As I sit at home listening to the wind and rain from Hurricane Henry I recall some of the highlights of our trip and want to document some of the statistics resulting from our travels.
We left home May 24 as the temp. was approaching the Mid-90's heading to an area we enjoyed during last years travels. . . . The Badlands, Black Hills, Deadwood, Sturgis, Devils Tower, Little Big Horn and other related battlefields. Higher in elevation, these areas were much cooler and we really enjoyed the refuge from the heat we'd left behind.
We stopped at Lewis and Clark Caverns on the way to our annual Nevada BBQ then went down through Idaho to Nevada. We visited old friends for the 4th of July in Gardnerville, then moved onto Oregon for another reunion and spending about a month at some of our favorite haunts in the Cascades, including North Davis Creek, John Day, and the Wallowa Lake.
We had a great time camping with our Oregon friends at "Tailgate Training Camp" in the Ochocho's. After Wallowa Lake we moved on to Park City, Utah to visit a relative, then on to Flaming Gorge, Utah and across Colorado (Leadville) and towards home through New Mexico.
We returned home to Texas with the temp still in the mid 90's. . . just as if we'd never left, except we missed all those 100+ degree days!
Looking back over the summer, our favorite camping site was huge, grassy space we had in Clyde Holiday State Park in Oregon and least favorite was the steep, dry weedy site in Jordenelle State Park in Utah. The State Park was fine but our particular spot was not. The slope was so severe we could barely get in and out the door.
Our favorite historical visit was Little Big Horn and the best overall vista's were at Flaming Gorge, though Wallowa Lake and Leadville were right up there.
We were gone 91 days, but nothing we couldn't cope with as few places offer the humidity we have in Texas.
And now for the statistics: We traveled 7884 miles. We spent $1860 for camping fees and $2015 for fuel for at total of $3876. For the entire trip we averaged $43 per day. I don't keep track of food as we eat about the same as we do at home.
Comparisons to previous years - When we started our summer travels in 2010 (six trips over the last seven years) we had no problem finding camping spaces and only needed reservations on holiday weekends. During this last trip we usually had to make reservations for the high tourist areas months in advance and other area's weeks in advance.
Fuel prices are down, more boomers are on the road, and I think their is less foreign travel, which has increased competition for space and has certainly increased crowding and traffic in high-interest areas.
State Park Campground prices are up. Several State Park systems are now charging day use fees on top of the campground fee's and along with reservation fees some parks are approaching the $40 per night range. New Mexico is the best deal for State Parks. $14.OO a night for water and electric. Of course, for us the Federal Campgrounds are the best deal due to the 50% discount for the senior pass. These are boondocking sites, so no services, but often very scenic.
Recreation management companies now handle the camping services for many state and federal lands, and they seem to be free to add extra charges if they see fit, so read the entrance boards carefully. We stayed at a forest service campground in the Black Hills that charged $2.00 extra per day per dog. No extra services for dogs were provided - as in no off leash area or anything else, but all the usual "no dogs here" restrictions were in place.
Who knows where our travels will take us this next year. We enjoy our home on wheels and after reviewing a lot of other rigs and floorplans on the market we've evaluated our trailer and future travel plans we are going to stick with the travel trailer and truck we have. You know what they say, if it isn't broke, don't fix it!
We are happy to be home and look forward to spending time with family. We REALLY missed the grandsons and look forward to upcoming visits by friends and family to Texas. There's lots of exploring to do here!
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Monday, August 28, 2017
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Union County and environs - South Dakota
It's a leisurely drive from the Snake Creek Recreation area to Yankton, where we're booked for four days at Cottonwood, an Army Corp of Engineers campground on the Missouri River.
Monday Aug 29
Enroute to our campsite we toured the little town of Geddes, (pop. 208 in 2010) where my Great- grandmother Martin was living when she died in 1924. There isn't much left there as far as active businesses.
The old bank is still standing but empty and vandalized inside. I've no idea where her farm was, but it's interesting to see the area nonetheless.
We also looked into Avon, another little village where there were brief family connections - not much going on there either. This is the story of most little agricultural communities these days.
We meandered around the surrounding area to get a feel for the environment. All the little burgs are focused around a grain elevator, on the railroad. The sole reason for the settlement obviously being to help the farmer get his crop shipped out. Farming is still the main industry, with field after field of corn and soybeans being the primary crops in this area.
The campground we're staying in is nice. Huge spaces, right on Yankton Lake, just off the Missouri River, below Gavins Point Dam.. There are large areas where dogs can be off leash or play in the water, and plenty of 13 lined ground squirrels popping up all over the area to provide entertainment otherwise.
Tuesday Aug 30
We spent the morning checking out Utica, (pop. 65 in 2010) another little town where my dad's family lived for a few years. It's just north of Yankton and, again, there's not much left from those days.
There were more homes than we had anticipated, but little in the way of original buildings. This interesting little brick structure caught our attention though.
It looks as if it might have been a bank vault. It now sits in a vacant lot across from a lumber yard. If it was the bank vault, this would have been part of the main street business district. You'd never know that now!
Next stop, the big city of Yankton (pop. 14,591 in 2013) for a quick trip to a quilt store - they were out of license plates! Yikes! I guess that's a risk when shopping this late in the summer. I did pick up a couple of bits of fabric, so it wasn't a wasted trip.
This is the biggest city for several miles so business is booming and there are some very nice neighborhoods, especially along the river.
We've followed the Missouri River off and on for much of the trip, sort of doing the Lewis and Clark Discovery Expedition in reverse. Believe me, everyone takes advantage of the "Lewis and Clark were here" bit of history. The visitor center here at the recreation area is especially nice, with large, unique windows especially designed to frame two views of the river.
Wednesday, Aug 31
Today we visit one of the main reasons for our visit to this part of South Dakota - Elk Point. This is where my paternal grandmother and my father and his sister were born. We drove around the little town (pop. 1,963 in 2013) to see if we could find a match to four photos I have of relevant buildings.
I'd already pretty well determined the old courthouse was gone. It was the setting about 1910 for the photo of my grandfather and all the other letter carriers gathered on the front steps.
That courthouse has been demolished and a portion of the entry has been incorporated in the entry to the new courthouse.
The train station, where my uncle was a conductor, is gone, replaced by grain storage silos and other agricultural equipment.
My great grandfather's meat market, which was a wooden building, is also gone. I can picture it though, tucked somewhere in between the existing brick buildings on Main Street.
We drove through residential areas hoping to find his house, where my grandmother and both her children were born, but couldn't locate it. At the suggestion of a deputy Sheriff we stopped on the street we stopped in to an antique store to talk to the owner. 'Turns out he's head of the local historical society. He couldn't help us with a location for the old Strobel house, but was very friendly and interested in the family history. He connected us with an 80+ year old history buff, Fern, who offered to meet us at the Union County Museum, where she is the curator, when it opened in just over an hour.
