2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Tennessee & Alabama

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Thursday, September 14^th – Sunday, September 17^th  

Pickwick Dam Tennessee River RV Park, Savannah, Tennessee

We headed south towards Tennessee, taking the back roads again. Upon leaving Kentucky, we have now RV’ed in all states; except for Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We plan to do the Great Lake states next summer.

This stop in Savannah, Tennessee is at another riverfront RV park. The campground is managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, (TVA), which runs the Pickwick Dam. The campground was very nice, shady and spacious sites. The managers were very friendly and helpful. There were not a lot of activities in this area, mostly driving around and visiting local sights. Kurt sat on the riverbank for many hours watching the barges go up and down with their cargo. We also met some really nice RVers that had two pure bred basenjis. They were so adorable, but such different personalities than our mixed basenjis.

We visited the Pickwick Dam up close and were amazed at the size of this dam. This dam facilitated a major electric generation plant on the Tennessee River. Kurt rode his bike across the dam and watched barges go through the locks.

After four nights there we were anxious to head to Alabama, where there are some great mountain biking trails.

 

Monday, September 18^th – Sunday, September 24^th

Camping World/Good Sam RV Campground, Oxford, Alabama

We drove south to Anniston, Alabama. There were mountain biking trails that we had researched and they looked great. We camped in the town of Oxford, just south of Anniston. The campground was actually owned and managed by Camping World, which was right next door. The RV park was very nice and well managed. We are finding that Camping World has begun buying campgrounds adjacent to their retail/service stores. How smart!

The city of Anniston is a very historic area. We drove into town and viewed the historic section and the old brick buildings. It is a very quaint town with lots of industrial areas. Oxford seemed to be a newer area, with all the shopping that anyone would need.

Over the last couple of years, other mountain bikers had recommended Coldwater Mountain biking trails and they were right! We biked there for 5 days and truly enjoyed the great, well designed and managed trails. So much fun! And we met some very nice local people on the trails.

One day we took a break from biking and drove 25 miles south to Cheaha State Park in the Talladega National Forest. Wow, what a beautiful drive up into the mountains! We learned that this forest is called the “exclamation point” on the most southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The highest peak in the Park is also the highest point in Alabama. We took the dogs and a picnic with us. We hiked on two different trails which went out to amazing overlooks. It kind of reminded me of some trails in the Smoky Mountains. This is such a different state park; they have cabins, hotel rooms with a pool and view from the mountain top, full hook up campsites, primitive camping, group and banquet facilities, swimming and fishing lake, two museums and picnic areas. We really enjoyed our day in the park and so did the dogs.

Anniston is another one of our “go back” places. The mountain biking trails make this a great place to stay and play!

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, Grand Rivers, KY

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Tuesday, September 5^th – Wednesday, September 13^th   

Hillman Ferry Campground, Grand Rivers, Kentucky

We headed south from Shelbyville towards western Kentucky. Again we drove the back roads as opposed to the interstates. In this part of the state the back roads were not so great, in some areas they were very narrow farm roads with very uneven surfaces. Along the way Kurt was checking the odometer as we turned over the 100,000 miles on our 2008 F-250 truck. We knew it was coming soon. So now we're out of our extended warranty, ugh. 

On the last leg of the trip we passed through the city of Paducah Kentucky and then entered the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL). This is a huge inland peninsula of 170,000 acres of forest, wetlands and open lands. It lies between the Tennessee River on the west and the Cumberland River on the east. The recreation area is about 35 miles long from north to south and extends south into Tennessee. This amazing place is filled with so many things to do; everything from RV/tent camping to Backcountry camping, marinas and boat launches, golf courses, beaches and picnic areas. There were various attractions, such as the Woodland Nature Station, a drive-thru Elk & Bison Prairie, and a Visitor Center with a Planetarium and Observatory. Also, the Homeplace 1850s Farm, over 100 miles of mountain biking trails, 261 miles of hiking trails, and historic areas. This area was in the Totality Eclipse in August. We were told there were close to 100,000 people in the LBL to view the eclipse! And the area will also be in totality for the April, 2024 solar eclipse.

We camped at Hillman Ferry Campground, which was on the Tennessee River side of the recreation area. We were able to find a nice waterfront campsite. We also found a great day use area with a beach called Moss Creek. There we were able to watch the barges go up the river and watch sunset. The dogs really enjoyed running leash free around the beach. 

On two different days we visited the dams. The Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River side and went into a really nice Visitor Center there. Then another day we visited the Barkley Dam on the Cumberland River side. It had limited access for visitors, but was nice to see the dams and the power generation systems up close.

One day we decided to go to the South Visitor Center and spend some time there, viewing the historical information and then to a planetarium show. The show was very interesting, although the videography was a little outdated, we still enjoyed it.  

While camping there we began watching the progress of Hurricane Irma and was worried about where it was going to strike in Florida. As our next plans were to move south into Tennessee, we started looking at the path, which projected the remnants heading right up into the Tennessee Valley where we were. So we decided rather than driving into the storm, we would stay put in our campsite for an extra two days. So we just hunkered down, stayed in the camper or under the awning for a couple of days. We were all pretty bored and ready for this storm to be over. The next day the weather was beautiful, which made the drive south a lot easier. We were also very happy with the path that the hurricane did go, as the east coast of Florida was not impacted as they had projected. We continued to check on our family and friends and make sure everyone was safe and were okay after the storm. 

We truly enjoyed the Land Between The Lakes and have decided that we will come back here someday. As we only have four more states to visit: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, this will be a great stop over area. (For Steve & Celia, we will definitely visit you on this trip, hopefully next summer).

Now on to Tennessee, where we will stay by another dam, this one on the Tennessee River. Kurt has more barges to watch!

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Shelbyville, Illinois

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Tuesday, August 2^th – Monday, September 4th 

Lithia Springs Army Corps Campground, Lake Shelbyville, Illinois

Leaving Dubuque, we headed south through the back-road highways until we reached the Illinois state line.  At that point, we ended up taking interstates heading southeast down to Lake Shelbyville. At one point we did continue on back road highways through many agricultural areas. The small town of Shelbyville is in south central Illinois and in a huge farming area. Just 7 miles from town is Lake Shelbyville Recreation Area, which is run by the Army Corps of Engineers. The lake is huge with many campgrounds, resorts & marinas available to so many locals and people traveling through the area. Since we were arriving on a Tuesday after Labor Day weekend we were able to find a great first-come first-serve campsite that has full hookups. So we planned on staying a full week there.

We stopped at the very extensive Visitor Center for Lake Shelbyville Army Corps. There were many displays explaining the local flora and fauna, local wildlife, the history of the building of the dam and some history of the town of Shelbyville. Very interesting to learn more about this area.

