Grants Pass - Oct. 30 - 31

There’s something about the folks in OR that drew us back when shit happens. 70 miles NE to Grants Pass brought us first to one RV dealer who referred us to another better able to help. After a quick assessment and part ordered, we headed off to Valley of the Rogue SP for the night with the bonus of a laundromat, showers and 2 cool new birds (acorn woodpecker and red bellied sapsucker).

Somewhere along the way, I had picked up a copy of “Wild” By Cheryl Strayed recommended by friends because it was all about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Camped out at Siskiyou RV World for the day, timing was right to put a dent in a new book.  As I started reading, a light bulb went off! Driving the rim of Crater Lake a week ago, at least two parking lots were blocked off and filled with crews filming. You can always tell it’s a movie set because they use those indiscreet yellow signs with black lettering “To Set”. Filming of Wild started mid October and the PCT goes around the rim so it’s highly likely they jumped on the beautiful weather we had and were filming there.

Four hours later convinced I too could benefit from hiking the PCT, we had a pristine new PVC L connection down under where no one will ever notice except that we again smelled sweet. We also got a lead from Steve on a coil and suspension guru in the Sacramento area. We have a date set on 11/8 to meet with Bill Erb at Valley Springworks in Dixon, CA. It makes sense to talk with a mechanical engineer whose specialty is coil and suspension dynamics, manufacturers his own parts and has taken a special interest in solving low clearance problems with Roadtreks.

Don’t bring bananas into CA! Crossing over to OR, we had noticed an agricultural checkpoint southbound going back into CA. I asked around and the ladies at the RV place said yup, no fruits or veggies going over the border. I stressed a bit because we had all sorts of stuff and wrestled with whether or not to hide some or all. The checkpoint ended up being closed when we returned but something to remember. Nightfall got us to Smith River Rec. Area, Panther Flat CG, Gasquet, CA. Nice spot.

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Jedediah Smith SP/NP CG, Crescent City, CA - Oct. 29

Finally over the border to CA and into the Redwoods, we have a site in the Jedediah Smith SP/NP in Crescent City. After an afternoon of exploring, we were coming back into the CG when the bounce of the van coincidentally hit a high spot caused by a tree root and disrupted the seal or broke the phalange on the pipe connected to the holding tank (black of course). It’s not a debilitating problem but one we have to fix so we may opt to go back north to OR where there is a cluster of RV folks rather than push through CA and miss places we want to see.

We will be pursuing a lifting kit to get another couple inches higher.  Six inches off the ground isn't making it under normal situations out here. Because of the rain in this area, every place we pull into has crowns that cause problems.

Couple Photos

South Coast of OR - Oct. 25 - 28

My sister headed west in the early 1970’s, ended up in Bandon and never came back east to live. As a younger sister, I always had a curiosity and put Bandon on my bucket list. ‘Course she met her husband there which I can’t duplicate but the stories of finding agates and petrified wood along the beach fascinated me. A couple nights at Bullards Beach State Park and many walks along the beach didn’t disappoint.  Walking into the sun at low tide seeing the sparkle of an agate was so cool. The rock hound obsession begins – agates, jasper, petrified myrtle wood  . . . . !

Leaving Bandon, we looped back about 30 miles north to Coos Bay to see Cape Arago, Simpson and Shell Island (home of one of the largest mammal haul outs), Shore Acres State Park and Charleston where we got a “loin of albacore tuna” for dinner. Shore Acres was the private estate of Louis J. Simpson.  The mansion is no longer there but the gardens, garden cottage and acreage along the coast were magnificent. It was a drizzly day but the volunteers were in the process of stringing 300,000 lights on the shrubs, trees, garden house, pavilion and pond area for “Holiday Lights” so it was really spectacular.

I bought this book, Gem Trail, at a rock shop in Bandon that listed spots to go rocking. It also talked about camping possibilities in the areas mentioned so I thought we could try a place along the Rogue River for the night. Thankfully we checked it out at lunch time, could have camped there in the gravel and bushes a ways from the river but declined. Traveling into Port Orford, we followed lettering on the road, OCEAN VIEW. This brought us up to Battle Rock Wayfinding Park on a bluff that overlooked the Port of Port Orford. Overnight parking was welcome, free and with the most beautiful panoramic view. The Port is the only open-water port on the OR Coast and 1 of 6 “dolly” ports in the world where boats are hoisted in and out of the water daily.

