The Olympic Peninsula provides a wide diversity of weather and sights. The leeward side is ‘advertised’ as a “blue hole” of sunny skies, calm seas and little rain. Unlike the rain coast, which houses the Olympic NP rainforests! So – for us it rained everywhere;-(!! But, that was OK as ‘windows’ of good weather were found to achieve the objective – which was to enter the NP from two little visited areas – and see a few WA state parks while at it.

The Olympic NP was established by FDR in 1937, and when looking at a map the massive, mountain interior of the Olympic Peninsula is pretty much all NP. It is made up of a mountain wonderland in the middle and east, lake country to the north and northwest and rocky beaches and rain forests on the west.

First up – Staircase, a well kept secret of Olympic NP. Possibly because in order to get to this area of the park, one must travel about 13 miles on an unpaved road out of Hoodsport. Much of that road parallels Lake Cushman – which provides its own beautiful sights – –

Staircase features a number of subalpine hiking trails in the old-growth forests surrounding Mount Ellinor. Today’s hike would be the Staircase Rapids Loop Trail, which would take us on bridges across the Slate Creek and the North Fork Skokomish River, through striking forests, around moss covered rocks (everywhere!) and even send a blue jay to escort us!

Moving on – E & G

Definitely one of our favorites – Chelan provides a beautiful glacier fed lake, cute little town and an awesome RV park (City of Chelan Lakeshore RV Park) right on the lake. It is also the gateway to the southeast corner of North Cascades NP, which you can only get to via a ferry ride north 50 miles on the lake to Stehekin and then an 11 mile hike or bus ride to the entrance to the park. You kinda have to want to get to this one, but the journey is fantastic!! AND, since the getting there is so difficult there aren’t very many people. Also, there are no internet or cell connections and no TV. One can truly disconnect and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. There are two additional benefits – one is that Stehekin is adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail just 80 miles from the end of the journey at the Canadian border and the second is that there is a delicious bakery just two miles from the ferry landing (and the Lodge).

Having visited Stehekin previously for just a day trip on the ferry, it was a desire to return – for the bakery and to visit with all the hikers coming off the trail to eat and reprovision. So – it was time to board the Lady of the Lake and head to the Lodge for a couple of days and all that Stehekin has to offer;-)

The bakery – Stehekin Pastry Company – is exactly two miles from the Lodge. This became our ‘breakfast/lunch walk’ for the three days in Stehekin (a replacement for the two mile one way walk to Starbucks at home). This is where one gets to visit with all the hikers off ‘the Trail’ and hear their tales. Fascinating!! It is now late September and those that started at the Mexico border began their trek in late April or early May. Over 120 days hiking and about 2500 miles;-( They have much more energy and resolve than we do.

A typical hike for folks like us is the 7 mile round trip hike to Rainbow Falls (1.5 miles past the Bakery – so a stop there makes it palatable;-) On the way, one passes the 100 year old Stehekin School. After looking in on the old, it was good to see a new school has taken its place just up the road.

Getting to the North Cascades NP entrance from this direction was a must and an 11 mile hike (22 miles round trip) was NOT on our agenda! So – we found a CanAm to rent for a couple of hours to check out High Bridge and to get to the park entrance. Off we go – – –

Other sights of Stehekin that ‘entertain’ one during their visit include the Red NP Busses that will get one from the Lodge to the Bakery and High Bridge, if you are willing to abide by their schedule;-( There are many other sights that amuse – but the upload time won’t allow for many!

The stay in Stehekin was awesome! It is a world away that only takes 2.5 hours to get to. Try it sometime.

A stop would not be complete for us if there wasn’t a round or two of golf. Gamble Sands (about 40 minutes north of Chelan in Brewster) is the top rated course in Washington state and it is easy to see why. There are panoramic vistas of the Cascade Mountains and Columbia River on every hole. Designed by David McLay Kidd the course is built in the middle of apple orchards and vineyards as a links course. Therefore, one never knows what kind of roll one is going to get. Actually – quite a fun round although freezing cold on this particular day;-)

Bear Mountain Ranch was a little closer to town, the weather was better – but the course was MEAN!! It did have beautiful views of Lake Chelan, the apple orchards and vineyards all around – –

It was VERY hard to leave this beautiful area. Definitely one of our favorites. But, the time came to say goodbye to Lake Chelan and then to the Columbia River, which we had been following for about a week.

