RV Adventures

The Mundane of RV Living

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Our COVID-19 RV travels are continuing, carefully, in Central Oregon. We had a great two day stay at La Pine State Park and wish we could have stayed longer. The park is just south of Bend, situated right on the banks of the Deschutes River, and has a ton of easy mountain bike trails.  IMG_8566This gave me an opportunity to get back on the bike for more than a few minutes and Steve a chance to try out trail running with his injured collarbone. 

We both loved it!  Flat single track along the river and nice weather made this stop one that illustrates why we love RV travel. 

But let’s be real…it’s not always champagne and roses when you tow your home with you wherever you go. This blog post will focus a bit more on the day-to-day realities of RV travel, rather than the places and adventures we’ve experienced. In fact, here are nine realities of living in an RV, especially during a pandemic.

  1. Many of the highlights and “must see” attractions are closed.  Along the way we’ve seen tours (yes, brewery tours!) and parks that we’d love to explore. However, due to the pandemic, they are not operating.  Most of the pools and recreational features at the RV parks are also off-limits.  We expected this but still it’s kind of a bummer to see something cool and be unable to check it out.IMG_8551
  2. You still have to do laundry! And it’s not always pleasant when you don’t have your own fancy front loaders and laundry room. Here at the Thousand Trails Bend/Sunriver RV Park the laundry room was pretty scuzzy and the machines weren’t very fast.IMG_8540
  3. You don’t get your daily mail. I love getting the mail and take for granted the ability to walk outside and open my mailbox each day.  Last week we had our wonderful neighbors, Nancy and Tom, send us our mail from the last month. It was quite an ordeal. Long story short, we sat at these mailboxes in the middle of nowhere for over two hours before we finally received our package, which was already a day later than guaranteed. IMG_8531
  4. Some really fancy RVs have dishwashers. We, on the other hand, have a dish drainer and some cute kitchen towels!
  5. Electric power is variable. At each stop we either have 20, 30, or 50 amps of power or nothing. This number determines if we can run the A/C at the same time as the microwave and if I can blow dry my hair while the electric water heater is on. At the Bend/Sunriver Park, an older park, the power was on and then off and then…
  6. Steve has to “dump” regularly. Yes, it’s a reality and practicality of RV living…the water and sewer tanks must be emptied on a regular basis. Sometimes we have a sewer connection a the site but often in the Thousand Trails parks you have to visit the dump station to empty the waste. IMG_0136
  7. Speaking of sewer, did you know you have to treat the sewer tank after it’s emptied? Yep, every time Steve dumps, I have to pour a little bit of this stuff into the toilet to help “break down the solids.” Yes, we’ve learned some pretty gross things on this journey.IMG_8549
  8. We are big Costco customers, but can’t buy in bulk while traveling in less 300 square feet. Our 8 cubic foot refrigerator/freezer barely gives us the room to keep a little frozen food and the necessities for a few days. More frequent trips to the grocery store seem to be a reality of living like this. IMG_8547
  9. We interact with very few people along the way and that leaves us missing our family and friends. Because of the pandemic, we stay to ourselves the majority of times. Luckily we like each other, but we do miss hanging out with our neighbors in the Mahogany Lane parking lot!IMG_8539All of this said, we are very grateful to have this opportunity and know how lucky we are to be able to travel this way and see our country. Regardless of the mundane tasks and inconveniences of RV travel, it is really the best way to see the United States up close. While the pandemic continues to rage on, we feel safe motoring along in our self-contained, moving home. IMG_8560

One highlight of our stop in Bend was a visit with my cousin Tom Zimmerman and his family. Wife Kelly prepared a tasty BBQ meal and we got to spend time with their three girls, Zoe, Laney, and Kira. Connecting with family, far and near, is certainly one of the benefits of RV travel. IMG_8558We’re in Bend for a few more days, taking care of business…oil change, haircuts, groceries, etc. and enjoying the beautiful scenery, world-renowned breweries, and endless bike trails. Even though this blog post focuses mostly on day-to-day RV living, we have really fallen in love with Bend and the surrounding area. It will be hard to leave but next we are heading north into Washington State. Until then… IMG_8538.JPG

The Oregon Coast: Brookings to Lincoln City with Just One Broken Bone

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We made it to Oregon on July 1 and embarked on an incredible journey northward.