Next night, we tried one more suggestion from the Gem Trail. This was Social Security Bar along the Chetco River in Brooking. People who retire in OR must not leave because this was the second beach/bar that we have found named after pensioners in OR. It turned out that the parking area was now posted for Day Use Only so we continued up river to a SP that was listed as open all year. Closed, we continued into the Siskiyou NF and settled in at a primitive site that I think was the Miller Bar CG. There wasn’t a sign and the GPS location wasn’t particularly accurate but it was a primitive site in the NF! In the gravel along the river bed there were amazing chucks of jasper and other assorted rocks. The van is getting heavier!

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Crater Lake & the Upper Klamath NWR - Oct. 23 - 24

The weather forecast was for more sun and the web cam at Crater Lake crystal clear so we continued south. As we approached the North Entrance to Crater Lake, several signs said that the entrance was closed. Not to take No for an answer (and based on what I had read online), we continued. Turned out road was open. It was just self sign-in at the booth. Another perfect day without  a cloud in the sky. The East Rim was open but not the West. The one trail I wanted to hike was covered with snow and ice. My knee was doing a lot better but not 100% so decided it wasn’t worth the climb.

Coming down the south side, we continued to Rocky Point Resort CG on the Upper Klamath Lake. This is in the northern part of the Klamath Basin National Refuge. We don’t stop at commercial RV CGs often and were pleasantly surprised. The view was spectacular and again we were the only ones there. This is more like a camp probably frequented mostly by fishermen. There are cabins, docks, a restaurant and general store. The property is owned (or leased) by the Odd Fellows and managed by Todd and Sondra. This was to be a one night stop but with a canoe, we stayed one more day and should have stayed a week! (Would have if I had a spotting scope)

The southern coast of OR was calling so back we went.

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Back to the Cascades - Oct. 19 - 22

It was a beautiful drive from Newport, OR east through the Willamette Valley with wineries, farms and quaint towns with a night in Foster, OR at a county park, River Bend CG. This was a really pristine CG with very nice facilities. Always attracted by water, we chose a non-hookup site by the river.

Next stop Sisters, a western town with lots of shops and several antique stores for Harry with nightfall at Tumalo SP in Bend. The sign coming in said No Vacancy which based on past experience didn't make sense. We along with another camper went in anyway and spoke to the host. She didn't have a clue what was open. The campground was about half empty! There was no escaping the road noise at this park and no dumping facilities. My fault for not reading the guide but we were headed for dispersed camping so we quickly swung by La Pine SP south of Bend. Too quick as it turned out. A truck was passing as we left but hung along side. The New Englander in me couldn't figure out what I had done to bring on the road rage until I realized he was trying to tell us something was wrong! Looking back, I didn't see the bikes. We had forgotten to put the rack back up after filling the tanks! Oops! Back to Bend we went to get a new tire for Harry’s bike after quite a drag along the pavement!

A fellow camper in Tumalo tipped us off about Newberry National Volcanic Monument and the CGs. This is a 1,200 sq. mile area about the size of RI. Parts of park were closed as were the campgrounds but they had called the National Forest Agency who told them what CGs could still be accessed (never thought of doing this). Paulina Lake, a crater lake at 6331 ft. was one such spot. There are several CGs but the campers again told us of the one, Little Crater Lake that had the best sun to quickly warm us after a 20 degree night. With 49 sites strung out along the lake, we were one of two the first night and the only one the second. This night Harry woke me at 2:30 to say he heard footsteps in the gravel and then quickly fell back to sleep. Dreaming for sure but I spent the rest of the night on guard. #46 was the best for early/late sun and the best view. It didn’t get below 30 degrees and the days were 70 plus with not a cloud in the sky. My kind of weather! Biking, hiking and hanging out.

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More of the North Coast of Oregon - Oct. 17 - 18

Sliding into the River Bend County Park in Foster, OR Saturday night after a busy day, I had planned an easy beans and dog meal but was reminded this would be a bad mix with the chill we had at lunch! A quick switch to the last of the smoked salmon from Will over baked potatoes and spinach salad w/apples and goat cheese turned out a wonderful meal that was so easy. Will have to remember this one for the book.

