Just a little reflection in this blog--
On our trip through Oregon, we were pleased to have good hook-ups i.e. water, power, and sewer connections. The washrooms have been very decent and had public showers that were clean. And that was in the state parks! KOA Kampgrounds have great washrooms and you can take a long hot shower. When we got to Seaquest State Park outside of Mt. St. Helens in Washington we had showers where you had to insert tokens into a coin box to get hot water for your shower. So I got 4 tokens for $2.00. Now, my hair is almost down to my waist. Could I actually wash and rinse my hair plus other showering duties in 12 minutes? I found out I actually can, and with time to spare. Though I didn't waste the hot water.
It's a different experience in the National Parks. Sorry, no hook-ups or public showers. So we're on our own. We have a sunshower, which heats water up by placing a water-filled pouch in the sun until it is warm, then hang it in a tree and shower with the spigot. (with swimsuits of course)
Or, you swim in a lake. Or, you take a quick shower in the RV. I wash my hair the old-fashioned way, in a tub and air-dry. Ah, the good life in camp.
Til next time,
Happy trails.
L & K
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Oregon state parks
Hello, everyone!
I finally have connectivity again! More about that later. Just wanted to continue where I left off about our travels in Oregon. We continued our journey by staying in the Columbia River Gorge. As we followed this mighty river, we couldn't help but wonder what it must have been like to be some of the first explorers (Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery) to see it and follow it to the sea. Spectacular views and lush scenery!
We stayed for 2 nights in Ainsworth state park in a very green leafy forested area. And amazing to find out, we had full hookups! That's RV-speak for electricity, water line, and a sewer line, so we don't need to rely on our own propane, use our generator, or water from our tank. How nice! We were pleasantly surprised, because CA state parks don't provide any of those luxury items. OK, Oregon gets points for that one!
Anyway, we did some sightseeing--toured the visitor center at Bonneville Dam. (Ken was anxious to see the fish ladder and the underwater fish viewing windows).I vaguely remember going there as a kid, right Dad?
The high point of the day was taking the waterfall hikes. Along the scenic river highway, we could park the truck (our trailer was back at our campsite waiting for us) and take a short hike up a beautiful trail to a view area, take pictures of a gorgeous waterfall, get doused with lots of misty spray, hike down the trail, and drive to the next one. We stopped at about 6 of these trails. The highlight was going to Multnomah Falls. This was a two tiered fall that spilled over a high basalt (volcanic rock) rim, and freefell onto more basalt rocks, then continued flowing over a second rim into another pool. On top of that, there was a bridge you could hike to that spanned the waterfall area, a historic rock building that housed the visitor center, a restaurant, gift shop, etc. I keep buying post cards, but so far haven't sent any. I promise I will write real mail as well!
The next day we drove up to Mt. Hood, which began our tours of the volcanoes in the Cascade Range. Stay tuned for my next blog, I have a good book I'm dying to get my nose into before turning in.
Happy trails,
Linda and Ken
I finally have connectivity again! More about that later. Just wanted to continue where I left off about our travels in Oregon. We continued our journey by staying in the Columbia River Gorge. As we followed this mighty river, we couldn't help but wonder what it must have been like to be some of the first explorers (Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery) to see it and follow it to the sea. Spectacular views and lush scenery!
We stayed for 2 nights in Ainsworth state park in a very green leafy forested area. And amazing to find out, we had full hookups! That's RV-speak for electricity, water line, and a sewer line, so we don't need to rely on our own propane, use our generator, or water from our tank. How nice! We were pleasantly surprised, because CA state parks don't provide any of those luxury items. OK, Oregon gets points for that one!
Anyway, we did some sightseeing--toured the visitor center at Bonneville Dam. (Ken was anxious to see the fish ladder and the underwater fish viewing windows).I vaguely remember going there as a kid, right Dad?
The high point of the day was taking the waterfall hikes. Along the scenic river highway, we could park the truck (our trailer was back at our campsite waiting for us) and take a short hike up a beautiful trail to a view area, take pictures of a gorgeous waterfall, get doused with lots of misty spray, hike down the trail, and drive to the next one. We stopped at about 6 of these trails. The highlight was going to Multnomah Falls. This was a two tiered fall that spilled over a high basalt (volcanic rock) rim, and freefell onto more basalt rocks, then continued flowing over a second rim into another pool. On top of that, there was a bridge you could hike to that spanned the waterfall area, a historic rock building that housed the visitor center, a restaurant, gift shop, etc. I keep buying post cards, but so far haven't sent any. I promise I will write real mail as well!
The next day we drove up to Mt. Hood, which began our tours of the volcanoes in the Cascade Range. Stay tuned for my next blog, I have a good book I'm dying to get my nose into before turning in.
Happy trails,
Linda and Ken
Sunday, June 14, 2009
hikes and caves
OK, time to update what Ken and I have been up to on our awesome trip!
