Crescent Junction RV Park

'Seems strange to have all the lights on. For the past three weeks we've been boondocking. With the exception of two nights at La Pine State Park we've relied totally of the solar/battery system for power and it's done very nicely. We've had computer time, TV if we wanted it, and I've been sewing whenever I wanted. We do have to be economical with the electricity use though, so after being careful for so long it's a real luxury to have the heater and the electric coffee pot all running at the same time.

We stopped for two nights at the Crescent Junction RV Park, a tough 20 mile commute from our last stop. From North Davis Lake Campground we drove south on the Cascade Lakes Highway, then northwest on Hwy. 58. We wanted to get the rig and the wardrobe civilized before we move to Eugene for the first Duck game of the year.

Crescent Junction RV park is on the west side of Hwy. 58, across from Manley's Tavern. The park has a nice 3-machine laundry room, in the same building with the showers. It's the cutest little laundry room I've ever seen.... well, maybe cute is the wrong word.  It's paneled with knotty pine, and has an old-time cabin-in-the-woods feel to it. The main thing is, all the machines work! The park is open to the woods at the back, so it's convenient to take Shiner for a run - she requires lots of space so open forest is a good place to let her romp.

The RV park is right behind the Odell Sportsman Center - a genuine, old time "general mercantile". The store has a few touristy clothing items, food, shovels, fishing gear, old fashioned hard candy, general groceries, ice cream treats, puzzles, and more (but no dirty books as far as I could see). The place instantly sent me thinking of a song we hear frequently on the radio at home, Kevin Fowler's Beer, Bait, and Ammo..... We bought greeting cards and milk, and of course, beer!

The camp host, Eric Johnson (aka "Stickman")  carves wood spirits and walking sticks. They sell them in the Sportsman Center, but Eric had a few displayed in his camp site, so I went shopping and I fell in love with this smiling fellow, so he's been adopted into the family.

Eric does all the carving by hand, and the sticks are red alder, a sturdy, fine grained wood. He also does wood spirit carvings suitable for wall hanging. Unfortunately our RV has very little wall space or I would have adopted one of them too. As a wood carver myself I can really appreciate the detailing in his carving style and the personality he gives each individual piece. (Eric takes orders, and can be reached at P.O. Box 1032 Crescent Lake, OR, 97733; 541-512-6010)

Fully restored to semi-civilized status (that's about as close as we ever get) we'll be heading for Eugene, and Armitage Park, in the morning.