August 2010 Camping Trip - #1

One of our enjoyable summertime camping areas is along the Oregon coast. Beautiful scenery, lot's of fun shops to browse, and fantastic sea food (if you know where to go) for a quick lunch or sit down dinner. The added bonus of camping along the coast in the summer, is that the temperatures can be 30 - 40 degrees cooler than in the Willamette Valley just 50 miles inland. We actually got lucky on this camping trip, and had temperatures in the high 60's to low 70's with blue sky and sunshine. The afternoon wind made an appearance every day, but it was ideal conditions for spending time with loved ones at the beach.

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Our Campsite - D14

Our son and daughter-in-law (Kevin & McKenzie) just recently purchased a used trailer (new for them), and were actually camped already at South Beach, but encouraged us to come join in with them on their "maiden voyage", so we did. Kevin and I got to cover all the "Guy" stuff with trailers, and Karen and McKenzie covered all the "Women" stuff (what ever was left over). :-)

Kevin & McKenzie's New Trailer


A 2007 Fleetwood Mallard Sport 18
(Complete with Oregon State Beaver Stickers!)

When we weren't covering the finer points of RVing or relaxing, we took in the sites in the Old Town sections of Newport, OR. We watched the California Sea-lions on the boat docks, gazed at salt-water taffy being made, had some ice cream and cruised the waterfront shops.

Kevin & McKenzie checking out the sea-lions

Nap time in the Sun


McKenzie & Karen were just like two kid's in a candy shop


And here's what they were watching... the salt-water taffy being rolled and wrapped into small bite size pieces


A beautiful day at the bay in Newport, OR

Of course we also made sure we "watered" Abby, and enjoyed some fine dinners together back at camp. Kevin & McKenzie impressed us with some fine Dutch-Oven Chicken Enchiladas, and Karen and I reciprocated with some Bar-B-Qued steak. Food tastes so much better outside!

Watering Abby

Dutch-Oven Chicken Enchiladas

Steaks on the Barbie

On another day, we toured the Rogue Brewery located on the Newport Bay, and came away with "interesting" refreshments for happy hour. Below are the pint samples we tried: Honey Orange Wheat Ale, Northwestern Ale, OREgasmic Ale, and a Chocolate Stout.

Two of the four pints we bought


The last two pints

One of the last teaching's for Kevin & McKenzie's new trailer, was the proper use of the Dump Station. As all first times go... it was an "eye opener", but luckily no problems occurred (no drips no run's and no errors)! It was a successful emptying of both the Black & Grey Water tanks.

Connecting the hose for the first time

Unfortunately... with every camping trip, an end to all the fun must come. Kevin & McKenzie had to return back home with work calling the next day, and Karen and I returned to the last of our summer projects for the house and yard. It was fun helping both Kevin & McKenzie get started on their trailer camping experiences, and both of us enjoyed the excitement McKenzie & Kevin shared with dreams of their future trips. :-)

Life's a Beach... take time to walk bare-foot in the sand!

Happy Trails and smooth sailing on your next adventures...

Gary & Karen, and Abby Too

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-

June 2010 Camping Trip - #1

Is summer here yet???

Karen and I headed out for this months "get-away" with our friends Dave & Sandy, to Harbor Vista Park in Florence, Oregon. We have stayed here before, and just love this Lane County campground (only $20 a night). If there were only one bad thing to say... it would be that it's not a Full-Hookup park (no sewer connection), but they do have a Dump Station located on the way out.

On our drive over, it rained and rained... just letting up enough on our arrival to let us back into our camping site, but it opened up again when I was connecting the power and water to the trailer. Luckily, Karen and Abby were already inside the trailer before the monsoons returned... but I was not as lucky. :-(

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Site 18


Our secret path to Dave & Sandy's camp site

By our second day here, the clouds and rain dissipated, and the sunshine appeared. Could this actually mean that summer time was close at hand? Our weather improved again on Saturday, and we got up into the low 70's, with nothing but blue-sky and Sun. We all took full advantage of this situation, and grabbed our reclining Lafuma chairs, and relaxed in the sun and shade of the camp. The unfortunate thing about nice weather at the coast, is that it brings really strong northern winds blowing hard on the beach. In this case... the wind was blowing with gusts up to 40MPH! At this speed, the sand becomes more like a "sand-blaster", and will rub any exposed skin surface raw (ladies... this is much easier than shaving your legs). This is why relaxing chairs, brush sheltered camp sites, and beer were invented. :-)

Karen and Abby relaxing together


Here I am thinking about all I had to do today... in other words, nothing!

We did finally make it down to the jetties along the Siuslaw River that empties out into the ocean one day, but it was a short visit with the cold wind blowing.

Karen and Abby along the North Jetty of the Siuslaw River


Karen, Sandy, Dave, and Maggie & Abby at the jetty


Santa must of been close by... here's a "Sandy Paws" mark from Abby!

Something of interest (which you wouldn't expect at this campground), were the "Black Bear" warnings. This campground had recently been visited by a bear who found a few garbage cans to loot. We were fortunate, in that none were sighted during our stay here. Just a few "holey" garbage cans and lids were noticeable. And no, we didn't leave out a "pick-a-nick" basket for Yogi & Booboo either. :-)

Black Bear Warnings

Karen and I are sooooo happy that Dave & Sandy have their own "Home away from Home" now, and can take showers at any time they wish. And the added bonus of having a flush toilet, is like having a throne for the King & Queen. :-)

Dave & Sandy (and Maggies), new "Ever-Lite" camping Home

Abby wandering between our camp sites.

Wild Rhododendrons all over the place

Sadly, our time camping ended too quickly, and we had to return back home. We did have beautiful summer like weather in the Valley (80's), so it was a nice break from the weeks of rain we've gotten recently, and with the smells of Bar-B-Q's in the air, warm summer nights can't be too far off.

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

-Gary & Karen-