We hurried down the street a block or so and had a great Mexican lunch at Los Amigos (who would guess, in a little town in South Dakota?) and then headed to the west end of Main Street where the Union County Historical Society Museum is housed in the beautifully restored Charles Murtha House.
With Fern's help we searched an antique map and found Great-grandfather Abraham Strobel's homestead, in Civil Bend, which is just a smidgen east of Elk Point. She was so enthusiastic about seeing the few photos I had on my iPad I promised to send her the files of those and several others.
A quick visit to the cemetery was all it took to locate great-grandfather and great-grandmother's marker, and then we headed back to our campsite in Yankton to rescue the dogs from the trailer. I think we woke them up, but they were happy to see us.
All in all it was a successful visit. 'Good to see the little town still surviving, and many of the older homes and business buildings still standing. I'm glad to find a place to share many of the photos and documents I have too, as they consider my great-grandfather to be one of the really historic residents, and he was!
This area wasn't a state yet when he settled here in the 1870's. I can't imagine the hard, primitive lives the farmers lived then. Folks here are still farming, as the silos everywhere attest to, and all the fields are full of good-looking crops . . . the great American Heartland at its best!
A few more pics here
Monday Aug 29
Enroute to our campsite we toured the little town of Geddes, (pop. 208 in 2010) where my Great- grandmother Martin was living when she died in 1924. There isn't much left there as far as active businesses.
We also looked into Avon, another little village where there were brief family connections - not much going on there either. This is the story of most little agricultural communities these days.
We meandered around the surrounding area to get a feel for the environment. All the little burgs are focused around a grain elevator, on the railroad. The sole reason for the settlement obviously being to help the farmer get his crop shipped out. Farming is still the main industry, with field after field of corn and soybeans being the primary crops in this area.
The campground we're staying in is nice. Huge spaces, right on Yankton Lake, just off the Missouri River, below Gavins Point Dam.. There are large areas where dogs can be off leash or play in the water, and plenty of 13 lined ground squirrels popping up all over the area to provide entertainment otherwise.
Tuesday Aug 30
We spent the morning checking out Utica, (pop. 65 in 2010) another little town where my dad's family lived for a few years. It's just north of Yankton and, again, there's not much left from those days.
There were more homes than we had anticipated, but little in the way of original buildings. This interesting little brick structure caught our attention though.
It looks as if it might have been a bank vault. It now sits in a vacant lot across from a lumber yard. If it was the bank vault, this would have been part of the main street business district. You'd never know that now!
Next stop, the big city of Yankton (pop. 14,591 in 2013) for a quick trip to a quilt store - they were out of license plates! Yikes! I guess that's a risk when shopping this late in the summer. I did pick up a couple of bits of fabric, so it wasn't a wasted trip.
This is the biggest city for several miles so business is booming and there are some very nice neighborhoods, especially along the river.
We've followed the Missouri River off and on for much of the trip, sort of doing the Lewis and Clark Discovery Expedition in reverse. Believe me, everyone takes advantage of the "Lewis and Clark were here" bit of history. The visitor center here at the recreation area is especially nice, with large, unique windows especially designed to frame two views of the river.
Wednesday, Aug 31
Today we visit one of the main reasons for our visit to this part of South Dakota - Elk Point. This is where my paternal grandmother and my father and his sister were born. We drove around the little town (pop. 1,963 in 2013) to see if we could find a match to four photos I have of relevant buildings.
 |
| Columns and other decorative items from the old courthouse |
That courthouse has been demolished and a portion of the entry has been incorporated in the entry to the new courthouse.
The train station, where my uncle was a conductor, is gone, replaced by grain storage silos and other agricultural equipment.
My great grandfather's meat market, which was a wooden building, is also gone. I can picture it though, tucked somewhere in between the existing brick buildings on Main Street.
We drove through residential areas hoping to find his house, where my grandmother and both her children were born, but couldn't locate it. At the suggestion of a deputy Sheriff we stopped on the street we stopped in to an antique store to talk to the owner. 'Turns out he's head of the local historical society. He couldn't help us with a location for the old Strobel house, but was very friendly and interested in the family history. He connected us with an 80+ year old history buff, Fern, who offered to meet us at the Union County Museum, where she is the curator, when it opened in just over an hour.
We hurried down the street a block or so and had a great Mexican lunch at Los Amigos (who would guess, in a little town in South Dakota?) and then headed to the west end of Main Street where the Union County Historical Society Museum is housed in the beautifully restored Charles Murtha House.
With Fern's help we searched an antique map and found Great-grandfather Abraham Strobel's homestead, in Civil Bend, which is just a smidgen east of Elk Point. She was so enthusiastic about seeing the few photos I had on my iPad I promised to send her the files of those and several others.
All in all it was a successful visit. 'Good to see the little town still surviving, and many of the older homes and business buildings still standing. I'm glad to find a place to share many of the photos and documents I have too, as they consider my great-grandfather to be one of the really historic residents, and he was!
This area wasn't a state yet when he settled here in the 1870's. I can't imagine the hard, primitive lives the farmers lived then. Folks here are still farming, as the silos everywhere attest to, and all the fields are full of good-looking crops . . . the great American Heartland at its best!
A few more pics here
Exploring South Dakota - The Badlands
Those old everyday chores have to be done some time, so we headed back to Rapid City to take care of them. We'd enjoyed the Elk's club there as a one night stop, so moved in again, and had another friendly pub-style dinner while chatting with other members and travelers.
The next day, errands and chores completed, we took drove south into Badlands National Park. There's a nice loop tour, which suited the situation pretty well. As it was very cloudy, and slightly rainy, we weren't in the mood to do a lot of sightseeing on foot. So we spent some time checking out the visitors center.
This is the BEST visitor center we've seen on this trip. Not only are the displays really well done (kids will love the way they depict the dinosaur era animals that lived here) but they also have a fossil lab open to visitors where you can watch technicians clean specimens, and pack them for shipping. There are several specimens on display, and we discovered while talking with the ranger who was stationed in the room at the time that she was a graduate of the University of Oregon. We had a nice chat with her before moving on to drive through the remainder of the Badlands .
The formations in the park are amazing. Dramatic spires topped with dollops of whipped cream, mesas with unbelievable erosion, and stripes of colorful soils. Even with little sun the shadows created by the many layers are fascinating. It's rugged country and one can only imagine the challenge of navigating it on horseback or in a wagon.
As the afternoon wore on the clouds thinned a bit and by the time we reached the park boundary we actually had a little sun. Good timing. It's an impressive area in spite of the clouds, and bears further exploration.
We planned to spend the evening at Sleepy Hollow Campground in Wall, which is only about 8 miles from the park boundary. As it turned out the location was perfect. We did a quick tour through the Wall Drug area of the town, and a couple of other shops, sampled a local brew while chatting with a couple who are full-timers and had just recently been in Eugene, OR. We returned to camp just in time to fix a quick dinner and walk the dogs before a fairly blustery thunderstorm hit. (No, we didn't get a free glass of water, but yes, we did get donuts!)
