Pages

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Brookings and Brookings

Love at First Sight

Brookings, Oregon stole my heart! Our time there was so relaxing. Listening to the waves, watching the people, seeing the whales...it was so perfect! We had to keep moving though so we left Brookings after our initial two day stay and headed up the coast. Lilah continued to have trouble making it up the hills. We stopped at a couple of coastal pull outs to enjoy the view. We were getting higher and were overlooking the ocean from atop cliffs now.

Uh oh, again...Lilah coughed and sputtered so badly on a hill just south of Gold Beach that I really thought we would be sitting in the middle of the road waiting for assistance. We made it slowly though...up and over the hill. I frantically looked at the map to see how far to the next town. Ahh, Gold Beach just ahead.

Charlie, being the guy he is, had brought an extra fuel filter for Lilah with us. We pulled into the NAPA store and Charlie bought a fuel filter for a back up to the one he was about to use. The guy at the counter told us to pull around back so that Charlie could change the filter.

We got the bikes unloaded and the toolbox out. Charlie put Lilah up on the leveling blocks so he could crawl under her to change the filter. The wind was howling around us and I was so nervous it was gonna push Lilah right off the blocks with Charlie underneath. I kept handing him the tools he ask for and praying this would be over soon and all would be good...and after some skinned knuckles and perhaps a few choice words from Charlie...it was over and all was good again!!

We continued up the road and noted that Lilah was doing much better. Charlie thinks we got some cruddy gas after leaving Boise and he assured me that Lilah was ready for the rest of the trip now. We got as far as Humbug Mountain State Park and pulled in for the night.

Humbug Mountain State Park was a cute little campground with amazing shower facilities....but it wasn't the ocean. There was no ocean view, no sound of the waves, and no people going by! We fixed supper and as we sat and ate, I was sadder and sadder! I missed my ocean!! Pouty lips...pouty lips...and a few tears!

So we spent the next two hours looking at our trip itinerary and figuring out that we have plenty of time to do whatever we want. We had figured extra time in for Glacier because we were expecting company (which didn't work out) on that leg of the trip. Ten extra days to be exact!! So we went to bed with a new plan.

We got up the next morning and headed right back to the Beachfront RV Park and booked ourselves a spot for nine days!! Woo Hoo!!!

I have spent a lot of time here reflecting on our trip and trying to prepare myself for when we have to leave again. I am trying to look at this as just one more amazing place that we have been with many more to come. I have been so in awe of Jenny Lake, then Crater Lake, and now the ocean at Brookings, Oregon that I can't imagine it getting any better than this. These may very well be the highest highlights of our trip...but only time will tell and we still have the urge to go see what else is out there!!

In the meantime, we have enjoyed watching surfers, more whales, seals and the coastguard. We have ridden our bikes, listened to bands at the harbor-front pizza place, enjoyed some great seafood, read some books and just relaxed. Our friend, Bill, brought us fresh lemons from his Dad's lemon tree and we enjoyed several conversations with other campers and locals on the beach.

Worries from Home

We also have been in contact with our families frequently this week. My Dad and Chuck's mom have both been in the hospital. Oregon is a long way from home and we are thankful that their illnesses have not been so serious as to require us to head back. Our first reaction was to look at the map and make a plan for a quick exit if it was needed. Our families are both wonderful though and they have taken care of things and kept us informed. We are grateful for all the things they are doing in our absence to keep the home fires burning and our loved ones safe and well-cared for. You guys ROCK and we love you!!!

Tomorrow is the Day

So tomorrow we pull out of Brookings...whew, so hard to say! We are focused on what is ahead and the many wonderful things we will see. We look forward to seeing our friend near Portland before we turn inland and make our way towards home. Because of our extended stay in Brookings we will forgo our trip to the tip of Washington and we will be skipping Glacier National Park this time out. We are both comfortable with that decision and look forward to arriving in those spots during another trip. We are already planning that route and yes, it does include Brookings!! Hee Hee

We will travel the rest of the Oregon coast, stop and visit with Geary near Portland, go through the Columbia River Gorge, stop and see Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument, follow the Mississippi for awhile, stop in New Glarus for a Spotted Cow stock-up run and then make our way back to central Illinois. That is the plan for now...but the great thing about this trip is that it can change at any time!! That flexibility is what makes it so wonderful!!

With grateful hearts,
Charlie and Tammy










Monday, June 8, 2015

Redwoods - Uh Oh

Making our Way to the Redwoods - June 2

We were headed to the Redwoods and California and found a little forest campground called Patrick Creek Campground. Nothing fancy, just some shady spots in the forest right off the main road. Only one other camper is there and us. A truck camper pulls in but decides not to stay.

