37-2009 Crater Lake and the Land of Umpqua, Oregon

37-2009

Crater Lake and the land of Umpqua.


Campground.  The Last Resort.  $130/7D Full hookups. Wi-fi available and lots of National Forest scenery.  Including a river pool for swimming and cooling off during the hot summers.

I’m dedicating this issue to a good friend Ione Black who hasn’t been able to read my reports all summer long.  Hopefully Ashley (her teenage granddaughter) has gotten her online to view my stories and pictures. Or maybe to the local library where she can log in herself and view them.

From Reedsport on the Oregon Coast I’m heading inland on hwy 38.  There are covered bridges, lots and lots of waterfalls and lush forests filled with Douglas Fir in the County of Douglas where I, Douglas will be staying for about a week.  I feel sooooo at home.    

Even drove a short distance on hwy 5 which appears to be the only major highway running through Oregon.  It was fairly heavy traffic for the short distance I was on it, but doable.

I then entered what’s called the Land of Umpqua, a native Indian name meaning “ferry me across” or “across the river” as the pioneers would holler out to the Indians, Umpqua, Umpqua, calling to be ferried across the river in their canoes.  Or it could mean “full tummy”.  Our historians must have been asleep in class when they were deciphering the local language.

In any case, here I am in what I would call the heart of Oregon.  A heavily forested land of mountains and hills, rivers teaming with salmon this time of year and fly fishermen everywhere.

My main goal is to get to Crater Lake, so on my second day in the area, I’ve driven the 60+ miles along beautifully paved country roads (though the locals do call 138 a highway).  It’s called a working forest as there are workers cutting timber, maintaining many hydro dams throughout the area and of course lots of campers, hikers and hunters fill the area as well.

Along the way I have a choice to stop and see a half dozen waterfalls and unusual rock outcroppings.  I’m even seeing sand dunes where the roadway has cut through them.  Imagine sand dunes over 150-200 miles inland all covered in thick forests of Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Cedar.

I finally reach the entrance to Crater Lake, $10 to enter per vehicle.  It’s a bummer being single sometimes as I end up paying full price for one person.  I had written a geography report in junior high oh so many years ago about Crater Lake.  And ever since then have wanted to see the place in person.

The entrance is a landscape of pine forests that begin to open up to what at first appears to be alpine meadows, but upon a closer look are mostly barren fields filled with the potash from the extinct volcanoes.  Light wisps of grass growing through the potash.   The road climbs until I reach the first viewing area of the Crater itself.  How exciting to climb up the sandy gravel side of the crater and get my first glimpse of the lake.



The rim of the crater is a shear edge straight down to the lake below and the famous Wizard Island off to one side surrounded by the deepest blue water I’ve ever seen.  I’ve reached another one of those places one just has to see before they die.  It’s the deepest freshwater lake in north America at 1,943 feet which creates the deep blue color.  It’s also considered the cleanest lake in the world.

The crater gets 44 feet of snow each year (528 inches!) and the West, North and East entrances are closed as early as October and the east entrance often doesn’t open until July.  The park is open 24 hours a day year round.  The lakes level is maintained by snow and rain runoff.  No rivers run in or out of the lake.

A boat tour is available for a few months in summer, with a steep decent down the side of the crater on foot.  Less than one percent of the 500,000 visitors ever get down to the lake itself.

Well as I mentioned I’m in the Land of Umpqua and a strange land it is.  I have met some of the campers staying here and some are on the fringe of reality if you ask me.  It all started with the gal next door being overly concerned about the smoke from the forest fires.  After talking to her for a day or so it seems the fires a part of a vast conspiracy (to smoke us out?)  not really sure.  Then today, her and her husband started to talk about the elite people like the Rockefellers and the Vanderbilt’s and Rothchilds and how they are trying to control the masses to their own will.  Like through vaccination shots.  Said she’d never take a flue shot again.  “You know they are even going to stop you along the highways and if you haven’t taken the shot you’ll have to have a band put on your wrist“.  Ekkk!  Even mentioned that the contrails produced by planes have been for years “seeding” the atmosphere with zinc and mercury, criss-crossing the land.  How the military is working directly for the financial houses of the world again to control the masses.

