So off we went to Crater Lake. It's Oregon's only National Park and as such can be pretty crowded and difficult to get reservations. We booked months in advance and there was no weekend dates available all summer so we took a Sunday - Wednesday block.
The van was greatly improved in it's ability to tow the trailer. I was hugely relieved that it had no trouble accelerating and getting up to highway speeds. In the mountains it still bogged down but continued to pull hard and having the A-pillar gauges taught me that downshifting keeps the EGT lower than letting it lug so immediately that was an improvement.
Do you remember the magic of JiffyPop?
Our camp was cozy and for the first time we used the awning. A year we've had the trailer and never pulled it out fearing it would be in tatters and be just another thing that needed fixing. It thankfully was intact but with one minor seam tear.
The kids have fallen in love with riding their bikes around the campgrounds and would do so for hours with my daughter figuring out how to ride with the dog without crashing together in a heap.
Crater Lake is just stunning and if you get the chance you really should go. It's worth it.
For the second time in as many weeks I've jumped off a cliff into freezing water and I'm glad that cresting 50 hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for taking the plunge. It was cold though. Like really cold.
After three nights and four days at Crater Lake we started home but decided we were having too much fun to go back just yet. I've been freelance all my life but for Judiaann it's a recent choice and being able to just take more time when we want was the reason. With a break for internet and to catch up on emails we decided to stop off at the Wildlife Safari near Winston, OR and then to the coast. We weren't ready for the vacation to end just yet.
As we drove along the Umpqua River on Highway 138 we saw signs for an RV park. More often than not these are places to find water and drain your tanks but not to stay. They're never pretty or in a nice place so we always avoid them but the
Umpqua Riverfront RV Park seemed worth at least taking a look. Far off the highway and down by the river the park did not disappoint. It's a reservation only sort of place but fortunately for us they had room for the night.
After four days we'd just barely hit the end of our fresh water tank and filled our gray water tank but the new battery set up of a pair of 6-volt batteries was just amazing and never let out. I'd like to get a battery monitor for the trailer and supplement the power with solar with an end goal of being able to go a week with no services. The pair of 6v's has tripled our power reserve over the 12v so that is a huge win.
After a relaxing night where we got to actually luxuriate in showers (short ones) and plug in to recharge our batteries we took off in the morning for the coast and some adventure.
As we passed the dunes near Florence we decided that a ride in a sand rail would be fun for the kids. That's what I told everyone - we're doing it for the kids...
I looked in vain for a place that would rent a sand rail but they only rent quads or side-by-sides and frankly I find them disappointing. If you're going to hit the dunes it should be on something made to do it. I hadn't ridden in one and was really surprised at how steep a dune the sand rail could climb not to mention run sideways on the steep dunes.
After that we headed up the coast. Every RV park and campground is full in anticipation of the coming eclipse but we knew that our trick of using the highway pull outs for an overnight would always get us a perfect place. I've mentioned this before in the thread but it's worth repeating: all of Oregon's scenic overlooks and pull offs are legal for a 12 hour layover. If you have a camper or camper van there's no better way to spend the night then on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean.
There are literally hundreds of these overlooks along the coast.
After securing our spot we walked down to the ocean to explore the tidal pools.
Oregon's coast isn't made for swimming which can be a shame but it is a wealth of life and beauty to explore. My daughter never tires of "shaking hands" with the anemones or catching the small crabs in the pools. These are the memories that they will have forever - the legacy of their grandfather packing us into an old F100 pickup with a topper and taking us all over the country to see the beauty of North America. This was why we left NYC. This was what all the work has been for. While this isn't a post about the house the house is "where" we live but this and the trailer is "why" we live here.
Back at the trailer Jwoo scrounges through what's left of our food and comes up with something new for the kids - chili dogs! Nadia approves.
As we eat dinner the sun sets and we have an unobstructed view of the Pacific ocean, waves crashing against the cliff a hundred feet below. All the work on this trailer has paid off. Everything (save the refrigerator dammit) works like it's supposed to. We've stocked it well and I've kept my fathers cookware, knives and a few other remnants and it feels like he could be with us. We are so happy and so lucky and having a great time.
As night falls I want to capture a shot to rival the one I got last year of the camper on the coast. That shot made the Travel Oregon visitors guide but I want a shot with stars this time. I take my camera, tripod and headlamp after everyone falls asleep and see what I can do.
This is three exposures. One for the stars and trailer, one for the tail lights on the left and one more to capture the running lights on the trailer. It's perhaps a bit over the top but I had fun doing it. This is creative play time for me.
The next morning we head up to Cape Kiwanda - one of the places that you're allowed to drive on the beach. This was the next test of the van - how would it do on sand? It's probably close to 8500lbs so getting stuck would be a calamity. I don't have an on board compressor and I saw no service station with air so airing down wasn't in the cards. We unhooked the trailer, locked the front hubs and switch on the rear locking diff and pulled onto the sand.
After one cautious circle I had enough confidence to drive down to our favorite spot near the dunes and by the stream. The van did great and my next improvement will be to make a new rear bumper for it that holds the spare tire and doubles as an air tank for an on board compressor. Lowering air pressure is just essential to going off road - both for traction and comfort.
Tired, sandy and satisfied we loaded up the van, hooked up the trailer and headed home.
Gregor