For some reason that camper leaving kinda creeped me out. Like maybe we shouldn't stay here either. But we do and I spend a sleepless night in the forest. I repeat the words of other forest campers often, "We are safer here than in the city...we are safer here than we are in the city." Then why don't I feel safe. Too much scary TV and murder shows I suppose. It is so quiet in the woods and...so dark! Wait, wasn't I looking for quiet, space, and time alone on this trip? Put it in perspective girl!!

We finally pulled out of Patrick Creek Campground before breakfast. We decided to just get out of there. We head toward the Redwoods. We drive through this old growth of Redwoods on twisty roads. They are amazing!! So big it is almost difficult to comprehend just how old and strong and amazing these trees are! I get excited about what we are gonna see once we get to the Redwood National Forest.

Uh-Oh

We are climbing some pretty steep hills and Lilah starts to really sputter! We take it nice and slow and pull over often but poor Lilah is telling us she has had enough. Fearful of what is ahead Charlie says we better not continue until he has a chance to look her over. We are sitting in front of the sign that says "Redwood National Forest" and make the heartbreaking decision to turn around. No drive-through tree today.

What is next?

We head up the coast and back into Oregon. I must say I am glad to be back in Oregon. The people here are so friendly and accepting. I really felt out of place in California. Maybe it was the spooky campground or the old growth Redwood forest or Lilah having issues but I really never felt comfortable there. Of course, we were only there for 24 hours or so, perhaps we will try again another time.

We end up in Brookings, Oregon and stop at Fred Meyers to stock up on supplies. We need to locate a place to stay for the night and get our bearings before proceeding up the coast. Our plan is to boondock all the way up the coast on the little pullouts and at visitor centers and such.

We check the GPS and other sources and find a place called Beachfront RV Park. Well, that sounds nice (and expensive)! So we decide to just drive down there and take a look...OMG!!!! The Pacific Ocean opens up in front of us!!! Simply AMAZING!!! The waves are so beautiful...strong, loud, powerful, blue, green, clear,,,yep, AMAZING!!!!

So, yes, it is a bit expensive for the best spots and we decide to splurge...I mean after all, how many times does a girl see the Pacific Ocean for the first time in her life!!  We pay for two nights. You literally look out the windshield and see the waves rolling in. You can hear the waves and smell the fresh salty air. There is a marina and we watch crabbing, fishing and shrimp boats coming in and out. The historic St. George Lighthouse is 6 miles off-coast and you can see her on a clear day. The people are all friendly, waving and saying hi, and they come in all shapes and sizes!! You know I am loving this place. They also have a laundromat and this is a very, very good thing!!

The campground is really a big parking lot with one RV lined up next to the other but it is also a city park. We have a good time watching people walk by, seeing vintage cars out on leisurely drives, and seeing the other RV's that are coming through. But the best thing we see...is the whales!!!


WHALES - Real Life Whales

We are walking down the sidewalk and as we go by a white pickup the guy inside says, "Hey, did you see the whales?" I, of course, let a little scream and run up to his truck..."What whales?" He points out to spot near a rock and says "Over there." and hands me his binoculars. "It's a momma and baby." he says. I am shrieking like a little kid on Christmas morning...oh my gosh, there are whales...I am seeing real life whales!!! I love that you see them and then you have to wait. Bill, as we finally learn his name, says "They will go deep before coming up again...just wait". "Be patient," I tell myself...and then there they are again!! OMG, it is just awesome seeing these creatures!! We hope for a tail shot but never do see the full tail! But we watched those whales for over an hour!! It was AMAZING!! Turns out it was a family of three humpback whales that were feeding.

We thank Bill tremendously and find out he had lost his wife earlier this year and is now in Brookings caring for his father, who has a brain tumor. My mom died of a brain tumor so I feel an instant connection with this kind man. He has a sweet and compassionate nature. Charlie and Bill talk about guy things and we are all instant friends.

Later that evening Charlie and I are walking along the beach and see a couple of seals pop up. Wow, whales and seals in one day!! How spectacular!! This just couldn't get any better! I think about the year we have had and how grateful I am to be standing here!! Our energies were really depleted and we needed these experiences to remind us of how amazing this world is!

We go to bed fully content!!

Charlie and Tammy


Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Crater Lake

Pictures are now posted...


