If it’s not one thing; it’s another–Osoyoos, BC; May 28

Fix a problem; find a problem!

In keeping with the theme for 2015, just as I find help in fixing my awning issue, the gravity chair breaks!  Luckily, I was in the best possible place with friends who have extra chairs.

Coldspring Provincial Park, Manning Park, BC  - a lovely campground with some site backing onto the river.

A trip to the fabulous hardware store in Osoyoos and I found some replacement hardware for the chair.  Also, a couple of 6-packs of Growers Hard cider (Peach and Cherry) – requisite drink for repair work – refreshing, but not so much alcohol that I worry about messing up the project!

Escape Owners Rally is a slippery slope!

Over 120 trailers and very creative owners!  I’m getting so many ideas and the build sheet for my next trailer is growing.  Not even 24 hours yet and I’ve already been convinced to swap the bed to the opposite end of the trailer!!  And even though I’ve ruled out the 5th-wheel, I keep seeing some exceedingly tempting layouts.  That’s the problem with these custom builds – so many really good ideas!!
I saw some DIY awnings that someone made to shade their windows that would be perfect for shading the fridge on those really hot days!!

 

Definitely getting air-conditioning in the new trailer!!

Even though its Canada in May, it’s over 80F today – it’s 90 inside my trailer!!  Glad I left Fay Wray at home.

A perfectly Northwest day – May 25th, Birch Bay SP, Washington

Camping in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is so different than the Southwest where I was wintering.

A peaceful day of driving through grey drizzle, listening to the squeak of the windshield wipers, and watching the fog-enshrouded mountains roll by.  Arriving at my campsite at Birch Bay State Park, I see a pileated woodpecker gliding through the deep shade and big trees.  Big trees and little trailer!



Later, I walk along the beach.  I see a couple of crows harassing a bald eagle sitting atop a tall tree.  I listen to the ‘skree’ of the seagulls as they float over the bay and then whirl back to the beach.  I watch Great Blue Herons stalking in the low tide, silhouetted by the setting sun.



Trailer is still shiny enough to reflect the sunset!



Simple pleasures!

Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Wasco, OR

Oregon’s newest State Park, Cottonwood Canyon was donated by the Murtha’s – a big cattle ranch.

Cottonwood Canyon drains into the John Day River, one of the longest undammed rivers in the Northwest.  The Murtha’s had a cattle ranch in the canyon and a Cow Barn still lies along an interpretive walkway behind the Visitor’s Center. 



The 25 year plan is to return this working ranch to a more natural state.  Much of the flat area of the park between the river and the surrounding hills is being replanted with native grass.  Along the hikes, there are still remnants of ranch gates and fences; the Pinnacle’s Trail is actually an old 2-track ranch road.

The campground lies in a meadow alongside the river, accessible for great fishing.

There are about 20 individual primitive sites, a group area and a tent camping area.  Vault toilets and dumpsters round out the amenities.  As I pulled into my campsite (sites are first-come;first-serve), I passed a fisherman carrying an impressively large salmon!  The park is popular with fisherman; there is a boat launch just outside the park at JS Burres Park, and there are lots of access points from the campground for fishing off the banks.

Several short hikes surround the campground and the Pinnacles Trail follows the river for about 4 miles crossing varied terrain through riparian meadows, basalt rock cliffs, and scrubby grazing land.








I didn’t see a lot of wildlife – some cliff swallows and an osprey.  For awhile, I was keeping pace with a group of fishermen.

The river and the spring flowers were the highlight of my stay