It is always sad to leave Chelan and Stehekin – there is such beauty and remoteness that is hard to duplicate. AND – It makes life so simple;-)

But, as always, we must move on. So – with a tear in the eye we head west to the Fjord of Hood Canal and another remote entry to another NP. Stay tuned;-)

E & G off on another adventure

So – MiniMagic and Magic Carpet headed north to Yellowstone NP. ALWAYS taking the road less travelled, the Pioneer Historic Byway was the route this morning. Sights such as the Soda Springs Geyser, a landmark on the Oregon Trail attracting pioneers to its mineral springs, and the Bear River Massacre Site, where the single largest massacre of Native Americans by US troops west of the Mississippi took place, were seen along the way. On a more positive note, there was beautiful scenery including fall colors, which were sadly lacking in Park City;-(

Our home base while visiting Yellowstone would be Gardiner, MT, the little town at the North Entrance to the park, which is guarded by the Roosevelt Arch. A wonderful structure that probably would NOT be approved today, it provides a grand entryway to the first National Park. In 1903, the arch was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt, who laid the cornerstone. It is composed of hundreds of tons of native columnar basalt that were hauled from a nearby quarry and rises 50 feet high. The inscription on the plaque on the Arch is from the 1872 legislation that established the National Park: “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People”. We love this area of the Park and drive through the Arch every chance we get;-)

Gardiner is only a short 5 miles to Mammoth Hot Springs, a favorite area of ours for so many reasons. Since it is at the very northwest corner of the park (and some distance from Old Faithful), it is not as heavily visited. Yet it is full of history, ever-changing travertine terraces AND herds of elk;-)!!

Just imagine in 1872 the creation of a “National Park” -the first NP – and what that might have meant. It was established as such to protect the land, its features and the animals. But, there was no Bureau or National Park Rangers to watch over the land or administer/admonish visitors. But, now people were coming to see what was so beautiful and unusual that it had to be protected and saved for “the enjoyment of the people”. Visitors were just as stupid then as now – jumping into bubbling pools, throwing rocks into geysers and climbing on fragile ecosystems. Finally the US Army was called upon to protect the park in its first decades. Therefore, an Army fort was originally housed at Mammoth Hot Springs and one can still take a self-guided tour of the installation.

Travertine Terraces are also found at Mammoth Hot Springs, where the interactions of water and limestone create chalk-white travertine. These terraces are among the fastest changing features in the park. Canary Spring is a beautiful cascade of terraces – and just happened to provide a resting area for a bugling stag elk and his harem the day of our visit – –

The Lamar Valley drive is a must when visiting Yellowstone. It is home to herds of bison and elk AND black and grizzly bears as well as wolves. Unfortunately, no wolf sightings this trip and the only bear was some distance away. But, lots of other wildlife.

If one continues out the northeast entrance of the Park, it is possible to experience the Beartooth Scenic Byway. Designated an All-American Road in 2002, it has been described as ‘the most beautiful drive in America’. This 68-mile drive reaches heights of nearly 11,000′ and offers skycap views of snowcapped peaks glaciers, alpine lakes and plateaus. Here we go on a new experience – and one that should have come long ago!

Another day and back into the Park – today was geyser day. First up – Norris Geyser Basin, the park’s hottest, most dynamic geyser basin. It includes Steamboat, the world’s tallest geyser. Unfortunately, Steamboat is VERY unpredictable erupting every 3 days to 50 years!! It did go off on 9/11/21 at 6:39 in the morning – but we missed it;-( The Basin is a must (sometimes one needs lunch first, though!).

A short drive south to Lower Geyser Basin and another favorite – The Great Fountain Geyser on the Firehole Lake Drive. The Great Fountain Geyser is a little more predictable than Steamboat, as it goes off almost every day. The hour varies but is estimated by the park rangers +/- 2 hours. So – everyone just goes out, parks and waits – with several hundred of one’s closest friends – –

Yellowstone NP is truly a wonder to behold. Get out there and enjoy it!!!

And, if you are camping, consider Rocky Mountain Campground in Gardner. It is the best and comes with a herd of elk that bugle morning and night and wander through the campground. What could be better?!?!

