Saturday, December 31, 2011
Second Annual New Year's Trip to Cape Disappointment Part I
After our New Year's trip last year we decided to try and make it an annual event. The trip in the GRUB was fun but had its challenges because it was cold and cramped. If I recall correctly that trip was the impetus behind Deb and I vowing to upgrade as soon as reasonably possible. It wasn't because we didn't have fun. Rather it was because of the cramped conditions with everyone being inside at the same time. To put it in perspective during the warmer months we spend most of our time outside. Not true in December!
We got some very nice camping gear this year for Christmas and we were anxious to use it! Geoff and I spent time on Thursday installing a new tongue jack as well as making sure Serenity would be ready for the voyage. We also received three directors chairs and other goodies.
Friday finally rolled around and to say we were anxious would be a large understatement! I was (sorta) working from home and knocked off at 11:30. Geoff and I took Pumbaa and gassed him up and hitched up Serenity. The new tongue jack works very well! We headed home to wait for Deb and we got what we could ready. Deb got home around 1:30 and we finished loading, said goodbye to the cats and were out the door at 2:05.
The drive was uneventful but since we were in no real hurry we took the scenic route and stayed on the Washington side of the Columbia rather than taking highway 30 from Longview to Astoria. We arrived at Cape Disappointment just before 5:00.
Backing Serenity continues to get easier and we had her leveled, fully hooked up and everything stowed within about 90 minutes. This seemed a long time to me but I think we were rusty.
Anyway, we got dinner going then cleaned up afterward. We took a quick walk down to the beach where the surf was beautiful under the light of the moon. The recent storms had whipped the waves into a thunderous frenzy so while it was magnificent we didn't want to get too close. The wind coming off the ocean was pretty stiff and chill so we retreated to the comfort of Serenity.
We whiled away the evening by watching "Galaxy Quest" on DVD. At this point I'm forced to admit we are RVing much more than camping.... Everyone turned in after the movie.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
When is "Camping Season"?
I got to thinking about it today: When is Camping Season? There is no one answer to that. Some might suggest between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Others might say Spring Break to Thanksgiving. It does seem to revolve around the warmer weather and the kid's vacation schedule.
For Clan McPherson we're going to state that any time of year is good for camping. The only thing that would really stop us is pulling a trailer through snow and/or ice. At that point it's a safety issue and not worth the risk. Having said that I'm going to take that one step further and state that Clan McPherson's camping season is from March 1 to February 28/29. Why then? Because we got the GRUB on March 6, 2010 thus really starting our foray into camping in earnest.
I'd like to share some statistics mainly because, as an accountant/IT geek I find them fascinating. Our first year of camping, March 1 2010 through February 28, 2011 looked like this:
Camping Trips: 10
Nights Camped: 26
Unique Destinations: 8
Miles Traveled: 2421
Our second year, including trips we have booked but haven't yet gone on, looks like this:
Camping Trips: 12
Nights Camped: 26
Unique Destinations: 10
Miles Traveled: 3570
We had to cancel a couple of trips including our week-long family vacation to Olympic National Park due to illness and other family issues. Yet we still managed to get a fair amount of camping done! Right now we have Nehalem Bay State Park lined up for Thanksgiving weekend and Cape Disappointment reserved for New Years.
However, looking ahead to year three (March 1, 2012 - February 28, 2013 we already have the following booked:
Camping Trips: 7
Nights Camped: 21
Unique Destinations: 7
Miles Traveled: 2271
Why this is exciting is that is only through July and we haven't booked anything for May yet.
For Clan McPherson we're going to state that any time of year is good for camping. The only thing that would really stop us is pulling a trailer through snow and/or ice. At that point it's a safety issue and not worth the risk. Having said that I'm going to take that one step further and state that Clan McPherson's camping season is from March 1 to February 28/29. Why then? Because we got the GRUB on March 6, 2010 thus really starting our foray into camping in earnest.
I'd like to share some statistics mainly because, as an accountant/IT geek I find them fascinating. Our first year of camping, March 1 2010 through February 28, 2011 looked like this:
Camping Trips: 10
Nights Camped: 26
Unique Destinations: 8
Miles Traveled: 2421
Our second year, including trips we have booked but haven't yet gone on, looks like this:
Camping Trips: 12
Nights Camped: 26
Unique Destinations: 10
Miles Traveled: 3570
We had to cancel a couple of trips including our week-long family vacation to Olympic National Park due to illness and other family issues. Yet we still managed to get a fair amount of camping done! Right now we have Nehalem Bay State Park lined up for Thanksgiving weekend and Cape Disappointment reserved for New Years.
However, looking ahead to year three (March 1, 2012 - February 28, 2013 we already have the following booked:
Camping Trips: 7
Nights Camped: 21
Unique Destinations: 7
Miles Traveled: 2271
Why this is exciting is that is only through July and we haven't booked anything for May yet.
So this is probably a boring entry with a bunch of numbers and no pictures but I wanted to get something out since we've still got three weeks until our next trip.
In the mean time, have a wonderful November!
Jim
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Grayland Beach State Park
After two months the family is back on the road! I'll be the first to tell you that being cooped up in Serenity as she's parked in the stable for more than eight weeks is incredibly boring. However, I know the family had some issues to deal with so I suppose I can forgive them. But I digress....
Geoff had Friday off from school so Deb and Jim thought it would be a great opportunity to make it a three day weekend. After Cyrus' death on October 1 I think everyone needed a break. After some deliberation when the reservations were made it was decided to leave Friday morning rather than Thursday evening. So Friday finally got here and the family, particularly Jim, was anxious to get going. And, of course, as they stepped out of the house to get into the truck it started to rain...... Not to be deterred they prodded on and the rain quit within a few minutes.
They stopped at Costco to get a few things and after an excruciating wait on the pharmacy they were finally able to go get gas and pick up Serenity. For some reason Jim has a much easier time getting Serenity out of the stable than in. Anyway, we were finally free and clear to navigate at 11:45. With check-in time being 2:30 and a projected three hour drive this worked out just about perfect. The drive was uneventful and with a stop for gas in Raymond they were able to enter the park at about 3:00.
Jim lived up to his promise that he would be able to back Serenity into the site in one attempt! There were high fives and smiles all around at this remarkable feat as all previous attempts took at least three tries and fifteen minutes. Jim realized exactly how far his ability has come when he saw the Toyota 4Runner with a VERY small trailer (smaller than the GRUB even) who had been waiting on him to clear the road struggling to back in to the neighboring site. They ended up pulling in head first, unhooking the trailer and turning it around by hand. Now if Jim can just get down backing in to the stable....
