Search Results

August 26 through 29 finds us at the Tillamook Bay RV Park near the air museum and airport south of town. This is a dry camping site with plenty of room between neighboring RV rigs. Our solar system allows us to charge the batteries during the day so we don't need the generator for our power needs. Day 1: Friday night we did a recon and drove north to downtown Tillamook past the famous creamery to Garibaldi on the north end of Tillamook Bay for dinner. I had fish and chips, Karen had a Bay Shrimp salad at Kelley's Place at the Smokestack. This cash only and no minors allowed bar & grill on the water was busy. The food was good but the place was noisy. Day 2: Saturday started with a trip to the downtown Tillamook farmer's market for some veggies and cherries. Next it was onto the famous Tillamook creamery for the self-guided tour and some cheese samples. It was too early for lunch so we headed to Cape Meares State Park to see the lighthouse. The Cape Meares Lighthouse used a 1-ton hand-ground, Crystal Fresnel lens! It's only one of two French eight-sided lights in the United States - the other is in Hawaii. One of the unusual oddities was the Octopus Tree. The forces that shaped this unique Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) have been debated for many years. Whether natural events or possibly Native Americans were the cause remains a mystery. The tree measures more than 46 feet in circumference and has no central trunk. Instead, limbs extend horizontally from the base as much as 16 feet before turning upward. It is 105 feet tall and is estimated to be 250 to 300 years old. From there we drove to Netarts on the bay for lunch, followed by a drive south to check out the Cape Lookout State Park venue. Day 3: Sunday started with church. We attended the Tillamook Christian Church service at 9 AM followed by a trip to Safeway for groceries and some lunch items. After lunch I enjoyed a nap and Karen read her book. Our afternoon sightseeing was to the mood Air Museum across the airfield from our RV location. This was originally the Tillamook Naval United States Navel Air Station Tillamook operated from 1942 to 1946. This station was built for Navy airship used for reconnaissance and convoy escort duty during the second world war.

From Loon Lake we traveled to Hwy 80 by way of Wentworth Springs Road to state highways 193 and 49. Everything was okay until we got to the downgrade to the north fork of the American River gorge! A ten percent grade, winding and narrow with traffic; a real white knuckle driving experience but we managed to get through to Auburn then Hwy 65 on to Linda, CA. We wanted to stop and see our friends David and Noel Nephew. After spending the night it was on to Hwy 5 passed Lake Shasta, Mt. Shasta, Yreka and over the border into Oregon. We arrived at the Southern Oregon RV Park in Central Point on Monday August 22 for two days. Karen and I both worked remotely while at this location. After three weeks of electrical problems with one daisy-chained 110v circuit, I was able to troubleshoot the problem and fix it myself. One more point for this old "MacGyver" figuring out this rig's 110v electrical system nuance. From Central Point, OR we headed north to Sutherlin, OR then west on Hwy 138 and Hwy 38 to the coastal town of Reedsport and north to the Three Rivers Casino in Florence, OR. First night was free and they gave Karen and I $10 each to gamble in the casino. Guess how long that lasted? Later we drove to Wil and Raychell Sumner's new home for a delicious dinner and a visit. Wil and I served in the same Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla in Petaluma before he and Raychell moved up to Oregon last October 2021. They have a beautiful new home on a lake and Wil has two Coast Guard stations he is involved with in the area. Tonight, August 25 we are staying at the Tillicum Beach campground on the coast in the Siuslaw National Forest. The campsite was first come, first serve and we got into a pull-through close enough we can hear the ocean as I write this post. Tomorrow we travel to Port Tillamook Bay RV Park about two and a half hours away. Home of the Tillamook Cheese Factory and the Tillamook Air Museum. The museum is located at a former US Navy Air Station and housed in a former blimp hangar, known as "Hangar B", which is the largest clear-span wooden structure in the world!

After two weeks and two days back in Sonoma County we left again for our next road trip called "Northwest Triangle". Our plans included spending three days in the Sierra's near the Desolation Wilderness at Loon Lake with our son Nick and the family. This is Nick's "happy place" where he, Lindsey and the kiddos boat out to an island or peninsula on the lake and set up a private campsite. On Thursday, August 18th we traveled on Highway 50 east of Sacramento towards Lake Tahoe and turned onto Ice House Road headed north for about an hour. The lake is in the El Dorado National Forest and is very remote but the roads are adequate for a large fifth wheel. We decided to play it safe and show up a day before the weekend so we would have less a problem getting a first come, first serve parking area site. No cell service, no hook ups but worth the isolation and spectacular views.