Prior to arriving, we were aware of some mountain biking trails that were on the lake side peninsulas and just north of the town of Shelbyville. Before we went to the trails we were thinking, "How good could trails be in a little local agricultural town?". We were quite surprised once we got on the trails and found that they were very well designed, a lot of fun and not too technical. We actually rode the trails on three different days and truly enjoyed them. Just adjacent to the trails was a really nice city park called Forest Park. There was plenty of parking and connector trails back to the mountain bike trails. We were very impressed with such a nice city park for a small town. It has a swimming pool, picnic areas, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball fields, an old Carousel Building that looked like it was being renovated and a beautiful gardens area called the Sunken Gardens. There were a lot of locals visiting and enjoying this park.

We also met some very nice local people. One of our RV camping neighbors are from Shelbyville. Very nice people, just good country people that love the area and love hanging out at the lake. We hope that someday they'll come to Florida for a visit. 

This campground was just such a nice place to chill out with fellow campers, relax a little bit and have some fun with the mountain biking nearby. Every time we stay at an Army Corps campground, we really enjoy the facilities and the surrounding activities. We also enjoy the 50% Senior Discounts that we get for camping.

Next we will be heading south towards a campground in southwestern Tennessee, on the Tennessee River.

 

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Dubuque, Iowa

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Friday, August 25^th – Monday, August 28^th 

Miller Riverview RV Park, Dubuque, Iowa

We packed up and headed south out of the Saint Paul Minnesota area towards Dubuque Iowa. Our goal was to stay on the Mississippi River and experience more of the river and its history. As we drove south out of Minnesota and through Iowa we saw more massive farms along the way. As we got closer to Dubuque and the Mississippi River we noticed that the farming process was different, Kurt called it contour farming. We later found out that there are farming regulations for any watershed from farms that drain into the Mississippi River. Crop row ridges of varying crop types are built by tilling and planting on the contour of the land to create hundreds of small dams. These ridges or dams slow the water flow and increase filtration, which reduces erosion and sediments. It was really quite beautiful to see, especially looking at satellite views of the farms and the amazing designs in the crops. He just loves this stuff and looking at the farmlands.

As we drove along the Great River Road southward, there were a couple of overlooks where we were able to view the Mississippi River and learn more history about the river. We finally arrived in Dubuque Iowa. It was really exciting to arrive at the Riverview RV Park right down at the river level. It was quite beautiful and we were able to watch barges and other boats heading up and down the river. 

We decided on the first full day there to drive around area, particularly in the City and check out the variety of interesting places to visit. The city is a river port, very industrial and with so many original brick buildings throughout downtown. We found a beautiful riverside park that was dedicated to the founder of Dubuque, Julien Dubuque, from Quebec Canada. His grave site is at this park named the Mines of Spain, on a lovely overlook. This park is near the location of his lead mines where he made his fortune, along with fur trading with the Indians. Another day we found downtown along the Riverside was an enormous museum, The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. At this wonderful Museum we learned more history of Dubuque, how Julien Dubuque founded the city and was an important person in the life of the people. There was a lot of information in the museum regarding Mark Twain. We learned how paddle/steam boat building was a major industry in Dubuque for many decades. We were also able to tour a historical river boat that was a dredging ship and built in Dubuque. The museum has a 3D movie theater and we were able to watch a National Geographic movie called Extreme Weather. It was really cool as it was in 4D, which along with the 3D, provided special effects of wind, smells and moisture that coordinated with the scenes you were viewing. It was pretty awesome.

Another day we drove up to Eagle Point Park, where we were able to see some beautiful long-distance views of the river and the Mississippi River Lock and Dam # 11. On another day, Kurt was also able to paddle from the campground up to the dam and then paddle back. He was really excited to again get his kayak on the Mississippi River. From our campground we were able to see a major bridge that crossed the river over into Wisconsin. That highway is along the border between Wisconsin and Illinois, they call this the Tri-State area.

We truly enjoyed our visit to Dubuque. There is so much history there that we learned about. We met a lot of really nice local people. This would probably be the last time we would be crossing or be near the Mississippi River on this trip, it was a fun journey. Next, we will head south into Illinois

2017 Pacific Coast Trip – Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota

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Monday, August 21^st – Thursday, August 24^th 

Lebanon Hills Regional Park Campground, St. Paul, MN

As we headed south towards the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, we crossed the Mississippi River a couple of times. Each crossing showed us that the river was getting wider and wider, as some smaller rivers were converging into the Mississippi. Also, we happened to be traveling on the date of the total eclipse of the Sun. We were in an area where we were able to see an 85% eclipse. At one point we stopped at a local Walmart to shop and found a young man in front of Walmart that had a 6 inch square black piece of filter glass and he was letting people view the eclipse through that black glass. It was really exciting just to see one glimpse of the eclipse. The eclipse was really something special.

As we continued to head southeast through Minnesota, we again drove the back roads. We are always in amazement of the agricultural areas in this state. As we approached Minneapolis we were shocked to see what a large metropolitan area that it is. We drove around to the southeast side of the city and arrived at Lebanon Hills Campground. This is a county park with amazing mountain biking trails and a beautiful campground. The mountain biking trails are what actually brought us to this area, along with the fact that we were able to see the Mississippi River again. The campground is a top-notch park with everything we needed. Also, the mountain biking trails were accessible right from the campground. 

The first day we took a drive around town and went to a historic park along the Mississippi River in the St. Paul area. This was historic Fort Snelling, which was active during the Civil War. This Historic Site is on the western bluffs of the Mississippi River, at a higher level where we could look down at the river. We also drove around to other parks where we could be at the river level to view it from there. 

During the four days there we spent most of our time on the mountain biking trails. We were so pleased as the trails were very well-engineered and maintained, with trail markers the best we've ever seen. We truly enjoyed the flowy trails that had an intermediate level of technical and obstacle challenges. 

Surprisingly, Kurt had mentioned that he was interested in going to the Mall of America, the largest mall in the U.S., in terms of number of stores and total floor area.  The Mall has 4 floors and over 7 million square feet. I was not so excited about visiting this mall as I am just not a mall person, but during my research of the mall we found one of our favorite restaurants is there, Cantina Laredo. There used to be one near where we lived in Palm Beach Gardens and it was absolutely our favorite Tex-Mex food in the world, but it had closed down a couple of years ago. With that knowledge I said “heck let's go”. I just wanted to go to eat and maybe just stroll through the mall little bit to check it out. The mall was absolutely the largest one I've ever seen in the US. It was crazy that there were duplicate stores in various parts of the mall. The huge central atrium of the mall was filled with an amusement park for children and families. Most of the amusements were Nickelodeon sponsored. It was so large, we actually got tired of walking around and headed back to the campground.