Jim and Geoff quickly leveled Serenity and got all the utilities hooked up and Deb got the food, clothing and other cargo stowed. Total set up time including backing in was under 35 minutes. Yep, we're starting to get the routine down.
From there is was a quest for firewood that was complicated by the park host not being home but was, nonetheless, successful. As I watched over the campsite the family took a walk down to the beach. The weather was fantastic with highs in the lower 60s. There was little wind at the campsite but the beach had a chilly wind blowing from the north. This beach is much wider than Long Beach and may become one of our favorite parks. The grounds are well-kept and the sites are spaced well enough to offer decent privacy. The proximity to the beach is excellent. We inspected the bathrooms and found them to be exceptional with separate fully locking showers. While this isn't as crucial now that we have Serenity it is good to know for others that may join us.
After the family returned from the beach it was time to just sit back and relax for a few moments before dinner. Jim then grilled up some Italian chicken which was served with pasta salad and biscuits. The sun was setting during dinner and the sky was painted with dazzling hues of pink, purple and orange. While Jim and Deb cleaned up after dinner Geoff got the campfire going. All of us sat around it and Geoff made the traditional s'mores. It was a beautiful night as the stars could be seen poking through the overcast. The family retreated to the comfort and warmth of Serenity around 8:45. Jim and Geoff started a game of scrabble before everyone called it a night shortly after 10:00.
One of the reasons the family upgraded from a tent trailer to a full-blown hard shell travel trailer was for warmth overnight in the winter months. The GRUB was a great trailer but our trip to Cape Disappointment for New Year's pushed the heater to the limit. It ran near constantly and kept the temp in the lower 60s. However, when that furnace stopped you could feel the drafty cold air coming in immediately. Serenity is a different beast altogether. Saturday's morning low was 40 degrees but the temperature in Serenity stayed between 60 and 62 all night. Yet the furnace ran a fraction of the time it would have in The GRUB. Mission objective attained!
As usual, Jim was the first one up on Saturday morning, arising at the ungodly hour of 6:30. However, he took a quick walk down to the beach and was rewarded with a view of the moonlight from the waning gibbous moon reflecting on the waves. Additionally Jupiter was so bright it was almost blinding. Orion and Sirius were on full display to the south. And the pre-dawn glow was just starting in the east. A spectacular way to start the day for Jim at least!
The rest of the family woke from their slumber and bathed during the time it took for Deb to make another fabulous breakfast. Now fully charged for the day They quickly neatened Serenity then it was off for a day of geocaching. For those that haven't done it I would recommend checking it out by googling the term or going directly to the site at http://www.geocaching.com.
Anyway, Jim had hoped to find ten caches on Saturday so he did the "presearch" on a series of five. The way this series works is you find the first four in order to get the clues to find the fifth. There were two unexpected challenges to this series. The first is they are on a series of unmapped logging roads. In order to get close enough we had to find the right road. This took longer than finding the caches. Geoff found #1 and Deb found #2 very quickly. However, having said that, the second challenge was cache #3. We looked and hunted until frustration set in. We decided try to find #4 then come back. Again, Deb found #4 quickly. We went back to try and find #3 and once again hunted until well after frustration set in. We decided to head back to Serenity and grab some lunch and review the logs of those that found it previously.
Lunch was good but the logs only revealed #3 was the toughest of the series. We talked about giving up on it but the McPherson stubbornness kicked in and we decided to give it one more shot. We headed back up the now-familiar road and searched some more. Despair was setting in this time when Deb finally located it. The final search was on and required a short 3/4 mile hike. The path took us past some stunning vistas and up to some windmills. These are all over eastern Washington and Oregon but these were the first we have seen on the coast. And we've never been as close as we were then. Those things are MASSIVE!! My research suggests the posts are 250 feet from ground to top. Anyway, we found the final cache and were proud to sign that log after the fiasco that was #3.
From there we drove briefly into Westport just to check out the town. The evening was getting long so we headed back to Serenity. Imagine our frustration when we returned to find the refrigerator wasn't working again. No messing around this time. It's going back to the dealer for service ASAP.
Dinner was pie iron pizza and it took a couple of attempts to dial in the cooking time. Pie irons still rock though! After dinner the chill breeze chased us indoors where we played a game of Settlers of Catan. We've owned the game for years but this was the first time we actually played. It was fairly close but Geoff prevailed. By that time it was nearing 11:00 so everyone turned in.
Sunday morning dawned clear. There's something about the last day of a camping trip--the expectation of leaving sets in and it gets very businesslike. Deb, again, tested out a new recipe for breakfast. This time it was Stuffed French Toast. Another awesome breakfast. We definitely eat better camping than at home.
Deb and Jim then took a stroll on the beach before returning to Serenity and the family started the tasks involved with tearing down camp, prepping the trailer then getting everything hitched up. Yes, we are definitely getting better at all this as it only took 30 minutes. We said goodbye to Grayland Beach State Park and drove home.
The drive home was casual and we arrived at the stable around 4:00PM. Jim got Serenity backed into the stable in only three tries totaling only five minutes! YES! Next time it will be a one-shot!
And with that, I say adieu until next month. Right now the family is looking at Thanksgiving weekend.
Stay safe and thanks for reading!!
Geeky Flo
McPherson's RV Mascot
Our route for this trip
View Larger Map
The campsite
Geoff had Friday off from school so Deb and Jim thought it would be a great opportunity to make it a three day weekend. After Cyrus' death on October 1 I think everyone needed a break. After some deliberation when the reservations were made it was decided to leave Friday morning rather than Thursday evening. So Friday finally got here and the family, particularly Jim, was anxious to get going. And, of course, as they stepped out of the house to get into the truck it started to rain...... Not to be deterred they prodded on and the rain quit within a few minutes.
They stopped at Costco to get a few things and after an excruciating wait on the pharmacy they were finally able to go get gas and pick up Serenity. For some reason Jim has a much easier time getting Serenity out of the stable than in. Anyway, we were finally free and clear to navigate at 11:45. With check-in time being 2:30 and a projected three hour drive this worked out just about perfect. The drive was uneventful and with a stop for gas in Raymond they were able to enter the park at about 3:00.
Jim lived up to his promise that he would be able to back Serenity into the site in one attempt! There were high fives and smiles all around at this remarkable feat as all previous attempts took at least three tries and fifteen minutes. Jim realized exactly how far his ability has come when he saw the Toyota 4Runner with a VERY small trailer (smaller than the GRUB even) who had been waiting on him to clear the road struggling to back in to the neighboring site. They ended up pulling in head first, unhooking the trailer and turning it around by hand. Now if Jim can just get down backing in to the stable....
Jim and Geoff quickly leveled Serenity and got all the utilities hooked up and Deb got the food, clothing and other cargo stowed. Total set up time including backing in was under 35 minutes. Yep, we're starting to get the routine down.
