Two months

 Tomorrow marks the start of month 3 of this little adventure. On a drizzly, nothing planned Saturday, it seemed appropriate to bring you up to date on some stats.

 Since leaving, our faithful Maggie has traveled 3522 miles. Consuming around 440 gallons of diesel. Have not calculated that real cost yet as my heart could not stand the shock. Maybe that is why our financial adviser called and mentioned something about getting a job.....

 Have not tracked mileage on the Jeep but it is less than a thousand I am sure.

Traveled in 7 states

Camped in 17 different parks. Both commercial and state parks.

Visited 11 National Parks and or National Monuments

 We have a long way to go yet, the budget is in shreds so what the hell. ONWARD we go.

Making memories and seeing places only dreamed of. My bucket list is getting shorter and shorter.

Next post from somewhere not a national park, but a place I dearly wanted to stay near. It is important to me, and selfish or not I planned for it as much as any other stop on this sojourn.



"...gather ye rosebuds while ye may..."

Mount St Helens

 The statistics are staggering, just as what you watched on tv probably, but more so in person

as it looks today 6/29/18

 Ok, I am 38 years late to get a before and after photo so I took a photo of a photo.

 Now a picture circa 1980

 There is 1300ft less elevation in the second picture. Rim to rim of the crater is a mile. Think about how much material that entails. Solid rock. It had been bulging out the north face for some time then a earthquake caused a massive landslide (largest ever). That landslide took the holding pressure off and she blew her top big time, laterally not vertically. Something like 68,000 acres of trees downed in minuets. The sediment from the explosion, and erosion flowed down the Toutle river valley.

 The sediment in that valley is up to 100ft thick. Where the river met the Columbia, 45 plus miles away, it blocked the Columbia till it could be dredged out. (some 20ft deep of sludge in the river). Mind boggling numbers.

 Yet with all the tall trees gone there is now greater bio diversity than there was prior.

 The Johnston Ridge observatory is named for David Johnston. He was the geologist on duty monitoring the mountain. His last words via radio "Vancouver, Vancouver this is it" They never found his body. Old Harry Truman who would not leave his lodge is somewhere under 200ft of ash/mountaintop. He was old, 85, maybe a little crazy but I tell you this. He stayed with that mountain rumbling less than a mile away. In  my book he had a pair of brass balls as big as they get. Talk about standing your ground. He said that lodge and lake meant more to him than life. He proved it.

V I D E O

seize the day my friends

can you stand your ground?

Washington

 We have moved about a hundred miles or so to Seaquest SP outside Castle Rock WA. Our reason for coming here is to tour Mt Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument. Where were you May 18, 1980? We got here in time to tour a visitor center run by the state. Nice layout, very informative. One thing I learned that I did not know, or had forgot, was the eruption took off 1300 ft of height from the mountain. Think about that a minute or so. That is a lot of mass hurled northward at nearly 400 miles per hour. Will drive up to it tomorrow and hope it is clear.

Summer 2018 travel map


more to come about St Helens


carpe diem

Falls and fishes videos

In using my phone as a hot spot with limited connectivity, (1 maybe 2 bars), have learned early morning is best speed. Few towers get congested in evenings slowing things down.

As promised some videos




 Wild fish making their way up the fish ladder to get around dam. Would love to see it when the salmon are running upriver to spawn.

 Inside the visitor center you have these underwater viewpoints to watch them. Smaller fish seemed to do better, bigger fish visibly tired. Look for the eel, spooky looking especially in bunches. He cheated and held on to glass

 A good side by side (so to speak) comparison of video via Youtube and those via blogger.


Another beautiful morning in the Pacific Northwest


carpe diem

Falls and fishes

 Spent the day playing tourist so will provide slide show and commentary. Videos as well but internet is s-l-o-w so they will have to wait

 About half as tall as Yosemite but beautiful none the less. Prior to fire you could hike to top and also stand on that bridge. Funny side note: while in Virginia City I was wearing my Brice Canyon t-shirt. Man asked me had I been there and I replied that I had indeed, He said it and Multnomah falls were his bucket list. I checked it off for you kind sir.

