February 2010 Camping Trip

Winter camping can be very rewarding... especially if you're prepared for the colder weather. Some of your favorite campgrounds can be less crowded, and during the winter season, familiar summertime haunts can be just as beautiful with new things to see and explore. Karen and I took advantage of some nice weather (no rain), and headed out to the Belknap Hot Springs Resort near McKenzie Bridge, OR off of Hwy 126.

On our way to the resort, we had a "Good Oman" appear right before us along Interstate 5. A Bald Eagle flew across the front of our truck when we headed south towards Eugene, OR, and the Hwy 126 exit. After this experience... Karen and I knew everything was going to be better than normal on this camping trip. :-)

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The Upper Camping Area - Site 16


The McKenzie River was right behind us

The Upper Pool, Heated with the "Hot Springs" water (about 104º)

Miles of walking paths and beautiful gardens to explore

The Japanese Garden

Entrance to the "Secret Garden"

With all this water... Abby took the time to quench her thirst

A fungus stair-stepped tree

We also took the time to drive around the surrounding area, and explored some of Oregon's beautiful side attractions. See some of our finds below.

Clear & Cold... the McKenzie River has a beauty of it's own

Fish Lake reflections

Double Rainbow at Koosah Falls

Mt. Washington with a forest fires destruction

Sahalie Falls

Water drips can become "Stalagmites" by morning

Our "Pirit Heated Hose", worked great in the freezing temps, and kept us supplied with fresh water for the trailer

During the daytime, the outside temperatures got up into the high 40's or low 50's, and at night dipped down into the lower 20's. Inside the trailer however, we stayed nice and warm, and listened at night to the McKenzie River as it rushed by... putting us to easily to sleep in our toasty bed (with the help of a mattress warmer). Of course we made a lot of visits to the upper hot springs pool (about 50 yards from our trailer), and enjoyed just soaking and relaxing until our fingers were pruned. Yep... the winter blues can be easily chased away if you just know where to hide. :-)

Happy Trails...

Gary & Karen (and Abby too!)

January 2010 Camping Trip

The new year is upon us, and Karen and I finally broke the bonds of our "Cabin Fever", and headed out for our first camping trip of 2010. Now... where to go? Karen suggested someplace by the beach, and I suggested someplace we haven't camped at yet, with Full-Hookups (Water, Electric, and Sewer connections) to make our return home all that much easier. We ended up staying at Beverly Beach State Park just North of Newport, OR. Two outta' three for our wish list requirements weren't too bad for this "Thurlacki" adventure (more about this later).

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Site C-11

The back of our trailer was backed right up next to Spencer Creek, so at night we could hear the gurgling of the water as it rushed to the ocean, which also made for some sound sleeping. We experienced rain storms the second night, but we stayed warm & dry inside the trailer. A few sites in this campground also offer Cable TV hookup (which we had), so we were able to get over 62 channels and didn't miss any of our favorite shows during the evenings.

Spencer Creek and the Ocean. That's the Hwy 101 Bridge right above Abby and I

Of course we had to walk on the beach... and you'll notice that we had beautiful weather as well. During the Winter time, the Oregon beaches can be a lot rockier than the Summer time, as the larger waves and winter storms take the sand off the beaches exposing the rocks.

My two favorite girls!

Looking North up the coastline with Spencer Creek at last finding the sea

One of our favorite sea food restaurants resides in Newport. It's called "The Chowder Bowl". Karen and I both enjoyed a large bowl of their clam chowder, complete with garlic bread. For desert we both had their Bread Pudding with Brandy/Butter sauce (it's to die for)!!!

The "Chowder Bowl" at Newport's Nye Beach

My almost finished Bread Pudding

One of my requirements for this camping trip, was being able to have "Full-Hookups", so that we could empty our trailer waist tanks before heading back home. I had constructed a new "rain gutter" & "raised support" system for hooking up to the Sewer connection, so I was looking forward to seeing how well it worked.