From there is was a quest for firewood that was complicated by the park host not being home but was, nonetheless, successful. As I watched over the campsite the family took a walk down to the beach. The weather was fantastic with highs in the lower 60s. There was little wind at the campsite but the beach had a chilly wind blowing from the north. This beach is much wider than Long Beach and may become one of our favorite parks. The grounds are well-kept and the sites are spaced well enough to offer decent privacy. The proximity to the beach is excellent. We inspected the bathrooms and found them to be exceptional with separate fully locking showers. While this isn't as crucial now that we have Serenity it is good to know for others that may join us.
After the family returned from the beach it was time to just sit back and relax for a few moments before dinner. Jim then grilled up some Italian chicken which was served with pasta salad and biscuits. The sun was setting during dinner and the sky was painted with dazzling hues of pink, purple and orange. While Jim and Deb cleaned up after dinner Geoff got the campfire going. All of us sat around it and Geoff made the traditional s'mores. It was a beautiful night as the stars could be seen poking through the overcast. The family retreated to the comfort and warmth of Serenity around 8:45. Jim and Geoff started a game of scrabble before everyone called it a night shortly after 10:00.
One of the reasons the family upgraded from a tent trailer to a full-blown hard shell travel trailer was for warmth overnight in the winter months. The GRUB was a great trailer but our trip to Cape Disappointment for New Year's pushed the heater to the limit. It ran near constantly and kept the temp in the lower 60s. However, when that furnace stopped you could feel the drafty cold air coming in immediately. Serenity is a different beast altogether. Saturday's morning low was 40 degrees but the temperature in Serenity stayed between 60 and 62 all night. Yet the furnace ran a fraction of the time it would have in The GRUB. Mission objective attained!
As usual, Jim was the first one up on Saturday morning, arising at the ungodly hour of 6:30. However, he took a quick walk down to the beach and was rewarded with a view of the moonlight from the waning gibbous moon reflecting on the waves. Additionally Jupiter was so bright it was almost blinding. Orion and Sirius were on full display to the south. And the pre-dawn glow was just starting in the east. A spectacular way to start the day for Jim at least!
The rest of the family woke from their slumber and bathed during the time it took for Deb to make another fabulous breakfast. Now fully charged for the day They quickly neatened Serenity then it was off for a day of geocaching. For those that haven't done it I would recommend checking it out by googling the term or going directly to the site at http://www.geocaching.com.
Anyway, Jim had hoped to find ten caches on Saturday so he did the "presearch" on a series of five. The way this series works is you find the first four in order to get the clues to find the fifth. There were two unexpected challenges to this series. The first is they are on a series of unmapped logging roads. In order to get close enough we had to find the right road. This took longer than finding the caches. Geoff found #1 and Deb found #2 very quickly. However, having said that, the second challenge was cache #3. We looked and hunted until frustration set in. We decided try to find #4 then come back. Again, Deb found #4 quickly. We went back to try and find #3 and once again hunted until well after frustration set in. We decided to head back to Serenity and grab some lunch and review the logs of those that found it previously.
Lunch was good but the logs only revealed #3 was the toughest of the series. We talked about giving up on it but the McPherson stubbornness kicked in and we decided to give it one more shot. We headed back up the now-familiar road and searched some more. Despair was setting in this time when Deb finally located it. The final search was on and required a short 3/4 mile hike. The path took us past some stunning vistas and up to some windmills. These are all over eastern Washington and Oregon but these were the first we have seen on the coast. And we've never been as close as we were then. Those things are MASSIVE!! My research suggests the posts are 250 feet from ground to top. Anyway, we found the final cache and were proud to sign that log after the fiasco that was #3.
From there we drove briefly into Westport just to check out the town. The evening was getting long so we headed back to Serenity. Imagine our frustration when we returned to find the refrigerator wasn't working again. No messing around this time. It's going back to the dealer for service ASAP.
Dinner was pie iron pizza and it took a couple of attempts to dial in the cooking time. Pie irons still rock though! After dinner the chill breeze chased us indoors where we played a game of Settlers of Catan. We've owned the game for years but this was the first time we actually played. It was fairly close but Geoff prevailed. By that time it was nearing 11:00 so everyone turned in.
Sunday morning dawned clear. There's something about the last day of a camping trip--the expectation of leaving sets in and it gets very businesslike. Deb, again, tested out a new recipe for breakfast. This time it was Stuffed French Toast. Another awesome breakfast. We definitely eat better camping than at home.
Deb and Jim then took a stroll on the beach before returning to Serenity and the family started the tasks involved with tearing down camp, prepping the trailer then getting everything hitched up. Yes, we are definitely getting better at all this as it only took 30 minutes. We said goodbye to Grayland Beach State Park and drove home.
The drive home was casual and we arrived at the stable around 4:00PM. Jim got Serenity backed into the stable in only three tries totaling only five minutes! YES! Next time it will be a one-shot!
And with that, I say adieu until next month. Right now the family is looking at Thanksgiving weekend.
Stay safe and thanks for reading!!
Geeky Flo
McPherson's RV Mascot
Our route for this trip
View Larger Map
The campsite
A mushroom we found
Geoff and Deb
Sunset
Me in front of Serenity
Serenity head-on
Saturday morning
Hiking up to the windmills
These things are huge!
Deb and Geoff near the last cache
Looking up makes me dizzy!
Sunset Saturday
Sunday morning on the beach
The windmills from the beach
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Umpqua Lighthouse and Beverly Beach
Friday afternoon was very busy starting at about 2:30. That is what time Deb got off work so Jim got all the perishable food packed. Most of the work and loading had been done Thursday evening but the last push always seems to be frantic. Deb was about 15 minutes late getting off work and went directly from work to the high school to pick up Geoff. Jim was working at home so no commute was necessary.
Deb and Geoff got home at 3:20 and we were on the road at 3:38. Pretty impressive turnaround! Jim was very anxious to get going because Google Maps indicated a journey of about 4.5 hours and PDX traffic would only lengthen the trip. Traffic was indeed heavy but was moving. Jim estimates we lost 20-30 minutes in Portland. But the rest of the trek was clear sailing and we arrived at our campsite about 8:15--far sooner than anticipated especially with a gas stop. It should be noted at this time that Jim is getting neurotic with the gas mileage the Titan gets pulling Serenity. He was almost giddy to see 9.3 MPG after the 7.5 on the maiden voyage last weekend.
As Jim was attempting to back Serenity into the campsite two very helpful gentlemen offered their services by giving great guidance and advice to get her in with a minimum of effort. To date Jim has now backed Serenity four times and it is getting easier but it still feels like the trailer is winning. The GRUB was a mere 12 feet that you could see over. Serenity is 31 feet stem to stern and there's no seeing over her 11 feet of height. Jim will get used to it in a few more trips.
