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Pac Northwest 2020
  • Katboz
  • Linley Brinker-Harding

Pac Northwest 2020

Oregon "cool down" with the Hardings Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 10, 2020
    Pac Northwest 2020
    2Parkway RV resort
    1Frank said he would rather stay home with the floor air conditioning vents!

    Day 1: Orland, Ca.; hot and humid!

    August 10, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    After having several days to getting ready, it still felt like I left everything to the last day! "Hot" is not my best...um, temperature. Even so we managed to leave at about noon and drove the "Central Valley" in triple digit weather. 300 miles later we arrived at the Parkway RV Resort, in Orland. Really seems like a nice park, due to Covid almost everything in the park is closed. But lots of nice looking mature trees and green grass. Hardings (our travel companions for this three week jaunt) are due in about 7:30. Promised them dinner and a cool RV. (Gosh darn humidity is a little bit of a deterrent.) I knew the first two days out of California would be "tough"!? But God is good, and I have blessings a'plenty!Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Sundial Bridge in Redding
    Shasta LakeHeadwaters, cold water just pouring out of the side of the hill!Linley enjoying the garden1Lots of color!What the guys do when the girls wander the nursery!

    Prospect, Oregon (definitely cooler!)

    August 11, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    Woke up to a beautiful morning in Orland, the heat of the day was still a couple of hours away. Slow morning...gas fill up at Pilot, which conveniently offers Cinnabon rolls! Coffee and a warm, icing covered cinnamon roll later we were back on I-5 north. We stopped in Redding to see the "full size" Sundial Bridge over the Sacramento River, (especially important since Clarke is creating his own garden size sundial), then on to the city park in Mt. Shasta to see the headwaters of the Sacramento River. Nice cool spot for RV lunch, and a beautiful nursery right up the street. Even this far north the heat caught up with us...(I always like this drive with views of Shasta Lake, Mt. Shasta, and forests.) Left the park and drove on through Medford, took Hwy 62 to Prospect, Or. Finally feeling a change in temperature. Nice park, Crater Lake RV Resort, pretty full! But parked in lots of pine trees! No cell service, and Wi-Fi is "down" due to squirrels chewing the wire...better than a forest fire!Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Crater Lake RV Park, sites 40 and 41
    1Gorge view in Prospect3The group at Rim Village, Crater Lake1Company as we walked Sun Notch for a view of Phantom Ship3Phantom Ship from Sun NotchIce cream!

    Crater Lake Day!

    August 12, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    Enjoyed a cool (!) morning, long sleeves and all! Packed up lunches for a day in the national park via jeep. (This was a day off for Auggie, he got to stay and just sleep through his day.) First a local stop, drove through the town of Prospect to view they're Rouge River gorge view point. Really pretty, beautiful old Bridge with a great drop off. Then on to Crater. Spent the whole day driving the rim, enjoying "several" overlooks, and got in a little hiking! Beautiful sunshine, manageable crowds (always found parking) lunched with a view of Wizards Island, and ended our visit with an ice cream stop on the way back to camp. Great shower in newly built restrooms, BBQ chicken and wine to end the day.Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Lits of long, straight roads through Oregon!Stopping along the way1Found this guy on the Hardings RV grill.Creekside Campground

    Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway to Sisters

    August 13, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    Not our best start...for a good hour we fussed with the black waste trying to empty the tank. Finally gave up, drove with it full all day until we got to Sisters, Oregon. Fussed another 40 minutes or so until the camp host reminded us that we probably had 2 release valves. Omigosh this is our third year, and we totally forgot we have one on each side of the RV, one right near the toilet and one near the gray water valve. Needless to say that cleared up our problem!
    So with a delayed start we pretty much just drove and enjoyed the scenery today. Lunch on the road and a couple of stops to see the scenery. The byway route circles around Mt. Bachelor and several lakes. Drove through a really nice part of Bend (not seeing many masks) and got to Sisters by about 4:30. Camping at Creekside Campground which is practically in town. Had dinner, and enjoyed talking to a group of four 65 plus men on day 5 of their cross country ride! Their final destination is Virginia!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Hikers!Little respite for the old guys! 😁FallsGetting up on the wireAlmost looks like he is walking on the water fall!

    Sisters, morning waterfall hike

    August 14, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Cool morning again....packed up and headed out Sahalie and Kooash Falls along the McKenzie River. Decided Auggie could join us for our morning adventure and so with Hardings in the back seat of the jeep and Auggie in my lap we headed out Hwy. 20.