And it was time for us to move on, also. It is very hard to say good-bye to Yellowstone. But, we’ll be back for more I’m sure. For now, on to Chelan with a temporary stop at a wonderful little campground (Nugget RV Park) in St. Regis, MT.

Can’t say enough about our National Parks – except get out and find out how wonderful they are for yourselves!!!

Enjoying – E & G

Summers are always awesome in Park City, and this year was no exception. Great weather, reunions with friends, cheap golf, amazing hikes – what more could anyone ask for? One just needed to be careful as it was never known where someone might be watching to see if you were vaccinated, wearing your mask or staying home if feeling ill;-)

Frequent dinners with old friends and neighbors kept us busy several nights a week. This summer we were also fortunate to have several sets of friends come and enjoy what Park City has to offer. The Miller’s and Plumley’s – both from Scottsdale – decided to escape the AZ heat for the month of July. This gave us plenty of time to enjoy many dinners, golf and drives with each. It was great fun showing the Plumley’s that sometimes the shortest distance to a destination is NOT the most fun. They got to experience a several hour drive (instead of 1 1/2 hr.) to Evanston, WY via Mirror Lake in the Uinta’s, where a cinnamon roll and coffee break was enjoyed in a beautiful setting.

Next up were the Malone’s, who stayed with us for several days. This allowed for two days of golf and a favorite hike in the Uinta’s to Wall Lake.

Gary Solberg was our next visitor. But, before he arrived the Park City Art Fest returned after COVID required a cancellation last year. The Friday night ‘Locals Night’ is always a MUST to attend. The talent on display from artisans from all over the US is something to see and enjoy.

Then Soulman arrived. Another opportunity for a hike to Wall Lake – this time with Gary and friend Sally.

A new experience for us with Soulman. During a day trip to Sundance, Ray’s and Arrowhead lifts took us to the best chicken burrito ever at Bearclaw Cabin!!! Oh – and the views toward Deer Creek and Utah lake were also spectacular!

The weather and terrain in Park City provide the perfect situation for beautiful hikes. A few favorites include Dawn’s Trail, Armstrong and Loose Moose. Great for enjoying a little exercise with friends;-)

Then there are the animals. Moose, deer, turkeys, sand hill cranes, blue herons – AND, strangest of all – a VespaDoodle?!?!

Moose always amaze and entertain us. This year a cow and her calf spent several days in ‘our yard’ and just outside one of our windows. Needless to say, many hours were spent watching these two.

The best part of Park City is all the friends and the time we get to enjoy with them during the summer months. Sally is a hiking, dinner, theater and exploring friend. She has held together quite well for the last year and a half as she has done a major remodel of her house. Last year we had dinner in her bedroom, which was just studs and plywood at the time. This year was to be a nice dinner on her beautiful new deck. Only the rain decided that was not to be. So – the second annual dinner party in her bedroom, this time completed;-)

We were also included in the 90th Birthday celebration for our ‘old’ next door neighbor’s Mother. What fun to share the afternoon with Bobbye – –

Another friend, Phyllis, from AZ – who we loved and enjoyed spending time with during the summers (she also spent summers in PC and lived next door to friend Sally) sadly passed away in PC this past month. We were so fortunate to know her and will miss her greatly.

And so, the sun sets on our summer in Park City. It is time to see what new is in store for us in the coming months.

Thank you to all our wonderful friends that fill up our lives;-) See you next year –

E & G headed north

So – today’s drive was another four hours north on the Oregon coast leaving plenty of time for all those stops that might be found as ‘necessary’;-) And, what do you know? The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport caught our eye. This wonderful facility invites one to immerse themselves in the mysteries of the ocean. It is a living classroom and, therefore, a vital educational resource for the state. The Aquarium plays an active role in conservation and animal rehabilitation efforts. The displays are captivating! Well worth the time. (AND, there is an excellent, family owned fish restaurant a block away – Fishtails Cafe!)

Full of chatter about the otters and stomachs full, time to continue north. Guess what was found next? Yep – Tillamook, Oregon. Even better than the cheese (which is the best) is the ice cream!! Again, we came away with our stomachs FULL, as well as the refrigerator and freezer;-) By the way – our route home was altered for one more stop at Tillamook for the BEST grilled cheese sandwich and more ice cream.

