• Quail Run Tripping
  • Quail Run Tripping

Going to Boring or

Seeing the Oregon Coast, friends, and Eastern Oregon. Read more
  • Trip start
    August 20, 2026

    Ready set go.

    August 20 in the United States ☀️ 86 °F

    Got a late start. Not only packing last minute stuff, but we were afraid that the jeep’s taillights weren’t working. We found that Jeep’s taillights work but our new lights for the bike rack don’t when we are hooked up for towing. We will work on those later.
    We started by heading out for I 80 then remember that they are working on the west side of I80. Really stop and go (see two trips back). So we quickly looped around and headed for US 50. No traffic… stopped in Pollock Pines for lunch. Safeway for parking and CT cafe for good dinner food. Back to Lake Minden for 3 nights.
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  • Indy overnight

    August 21 in the United States 🌙 86 °F

    Indy is staying with Jimmy and Kyle tonight to see if they might be able to keep him for a week this winter. We are going to a movie with Robert and Irene and dinner. Irene decided not to come due to feeling not so good. Went downtown Sacramento to the IMax. Odyssey was good. We all agreed we will need to see it again when it comes to streaming.Read more

  • Old School

    August 23 in the United States ☀️ 77 °F

    Yesterday we picked up Indy at Jill’s brother’s place and it seems he was on his best behavior. After taking the family to breakfast, we returned to Les’ brother’s place. This morning, we left Lake Minden. We had a problem with the connection to the jeep, no lights. In addition, Jill was checking her insulin pump and notice her CGM will expire tomorrow. That is when she realized she had forgotten to bring any of the sensors from home. We stopped at Walmart in Yuba City. It turned out their pharmacy actually does carry the Dexcom G7 sensors, but they need a prescription. It is Sunday today and the doctor and the supplier are both closed. The only option was buy an old school type of blood tester. We will try to contact a neighbor to see if they can ship us the sensors from the house.
    We ate lunch in Lucerne, next to Clear Lake. We went old school again…A root beer float!
    We are now at camp in Standish Hickey State Park overlooking the Eel River. Les did some troubleshooting of the connection to the Jeep. It turned out that the ground pin in the receptacle on the Jeep was deformed a little. Les fixed it and we now have a good connection!
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  • Avenue of the Giants

    August 24 in the United States ☀️ 77 °F

    It was supposed to be a short drive day, so we started later than normal. Heading north on Hwy 101, we took the parallel road called Avenue of the Giants. This was likely the original highway alignment. It was slow and winding through several redwood groves. We stopped on a pull out in one of the groves and walked around. It was very quiet. So quiet that it was deafening! No sound of birds, wind, and even vehicles passing could only be heard 100 yards away. It was like the redwood trees were sucking up the sound. What an experience!
    We made a stop at the Walmart in Eureka and got gas at the Costco. We were going to have hotdogs at Costco, but we found the entire parking lot was full. There was no place to park the motorhome. So we found a local restaurant that must be the place for seniors to eat. I think we may have been the youngest customers in the place, but the lunch was very good.
    Around 3 pm, we finally got to Sue-Meg State Park. Site 88 was not even near level enough to level up on, so we moved the site 18. It is tighter, but we could level up. Starlink is having a hard time staying online because of the density of trees. We spent the afternoon calling doctors, pharmacies and the insurance company to get Jill’s CGM sensors. We think is is going to work out….tomorrow.
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  • Humboldt Bay

    August 25 in the United States ☁️ 63 °F

    After breakfast, we headed back to Eureka in the Jeep. First stop was Walmart where Jill succeeded in getting two CGM sensors. Then on to Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It was overcast with high fog, but resonably warm. There were only a few birds to see and many of them at distance. Returning to Arcata, we had lunch with Vaughn Hutchins (friend from photo workshops in Yosemite). After lunch we headed to the local CVS and picked up a package of 4 more CGM sensors that our neighbor Jamie sent us from the ones we forgot to bring from home.Read more

  • To See the Sea

    August 25 in the United States ☁️ 72 °F

    After dinner, we drove out to Palmers Point to see the view of the ocean. We could hear the Sea Lions(?) on the rocks below the cliff, but could not see them. Craggy rocky islands dot the see off the point. Next we went over to Patricks Point. Similar views, but even better. The light was fading, but Les shot photos any way.Read more

