June 2011 - Camping Trip - #3

Karen, Sandy, Dave and I, just returned from our latest camping trip of the year. For Karen and I, it was our 3rd trip out this month. We did have much better weather this time, and didn't need to inflate a raft to get around the campsite. :-) We all ventured down to the southern Oregon coast (about a 4 hour drive), and stayed in Bandon, Oregon at Bullards Beach State Park. There is much to see and do down in this area of the coast, and we were able to take advantage of our good weather and spent each day touring and exploring. I've included more pictures in this edition than I normally do, because (as they say), "a picture is worth a thousand words", and it would be hard to capture all we did without some pictures.

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Site A48

Coquille River Lighthouse

Karen, Abby, and myself

The Southern Oregon Coastline

Some of the beach rock formations

Abby cooling off in a tidal pool

Looking out of a cave

Many of our daily outings, took us into the local features of this area. On one outing, we stopped by Floras Lake, where we watched the wind and kite surfers playing in the water. I also found some Foxgloves (flowers) growing nearby in bloom, and took a few moments to catch them in all their glory.

Foxgloves in bloom

A closer look

Floras Lake

Kite & Wind Surfers having fun

While on another trip, we happen to find these beautiful Tiger Lilies off to the side of the road, and I stopped to grab a few pictures of these as well.

Tiger Lilies

Tiger Lily closeup

For those of you who might drink cranberry juice, or have cranberry sauce with your Thanksgiving turkey, here is a look at where they may have come from. These are cranberry bogs where they grow the cranberry's, and when ready for picking, the bogs are flooded with water allowing the berries to float to the top of the surface, where a skimmer (picking machine) grabs them and sends them off for processing. There are a lot of cranberry farms located in this area of Oregon, and you may see them if you're driving down Hwy 101 along the coastline.

Cranberry Bogs

About 2 miles north of Bullards Beach State Park (along Hwy 101), is a golf area known as the "Bandon Dunes Golf Resort". I don't golf (except at Par 3 courses or Put-Put Golf), but I have to tell you that this is one classy course (actually 4 different courses). According to "Golf Magazine", the Bandon Dunes resort is the best public access golf course in the nation! Even beating out the Pebble Beach Golf course down in California (their words... not mine). While in Bandon, they were just starting the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships (both Men & Women). We were able to get a "Spectator" pass, and drove around the facilities to take a look. They were still practicing on Sunday, with the playoffs to begin on Monday June 27th for both the Men & Women's Championship.

The Leader Boards & Flags from several different countries

Both Men & Women practicing the day before the competition

During the last evening of camping, we always go out to dinner (so no one has to cook) at a local eatery somewhere. Dave had asked around for good eating establishments, and was told about one of those "Hole-In-The-Wall" places that you'll always find great food to eat. It's a good thing we arrived early (4:50PM) for dinner, as there were only two tables that sat 4 people, with seating available for 16 on the inside of "Tony's Crab Shack" (there is more outside seating than inside... but it had started to rain). I highly recommend this Seafood eatery if you're ever in this area!! Both Dave and I enjoyed the Smoked Salmon Alfredo (served with Ciabatta Garlic Bread), while Sandy had their famous Crab Sandwich, and Karen the Hot Crab & Shrimp sandwich. Yummy!!!

As always... I enjoy taking photographs of all the interesting places we visit, and with a last minute decision, we all ran down to the "Face Rock State Park" (a few minutes away), to watch the evening sunset. Below are just a few of the many pictures I took that night. The first photo shows "Face Rock" (for which this State Park was named) at the far left-hand side of the photograph. You can see a face looking skyward out of the water at an angle, and the forehead, eye, nose, lips, and chin are clearly visible. The second photo is a capture of the more interesting rock formations in this area, and their reflection on the wet sand. If you look close enough (just above the Sun), you'll see a wayward seagull passing through this beautiful sight.

Face Rock (far left) looking skyward

Sunset reflections

Thanks for following along with us on our most recent outing. May you all find your own adventures in life, enjoy beautiful sunsets, and share them together with close friends.

Happy Trails...

Gary, Karen, and Abby Too!