It’s all a bit too much for me to say the least.  Many of the campers actually work in the forest.  At least that’s what I’ve been told.  Working on all those hydro dams and lumber cutting etc. But who knows what they’re really doing in those deep dark forests… hmmmmm  They come and go all hours of the day and evening.

The next day I decided to continue to explore this Land of Umpqua.  This region was occupied by the Southern Molaila, Cow Creek, Yoncalla, Kalapuya and Umpqua Tribes.  What a mouthful and speaking of mouths, each tribe spoke a different language.  Now just think about it for a minute.  Here in a couple thousand acres of land there were at least 5 tribes speaking different languages.  Now suppose the North American continent was as populated as this small area.  How many languages were spoken and what were the real numbers of native Indians in the country before Columbus “discovered” this land.  These tribes were in the area for at least 8,000 years.

I found the Medicine Creek Rock site by browsing the brochures on the local area and forests.  In amongst all the water falls, hiking trails and rivers is this small site with a few pictographs.  These are considered spiritual sites.  This one was off of a forest road, with the tiniest sign indicating where the trail began.  I never saw another vehicle come along this small country road that was at one point a single lane heading up into the mountains.  One of those silent places.  No outside noise, just the occasional bird chirping and the snap of a twig off in the distance.

Nice to be able to hike a well maintained switchback trail through tall forests of old growth pines.  There’s an openness about it because of the huge trees, leaving the ground free of small shrubs and trees like a park yet shaded by the huge trees.  The rock art was heavily disguised by green lichen growing over much of the art.  All of it contained on this huge bolder that had at one time rolled down the side of the mountain, now it’s flat side leaning over creating a shelter of sorts.

Another day of getting in touch with nature.  The airs still smokey from the fires in the area, but it is a reminder that nature grows, builds and lightning burns and a whole new cycle begins again.

The weekend brought lots of fun at the campground.  A pot luck dinner with BBQ chicken and ribs and lots of side dishes.  Mets many of the weekend campers getting away into the country for the weekend.  The campground even had set up an outdoor movie with popcorn and jungle juice.  How cool is that?

Worth getting out there and exploring.  Hope you have the chance real soon.  

and of course more pictures on my Picasa website.

36-2009 The Oregon Coast

The Adventure Continues.

Oregon Coast

Campground: Fort Stevens State Park. $22 Elect and Water. Nice paved roads and campsites. No digital Tv in the area.

Campground: SurfWood, Reedsport Or. $13.65 per night (Passport America) Full hookup w/cable tv.

After my flight to and from Orlando, I’ve been eager to get back on the open road again, with asphalt beneath my tires. I was hoping to visit with my friends in Seattle one more time, but my sinus attack was still in it’s last days of hanging on and I just didn’t have the oomph to enjoy their great company.

Tom helped me fix my awning arm on my slide out and now I just need to replace the aging awning itself. Whenever I settle down long enough to order the awning replacement that is.

So on Tuesday, I packed up and headed out of Shelton taking the scenic route over to the Pacific coast and down to the Columbia River where I crossed a super long bridge into Oregon. The roads through the Olympia peninsula weren’t crowed and I enjoyed the Washington scenery one last time. Started to get upset over the heavy clear cut logging in some areas along the route I was taking until I read a few billboards put up by one of the big lumber companies indicating that all the trees had fallen down in some severe storms a couple years earlier. Where the trees had yet to be harvested, I could see whole forests of trees bent over to the ground or broken off. Wow, there must be some treacherous winter storms in this area. Huge full grown trees bent all the way to the ground.