Anyway, Jim and Geoff got her leveled and set up in record time. All the cargo was stowed and relaxation commenced by 9:00. We enjoyed a walk around the campground, a snack and beverage before retiring around 10:30.
Friday evening was beautiful weather-wise until we got to the campsite. The onshore flow drove a thick cloud layer right over us. No rain, just grey. Saturday dawned mostly clear and we noticed the wind shifted to offshore so the day looked promising. We enjoyed our coffee overlooking the lake and watching the Stellar's jays doing their morning scavenging.
Deb made one of her standards for breakfast--camping doughnuts. As usual they were yummy and there was enough to feed the entire campground. Jim and Geoff then spent some time getting Serenity perfectly level. This was done because the refrigerator was not working and we wanted to rule that out as a cause. It didn't fix the fridge but it did refine their leveling skills.
From there the family was off to see Umpqua lighthouse. The museum there is fascinating. We learned a great deal about the mouth of the Umpqua river and the importance of the delivery of goods to the towns upstream. It was lucrative to the point captains and crew would risk their lives and their ships attempting to navigate the channel. Many ships were lost as well as a few lives. It was a much more difficult life back then.
We all then boarded our modernly convenient transportation and took a little ride so Jim could show Deb and Geoff the dunes for which this area is so famous and popular (Jim came here a couple of years ago). The sand dunes stretch for a few miles south of Winchester Bay and people come from miles around bringing their various ATVs, buggies and motorcycles to play. It is staggering to see the sheer number of vehicles and the associated support RVs, trucks and trailers.
After admiring all the pretty hardware it was off to Reedsport for some light grocery shopping. Then back to the campsite for a late lunch. We then went for a lap around Lake Marie on one of the lushest trails. The area is truly beautiful. The hike wasn't very long but we are finding that even the short hikes are taking their toll on Cyrus. He was very tired once we got back.
The remainder of the afternoon was whiled away playing Scrabble and reading. Jim continued trying to troubleshoot the fridge problem and eventually had to admit defeat, muttering something about the thermostat relay and vowing to call the salesman in the morning.
Dinner was another staple of grilled cheeseburgers and baked beans. But it was dessert that was the highlight. Deb has discovered pie irons and we made these apple pies that were simply amazing. Three minutes prep time and three minutes over the campfire and you've got a scrumptious, single-serving apple pie. Two words: YUM MY!!!!
Darkness settled over the site and we reveled in the fact that it had been a nearly perfect day. The weather was sunny and clear--warm but not hot. Great food, good fun, and we saw some sites too. If Jim hadn't obsessed about the fridge it would have been perfect. We went to bed around 10PM.
Jim was the first one up (as usual) Sunday morning, rising at the ungodly hour of 5:45. The weather "went coastal" overnight and somehow caught us by surprise. The term "went coastal" in this context means that the onshore flow is enough to trigger the dew point and get everything wet. It's not rain per se, but the results are the same. The weather remained mostly cloudy for the day with scattered sun breaks.
Deb made breakfast casserole to start the morning and the tone of the day was pure relaxation. After breakfast we piled into the truck and went a couple miles south to check out William M. Tugman State Park. Whenever we are near other campgrounds we like to check them out as potential destinations. Tugman SP will definitely be added to our list as it is larger than Umpqua Lighthouse and is right on the shore of Eel Lake. Maybe next summer.
After that small excursion we went back into Reedsport for groceries. We returned to Serenity and Jim called the salesman who sold her to us to discuss the refrigerator. After listing all the steps Jim had already tried he suggested Jim call the shop. In a fit of desperation Jim decided to turn off all the breakers and turn them on again. Lo and behold! The fridge woke up! Jim was doing the happy dance all over the campsite. It was quite embarrassing.
Then everyone showered up and had lunch. Then it was off to do some geocaching. We found three and logged our visits (team name KITEJUNKIES). Then is was back to the site for more relaxation followed by grilled bourbon chicken with pasta salad.
After dinner Jim noticed the two ladies across the way were having some extreme difficulties with their screen room. Being the engineer type he headed over to help. It was a comedy of errors as the two ladies had things so fouled up it took at least thirty minutes to unravel and get it right. Deb went out to find out where Jim got off to and she got roped into helping too. Geoff followed sometime thereafter. Between the five of them it finally got assembled correctly.
Afterward it was time to get everything under shelter as the coastal mist was rolling in off the ocean threatening wet conditions. Everyone including Jim was relaxed and ready for bed. We did some reading and hit the rack around 10.
Monday dawned a bit brighter than Sunday, with the clouds remaining high. The mists seemed to have deposited their moisture and backed off. Monday's breakfast was bacon and pancakes.
After everyone had eaten and bathed there was a quick run into Reedsport for last minute supplies including socks for Geoff and soft drinks for all. then back to the campsite to pack it all up. We were able to do so in a mere 45 minutes and we cleared the campground at 1:00pm.
We drove north up the coast and what an amazing road. Up and down, twisting and turning, flirting with the coast. Some shores are rocky, others are sandy and some are in between. Some have gentle coastlines, others sheer cliffs. All of it insanely beautiful as the afternoon sun lit up the ocean.
About 80 miles later we were at our destination; Beverly Beach State Park. We checked in and found our spot. Setup was very quick and we enjoyed a beverage before walking down to the beach. Upon arrival we noticed a wedding party on the beach including the bride in her resplendent gown. They were having their photos taken. Jim talked briefly with one of the guests and it turns out the happy couple were just married at the large yurt in the campground--definitely a unique idea and we wished them well.
We stripped off our shoes and walked along the beach for a while, soaking in the sun and surf, before heading back to camp. Geoff started a fire and we had pie iron pizzas for dinner. Jim and Geoff are now totally on board with this pie iron idea and look forward to discovering more recipes.
The family spent the rest of the evening just relaxing before turning in around 10pm.
Again, Jim was the first up at 6:45am but the rest of the family joined him at 7:15. The weather turned drippy overnight, graduating from "going coastal" to a light drizzle. Not uncommon on the coast. However, it ceased by 7:45.
The day was pretty much all business starting with a gourmet breakfast of Pop Tarts and coffee. Then bathing and the breakdown of the campsite. Jim wanted to get an early start to avoid traffic in Portland. All the chores were done and we were on the road by 10:30am.
The ride home was uneventful. The traffic was horrible on 99W as is usual but we were able to sneak up I-5 and be home by 1:30pm. We unloaded Serenity then took her back to the stable, her second voyage complete.
The family agrees that this was the best trip since our trip to Manchester State Park with the Fullers in late July of last year. You know it was a good trip when you come home relaxed but wanting more.