After delivering Zoe to her family, Karen and I started our return trip to California on July 30th via Coos Bay, Oregon and Fortuna, CA. We took three days to get back to the Herrick's vineyard property in Healdsburg, CA. We really appreciate Lorri and Greg providing us a base of operation with full hook-ups. Karen and I both spent a couple days working when we returned. She is helping with the transition with her replacement at Total Concepts and I did three fire investigations for FCA. Our main reason for returning was to help the family with Karen's mother, Marilyn Hilen's memorial celebration on August 14th. After losing mom last year on August 12, 2021 we had to delay honoring her memory due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions on travel and gatherings. In hindsight this was probably a blessing in disguise, because it allowed us all time grieve the loss before her memorial. On Friday, August 12th, the family started arriving. We had a spontaneous dinner party that night at Chevy's Mexican restaurant. On Saturday, another gathering at Karen's brother Keith's condo clubhouse for a barbecue. And finally on Sunday, a beautiful memorial with family and friend at the Wild Oaks Saddle Club. The memorial was a wonderful tribute to a great lady, mother and friend. Stories and memories were shared about mom's life. Laughter and tears punctuated moments during the afternoon celebration. Throughout the day I felt her spirit and I know in my heart she was smiling, laughing and crying with all of us. Our loss is Heaven's gain.

Before Elisa and Aaron left for home we all traveled to Crater Lake because no one in either family had ever been there. It was on our "bucket list" of sights to see. And was it ever a sight to behold! The blue beauty of Crater Lake extends beyond its depth. At 1,943 feet deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in America. Famous for its beautiful blue color, the lake's water comes directly from snow or rain -- there are no inlets from other water sources. This means no sediment or mineral deposits are carried into the lake, helping it maintain its rich color and making it one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the world. Karen and I started a tradition of spending a week or more with each grandkid when they turned 13. Well, we have twins, Macy and Zoe in the Edgington family. Rather than do their trip together we took Macy (born first at 2:31 AM) last year, which meant Zoe (born a minute later at 2:32 AM) had to wait an extra year. During Zoe's week we kayaked on the lake in Stewart State Recreation Area, visited the High Desert Museum and tubed down the Deschutes river in Bend, Oregon, eventually arriving at Spring Drive RV campground below Mt. Hood. We spent our last day together enjoying a delicious dinner at the Timberline lodge, Cascade dining room. From Mt. Hood it was a two hour drive to Portland to return Zoe back home. We had a great time getting to know Zoe on a much deeper level. These trip really give us a chance to KNOW our grandkids.

Saturday, July 16 through Wednesday, July 20 was a great time to hang out with two of our three kids, theirs spouses and grandkids. This was the first time we rented a AirBnB with a pool and it was a definite hit given the hot weather in southern Oregon. We slept in, hung out by the pool in the afternoon, shared some great meals, and played games into the late evening. Of course, Mimi (Karen) had to have us all together for a family photo, so we gather in front of the pool to record this memorable time together minus Erik, Tori, Emery, Mattis and Arley. We ended our time together at the AirBnB and headed to Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area for a week. Nick's family headed south and home to El Dorado Hills, CA while Elisa's family stayed in the area for a couple more days. Before heading back to Portland, OR they visited us at our site and we all headed up to Crater Lake together.

We left Mt. Rainer, WA on July 14 heading to a four bedroom Air BNB we rented for a family reunion Saturday, July 16 to Wednesday 20 in Central Point outside of Medford, Oregon. Our journey south took us by the exit to Mt. St. Helens on Interstate 5. As we pasted the offramp I couldn't help but remember that fateful day in May 18, 1980 and wonder if Mt. Rainer will ever erupt in my lifetime. To avoid the traffic in Portland, OR we opted to exit in Longview, WA and cross the Columbia River continuing the journey on Highway 30, then over Cornelius Pass towards our Harvest Host - Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, OR. Its exhibits include the Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) and more than fifty military and civilian aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), and spacecraft. The museum complex includes four main buildings: the original aviation exhibit hall, a large screen (7 stories wide, 6 stories high) digital theater, a second exhibit hall focused on space technology, and a water park. I was a member of the Evergreen Museum Association some years ago and knew the facility had a large parking lot and plenty of room for our overnight stay. On July 15 we departed McMinnville, OR to head south to Myrtle Creek, OR about 175 mile away. We stopped at the Millsite RV Park for the night. $30 per day plus one time $5 booking fee with full hook ups (excellent at the price, especially compared to other parks in Oregon). The following morning we drove the two hours south to the AirBNB. Backing in the fifth wheel was a challenge, but Karen was on the walkie-talkie had me covered, guiding me into the driveway so we could still have plenty of parking for the other vehicles. Families started arriving in the afternoon and we were all around or in the pool enjoying the warm weather and cold drinks before dinner. We're all missing not having Erik, Tori, Emery, Mattis and Arley with us. Love and miss you, will FaceTime you all later.

We departed Camano Island on the morning of July 12 for a two day stay at Alder Lake in the shadow of Mt.Rainer. With a summit elevation of 14,411 ft (4,392 m), it is the highest mountain in the state of Washington and the Cascade Range, the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States, and the tallest in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. On July 13, Karen and I entered the southwest Nisqually entrance of the National Park and traveled up the volcano through Longmire and up to the Paradise area at approximately 5,400 feet (1,600 m) on the south slope. Paradise is the most popular destination for visitors to Mount Rainier National. We visited the visitor center and checked out the Paradise Inn. Originally built in 1916, the lodge is indeed grand and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. Mt. Rainer has the largest alpine glacial system outside of Alaska and the world's largest volcanic glacier cave system (in the summit crater). Visible throughout the region, Mount Rainier shapes the physical environment and defines the identity of the Pacific Northwest. If you're ever in the Pacific Northwest make a point of exploring Mt. Rainer National Park.