Well I drove all of 122 miles the first day back on the road and have landed near the town of Astoria Oregon on the Pacific coast. Lots of Lewis and Clark historical sites as this was the western terminus of their great adventure. Kind of exciting to see the same sights they saw when finally reaching the Pacific Ocean and here I am on my own journey of exploration 203 years later. Exploring the coast line and seaside towns that have sprung up in those 200 years.

At Ft Stevens where I’m staying for a couple of days, I went to the ocean and saw the remains of the Peter Iredale, a ship that was grounded many years ago. Most of it has sunk into the sand but a portion still remains.

There are tons of things to see and do in the town of Astoria, the oldest town on the west

coast. It’s called a little San Francisco as many of the homes are built along the side of the adjoining hills. One thing I really would have like to have seen was the inside of the 1925 Liberty Theatre, but it’s not open for tours. It is one of the last remaining vaudeville houses and the interior is supposed to be quite grand. I did visit the first class Maritime Museum along the Columbia river. One of the displays tells about the 2,000 ships that have sunk along the coast and dangerous Columbia river bar. Also visited the beautiful Astoria Column. Built as a tourist attraction by the Great Northern Railroad.

I even drove back over the Astoria Bridge to visit Cape Disappointment. This was the furthest western point that the Lewis and Clark explorers reached. It was previously named and doesn’t reflect their joy at having reached the Pacific coast. The little town of Ilwaco was closed up tighter than a pickle barrel. It being after that Labor Day weekend after all.

One last note on Astoria, many Hollywood movies have been filmed here, including, The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy and Short Circuit to name a few.

The next day I started the drive down the Oregon coast, hwy 101. A light rain started and continued throughout the morning. Not that it made much difference as the scenery was not at all what I’d expected. These first 100 plus miles were slightly inland and views of the ocean were few and far between. But what I did see where acres of farm lands with some of the most beautiful barns I’ve seen in a long time. Many were large with graceful sloping roofs and small dormers poking out of their metal roofing. The land is richly green with spotted black and while cows grazing in the pastures that climb up the sides of the nearby hills. Signs

warn of possible tsunamis and falling rocks or slide areas. Folks have a penchant for painting their home is the most vibrant primary colors. Solid reds, blues and green painted cedar shingles with white trim.

I decided to drive into the early afternoon rather than stop and get a campsite by noon which is what I usually do. Bad mistake. As even though it’s the middle of the week and also the middle of Sept. the campgrounds along the Oregon coast fill up fast by early afternoon. As one gentleman said, “guess theirs more seniors out on the roads than he thought”. After checking a couple of state parks and private campgrounds, all full up, I was able to get a spot for two nights. I may have to go inland to find a campground on my next part of this journey.

Another note on hwy 101. Starting as I did on the northern end heading south, the road so far has been slow going. It’s a two lane road and winds around many hills and outcroppings. The average posted speed has been 35, 45 and rarely 50 and 55 but only for very short distances. I also noted a number of spots where there was no shoulder or a very sudden drop without the aid of guardrails I had to keep constant vigilance with my driving.

Needless to say, I first day along the coastal hwy 101 did not make a favorable impression on me.

Isn’t it amazing how the next day can bring sunshine, lots of ocean vistas and scenes to die for. And of course that’s just what happened. Early on the fog and mist hugged the shoreline and clung to the thick tall spruce and cedar trees. Sunlight creating shafts of light through the mist and trees. Clearing up, the coast became a magical display of cliffs plunging down to the surf. The roadway climbing high above the ocean along a chiseled path etched in the side of the mountain. Then dropping down through thick forests to once again reveal the ocean scenery.

I had to stop dozens of times to enjoy the scenery and just gawk at the crashing waves slamming against the rocky shore. And if you like lighthouses, this is a trip you’ll want to take as there are dozens along the Oregon Coast. Passing through small sea side towns Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Yachats and Florence. I reached my final destination along the Oregon coast, Reedsport and Winchester Bay. From here I’ll be going inland. But before I do that I’ll take the time to see the Oregon Dunes NP, which I’ve been able to get glimpses of along hwy 101. They also have Elk that graze in the area and I’m looking forward to seeing them as well.