  • Another Side Road

    August 26 in the United States ☁️ 66 °F

    Les got up at dawn and went back to Patricks Point with the 4x5 camera. He took long exposure photos of the trail tunnel throught the forest. The longest exposure was 1 minut and 20 seconds. Sure hope to develops. He was hoping for fog to help set the gloomy mood, but alas there was none.
    Leaving camp, we headed north again on Highway 101. At Prairie Creek State Park, we took the 10 mile side road through more redwood forest. We stopped at Hunnewell Donald Memorial Grove and walk on the trail there.The variety of vegetation is remarkable. And even dead fall redwoods have become nurseries for other plants to grow on.
    Crossing into Oregon, we stopped at one of the RV Parks at the marina, It is right on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Indy got to sniff the ocean for the first time. He did not seem to be impressed, but the wet sand was fun to fetch on. Since we are coming into the Labor Day weekend, we will be here for several days.
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  • Brookings for the weekend

    August 27 in the United States ⛅ 63 °F

    Les got up at 8am, fed Indy and took him out to do his business. They stopped at the BBQ trailer near by and bought a Giant Breakfast Burrito and coffee (for Jill). Then it was time to take Indy back to the beach to play frisbee. Next we went to a laundrymat in town and did a couple of loads of laundry. The coin machine gave a mix of quarters and one dollar coins, but would not take the on dollar coins and give us quarters. So we went to the local US Bank and got a couple of rolls of quarters. Lunch was at Fat Irish Pub near the marins. The fish and chips and clam chowder were very good. Les worked on the hitch receiver to tighten it up. He replaced three bolts with longer bolts, but the bolts with longer threads needed an Allen Wench. Checking his tool kit, Les found he didn't have one large enough, so back to town to get one at NAPA. The receiver tightened up nicely.Read more

  • Exploring the Scenic Cooridor North

    August 28 in the United States ⛅ 64 °F

    We headed north on the Samual H. Boardman State Scenic Cooridor. First stop was Whalehead Overlook. Looking down to the ocean we saw a small beach with an island that could look like a whale head sticking out of the water. Just up the road, we drove a rough dirt road down to Whalehead Beach. Jill did some drawing while Les took digital photos. The 4 wheel drive made returning to the highway easy. Next stop was Natural Bridges View Point. There are two natural bridges with the ocean flowing through them. Continuing north we ended the days journey ar the Rogue River. The bridge over the river is really great. Les checked out photo point for shooting the 4x5 later. We had lunch there and head back south. We made a brief stop at Myers Beach. Les got out and shot the phone camera of the islands and sand dunes. Final stop on the way back to the motorhome was at Fred Myers to shop. Back at the motorhome Jill noticed the sun was setting and went of to take picture.Read more

  • Exploring and Photography

    August 29 in the United States ☀️ 68 °F

    This morning we checked out a local Park at Chetco Point. Driving through the back streets of Brookings, we finally found the parking lot next to what smelled like the sewage treatment plant. The trail from the parking lot led around the plant and out to the coast. The views were great and the trail led out to the point by crossing a small bridge along a knife edge ridge. There was a nice art installation at the point. The wind on the point was very brisk, sapping our energy.
    We returned to the motorhome to eat lunch and for Les to take a short nap. Then in the afternoon, we drove back to the Rogue River for Les to take photos of the bridge. Jill and Indy were bored because they stayed in the jeep out of the wind. Les photographed the bridge from several angles, including from a levee road that runs under the bridge,
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  • Point Blanco

    August 30 in the United States 🌬 63 °F

    Today was a short run up to Point Blanco State Park. There is a lighthouse here, so we decided to take the bikes and ride to the lighthouse. It started out fine, until we got out of the trees. When we got to the parking area for the lighthouse, Les failed to get a foot down on the ground as he stopped and promptly got blown off the bike. The wind on the point must be 40 to 60 mph. we decided not to go on out to the lighthouse. Heading back to the campground, we took a run down, down, down to the beach. Thanks to the bikes being electric, the ride back up the very steep road was not too bad.
    Coming here, we passed through the little town of Port Orford. There was a restaurant sign that caught Jill's attention, "Crazy Norwegian"s Fish & Chips". So this evening, that is were we ate dinner. While the original owners were Norwegian, the current owners are not. So, no lefsa or lutefisk on the menu. But the Fish & Chips, clam chowder and Razzle Berry pie were all very tasty.
    Returning to the campground, we made a quick stop at the lighthouse, but the sun was still too high in the sky. Les returned just before sunset and walked out to the lighthouse to take pictures. The walk from the parking lot to the lighthouse is about a quarter mile on a narrow paved road that at one point is sliding down the cliff. And yes, the wind was still blowing as hard as it was before, but now the temperature was dropping and the wind chill was freezing his ears.
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  • What day is it?