Until next time,
Geeky Flo
McPherson's RV Mascot
Deb and Geoff got home at 3:20 and we were on the road at 3:38. Pretty impressive turnaround! Jim was very anxious to get going because Google Maps indicated a journey of about 4.5 hours and PDX traffic would only lengthen the trip. Traffic was indeed heavy but was moving. Jim estimates we lost 20-30 minutes in Portland. But the rest of the trek was clear sailing and we arrived at our campsite about 8:15--far sooner than anticipated especially with a gas stop. It should be noted at this time that Jim is getting neurotic with the gas mileage the Titan gets pulling Serenity. He was almost giddy to see 9.3 MPG after the 7.5 on the maiden voyage last weekend.
As Jim was attempting to back Serenity into the campsite two very helpful gentlemen offered their services by giving great guidance and advice to get her in with a minimum of effort. To date Jim has now backed Serenity four times and it is getting easier but it still feels like the trailer is winning. The GRUB was a mere 12 feet that you could see over. Serenity is 31 feet stem to stern and there's no seeing over her 11 feet of height. Jim will get used to it in a few more trips.
Anyway, Jim and Geoff got her leveled and set up in record time. All the cargo was stowed and relaxation commenced by 9:00. We enjoyed a walk around the campground, a snack and beverage before retiring around 10:30.
Friday evening was beautiful weather-wise until we got to the campsite. The onshore flow drove a thick cloud layer right over us. No rain, just grey. Saturday dawned mostly clear and we noticed the wind shifted to offshore so the day looked promising. We enjoyed our coffee overlooking the lake and watching the Stellar's jays doing their morning scavenging.
Deb made one of her standards for breakfast--camping doughnuts. As usual they were yummy and there was enough to feed the entire campground. Jim and Geoff then spent some time getting Serenity perfectly level. This was done because the refrigerator was not working and we wanted to rule that out as a cause. It didn't fix the fridge but it did refine their leveling skills.
From there the family was off to see Umpqua lighthouse. The museum there is fascinating. We learned a great deal about the mouth of the Umpqua river and the importance of the delivery of goods to the towns upstream. It was lucrative to the point captains and crew would risk their lives and their ships attempting to navigate the channel. Many ships were lost as well as a few lives. It was a much more difficult life back then.
We all then boarded our modernly convenient transportation and took a little ride so Jim could show Deb and Geoff the dunes for which this area is so famous and popular (Jim came here a couple of years ago). The sand dunes stretch for a few miles south of Winchester Bay and people come from miles around bringing their various ATVs, buggies and motorcycles to play. It is staggering to see the sheer number of vehicles and the associated support RVs, trucks and trailers.
After admiring all the pretty hardware it was off to Reedsport for some light grocery shopping. Then back to the campsite for a late lunch. We then went for a lap around Lake Marie on one of the lushest trails. The area is truly beautiful. The hike wasn't very long but we are finding that even the short hikes are taking their toll on Cyrus. He was very tired once we got back.
The remainder of the afternoon was whiled away playing Scrabble and reading. Jim continued trying to troubleshoot the fridge problem and eventually had to admit defeat, muttering something about the thermostat relay and vowing to call the salesman in the morning.
Dinner was another staple of grilled cheeseburgers and baked beans. But it was dessert that was the highlight. Deb has discovered pie irons and we made these apple pies that were simply amazing. Three minutes prep time and three minutes over the campfire and you've got a scrumptious, single-serving apple pie. Two words: YUM MY!!!!
Darkness settled over the site and we reveled in the fact that it had been a nearly perfect day. The weather was sunny and clear--warm but not hot. Great food, good fun, and we saw some sites too. If Jim hadn't obsessed about the fridge it would have been perfect. We went to bed around 10PM.
Jim was the first one up (as usual) Sunday morning, rising at the ungodly hour of 5:45. The weather "went coastal" overnight and somehow caught us by surprise. The term "went coastal" in this context means that the onshore flow is enough to trigger the dew point and get everything wet. It's not rain per se, but the results are the same. The weather remained mostly cloudy for the day with scattered sun breaks.
Deb made breakfast casserole to start the morning and the tone of the day was pure relaxation. After breakfast we piled into the truck and went a couple miles south to check out William M. Tugman State Park. Whenever we are near other campgrounds we like to check them out as potential destinations. Tugman SP will definitely be added to our list as it is larger than Umpqua Lighthouse and is right on the shore of Eel Lake. Maybe next summer.
After that small excursion we went back into Reedsport for groceries. We returned to Serenity and Jim called the salesman who sold her to us to discuss the refrigerator. After listing all the steps Jim had already tried he suggested Jim call the shop. In a fit of desperation Jim decided to turn off all the breakers and turn them on again. Lo and behold! The fridge woke up! Jim was doing the happy dance all over the campsite. It was quite embarrassing.
Then everyone showered up and had lunch. Then it was off to do some geocaching. We found three and logged our visits (team name KITEJUNKIES). Then is was back to the site for more relaxation followed by grilled bourbon chicken with pasta salad.
After dinner Jim noticed the two ladies across the way were having some extreme difficulties with their screen room. Being the engineer type he headed over to help. It was a comedy of errors as the two ladies had things so fouled up it took at least thirty minutes to unravel and get it right. Deb went out to find out where Jim got off to and she got roped into helping too. Geoff followed sometime thereafter. Between the five of them it finally got assembled correctly.
Afterward it was time to get everything under shelter as the coastal mist was rolling in off the ocean threatening wet conditions. Everyone including Jim was relaxed and ready for bed. We did some reading and hit the rack around 10.
Monday dawned a bit brighter than Sunday, with the clouds remaining high. The mists seemed to have deposited their moisture and backed off. Monday's breakfast was bacon and pancakes.
After everyone had eaten and bathed there was a quick run into Reedsport for last minute supplies including socks for Geoff and soft drinks for all. then back to the campsite to pack it all up. We were able to do so in a mere 45 minutes and we cleared the campground at 1:00pm.
We drove north up the coast and what an amazing road. Up and down, twisting and turning, flirting with the coast. Some shores are rocky, others are sandy and some are in between. Some have gentle coastlines, others sheer cliffs. All of it insanely beautiful as the afternoon sun lit up the ocean.
About 80 miles later we were at our destination; Beverly Beach State Park. We checked in and found our spot. Setup was very quick and we enjoyed a beverage before walking down to the beach. Upon arrival we noticed a wedding party on the beach including the bride in her resplendent gown. They were having their photos taken. Jim talked briefly with one of the guests and it turns out the happy couple were just married at the large yurt in the campground--definitely a unique idea and we wished them well.