As I found out, there are dozens of state parks along each stretch of the coast that I pass by. So many it would take years to explore all of them.

On a final note, after making reservations inland at the Umpaqua Last Resort, Dustin told me his Mom would be playing jazz at a local resort. I stopped by the Lakeside Resort and had a nice dinner and really enjoyed the great music, a mix of Brazilian, Jazz and tunes from Billy Holiday “Am I Blue”. Got to meet their friends and just enjoy an evening of good music. What a nice way to start the weekend.

Of course you know there are more photos on my Picasa Web site.

35-2009 Orlando, not a trip report

Orlando (not a trip report, just a visit with old friends)

A five and a half hour flight, a minor delay waiting to get a rental car in Orlando and I was finally settled into my hotel on Tuesday evening.

I got up early and had free breakfast at the La Quanta that I’m staying at. Headed out to get my drivers license renewed. On my way there a beautifully big owl flew super low across traffic lanes, bounce off my windshield, flew over the roof of my rental and landed smack in the middle of the car behind me (that was tail gating me anyway) , windshield. The poor owl then slid off and fell flopping on the side of the road. I don’t think it made it.

At the drivers license bureau it was a simple process where I had to have my eyes checked, picture taken (3 times) and paid the new rate for a license, $48. A few minutes later I had my new drivers license and it’s good for 8 years. Yippee! I understand fees have tripled in Fla. for vehicle registrations and tags.

Did a little investigative shopping. Have you ever done that? First stopped into a Best Buy and proceeded to ask half a dozen sales persons about everything from my Verizon plan, the latest phones and upcoming changes to my air-card plan. Discovered I can get Internet access on my future new phone for only an additional $15 a month. I love electronics so had to check out the latest digital cameras and the new lightweight camcorders. Do I see a new device in my future? Then it was over to the lap top computers to ogle over the latest units available. BB’s prices were not all that great. Next I went to the Barnes and Knobbles book store, not to buy any books (I have enough to keep me in good reading for now), but to check out what’s new and ask more questions about authors. The new Dan Brown book will be out in Sept and I’d love to read it when it comes out. A super nice bookie (is that what you call a book seller?) discussed favorite authors and he turned me on to some authors I’ve never read. Got a note pad and wrote down a ton of good info on authors I might be interested in. Left with tons of good info and it didn’t cost me a cent.

Lunch with former co-workers. What a great get together, Loyd L, Rose S, Kim, John S, Jeff R, Linda, Olive and Fred. A big round table at Red Lobster and lots of good food and conversation that went on for hours.

Stopped into NAVAIR’s Research Park bldg that I used to work in. It was an RDO (regular day off) and with a holiday weekend the place was mostly deserted. Fine with me, I just wanted to take a quick look around and leave a couple notes on friends white boards. Linda showed me the latest on a program called TIERS which I had previously worked on. Nice to see a program taking off and being used successfully.

More get togethers continued throughout the week. Including a visit with my buddies at the Mill. Having a bit of a time with sinus/allergies. Finally had to run out and get some meds for it. My body isn’t used to the heat/humidity and then the cool and damp interiors and of course the afternoon rains.

Stopped by an HHGregg store. First time in one of those stores. Bought a DVD player for all of $12.95. What a deal.

Downtown Orlando has grown. Lots of condos and high-rise apartments…. Most are empty.

The historical fountain in Lake Eola got hit with lightning recently and is no longer working. They don’t know what to do with it. Old, costly to repair. Orlando is spread out and there is still construction going on in the many many gated communities that make up the city.

And then before I knew it, I was back on the plane heading back to Seattle Washington. I came back with a horrific sinus infection which I’m just getting over now. Staying in sick hotels isn’t fun.

This is my last day in the Shelton area and then I’ll be heading into Oregon. I plan on driving down the coast and visiting many of the small sea side towns and villages.

34-2009 Omak to Shelton and Seattle Washington

34-2009 Washington

Campground: Omak City park. $20 a night. Full hookups. Nice shade trees, paved pads and green green grass.