    Nice little hike, with some beautiful falls. I was concerned they would be low since it is late in the year, but they looked pretty full to me! The same little hike serves both waterfalls. Lots of tumbling water, deep pools, moss covered rocks and waterfall 🌈 (rainbows)!

    We had a real surprise coming out, as there were a couple of guys tightrope walking the falls! Yes, this is not a typo. They did have safety lines, but walking the wire (barefoot!) across the face of the water fall. We were just a little stunned!

    Enjoyed the bit of nature and headed back to Sisters for a little in town shopping time!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    1Lots of color!
    Loved these stain glass "windows"!Just a sample of some of the applique work I loved as well!Bridge into town, just back from a little shopping...

    Afternoon in Sisters

    August 14, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Returned to RV after our nature walk (!) and left Auggie for a deserved afternoon nap. Sandwiches at Sisters Coffee shop, all outdoor dining, and most wore masks. Like California you can not enter a shop with out a mask on. Linley and I left the guys and had a nice afternoon shopping. Art galleries, quilt shops, home accessories.... but very clean, fun street scape with lots of beautiful hanging flower baskets on all the light poles. We walked back to the RV, the campground is right in the edge of downtown, so we really did get a minimum of 10,000 steps in this day!Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    North of Madras, pretty dry landscape!
    Mt. Jefferson way in the back ground2Mt. Hood forest and views1

    Hot drive to Cascade Locks

    August 15, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Mostly a drive day, with a quick trip to an RV parts store outside of Redmond. Easy replacement of a leaky shower hose, and headed north up through Madras and ultimately Cascade Locks. Last time we were here (with Cindy) it was 2017 and we couldn't stay because of the huge Eagle Creek fire in the gorge. We drove through some awfully dry country Warm Springs) but had views of Mt. Jefferson, and Mt. Hood, both with snow on them still. Checked into KOA RV park, got RV AC running, and then drove up highway in jeep to see Multnomah Falls. Due to Covid restrictions all amenities closed in park, but not many in masks since they are all in separate units. Discovering that our little shower is not so bad after all!! And so thankful for AC, and traveling, personal fans....Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Love the old concrete bridges...this falls originates from underground springs!
    1Enjoying the "cool" view, pedestrian foot bridge in background2Railway over creek, it parallels the Columbia RiverBridge of the Gods (for all who read Wild, the end of Cheryl Strayed's hike)

    Multnomah Falls

    August 15, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 99 °F

    In spite of the heat , we all jumped into the jeep...well "jump: could be the wrong word since it is only a two door, and two of us "crawl" over the front seat to get in the back....and drove west to see the falls. Even here, lots of restrictions, masks, one way for foot traffic, and only access to the viewing platform, no further access to pedestrian bridge. But still a gorgeous waterfall and lots of folks still sightseeing along this route.Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Toppenish welcome sign
    One of many, many murals!El Noa Noa restaurant in ToppenishThe restaurant had shady (!) outdoor dining.2

    Lunching in Toppenish

    August 16, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    About a 300 mile drive from Cascade Locks to Leavenworth in Washington. Yakima was about halfway so we decided to stop for lunch to break up the drive. Toppenish is a small town just south that looked like an easier iron then the "big" city of Yakima. What a fun find. Small, older town that still had their downtown park and older buildings. Had mapped or way to another restaurant only to find out had closed and then was directed to El Noa Noa by a store owner when we asked for a lunch recommendation. This restaurant has taken sidewalk dining to a new level. Pretty clear that this garden oasis has been in place several years, but it was perfect for pandemic times. Lots of planters with flowers and veggies, and cute grass shade covers. Great Mexican food, with handmade flour tortillas and ice cold water!Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Barges on the river
    1"Our" view of the riverSite 99! Right on the river

    Cascade Locks to Icicle River RV park

    August 16, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Long, warm (?) drive to our most northern destination, Icicle River RV, 3 miles outside of Leavenworth. In spite of the name, we have not found a single icicle. (Oh, for even a half icicle.) While it is not triple digits, we are high nineties....and who knows maybe it crack a hundred? I'll check with Linley, she'll know...
    Really enjoyed our drive along the Columbia, north to Yakima (Toppenish for lunch), took the highway instead of the interstate and drove through Yakima canyon, along side the Yakima river. Lots of floating "tubers", no masks, and most were in clusters of tubes floating together. That aside, it looked incredibly refreshing! Probably some pretty sunburn folks at the end of the day... it is a canyon with few, if any, trees!
    Back through lots of ag land; fruit trees, vines, with produce boxes staged for picking. Final leg had us driving through the Wenatchee national forest and into Leavenworth. Don't have a many driving pics because I drove the the afternoon leg....    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    2
    Hardings in upper level, but with nice shade trees

    Day off, and laundry!