It's that time of year. Days are noticeably shorter, evenings cooler, and overall it's beginning to feel like winter. Time to head south!
Aug. 28 Saturday - Sunday
Guess I spoke too soon! The sun is out, so we decided to make a swing through The Badlands again, so we could catch it in a different light. The sun does make the colors a little brighter, and the shadows sharper. It was good to take a second look.
For two days we're camped at Francis Case Lake, Snake Creek Recreation Area, on the Missouri River, and the weather has turned to summer again!
It's a beautiful area, and the lake is huge, as is our campsite. We've got plenty of room for the dogs to play, privacy as we're in an end site, and there are areas on the beach where they can play in the water. What a find!
We drove both camping loops to look over the layout and sites, and they are all large, though some have better views than others. The little cabins are mostly right along the shoreline so have excellent views of the lake.
It took some doing, as things are pretty overgrown this time of year, but we found a couple of trails around the edges of the campground. Signage is a little on the short side, but you can find a map of the area on line. There are four different maps at the bottom of the page I linked to above.
Now for the remainder of touring in South Dakota, on to the little towns where some of my family settled and lived for many years.
The album is here.
The next day, errands and chores completed, we took drove south into Badlands National Park. There's a nice loop tour, which suited the situation pretty well. As it was very cloudy, and slightly rainy, we weren't in the mood to do a lot of sightseeing on foot. So we spent some time checking out the visitors center.
This is the BEST visitor center we've seen on this trip. Not only are the displays really well done (kids will love the way they depict the dinosaur era animals that lived here) but they also have a fossil lab open to visitors where you can watch technicians clean specimens, and pack them for shipping. There are several specimens on display, and we discovered while talking with the ranger who was stationed in the room at the time that she was a graduate of the University of Oregon. We had a nice chat with her before moving on to drive through the remainder of the Badlands .
As the afternoon wore on the clouds thinned a bit and by the time we reached the park boundary we actually had a little sun. Good timing. It's an impressive area in spite of the clouds, and bears further exploration.
 |
| The Badlands under stormy skies |
 |
| Beautiful downtown Wall |
 |
| Hoping he'll tell me where his mine is! |
It's that time of year. Days are noticeably shorter, evenings cooler, and overall it's beginning to feel like winter. Time to head south!
Aug. 28 Saturday - Sunday
Guess I spoke too soon! The sun is out, so we decided to make a swing through The Badlands again, so we could catch it in a different light. The sun does make the colors a little brighter, and the shadows sharper. It was good to take a second look.
For two days we're camped at Francis Case Lake, Snake Creek Recreation Area, on the Missouri River, and the weather has turned to summer again!
 |
| We had a great view of the lake |
We drove both camping loops to look over the layout and sites, and they are all large, though some have better views than others. The little cabins are mostly right along the shoreline so have excellent views of the lake.
It took some doing, as things are pretty overgrown this time of year, but we found a couple of trails around the edges of the campground. Signage is a little on the short side, but you can find a map of the area on line. There are four different maps at the bottom of the page I linked to above.
Now for the remainder of touring in South Dakota, on to the little towns where some of my family settled and lived for many years.
 |
| We had beautiful sunsets most nights at the lake |
The album is here.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Tailgate Trainging Camp 2013
We've held training camp at Ochoco Forest Campground for several years now, and it's quite a distance from the Willamette Valley, so we stopped one night on the way, at Cold Springs campground. This is a nice place to work back into the boondocks mode.
The area is fairly open, with pines and a few shrubs, and a little creek running through the campground. It was very quiet as there were only a few other sites occupied. Shiner did her best to rid the area of chipmunks and other varmints, but I don't think she was very successful.
Friday morning we left Cold Springs and moved on to Training Camp.
We had several new attendees this year.
There was a heavy sports schedule this year at camp.
Dave and Evie tried out her new bow, there were a few games of horseshoes and bolo toss, and some of us went for the annual walk around Walton Lake. It's small, but very pretty. The meadow that's usually covered with wildflowers and butterflies was drier this year, so though there were a few butterflies enjoying the wild asters, most of the wildflowers were in short supply. We came home with a special treat this year. John made several bird houses and feeders for those who came to camp, and we were lucky enough to have this one, complete with a little piggy.
The detail John puts into these creations is amazing, right down to the little handmade ax stuck in the little stump on the porch.
It was a great four days - good food and good friends is a combination hard to beat! For a few more shots of the camp and all the fun we had, check the album.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Mono Lake, California
We left Kershaw-Ryan State Park with the intent of stopping in Tonopah for fuel and, assuming we'd get a decent signal there, either find a spot to camp and use the broadband card to get caught up on things, or maybe an RV park with wireless.
So, off we went, down Nevada's famous Extra Terrestrial Highway (SR375.)
Shortly after turning on to the highway at Crystal Springs we passed the Alien Warehouse, guarded by an 20 foot tall alien. 'Not sure what they store there, so I leave it to your imagination.
For many lonely miles we entertained ourselves with admiring the shifting colors and shadows in the hills beyond, and the few clouds that drifted here and there. Nevada really is a geological wonderland, and the colors and textures in many area touched my volcanic action as well and the layers of ancient sea-bed range from subtle reds to striking black and white with splashes of blue and green.
As we traveled farther west we came to a broad, flat plain, where the entertainment shifted to watching dust devils in the distance as they chased one another across the acres of sagebrush. . . we are easily entertained!
No such luck with the Internet connections. 'Couldn't get better than 2G in town (we're ordering a new antenna, but our phones weren't much better signal) and the three RV "parks" more resembled storage yards than someplace we wanted to spend the night. As much as we love the history of Tonopah's past as a gold mining center, it's sinking rapidly as a place we want to spend much time. We found diesel at the station in the middle of town, though it was hard to get in and out with our trailer. It was the best place price wise, as the station at the north end of town is rather proud of their product and prices it several cents higher.
Finding lodging prospects in Tonopah rather dismal, so on we went.
Steve had read discussions on the forums of dispersed camping in the Inyo National Forest (California) so that become the new objective. We approached Mono Lake from the Nevada side, through Benton (intersection of I6 and hwy 120). Benton looks like an interesting little burg, with a couple of B and B's, antique shop, and lots of interesting old equipment, wagons, etc. parked around. The day was getting short however so stopping wasn't on the agenda. We pushed on, down hwy. 120, toward the intended goal of dispersed camping areas around Sage Hen pass. NOTE: this route has some really steep grades (7% or better) both up and down, so if you are underpowered, it's not recommended.
