Baker City

We camped at prairie city Thursday evening.  It rained a little in the a.m. so I hung out for a bit and let things dry a little before breaking up camp.  The road to Baker City was once again full of amazing views.  The landscape is ever changing.  I saw an antelope, a pair of sandhill cranes, a pair of osprey, and some wild flowers that were calling out to me to take pictures of them.      I have developed a new method of driving, when I see a car, truck, motorcycle or RV in my rearview mirror I just pull over the first chance I get and let them pass.  Gives me a chance to slow down a little and ‘smell the roses’.  I was pulling out of one of those spots and rounding a curve when I came to a complete and surprising stop.  I was being approached by a herd of cattle, about 60 would be my guess.  Just walking down the road, surrounding our van.  They were complete with cowboys and cowdogs.  I took some pictures but they won’t be able to tell the whole story.  Just a never before experienced experience.

We’re in Baker City taking a day off.  The to do list includes; laundry, bike maintenance, oil change on the van, a car wash, shopping and a trip to the library to post some blogs.  Jerry and I may take in a new Oregon Trail Interpretative Center later today if time permits. 

One of the most stressful things I have to do is to pick out a campsite for the night.  Most of the time we can kind of guess as to where they will end up for the day and what campsites are around.  Last night the one we had picked out was a real dump.  After some searching and driving I found a RV Park.  There is a little grassy tent area in back of a building that houses a laundry, flush toilets, showers and a hot tub.  Pretty fancy for our simple needs but nice.

The guys have clocked 580 miles in one week.  This is their first recovery day.  Things are good.  I hear that Jeff and Jack are cooking tonight.  Hopefully things will remain good.

a Little out of order...

Everyone made it over McKenzie pass, okay.  The Coasters were able to take a road that was still closed to traffic after the winter, ele. 5,324.  I had to take a longer way around, ele.4,817, but it was all good.  Once again the scenery was tremendous – the, oh so very tall pines, the fields of lava stone, the areas that experienced forest fires and are in process of rebuilding. 

Karen and Jim had left us for a short sightseeing jaunt to the south and were planning on meeting up with us again if it worked out.  We had camped at different places Sunday and Monday night but on Tuesday as I was headed into Sisters OR.  I spotted them two cars ahead of me. 

We set up camp in a National Forest area – rates are cheap $7. per campsite with our senior pass (where would Jeff and Jack be without us old people).   The sites are nice, large and usually wooded.  The only drawbacks are the pits. But I guess you can’t have everything.  At this one the water was a very yellow color which you had to use a hand pump to get.  Needless to say, we did not drink the water.  And wind – it was so very windy there.  I was afraid that I would end up in a tree when I tried to move the air mattresses from the van to the tent.  The tent swayed in the wind to the point of having to add extra tie-downs .

Sisters OR is a unique little town.  Certainly made to draw the tourists.   Everything has a Western Theme.  We just missed the annual Rodeo by a few days.  Ah, shucks!  In the distance you can see three snow covered Mountain peaks.  We were told that are called Faith, Hope and Charity.  They were fantastic…

Because of the strong wind we decided that we just would not be able to cook supper ---so we headed to town.  Hit the library for a few minutes to do a little computering and then found a brewery where we ate – and of course most of us had a beer or two – but not me, not while were camping with pits. 

On the way back to the campsite the Three Sister Mountains came in to view again.  This time there was  a cloud bank so thick hanging above them, like nothing I’ve ever seen before.  It made us wonder about what kind of weather to expect for the night.  There was a predicted low of 29.  They wind had died down some at the campgrounds but it was getting a bit chilly.  We were all in our tents by 9:00.  The wind stopped during the night.  The morning was chilly – gloves, hats, and winter coats chilly.  The Coasters took off about 6:00 once again.  I followed close behind them after I broke up the tent, etc.  Today was the first day that the ground cloth was not wet in the least.  Guess the wind did help a little.

