July 2010 Camping Trip - #2

Summer weather has finally arrived here in the Willamette Valley, and with the hotter temperatures, we like to head for the high lakes or rivers where it's much cooler. Karen and I took advantage of some time off together, and spent 6 days camping at Fisherman's Bend (a BLM Campground), located by Mill City, OR. The North Santiam River run's right by this campground, so it allows Abby to "cool-off" as well. :-) Even here at this location however, we still experienced some very warm temperatures (Mid-90's), and we were forced to retreat into the trailer during a couple of afternoons, where our air-conditioning was used for the first time this year.

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Hitting it hard in camp


Site #9

Luckily, the evenings cooled down very nicely, and we took advantage with outside campfires and making Smore's! :-) I must say there is nothing finer than a nice camp fire smore!

The ingredients (yep... Reese's Peanut Butter Cups)


Toasting the marshmallow's


And finally... the finished product... YUM!

We did have to keep Abby closer to us while hiking the nature trails around the campgrounds this time. Nope... no "Bigfoot" sightings this time (as in our past experiences here :-) ), but there were sign's posted for BIG kitty-cats!

Cougar sighting warnings

During one of the evenings here at camp, we drove into the town of Silverton, OR (about 45 minutes North/West of our location), to meet up with NuWa Owners Forum friends. We had a wonderful visit and enjoyed dinner at a local Brew-Pub eatery.

Left to Right: Bonnie, Gene (from Washington), (back) Dave, Theresa (from Arizona), Karen, and myself

And during our last full day in camp, another very nice couple from the NuWa Owners Forum membership, ended up staying at Fisherman's Bend for their first time ever. They both live here in Oregon as well.

Rich & Barbara (Abby too)

Karen and I were able to read books, take long walks, water Abby at her favorite swimming holes, plus we got to meet-up with some old friends and make new ones as well. We had a very enjoyable camping trip, and actually relaxed in the evenings by the campfire and our solar powered "Tiki" torches (yep... they actually flicker like the real ones). Basically... we got a whole lot of "nothing" done! :-)

Our campfire by our lit-up trailer


One of our "2" Solar Powered "Tiki" torches


You can just see the soft glow of the flickering LED light

Before summer disappears... make sure to get out there and enjoy a camping trip of your own. It'll bring back fond memories from camping as a kid, and there is always something magical about staring into a popping campfire at night under the stars.

Happy Trails to you on your next adventures.

-Gary & Karen (and Abby too)-

July 2010 Camping Trip - #1

Karen and I just finished camping along the Oregon coast again, and this time we camped with family and friends at the Nehalem Bay State Park. As it turned out, we got to experience "Natures Air-Conditioning" first hand. Just a few miles inland, the temperatures were in the low 90's and in the Willamette Valley the heat pushed near 100 degrees. You'll note by the following pictures, that we all wore jackets and sweatshirts most of the time because we remained in the low 60's. We got to have lots of campfires during the day and into the evenings, as Kevin (our Son), kept the wood pile shrinking by keeping us all warm around the perfect fires, where the beer, wine, mint mojitos, and conversations flowed.

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Camp Site A46

Kevin & McKenzie preparing a warming fire


Oregon's "cooling" fog bank in the background

During the daytime we would walk on the beach, tour local area attractions, go crabbing, or just sit and relax in camp. I got the opportunity to teach both Kevin & McKenzie some Dutch-Oven cooking, which turned out some great tasting deserts and a fantastic "Mountain Man" breakfast. Our camping neighbors loved our cooking as well... as they got to have our left-overs, and gave us all some salt-water taffy and wine the night before we left.

Abby & Scout playing with a stick on the beach
Talk about a couple of "Salty Dogs"!


Abby and her stick in the Bay


A day visit to the Tillamook Cheese factory


Karen trying some of the free cheese samples


(Left to Right) Helen, Dan, McKenzie, and Kevin do some wine tasting at the Blue Heron Cheese factory

McKenzie introduced one of her favorite beach traditions with everyone, by preparing fresh oysters over an open fire. Now not everyone has a taste for oysters, but that didn't stop those of us who love em' from having some... or for one poor soul, an "attempt" was made in trying them for the first time.

Fresh Oysters cooking on the fire grate


McKenzie enjoying the fruits of her labor


Karen just could find a way to swallow her first Oyster
Dan & Sandy (in the background) enjoy the moment! :-)

As a mentioned earlier, I had the chance to teach Kevin & McKenzie a few tips and tricks with Dutch-Oven cooking. Both of them helped to make one of the dinner deserts, by making a "Chocolate Cherry Surprise" cake, while I made a "Pineapple Upside Down" cake.

The Chocolate Cherry Surprise Cake (The white areas are the surprise cream-cheese filling)


The Pineapple Upside Down Cake


Kevin adding the dozen eggs to the "Mountain Man" breakfast. It had hash-browns, sausage, bacon, scallions, eggs, and was topped off with "Tillamook" cheddar cheese. Yummmmmmm!!!


The finished product. Our neighbors got to share our leftovers as well

Camp evening times are always magical. Under the darkening skies, we'd gather around the campfire telling story's, laughing, and sharing in the moment of family and close friends. Karen frequently tells me how glad she is that I brought outdoor camping to our family, and how our own children are continuing on with those tent camping traditions. Even though our experiences have now become a bit more comfortable in our fifth-wheel trailer these days, we still love the beauty of the outdoors, and the closeness and warmth a simple fire can bring... even in the Summertime.

Happy Trails and warm fires wherever you may roam...

-Gary & Karen-