I don't think we've ever taken this route before, and though we know the area pretty well we were still surprised by the breathtaking views. The dark and rugged Sierras, lacking their usual snow cap, but still sporting bits of white here and there, contrasting with the closer hills draped in the grays of volcanic ash flows. As the day was getting late, the afternoon shadows emphasized the sculpted forms of the side canyons. Not a great place to stop for photos however, as the road is narrow, and the reflector markers along the sides of the road make pulling of in a long rig difficult. This area is closed in winter, and at 7-8,000 ft. elevation for most of the route that shouldn't be surprising.
We discovered that there are no signs indicating camping areas, and unfortunately most of the side roads are angled in such a way that it's difficult to hit them coming from the east. They must think everyone comes in from the west, hwy. 395.
After examining the various options we ended up down closer to the lake, pulling in right at the kiosk with a display of the old Mono lumber mill.
We followed the dirt road for a short distance to a fairly level site, and the most spectacular view of Mono lake, with no neighbors!
The historical information kiosk by the road explains the history of the Mono lumber mill, which supplied the old mining town of Bodie with lumber during it's peek period. There was even a narrow gauge rail way that ran from the mill up to Bodie.
Scraps of the mill still lie in the ravine, and the kiosk has photos of the original mill.
The hillside where we walked is till littered with the old tin cans and broken bottles from the mill community, some are quite old, and it makes for interesting exploration to meander through the brush and find further traces of the settlement that grew up around the mill.
The forest is sparse right in the area we camped, due to a fire that swept through the area about 12 years ago. New trees are sprouting here and there, but the charred stumps still remain to remind us of how destructive a forest fire can be. It is natural however, and the new growth demonstrates the diversity of plant life that actually benefits from a fire.
The first day started out as a gray and gloomy, with a bit of wind, but soon became quite interesting as the clouds developed and then at sunset took on beautiful golden shades. Little dust devils kicked up out on the island, looking a little like smoke signals at a distance.
We spent two relaxing days here, watching the shifting clouds, playing ball with Shiner, taking walks, and just relaxing.
More scenes from the area and cloud studies, here.
This area is a great base camp from which to further explore the area, and there's a lot to see here.
[Dispersed camping is allowed an many areas in the Inyo National Forest. Here is the overview of requirements. It's nice to know there are still a few places where you can just set up a low impact camp and enjoy the view..... for free! Check here for a map of side roads and location of dispersed camping areas.]
So, off we went, down Nevada's famous Extra Terrestrial Highway (SR375.)
 |
| Aliens and Earthlings have all left a calling-card |
Shortly after turning on to the highway at Crystal Springs we passed the Alien Warehouse, guarded by an 20 foot tall alien. 'Not sure what they store there, so I leave it to your imagination.
For many lonely miles we entertained ourselves with admiring the shifting colors and shadows in the hills beyond, and the few clouds that drifted here and there. Nevada really is a geological wonderland, and the colors and textures in many area touched my volcanic action as well and the layers of ancient sea-bed range from subtle reds to striking black and white with splashes of blue and green.
As we traveled farther west we came to a broad, flat plain, where the entertainment shifted to watching dust devils in the distance as they chased one another across the acres of sagebrush. . . we are easily entertained!
No such luck with the Internet connections. 'Couldn't get better than 2G in town (we're ordering a new antenna, but our phones weren't much better signal) and the three RV "parks" more resembled storage yards than someplace we wanted to spend the night. As much as we love the history of Tonopah's past as a gold mining center, it's sinking rapidly as a place we want to spend much time. We found diesel at the station in the middle of town, though it was hard to get in and out with our trailer. It was the best place price wise, as the station at the north end of town is rather proud of their product and prices it several cents higher.
Finding lodging prospects in Tonopah rather dismal, so on we went.
Steve had read discussions on the forums of dispersed camping in the Inyo National Forest (California) so that become the new objective. We approached Mono Lake from the Nevada side, through Benton (intersection of I6 and hwy 120). Benton looks like an interesting little burg, with a couple of B and B's, antique shop, and lots of interesting old equipment, wagons, etc. parked around. The day was getting short however so stopping wasn't on the agenda. We pushed on, down hwy. 120, toward the intended goal of dispersed camping areas around Sage Hen pass. NOTE: this route has some really steep grades (7% or better) both up and down, so if you are underpowered, it's not recommended.
I don't think we've ever taken this route before, and though we know the area pretty well we were still surprised by the breathtaking views. The dark and rugged Sierras, lacking their usual snow cap, but still sporting bits of white here and there, contrasting with the closer hills draped in the grays of volcanic ash flows. As the day was getting late, the afternoon shadows emphasized the sculpted forms of the side canyons. Not a great place to stop for photos however, as the road is narrow, and the reflector markers along the sides of the road make pulling of in a long rig difficult. This area is closed in winter, and at 7-8,000 ft. elevation for most of the route that shouldn't be surprising.
We discovered that there are no signs indicating camping areas, and unfortunately most of the side roads are angled in such a way that it's difficult to hit them coming from the east. They must think everyone comes in from the west, hwy. 395.
After examining the various options we ended up down closer to the lake, pulling in right at the kiosk with a display of the old Mono lumber mill.
We followed the dirt road for a short distance to a fairly level site, and the most spectacular view of Mono lake, with no neighbors!
The historical information kiosk by the road explains the history of the Mono lumber mill, which supplied the old mining town of Bodie with lumber during it's peek period. There was even a narrow gauge rail way that ran from the mill up to Bodie.Scraps of the mill still lie in the ravine, and the kiosk has photos of the original mill.
The hillside where we walked is till littered with the old tin cans and broken bottles from the mill community, some are quite old, and it makes for interesting exploration to meander through the brush and find further traces of the settlement that grew up around the mill.
The first day started out as a gray and gloomy, with a bit of wind, but soon became quite interesting as the clouds developed and then at sunset took on beautiful golden shades. Little dust devils kicked up out on the island, looking a little like smoke signals at a distance.
We spent two relaxing days here, watching the shifting clouds, playing ball with Shiner, taking walks, and just relaxing.
 |
| I need a break! |
This area is a great base camp from which to further explore the area, and there's a lot to see here.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
On the road again!! 2013 travel season
Greetings from the road! Finally!!
Apologies for the delay in getting things updated here. We've had little to no internet
service or cell phone reception since leaving home, and we've also had trouble with the broadband card. It keeps changing settings on it's own, and with little reception anyway, it's been a real battle.
This summer our travels will be taking us through Four Corners country and we have no idea how
good service will be there, or even if we’ll have it, so updates will probably
continue to be sporadic.
May 30 - Thursday - We were up early and out the gate before 9, pretty early for
us, especially on the first day out! We planned a fairly lengthy drive this
first day, as it takes us two days just to get out of the state we didn’t want
to dawdle too much. First night’s
stop, Lake Colorado City State Park,
near Colorado City, between Midland and Abilene, west of Forth Worth.
The town has special significance for us, as Steve’s parents had their first date at a
movie theater here. No, we didn’t hunt up the theater, but it was fun to think
about the times they spent in the area.