Did a little grocery shopping and then found them sitting at a Starbucks.  Is that what they do all day?!?  You have no idea what a joy it is to be sitting at a Starbucks with three guys in their biking tights, jerseys  and biking shoes(not to mention the goggles and helmets)……I guess it was worth the blueberry muffin but I’m not really too sure of that.  At the moment I’m sitting in a parking lot waiting to meet up with them.  This is an easy meet up, I’m very visible.  Sometimes you just have to hope you’re all on the same page…..

So We ''Met Up in Mitchell

 Sounds like it could be the name of a movie ? – well, it could be.  We go off on Mitchell’s ‘Business Loop’.  Mitchell is a one street town. Something right out of the old west.  But it certainly has a charm about it.  There is a City Park and they welcome campers – RVs $15., tents $5.  So I set up our tent.  There were some kids around playing.  Two of them, Abby and Aaron were very friendly.  As we were talking I mentioned that I was going to check up on the guys.  They offered to watch my tent for me since in Aaron’s words, ‘sometimes people get drunk and steel peoples tents’.  In hind sight I wish I had held off on setting up the tent.  But it all worked out okay.  When we got back it turns out that Aaron had kept a good eye on the tent – from the inside.  The guys did well on Wednesday, 92 miles.  Today, Thursday they rolled over the 500 mile mark.  We’re still in Oregon but making progress.

Dinners have worked out well.  I usually cook and hopefully the guys will do the dishes.  Last night we crossed the street to the town café for dessert.  The restroom for the park was also across the street as was the hotel, general store and post office.  The auto and farm store was on our side of the street.  That was the town.  There was a school on the hill the enrollment was 65 that’s for grades 1-12.  

The wind is usually strong in the evenings but seems to die down during the night.  As do we.

Onward to .... East

Does that make them the three wise men of the east?……I don’t think so.

The night at the fair grounds was a good one.  This is an early to bed group at the moment -  by 9:15.  I think we all slept well.  The Coasters got up bright and early again today.  I mumbled something to Jerry and rolled over for another 1 ½ hours.  Then it was up and at them.  Broke up camp, stuffed the car –that is a real issue for how to keep things organized and where you want them when you want them.  Managed to get in a hot shower before hitting the road.  In order to avoid rush hour traffic in Eugene I pulled off in a park for awhile, visited a creek and read for just a bit. 

I wanted to post some blogs this morning so I visited 3 McDonalds that did not have outlets to plug in to.  Then it dawned on me that we had charged the computer last evening and I didn’t need a plug but I didn’t want to use up the charge if I didn’t need to.  The fourth Micky Ds brought success and posts and lunch.  Also visited a Walmart today to pick up some window washer fluid and a green veggie, along with a few other things. 

All is well.   I found a rather expensive campsite - $25. a tent.  In this neck of the woods you can’t be too picky because the campgrounds are few and far between and then there is the factor that the guys poop out after so many miles.  They usually pull in to camp pretty beat.  Today is a long day for them and besides that – don’t tell them I told you – they got lost in Eugene for about 45 minutes.   I’m sitting under the shade of a pear tree, our tent set up and ready to go, just waiting for them.  Should be here soon I think – hope.

So they pulled in to camp about 3:30.  114 miles today!!  That’s fantastic!

It’s funny to watch them, a ritual is setting up….first a snack of cracker and cheese or the like,  then water, then a beer, I had supper ready by about 5:30 – pasta sauce with gr. beef added, sugar snap peas, salad and garlic bread.  When supper is finish, dishes await.  After dishes they bring out the food again and prepare their lunches for tomorrow.  It is now 7:00 and wind down time.  My bet they will all be in bed before 8:30.  Tomorrow is a climb up and over  McKenzie Pass ele. 5,324.

Catch Up Time...

