Summer Camping 2014

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Oregon

Crater Lake

On Sunday August 10 (day 32), leaving Tahoe well rested and looking for a bit of solitude at our last National Park of the trip, we headed out. Passing through Reno and some afternoon thunderstorms, we made our way into Oregon and Crater Lake.

At Crater Lake we stayed at Mazama Campground, which we learned was a first come first serve campsite even with reservations. While guaranteed a site, we had to nab one that was open. Grabbing one of the few available (next to the road) we ate dinner and prepared for the next day.

We awoke Monday to the sound of the road crew working on the road - not exactly what we were looking for at our last park. Luckily Mommy found a campsite along the river that had opened up that morning. With the boys still in bed we pulled up camp and moved over. Nice!

With that done, we headed up to the lake. What struck me most about Crater Lake was the incredible blues of the water. We had seen glacier blue waters in Glacier and Tetons. We had seen brown waters through Utah and Arizona. We had seen clear streams and pools in Yosemite. But Crater Lake is unique in the magnificent blues. There is nothing that feeds into the lake - just the rain and snow that falls on it. So there is almost no sediment in the lake. The result is amazing blues that can take your breath away.

Sam admiring the vivid colors of Crater Lake

The boys checking out Wizard Island

That afternoon we made the hike down to the lake for a swim. By this point experiencing the water at all of our stops was a priority. Hiking down we spied the Old Man of the Lake - a Hemlock log that has been floating vertically in Crater Lake since 1896. The swim was well worth the effort.

Papa enjoying Crater Lake - the water was about 120 feet deep where I landed

Mommy cooling off - look at the blue by her feet

Jacob takes the plunge

Sam taking his mind off the hike up

Phantom Ship (the other island)

That night we enjoyed the last real cookout of our trip at our newly acquired campsite overlooking Annie Creek.

the boys tending the campfire

Papa enjoys morning tea - that's a campsite!

the r-pod enjoying its last national park of the trip

Sisters

Tuesday morning we made the drive up to Sisters for our final stay of the trip at the Bend/Sisters Garden RV Resort. This is the top RV resort in Oregon and it did not disappoint - lush grounds, mini golf, pool, hot tub, and the best showers we had seen on the trip. I think we showered about every six hours we were there.

The weather was cold and rainy, unusual for Sisters in August, but fitting somehow for our final stop. We had a wonderful dinner in Sisters at the Open Door on Tuesday night, a cozy restaurant set in an art gallery. On Wednesday we lucked out and enjoyed our three hours of sunshine while rafting the Deschutes. After the lazy Colorado the Class III rapids on the Deschutes felt gigantic. That night we ate our dinner in the trailer watching Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow while the rain fell. Time for home.

r-pod at Sisters - undersized but not outclassed

on the Deschutes

Scouting out the upcoming rapids

Jacob showing off his California skating moves

Sam showing off his new board

the skaters

time for home

Final Thoughts

For the final numbers on our trip, see the Home post. Having spent the past few days getting everything down in words and pictures I realize now that the real value of the trip was all of the shared experiences and memories that our family now has. We learned about each other in a way that is only possible living in a twenty foot trailer together for five weeks. And we certainly built a greater appreciation for each other and for our beautiful country.

Where are we going next?

Tahoe

Ghost Town

After finally leaving Yosemite Friday morning, we made a quick stop at Bodie, a ghost town at 8,000 feet in the Sierra Nevadas. Bodies heyday had been in the 1880's. Its reputation was infamous around the country. In 1932 a fire wiped out 90% of the town - the rest sits as it did then, from tin can siding to torn wall paper. A fun state park and a fascinating view into the gold rush.

one of the most successful mines in the 1800's

exploring town

the prison at Bodie was well used

Mommy and her boys

Camp Richardson

On paper the drive to Tahoe was just over 120 miles. In reality thanks to road construction in Yosemite, a stop at Tenaya Lake, a detour through Bodie, we ended up arriving after 8:30 that night as it was getting dark (this was not early July any more). So we hastily made camp and made our way to Sonney's Barbecue - one of our tastiest and more memorable dinners of the trip.

