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Oregon Trail

We're joining about 20 other Airstreams for our first caravan as we follow the Oregon Trail from Kansas City, Missouri to Mount Hood, Oregon. Read more
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  • Plata PanaceaOregon TrailPlata Panacea
    11

    Fremont Canyon

    June 12 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    We had a full day to ourselves and we both just happened to wake up about 5:30 this morning! I wanted some cool dramatic shots of the North Platte river and found Fremont Canyon about 30 miles south of our campground. I don't think the early settlers made their way this far south. They would not have been able to manage these deep canyons easily (we'll stop at their last Platte crossing on our way out of town tomorrow).

    Near the canyon the river meanders through a beautiful flat plain where we watched a man catching some trout while fly fishing.

    In that area we came across several antelope, prairie dogs and another rattle snake. Watch your step!!!    Read more

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    GRAND TETON!

    June 14 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    We interrupt this Airstream caravan for a day trip to Grand Teton National Park!! It was a long day with five hours on the road to get there and back but wow!

    This is our first trip “out west” and seeing the Tetons up close like that was so inspiring! The weather was perfect and Juan and Jovie were absolutely fantastic travel partners!

    As we crossed the continental divide the temps were in the 30s but thankfully the sun burned off the cloud cover and we enjoyed perfect temps for a five mile hike to Hidden Falls.

    We saw coyote, fox, buffalo, deer, antelope, prairie dogs and the puffy clouds on a brilliant blue sky was a photographer’s dream.

    I actually chose to leave the big camera behind because I wanted to travel light and not weigh down the quick trip but the iPhone does such a wonderful job on the big wide scenics!

    I can’t say enough about how much we saw in such a short visit but Wyoming is gonna be our favorite destination for many trips to come!    Read more

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    Driving to Fort Bridger

    June 15 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Today was another cool drive. Since we missed the planned activities yesterday we started our day with Sinks Canyon State Park. This is a neat spot where the Middle Popo Agie River disappears into a canyon wall --- only to reappear through another canyon wall about a quarter mile away!

    After the visitor's center we headed out and caught up with our friends Juan and Jovie (from yesterday's adventure). After several miles, Juan slowed down and turned onto a gravel/dirt road...... so of course I turned and followed him! I wouldn't have done that drive on a rainy day but this was a hoot driving up and over hills and around lots of curves until we stopped at a preserved gold mining location. Then we moved on down the dirt road to South Pass City! It's a tiny little tourist trap where you can walk the streets of an authentic gold mining town (we saved our admission fee). Instead, we had local root beers and picked up a few other things we really didn't need. (The dashcam records in a timelapse mode so it looks like we’re going twice as fast as we were).

    After many more miles (of asphalt) we found our way to Farson, Wyoming for sandwiches at the Mercantile. Not far from there we found a marker for the four primary trails that went through here: Pony Express, Oregon, California and Mormon. If you look closely and use a bit of imagination you can still see wagon ruts leaving the marker.

    I almost forgot dinner! We've had lots of nice lunches and dinners out but tonight we were able to relax with one of our favorite low key meals: Avocado toast! A pretty perfect way to finish our day.    Read more

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    Fort Bridger & Campground

    June 16 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    This was another short stop. The Fort Bridger campground had nice grassy areas to park the campers and a very nice pavilion area for our full group to have a burger dinner together.

    The historic fort area had lots of restored buildings. My favorite was actually not the fort but a set of preserved roadside cabins known as the Black and Orange Garage Camp Cabins. They were built here along the original Lincoln Highway.

    Finally, this is a very dark sky area. So we stayed up late last night and created a short milky way timelapse. I actually just left the camera outside for an hour or two, set an alarm to hop out and put it away.    Read more

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    Fossil Butte National Monument

    June 17 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    When I was a kid I loved searching for cool rocks and fossils. Crinoids, geodes, quarts crystals, I was fascinated by whatever I could find. We'd go on vacation and we'd find rocks, minerals and fossils that I'd never seen before... That little kid would have LOVED this place! Fossil Butte National Monument is smack dab in the middle of an ancient lake bed just teeming with fossilized remains of everything! Crocodiles, frogs, birds, fish and bugs.

    Even so, we figured we'd stop for an obligatory walk through, nod our heads like Clark Griswold and move on... but this place was so very well curated. The size and scope of the displays were amazing to this old kid! They had a short movie showing the process of searching and mining for these relics of the past that I very much enjoyed.