    August 31 in the United States ☀️ 70 °F

    So when we travel, we sometimes forget the day of the week etc. but Les told Jill that last weekend was Labor Day…she believed him, and but wondered why it was so easy to find campsites. All of a sudden we realized this coming weekend is Labor Day…spent this morning trying to find a reservation for the coming days. While Jill located our next couple camps, Les found a bike “route,” write up. We left Indy and headed to Elk River Road. No Bike route signs, no share the road signs. Jill decided it was too busy road so we drove the road which narrowed and roughened, but still paved. We should have stopped, and biked but we now wanted to see where it went. 18 miles and we stopped at Butler’s Campground, old fashioned Forest Service Camp. Fun but no biking.Read more

  • Sunset Bay

    September 1 in the United States ☁️ 61 °F

    Leaving Point Blanco State Park, we headed about an hour north to Sunset Bay State Park. We got here about noon, but had to wait in the day use area until after 2pm. So after eating lunch in the motorhome, we took the Jeep out to Cape Arago. After making camp, we again took the Jeep out, this time to the lighthouse overlook. Les took photos with the digital camera while Jill did a couple of sketches. We continued along the Oregon Coastal Trail towards botanical garden. We didn't make it to the garden as Jill began going low and we didn't have any food with us, oops. We found the trail back to the Jeep and returned to camp. We were too tired to cook dinner, so we went out to Charleston for dinner at Bayfront restaurant.Read more

  • Rainy Day

    September 2 in the United States ☁️ 63 °F

    Not much to say about today. It rained most of the day. We went out for pancakes for a late breakfast. We went to a RV supply house to look for a replacement powered vent for the bathroom. The current one won’t open. Not finding what we want, it was on to Fred Myer to buy more food. On the way back to the motorhome we stopped at a local fish market and got salmon and clam chowder.Read more

  • Reedsport

    September 3 in the United States 🌧 59 °F

    Today's travel north was only about an hour in length. Finding a campsite on the real Labor Day weekend is very difficult. We are in Coho RV Park and Marina. We are here for the next few days. It is still raining off and on. The low is just off shore and continues to bring is wave after wave of rain, most of it is heavy. During one sunny moment, Les was able to do the laundary. After lunch we dropped by the Forest Service visitor center for the Oregon Dunes and picked up an area map and bought another lapel pin for our quilt hanging in the motorhome bedroom. Then we toured the Umpqua Discorery Center. The interpretive displays were very professional and informative. Les bought a tee shirt with a Peregrin Falcon on the front. We continued north on the 101 a few miles to the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area where we saw a big bull elk bossing his harem around. Although we stayed out on the edge of the road, more than 100 yards away, the bull was clearly not pleased by our presence. Our final stop on the way back to camp was Safeway to pick up a few items and a rack of BBQ ribs already cooked for dinner.Read more

  • Bridges and a Lighthouse

    September 4 in the United States 🌧 59 °F

    It rained most of the night and into this morning. When is stopped, Jill and Les took the Jeep up the coast to Heceta Head Lighthouse. The access road led us under the Cape Creek Bridge. This is another of a large number of beautiful Oregon bridges built in the late 1920's and through the 1930's by engineer Conde McCullough. Though the light was poor, we both took pictures of the bridge. and the lighthouse. To get to the lighthouse, we had to take a 1/2 mile hike up to the lighthouse in the rain. Jill stopped at the gift shop and bought a tee shirt, some snacks and a lepel pin. At the lighthouse, we found another trail that went further up the hill. Les took this trail and found a view of the top of the lighthouse.
    We stopped at a Mexican resuarant for lunch. Returning to the camp, Les took a nap before heading out to recon photo locations for the Umpqua River Bridge just north of Reedsport. Most of the river shore is private. Finally he found a stairway up the railroad embankment at the end of the railroad bridge just upstream frrom the Umpqua River Bridge. There were no signs or fencing and the top of the rails was rusty, indicating no recent rail traffic. Although the light was still poor, he took some digital photos. If there is good morning light tomorrow, he will take the 4x5 camera back to get more photos of the Umpqua River Bridge.
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  • Oregon Dunes and Bridges.