Campground: Mason County Fairgrounds. $20 a night, Electric and water. Open flat grassy sites. Next to small regional airport where they do hang gliding from airplanes. Over air Tv, two fox stations and 11 religious stations.

A new Adventure begins.

My first stop in the state of Washington is Omak. Population: 689. It’s about 100 miles south of the Canadian boarder and is in what’s called the desert high country. I decided to stay two nights, so I could tour the

countryside and visit the Coulee Dam. It currently can produce the most electricity in the US and I believe the world, though that status will change shortly. Had a guided tour down into the 3rd and newest power generation plant. Even from above, I could feel the vibration and power of the water traveling through the concrete channel ways to the generators. The two facts that I found amazing is that the total cost of the dam and generators was around one billion dollars and that the power generated creates a billion dollar profit each year that goes directly to the Treasury department. Now if we could just build enough of them, we would never have a budget deficit. It was built starting in 1933 and completed just as we entered WWII in 1942.

Note: it’s not as impressive looking as the Hover dam, but provides more power to the 11 surrounding states and is the largest concrete structure in the US.

This desert high country around here is quite arid. Though the Columbia river provides not only power but enough water to irrigate over one million acres of land. Lots of fruit trees, hay and grain fields and I understand as more vineyards go in due to the wealth of irrigation in the area that Washington will eventually surpass all other states in the production of wine.

It’s an interesting land with some pine forests, lots of rugged native grass lands, volcanic rock occasionally poking through and the ever present greenway along the Columbia river. And it’s hot! It’s reached 101 both days I’ve been here, but has cooled off some (92) due to a hazy overcast sky this late Friday afternoon. My A/C has been working overtime and I’ve had to turn off all appliances to forestall another circuit breaker popping.

Two fires started in the area, thick smoke rising above the mountain ranges. As I headed out the next day, I was able to see the fires climbing along the western ridge of a mountain range. The Valleys filled with stagnant smoke hanging in the air.

I drove most of the following day. Traveling south on 97, then hooking up to Interstate 90, hwy 18, Interstate 99 (now you know your on the west coast when the interstate numbers are this high) and finally onto the 101 heading onto the Olympic peninsula. Lots of heavy interstate traffic, something I haven’t seen all summer long. South bound was a continuous flow. North bound was stop and go traffic. Highways that become parking lots.

I finally reached Shelton, my stop for a couple of weeks while I visit friends in the area and fly

back to Orlando to renew my drivers license. (this is the year I have to do it in person). Just as I entered the Shelton area my GPS died on me (the battery stopped charging, something wrong with the power cord). Not knowing the exact location to the campground I was going to stay in, I got off the highway and drove into the small town of Shelton in search of the visitors center for directions. It being closed of course, I met two “gentlemen” on the street and asked for directions. They were very happy to do so, come to find out they were, as the saying goes, stinking drunk. Most pleasant in every way otherwise and they each had a name tag stuck to their shirts. How nice that they help the inebriated by labeling them in case they forget who they are. I got my directions and headed to the campground.

I’m staying at the Mason County Fairgrounds and it‘s only about a city block from the Super Wal-Mart. Tom and Chris have had me over to their stunning home along the water. Huge fir trees surround the property. Just to get to their home one has to drive along a couple of miles of park like setting winding it’s way along thick evergreens until it eventually opens up to views of homes hugging the sides of steep hillsides leading to the waters edge.

I’ll be doing some touring of the Olympia peninsula with them and of course I should get over to Seattle as well.

I’m exhausted. We’ve been touring the peninsula from end to end or should I say from Port Townsend to the Pacific Ocean and back. I’m really enjoying the campsite at the county fairgrounds, big grassy sites with expansive views and the small airport with it’s hang gliders. Lots of fun to watch. We checked out another park I had intended on staying in when I got back, but it was so overgrown and the sites so tight, I decided to stay where I am.