We knew the Oregon Coast was beautiful but we had only explored the more northern portion in the past.  In previous trips we’d visited from Newport to Astoria. This time we intended to get to know the southern portion. 

Just across the California/Oregon border, the vibe changes pretty quickly. One thing we noticed right away is that gas is much cheaper in Oregon and they pump it for you. We also appreciated the state parks that dot the coast…one after another. The entire coast is basically a big state park. We stopped at the first one, Harris Beach State Park, in the little town of Brookings.

We were here just one night but quickly decided we could have stayed much longer. Private sites, access to the beach, and right off Highway 101, this park is a gem.IMG_9552

We then moved up to Coos Bay and settled in at the trendy Bayside Landing. This RV park also has a fleet of Airstream trailers you can rent, along with modernistic cabins. Bocce ball courts, an indoor pool, and a gym added to the luxury. Because of COVID we didn’t really use any of the amenities but the setting was pretty cool. We spent the 4th of July here and the area fireworks were pretty great.

During our time in the area we explored the coastal towns of Reedsport and the nearby Dean Creek Elk viewing area.

We also caught a cool event in Bandon called Circles in the Sand. A small group of volunteers draw elaborate labyrinths during low tide. The designs only last until the next tide washes it away. We just observed the designs and people walking the paths from the cliffside above, as I was still transitioning out of my boot and didn’t want to push it.

The afternoon of the fourth we stopped at the Whiskey Run Mountain Bike area so Steve could spend a little time on the bike.  While I waited at the trailhead with the dogs, he took a spin on the trails. IMG_9611I knew immediately when he returned about an hour later that he’d taken a fall. To be exact, it was an “endo” over the handlebars. A sagging shoulder and arm that couldn’t be lifted were the telltale signs of a broken collarbone. To the hospital we went.

After three hours in the ER and some X-rays, our diagnosis was confirmed. He was given a sling and some pain meds and told to see an orthopedic doctor in Eugene. And then he drove back to the campground. What a trooper!

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The next morning we headed north to Florence and our first Thousand Trails campground. When we bought our first trailer last year we were given a zone membership to Thousand Trails network of campgrounds. The membership basically gives us free campsites at their campgrounds throughout the Pacific Northwest. We plan to stay at nine or ten of these during this trip.  After one day of lying low and resting up, we were both ready to head back out and continue our explorations. We headed north to some of the most beautiful coastline we’ve ever seen.

First stop, the Darlingtonia Wayside, a roadside stop that features these cobra-like plants that eat insects. It was a quick stop, but really cool.

Next up was the Sea Lion Caves, a commercial attraction that has been a feature on the Oregon coast since the 1930s. We took an elevator down 300 feet into a seaside cave that houses over 150 Stellar Sea Lions.

The cave, one of the largest in the world, was originally discovered in 1880 by a sea captain and is the only known cave and rookery for wild sea lions on the American mainland.

Just north of the Sea Lion Caves is Heceta Head Lighthouse and Cape Perpetua Scenic Area. Sweeping views, rugged coastline, and Spruce forests make this area breathtaking and memorable. We were able to fit in a few short hikes, even with Steve’s arm in a sling and with my limp. We’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

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Our final stop on the coast was another Thousand Trails campground near the town of Newport. This stop gave us easy access to more of the incredible Oregon coastline. At Thousand Trails Whaler’s Rest we could walk or ride bikes to the beach in about three minutes, so we took advantage of that.

We took day trips north to Depoe Bay and Lincoln City and saw whales spouting right off the beach every day. We also made the Rogue Brewery, which is based in Newport, a frequent stop and each found new favorite beers.

IMG_9803Leaving the coast was hard but our adventures now continue inland, first with a stop to see the doctor in Eugene and then on to the mountains.  You can bet there’s more to come!

From the Redwood Forest to the …

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The California Redwoods have inspired poems, songs, and many dreams.  This was one National Park we just had to check out. Warning: Be prepared for a lot of pictures of trees!