    If they were for sale I would bought a very well preserved specimen of a diplomystus fossil fish... but instead we bought a couple fun t-shirts and moved on to our next stop.    Read more

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    Bear Lake and lunch!

    June 17 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    On each leg of this trip our tour leaders have a recommended route... and on each leg I ask Google's Gemini for an alternate route or at least suggestions for extra things to see and do and maybe most importantly... where to eat!

    So yesterday we headed to a lake that straddles the Utah/Idaho border: Bear Lake. This big beautiful lake is over 100 square miles and has such brilliant blue water you'd think you were looking at the Caribbean! I really wanted to put the drone up for a better view but the winds have been pretty relentless and we had to be content with a few shots from the ground.

    Then it was LUNCH time! Google recommended this place: Minnetonka Market & Cafe. What a gem! Part gas station, part grocery store, part diner. You know it's a great place to eat when all 8 guys at the table next to you ALL have heavily worn boots and SPURS!

    The burgers were good and the raspberry milk shake was fantastic! We'll definitely be back next time we're passing through :)    Read more

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    Lava Hot Springs, Idaho

    June 18 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We had 3 nights at the Lava Campground and there were very few plans with the tour. This was a much needed break. Some down time. When we travel on our own even for a week at a state park we have plenty of down time. Nobody is keeping a schedule and we just hike when we wanna hike and eat or whatever when the mood strikes. This 35 day tour has been an interesting way to travel. We'll definitely try and sign up for others next year but... it was nice to have a break.

    We did have a nice couple meals with friends. Jackie and some of the others did some weird salt cave thing... then this morning they did hot springs spa stuff. I stayed behind both times and relaxed. To each their own :)

    So... not many photos this stop. Just the drone shot of an Airstream "glow" - that's where everyone turns on their trailer's running lights. It was a bit anti-climatic with us so spread out but it was worth putting the drone up for a shot.

    Next stop is at Craters of the Moon National Monument. Most definitely more photos there!    Read more

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    What's it like driving in a caravan?

    June 20 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    Most folks assume that we'd have 22 Airstream campers driving in an old time convoy. For a multitude of reasons that just doesn't work. Departure times, traffic, weather, fuel and most importantly potty breaks kinda makes a big long bumper to bumper caravan impractical. Often times we drive solo or in small groups. I think we all try and leave plenty of room between the rigs so folks who need to pass have room to make it safely.

    On this drive from Lava Hot Springs to Craters of the Moon I asked Jackie to make some images while I was driving (she discourages me from taking pictures while driving).    Read more

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    Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve

    June 20 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    The best thing about not having high expectatins is when things waaaaay over deliver! I knew Craters was gonna be nice but the park service has done a fantastic job making the most dramatic lava formations so very impactful! A loop drive from the visitor’s center makes it super easy to take in at your own pace.

    However if you’re parking with several other trailers it can be a little dicey to get back out on the road without bumping into something! Fortunately we all made it out!

    Established in 1924 the park encompasses over 1,000 square miles!!! Lava fields in the park range in age from 15,000 to just 2,000 years.    Read more

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    Jovie and Juan

    June 20 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    If we were casting a Winnie the Pooh film, my buddy John tells me I would make a great Eeyore. Jackie could easily be Kanga. Juan might be Owl... But our friend Jovie would HAVE to be cast as Tigger.

    They left camp an hour before we did so they could do some hiking... So when we got to Craters of the Moon and they saw us in on of the parking lots.... Jovie shouts and waves "JAH-kee! JAH-kee!"    Read more

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    The Snake River Canyon

    June 20 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    Our second stop today was at Twin Falls, Idaho. Earlier in the trip we criss crossed the Platte, Sweetwater, Bear and now we’ve crossed over the Snake river countless times. Here at Twin Falls, the Snake River flows through a deep and wide canyon with a spectactular vew! While pulling the trailer I didn’t want to take the time and venture too far off the beaten path to check out the falls but they might be worth a return visit some day!

    One other notable event happened here over the Snake River canyon. If you’re old enough to have idolized Evel Kneivel, you’ll remember his attempt to cross the mile wide canyon on his custom modified motorcycle.

    Here’s his attempt if you’re actually interested:
    https://youtu.be/_5LdesoNFpY?si=LNa0VxyR6pBwjD6…    Read more

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    Three Island Crossing

    June 20 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Three Island Crossing on the Snake River was one of the most dangerous and critical river crossings on the Oregon Trail. It forced pioneers to choose between a perilous river crossing or an arduous desert route - From the Nat'l Park Service.