Fort Stevens State Park Campground was the destination – and finally reached. The campground is huge with approximately 500 sites. BUT, the real gem is the military installation, which saw 84 years of service from the Civil War to WWII! Yes – the Civil War. The original earthen fort was completed in 1865 to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from Confederate gun boats and the British Navy, which Lincoln believed would side with the south and try to attack from the west. The post later served as Oregon’s only coastal defense fort during the Spanish-American War, WWI and WWII. It is the only military fort in the US to be fired upon by an enemy during war time since the War of 1812, when it was attacked by a Japanese submarine on June 21, 1942. Wandering the grounds is amazing – but, a tour is the best! Views are pretty good, too – –

Mixing a little history with pure fun – head to Seaside (the Coney Island of the west coast!). Pig ‘N Pancake is a good place to start with a great breakfast;-) Then one can shop, eat ice cream, walk the boardwalk along the ocean – even ride a bumper car! Does that take you back a few years?!?! (Just an FYI for the ‘older folks who might be golfers’ – just north of Seaside is a gem of a course, Gearhart. It was founded in 1892 with three holes strewn across sand dunes – making it the oldest course in Oregon and west of the Mississippi! It is now a fabulous 18 hole course.)

For those “The Goonies” aficionados (“The Goonies” is a 1985 film produced by Steven Spielberg and has developed a bit of a cult following), Astoria is the Mecca, as much of the film was shot here. So, for the Shoe Crew, this is what they had been waiting for. The tour of the various filming sites starts at what is now The Oregon Film Museum which served as the county jail in the movie. Outside is the actual jeep that was used by the Fratellis in the movie.

Next up is the Goonies house. Fortunately for the Goonies followers, the owners of the house welcome the visitors just asking for respect of property and parking restrictions. A neighbor indicated there is typically a steady stream of visitors up and down their street to see this landmark.

Another location is Ecola State Park, a little south of Astoria near Cannon Beach (a charming little coastal town great for exploring, shopping and eating). This is the backdrop where the Goonies search for the start of the treasure map they are searching for. A BIG hit with the Shoe crew;-)

Back to Astoria for a landmark – the Astoria Column. The Column was erected in 1926, sits atop Coxcomb Hill and is a unique work of Northwest art offering a view of the meeting of many the roads taken by those who conquered this land. The Column itself is beautiful as is the view of the Columbia River over to Washington state.

Only a couple of days left of this year’s adventure, so off to show the granddaughters Salem, the capital of Oregon. The route took us through Tillamook for one last helping of ice cream and a side trip to Corvallis to see the University – –

And so – this trip ends. It is the hope that there will be fond memories of a couple more NP’s – but, the Goonies and Tillamook ice cream may be the most vivid memories;-) Oh yes – and the mosquitoes, which became known as “little shits”!! There is so much beauty in our country – please get out and enjoy it and share it with your family.

E & G with many fond memories from these 2 1/2 weeks;-)

Our new home for 3 whole days was Honeyman State Park Campground, which borders on the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area just south of Florence, OR, and maintains approximately 400 campsites! With three days, there was a little down time to do mundane tasks like laundry, shopping and to spend afternoons painting rocks to leave on the hiking trails;-)

The big draw in this area is the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area – one of the largest expanses of coastal sand dunes in the world. A place where dunes, forests and the ocean come into close proximity of one another. Recognizing the unique qualities of the land, Congress designated this 31,500 acre portion of the Siuslaw National Forest as a National Recreation Area. Yea for us!! And today we were off to experience ‘the Dunes’ – –

Scaring ourselves silly was not enough enough excitement for one day – so off to the Sea Lion cave and the Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Sea Lion Caves is a connected system of sea caves and caverns open to the Pacific Ocean where Steller sea lions and cubs take shelter each year. Today there were LOTS of sea lions playing in the surf or just sunning themselves.

While at the Sea Lion Caves, one has a great view of the Heceta Head Lighthouse, perched atop 1,000′ high Heceta Head. The light in the 56′ tower was first illuminated in 1894. It can be seen 21 miles from land and is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon coast. Perhaps we should go check it out – –

Well, as long as you go this far north might as well go a few miles farther to Yachats – a funky little town with a couple of good restaurants. And, it was dinner time. So after a quick stroll around town and a stop a the rock shop, we were off to dinner.