As with most lakes in the Permian Basin lately, the water
level is quite low which changes the personality of the park considerably. We didn't plan on fishing or boating, so it didn't bother us much.
The campsites are spacious, surrounded by dense stands of prickly pear and mesquite. Most sites have a permanent shade over the table, and some have a tree or two.
There are faint trails that would probably lead down to the shore, if the water were high enough to meet the shoreline! Shiner and I did go exploring in the area adjacent to our site.
She had great fun checking under every cactus for lizards and other fauna, and she only ended up with one spine in her muzzle!
The sloping sandstone cliff had faint trails, from human and critter travel I would guess, that wandered through the patches of cactus and brush. Here and there a few wildflowers bravely nodded in the breeze. It’s a pretty area, best enjoyed when it’s not too hot or windy…. And this part of Texas is known for wind I’m afraid. That would explain the huge windmill farms we passed. Wind energy is one of the booming industries in this part of the state.
The campsites are spacious, surrounded by dense stands of prickly pear and mesquite. Most sites have a permanent shade over the table, and some have a tree or two.
There are faint trails that would probably lead down to the shore, if the water were high enough to meet the shoreline! Shiner and I did go exploring in the area adjacent to our site.
She had great fun checking under every cactus for lizards and other fauna, and she only ended up with one spine in her muzzle! The sloping sandstone cliff had faint trails, from human and critter travel I would guess, that wandered through the patches of cactus and brush. Here and there a few wildflowers bravely nodded in the breeze. It’s a pretty area, best enjoyed when it’s not too hot or windy…. And this part of Texas is known for wind I’m afraid. That would explain the huge windmill farms we passed. Wind energy is one of the booming industries in this part of the state.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
We're not in Kansas anymore!
We left Buffalo Bill State Park shortly before 10 AM under a cold, gray and cloudy sky. By 11:00 AM we were in McCook, in SW Nebraska, and admiring the gently falling snow. It wasn't exactly a blizzard, but there was enough to make the roof-tops and ground white and more drifting down, a chilly 35 degrees, but thankfully no wind!
The rolling grain fields of Nebraska flattened considerably once we entered Kansas, looking more the way we've pictured the plains, and the snow stopped! No doubt because it had warmed up to 36!
You never know what unique sites you'll encounter on the road. We stopped for fuel and while it was pumping watched this semi tow a wind turbine tower around a sharp corner. You've got to admire the skill some of these truck drivers demonstrate in managing large loads like this one.There are a few of these wind generators on the horizon across the plains, but so far none of the huge installations that we've seen in Texas and California.
We later crossed over a rail line with a multitude of cars carrying these tubes, and passed truck after truck transporting them. Apparently this is a booming business in the area.
We skirted around the west side of Oakley, the county seat of Logan County. Oakley wasn't named for the world-famous performer "Annie", the town-site was laid out by David Hoag in 1884 and named after his mother, Elizabeth Oakley Gardner-Hoag. Annie Oakley did performed with the "Wild West Show" in the area.
There's a museum honoring Buffalo Bill at the entrance to town, and nearby is this amazing sculpture of Buffalo Bill in action. It commemorates a buffalo shooting contest near the town between William Cody and William Comstock. Cody won, earning the name "Buffalo Bill".
The seemingly flat terrain across Kansas is deceptive. As we left the highway for our new temporary home at
Scott Lake State Park we suddenly found ourselves in a deep canyon filled with rocky cliffs and a wide variety of hardwood and evergreen trees.
Scott Lake is primarily a fishing lake, but there are also accommodations for equestrians, and judging by the concession stands around the lake shore it must be a very popular family hangout during the summer. Everything is closed this time of year. In fact, we never saw any park personnel, and only a handful of other campers.
An unusual feature of the park is an archeological site - Pueblo Indian ruins. Pueblo tribes are generally considered to live in the southwest, but on two occasions two different groups ventured clear up here, stayed only briefly, then returned to their homelands. Several signboards around he excavation explain the history of the area.
There's also an historic home, once belonging to the couple that donated this property for use as a park.
It was not open, closed for the season
as is everything else, but looked quite cozy tucked in a copse of trees
near one of the limestone cliffs. High up on top of the cliff is a
monument to the family, and a stone shelter for those ambitious enough
to climb up the narrow trail to view the monument.
There are vague trails up the rocky canyons here, making for interesting walking, but cutting cross-country is a bit hazardous. It seems a strange combination, but the forest of trees is carpeted with sharp, spiny yucca and cactus.
Venturing off the trail is hazardous to one's shins! The multiple blossom stem remaining from the yucca that bloomed in the spring illustrates just how many of them there are.
Under other circumstances the trail would have been of interest to me, us but with the 34 degree day and intermittent snow showers a quick view of the archeological site was about all we could muster up. We made a quick tour of the site and then dove back into the RV for a nice, comfy day watching football.
Just before we left the state we stopped for fuel in Liberal, Kansas, home of Dorthy and Toto. Their house was just down the Yellow Brick Road from the fuel station! (That really is the name of the street!)
A few miles down the road we left Kansas and enter Oklahoma. Across the narrow panhandle we saw extensive oil and natural gas wells, cattle, and lots of wide open spaces. By evening we were in The Republic, at our overnight stop, Collingsworth Pioneer Park, near Wellington. See the next post for a report on that site.
The rolling grain fields of Nebraska flattened considerably once we entered Kansas, looking more the way we've pictured the plains, and the snow stopped! No doubt because it had warmed up to 36!
You never know what unique sites you'll encounter on the road. We stopped for fuel and while it was pumping watched this semi tow a wind turbine tower around a sharp corner. You've got to admire the skill some of these truck drivers demonstrate in managing large loads like this one.There are a few of these wind generators on the horizon across the plains, but so far none of the huge installations that we've seen in Texas and California.
There's a museum honoring Buffalo Bill at the entrance to town, and nearby is this amazing sculpture of Buffalo Bill in action. It commemorates a buffalo shooting contest near the town between William Cody and William Comstock. Cody won, earning the name "Buffalo Bill".
The seemingly flat terrain across Kansas is deceptive. As we left the highway for our new temporary home at
 | |
| Our site, looking toward Horsethief Canyon |
Scott Lake is primarily a fishing lake, but there are also accommodations for equestrians, and judging by the concession stands around the lake shore it must be a very popular family hangout during the summer. Everything is closed this time of year. In fact, we never saw any park personnel, and only a handful of other campers.
There's also an historic home, once belonging to the couple that donated this property for use as a park.
It was not open, closed for the season
as is everything else, but looked quite cozy tucked in a copse of trees
near one of the limestone cliffs. High up on top of the cliff is a
monument to the family, and a stone shelter for those ambitious enough
to climb up the narrow trail to view the monument. There are vague trails up the rocky canyons here, making for interesting walking, but cutting cross-country is a bit hazardous. It seems a strange combination, but the forest of trees is carpeted with sharp, spiny yucca and cactus.
 | |
| Do I look cold enough? |
Under other circumstances the trail would have been of interest to me, us but with the 34 degree day and intermittent snow showers a quick view of the archeological site was about all we could muster up. We made a quick tour of the site and then dove back into the RV for a nice, comfy day watching football.