Bob would be proud of us!

release a 41 inch fish because it is too small!!

hatchery trout

nice size rainbow trout

see next photo for expanation

inside historical power house, Bonneville Dam

 Hopefully in the morning can upload videos of falls plus fish going up and thru fish ladder. Winding down our stay here in the Gorge.



still double checking what type 'buds' we be collecting here in the wild northwest!


seize the day my friends

Culture shock part two: state laws

Did you know that in Oregon you cannot pump your own gasoline? An attendant is not always around so it creates awkward moments. Can I touch the pump, is it OK to pull out hose when done? Also had one attendant see our Texas plates, comment he was from Texas, then said "you know what to do, I have others to help"...

 Did you know that in Oregon you can buy marijuana/pot. Recreational use or medicinal. Years ago you had to know a guy that knew a guy in order to buy a little baggie for a couple of bucks. Yes, I have in answer to your question. I may go into a store to look around, NOT purchase. See what has become of that little baggie....

 Seriously folks you can't make this stuff up!



guess I better check what those rosebuds really are that we are gathering...

Columbia, culture shock and more

 After leaving La Pine we followed 97 north till it intersected I-84 at the Columbia river. One thing I was not expecting was all the wheat fields we drove past. Far more than we have seen in Kansas or Iowa. We then followed the Columbia river gorge westward till we stopped for lunch just west of the Dalles. Always looking for a spot that is big enough I chose the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. More information can be found HERE This is a very nice and informative museum with a lot of information on the area, from ice age forward.

Summer 2018 travel map


 The Columbia river was 'tamed' in the name of flood control and power generation back in the 1920's. Would have loved to see it as it was. One exhibit dealt with the salmon decline since the '20's. Staggering drop in the numbers.

 We then proceeded west to our campground. I had told you before that the camp ground was affected by the fire last year. We saw pictures and statistics of it and they were staggering. Well we are camped in an area that is technically closed to the public. We sit just off the historic Columbia river highway. More HERE We had to show our reservations and must go thru a guard entering and leaving. The old highway is closed from our point westward for about ten miles. We cannot walk or ride on it or risk fines and expulsion from the park. With all that we are still positioned well to visit many things.

 Today brought us to Portland Saturday market. For those of you familiar with First monday trade days in Canton; think of an upscale version on steroids

Elbow to elbow people. Crowded and these photos do not capture the insanity. We looked around a bit, decided we were underfunded to contribute to the economy so we moved on. Next stop was an old mansion/museum Mary had found. Read more HERE. Very nice and impressive house. Well ahead of it's time. Of all the old mansions we have visited, this is my favorite by far

nice view of Portland

some of what that view can show

 Cultural shock:

 Remember back in Reno when I complained about street people in the river walk area. Well that was nothing compared to Portland. Even with all the people downtown for the market there were homeless sleeping everywhere. Hundreds of them maybe. We live in a poor city in the poorest county in Texas yet NO homeless street people have we seen. Why is that? To make things even worse, never have I needed to watch where I stepped in a parking lot

used(?) needles

 There you are caught up for now. If you would like to see more of the La Pine/Bend area check out one of the blogs I follow. He post great photos and was just in the area. we may even run into them later. His blog HERE

"...gather ye rosebuds while ye may..."

Lava lands

 Just what you have been waiting for, some absolutely horrible photos. At least they will serve to jog my memory, until i lose that. Part of the national monument is lava lands. We walked on obsidian, why not lava? What you came to Oregon to do right?

came as a bit of a surprise to us

lava flow with Mt. Bachelor and the three sisters, left to right

Mary in middle of lava flow hike

I agree and it is much more varied than I expected

I could get used to drinking this stuff!!!

 Just trying to catch up a little while i have some connectivity. Today brings trip to Portland for THIS


 Back home there is nearly two feet of water in parts of the neighborhood. Bad situation. Now heat warnings with all that water and peoples air conditioners are out due to being flooded. I have offered up our home to any who want/need to get out of the heat. Our home sits a little higher and was spared any damage.



sieze the day my friends

Deja vue all over again

 No tv and marginal internet once again...