After four days there we were ready to move on to our next destination. Next stop being Dubuque Iowa, where we found a campground that was right on the Mississippi River. I knew Kurt would love this as he is a huge river fan and loves to watch barges.
 

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Lake Itasca, Minnesota - Miss. River Headwaters

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Thursday, August 17^th – Sunday, August 20^th 

LaSalle State Recreation Area, Solway, MN

Our next adventure was in search of the Headwaters of the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota. We headed north east about a hundred miles into the Lakes area of Minnesota. We arrived at LaSalle State Recreation Area where there is a wonderful campground out in the wilderness. Just seven miles south is Lake Itasca, which is the actual source of the headwaters of the Mississippi River. 

A first glimpse of the actual river was when we were driving to the campground and we crossed over two bridges with Mississippi River signs. We stopped to have a look and realized it was a very tiny river at that point, only about 6 feet wide, but it was flowing. 

Near the LaSalle Recreation Area there is a canoe access to the river, Coffee Pot Landing. We went there the next day and found a lovely hiking/snowmobiling trail with a bridge that crossed over the small Mississippi River. It was interesting that we found two really nice lean-to cabins along the trail which could be used either by overnight hikers or snowmobilers. 

The next day we drove down to Itasca State Park and spent most of the day there exploring the area. We took the dogs with us as they were allowed to hike the trails, so we had a really nice family day outing. The state park had a very informative Visitor Center, with lots of historical information about the park and all about the vegetation and wildlife. The Mississippi Headwaters Center also displayed the history of the search for the headwaters and the team that ultimately found it. In 1832, Henry Schoolcraft was guided by Chief Ozawigdib to Lake Itasca. We walked up the trail to the actual Headwaters area. At that point water was flowing out of Lake Itasca into the small, narrow beginnings of the Mississippi River. It was really cool that you could walk across the ankle-deep water of the Mississippi River at that point. It was so hard at this point to imagine that this little creek would turn into a gigantic river. We also visited various overlooks and shorter hiking loops within the park, then we had a nice lunch in a lovely picnic area. 

On our last day there we hiked some trails within the LaSalle Recreation Area. Kurt, me and the dogs headed out on the main trail. Kody and I only hiked part of the way and headed back around the campground trail, while Kurt and Luca hiked all the six miles around La Salle Lake. Later in the afternoon Kurt took off with his kayak and went down to Coffee Pot Landing, put it in the water and was able to kayak the upper beginnings of the Mississippi River. Check that off his bucket list!

Next, we will head south to the St. Paul, MN area. There are some great mountain biking trails there and a nice campground.

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Bismarck, ND & Moorhead, MN

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Thursday, August 10^th – Sunday, August 13^th

Ft. Abraham Lincoln State Park, Bismarck, North Dakota

We left Roosevelt N.P. and headed east in a straight line on I-94 to Bismarck, the capital city of North Dakota. Ft. Abraham Lincoln State Park was our destination. This park is located along the Missouri River, where the Heart River converges. The first known inhabitants of this place were the Mandan Indians that had built a village of earth lodges on the river bank slope, inhabited from years 1575 to 1781. They were skilled farmers, hunters and traders with other Indians in the territory. Lewis & Clark stopped here in 1804 and found the long abandoned Indian village, which they noted in their journals.  Many years later in 1872, after the Northern Pacific Railroad was built through this land, Fort McKeen was established on the bluffs. A year later, the land became Ft. Abraham Lincoln and was the base of Colonel George Custer and his 7^th Cavalry. This was where they rode out to the ill-fated campaign against the Plains Indians, at the Battle of Little Bighorn. We all know this was his last stand; they were defeated, he and most of the men died in this battle. In 1907, the land was donated to the state by President Theodore Roosevelt and became a State Park. Due to the military Fort being abandoned for decades, the State restored or rebuilt many of the buildings for historical purposes. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural lands on the rolling hills.

The campground was one of the nicest we have ever been in. The grounds along the river were heavily treed with green grass everywhere. The hills throughout the park had several miles of single track mountain biking trails. We did enjoy riding the trails, they were a lot of fun and not too technical. The views from the trails of the Missouri River valley were great. It was interesting to tour the historical buildings and learn more history of the area. Such a beautiful park, we truly enjoyed our time spent there. It was much more than we expected in N. Dakota.

Monday, August 14^th – Wednesday, August 16^th

Buffalo River State Park, Moorhead, Minnesota

On our way east, we had planned to stay in the Fargo, N.D. area. However, I found a great State Park just inside the Minnesota border. The weather forecast called for rain a couple of days, so we decided it would be good time to relax a little and also get some chores done on the camper. The park was very nice; large shady camp sites with a prairie view out the back window. It was in a remote area and was very quiet. We were able to hike some trails around the park, when it wasn’t raining. The small Buffalo River wound its way through the park. There was also a very nice “swimming hole” pool area. This was man-made and spring fed, very clean water and lifeguards. It looked like a lot of locals brought their children here for day use. It looked like a lot of fun, but was too cold for us.

This was a decompression stop for us, so there was not a lot of activities outdoors, thanks to the rain. After this respite, we were ready to head into northern Minnesota. We were then ready to move forward and head into North Minnesota.

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, North Dakota

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Friday, August 4^th – Wednesday, August 9^th

 

Cottonwood Campground in TRNP, Medora, North Dakota

 

We drove east on I-94, crossed over the North Dakota state line and arrived at the town of Medora. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) entrance was right in town. We were not able to get a campsite in the National Park, so we headed to Sully Creek State Park, just a few miles south of town. We were able to stay there one night, so the next morning we could get in line at Cottonwood Campground in TRNP. A great site opened up just as we entered the campground, so we grabbed the site and setup our RV. The sites were very spacious and we were very lucky to get the site. We soon found out that almost all campsites in the area were taken due to an endurance mountain bike race on the next day, Saturday. The race followed the Maah Daah Hey trail, which is a single track trail, dating over 200 years. The Native Americans used this trail for a trade route between other tribes.

We drove back into Medora the next morning and explored the area. What a nice small, western town, host to the National Park. “Medora was founded in 1883 along the transcontinental rail line of the Northern Pacific Railway by French nobleman Marquis de Mores, who named the city after his wife Medora von Hoffman. Marquis de Mores wanted to ship refrigerated meat to Chicago via the railroad. He built a meat packing plant for this purpose and a house named the Chateau de Mores, which is now a museum.” The rest of the story surrounds Theodore Roosevelt, who was instrumental in the development of the National Park. In his mid-20’s, he traveled to the N. Dakota Badlands and Dakota Territory to relax and hunt buffalo. He fell in love with the area and built a cabin. He later became a cattle rancher. Years later he returned to New York and began his political career. After years in the East, he became a conservationist. This and his wealth allowed him to donate the land that would become the National Park.