When we were still in the Rogue River area, we came upon a flyer about the Oregon Cave Monument. I had been there as a girl with my family,but I was excited to see it again. We drove up a very windy road through tall old growth forests and it was very foggy and kind of spooky. When we got there, we had to agree that we could tolerate being underground for 90 minutes, and that we were able to crouch and squeeze through tight spaces. It was very wet in the cave with lots of running water. Our ranger guide was excellent, and he was very patient with answering questions of kids in the group. We saw some excellent examples of stagmites (which form from the ground up) and stalactites (which grow from the ceiling down). There were narrow passageways which opened into large rooms. Lots of drapery type formations and a few columns as well. When we got out (whew!) the sun had come out and we ate our picnic lunch before heading back to Grants Pass and the Rogue River.
Also in Oregon, before we left the Salem/Rogue area, we decided to take a quick trip out to Silver Falls State Park, which has steep trails that wind around the falls loops, through lush undergrowth of ferns, native flowers, mossy trees--very much a west coast type of rain forest. The falls were created by layers of volcanic basalt which formed the face of the rocky overhangs, and there was plenty of water and spray as we walked up to and behind the falls. Didn't see any banana slugs, though! The last time I had been to Silver Falls with my parents, my sandals strap broke and I had to tie it together with vines, how McGyver of me! No such mishaps this time, I had my hiking boots and my trekking poles.
To be continued--almost time for our campfire.
Happy trails--
Linda and Ken
When we were still in the Rogue River area, we came upon a flyer about the Oregon Cave Monument. I had been there as a girl with my family,but I was excited to see it again. We drove up a very windy road through tall old growth forests and it was very foggy and kind of spooky. When we got there, we had to agree that we could tolerate being underground for 90 minutes, and that we were able to crouch and squeeze through tight spaces. It was very wet in the cave with lots of running water. Our ranger guide was excellent, and he was very patient with answering questions of kids in the group. We saw some excellent examples of stagmites (which form from the ground up) and stalactites (which grow from the ceiling down). There were narrow passageways which opened into large rooms. Lots of drapery type formations and a few columns as well. When we got out (whew!) the sun had come out and we ate our picnic lunch before heading back to Grants Pass and the Rogue River.
Also in Oregon, before we left the Salem/Rogue area, we decided to take a quick trip out to Silver Falls State Park, which has steep trails that wind around the falls loops, through lush undergrowth of ferns, native flowers, mossy trees--very much a west coast type of rain forest. The falls were created by layers of volcanic basalt which formed the face of the rocky overhangs, and there was plenty of water and spray as we walked up to and behind the falls. Didn't see any banana slugs, though! The last time I had been to Silver Falls with my parents, my sandals strap broke and I had to tie it together with vines, how McGyver of me! No such mishaps this time, I had my hiking boots and my trekking poles.
To be continued--almost time for our campfire.
Happy trails--
Linda and Ken
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Day 6--in Oregon
We have been having a great time in the lovely state of Oregon. After visiting the Bard in Ashland and camping alongside the Rogue River, we headed into Salem to visit my Auntie Midge and my cousin Kathy and husband Dennis. Dinner and a great tour of Capitol Manor where my aunt lives. Ken had never been there before, so it was fun for him to see.
Last night we drove to Corvallis where my college roommate lives. Wow, her watercolors and her husband Steve's framing work is just beautiful! They're quite a team. Such a great testament to the Pacific Northwest where they live and work. Jan is also a cookbook author, food and wine critic, and an accomplished cook. She cooked dinner for us at Margaret and Will's house (her parents) . They live nearby, and as Jan says, they have the "party" house. We met Rosie, M and W's Katrina rescue dog. She's an old girl, very sweet Lab/Pit mix.
The BBQ'd Chateaubriand was excellent, and fresh wonderful asparagus. And since I also grew up with Jan and know her family, we had a lot of catching up to do. Good wine, good company--lots of talking and laughing, taking pictures--I promise I'll get some pictures up soon!
Next blog I'll tell you about some hiking we've done already, and our amazing tour of the historic town of Aurora, about an hour north of Salem.
Happy trails to everyone, and we hope you have a chance to do a little travel this summer!
Linda and Ken
Last night we drove to Corvallis where my college roommate lives. Wow, her watercolors and her husband Steve's framing work is just beautiful! They're quite a team. Such a great testament to the Pacific Northwest where they live and work. Jan is also a cookbook author, food and wine critic, and an accomplished cook. She cooked dinner for us at Margaret and Will's house (her parents) . They live nearby, and as Jan says, they have the "party" house. We met Rosie, M and W's Katrina rescue dog. She's an old girl, very sweet Lab/Pit mix.
The BBQ'd Chateaubriand was excellent, and fresh wonderful asparagus. And since I also grew up with Jan and know her family, we had a lot of catching up to do. Good wine, good company--lots of talking and laughing, taking pictures--I promise I'll get some pictures up soon!
Next blog I'll tell you about some hiking we've done already, and our amazing tour of the historic town of Aurora, about an hour north of Salem.
Happy trails to everyone, and we hope you have a chance to do a little travel this summer!
Linda and Ken
Friday, June 5, 2009
The big day
Well, today's the big day. We're leaving on a road trip through 5 states: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Our 20' trailer will be our home away from home for 2 months. Along the way we will visit friends and family, and see many of the natural wonders in the West. We're planning on taking a lot of pictures which we will share with you. Hope you will follow along with us!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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