    September 5 in the United States 🌧 61 °F

    Day started with Les going out before breakfast to photograph the Umpqua River Bridge again, but this time with morning light. The bridge was not exciting enough to use the 4x5 camera. Returning to the motorhome expecting a home cooked breakfast waiting for him, Jill had found a bakery in town. After donuts mwe (including Indy), headed to a Forest service trailhead by the Eel River. The trail was supposed to be approximately a mile loop. At the top of the loop we were hiking on Dune sand. Les and Indy went to the top of the Dune, Jill stopped halfway up, fell down and accidentally called Les’s sister. Meanwhile Les got lost and ended up in a nearby campground. Jill returned to the car the way they came, Les finished the loop and returned to car.
    Next we went to the “old” town in Florence, OR. This is quite a going area, lots of little stores, and restaurants. After lunch Les went to photograph the Siuslew River Bridge, Jill did a little tourist shopping. She bought a couple of things in one store, in the next store across street she couldn’t find her card wallet. Back and forth…no luck finding it. Thank goodness, it didn’t have her drivers license, and only two credit cards, two health insurance cards, and her library card…So she and Les went back to the car, and called those credit cards. Around and around we went with both bank’s phone Ai, it took about an hour to get human help. Cards locked. Our jeep also got ducked again.
    Finally, back to yesterday’s lighthouse and bridge, so Les could use his Large format camera in sunshine. Jill didn’t hike back up to the lighthouse, but did quick sketch from the parking lot.
    Too tired and Jill too stressed to cook we went out to eat again.
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  • Meeting up with a Friend

    September 6 in the United States ☁️ 61 °F

    Well Les got up early to dump the tanks(since we both took showers and the grey water tank was full) and put the bikes back on the Jeep. Not that we have been riding the bikes, just taking them off and locking them to the motorhome hitch to shorten the Jeep. It also is easier to get in the back for Indy. After breakfast, we hooked up the jeep and headed north once again. We traveled a couple of hours to Lincoln City, OR and the KOA campground there. The road north of Newport is in the process of going out to sea, so it got bretty rough in spots. After resting and having a late lunch, we took the Jeep back south to Newport, OR to visit a friend and painter that used to live in South Lake Tahoe. TC moved up here to share a place with one of her daughters, but the daughter did not like the wind and backed out of the deal. Undetured, TC moved anyway. As she was in SLT, TC is still active with watercolor at the senior center and driving a car. We took her to dinner at the Chowder House. Unsurprizingly, we all had clam chowder. It was great catching up with TC.Read more

  • Coastal Views

    September 7 in the United States ☁️ 61 °F

    Heading back toward Newport, we made several stops to sightsee the views along the coast. Just out of Lincoln City, we stopped to photograph three rocky islands in a line. I remimber photographing this scene back in the 1990's, so we did it again anyway. Next stop was Boiler Bay. This is a large parking area with view of the bay and the area south of the point. Just south we stopped at Pirate Cove. This stop was off the highway, through a very tight residential neighborhood with a parking lot for 2 and a half parking places. Les shot a number of digital photos of wave action. Getting off the highway, we drove the old highway alignment now called Otter Chest Loop.
    Entering Newport, we had an early and very tasty lunch at Chalet. We both had the Lunch Special the had a half sandwich, a side dish and desert. Our meals differed, but the pies we chose were both excellent. After lunch we made a quick stop at Walmart for a loaf bread and a couple of rubber duckys. Now it was time to go to Yaquina Head Lighthouse. We were there back in 1996 (I think). At that time, there was barely signage. Now it was quite different. The area was identified as "Yaquina Head Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area". This is a Bureau of Land Management area. There is now an entrance station and a GREAT visitor center. We were lucky to find a parking place at the lighthouse. Les took large format photos of the lighthouse and Cobble Beach. Jill sat on the approach to the lighthouse with Indy and did a new sketch of the lighthouse. I had wanted to get a video of Cobble Beach where at high tide, the cobbles on the beach rattle as the wave retreats, a very interesting sound. Unfortunately, the tide was out, so we passed on the trip down the big stairway to the beach.
    The last stop was across the Yaquina River Bridge to the Oregon Marine Aquarium. This is a very well built and designed marine aquarium. Returning back to camp, we were very tired.
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  • Heading In Land

    September 8 in the United States ☀️ 70 °F

    Leaving the coast, we traveled on a number of smaller roads to Milo McIver State Park. It is a nice State Park except for two things. First, the canopy of trees was too dense for Starlink to work and cell service was quite limited, but we were able to watch PBS news. Second was the speed bumps. The speed limit is 25 mph, so on the only straight flat portion of the park road, they installed 4 speed bumps. A normal car has to slow to 10 mph to go over them. A motorhome towing a vehicle has to slow down to 3 mph. Les hit the first one he didn't see at about 10 mph, it about jarred his teeth out and he does not have false teeth.Read more