 We left Brookings and followed the coastline northward via 101. Beautiful drive hampered somewhat by intermittent fog along the coast. From Coos Bay we took 42 over to Roseburg then 138 over to La Pine. That part of the drive was thru a scenic river canyon.


Summer 2018 map

 In La Pine we were just north of where we stayed at Collier in Chiloquin. Yes, there is a method and reason to my madness

 Now we were in the high desert, but it really was mostly scrub pine. Nice area in summer, would not want to deal with the snow in winter.

 The other crater


 Most everyone knows about Crater Lake, we showed you pics of it earlier. How about the other crater with 2 lakes? Come visit Newberry Volcanic National Monument

 Have walked in old lava flows in Hawaii and New Mexico. Must say have never seen nor walked upon an obsidian flow. Did not expect to do so in Oregon.

 Well, we have been all about big trees of late so why stop now. Apologies in that my camera was focused somewhere else at the beginning. Also said I was going to quit using blogger for videos. Limited data connectivity and the desire to post regularly will make a liar out of me. Remember to click twice on play button and once on full screen icon in lower right corner for best results. Also click to enlarge the photos.

 More to come but I have to transfer/organize/resize photos before I can upload for you to enjoy.

 We could envision spending winters in South Texas and summers up here....


gathering rosebuds along life's highways,

Way behind

We have been off the grid so are way behind. If we have internet at next campground will try and catch up.

 Let's see: no satellite tv, no over the air tv, no internet...we were camping old school like we did for years, except in a tent then.

 Currently stopped for lunch on the banks of the Columbia river. A lot to tell you about....


Chasing windblown Roseburg! Thought Maggie was taking up kite surfing!

Redwood wrap

 No that is not some west coast, new age sandwich. It just means we are done with redwoods for now

see, I was truthful!

Inspection stations and welcome centers:

 We are familiar with Border patrol checkpoints. Go thru one every time we head north. Because of our back roads route went thru 5 or 6 before leaving Texas and another in New Mexico. Familiar with welcome centers. States have them to welcome visitors. Free information, sometimes free water and other items

 Because of our route we have entered California 5 times. No welcome centers, although we did see a sign for one but could not find it. What they do have is agricultural inspection stations. All vehicles must stop.

 I have friends that are native Californians, no offense to them but California sucks. High taxes, high prices, stupid laws, no water. We will never return if I can possibly avoid it. I dreaded this part of our trip and am glad it is in our review mirror.

 We have been on the coast, now we move to the high desert for awhile. Will post again in a couple of days.



carpe diem

I am trying, really I am

 As the title says, I am trying. I need James and Debbie and their photographic equipment and expertise. No matter how hard I try, I cannot capture in the photo what my eyes see. The colors and contrast are never as sharp as reality





Have been shooting videos with the DSLR instead of action cam. Less stuff to carry and except for problems doing a smooth zoom I am mostly happy with result.

 We drove up the coast about 20 miles thru a scenic area. Lovely coastline unlike anything we are used to seeing. Tomorrow brings one last visit to California to see the redwoods. You can anticipate a commentary from me after that trip. Hopefully you will enjoy my feeble attempts to capture natures splendor

 Have enjoyed our stay in Brookings, may return some day.





carpe diem

Maggie's magnets and more

 Like most females Maggie gets upset if you do not pay attention to her bling. Well since she has picked up eight new magnets this trip I thought it best to update one and all, so you could pay proper homage and help keep her vanity in line

 Today being Saturday it was farmers market day at one location and craft day at the harbor. Enjoyed both and bought a few items

 Had a great lunch at a fair price, (must not be in California!) in a local seafood place. It was at the harbor.

  Yeah, we ain't in Texas...

 We then did some provisioning at the local market. When we came back to camp we decided to climb Mt Everest. Ok, maybe it was not Everest but it was STEEP going to top.

yes, middle of June. needed heavier jacket

can you find Mary on trail?

 Finally if we ever get a wild hair and decide to downsize RV's like we did houses, this might be it.

 More tomorrow from Lake Wobegone....oops meant to Brookings Oregon.

"...gather ye rosebuds while ye may..."