We get there at 3:09 and cheaper admission starts at 3,

  so perfect.  We get to go to the Parrot playhouse where we feed lorakeets and daddy gets pooped on.  This becomes the best part of the visit for Oscar for a while.  I see now that there is no avoiding the scatological mindset that seems to invade small boys.  Oscar always laughs when he passes gas and then says “goo meh” as excuse me with a smile.  He wants to go back to see the cow pooping and now finds it amazing that even birds poop.  We see all the outside animals and head back into the 

museum because it is still raining here in Redding.  He zooms through the underwater river part with fish all around and heads to an old truck that is sitting in one of the rooms.  He stays in the truck, moving the steering wheel and turning on the radio buttons that give you music and information from the 50’s and 60’s.  He doesn’t want to leave this truck and there is really no reason to because the rest of the museum is closed while they put up their next exhibition.  We will come back to see the Sundial River bridge and walk along the Sacramento river.  I have some brochures from the museum for possible hotels and we’re able to get a room for a couple of nights at the Travelodge.  Westside Pizza is next door and perfect for a restful evening in the room and planning for another day or two here.