Having friends that will take the time to bring you to out of the way places. Like the castle that Tom and Chris showed me on the Olympia Peninsula that a guy built for his new bride. She left him shortly afterwards and there sits this castle with one eyed Cyclops and fruit vineyards surrounding it. To read more on this story READ FEUD POISONING.

Took the ferry from Bremerton (a major navy shipyard) over to Seattle to visit with my good buddies Jimmy and John. They showed me around the town a bit, had lunch down at the Market near the waterfront. Lots of tourists down in that area. We then went on Seattle’s own subway and busses for even more touring. What a gorgeous city. It’s a real people oriented city, great for walking, oh and maybe a cocktail at one of the outdoor café’s, with Tiffany’s, J-Crew and Nordstrom’s just across the street. Lots of local upscale shops and great bookstores as well. There are at least five districts in town and they are all vibrant active parts of this new city.

How nice to meet up with friends I’ve met while camping along the way and have a chance to see the world through their eyes.

I could babble on, but for once will stop here until next time.

and you know there are tons of pictures on my picasa site.

33-2009 Prince George BC to Omak Washington

33-2009 Prince George to U.S. boarder

The Official End of the Alaskan Journey……

Campground: Prince George Casino. Free, dry camping.

Campground: Williams Lake Stampede campground (city). $21, 15 amp, water. Big gravel circle. Ok site for a couple nights. Next year will have 30 amp and wi-fi at all sites.

Campground: Monte Lake, Heritage Campground. $21, 15 amp, water, pull thru site. Nice evergreen treed sites on side of hill overlooking lake. Most sites are back in, some full hookups.

It’s been quite a journey so far. I’ve arrived in Prince George, the 4th largest city in BC. Pop. 80,000. Heavy lumber industry up here. Canada is already getting out of the recession and is looking forward. Hope the U.S. is starting to turn around as well. I’m staying at a Casino parking lot, no hookups but it’s free. Tried my luck in the casino and there was no luck to be had. Besides, their machines take a bit more than the usual penny slots I’m used too. Still, I’m saving between $50 and $60 by staying here two nights. Can’t beat that.

The window in the truck was repaired quickly and obviously I’m back on the road. Not a whole lot to see in the Prince George area. Even the visitor center directed me further south for a few sight seeing places.

My tire pressure monitor started blinking red, meaning one of the tires was a bit low on air. Checked it and put about 10 lbs air back in…. nice to have a monitor to tell me when the tires need checking. I’ll check it again before heading out to insure there’s not a slow leak. (Later) The sensor is bad and will need to be replaced.

The further I drive south, the more I’m starting to see farms again. Until recently, It’s been all forest. Lots and lots of forest. Kind of nice to start seeing farms with hay bails all rolled up throughout the fields. Some cattle and horses as well.

Finally drove into Williams Lake around noon today. Home of the Stampede, a huge rodeo that takes place every July 1st. I’m staying at the Stampede campground so I get to watch the teenage cowboys and cowgirls practicing their horse skills.

As I’m heading back to the U.S. boarder, there have been a few sites I could have visited, like Barkerville, a preserved gold rush mining town. Actors dress the part of late 1800 miners and townfolk. I’m over some of these sites while heading back, not that they‘re not great sites to visit. Sometimes one just gets burned out seeing these “re-creations”. A number of towns also have tours of the lumber industry which could be quite interesting.

Canadian sales tax has gone up with what’s called the HST, Harmony Sales Tax. Combined with the other existing taxes it’s now up to 12% on most all sales. Yikkes that can add up fast to any purchase. The sneaky politicians that were elected this past time hadn’t mentioned beans about wanting to put in this national tax. As soon as they were elected, boom, it was voted in.

Does it ever get hot in Canada? You betcha. It’s been up into the mid to high 80’s the last couple of days. The evenings cool off nicely. 53 degrees last night.

