November Camping Trip

After what seemed like "forever", Karen and I finally got the HitchHiker out camping once again before this year ends. As the Summer slowly came to an end and Fall approached, we found ourselves busy finishing up with the last of the house projects before Winter sets in. Luckily... we have completed all that we can this year, and are now starting to finalize our plans for the "Big Trip" scheduled for June of 2009 (more on this in a future posting).

For this trip... we headed to the Belknap Hot Springs Resort. The Belknap Resort is located about 55 miles East of Springfield, OR, on Hwy 126. It's just East of the Hwy 242 intersection with Hwy 126.

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Camping Site #37 at Belknap Hot Springs Resort

The Belknap Hot Springs resort is located along the McKenzie River, and the true "Hot Springs" are located across the river from the main Lodge. The extremely hot water from the springs, are pumped over a walking bridge to both lower & upper swimming pools, where it is then mixed with colder water to make about a 104 degree pool temperature all year round. The lower pool is used mainly by the Lodge guests and families, while the upper pool is for cabin and RV guests.

The Belknap Hot Springs Resort Lodge

The Lower Pool area behind the Lodge

One of our favorite things to do while we're staying there, is to walk the miles and miles of walking paths that are located among huge gardens, water fountans, and flowers. In the Summer time, the "Gardens" are used by many wedding parties. They are truly beautiful (see below for yourself).

Our most favorite part of the resort, is finding the hidden access to the "Secret Garden". You may stumble on this secret by accident, but you'll never forget what you've found when you do see it for the first time. See below for a look for yourselves.

Karen and Abby in the "Secret Garden"

While we were staying here, Karen and I also toured the smaller communities of "McKenzie Bridge", "Rainbow", and "Sisters" Oregon. One day, we also drove the "Old McKenzie River Hwy" (Hwy 242). This highway is very narrow and curvey, so you can't tow your 5th wheel trailers through this section of road. But when this road is open during the Summer and Fall (it's closed during the Winter) it's a beautiful drive going through lush green forests, and topping out at a volcanic lava flow area. When we made it to the top of this pass (5300ft elevation), it was snowing. The stark contrast between the black lava, and white snow is something to be seen... "Fire & Ice" together. Here are some more pictures of our side-trip adventures below.

The "Belknap" Covered Bridge. Originally built in 1890

Snow begins to fall in the lava fields

It looks as if the hands of Winter are starting to spread it's blankets of white in the higher reaches of Oregon, and soon, the hibernation of the season will be upon us everywhere. Thanksgiving and Christmas are soon approaching, but that doesn't mean Karen and I are through camping for the year. We still have a "Christmas" tree to light and decorate by our rear trailer window... so stay tunned for our next trip before years end.

-Gary-

September Camping Trip - 2

Karen and I just returned from our second excursion this month, and the weather was fantastic. We stayed at our favorite campground... Fisherman's Bend BLM Park (located 32 miles East of Salem, OR on Hwy 22), and camped with our friends Sandy & Dave.

The Fall colors are just starting to show in the Vine Maple trees, as evidenced in the picture below.

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Fall colors are just starting to show

We love this campground for several reasons... it's close to us (1 hour drive), it has Full-Hookups, Abby can swim in the North Santiam River that boarders the campground, lot's of hiking trails, seclusion from the other campers, and all this for only $18 a night! See below the pictures of our camping site. We were in a "double" pull-through site, so Dave & Sandy were camped beside us... but you could barely see them through the trees and brush.

Our very large camping site (just half of the double pull-through)

During one of our days in camp, we drove to the "Old McKenzie River Highway - Hwy 242", for a senic drive through the Cascade mountains. Please be aware that you can't tow a trailer through this area, and that it's for sight-seeing while driving your truck or car only!

Two of the Three Sisters (North & Middle) and the Lava Flows


Mt. Washington and the Lava Flows


Karen, Abby, and myself with Mt. Washington in the background


Elk cooling off in a field being watered

We also took in many sites along the way off of Hwy 126, such as Sahalie Falls, and the Holiday Farms Resort ( a future Thurlacki Adventure).

Sahalie Falls


Holiday Farms Resort

As usual, we had plenty of great food. Karen and Sandy do a great job of making sure that "everyone" in the campground has enough to eat. Dave tried out something new for us one night with his Dutch-Oven cooking... Pizza!

Dave checking on the melting cheese


Two Pizzas ready for consumption... Yum YUM!!

It really is amazing how quickly time goes whenever you leave on another camping trip. It takes forever for the camping time to come, then in an instant... your camping trip is over, and you're heading back home. I can understand why some people travel the whole year round, enjoying new and different things every day, and experiencing the "call of the road" beckoning to new adventures around every curve.

Thanks for taking the time to look over "our" short adventures.

-Gary-

September Camping Trip - 1

Karen and I were finally able to hook up with our neighbors (Wally & Burla), for a promised camping trip this summer, and we let them decide where we should go. They suggested heading down to the Canyonville, OR area (22 miles South of Roseburg, OR), and staying at the Seven Feathers RV Resort. WOW! Was this ever a nice RV Park. In fact... I can honestly say it was the nicest RV Park we've ever camped in.