We stripped off our shoes and walked along the beach for a while, soaking in the sun and surf, before heading back to camp. Geoff started a fire and we had pie iron pizzas for dinner. Jim and Geoff are now totally on board with this pie iron idea and look forward to discovering more recipes.
The family spent the rest of the evening just relaxing before turning in around 10pm.
Again, Jim was the first up at 6:45am but the rest of the family joined him at 7:15. The weather turned drippy overnight, graduating from "going coastal" to a light drizzle. Not uncommon on the coast. However, it ceased by 7:45.
The day was pretty much all business starting with a gourmet breakfast of Pop Tarts and coffee. Then bathing and the breakdown of the campsite. Jim wanted to get an early start to avoid traffic in Portland. All the chores were done and we were on the road by 10:30am.
The ride home was uneventful. The traffic was horrible on 99W as is usual but we were able to sneak up I-5 and be home by 1:30pm. We unloaded Serenity then took her back to the stable, her second voyage complete.
The family agrees that this was the best trip since our trip to Manchester State Park with the Fullers in late July of last year. You know it was a good trip when you come home relaxed but wanting more.
Until next time,
Geeky Flo
McPherson's RV Mascot
Total miles this trip including excursions 492.
Route:
Our site at Beverly Beach
Beverly Beach showing the full rig
Another full rig shot
Serenity in all her glory!
Umpqua Lighthouse
Kitchen
Swivel chairs/loveseat
Loveseat and Dinette
Entertainment center
Dinette
Kitchen
Swivel chairs
Monday, August 15, 2011
Eagle's Nest Part Two
The big news is we finally upgraded! Yes, indeed, we were finally able to make it work out. We picked up Serenity on Saturday August 6 and couldn't wait to get her on the road.
For the maiden voyage we decided to go back to Eagle's Nest since the trip two weeks ago was so wonderful. This time we took Carl and Geoff's friend Kyle with us. It was an interesting trek as it was my first time dragging the new, much heavier, trailer. Add in the three boys and a boxer in the back seat and it was, shall we say, "invigorating".
We got to Eagle's Nest and I think everyone figured out it was nearly empty two weeks ago because they had only a few spots available when we got there. It took me a few attempts to get Serenity backed in but I managed. Setup took much longer than anticipated as we were figuring out how everything worked, etc.
I have to say this was a great trip even if the campground was crowded. We repeated the activities of the prior trip by spending the majority of Saturday at the beach then the evening at the pool and hot tub. Because of the way things worked out it was me, Kyle and Geoff that did the swimming while Carl and Deb stayed with Cyrus at the campsite.
It was a whirlwind trip and, worst of all, our camera decided to go on the fritz so only a few pictures came out. I'll do a much better job this coming weekend as we head to Umpqua Lighthouse State Park!
Flo, our RV mascot!
Cyrus guards the campsite.
Kyle tells us what he thinks of the beach ;-)
Carl enjoying the sand.
Geoff totally buried.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Eagle's Nest Part One
I'm struggling with how to start this one. Due to my illness and a lot of other factors we had to cancel our trip to Olympic National Park. This was supposed to be a 10-day trip and the highlight of our summer. Alas, it was not to be.
We hadn't been camping as a family since June and that was kind of a letdown. The previous trip was back in mid-May so Deb was truly yearning for us to get out and go somewhere... anywhere. I did my usual perusal of sites and being smack in the middle of summer there were no nearby (within 4 hours) state campgrounds available either in Washington or Oregon. I then remembered our accidental discovery of Eagle's Nest Resort near Ilwaco back in January. I phoned asking for rates and availability and both were agreeable.
We packed up the GRUB and set off on Friday the 29th. The drive was uneventful and we stopped in Astoria to get some dinner. We arrived at Eagle's Nest and checked in. We were surprised that the park was maybe 1/3 full at the height of summer. We got a decent site and set up, had a campfire and basically chilled out for the evening.
We spent most of the day Saturday at the beach then returned to the campground. Deb and I tried out the pool and really enjoyed the hot tub!
Sunday we broke camp and headed home fairly early.
Cyrus running on the beach
Jim flying the Shiva
The GRUB at the campsite.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Golden State Star Party 2011
Jim here to report on our trip to Golden State Star Party. This was a trip for just the guys--that is Geoff and me--to head out into the middle of nowhere and get our telescopes out under dark skies. This entry will probably be more stargazing and less camping but we'll see how it goes.
Wednesday June 29
Only slightly hungover from the Rush concert the previous night we got up early, hitched up the GRUB, loaded the truck and were on the road by 7:30AM. We set off south on I-5 and then headed east on 58 to hook up with 97 south. From there it was into Klamath Falls and across the border into California. The site is near the small town of Adin. We covered 393 miles in seven and a half hours. Not too bad.
The clouds had been threatening all day but the night looked semi-promising. We set up camp including our new Coleman shelter and then set up the scopes. The weather was quite pleasant but the clouds were still hanging around.
The sun finally set and we got to the scopes
. The area of the sky directly overhead was beautiful but the clouds were forming in a circle around the horizon. What we could see was awesome but it was quickly losing to the cloud cover. By 11:30PM it was completely socked in so we called it a night.
A note to those who have never been to a star party or hung out with the astronomy crowd: Astronomers are extremely averse to white light as it ruins your night vision. It can take 30 minutes to regain one's night vision after being blinded by a flashlight or similar lighting. So everyone uses red lights whether it is their flashlight or whatever.
Anyway, just before bed I headed to the restroom and on the way back I go so disoriented that I could not find our trailer. Because of the cloud cover it was so frigging dark that the red flashlight was no help to me. I ended up going back to the bathrooms and retracing my steps to make sure I could find it. I still overshot but was able to finally find the GRUB. I was soooo embarrassed that the remainder of the trip I made damn sure of my landmark car/tent at the end of our row so I would not repeat my blunder.
Thursday June 30
What a glorious day! High temps in the mid-70s and a very light wind. A very cloudy morning yielded to clear skies in the afternoon. We had a yummy dinner of grilled chicken and the stargazing was absolutely amazing. The skies were so dark and clear--everything the sky around Portland isn't. Geoff retired around midnight and I stayed up looking at the sky until probably 1:30AM. After Geoff headed to bed the coyotes could be heard yipping and howling. After I went to bed they woke me up around 3:30 and I would have sworn they were in our camp, even though I knew it was only a matter of how the sound travels. I don't know how Geoff slept through it, but he managed.
Friday July 1
No clouds at all this day. The temps climbed into the mid-80s and there was no wind until later in the evening. It was very hot in the sun so we spent a lot of time in the shelter avoiding it. The neighboring cows were vocal and this was, apparently, the first time Geoff had heard cows live. Fourteen years old? Wow, we've deprived him.