  • Boring and Dull

    September 9 in the United States ☀️ 77 °F

    We got up late and went out to meet the other Wild Women at a little coffee shop in Happy Valley. Sue and Judy were there, but Linnea was waiting on the Covid test. She arrived later. Les returned to the motorhome where Indy was standing guard. The Wild Women, minus Linnea came over the see Indy and pick up things Jill had forgotten. We all met for dinner in Boring, Linnea was also there. Les brought more things Jill forgot.
    As it turns out, the town of Boring, OR has a sister city in Scotland, "Dull". August 9th each year they celebrate Boring and Dull Day.
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  • Returning to the Coast

    September 10 in the United States ☀️ 70 °F

    The Wild Women stayed in a B&B in Boring and Les took the motorhome and Jeep back to the coast. Destination, Thousand Trails Pacific City campground. Now keep in mind that normally Les drives the motorhome and Jill is the navigator. But for this drive, Les and Indy had to rely on Google Maps for navigation. At the State Park, Les had to park out of the trees to get the Starlink to work to set up Google maps and get it talking throgh the motorhome's radio. After messing with that and not being successful, he started out using the instructions on the screen of his tablet. There were lots of turns on narrow , twist back country roads. At one point he found a large parking lot to pull into to let traffic go by. As he was stopping, planning to try to get Google Maps to work, Google Maps ordered him to return to the road he just left very loudly from the motorhome radio. So he proceded down the road. At some point, Google lost contact with the radio intermittently. Instructions returned without the beginning of the message. Usually, there was enough of the message that he could follow what it was saying, but south bound on I-5 toward Salem, one message was simple "East". Having no idea what that meant, he continued toward Salem. Unfortunately, he was supposed to make a turn toward the coast. Les got off I-5 in Salem and found a big parking lot and stopped to try and get Google Maps work correctly again. He gave up and checked the map directions and saw he should turn Right out of the paqrking lot and head west on Highway 22. Leaving parking lot, Google told him to turn Left. He did and quickly found himself ignoring Google and found his own way through the back of the Outlet Mall and then Google Maps finally starter giving him correct instructions again. Heading west on Hwy 22, there came another place a turn was required, but the road in front of him had several possible turns and signs that didn't help. Quickly, he entered and small town and he knew something was not right. He was just starting to find a place to park when Jill called. She was following Les on her Find My app and knew he was lost. We got back heading west on Hwy 22 with lots of confused instructions. Eventully, Les got to Highway 130 to Pacific City, yea! Jill said it look straighter the staying on Hwy 22. It was very narrow, twisty, and had about 4 single lane bridges, but it got him to Hwy 101 and headed north. At that point Google Maps was able to guide him to the Thousand Trails. It was well past time for a nap, Les was not only quite tired, but also very frustrated. Before dinner, Les found the only market and did some shopping. He took the bikes off the Jeep, planning to go to McMinnville. But that story will have to wait until tomorrow, stay tuned.Read more

  • WildWomen Haven Rest

    September 10 in the United States ☀️ 66 °F

    Each time the we get together, we like to have a relaxing day at a spa. This time it was at Haven Rest Day Spa. Great place for massages. Out to lunch at a food truck area. Lots of choices. Then shopping at Fred Meyer’s for tomorrow breakfasts. Most of us have leftovers from the first night’s Chinese Restaurant…just add eggs.Read more

  • North American Aerospace Museum

    September 11 in the United States ⛅ 81 °F

    Les and Indy took the Jeep over to McMinnville to see the Spruce Goose. Les spent about 3 hours wandering amoung several dozen aircraft, all dwarfed by the Spruce Goose. This is the largest flying seaplane ever built and it is made of WOOD. It was built during WWII, but not finished until after the war. Howard Hughes, millionare and famous test pilot, built it to fly service personel and equipment across the Atlantic to avoid being a target for U Boats. But after the war ended, it was not needed. The Spruce Goose was the only one constructed and was only flown once by Howard Hughes to prove it could fly. He then stored it in a custom build hanger to preserve it. It was taken apart and shipped to McMinnville, OR and reassembled, thus becoming the center piece of the Air and Space Museum.Read more

  • Very busy WildWomen’s day in Portland.

    September 11 in the United States ⛅ 66 °F

    The day started by going to a violin shop, so Linn could ask questions about a couple of instruments she is giving to her great nieces. Then we traveled into Portland and did some scenic driving around. Portland is a lot like San Francisco, even has a Nob Hill. Very fancy homes. Then spent the afternoon shopping in the Alphabet District. Had early dinner with Linn’s sister Karen and husband Jeff. Finished the night at the repertory theater in Clackamas.Read more