One last day as I head out of Canada. I took a “scenic” route. Lots of curves, couple of nice lake views, no wildlife. I’m heading a bit east, going to travel down hwy 97 into Washington. Stopped into a small café along route 24. A mother who used to be a professional fisherman, moved here with her kids (early teens). Fishing had gone down the tubes and it was time for a change. Opened the café, took the play station, Wii and other video games away from the kids to give them a chance to see the world and get back to a simpler life. They’ve combined three trailers together (one a nice single wide). The kids and Dad(?) just installed new wood steps to the trailers. Mom was ecstatic. Simple things, simple lives. Closer to family, closer to nature.

My campsite at Monte Lake BC is an evergreen wooded hillside site. Lots of shade. No Tv, no internet, no radio, just the outdoors. Cars going by on hwy 97. Windows open, gentle breeze. Sun setting early tonight due to big mountain on other side of lake.

I was thinking I wasn’t getting very good rates for campsites, but when I look back at my charges for each month, I’ve been averaging about $22 a night. Not bad at all. When I get back into the states I’ll be able to use my Verizon air-card for 24/7 internet access. That always helps as I can check a couple of my internet sites for the best deal in each town. But for winging it through Canada and Alaska, I really have done pretty well.

Tomorrow I’ll cross the boarder into the U.S. and this will be the official end of my Alaskan Journey, even though I will be traveling through the NW heading back towards AZ for the winter months. I consider that part a whole new journey.

ALASKAN JOURNEY OFFICIALLY ENDS.

Crossing the boarder, one last time. Yup, I crossed into the US around noon today. They

inspected my camper and took my apples! They were from New Zealand. Who knew they were illegal in the US. I did buy some great fruit with the last couple of Canadian dollars I had, peaches, nectarines, three types of plums which they let me take over the boarder. Hwy 97 through lower BC is wine country and fruit country. Lots of lakes and mountains… pretty country.

I hope you enjoyed my Alaskan adventure. I’d do it again in a heart beat.

Lots more to follow, so keep on reading my posts…..

Final photo's have been uploaded to my Picasa web site, which is at it's limit as well as adding photos to my blog, so I guess I'm going to have to start paying to add more photos.

32-2009 British Columbia Canada

32-2009 Leaving Ketchikan

Ferry ride to Prince Rupert BC

Terrace BC

Burn Lake, “Crunch, Crack, Pop…. Ekk! What was That?”

Campground: Burn Lake Municipal City park. Free (3 day limit). Dry camping. Next to a bike and skate park and on the lake. Tight sites. Recommend large Rv’s just park in the open gravel parking area next to the lake.

The fog has descended on Ketchikan blanketing the hillsides and islands across the channel. A fine mist and the occasional light shower fill the air. This is what the scenery is like much of the year. Ketchikan gets 162 inches of rain each year. Turning every scene into a gray landscape of soft edges. I’m glad I’ve had a chance to experience it, as the past couple of weeks, except for my time in Skagway has been unseasonably sunny and warm. This is what a temperate rain forest feels like. Damp. Everything covered in a moist blanket.

I’m staying at a Wal-Mart parking lot for the very first time. I’ve never been opposed to doing it, it has just never been necessary in the past. I had an extra day to bum around so I thought why not get a bit closer into town. This Wal-Mart is surrounded on two sides by high rock walls holding back the hill it’s parking lot was carved out of. I’m parked against one of these walls. Away from all traffic. One other motor home is parked next to me.

Staying at a Wal-Mart (I understand some others like Safeway occasionally let campers stay overnight) is pretty cool and with the cost of campsites this summer, I’m saving $30+ a night by staying here. I’ll save another $30 by parking at the ferry landing tonight, as my ferry ride will be at 5 am the following morning.

When I was in Fairbanks, a very nice couple mentioned that they stay in free places like this a couple of times a month to cut down on their monthly camping expenses. I might start doing it myself. Especially in cooler climates like this where one doesn’t need a/c.

