Summer 2026 continued

Murphys, Ca. -- Sitting at my computer here in California's 96 degree heat at 11 a.m. makes it easy to forget how lucky we were traveling in late July and early August. We stayed cool most of the trip, and avoided smoke and fires that were choking the middle of Oregon and Washington states. We left the Pacific Coast July 25 and traveled straight east along the Columbia River. It is a lovely drive along the river, watching the sparse river traffic and getting a glimpse of Multanomah Falls along the way. Oregon has good rest stops and we tucked in between a semi and a giant RV for a break along the way.

We had expected to find an inexpensive motel for one night in Kennewick, Washington, to break up the trip to Spokane, but it turned our every baseball player in the region was in town for a big tournament and rooms were at a premium. Despite my whining, the best deal we could find was almost $300 for a standard room and free carboard breakfast. I swallowed hard and we took it, ready to get off the road. We left early the next day, called our son to warn him we would be there earlier than expected, and drove stright north through the farm country to Spokane.

We found the campground at a regional park east of town by early afternoon and had a happy reunion with son Zack, granddaughter Katie and her boyfriend and two beautiful and rambunctious great-grand children Jamie and Enlo.

They made our day by bringing us gifts of small stuffed wristband toys which now permanently decorate our little camper.

We went to the lake's swimming beach so the kids could play, and then had a big meal together. After a couple of days a good visits we decided to head back to the coast as the fires to the South in Oregon and central Washington seemed to be growing. Little did we know.

While we were relaxing at a beautiful Oregon park on the Columbia River, fires were breaking out all around Spokane, putting our family instantly on alert. Our son Zack was standing by to evacuate, while his efficient sister Ruth was keeping him posted by phone and monitoring the fires by computer from her home in Murphys. The story ebded well for our family, as the fires cames close but they did not have to evacuare, though they did help friends escape the threat.

The next day we were back on the Pacific, looking for seafood and cooler places. We decided to stay a bit longer on the coast, and planned to head for familiar ground on the Northern Calirofnia coast. We stopped for one night at Gold Beach, Oregon, where once again the motels were almost full, but we got lucky and found a clean and well-located spot at a Motel 6, not a bargain but not a ripoff, that came complete with a mother deer and two babies walking by us in the parking lot.

We revisted an eating place on the waterfront, and a coffee shop and book store we liked on an earlier visit. We spent a night at a coastal park with a last minute reservation (don't do that again!). Stayed another night at a private park that turned out to be crowded and noise (don't do that again). and Then thanks to our Murphy neighbors the Agenos, we ended up at a very nice private RV park near Fort Bragg for our last few nights on the road. That was just on the edge of town and we had dinner with them on the waterfront, toured the wonderful botanical gardens and spent some time just looking at the ocean becfore deciding it was time to head home.

We traveled almost 3,000 miles in three weeks, had a great time, and would do it again in a heartbeat. Lessons learned: never drive more than 5 hours in one day, plan stops of around three nights (one-nighters are not fun) and take time to smell the ocean, the meadows and the flowers.

Trailer People!

Murphys, Ca. -- This summer we traveled almost 3,000 miles in a giant loop from home in the mountains to the coast, to Eastern Washington state, and back home again via the coast. We dodged fire, smoke and heat along the way. More important we saw beloved family and friends, plus enough scenic grandeur to satisfy John Muir. We had a wonderful trip with no big problems or challenges and lots of serindipity. Only regret is that we did not have enough time or energy to see everybody, or stay longer. First, some data: Our route took us from Murphys, Ca., to Fort Bragg and Patricks Point on the norther Redwood coast of California to Bandon, Oregon, Scapoose, Oregon, and the Columbia River pathway to Spokane, Washington. The trip home followed a similar route to avoid smoke and fire and heat. We stayed in campgrounds for three weeks every night but three, and our traveling home was our almost-new NuCamp Tab 320, a small trailer that we could pull behind Pat's Subaru and had all the essentials: comfortable bed, a refrigerator, and a toilet.

We made the trip easier by taking our time-- no ten hour driving days and usually stopping for several nights so we were rested and had time for exploring. The first stop was about six hours to the coast near Fort Bragg, as MacKerrichner State Park, where we had stayed before. I hiked over the dune to the beach for a look before sunset.

And then we got up early the next morning and drove out to the point where we whipped out the Coleman stove, a made fresh coffee to go with sunrise on the beach.

Then we drove an easy trip through the redwoods up to Sue-Meg State Park, formerly known as Patricks Point. We gather here every summer with family, a tradition started years ago by son-in-law Brian Gray's family. We've been here for more than 15 year and it never gets old. We are outnumbered by Grays but they have always made us welcome. The sunset photo at the top of this post is from the trail near the campground, where we gather almost every evening to watch and see if the sun will really set. Our camp site, located across from Ruth and Brian and next door to the rest of the Gray family, was like a scene from a Disney movie. First the birds come, and then the chipmunks, and then the rabbits. Every day.

I had never seen a rabbit or a Stellars Jay lie down on the ground to soak up sun, or a rabbit ignore me five feet away while it munches on a green leaf.

We had a great relaxing time with family, and our Calaveras friends Mark and Pat McCormick stopped by on their way to visit family. We always enjoy the Gray family and have been close for over 35 years. After a week we traveled north to Bullard Beach State Park in Oregon, near Bandon. As we have found elsewhere, the Oregon campground is well designed, offering privacy, maintained well with clean rest rooms and staffed by friendly people. A highlight was a campfire program by the Old Time Fiddlers group, a bunch of traditional musicians almost as old as I am. I sang along with every tune.

A short drive brought us into Brandon and good seafood and a visit to the lighthouse and a unique art gallery.

Aftyer three days in and around Brandon, we moved north to a quick visit with our Sacramento/Mexico,Sailing friends Michael and Sylvia. They live in a floating home on a tributary of the Columbia river and have the waterfront views and toys to go with the lifestyle.

Here is a shot of Pat trying out Sylvia's new water cycle. Now she wants one.

The next two days were traveling, mostly along the Columbia River, to get to our furthermost goal -- Spokane -- and our son, granddaughter and our two great-grandchildren. That will come in Part Two!