    August 17, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Gave ourselves a slow down day and just enjoyed the park, with a few chores! Got all our laundry done per covid guidelines. The laundry room is scheduled in two hour blocks of time with only one user at a time. Linley and I snagged the coveted slots, 10:30 to 12:30, and the 12:30 to 2:30 windows. Clothes, sheets, and towels all done. They only had 2 washers and dryers so we had to stay on top of it!

    Spent the rest of the afternoon doing some needlework on a quilt project while Tom got an afternoon nap! Great BBQ steak, grilled asparagus and salad for dinner. Still eating inside with AC on, but have a window view of Icicle River.

    Sometimes it is nice to slow down and take a day off from sightseeing goals! Thank you Lord, for AC units and a great campsite!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020

    Shopping, lunch and shopping!

    August 18, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    A little cooler day, high 90s, maybe it hit one hundred... but this works out well for shopping! All shops were air conditioned, so we always had a cool respite as we "shopped!"

    Almost all visitors were pretty good about masks, and the stores had tables set up with hand sanitary stations right at the entrance. With signs suggesting you only pick up items that you were interested in buying...

    Leavenworth is a Bavarian themed small town, kind of in the heart of fruit trees, vines, and craft breweries, at the base of the Cascades. Lots of shops, clothing, home accessories, women's boutiques, sporting goods, pretzels, candy, bakeries, bratwurst, cheese shops....and all with air conditioning. Even in "bavaria town" we ended up with pizza for lunch, because frankly, the outdoor seating was in the shade! But I did forego the pepperoni for sausage out of deference for the theme!

    The guys were patient, once we found the ice cream shop and a shady park bench. Spent the day hiking through the shops, and then finished the day with BBQ steaks riverside!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020

    One long drive to Ranier

    August 19, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Let's see....interstate or scenic County highway? I will always default to the backroads, but boy, was it a long day! It does not help adding grocery shopping in the morning, and then a "quick" stop at a local fruit stand, which happened to have a gift and quilt shop adjacent. Loved this quilt shop! No fabric, but bought a couple of patterns. With groceries, and fresh fruit in hand we finally started driving about noon!

    It was a pretty drive, that challenged our nav skills...lots of twists and turns, through forests, rivers, orchards, road construction, detours, Seattle/Tacoma suburb rush hour traffic, and final destination outside of the national park for Mt. Ranier by 7:30 p.m. or so! But we survived, not sure Hardings will agree to avoid the interstate next time it comes up! Taco 🥗 and bed!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Site #9, Elkamp
    Our first glimpse of Rainier...you can just see the rocky bottomHoping the cloud will drift away for a "good" picture!11920s gas station in Longmire12Christine falls

    Mt. Ranier National Park

    August 20, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 64 °F

    We are overnighting in an RV park, Elkamp Eastcreek, just outside of Mineral. When booking this most of the campgrounds in the park were already booked. Although about 30 minutes away, this smaller park is really nice with big tall trees, water and power hook ups.

    Drove into Ranier and stopped to get out first glimpse of the mountain at Longmire....but like many of our mountain "views" from other trips, the mountain had some cloud cover! We actually never got a full look at Rainier during the day, but this park has a number of great stops to get a full view. Even with clouds, the views are great. Rainier is big, over 14,000 ft! And you get to see it from so many different stops.

    We spent some time at Longmire, with the original administration buildings, gas station, wood trestle bridge and gift shop. This is in the southwest corner of the park. Pretty quiet day, not many people at this location.

    Drove on and stopped at Christine Falls, one of a number of falls in the park. Because this mountain still has well over a dozen glaciers, there are lots of glacially fed creeks and waterfalls. Odd to see the silty, glacial waters that we associate with Alaska. The falls were really pretty, and glad we stopped. They were just a short walk of the road.    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Original little station, visitor center on site is 10 times bigger!
    Linley in wildflower garden. Yes that is Rainier in the background!11Could just make out lower glaciers!One at a time on the suspension Bridge! Clarke passing over!Some of the patriarchs!

    Mt. Rainier, afternoon views

    August 20, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    As you drove further in the park the views just keep getting better! Had lunch at Cougar Rock, and the early afternoon stop at Paradise Visitor center. This is the largest and main visitor center in the park. It has spectacular views of Rainier, except if there are clouds! And even with the clouds it did not disappoint... we could see some of the lower part of the mountain, with some glaciers, and a beautiful wildflower garden. LOTS of folks here! This stop is only at 5400 feet, but being so far north we timed it just right for a wildflower bloom!