Honeyman SP also had a couple of lakes within walking distance of the campground. So, one needs to take a walk and investigate because you never know what you might see – –

Another great stay and a National Recreation Area. But, as always, this too had to come to an end as Astoria was calling. Besides, we were all still brushing sand out of our ears and hair;-(!!!!

E & G – still having fun;-)

Travel days are meant to be short – that is fewer miles – so there can be many stops along the way. As one never knows what might be found in the journey?!?

This particular day the drive was 114 miles from Redcrest to Klamath, CA. Maybe 2.5 hours – UNLESS one gets sidetracked. Like at Big Lagoon County Park – about lunch time. This is a great day-use area with an excellent view while eating lunch and a great beach for agate hunting. Take advantage of it all;-)

The 114 miles were finally covered and one of our favorite RV parks – Klamath River RV Park – had welcomed us and provided our spots right on the river. A perfect home base for the next three days;-)

The Redwood NP and State Parks represent a rare cooperative management effort of the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation that includes Redwood NP and 3 Redwood State Parks. Together these parks are a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve that protect cherished resources. These parks, just as those a little to the south, house the world’s tallest living tree and a living link to the Age of the Dinosaurs. It is amazing that these ‘beings’ grow to ages of 2,000 years, weighing up to 500 tons, standing taller than the Statue of Liberty – and all from a seed the size of a tomato seed.

A favorite (and must do) drive is the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, which is an eight-mile stretch of the original Redwood Highway. It provides one of the parks’ most scenic drives through old-growth redwood forest and Elk Prairie. While the parks house an abundant diversity of wildlife, the Roosevelt elk is a dominate sight especially at – Elk Prairie. They are the parks largest land mammal, sometimes exceeding 1,000 pounds. This morning they provided great entertainment.

Since our RV Park was on the Klamath River just where it met the ocean, we found that a short walk took us to the beach and a feeding ground for the seals. This afternoon it was just about dinner time (after a nap) – –

Many fantastic hikes can be had in this area. The Tall Trees Hike is a favorite, but now one must get a reservation to enjoy this area (this can be done online). Unfortunately, this was news to us – so an alternative had to be found. A perfect suggestion was provided by the friendly rangers at the Visitor Center at Elk Prairie – the Prairie Creek Trail to the Cathedral Trees Trail. This trail was fabulous and is now our No. 1 fav! See for yourself – –

The Trees of Mystery were more up the girls’ alley than the grandparents hikes, at this point. So – off to some fun and adventure. Paul Bunyan and Babe greet you and entice you to walk into this grove of redwoods, across hanging bridges and up to the top of the mountain in a tram for far-reaching views. Even those a little faint of heart at heights braved the trek;-)

Another three days and another NP for the granddaughters;-) Sadly, it is time to leave the mighty Redwoods and all their majesty – but, sand dunes are calling.

E & G – onward and northward

The Avenue of the Giants is a must drive when in the northern California area just south of Eureka. The Giants are the Redwoods, which are majestic and have a magical aura about them. We were fortunate enough to be in a quaint little RV park in the middle of “The Avenue” in Redcrest – Redcrest RV Park. And, the best part is that we were the only ones in the park. So we had it all to ourselves;-)

From this fantastic base, we discovered the area beginning with one of our favorite little towns – Ferndale, CA. This little Victorian town has great shopping, pizza parlors, ice cream and the most beautiful cemetery. All wonderful for wandering.

Our conclusion – It’s a Grandparents duty to be sure the grandchildren experience all our wonderful National Parks (NP) have to offer. So, each summer we set out with the Shoe Crew (daughter Heather, son-in-law Christian and the three granddaughters – Haley, Kira and Olivia) to ‘hit’ as many NP’s as possible in the area to be traveled. All done in our two RV’s. The summer of 2019 was a wonderful experience in the Grand Tetons NP and Yellowstone NP, 2020 was lost – but, we are back at it June of 2021. Here we go – – –

The first stop is Lassen Volcanic NP – but first a planning session at the Shoe house (In case you are wondering – their last name is Schusler. Try saying and writing that all the time!) – –

The stay was short. But, the girls had one more NP under their belt and another Junior Ranger badge. (They did complete all the activities required and Gramma gave them the oath and the badge.) And, we had the pleasure of showing them one more national treasure.

