Camping

This is our third camping trip of the season. We like to camp in the mountains or at the coast in the summer time. Mostly for the cooler temperatures. We have some routines we go through camping. Our first night out we always roast hot dogs over a fire and have them with chili. We mostly stay in state parks or forest service campgrounds. We like being surrounded by trees. We started camping with our kids in tents and on our boat. In 1996 we took a cross country trip with them and camped about half the time. As Diane and I got older the appeal of sleeping on the ground got less and in 2003 we bought a pop-up or tent trailer. This got us off the ground but still didn't have a bathroom in it. We enjoyed the open air feel of the pop-up and canvas over our heads. It was also dry in the worst rain. Eventually we got even older and decided to get a full trailer with a toilet and shower. We absolutely love it. We can camp year round, staying warm and dry, and go about three days without hook ups while still enjoying heat, water and showers.

Mt. Rainier, Part 2

This is the view as we got back to the bottom of the Skyline Trail. The meadows around the Paradise Inn are alpine with lots of small, brightly colored flowers in them. 

Finishing our hike. The trail is paved at the start and end of the trail.

Finished!!

Interior of the Paradise Inn. The windows on the right have spectactular views of the Cascades.

This is some of the original furniture in the lobby. All made from trees cut in the park just below the meadow. Most of the timber used in the inn's construction was cut close by. 

 Resting at the end of a great hike. Reading and enjoying the sun filtering through the trees back at camp.

High and dry

Going to be a long summer of people having to walk to their boats. This is one of the docks at Detroit Lake State Park. 

Camping at Detroit Lake

We went camping at Detroit Lake this weekend. This is an older state park and has lots of mature trees and vegetation. The campground is on a lake created by damming the North Santiam River. Since the primary purpose of the dam is flood control they empty it in the fall and count on snow melt in the spring to fill it. Unfortunately there wasn't much snow this winter and the lake isn't going to fill up. 

The top photo shows cars and people on what is normally the lake bottom at this time of year. The second photo shows just how far down the water level is, roughly 30 feet. The third photo is the swimming area at the state park. 

We also took a drive up some logging roads. Logged over once, there are lots of big trees growing and some nice camping sites. 

Detroit Lake is a nice park. A little close to the road but there isn't much traffic at night. It's one of the full service parks with a store, ice and firewood. Some of the best sites are tent only sites with great views of the lake. Like all of the full service parks, the campsites are pretty close but the mature vegetation gives pretty good separation.  

Deer in the campground

A herd of deer came through our campground while we were out for a walk. Just grazed their way through and went down to the lake.

Sunrise in the campground.

It was a great morning to wake up to a spectacular sunrise. Nothing better than having a cup of coffee and feeling the warmth of the sun and watching the world come alive. 

Sunrise at Prineville Reservoir

Sunrise looking from our campsite. A beautiful day.

Prineville Reservoir

Deer in the campground

Spending the weekend camping. Lakeside site. A great weekend in the making.

Last night on vacation

Last night. After a week in the trailer it gets a little messy. We had a fantastic week. 

More from the campground

Railroad bridge

Stalking geese to get a picture

Diane climbing up from the river. A steep trail to climb up the canyon.

Coffee in the morning.

Every morning when we are camping I get up and make coffee. I usually have a cup outside and watch the campground wake up. These are the special mugs we have in the trailer. A pop-up was our first trailer and we camped in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona and California. A lot of wandering, but never lost.