After leaving Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks on the Western slope of the Sierra Nevada range, we drove north towards the Bay Area. We spent one night at a nice park in Lodi and another night at the KOA in Petaluma on our way to the most northwestern corner of the state. While the Redwoods were our destination, the journey through California’s wine country was very much worth it.IMG_8184

In Petaluma we enjoyed what Steve considers some of the best IPA in the world: Lagunitas Brewing Company. Here Bob and Mia could join us in the outside restaurant which was amply spaced to accommodate social distancing.

While in the area we also took a 30 minute drive to the coast for our first view of the Pacific on this trip. Bodega Bay is a beautiful hamlet on the coast with a nice harbor and sweeping views.  We were only there for a short while to take in the views.

Our first peek of the redwoods was on the Avenue of the Giants, part of Humboldt Redwoods State Park, a 32-mile diversion from Highway 101. While technically not part of Redwoods National Park, this stretch of road gave us a glimpse of what was to come.

We spent one night at the funky Emerald Forest Cabins and Campground in Trinidad. Trinidad is a beautiful little seaside city but we only stayed long enough to check out the town and for Steve to have a Cuban cigar beside the fire.

The next morning we drove to our home for the next three nights, the Klamath River RV Park.  This is probably the best place we’ve stayed so far in terms of space between vehicles and overall setting. We were right on the Klamath River and just a few miles upstream from where the river meets the ocean.

Redwoods National Park wasn’t established until 1968. Even then it was a surrounded by several state parks.  Today, the National Park and three State parks are jointly managed and share the goal of preserving and protecting this incredible natural wonder.

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We began our exploration in Lady Bird Johnson Grove, the site of the dedication of the National Park in 1968. The easy 1.6 mile loop trail through old growth forest gave us a great introduction to the uniqueness of this forest. With my boot, I was able to comfortably make it all around the loop.

From there we entered Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and explored Fern Canyon.


This little hike was a little less than a mile but the planks and occasional logs made it a bit challenging for a booted hiker.  Nevertheless, we soaked in the verdant green fern covered walls, site of the film Jurassic Park 2. You could almost imagine the dinosaurs coming down from above.

The next day we headed north to Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park, north of Crescent City. Today’s short hike was to Stout Grove and Steve did this one on his own while I waited with the dogs in the parking lot.

It seems I may have overdone it just a little with over 4 miles of hiking yesterday. A little ice and elevation and it’s all good.

This area of the Redwoods protects 10,000 acres of primeval redwood groves and was a feast for the eyes.  We drove a back road with trees so close to the road that our Ford F250 barely fit.

Around us were 2000 year old California redwoods, ferns, and a lush undergrowth of rhododendrons and azaleas. IMG_6186One of my goals for 2020 is to say, “Wow” at least once a day.  Today we said enough “Wows” for the entire year!

Of course we are still traveling in the age of COVID-19 and the signs are everywhere. For the most part people are wearing masks and keeping their distance. But still, we are warned of COVID and other things (including attacking elk)  everywhere we go. Yes, we are being very careful.

At least once a day Steve is running or biking. In Klamath he took the bike out for a 16 mile ride along the coast. I really wanted to go but he brings me photos.

Here are a few things we’ve learned during our time in Sequoia and then Redwood National Parks:

  • Coast Redwoods and the Giant Sequoia are in the same family but are different in many ways.
  • Giant Sequoia are found on the Western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Coast Redwoods are in northern California along the coast.
  • Coast Redwoods grow a little taller than the Giant Sequoia (279 ft vs. 314 ft)
  • Giant Sequoias are larger by volume than the Coast Redwoods, with larger bases and diameters.
  • Giant Sequoias have a cone the size of a chicken egg and it can stay on the tree for two decades. The Coast Redwood has a cone like a large olive that is shed after 1 or 2 years.

We give the win to the larger Giant Sequoias but the Coast Redwoods were certainly impressive! If you’ve seen them both, we’d love to hear which species you prefer. Here are a few more photos of this amazing part of the USA.  Happy Independence Day!

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