And we're just about off

Tomorrow is the day and I am so excited. We are headed out as soon as Roy mows the lawn. Its either been raining or he has been busy so the lawn is about ankle deep. I would do it, but I have the RV to stock, clean, dump, and de-moss from the winter, not to mention a house to ready for un-occupancy. Notice - here I sit - on the computer doing nothing.
Our first stop is going to be Deschutes State Recreation Area and we are going to spend a couple nights there so we can explore the area. It looks like its got tons of hikes so expect lots of pictures.
Our next stop in Madras, Ore and I think they have WIFI so we can post our first entry. After that, we will be at a couple more Oregon state Parks, La Pine and Goose Lake. We are going to spend the weekend at Fallon Naval Air Station and restock, use the Laundromat, etc etc. From there, if the weather is okay and if the road is open, we are going to Berlin-Ichthyosaur SP. It's at the 7000 foot elevation area so it may still be very cold, but its and interesting park and we would hate to miss it.
From Berlin south, THERE HAD BETTER BE SOME WARM SUN. We are going to explore Death Valley, so I am hoping for warm also. What are the odds.
We should be at Twenty-Nine Palms the following weekend and looking forward to seeing our friends in the area and then heading home thru California and Oregon.
Hope we can post lots of pictures.

One week and counting

Do I look excited? I feel excited
In one week we will be on our our frist vacation of the year and I am really in frantic mode as I have lots to do, both at work and here at home before I can really be ready, if you know what I mean.
Will I remember everything? Thats my biggest fear, forgetting the Rx, the salt or, heaven forbid, a can opener. Its a big deal to get to your campsite, most of which are in the middle of no where, and back in and pull forward until your straight in and your still speaking to your spouse who was directing you and once that is all done, you notice that you forgot the meat you had planned on for dinner, its still at home in the freezer. Well, the only thing I would unplug for is my morning coffee, everything else I can do without.
Will I remember to turn off the coffee pot or worry about for the next month.
Did I make all the reservations? Do I need reservations, will anyone else be on the road.
Will I need to sell my first born to pay for gas?
Anyway, watch this spot.

Covel Creek Trail

This is a great "mother log". It has a baby tree sprouting from the back and this beautiful fern on the front. The picture was taken on a trail for the blind that we happen upon near Covel Creek Trail.

Next trail

We found this little brook right off the Yellowjacket trail at the Crispin Learning Center. It was a strange hike as it branched off in all directions, but the river was always on our left and the road on our right so we didn't get lost. The blowdowns were everywhere. This winter has been hard on our forests.

View from Layser Cave

While the road scared me, the views from Layser Cave were awesome

Layser Cave

We just happened to see this small sign pointing to Layser Cave Interpretive Center and as soon as we got onto the very narrow, very steep, potholed road, I was ready to vote we turn around. You know I am afraid of heights and my side was straight down the side of this mountain. As it turned out, there was NO place to turn around until we got to the parking area. (Thats a laugh, the "parking" was a wideish spot in the road and a tiny little sign that we nearly missed pointing down the hill.)
Not much of a cave but it was used by prehistoric indians as home a few thousand years ago

Trails thru the Old Growth

Sharon and I had a great day today, hiking around the Gifford Pinchont Forest. Our first stop was Wood Creek trail, a 2.5 miler that touches 5 different ecosystems, plus boast neat beaver ponds. But, unfortunately winter has taken a toll and both bridges are out, so that ended that little adventure. I don't think it's going to be repaired anytime soon as it was an Eagle Scout project and the National Forest Service has so many blowdowns and winter damage, this trail is going to be way down on the list.
So off we went to find another hike.

Another little church in Port Townsend, this is St Paul's Episcopal and the oldest in the area. It was built in 1865. I think the red door is an added feature.

I love old churches and this one is particularly great, minus the wires of course. This is Port Townsend again, the First Presbyterian Chuch built in 1890. It is noted for its tracker-action organ with 692 pipes. Unfortunately it was closed when we were there so we didn't get to see this great old music maker

Sunday, and can you believe it, the sun came out

Sunday we got an early start and Sharon got some great pictures of the Olympic Mountains and Crescent Lake. We stopped at La Push but it was a little early for whales.