Off to the coast and the Redwoods State & NP.

E & G – loving nature

Weather was heating up in Scottsdale – which means time to hook up the Magic Carpet (MC), hop into Mini Magic (MM) and head to a higher elevation. This year Williams, AZ was the first stop. We know – not a long drive, but staying along Route 66 is a favorite. The Grand Canyon RR RV Park served as the ‘base’ the last couple of stays. This is great as it is easy access to Route 66 and the Daily Queen;-) But, this year something new was in the offing – Railside RV Ranch. It is a little farther out, but still a perfect walk into town and all the restaurants. Also, it is on the Grand Canyon RR route – so every day at 7AM and 5PM everyone waves at the train passengers as they pass by on their way to and from the Canyon. Still makes me smile to think about it. And – we had a great spot for the ‘train viewing’ as well as a perfect arrangement for MM and MC;-)

There was even a perfect sky for the viewing of one of those ‘Super Moons’ – –

Another gem was discovered in this little town of Williams – Elephant Rock Golf Course! A very nice course and a delightful local couple to play with. Even got a good dinner recommendation – Western Steak House! Right up my alley. There was also a side trip to Flagstaff to meet up with friends – the Stinson’s – for a round of golf at Continental and to see their new townhouse.

Our attempt to find a good hike around Williams, yielded the Keyhole Sink Trail. This proved to be a very easy 2 mile roundtrip pathway through the ponderosa pines to a box canyon. Here, roughly 1,000 years ago, the residents of the area left petroglyphs detailing their daily life. One of the petroglyphs is a dramatic depiction of a deer herd entering the canyon – definitely a hunting area for these ancients.

After a great few days in Williams, it was time to move on. Clio, CA would be home for the next week. Had never heard of this area before some friends (the Sampson’s) recommended it – and when discussed with other friends (the Clarke’s), they alerted us to 4-5 golf courses in the area! What a treat. MM and MC found another nice home at Clio’s Rivers Edge RV Park in the pines. (Our particular space was a bit small – but, have a better spot picked out for the next visit!)

After getting settled in, we were off to investigate – especially all those golf courses we were told about. First up was Graeagle Meadows – nice course, but a little long. On the back nine G moved up to E’s tees and E moved up to the Jr. tees!!! All was good as the views were terrific.

Graeagle came with all the necessities – –

They also had a wonderful deck for lunch where a bluejay feeding her young in the nest provided our mealtime entertainment;-) Next course was Whitehawk, which was just as beautiful and a bit more friendly on length. Of the two, it was our favorite. Next time we will tackle Plumas Pines and the Grizzly Courses. Too many courses and not enough time.

The area had some stunning scenery, especially the road to Gold and Snag Lakes.

Driving a BIG loop road took one past the alpine lakes, the gorgeous ‘Alps’ and into Truckee, one of our favorites. There is one of the best ACE hardware stores, a cute little main street with lots of good shops (including a kitchen shop we love) and a favorite Italian restaurant – Pinetta’s. All in all – a very nice day;-)

Another day – another drive. This particular day it was decided to head over and take a look at the Grizzly golf course (which looked fabulous). Another course was discovered on the way – The Dragon course at the Nakoma Resort. Sometimes one just discovers gems by accident. The drive into the course was most interesting, as was the Lodge with an iconic roofline. Turns out this building in the middle of the forrest 75 miles from the closest bigger town is an original Frank Lloyd Wright design! It was beautiful. Definitely a place to consider for a future escape – –

So happy to have such wonderful friends who share their knowledge of places to visit, parks to stay in and golf courses to play. A BIG thank you to the Sampson’s and the Clarke’s for telling us about Clio and its many attractions! (Forgot to mention one more place to eat – The Iron Door in Johnsonville.)

Now it was time for the ‘Main Event’ before heading to Park City in a few weeks – meeting up with the Shoe Crew and our three granddaughters;-) Wait ’till you read about these adventures!

So grateful for friends who share – E & G on our way