The landscape of the Park is so different. The Badlands are a result of water and wind that moved and reshaped the rock formations. The layers of so many ancient times display the history of this land. It’s quite amazing to imagine that this land began 65 million years ago, and now has become incredible rock formations mostly consisting of sandstone, mudstone and bentonite clay. There are portions of the Park where petrified wood remain from the Badlands swampy history. The Painted Canyon, at another south entrance, displays the layers all across the valley, quite stunning.

Kurt researched the Maah Daay Hey Trail for mountain biking. He would have loved to compete in the 100 mile endurance race; probably in one of several shorter miles races. We did get our bikes on the trail at the connection trail from Medora. After finding the correct path, we headed off on the amazing desert trail. Kurt rode out and back around 26 miles. I rode about 5 miles, enough for a good workout. He decided on our last day that he would ride 25 miles from a trailhead further north on the trail, where I could drop him off. We later met in Medora at the Picnic Park, where his ride ended. The boys and I hung out at the park and they got to run off leash and have some fun until Kurt arrived.

On one night, we went on ranger-led moon rise hike. We hiked at Wind Canyon as the young ranger told mythical stories about moon. He was so young, he didn’t really understand the moon missions, as he mentioned they were shuttled up to the moon, he kept mentioning the shuttle. Otherwise, he told some interesting stories and is a nice young man. We watched the sunset to the east and then the moon rise over the mountains to the west. It was a very beautiful evening. Truly enjoyed a new perspective on hiking.

The Park had many hiking trails, but we mostly hiked the short loops or trails at turnouts and overlooks. We hiked a couple of longer ones, so we were able to experience almost all landscapes in the Park. The Little Missouri River flows through the park, but at this time there is very little water in the river due to the terrible drought that this region has been in. This is a very different Park than most we have visited. We did see a lot of wildlife; wild horse herds, bison herds, pronghorn and many prairie dog towns. Our last morning in the campground, we woke up to fog and a herd of bison roaming through the campground. We were amazed at the close proximity that they came near us; we backed away as they rushed between our RV and one in behind us. WOW, it was so exciting, the alpha bull suddenly bolted and took the whole herd with him off into the fog. What a sendoff for our time spent there.

We enjoyed our time here; again, we had no idea what to expect and stayed a few more days than we had planned. Next, heading to Bismarck, N. Dakota.

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Billings, Montana

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Friday, July 28^th – Thursday, August 3^rd  

Billings KOA, Billings, Montana

Leaving Helena, we headed east on scenic mountain roads, so much nicer than taking the boring interstates. We drove around and through the Helena National Forest and the Lewis and Clark National Forest, such beautiful scenery. We didn't know what to expect in Billings so we had only booked 4 days at the Billings KOA Park. It looked like a very nice park and it was right on the Yellowstone River, so we hoped to do some kayaking. Approaching the Billings area we we're driving over a high desert plateau, when we were able to see the Billings Valley. It’s a very large city, quite green and beautiful due to the rivers and creeks. Billings is the largest city in the state of Montana and it was quite obvious that it is a heavily agricultural, oil and gas, industrial town. One of the most significant features in Billings is the sandstone bluffs surround the city known as the Rimrocks. The “Rims” range in height from 200 to 500 feet. It is such different geology than we have seen anywhere in the northwestern states.

We had discovered that there were a couple of major mountain bike trail systems in the Billings area. The next day we headed out to Phipps Park, after visiting a local bicycle shop for some repair parts and trail advice. These trails were on the top of one of those Rimrock plateaus. They were actually a lot of fun once we got up there, but there was at least a mile long, steep climb up a single-track to the top, it was brutal. The views from the top of the Rimrock were spectacular, looking back into the Billings Valley and on the other side to the agricultural and suburban communities. A few of the trails were not rideable due to rock fall and lack of maintenance, so we just stayed on the very top rim trail. 

We were able to arrange a taxi shuttle so we could get our kayaks out on the Yellowstone River. We put in upstream at a public boat ramp and paddled back to the campground. The river was moving very swift and we actually did 20 miles and just about 3 hours. Along the way we were truly surprised to see six bald eagles; one pair in trees, two juveniles in trees and then near the end of the paddle we saw two adult bald eagles just sitting on the shoreline of the river. It was amazing to see that many eagles in one day. We had a really fun time, the weather was perfect and it was a great day. 

There was a scenic drive that headed south of Billings and down into Wyoming called the Beartooth Scenic Byway. We took the dogs and planned to spend most of the day driving the amazing road. As we began heading south on the byway the elevation started changing rapidly. We went through the town of Red Lodge at elevation of 5500’, then after 7 miles of switchbacks up into the mountains, we were able to see the peaks and glaciers of the Beartooth Mountains. At one point we rose up into the tundra area which was quite flat and beautiful. There were several vista points and rest areas which made it even more wonderful for the views. At one point we passed over the 45th parallel which is also the Montana-Wyoming border. At this point we drove out of the Custer National Forest and into the Shoshone National Forest. We drove to the highest elevation which was the West Summit Overlook at 10,947’ above sea level, with amazing 360-degree views of the Beartooth Plateau and other mountain peaks. At that point and after 40 miles, we turned around and headed back to Billings. It was a wonderful day although it was a little bit overcast in some places. We were very glad we had taken the time to experience this Scenic Byway and see the amazing mountain range and the valleys. 

The next day we headed out to a different mountain biking trail called the Zimmerman Trail. This trail was on the south side plateau of the Billings Valley and was actually much better than the previous trails we had ridden. We enjoyed them so much we went there two days. We truly enjoyed the mountain bike trails there, along with all the other activities. 

Billings turned out to be an unexpected pleasure, we ended up staying a full week there and we were busy every day. Also the Billings KOA is an outstanding park, one of the nicest we have ever stayed at in the whole country. It also is the first KOA ever created. We don’t usually stay at KOA’s, due to the high prices, but this one was worth it.

This visit to Billings Montana really sealed the deal on how much we love this state. Everyone there was so nice and friendly, just good people! Again, we were sad to leave such a favorite place, but we were ready to head into North Dakota for adventures there.

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Helena, Montana

Photo link:

https://goo.gl/photos/Bf69BXeRLuB9H2mb6

Friday, July 21^st – Thursday, July 27^th
Lincoln Road RV Park, Helena, Montana

On our drive out of Glacier National Park we drove back mountain roads so that we could see the beautiful scenery. We passed by several lakes, among them Seeley Lake, which was beautiful. We could see the Mission Mountains in the background. We also passed through Lincoln Montana where there were fires in the mountains of that area. Lincoln is also the location of the 5.8 earthquake that struck on July 6th. 