The most beautiful beach on the Pacific is Ruby Beach and we spent lots of time hiking over the logs and taking pictures.

Fort Worden

Ft Worden is another beautiful State Park here in Washington. The US feared an attack by the new steam-powered, iron hulled battleships and built forts at just about every major harbor entrance in the nation and Ft Worden was one of 3 protecting Puget Sound and particularly Bremerton Naval Shipyard.
It was named after the commander of the Monitor of Merrimac and Monitor fame, Adm John L Worden and was established in 1902

That's Sharon in the foreground. She is off to Iraq in June so we will be seeing a lot of Washington between now and then, if the rain lets up.

I can't seem to get enough of the Olympics

Roy was off to Eastern Washington with his friends so my friend Sharon and I decided to "do" the Olympics as she has never seen the Pacific Ocean nor has she been to the Olympics yet. (She is new to WA and I love showing her around)
Our first stop was Port Townsend and while the weather forecast was rain, we managed to walk around town and visit some great old buildings like this one which I think and old bell tower used to call the volunteer firemen

After a great cup of coffee, we headed for Ft Worden and again we were not disappointed.

Amazing

Its been months since I have posted anything and so glad to see that I am still around....
We will be departing on a 6 week trip down Central Oregon camping at Deshutes State Rec Area, LaPine State Park and Goose Lake State Park. We'll swing over to Eastern Calif and head down Hwy 395 until we get into Nevada and stay at Fallon Naval Air Station for a couple days, Then we plan to check out Nevada with a short stop at Death Valley.
Nevada is one of thoes states that doesn't seem to be on anyone's "must do" list, so I think we will enjoy the solitude and hopefully we will take lots of pictures.....

Portland x2

DH and I took another great trip down to Portland Oregon and while this was our second trip down there this year, it won't be our last. Last time we went, we went to the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden. This time we explored the downtown area and had a great time, even in the rain. Our first stop was the Chinese Garden and we joined a tour already in progess. I really, really recommend going with a tour as the docent pointed out things that I would never have seen and even if I had seen them, I wouldn't have understood what they meant. For instance, (and I hope I can convey the beauty of this) the roof tiles came down to little V points and they were spaced about 4 inches a part so it looked as if you were looking thru a curtain of tiny jewels as the rain dripped off of them.
After the tour, we went into the tea house and each chose a tea. Since my new favorite is white tea, I tried one called jing (something). It was delicious.
Next stop was the Portland Outdoor Market. Reminded me of the 60ies a bit as there were stores that sold "hemp" items, and lots of crafts and food. Musicians were on every corner and there was just a party like atmosphere.
Can't go to Chinatown without having a Chinese meal, so back we went to House of Louie and enjoyed some pretty good food. They have a dim sum menu and it looked great and smelled better.
We were between storms and really lucked out when it came to the weather as we only had a few sprinkles. We stayed overnight and Sunday morning we had a huge breakfast with George and then went to the Asian Market to shop. The prices are reasonable but we found out they have a bigger store in the Seattle area so we don't need to travel down that far just to shop.
All and all it was a great weekend and as always we enjoyed Portand.

Last Day - KOA

Friday we were back in civilization again and stopped at the Ellensburg KOA. It was a nice park and Roy made friends with the owners, but I was a little unhappy with the place. We were there early enough, like noon, but they said they had no sites with either cable or sewer. The site they gave us was so far from WiFi that we barely could use it either. Yet when we woke up the next morning, the place was still about half full and lots of room. I think the reason was because I gave the lady a check. She made a comment that she didn't like bounced checks. If she had asked, I would have given her the debit card or even cash, but she just made snide remarks instead and gave us the worst site in the park.Don't think we'll be back soon, although the Owner did offer Roy a job next summer.