Just before we left the state we stopped for fuel in Liberal, Kansas, home of Dorthy and Toto. Their house was just down the Yellow Brick Road from the fuel station! (That really is the name of the street!)
A few miles down the road we left Kansas and enter Oklahoma. Across the narrow panhandle we saw extensive oil and natural gas wells, cattle, and lots of wide open spaces. By evening we were in The Republic, at our overnight stop, Collingsworth Pioneer Park, near Wellington. See the next post for a report on that site.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Nebraska
From Laramie's 8,000+ altitude we rolled downhill into Nebraska, aided by a stiff tailwind - that little assist doubled our mileage so we didn't complain!
On the recommendation of a friend we scheduled my birthday lunch stop at Ole's Big Game Steakhouse in the little village of Paxton, just off I-80 (pop. 614). Thanks for the recommendation Evie, it was a great experience!!!
The restaurant was founded in 1933, the year Prohibition ended in Nebraska. Founder Rosser O. Herstedt, "Ole", loved to travel the world and hunt wild game, and over the years his trophies and photos of his adventures accumulated on the walls of the restaurant until now there's hardly a square foot of wall without some sort of adornment.
The beautiful old wooden bar-back is so covered with brewery and distillery cmemorabelia that you can hardly see the carved columns. Fascinating to say the least!
We enjoyed delicious hamburgers and an excellent brew from Nebraska's first brewpub (Empyrean Ales' Third Stone) and then visited with a young couple from Colorado, up in Nebraska to trade a few bulls for a cow (sounds like a good trade to me).
We also spent quite a bit of time reading the captions on all the hunting photos around the room. One really could while away a good part of the day here, but the road and our campsite beckoned, so we saddled up and continued east to our scheduled stop, Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, just outside North Platte.
These Nebraskans are made of sturdy stuff, that's all I can say. The cold winds coming down from Canada buffeted our little house on wheels all night, and brought in some pretty chilly temps. It's beautiful here though, parked beside the North Platte River.
The state park campground isn't much to get excited about. There are 23 spaces with electric, a tent camping area, a couple of water spigots and a vault restroom. The sites are grass and gravel, with a few smallish trees here and there, but the campground is right on the river, so that's a bonus.
There's a trail of sorts running along the bank, and as the water is pretty low right now Shiner and I were able to hop over to the little sandbar island that is directly opposite the campground. It made good exploring territory for her, and a photo op for me! This is grassland, so it supports an abundance of birds. There are cranes, songbirds, and according to the discussions on the local radio station, there's lots of pheasant hunting to be had.
The star attraction of the park is Scout's Rest, Buffalo Bill's ranch, just a few minutes' drive from the campground. What a gem! The self-guided tour offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to experience the fully restored Victorian home which displays many original furnishings, the spring house, barn, and the log cabin that served as headquarters for the ranch in the early days.
With touches of fall color here and there the well-maintained grounds are absolutely beautiful. Check out the album for photos of the rooms and buildings. Captions on each photo include details about the ranch.
The following day we drove in to North Platte to pick up a few groceries and check out a quilt shop. I highly recommend The Quilt Rack, tucked away at 101 W. Front Street, right under the overpass. This shop has a huge selection of fabrics, kits and patterns, and some really nice theme fabrics of the type I like to collect as souvenirs of our travels.
By evening the wind had stopped but the temperature was dropping. With any luck we'll be out of Nebraska before the snow hits!
On the recommendation of a friend we scheduled my birthday lunch stop at Ole's Big Game Steakhouse in the little village of Paxton, just off I-80 (pop. 614). Thanks for the recommendation Evie, it was a great experience!!!
The beautiful old wooden bar-back is so covered with brewery and distillery cmemorabelia that you can hardly see the carved columns. Fascinating to say the least!
We enjoyed delicious hamburgers and an excellent brew from Nebraska's first brewpub (Empyrean Ales' Third Stone) and then visited with a young couple from Colorado, up in Nebraska to trade a few bulls for a cow (sounds like a good trade to me).
 |
| Surrounded by critters in Ole's |
We also spent quite a bit of time reading the captions on all the hunting photos around the room. One really could while away a good part of the day here, but the road and our campsite beckoned, so we saddled up and continued east to our scheduled stop, Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, just outside North Platte.
These Nebraskans are made of sturdy stuff, that's all I can say. The cold winds coming down from Canada buffeted our little house on wheels all night, and brought in some pretty chilly temps. It's beautiful here though, parked beside the North Platte River.
There's a trail of sorts running along the bank, and as the water is pretty low right now Shiner and I were able to hop over to the little sandbar island that is directly opposite the campground. It made good exploring territory for her, and a photo op for me! This is grassland, so it supports an abundance of birds. There are cranes, songbirds, and according to the discussions on the local radio station, there's lots of pheasant hunting to be had.
With touches of fall color here and there the well-maintained grounds are absolutely beautiful. Check out the album for photos of the rooms and buildings. Captions on each photo include details about the ranch.
The following day we drove in to North Platte to pick up a few groceries and check out a quilt shop. I highly recommend The Quilt Rack, tucked away at 101 W. Front Street, right under the overpass. This shop has a huge selection of fabrics, kits and patterns, and some really nice theme fabrics of the type I like to collect as souvenirs of our travels.
By evening the wind had stopped but the temperature was dropping. With any luck we'll be out of Nebraska before the snow hits!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Washburne State Park, Oregon
Tucked in between the third and fourth football games of the season we managed to tuck in a quick trip to the coast to meet up with a friend. Steve checked the reservation sites and everything was full, amazing this time of year! So, we decided on a no-reservation park, Washburne State Park, just north of Florence.
Before we reached the park we were met with a very strange site. Instead of a sparkling white lighthouse on Haceta Head, we saw a hulking black shape. We eventually found an explanation for the apparition.... they are doing major repairs and the whole lighthouse is enveloped in scaffolding and tarps. This pictorial article explains in detail all the work that is being done to restore the landmark.
Washburne State Park campground was fairly crowded when we arrived, but we were able to find a suitable full-service site, and after our four night stay we have dubbed it the friendliest campground in the state. We sat around a smoky campfire and chatted from folks from Wisconsin, California, in addition to the expected Oregonians. A musician/songwriter from Norman, Oklahoma serenaded the campground in the evenings, and he even gave us a CD of his music. Ferrel Droke as won Honorable Mention twice in the Woodie Guthrie songwriting contest. His music has a bit of an an Irish folk flare to it, worth listening to for sure!
The weatherman had promised sun. Humpf! There's a saying in Oregon, "Only fools and Californians believe the weatherman". We bit. He lied. So, in a deep, dark, forested park we sat under cloudy skies. That's the Oregon coast, unpredictable, but beautiful under any circumstance.