We finally arrived in Helena Montana and checked in at the Lincoln Road RV Park, which is north of the city. The next morning we headed into the city to the visitor center. This was located in a very historic area of Helena called Reeders Alley. This was the location where the original gold miners discovered gold in the gulch in Helena at the base of the mountain. These four miners had had found no gold throughout the Northwest, but on their way heading back East they said they would take one “ last chance”. They stopped at a creek at the base of Helena Mountain and found their gold. This was the beginning of the gold rush for this city and the founding of the city of Helena. Many other gold miners headed to Helena for their fortunes. At one time there were over 100 millionaires in the growing city, thus the city has a whole neighborhood of historic mansions. Remaining up in the gulch, which is now named “Last Chance Gulch”, are the remnants of the miners original stone cabins, which they abandoned once they made their millions. This city is filled with so much history and eventually became the state capital. 

We also found major mountain biking trails on Mount Helena which we enjoyed on three different days. The trails were well designed and a lot of fun, and provided fantastic views down into the Helena Valley.

Just seven miles north of the city the Missouri River flows through the mountains. When Lewis and Clark came this way along the Missouri, they named this the "Gates of the Mountains" as the canyon walls were very high and as they approached the canyon it looked like the rock walls were gates opening to the river. There was a beautiful lake there with a very nice marina and a lot of boating activities. 

One day we decided to take the tourist trolley around Helena to see all the sights and learn a little bit more about the history of this city. It was very enjoyable to see the mansions and all the major buildings, and listen to the guide tell us more about how the city developed over the decades. After the trolley tour Kurt and I went into the State Capitol building and walked around on a self-tour. It is actually quite a beautiful building inside and out, again there was more historic information in the capitol. 

Kurt took the dogs on a hiking excursion one afternoon along the Missouri River, the poor boys had been stuck in the camper and didn’t have any place to really run. They all three had fun on the hike.

We got lucky again, the Last Chance Stampede Rodeo and Fair was that weekend. We were able to attend the rodeo on the first night of events. It was so exciting to see great PRCA cowboys, the patriotism and excitement of a true Western rodeo. 

We really enjoyed the city of Helena and hope that we can come back here someday. We have so much fallen in love with Montana. We will consider coming back here to spend some of our summers, maybe rotating summers with the mountains in North Carolina and Virginia.

Looking forward to our next stop in Billings Montana. We hear that it is a big city, with some great mountain biking. We will see!

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Glacier National Park, Montana

Photo link:

https://goo.gl/photos/tVpBJRtCLLeFMhHU6

Friday, July 14^th – Thursday, July 20^th

Crooked Tree RV Park, Hungry Horse, Montana

As we headed north towards Glacier N.P. we again took some back roads that we had not traveled. The drive along Highway 3 passed by the St. Joe National Forest and also along the Coeur d’Alene River, before reaching Interstate 90. This was such a long drive that we needed to do a one night stopover at our favorite flop, Walmart. We found one in the small town of Smelterville Idaho along the interstate. The next day we crossed into Montana, then headed north to Glacier. Along the way we passed by Flathead Lake, WOW this is a huge, beautiful lake in an amazing valley that we didn’t expect to see. Ultimately, we made it to Hungry Horse and got settled in the campground. This RV park is only 3 miles from the west entrance to Glacier N.P.

That afternoon we drove into the Park to the Visitor Center to get maps and speak with a Ranger about hikes. This is a vast park with numerous hikes and scenic drives. We were strongly advised regarding grizzly bear activity, as huckleberries were in season and the bears were out with their cubs to feed. We then drove the park highway for a few miles to get our first glimpse of the lakes and mountains, they were spectacular!

The next day, we hiked the Avalanche Trail, which was a rugged climb along Avalanche Creek, up to an alpine lake. The views were amazing of mountain peaks and several waterfalls from the melting snowfields.

Another day we drove the 50 mile Going-to-the-Sun road to the far end at St. Mary, east entrance. This mountain road was built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This 50 mile, spectacular highway bisects the Park and hugs the cliffs below the Continental Divide. Most of the road is narrow as it climbs the mountainside and also has rock guard rails in many places where needed. On the return trip we stopped at Logan Pass Visitor Center to hike the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail. There was no parking available at the center, so we had to park about a mile down the road at an overlook and hike back to the trailhead at the Center. This trail is only 1.4 miles with a 500 foot gain, not a tough hiking trail. After about ¼ mile, we found snow covering the trail. I had not brought my hiking poles as it seemed to be an easy trail. I never made it to the overlook as the snow was melting and very slippery. I along with others, were falling on the slippery snow. After about a mile, I headed back to the trailhead to wait for Kurt. This is another aggravating issue with the National Parks trail descriptions. They should have advised hikers of snow on the trail, which would help those who have limited hiking skills to not go on the trail or be prepared. I am a very experienced hiker and had to turn back. If the trail conditions had been divulged, I would have taken my hiking poles and been able to make it all the way… uuggghh. At least I had the pictures that Kurt had taken to see what I missed. Too bad!

There are mountain biking trails in a nearby town of Whitefish. We rode the trails there and really enjoyed the well designed and maintained single tracks. We took turns riding, as we had taken the dogs with us. Kody was not feeling well and we didn’t want to leave them alone in the RV. Also, we had to carry bear spray with us as there had been some reported bear activity in the area (we only had one bear spray can). We never saw any indication of bears…

The Flathead River flowed right through the area and Kurt wanted to kayak the river. He found put in and take out boat ramps, so I dropped him off and picked him up. The river was flowing fast and he really enjoyed the great paddle on such a crystal clear river.

The last day in the area, Kurt went back into Glacier and rode the hiker’s shuttle back to Logan Pass. He then hiked the 14 mile Highline Trail carved into the mountain side. There is a spur trail that goes up to Granite Peak Chalet, a historic lodge for hikers. At the end of the trail, he was able to take the shuttle back to the Visitor Center where the truck was parked. The views along the trail are stunning and the pictures were great. Kurt loves to do these long trails, I really don’t enjoy them so much. Kurt carried his bear spray, but never saw a bear. During our time in Glacier; we, nor anyone else we asked, had seen one bear. Kurt had used his binoculars to scan so many valleys and lakes, never saw any bears. We felt that the rangers have really overblown the bear threat. We understand that bears could be anywhere and one must be prepared, but some trails were closed because of this “threat”.

Overall, we truly enjoyed Glacier National Park and its amazing topography, carved by glaciers. This landscape is so different from any other N.P. that we have visited. The traffic is so well managed there, the only exception is parking at Logan Pass is limited. It is truly one of God’s creations and we humans can marvel at the stunning beauty. This is definitely one of our top favorite National Parks, the “Crown of the Continent”.