June 2011 - Camping Trip - #2

This past weekend, Karen and I ran up to McMinnville, Oregon to attend two family "Baby Showers" and Bar-B-Q's. Since we had stayed at the "Olde Stone Village RV Park" before in McMinnville, we knew what to expect when we returned to this very nice spot, and it was located within 10 minutes of Kevin & McKenzie's house. This made it much easier for us to attend the two different baby showers that were a day apart (Saturday & Sunday), instead of having to driving back and forth from Corvallis each day. Besides... we took long walks with Abby, looked around the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum buildings, and even walked into the NEW Evergreen "Wings & Waves" Water Park (which just opened June 6th), just to take a look. WOW!!! Karen and I will have to return this Fall or Winter when school is going on, so we can have a fighting chance at getting into water park for some adult fun! :-)

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Site #247


The NEW Evergreen Wings & Wave Water Park
(Yes... that's a real 747 Jet with water tubes coming out towards the rear of the jet)


Abby & I standing by an F-15


Is that Howard Hughes I see looking out of the cockpit window of the "Spruce Goose"?

We all had a wonderful time at McMinnville, and we can't wait to be grandparents in July! :-) I do recommend this RV Park if you plan to stay in the area. There is also a 1/4 mile paved walking path from the RV Park to the Evergreen Aviation Museum grounds. We watched remote controlled planes being flown behind the aviation museum (where they have their own paved runway), and there was a car show on Saturday in the back Evergreen parking lot. I got to see and drool over a lot of older cars restored into tip-top shape (especially a 1955 Chevy).

Until next time... Happy Trails.

Gary, Karen, and Abby Too!

June 2011 - Camping Trip - #1

This ended up being a last minute quick trip, as Karen and I wanted to catch up with our friends "Dutch & Di" who are the owners of the "Plug-It-Right" company. When we met up with them last year at Prosser, Washington (for the Pacific Northwest Rendezvous Rally), we had their RV Stabilizers installed on the front end of our 5th wheel. Wow... what a huge difference they made in removing movement in the bedroom overhang area!!! We started sleeping all night after having these installed, because there wasn't any more side-to-side movement in the bed if someone rolled over, or got up to use the bathroom. They offered "Rear Stabilizers" as well... but we decided to hold off because we used the "Wayne's Stabilizer" system at the back of the trailer, and it seemed to be doing an OK job. Dutch & Di never pushed us to put their system on the back as well... but I do remember Di saying "You'll be back"... and she was right. :-) After having to lean down in mud and water the last 3 camping trips to but the Wayne's Stabilizer in place, I knew there had to be a better way... and now all I have to do is tighten a couple on knobs.

The two of them are avid golfers (when they aren't Full-Time travelers across the country), and they just happen to be staying close to us before heading east to another RV Rally, so we met up with them for some relaxation, some catching up talks, and most importantly... rear stabilizer installation by Dutch. :-)

We stayed at the "Umpqua Golf Resort" in Sutherlin, Oregon, which happens to be a very nice facility (even if you don't golf). They except both Good Sam Club & Passport America discounts, and the amenities include Full Hookups (Water, Electric 30/50, Sewer), Free WiFi, and Cable TV hookups - 78 Channels. Since we were Passport America members, it only cost us $15 to stay there for the night (another bonus!). They do have golfing specials for couples staying there for a month, which include All-Inclusive Golfing (as much as you want), a Golf Cart, and your RV Site... all for $550 for the entire month! If this sounds like something you'd like to do, check them out. The managers are very nice and accommodating as well.

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Our Site #29


Dutch working hard
(Even after I nearly dropped a board on his head)


Our afternoon chat
(Left to Right: Karen, Dutch, and Di, & Abby laying down)

We ended the afternoon by heading into Roseburg, Oregon to the Rodeo Steakhouse for dinner (Good food). When we returned back to the RV Park, we continued our conversation with Dutch & Di in their trailer. In all actuality... it's really their home on wheels. What a wonderful couple, and we look forward to meeting up with them again in the future out on the road. Karen and I counted 4 Bald Eagles when we returned home the next day between Eugene & Corvallis. That just ended our trip by putting the icing on the cake.

Sunset on the Golf course

Until our next adventure... Happy Trails to you.

Gary, Karen, and Abby Too!