Ever dreamt of having ocean front property with incredible views? Access to water toys of all kinds and eating an endless supply of amazing foods, including Dungeness Crab? Add to that, fireworks on the Fourth of July, great conversation and connection with our extended family in Washington. Our Camano Island visit was the first time in 2 months that we stayed in any one place for longer than 5 days so it was especially relaxing and refreshing! Thank you Agnew family, Haug family and Hilen family for a great time at the beach house. We had so much fun we're coming back in September for another visit.

We traveled from Great Falls, Montana to McGregor Lakes RV resort located in Marion, MT between Kalispell and Libby on Hwy 2. McGregor Lake is 33 miles from Kalispell and 90 minutes from Glacier National Park. Beautiful outdoor wildlife setting located between two lakes. We only stayed one night but got a good feel for the area and the road. From there it was across the pan handle of Idaho and into Washington. We got the last RV site at the FamCamp at Fairchild Air Force Base outside of Spokane, We chose to stay two nights there and rest up for the long drive to Puget Sound. Well, we made it to Camano Island after a seven hour drive through some of the the most spectacular scenery in the southern Cascades. We chose to continue our travel via Hwy 2 and stay north of the Seattle area. It was a beautiful drive and we noted some interesting places to return for a visit. We arrived on Friday, July 1 at the beach house owned by Karen's cousin Creigh and Rick Agnew. I'd been looking forward to this leg of our journey. The Agnew's have a beautiful beach house on the water with a large lot next door for our rig. Since arriving we have gotten to spend quality time with family, had great meals together, hiked and biked, and best of all relaxed!

Karen returned from her all-girls cruise to Bermuda. I had completed all my maintenance on the equipment while she was gone. Had the oil and filter changed in the diesel truck and a new air filter. Had the wheel bearings on the RV inspected and repacked. We are now ready for another 5000 miles on our adventure. Before leaving the Denver area we wanted to spend some more time with our son Erik's family. Had the two oldest grandkids spend the night in the fifth wheel at Buckley Space Force Base and made some great memories. We departed the Denver suburb of Thornton, CO and headed north on Interstate 25 for Montana. Spent the first night (6/24/22) in Wheatland, WY then on to the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Billings, MT. We arrived at Malmstrom Air Force Base and Gateway FamCamp in Great Falls, MT on Sunday, June 26. A close family friend, the niece of my mother's best friend Odie, JoAnn Sutton lives in Great Falls so we contacted her. I hadn't seen JoAnn since the 70's so we had a lot of catching up to do! We had dinner at her home the first day and did some local sightseeing the second day. It was wonderful to hear her story, share ours and get reconnected. We had a great visit and plan on keeping in touch. We're thinking about returning to see Glacier National Park later this summer, If we return this year it would be for at least two weeks in the national forest near the park. We visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. This was a fascinating exhibit and gave me a greater understanding of their mission's complexities, the challenges they encountered and the importance of their sensitivity/respect to the native people who helped them accomplish their journey to the Pacific Ocean. I had no idea they had to spend two weeks moving their boats up and around the five waterfalls (Great Falls) in the Missouri River. I recommend seeing this exhibit if you're ever in the area.

On June 6 we departed South Dakota for Colorado via Wyoming. Our route took us to Wheatland, Wyoming where we stop from a day of traveling. Wheatland is a small town on Interstate 25, north of Cheyenne with a small city park (Lewis Park) where they allow you to park your RV for up to 3 days. Better yet, 6 of the sites have electrical and water for your rig FREE of charge! An added benefit was the public swimming pool was located in the same park, so Karen was able to get in some lap swimming the next morning before we left for Denver. Our first two days in the Denver area were at the Calvary Community Baptist Church in Northglenn about 4.6 miles from our son's Erik's home in Thornton. Pastor Robb of the church was welcoming and OK'd an addition day for us in their parking lot. Erik, Tori and the grandkids were just returning from a trip to Disneyland, so we waited until Wednesday, June 8 to see the gang. From there we were moving to the west to Standley Lake Regional Park in Bloomfield, CO., but before the move on June 9th, I took Karen to the Denver International Airport. She was on her way to New York to go on a all-girls cruise to Bermuda. After dropping her off at the departure terminal I headed back to the church to pick up the rig and move. I was at Standley Lake for five days, and have moved three more times since arriving. Two Days at Chatfield State Park, one day at Cherry Creek State Park and most recently Valley View Christian Church (Harvest Host). All of the facilities have been first-class, I just wish I'd scheduled them for longer periods of time. Moving the rig by myself and so often is getting old. I have I more move to make tomorrow, Father's Day to Buckley Space Force Base. Fortunately, that reservation is for five days and Karen returns on Tuesday, June 21 from her trip. Looking forward to getting my partner back.