My new Sewer connection system

This morning (as we prepared to head for home), I pulled the waist drain handle... and shades of the Beverly Hillbillies song came to mind: "and up from the ground came a bubbling crude"... but it wasn't "Black Gold" or "Texas-T" that I saw! Thankfully, I was standing by... and was able to shut-down the trailer waist valve before any more of the "sludge" slowly oozed up from the Sewer connection. It was plugged Big Time! So... off to the Dump Station on the way out of the park, with a friendly reminder to the Camp Host that site C-11 has a blocked sewer dump pipe. I don't know how we do it, but we sure manage to find our share of surprises when it comes to dumping our waist tanks! I for one have had enough of that "crap"! :-)

The beautiful Oregon Coast at Winter time

I couldn't dare end this BLOG on a bad note, so above is proof that we do see some sunshine in the state of Oregon during the Winter months. The fresh sea air also smells a lot nicer than what I experienced this morning as well. :-)

Happy Trails...

-Gary & Karen-

September 2009 Camping Trip - 2

Karen and I just returned from our second camping trip of September, one in which I got to celebrate my 54th Birthday! We traveled with our best friends Sandy & Dave, and took in more of what Oregon has to offer while camping at LaPine State Park just South of Bend, OR. We jokingly called this trip our "Naturally High" experience, since most of these beautiful sites were up around the 8000 ft. elevation level.

Since we traveled to different areas while staying at LaPine SP, I'll break the pictures into specific group areas we visited.

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LaPine State Park

One of the many local area visitors to our camp site


Our Full-Hookups site #18

Just fitting in between the trees


Sandy & Dave with Maggie... going for that morning walk

Of course... the best camping trips for Abby, are when we have any body of "water" available for her to play in. She lucked out on this trip, because she got to swim in the Deschutes River near our camp site several times during the day, or in one of the many lakes we visited (except for Crater Lake).

Here Abby is "patiently" waiting for us to walk faster to the river


The Deschutes River


Bringing back the stick...


Shaking the water off of her back

"Big Red"

The LaPine State Park is also host to one of Oregon's "Heritage Trees". "Big Red" as it's called, happens to be one of the largest Ponderosa Pine Tree's in the world. It was the tallest Pine tree until a recent wind storm broke off some of the top. It still holds the diameter ranking however, at 28 ft., 11 inches. It is estimated at over 500 years old as well.

Abby and I by "Big Red"


Another view of "Big Red"

Paulina & East Lake

A Panoramic picture of Paulina Lake (Left) and East Lake (Right), both separated by a lava flow over 1300 years ago. The Three Sister mountains can be seen at the skyline on the left.

Paulina Lake


A Paulina Lake Campsite


East Lake

From Left to Right: Gary, Abby, Karen, Sandy, Maggie, and Dave at East Lake. Note the volcanic cone in the background that divided Paulina Lake from East Lake.


Did someone say water?


Abby and Maggie play the "share" game. Abby brings the stick in closer so Maggie can bring it in the rest of the way. These two are best buddies.

Lava and Obsidian flows near the Lakes


Large boulders of Obsidian


Sucking air at almost 8000 ft.!


Sandy, Dave, Maggie, Karen, Gary, and Abby catching our breath


A view of the Three Sisters in the background

*** A Side Note: Take my word for it, and DO NOT open a can of pop before climbing the gravel road to the top of Paulina Mountain!!!

Crater Lake National Park

A Panoramic picture of Crater Lake

If you live in Oregon, and have not seen the Crater Lake National Park... then you are missing out on one of the most beautiful sites that can be witnessed. The water inside of the crater is so "Blue", that it has to be viewed in person to believe it. Other than stitching together three pictures to make the "panoramic" posting above, none of the following pictures were enhanced in any way to make the lake water appear the blue color as it's shown. Even these pictures do not do the blueness any justice. We drove the 33 mile road around the Lake, enjoying the many views and vistas along the way.

Wizard Island

The Phantom Ship


A closer view. The spires are over 16 stories tall


Abby and I enjoying one of the many lookouts


All of us together

A tour boat leaves Wizard Island


Clearwater Falls

On the way back to our campsites, we stopped at this beautiful waterfall that Dave & Sandy had discovered earlier this year. What a treat. Even though the lighting wasn't the best for taking pictures, I think you'll still find its beauty worth looking at.

Clearwater Falls


Dave, Maggie, Sandy, Karen, and Abby enjoying the Falls


Looking downstream from the Falls


And... one last stop at Lemolo Lake to "water" the dogs.

As all great trips come to an end, we find ourselves blessed for the beautiful sites we've seen, and the wonderful friends we have to share them with. Karen and I have tried our best to show you the wonderment out there waiting for you to explore. You need only put one foot in front of the other to experience your own personal adventures and journeys.

Until next time, Happy Trails...

-Gary & Karen-