FL to WA and back! An “in progress” 6 week Camping and trails adventure with my wife.

Today we drove to Leavenworth WA. We stopped and picked up some Golden Raspberries and passed some great looking fields of grapes, potatoes, apples, peaches, nuts, corn and alfalfa.



The Portal that transports you to Germany is not noticeable as you simply drive right into the German hamlet. It’s full on German with the Bavarian restaurants and beer gardens and servers and townsfolk in Bavarian regalia and sidewalk Alpine music and live Alpenhorn concerts, etc. we totally loved it and as strange as it was everyone was really nice and all the travelers/ visitors were having a great time too. We even drove a forest road above the town that started near the entrance to our campground across from the Safeway. The campground owners had a great working, restored land cruiser and liked our Tacoma.

 

We stayed two nights in Leavenworth and on the second day we drove backroads and forest roads through CleElum, Roslyn, and Katchess. We ate a great lunch at Snoqualmine Pass at Comonwealth beside the ski museum. It was a great day and the forest roads were awesome. Saw some cool rides around the area too.

 

Next day we followed the Yakima river to Packwood. Went through Natches Peak and saw Mt. Rainier perfectly for hours as we got closer. We also drove Stevens Canyon road to Paradise and walked the Grove of the Patriarchs. Really cool giant trees and a nice free stone stream. Didn’t really care for Packwood but it’s essential for hiking the PCT.

 

Next day we drove towards Cougar WA and saw Mt St Helens and Beaverdam Lake. We walked the Ape Caves and then continued on to Cascade Locks OR. Cascade Locks is a nice place right on the Columbia river.

 

Today we drove both sides of the Columbia River down to Hood River so WA and OR riverfront. Lots of activity on the river with kite surfing, kyacking and SUP, and wind surfing too. Strong winds here! We also drove “The fruit loop” from Hood River out through the countryside. We stopped at Lavender Valley farm and got to see both Mt. Hood and Mt St Hellen at the same time from a few spots. We really enjoyed this area. Very pretty and lots of great food ...and views.

 

Drove to Lemolo Lake KOA instead of the Forest Service campground which would have been without power because of the heat we were experiencing. We woke up to 40degree temps! We drove around Lemolo Lake and walked a trail and we checked out Diamond Lake as well but the big thing we did today was see Crater Lake NP. Beautiful, unique and even a strange place. Pretty crowded but lots to see and cool people and rigs too.

 

We could see three separate fires from Crater Lake NP. One had just started that morning.


We left the next morning to this.




Not nearly as bad as lots of other areas to the west and south. We booked it to the east where it was clearer according to the fire maps.

 

Ok, 42 degrees this AM when we got up at Lemolo Lake KOA. Not smoky until we got close to Crater Lake. We passed through the onion producing capital of the world on our way to Bully Creek Reservoir but opted for a local holiday inn express instead because of my bad cold getting away from me. Up and going the next day to the high desert home of our extended family ...the Burke’s.

 

So our good friend Rachel Burke’s brother Johnathan (owner and driver of the white Jeep) led us on a trail drive to Castle Canyon Creek and a mountaintop summit on BLM land right outside their back door! The trail literally begins at their driveway!! You can go for days in this vast high desert expanse of BLM wilderness. Next trip we are going to the ghost town and abandoned mine site that is the other way from one of the forks in the road we were driving.

 

Back at the hacienda. Not sure if you can see the fat quail covey or the jackrabbits in this next pic but they are a daily occurrence, fat and happy!

Fantastic hospitality and super great food and fellowship! So nice to catch up with awesome friends you don’t see often.

Can’t wait to see them again.

 

This is an awesome looking trip. So jealous. You've definitely inspired me to plan out a road trip that way and see more of the beautiful U.S. of A.

 

Very cool OP. Thank you for sharing!

 

Keep it coming

 

Drove through Salt Lake City to Provo UT. Stayed in Lakeside RV park close to town. We cleaned everything ...again ...to get the thick layer of dust off the stuff in the bed. The interior of the camper wasn't bad though, as it didn't go with us on the recent desert trails. Lot's of commerce and economic activity going on in and around Salt Lake City. Next day we went to Grand Junction CO and had Western Slope Toyota change the oil and filters as well as look over the brakes and check the suspension adjustments. We had put just over four thousand eight hundred miles on during the trip and wanted to keep up with the maintenance. I'm a little spoiled at home both with my dealership having great technicians and service staff and having a lift in my personal shop at the house so I wasn't thinking I'd do my own service this time crawling around on the ground in the 100+ degree heat....so we took the courtesy shuttle to the mall and walked like 5 miles around and caught up on phone calls. Western Slope service staff were great, standard pricing and fast service. They caught some wear spots in the rear wheel well area and gave my brakes a C....which is a passing grade....to me. I'm upgrading the pads when I get home. We were headed to Jumbo Campground in Grand Mesa that night and were concerned about the heat. Not to worry though, it was a solid 15 degrees cooler up there. Really beautiful place with 5 lakes you can walk to and an adjacent lodge with a full bar and food.

 

We drove down into Cedar Edge the next day and then back to Jumbo via forest roads. Great off road options and many lakes and beautiful off site/dispersed camping options. This whole Grand Mesa Area is somewhere we will return to for extended exploration and enjoyment. There’s a lot of fishing to be done here as well.

 

Cedaredge was a great town too. Lot's of good food and a nice grocery store. We found some beautiful pottery in a local coffee and ice cream shop and went to the artist's studio and bought some directly from her. Great cups and all kinds of useful and useable art!

 

Lori Biggins Sullivan has a shop and studio a mile or so right outside Cedaredge. She was great and suggested several things to see on the way to Ouray.