My friend Ron in Mich. has started his first time as a camp host at Pictured Rocks and is documenting the experience on his Blog site: http://cabinatthecreek.livejournal.com/ If you read it from the bottom up, you’ll be able to follow his experience from day one. He’s a great writer and I found it very informative and just a darn good read.

What was I thinking. I got to the ferry dock and parked my camper around 4:30 pm. I’m not scheduled to leave till 5:15 in the morning. Thinking I could just sleep in the camper. For one thing, I had to keep both slides closed, as other travels arrived to line up early as well. That said, I was climbing over furniture and such just to get around inside the camper. I finally went to bed around 9:30 and got all of two hours sleep. Being awakened by a fork lift operator working all night long. His back up beeper going off every time he went into reverse. We are next to working docks after all.

Obviously I was awake and ready to get on the ferry way ahead of time. The 6 hour ride was like floating through a sea of misty channels. The viewing windows were filled with droplets of rain that collected till they formed rivulets running down in winding channels. Of course not having any sleep probably made it seem more surreal than it really was.

A barge goes by, loaded with containers… and on the top back end of the barge a prefab house. Someone’s house is coming home. Don’t you know they are excited today. Within days, they will have a house set up on their lot that normally would have taken months to build.

We arrived in Prince Rupert to the continuous downpour of light rain and low clouds covering the surrounding mountains. Rather than staying in the area, I’ve decide to drive east following the Skeena River, as it will probably begin to clear up the further inland I get. An awesome sight, as the river looks more like a large long lake with huge mountains plunging upwards along it’s banks. The narrow two lane road and train tracks follow the river making for one enormously long scenic view.

As I drove along, a small baby black bear bounded across the road. Now how cool is that. Looked to be the happiest bear I’ve ever seen. You’d think it had springs on it’s paws the way it almost bounced across the highway. A bit further, I catch a glimpse of a waterfalls high up on the mountain side. Within a short distance the water fall comes into full view for the briefest of time. It’s huge with tons of water cascading down the sides. No place to turn off and get a picture, it remains one of those scenes that can only be replayed in my mind.

The town of Terrace. Hwy 16 British Columbia. I need to stop over for a couple of days and get some chores done. The truck needs an oil change and it’s time for a new fuel filter. The fridge had to be turned off during it’s ride on the ferry, so I’ve got to start restocking it with food. At least I was able to give it a good cleaning while it was empty.

Terrace is mainly a lumber town from what I’ve seen so far and an Indian reservation is near by. The First Nation people can show that they’ve lived in this area for over 10,000 years. Imagine knowing your ancestors have lived in an area for that length of time.

So, after getting a few chores done here in Terrace, I headed out early Wed. morning, not knowing how far I would drive today, but knowing, I’m going to need to put on some miles to get down to Seattle Washington by the last week in August.

I went through a number of small towns including Smithers, Telkwa, Houston, Topley and finally Burns Lake. Burns has a small Municipal City park that I thought I’d give a try. I made the wrong turn to get to the park and ended up on a dead end road. Not to worry, I could just pull into a drive and back up. Unfortunately the drive was at an angle that wasn’t conducive to backing up. But since I’d already pulled in, I had to continue with the maneuver. Not so fast there buddy. After a half a dozen attempts, not wanting to get stuck in the culvert next to the dirt drive, I suddenly heard a crack, pop, crunch…. Ekkk! What was that? That didn’t sound good. As I turned around, I noticed the fresh air coming in from the now missing back window.

Amazing, I’ve been towing a Titanium 5th wheel camper for over 8 years now with nary a problem. It is designed to be able to make a 90 degree turn…. Well, I guess I made a 92 degree turn. Darn, darn, darn. Popped the back window out and put a dimple in the top passenger side of the roof. Called my insurance and informed them of the situation and within 30 minutes had found a local glass dealer that could get a new window within the next two days.

I’m staying at the Municipal Park for free, so lets see if I stay here for a month, it will make up for the expense of getting the window fixed.

I’d better end this saga before anything else happens. Oh, I had quite an adventure trying to get to an opal mine, but that’s another story….