Second Annual New Year's Trip to Cape Disappointment Part III

Sunday was what we call a "down day".  We had a wonderful breakfast of french toast and bacon but Geoff was feeling more than a little under the weather.  When we went back to Sid's IGA (local grocery store) to drop off the movie Geoff fell asleep on the way (it's only 15 minutes away).  We had originally planned on going geocaching now that I found the answer to our technical issue but we felt it best to just take it easy the rest of the day.

It should be noted that if we still had the GRUB we probably would have packed it in when Geoff got sick.  But since this is a home away from home we were comfortable staying.

Anyway, after stopped by the local bookstore and got some more reading material.  Upon returning to Serenity we got some lunch, took a quick walk on the beach then read pretty much the rest of the day.  Geoff fell asleep again and woke up around 6:00PM.  We made dinner then whiled away the evening until retiring very early at 9:30PM.  I think we were all tired.

Today we slept in (yes, even I didn't get up until well after 7) then it was another great breakfast consisting of Deb's Breakfast Casserole.  Then we got cleaned up and started the tear down process.  I'm very happy to say we were able to do a full breakdown including winterizing in just over an hour.  Amazing what can happen when three people know what to do!

We left the campground just after noon as a pretty big storm was coming in.  High wind with a large trailer was a new experience for us.  I have to say I was a bit nervous as the trailer was blown around.  After getting about 25 miles inland the winds let up a bit and it was pretty much business as usual except for the driving rain.

So we're back at home and already anticipating the next trip.

A couple of notes on this trip:

• It rained lightly when we arrived at Cape Disappointment, then again a couple of hours later.  Then it stayed dry until we started the tear down today.  The highs were in the upper 40s to lower 50s and the lows were in the lower 40s.  Excellent weather for December on the coast!!
• Compared to last year, our propane use was actually down, even though we have a larger trailer with more things that use propane.
• I mentioned in an earlier blog that I would try to post daily.  This campsite had zero cellular coverage so rather than drive in to a spot with signal I just turned off and enjoyed the quiet.
• Oh, and the refrigerator worked all weekend :-D

Until next time,

Jim

Second Annual New Year's Trip to Cape Disappointment Part II

Happy New Year!

Saturday was a totally relaxing day consisting of a light breakfast followed by Deb and I taking a stroll on the beach.  From there we all got cleaned up and after a quick visit to the campground store we took a hike up one of the trails within the campground.  This was intended to be a geocaching hike but technical issues turned it into "just a walk".  Perhaps Sunday.

We headed into Long Beach to rent a couple of DVDs but the video store we had rented from in the past had closed down permanently.  We did the Red Box thing instead and went back to Serenity.

The three of us then took another walk on the beach as the sun was setting.  Returning to Serenity we started dinner and sat around reading.  We cooked a wonderful meal of steak, baked potatoes and corn to celebrate the new year.

The evening was spent playing a game of Settlers of Catan followed by Kung Fu Panda 2.  Yeah, roughing it for sure.  But we did manage to make it to midnight to ring in the new year before passing out.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Total miles this trip including excursions 492.

Route:

View Camping Destinations in a larger map

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

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.