Wally & Burla have a beautiful Gold Class A - Tiffin "Allegro Bay" Motor Home, which complimented our White/Gold HitchHiker II 5th wheel. I might add, that both Wally & Burla and Karen and I, monitarily contributed to the Seven Feathers Casino as well.

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Our HitchHiker and their Motor Home

Being as this was a "Resort", we had the pleasure of using many of the provided amenities. Karen and I would work-out at the fitness center every morning, and then enjoy a nice swim in the pool and hot tub afterward. We also spent every evening in the hot tub relaxing, and talking with the other campers.

The indoor swimming pool and Hot Tub

In the afternoons... around 4:00PM, we would sit out side in the shade, and have a "Happy Hour" before dinner time. Sometimes... these lasted longer than an "hour".

Sipping some Scottish Whiskey... and solving the worlds problems.

Each resort "Pull-Through" site, had Full-Hookups... which included Electrical (Both 50/30amp), 2 Water Connections, 2 Sewer Connections, Phone, and Cable.

Our Camping Site #126

When we walk Abby, we always keep our eye's out for other NuWa HitchHiker trailers. During our stay here at Seven Feathers, we ended up making contact with 3 other owners. I delivered some of my "Business Cards", and made sure they knew about the Forum. Before we left, one of the couples had signed up as new members! They had just spent the first night in their newly purchased HitchHiker trailer.

A Discover America pulling in at the main entrance.

Of course we also spent some time eating and gambling at the Seven Feathers Casino. The RV Resort provides a free shuttle from the RV Resort to the Casino (about 2 miles away). They come right up to your camping site.

The beautiful sculpture in front of the Casino

We also made sure that Abby's needs were met as well... and took her into the fenced off dog areas, where she could do her favorite play games, and chase after her Frisbee.

Abby's favorite game... besides laying in her pool at home.

We all had a wonderful time. I also got the chance to finally bake Wally a Dutch-Oven Chocolate Cherry Surprise Cake. He loved it... and luckily we had enough for two nights of our after dinner desert.

The Chocolate Cherry Surprise Cake before cooking... and being cooked.

This post has become a little long... but I hope you've enjoyed the pictures as much as we enjoyed this special time with our neighbors and friends Wally & Burla.

-Gary-

July Camping Trip

Karen and I just returned from our latest camping trip, which took us to the Nehalem Bay State Park along the North Oregon coast. In true fashion... it turned out to be one of those "Thurlacki" trips as well. Even though we did not see any bears (they have a bear problem along the central Oregon coast), or feel any of the 2 large earthquakes Friday out off the Oregon coastline, poor Dave ended up catching his hand (more notably his right-hand little finger) in a park shower door, which ended up needing 6 stitches.

Our camp site at the park.

What's really nice during the Oregon summers, is that while the interior valley areas are subject to hot temperatures, along the coast the temperatures can range between 20 - 30 degrees cooler (natures air-conditioner). We just happen to hit one of those times. We would dip down into the low 50's during the nights (great for sleeping with your bedroom windows open), and would warm up into the high 60's during the daytime.

Looking out at the beach.

During the daytime, we would drive into the smaller surrounding towns, and checkout the local ice cream shops, the antique stores, and of course... run Abby on the beach.

Abby cooling off from playing with her stick.

The off-shore wind keeping the fog at bay.

A wind-surfer having fun.

Abby and Maggie (Dave & Sandy's dog - part basset hound and boxer), both are best buddies. The problem comes when playing with a stick out in the water. Abby stands much taller and will swim out to retrieve the stick, then bring it in for Maggie to carry up onto the beach in much shallower water. It was fun to watch how the two of them have learned to play and work together as a team. Not only was this great exercise for the two of them, they both slept very well during the night. :-)

Abby bringing in the stick for Maggie...

Abby getting ready to drop the stick...

Maggie (bringing in the stick) just dropped it.

All of us had a wonderful time (except for the finger episode), with lots of rest and relaxation, cold beer, red wine... and sharing time with best of friends.

-Gary-

June Camping Trip - 2

For both Karen and I, the Metolius River really takes us into the relaxation mode. We love the smell of the Ponderosa Pine trees, the beauty of the local mountains, and the meandering Metolius River (a Fly Fishing Mecca) right out your front door. It's really hard to believe that this river actually starts right out of the ground from a spring.

Since a picture is worth a "Thousand Words"... I'll let them do the typing.

Smiling River Campsite #24


The towering Pine Trees

Abby and I along the river trail

Greg & his Buddy "Fergus"

Wizard Falls


Large fish at the Wizard Falls Hatchery

A Bald Eagle looking for Lunch

The "Headwaters of the Metolius". This is where the river comes right out of the ground, and Mt. Jefferson is in the background.

The Camp Sherman Store

Hope you've enjoyed these pictures, as much as we had fun taking them.

-Gary-