    Never got in this visitor center, there was a line of visitors, all in masks waiting to get in. And (I think) it was only to go through the gift shop. But what a great location. There are lots of bikes out of this stop. But tons of hikes in the park, all different lengths and difficulties. I would love to come back and spend a couple of days here.

    Drove out Steven's Canyon road, more great views, if not for the clouds... and then all the way to the Steven's entrance, in the south east corner of park. We hopped out and took a short, but fun hike to the Grove of the"Patriarchs", thousand year old year trees, mostly cedar and pines. Crossed a suspension beside over one of the glacial creeks.

    Love this park, can't wait to come back and spend some time!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    2Morton, Washington
    Lunch in Castle Rock1Needed to see this sign a little earlier!We backed out safely!Crossing into Oregon over the Astoria-Megler bridge

    Grays Covered Bridge and into Seaside

    August 21, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Hit the road this morning, stopping in Morton, Washington for gas, coffee and mid morning snacks! (Although the server asked what our lunch order might be...?) Wet drive following the highway on the north side of the great Columbia River! It is a big river!

    Stopped for lunch in a little tiny park in Castle Rock, Loved the flowers, and had a picnic area all to ourselves. The weather was wet and cloudy enough that we never saw Mt. St. Helens, even from the highway.

    We (Linley and I) decided that, in route, a "drive by" of one of the covered bridges in Washington would be interesting. It was, sort of.

    30 minutes later after pulling the jeep from the RV and backing both RVs up the road, we managed to extricate ourselves from a "no turn around" location. Sure wish they would post these signs with much bigger letters! And sooner, instead of in the midst of the turn down the lane.....in spite of the rain we did get back to the highway. I tried to einxplain that this is what "adventure" means in the RV world. Can't quite remember what the bridge looked like.

    Late in the day, we crossed the Astoria-Megler bridge, all 4 miles of it, and had our first glimpse of Astoria. Lots of colorful Victorians, hillside in the view from the highway. RV park was in Seaside, 30 more minutes down the highway. Little pricey, but anywhere on the Oregon coast costs some bucks. However the owner/manager did have 2 week old beagle puppies that we got to hold! So it was worth it!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Maritime museum
    12

    Beautiful day in Astoria

    August 22, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Gorgeous day in Astoria, wet weather gone and lots of blue skies!
    Drove back to Astoria, stopping for coffee and marionberry scones. We love our morning stops...
    We stopped at the Columbia River Maritime museum first. This is a great museum to visit with lots of info on the river, the Coast Guard, the weather, the fishing... just well done. Particularly interesting because this location, for ships entering the river, is one of the most dangerous ports due to the "collision" of the river with the ocean at the river "bar".
    We had a late lunch at Mos, our first indoor dining experience since leaving Fresno. They handled the social distancing really well, tables far apart and well scrubbed between seatings, staff with masks... and we enjoyed our fish lunch with a view of the marina.
    Back in the jeep and up to the Astoria column. The column itself is not open, but the views from the park are fabulous. Especially on such a clear day. On the way down just drove the neighborhood looking at some fabulous old Victorians perched on the hill overlooking the Columbia.
    Back to our RV location in Seaside.    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    2
    11

    Morning 101 drive, Astoria to Tillamook

    August 23, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    Another gorgeous day on the Oregon coast. Our intent is to stay on 101 the whole way.

    First stop was Ecola State Park. Great overlook for "terrible tilly", the old Tillamook lighthouse. It is no longer operational, and is located about 1.5 miles of shore. The headland have us a view north to the lighthouse, and a view south to Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. The drive in, about 2 miles, was a little tricky and not really recommended for RVs, but we squeezed our way in the single wide road.
    Just gorgeous views!

    We got back our of the park, stopping at some more view points, how can you NOT stop?! Drove through Oswald West State Park, numerous other little coastal towns until we got to Tillamook, our lunch destination.    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    2Tillamook!
    Safely masked up in line for ice creamIce cream, please!2Stunning view....can't remember which overlook this was!2View from RV site

    Afternoon drive, Tillamook to Newport

    August 23, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    This is the second time Tom and I have been to Tillamook, and both times they were not running tours. We had hoped to get grilled cheese sandwiches, but due to Covid, we stood in line (with masks) and each had ice cream for lunch. No food being served, just ice cream and a selection of 7 oz. Cheeses. The ice cream was delicious!

    Back on the road, snacking on cheese and salami for a very late lunch. More overlooks, and drove the Otter Crest loop with more views! We could not have had more accommodating weather!