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Hells Canyon, Idaho

Photo link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KknA6T6z5GsavEh82

Saturday, July 8^th  – Wednesday, July 12^th
Hells Gate State Park, Lewiston, Idaho

Upon leaving Coeur d'Alene Idaho we headed south to Lewiston Idaho. Located here is Hells Canyon, through which the Snake River flows. Again, the drive was through beautiful agricultural valleys right along the Washington - Idaho border. As we approached the town of Lewiston we realized we were on the top of a butte and there were amazing views down into the Lewiston Valley.  This is where the Clearwater River converges with the Snake River. There's a lot of history in Lewiston as at one point this was an actual shipping port to transport goods to and from the Pacific area. We drove down the steep hill into Lewiston and headed a little further south to Hell's Gate State Park, which is right along the Snake River. We were pleasantly surprised to see such a beautiful state park that had many shade trees and huge spacious RV sites. The park has a nice beach area along the river, along with many hiking and biking trails. There is so much history in this area as this was an actual location where Lewis and Clark came up the Clearwater River and camped along the Snake River. The state park has a huge Lewis and Clark Discovery Center with the full story, history and video re-enactment of the expedition to find the Corps of Discovery Expedition.

We were excited to see the Snake River (we had seen it a few years ago in the Yellowstone area). The next day we drove south along the river on the Washington side to explore and determine what our kayaking possibilities were. There were many rocky cliffs and interesting formations along the canyon walls. One of the principal rock formations is called Basalt, which are volcanic black rock formations in six-sided columns.

We obtained a trail map and we both rode our mountain bikes on the Hell's Gate trails around the park. There were great views of the river, the canyon and the Washington side to the west. The dogs also enjoyed playing on the riverfront beach and meeting some other doggy friends.

We did get our kayaks on the Snake River, we put-in upstream about 12 miles and floated south to the campground. Kurt was able to get a taxi driver to drive him back up to the put in and get the truck. It was a beautiful day on the river and it was amazing to see all the different rock formations along the canyon.

There is an outfitter called Snake River Adventures that does jet boat tours all the way up the river about 20 miles until they reach the dam. Kurt ended up taking the jet boat tour while I stayed at camp with the dogs, since it was a 12 hour day trip. He enjoyed the tour all the way back to where the canyon walls were more narrow and higher. Along the way they spotted some wildlife; there were several areas where bighorn sheep herds were grazing along the river and they even saw a bald eagle on the canyon rocks. There were also several locations where the basalt formations were part of the canyon walls.

We really enjoyed our time at Hells Canyon; the outdoor adventures and more history of the Lewis & Clark Discovery Expedition. Onward to our next adventures in Montana!

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Photo link:

https://goo.gl/photos/Y8GP6uGLQTC99HtQ9

Monday, July 3^rd – Friday, July 7^th  

Blackwell Island RV Park, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

We were excited to move on to Idaho, so many RV’ers had commented on what a beautiful place that Coeur d’Alene is. As we approached the area, we began to see the landscape turn into mountains and forest. That made us happy since we would be out of the desert. We arrived at Blackwell Island to find a very nice RV park. The island is in the middle of the lake, which is fed by the Spokane River. The park has a nice beach for swimming and lounging in the sun, along with some walking trails around the natural areas. The upcoming 4^th of July celebration was the next day and we were happy to be in such an amazing place to help celebrate.

On Independence Day we got up early and headed to the city for the American Heroes parade. Downtown main street was decorated with patriotic colors and amazing flowers. The parade was huge and very entertaining. All branches of the military and law enforcement were represented. We truly enjoyed this patriotic display and celebration. After the parade we walked around the city and the waterfront. There were live music bands and food vendors. We ate lunch in the downtown waterfront park, then headed back to the RV park. Later in the evening, we were able to watch the downtown fireworks from the beach at the RV park. It was a great show and very convenient that we didn’t have to go downtown and get into the crowds. Overall, the day’s celebrations were very patriotic and fun.

The next day, we drove back into town and parked at McEuen Park on the waterfront. We took the dogs and hiked a nice trail around Tubbs Hill. We all enjoyed the day in the beautiful town. Our last day we put the kayaks in the lake at the RV park beach. We paddled towards downtown and Tubbs Hill. It was such a beautiful day and a great view of the town from the water. This huge lake is a glacier carved lake and fed by the Spokane River. Later in the evening, we went back into town to attend a live concert in the park. The “Live After 5” event was very nice, we sat in the tree's shade and enjoyed the music.

The area is definitely a tourist mecca. Such a great city, the lake is so beautiful and full of water sports and boating. We truly enjoyed this special western town and all the amenities and activities that it provides. If we had any idea how wonderful it was, we would have scheduled more time there. Oh well, maybe someday we can come back and visit again.

For our next location we will head south to Hells Canyon in Idaho. Looking forward to what we find there.

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Columbia River Gorge & SE Washington

Photo link:

https://goo.gl/photos/EsLNiwr8qmNJ56BV9

Friday, June 23^rd – Sunday, July 2^nd

Timberlake RV Campground, Happy Valley, WA

After leaving Oregon, we drove eastward toward the Columbia River Gorge National Recreation Area.  We drove through Portland, and made a wrong turn… ugghh. Had to drive through some side streets to get back on the interstate. After leaving the Portland area, we were both surprised to get views of Mt. Hood on the south side and then Mt. Adams to the north. WOW, they are so high we could see them many miles away. This central Washington location along the Gorge is filled with amazing mountainous, rocky landscapes on both the northern Washington side and the southern Oregon side. The drive was on the Oregon side, until we reached the Cascade Locks and crossed over the Bridge of the Gods in Washington. This is an historic river crossing as described by Native Americans as a gift from the Gods. “Scientists believe that about 1,000 years ago, a giant landslide from the north shore of the Columbia River blocked the Gorge and stopped the river’s flow. This natural dam created an inland sea in eastern Oregon, Washington, and into Idaho. Over time, water eroded the dam and created an awesome natural stone bridge. Eventually, this bridge fell, creating the Cascade rapids.” After the area was developed by pioneers, the current modern bridge was built. This area along the Columbia River is also historic as the Lewis & Clark Expedition followed the river towards the mouth and the ocean. After crossing the river our campground was just a few miles away up in the Washington mountains and forest.

