Monday, August 26, 2013

Columbia River Gorge
to
Tacoma, WA
Mile 5200 to  mile 5980
Wp 64  to   wp 82

  So, here we are , at the end of May, all roads should be open right??? There can't be any snow still blocking roads. Wrong!! We set off from the Columbia Gorge headed for Mt St Helens via some back country mountain roads. Everything was going fine till we chose to ignore a 'Closed Road' sign & go that way anyway. It really was closed a few miles up the road. Really should not ignore signs like that when you are 55' long. That is all I'll say about it.

  We saw Mt St Helens the last time in the area but the weather was not great so it was worth a second look. This time we had great weather when we drove up.

  Next stop from St Helens was Mt Rainier & another sign which was ignored. This one at the entrance to a CG which warned anything longer than 32' not to enter. We did. Enter that is. Again, the sign was right. The twists & turns in the CG road are very very tight for a 55'er. Nevertheless we shoehorned ourselves into what has to be one of the most beautiful riverside campsites ever. Well worth the effort to get in there. Especially nice since we were there midweek days & the CG was nowhere near full.

  From Rainier it was a short hop to Olympia, WA to see friends Len & Pat whom we met on our last Alaskan jaunt for a few days sightsee in the Olympia area.

  Next was another short hop to just south of Seattle. We had been at this SP, Dash Point, before but last time we never did get into downtown Seattle. In 5 days there we did the main touristy things before turning east.





If there is a flower around Carolyn will get a shot of it.
The CG below Mt St Helens


Mt St Helens. For point of reference, from the ridge where the wisp of cloud is 
to the  ridge on the opposite side of the crater is one mile. 
A helicopter flying in the crater would be a mere dot to the naked eye.


The lake shore center is the furthest of lava flow from the volcano. wp69


We could not ask for a better day to be here


Spirit Lake. It has been over 20 years since the eruption. From a distance things are looking desolate but at a close look it is amazing how much life has returned.






  




River behind campsite, Mt Rainier. Camp La Wis Wis. wp 71


The jumble of trees is the result of an avalanche 
possibly as recent as last winter wp 71


Backed in with literally an inch to spare. 
Camp la Wis Wis, Mt Rainier, WA wp 71


Mt Rainier, WA. wp 72


Even the canvas cleared the tree next to it with inches to spare.
The smell of the pines & sound of the river are never to be forgotten.
32' sign or not we will go back.


Len, Pat & Carolyn


Mt Rainier


Mt Rainier area tunnel


One of many delicate waterfalls right next to the road


Spring & early summer are best time to visit the mountains. 
Rivers & waterfalls are are at their best from the snowmelt.


February? Nope. June in WA. wp 73



Campsite, Dash Point, SP, WA.  wp 82
A bit noisy being only a few miles off the end of Seattles very busy airport.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

California Redwoods
to
Columbia River Gorge
Mile 4435 to mile 5055
Waypoint 51 to waypoint 65


  We have done bits & pieces of this stretch before. 

  Grants Pass was an unplanned stop because roads around Crater Lake were still blocked with snow & we needed somewhere to be for the busy Memorial Day weekend

   In the Redwoods we stayed at the same CG as 4 years ago but drove area roads that we did not do last time. Newport was a first time stop. A neat town with an economy divided between commercial fishing & recreational fishing with some tourism like us thrown in for good measure. Shortly after checking in to the CG the resident CG host came by loaded with brochures & info about Newport. 5 star service & quite the character he was.

The Spruce Goose Air Museum was much more than expected & took a whole day to see.

The Columbia River Gorge was also a first time stop for us. Long story short, but this is where we discovered that we had a cracked brake rotor on one of our truck rear wheels. Not good & potentially dangerous. Discovered one afternoon & repaired by noon the following day.





Drag boat on the Rogue River, OR. wp 53


Sprint boat racing on the Rogue. Loud & wild to watch.


Grants Pass, OR. wp53


Sunset Bay State Park, OR. 
One of the prettiest SPs we have been in. wp56


Shore Acres State Park, OR wp56


Shore Acres SP


Shore Acres SP


The local rock sitters, Shore Acres


Shore Acres SP


An oldie. Newport, OR wp58


Sunset over the Newport marina. wp58


Newport, OR


Newport Bridge. Marina & CG under arch


Part of the large Newport fishing fleet.


Dockmaster


Saying his piece


The Mexican stand off. One more step closer & he was gone


Mural on one of the fish plant walls, Newport, OR wp58


Catch of the day. Halibut


Howard Hugh's Spruce Goose. Yes, it is HUGE. wp59


Business class in the early 1930s.
A Ford Tri Motor.


The Ford is center left.


Spruce Goose with reproduction Wright Flyer to the left.


A DC3. All aircraft were in beautiful condition.


One of the numerous falls into the Columbia Gorge. wp61


Columbia River Gorge. wp61


Columbia River, WA/OR