Friday –

Last evening we did a camper-a-rama.  Never did a home-a- rama but I assume this is just a larger scale of what took place last night in the campground.  We met a couple who had converted their van into a mini- home.  They designed and built the accommodations.  Everything had a place – sm. Kitchen. Beds, table, open area.  It was a very efficient use of space.  We continued to head towards the recycling area of the campground, we found ‘The Cool Bus’, a small school bus converted into a camper.  We did not get and inside view but it looked – cool.  A little further up was an ’87 westfalia van.  The owners loved it and apparently traveled a lot with it. Wish theu would have let us take a peak.   Next we saw a camper that looked like a log cabin.  The woman was anxious to share it with us.  She designed it and her husband build it.  It had character!  Everything needed to feel very comfortable, including a potty.   

We shared a campfire with Jim and Karen and gratefully (but maybe a little jealous (not really)) crawedl back in to our 8x7 tent.  

So here we sit at the airport waiting for Jeff and Jack…

Saturday –

And jack and Jeff arrived. On our trip to and from Portland we could see Mt. St. Helen in the distance.  Came back to the campsite and the guys did bike talk while Jim, Karen and I visited the Fort.  In the evening we treated ourselves to dinner on the water at a place called the Rogue.  To say it had character is an understatement.  It was an old cannery building.  The food was good and the company superb. 

On Saturday the guys road 76 miles from Astoria to Tillamook.  We found a campsite at Cape Lookout State Park.  There were only 5 left when we arrives so once again this worked out nicely for us.  The Park was on the shores of the Pacific.  We celebrated the day with a wonderful sunset, a campfire and a comfy tent.  Little chilly but good.

Sunday –

the guys took off at 5:55 AM from the state park and put 83 miles under their belt.  After they left I rolled over and slept until 8:00.  Can’t tell you the last time I slept so late.

After breaking camp I said goodbye to the Pacific and headed for town to do a few chores.  First chore was to visit the Tillamook Cheese factory.  Being a Sunday Morning it was not too crowed.  First stop was to get a waffle for breakfast –a waffle cone that is with a scoop of Mountain Huckleberry ice cream.   Yummmy!  We (Karen, Jim and I) did the self guided of how cheese was made.  Then came the free samples and the deli.  After the ice cream breakfast it was grocery shopping, gas and hitting the road.  Travelled to Rickreall OR, met up with the guys after only a little difficulty.  We are camping at a County Fair Grounds.  We’re the only ones here but it’s nice.  Never would have known about it if we hadn’t asked.  After a little wine and cheese tasting at the winery across the street.  The guys decided that there was still room for supper.  So now we sit, getting ready for tomorrow.

Hopefully I’ll get a chance to post this soon.   

Westward Ho-----Whoa!

We’re at the coast.  The Pacific Coast that is.  First time for me.

The last couple of days spent in Yosemite were wonderful.  The scenery was beyond words.   The soul understands what words cannot express.  That’s about the way it is.  A sense of wonder, awe, humility, a sense of being overwhelmed.  We did a tour of the valley on an open tram.  Saw all a lot of waterfalls, El Capitan, Half Dome.  At one point we got out to look at the view and both Jerry and I had tears in our eyes – couldn’t say a word…..

They say the waterfalls will be dried up in a couple of months due to lack of snowfall this year.  How sad.  We hike a while as saw the Giant Sequoias. 

On Monday morning we packed up the car and loaded the bikes.  Another long day of driving, so many passes to pass over.  At one point we were going up a long hill at a snail’s pace.  Couldn’t figure that one out until about 30 minutes in we saw a state trooper pass.  A few minutes later we rounded the bend only to see---A Wagon Train.  Yep, about 6 covered wagons full of people in period dress and people on horseback all going up the pass.   The trooper had them pulled over to let traffic by – you know, the horseless wagons.  What a sight that was.  It was ‘almost’ worth the inconvenient. 