After arriving and setting up camp, we gathered some information on local events and recreation. There just happened to be a Brews & Blues Festival that weekend. On Saturday, we headed about 3 miles west to the Skamania County Fairgrounds. We enjoyed the music and beers; yes, I actually tried a couple of craft brews. Not too bad for a non-beer drinker! With three more days to explore, we mapped out our activities. The next day we drove along the Oregon side to the waterfalls area. We hiked back to a couple of the falls, but at most trailheads there was no parking. The crowds were thick; but then again, it was Sunday.  We didn’t even get to stop at Multnomah Falls, the premier waterfall that didn’t require a hike. Oh well, we did see it as we drove by. Another day, we hiked along a beautiful trail on Dog Mountain. We took the dogs as they needed to get out and play. The trail was very steep, with four miles of uphill climbing. Kody and I turned around at the two mile point, Kurt and Luca continued to the peak. The pictures and the views were amazing, wish Kody and I could have made it.  On our last day there, we did a day trip back south in Oregon to Mt. Hood National Forest to get a closer look at the mountain. The dogs also went with us to explore. What a beautiful, scenic drive. We crossed over into Oregon at Hood River, then headed south through a gorgeous green valley, filled with orchards and vineyards. We were able to drive around Mt. Hood and closer to the base on the south side. This side has two ski resorts, which at this time were not operational. There was still a lot of snow on the mountain, but not enough for skiing. We had a great time in this part of the Gorge, was looking forward to moving eastward in Washington.

Beach RV Park, Benton City, WA (Tri-Cities area – Richland, Kennewick & Pasco)

Our plan was to head eastward to an area called Tri-Cities in southeast Washington. We were immediately surprised as we left the Gorge and found the landscape was changing into the “high desert”. We had no idea that Washington had desert. Even though the desert was all shades of brown/tan, the landscape was filled with green agriculture (anywhere they could irrigate). There were vineyards everywhere on sides of mountains and in valleys. There were also other crops; including onions, hops and wheat. This whole area had so much agriculture and there were sprawling new housing communities. In the Tri-Cities is the location where the Yakima River and Snake River converge with the Columbia River. We were fortunate to stay in a very nice, small RV park that was right on the Yakima River.

We decided we had to get the kayaks on the Yakima, as we hadn’t had many kayaking opportunities recently. So we found put-in and take-out locations. We were able to paddle right out of a boat ramp across the road from the RV park, then take out at a local park 11 miles downstream. Kurt had arranged an Uber driver to pick him up at the take out, where he left the truck before we paddled. This allowed us to take our time on the river, with our truck waiting for us at the end. Even though we were on the river, the scenery again was desert, with green along the riverfront. The water was not too clear or clean, so we didn’t really get in the water. Oh well, at least we go the kayaks wet!

There were some mountain biking trails nearby in the desert hills, so Kurt decided he would get some exercise. I chose not to go, as the weather was getting hotter by the day. He did ride to the top of a local peak with great views of the valley. The trails were surrounded by our much hated “tan spear grass”, which we had encountered in California… same stuff!

Our last day there, we drove around the area, crossed the Columbia River and picnicked on the riverfront. The boys enjoyed the day with us also. The Columbia was beautiful and full of boaters, both motor and kayaks. It was nice to relax in shade on a hot day. Now we were ready to head to Idaho and spend the Fourth of July in Coeur d’Alene on the lake.

 

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Oregon Coast

Photo link:

https://goo.gl/photos/Z7BhjyMdzLkvDDig8

Monday, June 12^th – Thursday, June 22^nd   

Winchester Bay, Windy Cove C.G.

After spending a wonderful time in central Oregon, we headed to the Oregon Coast. This was one of our premier bucket list items, as we had seen pictures of the amazing rocky coast and beaches. We drove west through the Willamette National Forest, with beautiful views of the tall Douglas fir trees and some small mountain passes. We also passed though the city of Eugene on our way to Florence on the coast, then headed south to Winchester Bay. We quickly found out that this area of the coast is famous for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This is a wonderland of beach dunes and lakes that is the playground for off-road vehicles. The Dunes are filled with campgrounds (on the sand), lakes, hiking trails and forests. The town of Reedsport is known for their annual chain-saw sculpting contest. There are wooden art sculptures all around town, it’s very interesting to see the talent there.

Our County campground was on the bay and close to everything. We began by touring the closest lighthouse, Umpqua River lighthouse, originally built in 1857. This is an active lighthouse with a distinctive Fresnel lenses that emit red and white flashes. We drove around the area and found an elk viewing meadow, didn’t see one elk. One day we drove south to Coos Bay to check out several state parks along the coast there. This area had the rocky, craggy coastline that we expected to see. We saw another lighthouse from a distance, the Cape Arago light. This is not a functional light and is owned by the local Native American tribe. Another amazing area was the Shore Acres S.P. This was once a coastal property owned by a wealthy timber baron and was ultimately donated to the state. The estate was filled with beautiful gardens and also a whale viewing area on the shore. There were amazing coastal vistas of rugged sandstone cliffs along the shore. We also visited Sunset Bay, a lovely crescent shaped beach with rocky shores and cliffs.

Depoe Bay, Fogarty Creek RV

After spending one rainy day inside, we decided to move north to the Newport area. Along the drive north, we stopped at various overlooks for more views of the amazing coastline. Cape Perpetua was particularly beautiful and has history of Captain Cook landing there. The only bad part was the weather was overcast, foggy, rainy and gloomy (June & Gloom). We stayed in the small village of Depoe Bay, which is famous for its whales that hang out there all year. After we setup camp in Depoe Bay, we found that right across the highway was another viewpoint on Fishing Rock. We took the dogs, crossed the highway and hiked over to the lookout. Even with the rain, it was quite beautiful. While staying in this little town, we headed north for more coastal gazing. This stretch of the coast was mostly composed of black volcanic rock with amazing vistas. We stopped at Cape Foulweather and was able to see some whales just offshore. There were several whale watching boats and whenever they sighted one, we could watch around their boats and get a glimpse of the grey whales. Along with the stunning vistas, there were huge beaches surrounded by rocky cliffs. The hikes up to the cliffs provided great views of the beach. We headed down to Newport for lunch and found a great little Mom & Pop seafood shack, the clam chowder and fish & chips were wonderful. We then toured the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Again, we saw more spectacular views of black rocky coasts.

Seaside, Circle Creek RV

Our last location on the coast was in the area of Seaside, Oregon. This coastal beach town is a prime beach vacation town. The town has all kinds of activities for families and everyone. We stayed in the RV park just a mile south of town, it felt like we were in the country. Seaside is a very busy summer town, with the Necanicum River flowing through the town, and is a favorite place to kayak, stand up paddle board and paddle boat.

The first day we headed north to the city of Astoria, right at the mouth of the Columbia River. This fishing town has grown into a tourist stop. We rode the town trolley along the Colombia River waterfront with a great tour guide that explained the history of this town. We also drove up a hill to the Astoria Column, a huge tribute to the Lewis & Clark expedition and early pioneers. The column is painted in bas-relief drawings of the historical times in the area. We were able to take the stairs to the top and take in the 360 views of the inlet, bay, town and the Columbia River.