May 31 - Crater Lake

We leave La Pine, driving south on 93 and made a slight detour by pulling into the Walt Hering Sno-Park to check it out. It was a beautiful site right behind the Winema National Forest Ranger headquarters. There are picnic tables, fire rings, and an asphalt parking lot.  They also have pit toilets and running water. In Oregon, you can park at these Sno-parks overnight for free during the off season (summer).
On to Crater Lake, we turn west on 138 to go to the park entrance road. We turn and soon we drive we notice these bubbled out areas on some of the trees. What in the heck makes these bubbled areas on the trees? They make it look like the trees have the mumps. lol We see them on the way down from Crater Lake too. It must happen only within a certain altitude range. Very interesting!!


It is extremely difficult to put this day into words. I looked at a picture of Crater Lake above my kitchen stove for years. I was always intrigued by how blue the water was. I dreamed of what it might look like in person but I never thought I would really get to see it in person…but today is the day that this will change!!
Please keep it in the lines, honey!!
As we clear the north gate to the park, the scenery gets better and better. The trees are amazing. The forest is as I had always imagined. We are headed up…way up!!! The road becomes steep and winding with some out of this world views!! I should also say that there are some very steep drop offs right outside the passenger door…not for the faint at heart!!


We get to the first pull off just past Llao Rock. We park Lilah. There is a fairly steep grade of about 200 feet or so to get to the view of the lake. High altitude and RA means I will be stopping on the way up the incline. I take Charlie’s arm and up we go!

We get about a third of the way and I have to stop. I do not want to weak or short of breathe when we get to the top. After a minute or so we continue on. We stop again just as we begin to see the other side of the crater.



This time it wasn’t about the RA or the high altitude, it was knowing I was about to see something so magnificent.

I take a deep breathe and tell Charlie “Okay” and up we go!! I am in total awe. Mesmerized…there before us is this absolutely amazing place. Nothing I can put into words can describe what nature had laid out before us. (I am tearing up just writing about it.)




The water is so blue!! A deep rich blue…even better than the picture I had stared at for so long!!  Charlie goes up a steep side trail to get more pictures. I stay behind. He comes back with this look on his face that tells me I absolutely cannot miss this!!! I must go up!! He offers me his arm and up we go!

We get to the top of the trail and come to a clearing and I realize this is the exact location I had stared at in that picture for years!!!

We take a ton of pictures!! The water is so clear and the shades of blue are so amazing…turquoise, teal, light blue, royal blue, dark blue. There are streaks of white/yellow in the water and aqua around most of the shore.


Each cloud moving over head changes the way the light reflects on the lake and the hues of blue change with it. The green of the trees against the dark blue of the water is surreal.



Charlie returns to Lilah to get me a chair and the binoculars. We are gonna be here a while…three hours actually!! We sit, we take more pictures, and we dance on the rim of Crater Lake!! I laugh, I cry, and I thank God for it all! This is indeed a day I will remember forever!!



Unbelievable!!

Oh, did I tell you we played around a bit?? LOL

We finally pull ourselves away…our souls refreshed. We head up, up, and up still to another pull off that provides us a great view of Wizard Island. Again, the colors are amazing! The colors are the colors you see in the Caribbean but this is in the US and we got to drive here…no flying required…simply amazing!! More pictures and then time to move on. Next, we hit the Rim Village and the customary gift shop. We eat a little lunch in Lilah and then begin the drive down. Down, around, around and down...here we come!! Forest, forest, and more forest….it just keeps going on and on…simply amazing!!!
 
We look at a couple of Sno-parks on the way down but to no avail as these are not nearly as nice as the one before. Then across the road from Farewell Bend Sno-park we see the Farewell Bend Campground, another US National Park Service campground. Eureka!!! We got a campsite right on the banks of the Rogue River!!


This is no babbling brook, instead it is a fast moving-mountain fed-loud rapids-right behind our campsite type river!! Like something one would see on TV!! WOW!! So amazing! I laugh and I cry…it seems to be the theme of the day!!

We are in Campsite 24. Next to us in Campsite 25 (which is reserved) there is a big log laying across the site. It literally cuts the site into two areas. It has been cut in the middle so there is a wonderful walkway right through the site. There is a parking area and the big backyard area (as we called it). The backyard area has the fire pit and picnic table and these huge lovely trees surrounding it. It is shady but not dark. The view of the river from this site is awesome. On the right side of the site, the river is smooth and quiet and so clear you can see the pebbles and rocks on the bottom, but on the left the river tumbles over large boulders and becomes very fast and strong. This continues well past our campsite next door. I can't believe I am standing here seeing what I am seeing!