The
beach is easily accessed from the campground via a half-mile trail that goes under the
highway. The trail leads through a mossy carpeted, tangled bit of forest that
seldom sees the sun.
The trees are covered with draped ferns and layer upon layer of moss, and the canopy overhead makes he floor of the forest so dark that even the multitudes of mushrooms have a powdery blue mold on them.
Surely there are Nomes living here!
The beach wasn't crowded, so very dog-friendly and Shiner enjoyed a good game of tug-a-war with our friend's German Shepherd, Heidi.
As we watched the dogs romp on the beach I glanced over to the surf and noticed a seal waddling up onto the shore.
As soon as it spied humans and dogs moving on the sand it slipped back into the waves. The Sea Lion Caves aren't farm from the park, and seals are common in all the harbors here, but it's still unusual to see one on the beach.
The campground and surrounding forest are beautiful, but thanks to all the lovely trees there isn't any satellite service. A cell phone connection is possible out on the highway, but not in the campground itself.
Before we reached the park we were met with a very strange site. Instead of a sparkling white lighthouse on Haceta Head, we saw a hulking black shape. We eventually found an explanation for the apparition.... they are doing major repairs and the whole lighthouse is enveloped in scaffolding and tarps. This pictorial article explains in detail all the work that is being done to restore the landmark.Washburne State Park campground was fairly crowded when we arrived, but we were able to find a suitable full-service site, and after our four night stay we have dubbed it the friendliest campground in the state. We sat around a smoky campfire and chatted from folks from Wisconsin, California, in addition to the expected Oregonians. A musician/songwriter from Norman, Oklahoma serenaded the campground in the evenings, and he even gave us a CD of his music. Ferrel Droke as won Honorable Mention twice in the Woodie Guthrie songwriting contest. His music has a bit of an an Irish folk flare to it, worth listening to for sure!
The weatherman had promised sun. Humpf! There's a saying in Oregon, "Only fools and Californians believe the weatherman". We bit. He lied. So, in a deep, dark, forested park we sat under cloudy skies. That's the Oregon coast, unpredictable, but beautiful under any circumstance.
The
beach is easily accessed from the campground via a half-mile trail that goes under the
highway. The trail leads through a mossy carpeted, tangled bit of forest that
seldom sees the sun.The trees are covered with draped ferns and layer upon layer of moss, and the canopy overhead makes he floor of the forest so dark that even the multitudes of mushrooms have a powdery blue mold on them.
Surely there are Nomes living here!
The beach wasn't crowded, so very dog-friendly and Shiner enjoyed a good game of tug-a-war with our friend's German Shepherd, Heidi.
As we watched the dogs romp on the beach I glanced over to the surf and noticed a seal waddling up onto the shore.
As soon as it spied humans and dogs moving on the sand it slipped back into the waves. The Sea Lion Caves aren't farm from the park, and seals are common in all the harbors here, but it's still unusual to see one on the beach.
The campground and surrounding forest are beautiful, but thanks to all the lovely trees there isn't any satellite service. A cell phone connection is possible out on the highway, but not in the campground itself.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Susan Creek and Crater Lake
We used to have our pick of sites, but as we've found with several other Oregon campgrounds this year, it was fairly crowded and we had to snag the first site that was long enough. We did have a nice view of the river from the back of the site, and our own path directly down the cliff to the river. The campground has nice showers, which worked well for us as handling shower schedules for four adults in an RV is a bit of a challenge. This was little Jax's first camping trip and he took right to it. Happily exploring every stick and leaf he could reach.
 |
| Susan Creek Falls |
The trail to Susan Creek falls is so well maintained that we had no trouble navigating the trail to the falls with the stroller. In spite of the low water level in the creek the falls are still beautiful, and the water is amazingly clear in the pools at the bottom.
A big change from our previous visits here, the trail to the archeological site at the top of the mountain has been blocked. All information related to the Indian Mound site has been removed, the trail has been covered with large fallen trees and brush, and the creek bridge has been extended to block access to the trail. Based on other experiences I've had with archeological sites in Oregon, I suspect the tribes and the Forest Service have agreed to limit public access only to supervised visits.
 |
| Susan Creek bridge |
After a day of lounging around camp we headed out for a day trip to Crater Lake. Skot had never been to Oregon before, and Crater Lake was on his " bucket list", so off we went. Taking Hwy. 138 (N. Umpqua Highway) we took time to stretch our legs at Clearwater Falls.
Over the years we lived in Oregon we had taken several family photos in the park, all in the area of the stone wall that runs along the path near the visitors' center. It was nice, with our now enlarged family, to continue the tradition.
Jax thoroughly enjoyed the chipmunks too. Those little critters have the tourists thoroughly trained, and they eat pretty well during the tourist season. If you aren't careful they'll actually jump onto your hand, which is a little creepy if you've ever looked at their very sharp little teeth. Lunch in the lodge was a nice break and gave us a chance to admire the restoration work. The lodge originally opened in 1915 and been in a terrible state of disrepair until it was restored. It reopened in 1994.
On to Eugene the next day for another football game!!
There are a few additional shots of the trip here.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
North Davis Creek Campground
The day we drove around exploring (and ended up with a flat tire) we checked out several areas and campgrounds, and discovered North Davis Creek Campground. After Training Camp we decided it would be a nice, quiet place to hang out for a week or so. With a full larder and water tank we headed for the campground, our friends Bill and Grayce joining us for the first two days. The campground is admittedly a bit dusty, as are all the high Cascade lake campgrounds, but the dust is a small price to pay for all the benefits.
The North Davis Creek campground is located right on North Davis Creek, which flows into the western arm of Wickiup Lake. On the map below, the creek is the top of three that lead from the highway east to the main channel.
View Larger Map
The lake itself is actually a reservoir, and the largest of the Cascade lakes. The little arm feels more like a small lake and is perfect for canoeing or fishing without the commotion of the motorized boats that frequent the larger area. Upon driving through the small campground one might assume it to be a boring dry camp, with only one site exposed to the water. Not so! Exploration on foot revealed a wealth of stunning views.
We moved in to site 7, the best lake exposure, but the least flat of all the sites so we've spent the week adjusting and readjusting our chairs so we don't creep downhill.
All of the sites on the outside of the loop have exposure to either the lake (sites 3,5 and 7), or one of the creeks, or the spring.
All are beautiful views, and most are fairly flat. Wildflowers are still blooming around the creeks, even this late in the year.
The gentle sound of the rushing creeks can be heard from all of the sites. North Davis Creek is fairly large and flows through a broad log and moss covered bed past several of the sites (12 is especially nice) then tumbles loudly over a rocky slope just as it enters the lake.
We had no trouble launching our canoe from the beach, and decided this is the perfect place for Shiner to learn how to be a canoe dog. She wasn't to sure about the whole procedure at first, and we were afraid that her enthusiasm for swimming would cause her to jump out, but she learned quickly with a little encouragement and a few short lessons.