Ecola State Park was just a few miles south, so we went there to hike and see the coastal views. The dogs went with us and the hike was amazing. The lookout on the trail was a great view of the Tillamook Head Lighthouse. This light no longer is functional and has simply just been left alone. Even the views of the beach in the park were beautiful.

Kurt took one afternoon to go on a hike just east of Seaside. He took Luca and they hiked to the peak of Saddle Mountain Summit Trail. The pictures and views were amazing and they both had a great hike.

On our last day there, we headed just south to Cannon Beach to check out this beach town. It was quickly apparent that this beach town was upscale compared to Seaside. What a lovely town and a great beach. Nice little downtown with all kinds of shops, restaurants, art galleries, wine shops and breweries.  We took the dogs and walked onto the beach to get closer to Haystack Rock. This rock is a moss covered sea bird rookery, filled with all different species. We were in awe as we watched two bald eagles fly onto the rock and rob the nests. The seabirds all tried to fight them off, but the eagles had babies to feed also. The eagles got what they wanted. We were speechless after witnessing this act of nature, we will probably never see anything like it again. Wow. We wished we had spent more time in Cannon Beach, but we just ran out of time.

Had to head back inland and up into Washington State.

2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Central Oregon, Bend & Redmond

Photo link:

https://goo.gl/photos/fdDTyQP7tWUxNDTQ9

Saturday, June 3^rd – Wednesday, June 7^th   
LaPine State Park, Bend

We drove north out of Crater Lake area toward Bend. After meeting some RV campers in Sequoia, they had advised us to not miss the Bend area. They live nearby in a town called Sisters. They were correct! There are so many outdoor activities there and the regional area is all about being outdoors and dogs! They love their dogs in Bend, everything is dog friendly. Our kind of place.  

On our drive north to central Oregon we began to see more of the Cascades in the distance. It was an easy drive to LaPine State Park, which is about 20 miles south of Bend. This is a lovely remote park, so remote that we didn’t have any cell signal, but we managed without it. The Deschutes River flows right through the park and provided opportunities for paddling and hiking/biking trails along the river.  When we arrived there, we were informed that this area is in the “high desert”. Wow, it didn’t look like desert to me, but the altitude definitely qualifies. The main vegetation there are ponderosa pines, juniper trees and sage brush on the ground. It was actually quite beautiful with forests all around. Also, this area is part of the Cascades Volcanic Arc, and it was visible with most surrounding rock structures being volcanic in nature. While there, we hiked and biked several trails that were extensive within the park.

Just southeast of Bend is the Lava Cast Forest and the Mt. Newberry volcano, with obsidian and volcanic rock flows throughout the area. Also there is the Lava River Cave, which we toured. They rented high power lanterns to carry inside the cave as it was pitch black. The cave goes on for about 1 mile, we hiked back in a little over halfway then turned around. It was really interesting; we have been in many caverns, but nothing like this one. It was very unique. We also visited the Lava Butte, which is a non-erupted volcano that collapsed and became a butte. We hiked the short trail around the top of the butte and had great views of the surrounding valley. Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Newberry, Broken Top Mountain and the three Sisters Peaks were easily visible from there.

We went into Bend a couple of days to check it out. This city seems very new, the architecture looks like western/lodge/modern. Very interesting place with a lot of great ideas for living and tourism. The Deschutes River flows right through downtown and they have built a water park in the river that includes white water, small rapids for kayaks or tubing and simply swimming and playing in the water. Part of the park includes hiking, running and dog walking trails. Another afternoon we went into town to walk around, visit a brewery and eat some dinner. We were in the older part of downtown and it was so much fun to experience this wonderful city.

One day I ran a kayak shuttle for Kurt, he really wanted to get on the Deschutes River. He paddled about 10 miles downstream where I picked him up at a boat launch. The weather was perfect and he had great views of the surrounding mountains.

There was also a large mountain biking trail system west of Bend. We spent two days there biking Phil’s Trails. There were over 100 miles of trails for all skill levels of mountain bikers. The trails I rode were not very technical or difficult, but were so much flowy fun. Kurt enjoyed the black diamond trails and we really had a lot of fun. Biking is so popular in Bend, the trails were packed both times we were there, even on a weekday. I wish that we had the time to ride once more.

Thursday, June 8^th – Sunday, June 11^th   

Deschutes County Fairground RV Park, Redmond

After spending 5 days in the Bend area, we decided to move a little further north to Redmond. This area also has so many outdoor activities. We also found out there was a rodeo in Sisters that week, which is much closer to Redmond. Redmond is a laid back smaller town, filled with country people and surrounded by agricultural lands.

Downtown Redmond has a unique feature, the Dry Canyon. This is a shallow canyon that has been developed for recreation purposes. Along with hiking and mountain biking trails, there is a dog park with two fenced areas where dogs can run off leash. There are also baseball fields, an amphitheater, disc golf, playgrounds, tennis courts, skateboard park, and a soccer field.

Several miles north of Redmond is Smith Rock State Park. This amazing landscape has numerous hiking and mountain biking trails, along with rock climbing trails. Smith Rock is a volcanic creation, once a caldera the overlying rock collapsed into an underground lava chamber. The rock and debris then solidified into rock, creating the rock as it is now. The Crooked River runs through the park and provides a lush base for the park. We spent the day there on hiking trails with the dogs. We all headed up the Misery Ridge Trail, Kody and I made it up about 1 mile, then we headed back down to hike some of the river trails. Kurt and Luca continued to the peak, then hiked down the back side trail and around to the river trail. What an amazing stunning rock park. We really enjoyed our day there and would recommend this to anyone visiting the area.

We attended the Sisters Rodeo on Saturday night. We drove to the town of Sisters for the afternoon, walked around this quaint little mountain town and had a great Mexican food lunch. It was so exciting to finally see a rodeo on this trip. Typically, rodeos start in early summer out west, so we were too early for any other city’s rodeos. This was a premier rodeo for the northwest region. This was a PRCA event, so the cowboys were very good at their events. The performance was typical rodeo; bronco riding, bull riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing and a special entertainer. This cowboy brought out in an old car his wild mustang that he had trained and his herding dogs and put on a very special show with his animals.  I was not able to get many pictures of the event riding since it was getting dark and the performers moved so fast that the pictures were just not great. We really had a fun time at this event, even though the weather was so cold, around the low 40s with wind. Wow, good thing had clothing for the cold weather. We hope to find more rodeos along our path forward. Maybe in Montana or N. Dakota!

After visiting this part of central Oregon, this would be a “go back” destination for us. We really enjoyed our time here; the activities, the people and the beautiful countryside.