    Stayed at the Newport Marina & RV Park this evening. We have been here before, but I wanted to come back because it is right by the bridge, marina, the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Rogue brewery. Lots to do, see, and eat in one location. Just parking lot style park, but good location.

    Dinner at the Rogue, fish and Dead Guy ale! Delicious, especially because no cook and clean up!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    The Human Bean
    Masked up, zippered up, holding on to our hatsYaquina lighthousePartial shot of mural in Newport

    Newport, Yaquina Lighthouse

    August 24, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Couldn't get into Oregon Coast Aquarium; they require reservations to manage occupant load, darn it. So we headed up the highway (after coffee stop at the Human Bean) to Yaquina lighthouse and headland. What a treat!

    Beautiful site, in spite of really strong, cold wind. Visitors center and tide pools closed, but we spent a healthy hour watching some gray whales right beyond the rocky tide pool area. Lots of water spouts, then the long rolling back of the whale. Only to have them pop up in a slightly different spot 5 minutes later. They did not seem to be passing thru, because they were still there when we dragged ourselves away. But not before we finally got to see one tail flip out of the water! And we all saw it at the same time!

    Not only did we need to move on to see some more coast but it was also really windy, "blow your hat off of you were not holding it" windy! Sometimes you really felt like you had to lean into the wind just to hold your spot. Despite the wind it was a great stop!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    1You find these little brightly colored seals in a number of the coastal towns
    1Lunch in Yachats3Cape Perpetua, "spouting horn"1Linley at Cape Perpetua3Lighthouse keepers house (bed and breakfast)Heceta Lighthouse

    Newport to Heceta Beach (Florence)

    August 24, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Drove south to Yachats for lunch. Outdoor seating, and fish tacos were great. Spent a little time wandering shops and then continued our costal drive.

    Cape Perpetua gave us more wind and views! Although the visitor center was closed, we walked on down the path to the tide pool area to see the "spouting horn". Still lots of wind and we had to rescue Linley's hat.

    Continued south on 101. Met our good friend Joanne at Heceta Lighthouse. This light house is in a lot of Oregon brochures just due to the setting. Great view and had a beautiful lighthouse keepers house nearby. The house had been restored and is being operated as a bed and breakfast, I would love to stay here. They have a view of the ocean and the bridge at this location. Bridge was under restoration so not as picturesque as it is typically.

    Arrived at Heceta Beach RV and Joanne joined us for dinner!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    Safely completing our laundry
    1Historic home in FlorenceAnother little seal!Lunch at 1825 RestobarLinley1Florence Bridge

    Laundry day! And lunch in Florence

    August 25, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Loved our day in Florence, really cute historic town with shops and lots of dining options. But we needed to start the day with some laundry, so spent the morning in a laundromat (with quite a few other folks), all masked up, but probably not as socially distanced as required? Enjoyed the kitties that reside here, and the coffee and muffin helped alot...

    Put the laundry away, made the bed and went into Florence for lunch and shopping. Had a nice lunch on the sidewalk, (crab cakes for me-yum!) and then strolled the streets while the guys got ice cream. Again, just great weather with some wind, and cute shops to look at. Florence is on the Suislaw River and has a great bridge right in view from their main street.

    Joined our friend Joanne at her home in Heceta Beach for dinner!    Read more

  • Pac Northwest 2020
    1
    1Shore Acres gardensShore Acres, pond with sculptureLinley at the CapeSea lions way out there!

    Florence to Sunset Bay Park (Coos Bay)

    August 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Leisurely drive down the coast after fuel, groceries and coffee stop on the way out of town. Did not have too far to go, and actually got to Sunset ahead of check in time.

    Went out to Shore Acres State Park and made lunch in the RV. We spent the afternoon at the gardens and then out to Cape Arago. Love these gardens; the formal part complete with fountain, the rose garden, and the Japanese style pond and plantings. Calm, quiet, serene, and you just wander at will...

    Got in the jeep and went out to the cape, lots of views, wind and sea lions. We took a little walk out with our binnoculars for the views. We had been told that some gray whales had been spotted here, but did not see them. But the sea lions certainly made themselves heard!

    These three parks, Sunset, Shore Acres, and Cape Arago are all the way through Coos Bay and out on a peninsula. Campground is good size and includes power and water at many sites. It has been interesting to see that many state campgrounds, even mid week are noted as "full". Lots of families out vacationing before school starts I guess? Enjoying our time on the road!    Read more

    Trip end
    September 1, 2020
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