    It's hard to imagine so many folks having sold everything, traveled so many miles on foot, crossing huge mountainous obstacles to continue having these tough decisions. The future welfare of their family was dependent on each trail taken.

    So here we are at Glenn's Ferry. In 1869 Gustavus Glenn built a ferry after thousands of immigrant settlers had made the tough choice to ford the swift flowing Snake river by island hopping or cross miles away through the barren deserts.

    Manifest destiny was a powerful ideology and the continued hope of a better life still pushes us all in ways great and small.    Read more

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    Box Canyon Springs on the summer solstice!

    June 21 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    It was a perfect day for a short hike so we drove 30 miles to Box Canyon Springs Preserve. This general area is called Magic Valley because of the number of deep canyons and springs which just flow from the canyon walls. From the overlook you can see one of North America’s largest springs! The 58 degree water pools just beyond the spring. It’s crystal clear and is a vivid aqua blue color!

    After a short walk around the rim of the canyon we got to what appeared to be the entry spot to decend aprox 200’ to the trail at the canyon floor. A sign read “Caution: Unimproved Trail. Use at your Own Risk.” We weren’t even sure that was the right path down into the canyon so we waited just a few minutes for a local couple to show up. After they assured us it was indeed the path, we started the mildly challenging decent. Even though we didn’t do the 5 mile loop, we were rewarded with a fantastic, rushing 20’ waterfall.

    I have to continue to remind myself that we’re not here to make award winning photographs… so we made our iPhone snapshots, selfies and “enjoyed” our climb back to the top!    Read more

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    Baker City

    June 23 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    With just a few more stops to go, Baker City meant we made it to Oregon! Here we found another very well curated museum. Having seen so many trail museums, the information does indeed start getting redundant. This site however had more visible evidence of migration.
    As those thousands of wagons cut through the earth they not only compacted the soil, they left swales. Unmistakable depressions that when viewed at a bit of a distance could be easily followed all these years later.    Read more

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    Whitman Mission Vistor’s Center

    June 25 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Today was especially special for one of our group.

    Keith Cooke is a descendant of one of the original settlers of this area. In 1836, Marcus Whitman led an overland party by wagon to the West. He and his wife, Narcissa, founded a mission near present-day Walla Walla, Washington. Following the deaths of many nearby Cayuse from an outbreak of measles, some remaining Cayuse accused Whitman of murder. In retaliation, a group of Cayuse killed the Whitmans and eleven other settlers. This led to continuing warfare between settlers and the Cayuse which reduced their numbers further.

    So today our group went to the Whitman Mission Vistor’s Center where Keith’s great great Aunt and Uncle are buried. We were witness to a short memorial and laying of flowers on their gravesite.

    The visitor’s center however tells the greater story of the native peoples and how their tribes and lives were devastated by the influx of immigrants bringing disease and overwhelming their culture. Sadly I don’t think that story has ever been shared enough and those displaced tribes given their due.    Read more

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    Pendleton Oregon

    June 26 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Pendleton is famous for its underground city… For various reasons over the years, lots of basements were connected by tunnels under the downtown streets, so businesses could work more efficiently or simply keep things off the books like prohibition. Some Chinese immigrants who weren’t allowed to legitimately own a business on the surface, setup shops, underground, and had thriving businesses. Pendleton is also famous for its numerous bordellos and famous madams.

    So we toured the underground city blocks which have been preserved with great detail in their early 1900s decor and furnishings. And of course, a famous bordello in its early 20th century splendor was on the tour!

    What made all of that so interesting was our tour guide. I’m sure there were a few exaggerations and urban legends shared… But this guy was a hoot. Since he grew up in Pendleton, he had many personal stories of exploring the underground city when he was a kid.

    Maybe next time we visit Pendleton it will be for the World famous Pendleton round up and rodeo!    Read more

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    Multnomah Falls

    June 27 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    I don't think there's a more iconic waterfall in the US.
    (yeah... Niagra is okay:)

    At 620 feet, Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest waterfall and the Columbia Gorge’s most iconic landmark. I've seen images of this site for decades and a bit of rain was not gonna stop us from driving a short bit from the KOA in Cascade Locks and setting a tripod up front and center.

    Jackie and I took turns holding the umbrella over the camera to keep the water spots off the lens. I've always treated my Nikons pretty rough and being a bit wet is just part of what their built for... so the rain drips from the camera body while we keep the glass mostly dry.

