Our pacific northwest adventure

[TravisandMarla]

We left Oklahoma on August 3rd, heading off towards Oregon without much of a plan or time schedule. It was a great trip but we would have loved it more if we had a four wheel camper. Here's how we camped......see first pics
The Columbia river gorge/ Hood River valley & Mountain was the first stop and it was a treat. Our trip took us to Portland, up to Brementon, over to Seattle on the ferry then on to Anacourtes. We boarded the Washington State Ferry for a trip through the San Juan Islands exploring San Juan, Lopez and Camping at Moran S.P. on Orcus Island. After heading back to the mainland we explored all of the Washington Coast, two favorite places were Neah Bay, Cape Flatterly and Pacific Beach (the town). We then explored Astoria, Ft. stevens state park and the entire Oregon Coast favorite places were Brighton Marina at Nehalem Bay, Sunset Bay S.P. and all points south of Coos Bay. At Smith River, California we stayed at the Ship to Shore motel right on the smith river after spending the day on Pelican Beach a very lovely day. We enjoyed Crescent City and the Redwood National Forest, spent Labor Day weekend at a free national forest campground right on the Smith River, beautiful and relaxing.

 

[TravisandMarla]

con't. NW adventure

We left northern California and headed up Hwy 199 to Grants Pass and on to Crater Lake which was beautiful. After that we headed east through the Oregon high desert on dark two lane roads, we found a rest stop just as the rain started and crawled (and I do mean crawled) in the back to sleep. The next day we drove through Idaho heading towards The Tetons and Yellowstone. A mud slide closed Hwy 26 so we camped at Palisades Dam Campground. We spent 3 days at Yellowstone then headed out towards Cody and Mount Rushmore. That was another drive on a dark two lane road (hwy 14), through the big horn mts. it started sleeting but we finally made it to Sheridian where we overnighted in the Wal Mart parking lot. We took a well deserved break in a motel in Keystone, South Dakota visiting Mt. Rushmore and taking several scenic drives. Then we started on our long drive home. We loved the way we traveled but decided that a pop up camper would make things sooooo much better and a four wheel fits our needs perfect. Hope we find one before out next trip....

 

[flinchlock]

Wow... Great Pictures!

I especially like the the 2nd picture with the two "wine flasks" to the left of the Adidas bag.

Mike

 

[chnlisle]

I remember camping like that and it wasnt so long ago ('05). Great pix.

 

[SunMan]

Nice pics indeed ...especailly love that area of Washington, never made it to Neah Bay and have always wanted to...I've heard great things about it. A campers heaven when the weather cooperates.

 

[erod]

great pics!

 

[Sam]

Nice pictures. I think many of us had your same set up before we got the FWC, the shell is not a bad way to go, light, low, & simple but when the weather hits it's nice to have the FWC.

Are you camper shopping while you travel? It seems like your best chance to find one will be while you are out West.

Good luck with your search.

 

[kcowyo]

Great trip and great post!

We've travelled some of the same great places. I'm enamored too with the Coos Bay area. I've joked to several friends if I ever have to go into hiding or a witness protection program, Bandon would be my first choice. Neah Bay is spectacular and well worth the drive out there.

My very first night in my FWC was on the Palisades Resevoir ( I found mine Sun Valley, ID) and I do a Cody & Yellowstone tour every Memorial Day. You two sure saw a lot of great country. I hope a FWC finds its way to you soon.

What's the scoop with the bus in the crevice photo?

But I think your way of travelling is great for stealthy, non-attention getting wanderings. And you've given me an idea for a new thread.....

 

[DLN]

Great pictures and trip report, thanks. A FWC would be an excellent way to take that trip, Good Luck.

 

[TravisandMarla]

I thought someone might pick up on the "wine flasks" and get a kick out of them. We purchased "them" on our honeymoon 29 years ago in an antique shop in Shawnee, OK. They have came in verrrrrry handy.

 

[TravisandMarla]

I'm sending a few pics of Neah Bay, we bought the absolute best smoked salmon there. There was a nice campgound with several surfers there catching the waves.

 

[TravisandMarla]

kcowyo, The bus in the crevice is a tunnel on the Needles hwy in Custer State Park, South Dakota. Everyone had to pull over and wait until the bus inched his way through.

 

[Brian]

Travis and Marla....

Thanks so much for the great pix....looks like you two like your adventures! Good luck on finding a camper....there seem to be plenty out there if a person is patient.
Cheers,
Brian

 

[kcowyo]

kcowyo, The bus in the crevice is a tunnel on the Needles hwy in Custer State Park, South Dakota.
Gotcha.

I was hoping to take my kids to Mt. Rushmore and Custer SP over Memorial Day recently but they came down with some bug and we had to cancel. I hope I can get over there again at some point. I'll keep an eye out for that section and any tour buses.

Your Neah Bay photos are bringing back some great memories. I really enjoyed their museum and the whale hunting culture. Looks like you two got lucky and had decent weather during your time there. All I got were pictures of fog....

 

[smileyd]

Great Trip!

Incredible! .
Your pictures are beautiful. What a great trip.


We found our used camper on http://www.craigslist.com