The past couple days were spent with more poking along the coast down to Newport in search of beach agates, a visit to the Oregon Coast Aquarium (5 stars!) and a first ever overnight at a casino, the Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City. We realized this wasn't a novel idea as soon as we pulled into the designated parking lot with about 70-100 other assorted RV’s and campers. It turned out to be the start of the 16^th Annual Western BCA Regional 9-Ball Championship (pool players association) that ran through the weekend! It actually quieted down to a good night. The casino looks out over the Pacific, has easy access to the beach and is free. We'd stop again! 

The aquarium was phenomenal with exhibits of fish, birds, mammals and sea life in their habitat. The Seabird Aviary was the best with much of what I could hope to see on the rocks off shore but couldn't get to - Tufted and Horned Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, Common Murres and Black Oystercatchers. There was also an exhibit called Passages of the Deep where you walk through a glass tunnel with fish and sharks swimming all around including over and under!

For variety, we are looping east over the Cascades to Sisters, Bend and if the weather holds as promised, we may make a pass through Crater Lake. The NP campgrounds are closed for the season as are many of the National Forest areas so we’ll see how it goes but hope to come back to the southern part of the Oregon coast before getting to CA.

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Cape Lookout SP - Tillamook, OR - Oct. 15 - 16

At this point, Nina thinks life is a beach and our new home. She could be right!

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Nehalem Bay State Park - Oct. 14

Leaving Spruce Run CG, we decided to travel down the Nehalem River on Foss Road instead of backtracking to Rte 26. This was a 30 mile trip half of which was a snaky, gravel road with significant potholes. It was still worth the drive although I wasn't the one driving.

After checking out availability at Nehalem Bay State Park, we headed back north to Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock to see what was happening at low tide. This is home to Tufted Puffins from April through August but there was also suppose to be colorful starfish and anemones. We weren't disappointed and enjoyed a few surprises.

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Along the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood – Oct. 10 – 13

This stretch was a lot of poking along the Columbia River Scenic Byway by waterfalls, scenic vistas and small towns of Troutdale, Cascade Locks and Hood River. The Bonneville Dam operated by the Army Corp. was closed of course but the fish hatchery was open. There were two bronze sculpture artists, Rip Caswell in Troutdale and Heather Soderberg in Cascade Locks who had statues displayed throughout the towns. Their works were so impressive that we visited the studios of both. Heather has her own foundry with her husband and they walked us through the whole process with pictures and pieces of the statue of Sacagawea that you will see in my photos. Nina was also particularly taken by her work! The first night we stayed at the Ainsworth State Park CG which wasn’t the greatest but adequate.

Continuing our drive up and around Mt. Hood, we traveled through vineyards, orchards and a fun stop at a lavender farm. We intended to try our luck at dispersed camping in the National Forest assuming their campgrounds would be closed but were pleasantly surprised to find no gates or “closed” signs at two of the campgrounds so in we went to Nottingham CG. We were the only ones there (spooky) but it was a great site by a creek with wood to burn.

This was to be a scenic drive to see Mt. Hood but except for a small peak we never did! The weather was supposed to clear on Saturday but morning brought 41 degrees and rain. We took the drive up to the Timberline Lodge anyway and rain turned to snow. Next time! Back towards the coast we go and found a really nice county park, Spruce Run County Park CG in Seaside along the Nehalem River. We enjoyed it so much, we stayed an extra day.

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Cathlamet, WA - Elochoman Slough Marina CG, - Oct. 9

This was a quick overnight stop at a pretty funky county park/marina, Elochoman Marina. The getting there was fun and full of surprises because we didn’t realize the green line we were following on the GPS back over the Columbia to WA was partly by small ferry until we rounded a corner and found ourselves immediately in line to board. The ferry took us to Puget Island and then a bridge across from there. We met a guy on the ferry who relocated to the island after years of fishing in Alaska. He chose the island for the quaintness and the “Little Norway” feel. The island is in WA where there is no income tax but he shops and does his business in OR where everything is cheaper and no sales tax. Makes sense to me!

The marina abutted the town sewer treatment facility that was in the process of being relocated but still being used. All this really meant for us was a couple pools that didn’t have any odor and attracted a great collection of ducks! The town of Cathlamet was small, quaint and worth a walk about.

What was really fun for Harry was the small fishing fleet that fished out in front of us with drift nets and brought their catch in at the end of the day to be weighed and sold to a distributor. I don’t know that I’d recommend this spot for all our friends but we enjoyed it. Fish for Harry, birds for me!

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