Camp Richardson was originally built in the early 1900's and has been welcoming visitors ever since. They are on the south end of Lake Tahoe, just east of Emerald Bay, with cabins, a hotel, and RV park and a campground. The beach is beautiful, the live music from the outdoor bar was fun, and this Saturday was all vacation. Dinner was at the Beacon on the lake with a perfect sunset. Sunday morning we were off to Crater Lake for our final National Park.

playing on the lake

recreating the gold rush

Jacob learning the digital SLR

Sam's turn with the camera

Mommy and her boys

Yosemite

Yosemite National Park

We left Monterey on Tuesday, August 5 (Day 27). With just over one week to go and almost four weeks under our belts, the mood had definitely shifted from "will we make it" to "I can't believe it is almost over". And for Sam, "Nine more days to Minecraft". Luckily Yosemite was on its way to keep us from thinking about schedule for a few days.

Driving into Yosemite is one of the most awe inspiring drives I can imagine. We had done some great drives on the trip so far (Going to the Sun Road in Glacier and the drive through the tunnel into Zion being the most memorable in my book). But driving into Yosemite is about pure power and majesty. Seeing the granite domes and faces, driving under El Capitan, seeing half dome looming up in the distance, and the Merced river wandering through it all, Yosemite put us under her spell immediately.

We stayed at the North Pines campground, with a spot right across from the river. The boys set out to play in the river as we unloaded all of our food into the bear box. We had spent time in bear country throughout the trip, but Yosemite bear country is different than other bear country. Once that was done we settled into dinner under the pine trees and mapped out our stay.

r-pod does Yosemite

tubing the Merced

life is good

exploding table cloth clips

Glacier Point

Wednesday we drove to Glacier Point and explored the valley from above - literally directly above our campsite. On the way down we stopped at Tunnel View and took in more views.

Royal Arches and Half Dome from Glacier Point

admiring the views from Glacier Point

looking down at North Pines - our campsite is in the middle of the picture where Tenaya creek runs into the Merced

Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls

up the valley from Tunnel View - El Capitan on the left, Half Dome in the distance

That night was shower and pizza night at Curry Village (thanks to a great recommendation from our camp neighbors). The highlight was watching a black bear climb up an apple tree our drive over.

Vernal Falls

Thursday we did the hike up to Vernal Falls. It was steep and hot but the view at the top, standing the mist under the falls was worth it.

enjoying the mist

Vernal Falls

best friends

We spent that afternoon tubing the Merced and enjoyed dinner at the Ahwahnee. A nice final night in Yosemite.

Saying Goodbye

Friday we left the park through Tuolomne Meadows. It is amazing that as impressive as the valley is, it is less than 3% of the park.

If we could return to one spot from our trip, the unanimous vote is Yosemite. Our guide in Zion, Jon, hiked the Pacific Crest trail from Mexico to Canada over two summers. He hiked the section through the Sierras twice because he enjoyed it so much. It is easy to understand why. If I could spend the rest of my life exploring one area, this would be it. We will definitely be back.

lunch and a swim in Tenaya Lake

Friday, August 22, 2014

Monterey

Up the Coast

Saturday August 2 (Day 24) was a big day. Leaving San Diego in the morning (barely) we made our way up the coast to LA, where we made a quick IN-N-OUT stop joined by the McNeelys.

the r-pod does IN-N-OUT

Following that stop we hit the coast again, taking the 101 to San Luis Obispo and then Highway 1 up to Monterey. An ambitious drive, late start, lunch stop, unexpected Saturday traffic, and a misplaced dinner order added up to an 11:00 arrival time in Monterey that night. Whew!

Elephant seals on the California coast

hello

Sunset on the coast - the rest of the drive was in the dark!

After a relaxing day hanging out at Marina Dunes on Sunday, we headed into Monterey on Monday for lunch and the 17 mile drive to Pebble Beach.

Lunch at Fisherman's Wharf. Dining watching Sea otters, seals, a highly efficient Pelican, and crazy schools of fish churning the water. Amazing sea life.

Candyland at Fisherman's Wharf. Too many choices!

17 mile drive

the Pebble Beach Cypress

When was that tee time?

18th at Pebble Beach

Surfing

San Diego

After two weeks of rocks, sand and heat in Utah and Arizona, we were ready for the Pacific. Three nights at Campland, the closest RV park to Disneyland you can find met with mixed reviews from the crew. The kids loved the live music, ice cream parlor and beach on Mission Bay. Mom and Dad missed the quiet of our national park campsites. But it was a mile from Pacific Beach and that was what we were there to do - surf!