Thursday, what a nightmare

Another beautiful day in Washington and we left Kennewick before noon and drove to Walla Walla, WA and then on to Lewis and Clark State Park. The park was closed, probably because there was a fire in the area so we continued on to Palouse Falls State Park.
The road from Hwy 12 to the park is not a keeper. First it was very narrow and about 10 miles in we came to a bridge that was NOT my cup of tea. It was over the Snake River, about 1000 foot over and it was as narrow as the road with tiny 3 foot guard rails. I would have closed my eyes if I haven't been driving and about a 3rd of the way over this monster, what do I meet but a huge truck. He stops and I had inches on my side and maybe a foot on the other side. I was actually sick to my stomach by the time I go off that bridge and No, I am not ever going that way again.
Palouse Falls State Park was mostly tent sites, but we parked in the lot and for the first time we "dry camped". I was still a little ill thinking about that bridge, so I stayed in the RV while Roy went and took pictures. You see, there is a height issue here also. We were alone in the park, and felt like we were alone in the world. There was nothing in the area and no other campers. At just about dark two other Campers came in but they decided they didn't like it and took off. (I hope they aren't afraid of heights and heading south) When we woke in the morning there was another van camped next to us, but at dawn they left and we followed shortly. We got off that narrow road as soon as possible and on to one that was straight and wider. 

Wednesday in Kennewick

Last of Hwy 14 and I am just as glad to be off of it. While I loved the camping, I am afraid of heights and this road seemed to be teetoring on the top of the world. This is a picture that Roy took from a pull-out, which I absolutely refused to look at. Thats a town way down there.
Our next stop was Kennewick and the Tri-Cities RV Park. We needed a day in town to restock and do some shopping and we even found a decent Mexican Restaurant near the park and treated ourselves to dinner. Roy ordered Tortilla Soup and the bowl was hugh. I had carne asada and it was very good.
The park is very nice with all the amenities, cable TV, WiFi, hot showers, and super friendly staff. We already have reservations to return in June and this time, we are going to spend a whole week there. Within walking distance is a Mall, Home Depot and of course, the Mexican Restaurant. 

Crow Butte Campground

My new favorite campground is Crow Butte. Crow Butte was a state park but has been transfered to private hands and its a great, uncrowded place to camp. The spaces are wide and trees are plentiful and the wildlife is abundant due to its proximaty to the Umatilla Wildlife Refuge. There are over 50 spaces and there were only 4 campers so we had lots of room.

Once we parked we decided to spend two nights and we'er glad that we did. On Tuesday the wind picked up and nearly gale force for most of the day. Driving in it would have been scary.

There are a couple of trails, and we took one labelled Sand Beach. About 2/3s of the way down to the beach we saw a huge deer which I called an Elk, but Roy said was a mule deer. What ever it was, Roy took off over the ridge to see if he could get a picture and I continued down to the dunes and eventually back to the camp. Roy didn't see the deer again, but he did see the other side of the mountain.

That evening we went out to see if we could see any deer and Roy got a couple good pictures of some White Tail, like the one above. They like to come into the park at dusk.

Like Columbia Hills, we did hear trains and road traffic, but geese were also plentiful and their honks were much easier on the ears.

I give Crow Butte a 10 plus and will go back. It is just off Hwy 14 west of Paterson and east of The Dalles bridge. Its a keeper.

Columbia Hills/Horsethief Lake State Park

Thats our campground in the background and a fake owl in the tree. I would rate this park about a 6 as the utility sites (only 8 of them) were pretty much one on top of the other. Would I come back, sure. Its a nice park and open til the end of October.

23 Oct 06

Spent a chilly night, mostly because of Roys frugal attitude toward the propane!!! Woke to a beautiful morning with plans to hike to the petroglyphs.

Later: Well while the petroglyphs were awesome we were unable to hike to "She Who Watches", the most famous one, as they closed the hike due to vandalism. Isn't that a shame. We did get to see some that they had saved from the when they built the dam and would have been underwater. They lined the trail with them and the "First People" as they are called, now use the area as a religious meeting area.