Later in the day we could see smoke ahead in the distance.  Turned out to be a fire right along the expressway.  We could see the flames shooting high in the air.  We also saw a plane coming right towards us, about 20 feet above us.  It let loose a load of fire fighting chemicals.  Had we been about 20 feet up I’m sure we would have gotten sprayed.  There was also a helicopter in the air with a bucket hanging from it.  I have seen those things on the news but never in real life.  The dirt in the median to our left was beginning to put off smoke.  My guess would be that they closed the expressed way shortly after we passed.

Some of the towns we passed through yesterday were recording 101*.  Grateful for the AC to be working.

It was getting late and dark when we finally hit the coast.  Couldn’t see much.  Had a little bit of a hard time finding a campsite.  We ended up in a RV park but it is not all that bad.   It had some green space for us to set up the tent, fairly clean bathrooms, hot showers and a herd of elk next door.

Tuesday –

Today began with chores.  Our ‘almost out of gas’ light was on when we pulled in to the campgrounds last night.  First stop was a gas station in the next town back about 30 minutes away.  We made it.  A quick stop at the grocery store also brought with it the realization that we had a head light burnt out.  Off to the auto parts store.  Jerry made quick work of that task.  On to a hardware store for some odds and ends that Jerry needed.

The rest of the day we spent t in the forest of the Redwoods.  Gentle Giants is an understatement.    They were everywhere.  We took a hike listed as an hour long.  About 2 hours later we emerged with almost a memory card full of pictures.  Trees, Ferns, Flowers, Banana Slugs.  Thank Goodness for digital cameras.  Again, so hard to put in to words.  All I can say is 'may the forest be with you!'

Back at the campsite for the evening.  The herd of elk that was next door is now wondering among the campsites.  About 30 of them a couple of males and some females with calves.  Jerry is working with the bikes.  I’m doing laundry while typing this, hoping that the elk do not come between me and the laundry room which is attached to the bathroom. 

Oh, darn I think I need to shut the car door!  They are really getting close!

And so on we drove...

Through windy NE in to windy WY.   Somewhere in WY we were coming downhill on I-80 when we passed a cyclist.  Something seemed wrong.  So he was on the expressway, that is sometimes allowed but it took me a couple of minutes to realize that he was peddling – downhill.  The head wind was so strong that he had to work to get down this steep hill/mountain.

We wanted to camp at Angel Lake in Laramie but it was an eight mile drive back to the camp ground over a one lane mountain road and we were told that we would most likely be camping in snow.   Plan B - there were two RV parks in town, drove through one and then the other and then back to the first one.  As RV parks go it was typical – drive though spaces little green, well lit, and of course right next to I-80.  The woman who greeted us was very nice.  Showed us the shower, restrooms, laundry where we could go if we got cold during the night, it had a TV and some books to borrow.  She gave us a spot close to the restrooms and we settled in for the night.  Despite traffic noise we slept fairly well.  Up early we awoke to ice (not frost) on out tent and windshield.  By the time we had taken the tent down our fingers, all 20 of them had lost all feeling.   None the less we got on the road by 6:30.

In spite of Jerry’s Sartbuck app. he had to settle for gas station coffee that morning.  And then we drove some more.  A last minute decision brought us to Yosemite National Park by about 3:00 on Friday.  We found a National Forest Campsite which is cheaper than camping in the National Parks.  Nice site, tall trees, mountains, not many people at all even thought all the campgrounds in the Park are full.  No showers and pit toilets, but that’s okay.  As long as we’re both in the same boat.

Today we spent on Toiga Pass road, stopping often to take in the magnificent views.  We did a little walking.  Jerry climbed some rocks.  The scenery here is truly beyond words.

This afternoon we drove over to Mammoth Lakes, a little town about 24 miles away.  With the price of gas at $4.89 we probably will think twice about doing too much extra driving.  We had a salad and a healthy pizza.  Hmmm, good.  

Back at camp Jerry is making some improvements to the grill cover that becomes a bike cover when we travel and I’m sitting here with you.  Thanks for the company….