At sunset we saw a very peculiar cloud formation to the north. One of the other astronomers caught this picture of the "noctilucent clouds". Credit for this image and more info can be found HERE.
We had the Star
Party BBQ meal for dinner (yum!) and this night's stargazing was equal to the night before. Once again G
eoff went to bed before I did--I think I was up until about 2AM.
Saturday July 2
Ok, this day was just plain HOT. 91 degrees and no wind. Even in the shelter the heat was cloying. The day was spent hiding from the sun (just like Gollum) and exerting little energy. We had the Star Party Hamburger meal for dinner (No cheese? Seriously?) which was good but not as good as the chicken the previous two nights.
The sunset
was gorgeous and after I took the picture (with Mt. Shasta on the left) I returned to our scopes to find a 4 foot bull snake in Geoff's equipment box. We escorted him to the borders of the camp--not sure if he was into astronomy or not but we kind of doubt it.
Anyway, I don't know what the deal was with the sky but there was a definite haze around the horizon and the skies were not as crisp as the previous two nights. It was still better than Portland!
Sunday July 3
We got up and packed everything early so we could be done before the heat set in as the forecast was calling for highs near 90 again. We were on the road by 8:30 and were home by 4:30.
Overall a great trip. Both Geoff and I are looking forward to next year!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Yakima Sportsman State Park
An unplanned trip to Yakima to pick up a potential new dog.
Campground Info: Yakima Sprotsman State Park Yakima, WA. Site 12. Weather was rainy. Bathroom rating: Average.
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer.
We had an last minute camping trip to Yakima. We were going to pick up a new dog, but didn't want to do the drive all in one day. Our site was in RV row - our little tent trailer stuck out with all the big R.V.'s!
The weather was warm, muggy and buggy! Quick! Get out the bug spray!
This park is in the middle of Yakima. You can hear the city noise and traffic. R.V. row is really close - so close you can't use the firpit as the slide outs next door go over the top of it.
Woke early this morning to sound of rain!
We probably won't camp here again. We really didn't like being in the middle of town and hearing sirens during the night and next day. It's nicer to get away from that!
As a side note - we did get Kaylee, the boxer, but it did not end up being a good match and she went to a different home. Bittersweet....
Campground Info: Yakima Sprotsman State Park Yakima, WA. Site 12. Weather was rainy. Bathroom rating: Average.
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer.
The weather was warm, muggy and buggy! Quick! Get out the bug spray!
This park is in the middle of Yakima. You can hear the city noise and traffic. R.V. row is really close - so close you can't use the firpit as the slide outs next door go over the top of it.
Woke early this morning to sound of rain!
We probably won't camp here again. We really didn't like being in the middle of town and hearing sirens during the night and next day. It's nicer to get away from that!
As a side note - we did get Kaylee, the boxer, but it did not end up being a good match and she went to a different home. Bittersweet....
Friday, May 13, 2011
Crow Butte State Park
This trip was taken at the request of our son, Bryan, who was visiting from Alaska. We had a great time and enjoyed the weekend!
Campground Info: Crow Butte State Park Boardman, WA. Site 22. Weather was sunny, light winds, increased winds and rain. Bathroom rating: Excellent!
Campers: Jim, Deb, Bryan, Carl, Geoff, Uncle Carl and Cyrus the boxer.
This trip was special in that it was the first time Bryan has gone camping with us since we got the G.R.U.B. Bryan was visiting from Alaska for two weeks and took the opportunity to join us.
This was a different spot for us - this time we were riverside. Pretty spot, lots of grass and water views. That first evening and next morning were perfect! We had a campfire and made S'mores in the evening and camping donuts in the morning. Sunshine, hikes and napping in the sun were the order of the day - at least until about 2:00 in the afternoon!
Our park host came by and warned us that there was a thunderstorm headed our way - of course! If we're camping, it's raining! Spent the first part of the storm huddled under the awning, watching the rain and visiting. Our neighbor brought over "Cherry Bombs" maraschino cherries soaked in rum. Then, the wind kicked up and the sky opened up!
The awning had to come down. The cooler went into Bryan's tent in order to keep it from blowing away. We spent the rest of the evening inside, visiting, eating and enjoying each others company. Next day the campsite was so flooded, we packed up early and left amid more rain!
Campground Info: Crow Butte State Park Boardman, WA. Site 22. Weather was sunny, light winds, increased winds and rain. Bathroom rating: Excellent!
Campers: Jim, Deb, Bryan, Carl, Geoff, Uncle Carl and Cyrus the boxer.
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| Riverside campsite at Crow Butte |
This was a different spot for us - this time we were riverside. Pretty spot, lots of grass and water views. That first evening and next morning were perfect! We had a campfire and made S'mores in the evening and camping donuts in the morning. Sunshine, hikes and napping in the sun were the order of the day - at least until about 2:00 in the afternoon!
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| After the rains came in. |
The awning had to come down. The cooler went into Bryan's tent in order to keep it from blowing away. We spent the rest of the evening inside, visiting, eating and enjoying each others company. Next day the campsite was so flooded, we packed up early and left amid more rain!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Crow Butte - Again...
Just a quick trip to one of our favorite campgrounds!
Campground Info: Crow Butte State Park Boardman, WA . Site 42 (where else!) The weather was sunny and windy! Bathroom rating: Excellent!
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer.
This trip was sunny - the first one all year, but VERY, VERY windy! Windy enough that we were not able to spend much time outdoors. The wind brought the temperature down enough that coats were still a requirement. It was very cool to see a herd of deer crossing the road as we entered the campground.
The next day we went for a hike to see the beach area - again windy! I almost lost my stylish baseball cap! Along the way we ran across a couple of herds of deer out foraging on the ridge.
The beach itself was pretty much non-existent - we have had so much rain this year that the shoreline was covered with high water.
We are looking at a different site for next month when we come back. Bryan is coming home from Alaska and has asked to go camping with us. Time to try a different site and see how it is!
Campground Info: Crow Butte State Park Boardman, WA . Site 42 (where else!) The weather was sunny and windy! Bathroom rating: Excellent!
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer.
The next day we went for a hike to see the beach area - again windy! I almost lost my stylish baseball cap! Along the way we ran across a couple of herds of deer out foraging on the ridge.
The beach itself was pretty much non-existent - we have had so much rain this year that the shoreline was covered with high water.
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| Crow Butte Beach |
We are looking at a different site for next month when we come back. Bryan is coming home from Alaska and has asked to go camping with us. Time to try a different site and see how it is!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Silver Falls - Rain, Rain Go Away....
I'm not sure, but I think this camping trip we actually did camp under the falls.... It was a very wet weekend!