Gifts from the Heart

The campground hosts come to collect the campground fee and stay to visit with us.They are a very nice older couple who speak passionately about their campground and the local area. They give us a flyer with the local waterfalls and tell us which ones are best for us to go see.

We share our stories with each other. The gentleman recently had a 12 pound benign tumor removed and then quit his job and he and his wife started full-timing. They do the camp host gig as a way to be near their family. His wife pulls a book from the dash of the golf cart they are driving and hands it to me. The book is a book of daily prayers and passages. She says she wants me to have it. I reluctantly accept it.

Charlie and I enjoy the rest of the day by the river. We relax, Charlie cooks supper over the open fire and we literally just veg out! I get some great video of the rapids and we both snap some still pictures. We are inside Lilah by dark and I work on the blog. As we are reflecting on the day, I pull out the book that the lady had given me and notice that it was given to her in celebration of her 65th birthday by a close friend.

We read through some of the pages and I take pictures of the passages from the most significant dates in our lives: our birthdays, our anniversary, our daughter birthday, her husband's birthday, their anniversary, our granddaughters birthday, today and tomorrows passages, and the day we started our trip. They are significant passages for sure! Reading them ensures me that this trip was meant to be!

Tif's Birthday


I decide I really cannot keep this book though! It seems like such a powerful life tool and I decide it really belongs with the kind soul that gave it so me. I write a little note of appreciation to her, add a couple of small gifts and wrap it all up together. The next morning when we are pulling out, we leave the bundle on the front seat of their golf cart. I hope she is pleasantly surprised! We have met such nice and welcoming people on our adventures and I am grateful for each one of them!!

The journey continues and down the road we go! Headed for California and the Redwoods...wonder what adventures lay ahead!

Safe travels,
Charlie and Tammy







Antelope Reservoir and a Big Stone

Pictures are now posted...


Antelope Reservoir

We leave Boise and head southwest on Route 55 and then 95. The scenery is once again awesome. We drive through the mountainous hills with huge boulders laying on the sides of the hills ready to roll down on top of you. You can see the cracks in the road where the boulders have hit the pavement. Yikes!!



About 11 miles west of Jordan Valley we end up at Antelope Reservoir, a BLM camp. There is another couple there in a truck camper from California. They are an older couple and seem very nice. The scenery is wonderful. Lots of birds, including pelicans. It is a bit on the windy side.


As night falls, we break out the personal protective equipment that my cousin gave us. Thanks again, Deb!!

One Big Stone

Around 3 am Charlie wakes up in pain. He paces the aisle in Lilah until he wakes me up around 5 am. I try to get him to eat some oatmeal for breakfast but he refuses. He is confident that this is the 4 mm stone that he has been carrying in his kidney for the last four years.
Instead of staying for our originally intended four days, we make the decision to leave this BLM ground – which is seriously in the middle of nowhere. We are thinking there may be a need for a hospital very soon. It is apparent now that I will be driving. We break camp and head turns Burns, Oregon hoping they have a hospital.
With Charlies guidance, I was able to drive Lilah up, over, and down the mountains. One hour into the trip and I am sore. My joints ache and my hands are stiff, but my Charlie comes first. We finally arrive at Burns and what a blessing to see the blue “H” sign. Yay, a hospital!!!
I know this may sound weird but we sit in Lilah in the hospital parking lot for a few hours to see if the stone will pass. Remember, we have everything we need to survive in Lilah. Chuck didn’t want to go in..so we sat and waited! He took pain pills and slept. I read and communicated our situation with family back in Boise and Illinois.
A Respite for Weary Travelers

We finally decided to find a campground.  We located Burns RV Park, not far from the hospital, and paid for one night.

 Entrance to Burns RV Park

After we get settled in, Charlie crashes and sleeps for hours, only waking up long enough to pee and take another pain pill. Finally after a long day and evening of struggle, he passes the stone…we think anyway!!
We end up staying another night in Burns just so Charlie can relax and heal. It was actually quite pleasant camping out for more than one night in one place. The RV Park was very nice with full hook-up and clean showers. The wifi was great. The owners of the campground were very nice and concerned about Charlie and checked on us frequently.

 Note I placed on shower room door so poor Charlie 
could get clean after his ordeal.
Charlie spent the day reading outside in the lawn chair.