The little lake-like fingers of Wickiup are perfect for canoeing, and exploring the margins where the crystal clear blue water laps against the reeds is a pleasant afternoon amusement. There are a few other kayaks and canoes around, but the population is nothing like we encountered at Hosmer.
This is definitely the place to go to avoid crowds. Though several trucks and cars cruised the campground as though looking for a site, as of Friday night, out of 14 camp sites only four were occupied, on Saturday there were eight occupied, but all but three of us had cleared out by Sunday morning. Two of us are here for a week or more.
We've had the beach pretty much to ourselves, to canoe, play on the sand, toss a stick for Shiner to retrieve in the water, and watch the wildlife. The margins of Wickiup have several areas that allow "dispersed camping", meaning no organized campground. Park and what you see is what you get. Those campers often come here to launch their kayaks or canoes, but there were never enough vehicles to cause a problem in camp.
One afternoon we saw an osprey sail over the lake and fly off with a small fish, while later in twilight a young mule deer wandered out of the woods on the opposite shore and grazed awhile, then turned and went back into the woods, leaving us free to watch the blue heron fishing on the bank.
Our site is somewhat elevated above the shore, so we have a perfect vantage point for watching the changing reflections as the wind and currents shift.
A walk along the north side of the campground, along the trail behind the campsites, has wonderful views of the creek, complete with little rushing falls and wildflowers. Behind site 10 there's a log bridge over the water. The other side is pretty dense with threes, but Shiner and I were determined so we wended our way through the dense shrubbery and ended up at a pile of lava rock that appears to be the source for the creek.
I would guess that actually the drainage from Davis Lake goes underground and seeps out under the rocks, perhaps joined by other springs. It's quite surprising to see all the clear, sparkling water gush out from under a pile of boulders!
The view of fog on the lake in the early morning is
stunning, but it quickly dissipates as the day warms up. This definitely beats watching plastic boats and a parking lot full of people!
We can tell autumn is fast approaching. Though the elevation is only a bit over 4,000 feet, the nights are chilly. 30 degrees is a common overnight temp, though the days usually reach mid 70's to 80's. The contrast in temperatures makes for some beautiful early morning views, with fog drifting among the reeds, and between the layers of trees.
There is a boat ramp of sorts in the campground, but it's not well maintained and is fairly steep. There is also drinking water available in the campground, but you have to work a bit to get it.
Vault restrooms and trash containers complete the amenities, but the scenery more than makes up for the lack of services.
Some of the 14 sites are specifically designed for tents, but we had no difficulty finding several that would accommodate our 30 foot trailer. The road in is gravel, but adequately maintained.
Every evening we watch as the clouds drift by and the setting sun casts it's glow - cotton candy clouds some nights, on other nights the sky is as clear as can be, and then we know we can count on a colder morning. It's been down to 30 on several mornings, though the days are in the high 70's to low 80's. 'Can't beat that for perfect weather.
Finally, after a week of pure relaxation, it's time to pack up and head for "civilization". We'll be staying at Crescent Junction RV Park for two nights as we get caught up on laundry and housekeeping before we settle in to Armitage, a Lane County RV park, in preparation for the first Duck game of the season.
The North Davis Creek campground is located right on North Davis Creek, which flows into the western arm of Wickiup Lake. On the map below, the creek is the top of three that lead from the highway east to the main channel.
View Larger Map
The lake itself is actually a reservoir, and the largest of the Cascade lakes. The little arm feels more like a small lake and is perfect for canoeing or fishing without the commotion of the motorized boats that frequent the larger area. Upon driving through the small campground one might assume it to be a boring dry camp, with only one site exposed to the water. Not so! Exploration on foot revealed a wealth of stunning views.
 |
| View from our site |
All of the sites on the outside of the loop have exposure to either the lake (sites 3,5 and 7), or one of the creeks, or the spring.
 |
| North Davis Creek |
The gentle sound of the rushing creeks can be heard from all of the sites. North Davis Creek is fairly large and flows through a broad log and moss covered bed past several of the sites (12 is especially nice) then tumbles loudly over a rocky slope just as it enters the lake.
 |
| First canoe lesson |
The little lake-like fingers of Wickiup are perfect for canoeing, and exploring the margins where the crystal clear blue water laps against the reeds is a pleasant afternoon amusement. There are a few other kayaks and canoes around, but the population is nothing like we encountered at Hosmer.
This is definitely the place to go to avoid crowds. Though several trucks and cars cruised the campground as though looking for a site, as of Friday night, out of 14 camp sites only four were occupied, on Saturday there were eight occupied, but all but three of us had cleared out by Sunday morning. Two of us are here for a week or more.
We've had the beach pretty much to ourselves, to canoe, play on the sand, toss a stick for Shiner to retrieve in the water, and watch the wildlife. The margins of Wickiup have several areas that allow "dispersed camping", meaning no organized campground. Park and what you see is what you get. Those campers often come here to launch their kayaks or canoes, but there were never enough vehicles to cause a problem in camp.
One afternoon we saw an osprey sail over the lake and fly off with a small fish, while later in twilight a young mule deer wandered out of the woods on the opposite shore and grazed awhile, then turned and went back into the woods, leaving us free to watch the blue heron fishing on the bank.
Our site is somewhat elevated above the shore, so we have a perfect vantage point for watching the changing reflections as the wind and currents shift.
 |
| Source for North Davis Creek |
I would guess that actually the drainage from Davis Lake goes underground and seeps out under the rocks, perhaps joined by other springs. It's quite surprising to see all the clear, sparkling water gush out from under a pile of boulders!
We can tell autumn is fast approaching. Though the elevation is only a bit over 4,000 feet, the nights are chilly. 30 degrees is a common overnight temp, though the days usually reach mid 70's to 80's. The contrast in temperatures makes for some beautiful early morning views, with fog drifting among the reeds, and between the layers of trees.
There is a boat ramp of sorts in the campground, but it's not well maintained and is fairly steep. There is also drinking water available in the campground, but you have to work a bit to get it.
Vault restrooms and trash containers complete the amenities, but the scenery more than makes up for the lack of services.
Some of the 14 sites are specifically designed for tents, but we had no difficulty finding several that would accommodate our 30 foot trailer. The road in is gravel, but adequately maintained.
Every evening we watch as the clouds drift by and the setting sun casts it's glow - cotton candy clouds some nights, on other nights the sky is as clear as can be, and then we know we can count on a colder morning. It's been down to 30 on several mornings, though the days are in the high 70's to low 80's. 'Can't beat that for perfect weather.Finally, after a week of pure relaxation, it's time to pack up and head for "civilization". We'll be staying at Crescent Junction RV Park for two nights as we get caught up on laundry and housekeeping before we settle in to Armitage, a Lane County RV park, in preparation for the first Duck game of the season.
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