Campground Info: Silver Falls State Park Silverton, OR. Site 11. Weather was rain, rain, and more rain. Ideal sites for future camping: 37, 34, 25 or 14. Bathroom rating: Excellent!
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer.
Silver Falls is relatively close and easy to get to. We got a late start on Friday and it started pouring rain when we got within five miles of the campground. We had a much easier time backing in this time, but we did have to set up in the rain - almost a mandatory requirement when we camp! We spent Friday night inside as it rained most of the night.
Saturday it showered but we were able to hike along the Rim Trail to the top of Winter Falls and back with minimal precipitation. The rest of Saturday was spent recovering, both from the hike and the being chilled due to being wet. Cyrus was not happy with us for such a long hike, nor a hike in the rain.
Jim got a new iPad this trip and we were all entertained by the games and books on it. The fight for the iPad rages on!
Loved this campground, but our site was one of the many that flooded. The other sites mentioned up above were ones that might be a better site that had minimal flooding. We would like to try this campground again - maybe next time sans rain!
Campground Info: Silver Falls State Park Silverton, OR. Site 11. Weather was rain, rain, and more rain. Ideal sites for future camping: 37, 34, 25 or 14. Bathroom rating: Excellent!
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer.
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| A view of our moat.... |
Silver Falls is relatively close and easy to get to. We got a late start on Friday and it started pouring rain when we got within five miles of the campground. We had a much easier time backing in this time, but we did have to set up in the rain - almost a mandatory requirement when we camp! We spent Friday night inside as it rained most of the night.
Saturday it showered but we were able to hike along the Rim Trail to the top of Winter Falls and back with minimal precipitation. The rest of Saturday was spent recovering, both from the hike and the being chilled due to being wet. Cyrus was not happy with us for such a long hike, nor a hike in the rain.
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| "Don't make me keep hiking in the rain!" |
Loved this campground, but our site was one of the many that flooded. The other sites mentioned up above were ones that might be a better site that had minimal flooding. We would like to try this campground again - maybe next time sans rain!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Beverly Beach (And My Birthday)
Happy Birthday to me! This year I wanted to go camping, so we picked one of the spots off our list and away we went!
Campground Info: Beverly Beach State Park - Depoe Bay, OR. Site E9 - but next time we will try for G24. Weather was in the 50's and sunny. Clean bathrooms!!
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer
This was the "Lemony Snicket" camping trip - a series of unfortunate events. I left work early to help pack up and go but it didn't go as planned. The dog was at the vets and supposed to be available for pick up by noon - we were allowed to pick him up at 3:00. New tires were put on the truck earlier, but we had to take them back after 25 minutes to have them checked and picked up medicine for the dog as well.
Traffic was heavy - it took us 2 hours to drive 30 miles. We arrived at Beverly Beach in full dark and discovered that if you are NOT familiar with the campsite, it is difficult to back in. There were NO lights at all in the campground as the power had blown and the bathrooms, when located in the dark, were locked for the season and we had to locate another in a different loop. Fortunately, the trip DID get better!
The weather, while cold, was beautiful. We had LOTS of sunshine! Our campsite had a river running behind it and we were able to hike down to the beach. We were able to tour Otter Beach, Devils Punch Bowl, Boiler Bay and Yaquina Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse was particularly interesting as my great grandparents were lighthouse keepers at one time.
We did some Geo-caching along the nature trails and were able to locate one, but not the second. We had a wonderful birthday dinner of grilled steaks, grilled cakes and played cards. Overall a very relaxing way to spend my 46th birthday!
Campground Info: Beverly Beach State Park - Depoe Bay, OR. Site E9 - but next time we will try for G24. Weather was in the 50's and sunny. Clean bathrooms!!
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer
This was the "Lemony Snicket" camping trip - a series of unfortunate events. I left work early to help pack up and go but it didn't go as planned. The dog was at the vets and supposed to be available for pick up by noon - we were allowed to pick him up at 3:00. New tires were put on the truck earlier, but we had to take them back after 25 minutes to have them checked and picked up medicine for the dog as well.
Traffic was heavy - it took us 2 hours to drive 30 miles. We arrived at Beverly Beach in full dark and discovered that if you are NOT familiar with the campsite, it is difficult to back in. There were NO lights at all in the campground as the power had blown and the bathrooms, when located in the dark, were locked for the season and we had to locate another in a different loop. Fortunately, the trip DID get better!
The weather, while cold, was beautiful. We had LOTS of sunshine! Our campsite had a river running behind it and we were able to hike down to the beach. We were able to tour Otter Beach, Devils Punch Bowl, Boiler Bay and Yaquina Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse was particularly interesting as my great grandparents were lighthouse keepers at one time.
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| Devil's Punchbowl |
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year from Cape Disappointment
Well - our intentions for camping every month kind of fell by the wayside for October and November due to holidays and family obligations. However, since we went on New Years Eve I think we barely managed to squeak in the month of December and hit January too!
Campground info: Cape Disappointment State Park, site 59. Weather was cold, cloudy and rainy.
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer
Cape Disappointment has some wonderful driftwood that is on its beaches. We spent the cold (think ice patches) morning on New Year's Day on the beach - climbing on driftwood, checking out shipwrecks and looking for a Geo-cache in a long, dark cave.
The night before, when we arrived for set-up, we were visited by racoons who were checking out our cooler. They actually were able to open it (while we were setting up in the GRUB) and ran off with a pitcher of juice. Our next door neighbor and his little dog, Princess, came out to see what the fuss was about. We called him Mr Teacher, as he was a retired teacher and knew a lot about the area and its history.
This trip, the heater kicked in quite a bit and we were delighted to discover that cold would not be a hindrance to us in the GRUB. That little space heater works very well! We also picked up a dog coat for Cyrus as he is getting older and the cold affects him when we are out walking.
A wonderful way to start out the new year!
Campground info: Cape Disappointment State Park, site 59. Weather was cold, cloudy and rainy.
Campers: Jim, Deb, Geoff and Cyrus the boxer
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| On the beach at Cape Disappointment |
The night before, when we arrived for set-up, we were visited by racoons who were checking out our cooler. They actually were able to open it (while we were setting up in the GRUB) and ran off with a pitcher of juice. Our next door neighbor and his little dog, Princess, came out to see what the fuss was about. We called him Mr Teacher, as he was a retired teacher and knew a lot about the area and its history.
This trip, the heater kicked in quite a bit and we were delighted to discover that cold would not be a hindrance to us in the GRUB. That little space heater works very well! We also picked up a dog coat for Cyrus as he is getting older and the cold affects him when we are out walking.
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| Cyrus and his new blue coat (its reversible too!) |
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| One of my favorite things on our hikes that weekend was the pine cones on the trees. |
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