 Lilah relaxing

I worked on the blog, took a short bike ride, and spent time re-organizing three cabinets in Lilah. A girl has to organize…even on the road trip of a lifetime!! LOL

Twisted Trees

We end up leaving the next day (Saturday, May 30) and driving towards Bend. Again, we see amazing scenery. There are these trees that are twisted…like they spiral up out of the ground. They are very intriguing. I am not sure if it is just how the tree grows or if something has happened to them to make them do that.

Then we come across the Badlands just outside of Bend and the deep canyons are so wild looking. You can just imagine what they must have looked like back in the day. Golden in color, jagged edges and cliffs and so pretty!!

A quick restock in Bend at the Wal-Mart and we head to the Big River Campground. It is a US National Forest campground. It was rustic and self-pay but it was nearly full. The sites were small and oddly shaped. It was right off the main road and the traffic noise was noticeable. So we decide to move on still in search of a babbling brook.

We end up at La Pine State Park. A very nice campground…but full of big fifth wheels and other large rigs. It was a little expensive but was full hook-up and we got a site near the shower house. We get a decent night’s sleep.



We wake up in the morning fix breakfast, take our showers, unhook and head out to Crater Lake!!

This is gonna be a GREAT day!!!

Friday, May 29, 2015

Beautiful Boise


Boise, Idaho - Saturday, May   23 – Wednesday, May 27

When we arrived in Boise the first thing we did was give Lilah a bath. She needed it after the mountain road ordeal. We left a wash bay full of mud and rocks at the car wash. She shined but there is still mud under her belly. We need one of the car washes that wash the undercarriage too…oh well, another day!

Cousins and Catching Up

Next on the agenda was getting to the house of my cousin, Debbie and her husband, Rick. We arrive and are immediately welcomed with warm hugs, sweet smiles and so much excitement. It is so great to see family! We spend a relaxing evening just catching up. 

The second night there we are invited to attend a cook-out for some of their friends that will be moving soon.  Deb, Chuck and I wore crazy tie-dye shirts. Chuck had his own shirt but mine was provided by Deb and my cousin, Kelly from back home (there are also wreaths made by Deb and Kelly to talk about...but more on that later). We had a great time meeting people at the party and just hanging out in the yard. Of course, some of the lady folk thought Charlie looked like Jerry Garcia so that added to the excitement!!

 Hippie Chick Deb

During our stay, Debbie did our laundry (which she shouldn’t have done but it was greatly appreciated) and Rick cooked all of the meals (which he shouldn’t have done but it was greatly appreciated) except for biscuits and gravy cooked by Charlie one morning. It felt like we were at the Marriot instead of a home. Did I mention the shower…they have a shower from another world…it has every jet you could want at every angle you could think of and the hot water goes on forever! I love that shower!

I may love the porch more though. They have the best front porch! There is a pond out front and large rocks with a babbling waterfall all the way to the pond.   

 View of the steps to the pond

 The water cascades down over these rocks making an amazing and relaxing sound!!

There is also comfy furniture and relaxing colors throughout. I literally could stay on that porch all day…and did…even well into the evening! It is the kind of porch and environment (lush Japanese landscaping) that you just dream about! 

 The amazing porch and my beautiful cousins!

We hung-out on the porch and just chillaxed most of our visit. It was perfect!!

Windshield Wonders

Oh, let’s not forget about the windshield. I had called Debbie after the windshield incident and Rick immediately began calling around for a windshield. Lilah is a bit on the vintage side and we worried a little that places would not have one in stock. When we arrived Rick told us that he had found someone to do the windshield and we just needed to get a hold of them on Tuesday, after the holiday.  Awesome!

He contacted them on Tuesday and they were booked solid but said they would be there on Wednesday between 10 am to noon. The guy came on Wednesday and within an hour and a half Lilah had a brand new windshield! She now looks pretty spiffy!!

 Guy taking out old windshield


Deb trying out the drivers seat. Let's go!!

Fierce Females

Deb gave me a personal protection kit that included a pepper spray, a stun gun, a very loud audible alarm, a oddly shaped device used to strike an attacker in the neck. Man, this girl is serious about protecting her cousin!! Love that! The company, Damsel in Defense is awesome and has many self-protection devices. Check it out here: https://damselindefense.net Needless to say, these are now strategically placed in Lilah. There will be no sleepless nights!

 A plethora of self-defense

Reflection

It was so nice to see them and have some quiet time together! Those moments sitting on the porch and around the kitchen table are the exact priceless moments I had been missing so much! Just like our moms used to do! We have a long heritage of those kinds of visits and they are what fill my soul.






We love you Deb and Rick and thank you for an amazing time in Boise!!!

 Charlie and Tammy