    Extract below from Friends of the Columbia Gorge https://gorgefriends.org/
    The Columbia River snakes through this spectacular canyon on its westward journey before joining the Pacific Ocean. Nowhere else on earth exists such a wonder of desert and forest, cliffs and waterfalls, sun and rain. It’s the only place in the world where a mighty river crashes through an entire mountain range.

    The Gorge stretches 85 miles from its eastern edge at the confluence of the Columbia and Deschutes rivers to the westward edge of the Portland metro area. The Columbia River divides Oregon and Washington, yet here it unites millions of people drawn to the Gorge’s remarkable natural and cultural riches.

    The Gorge was crafted over eons, even before the Cascades rose, and its cataclysmic history of volcanic eruptions, massive floods, and landslides is still evident today. The Gorge’s formation began 40 to 60 million years ago, when molten lava pressure pushed up granite to frame the Columbia Basin.

    Between 6 to 17 million years ago, ancient volcanoes erupted, streaming more than 20 massive basalt flows into the area that’s now the Gorge. They formed rock layers up to 2,000 feet thick, cutting the canyon and becoming most of the rocks in the Gorge today.

    Then glacial Ice Age floods sculpted the canyon into a gorge. About 40 Missoula floods — the planet’s largest known floods during the last two million years — generated water flows 10 times the total flow of all Earth’s rivers. They transformed river tributaries into the world’s largest concentration of waterfalls: about 80 named falls, including famous 620-foot Multnomah Falls, the United States’ second-highest year-round waterfall.    Read more

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    Cascade Locks

    June 28 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We spent the last couple of days in Cascade locks, Oregon.

    Driving in along the Columbia river was really amazing! I had no idea that river was so immense. With its network of dams, the corp of engineers has created a wide and deep amazing river! The mountains and bluffs and lush greenery are breathtaking! I realize that’s too many exclamation marks, but this area is super cool!!!

    We made sure to visit Multnomah Falls first because it’s so iconic. But yesterday after a brunch cruise on the river we drove scenic Highway 30 all the way to Portland, Oregon. We stopped at a couple of waterfalls and beautiful view points and then took yet another scenic drive along the Washington side of this big, massive, beautiful river.

    Many more pictures to edit and share but I haven’t had time.    Read more

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    KOA - Cascade Locks

    June 28 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    This has been one of my favorite locations. I love setting up camp under the big evergreens! This tour isn’t geared toward staying in one place very long (you couldn’t get across the country very efficiently if it did!)

    We’ll certainly be flipping through the large KOA catalog for future spots and may even return here someday!

    Today though… we’re headed to our final tour destination near Mount Hood!!    Read more

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    Driving to our campground near Mount Hood

    June 29 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We left Cascade Locks and drove to our last caravan stop in Welches, Oregon. When you turn south Mount Hood just jumps into your view! The route we potted took us up, down and around this 11,000 foot tall dormant volcano! A quick search reveals that the last major eruption was around 1780 and the silt and ash were still problematic for early settlers. The area rivers were still choked with volcanic debris.

    Fortunately this was not our present day challenge.

    As we drove south from Cascade Locks, our challenge was simply deciding which orchard and how many vineyards to stop and visit! The area is blanketed with cherry, apple and pear trees! At our first stop we bought a couple empanadas and a couple cherry treats to share at our next gathering.

    Driving just a bit further we met Ted & Brit at a lavender farm and vineyard. This was a perfect spot with perfect weather. Mount Hood could be seen peaking over the nearby hills. Jackie and Brit enjoyed walking through the lavender plants with their clippers ready to collect a fresh purple bouquet! Better yet... we had a relaxed lunch and wine tasting at the farm's restaurant! Part of our sampling menu included salmon, humus, veggies (and those weird grape leaf wrapped things).

    Shortly after leaving this area Mt. Hood would hardly be seen again for days. Low overcast skies are not beneficial for mountain peek viewing but google assures me we'll have some clear weather before departing for out eastward trip home.    Read more

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    Final celebration video

    June 30 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    I offered to create a short video for our final celebration together. I haven't really touched video much since late last year so this was actually kinda fun. I struggled with the typical questions: How long? How much detail? Who cares? :) I asked Google to help fact check things that my brain doesn't hold onto very well... so as usual I shot a crap ton of drone stuff, lots of stills and even more with the iPhone. Then I had to put it in the video blender and make something coherent.

    I really wanted (yet failed) to capture the vibe and camaraderie of our caravan... but I was generally too busy enjoying the camaraderie of our caravan to interrupt it with a camera. Anyway. Here's a short 5 minute piece from our first caravan experience!    Read more

    Trip end
    July 19, 2026