Newberry National Volcanic Monument

July 9, 2021July 10, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / 3 Comments

When we got to the first information sign at the Big obsidian flow there were three boys (age ~ 5-6) pointing at the volcano and making explosion noises. I totally agree, Volcanos are cool!

Newberry is a shield volcano that basically did the same thing as crater lake, exploded then fell in on itself. It had two lakes instead of one with a huge obsidian lava field.

We also took the 4×4 to the rim edge. The view from the top was even cooler. The Ridge can be seen, as well as a cinder cone (2 actually). 2 lakes (East and Paulina), and the lava flow. We had lunch right there on the truck bed.

We stopped at Pauline falls on the way to the Lava Cast Forest. These are hard to see in the pictures. Think slow lava building a wall around a tree and leaving a Hollow trunk mold. I jumped in one for size.

Then we stopped by 2 other breweries for samples. 10 Barrel and Sunriver.

10 Barrel has a set sampler… So we got 16 Oz samples.

Back at the campground we saw this weird camping dump truck. Where do you need that sort of equipment? My t@g was embarrassed for him.

Bird & bees, Smith Rock, Bend

July 9, 2021July 9, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / 2 Comments

We stayed the day at the Sister’s municipal park campground. I was throwing the ball for Ringo in the park while George was working. I looked up to see a deer about the same time that Ringo saw the deer and he proceeded to chase the deer across the road and get lost. I was frantically searching along the creek and George got in the Taco (Tacoma) and went searching in the neighborhood. This went on for about an hour. I thought the little asshole was a goner forever. George finally went back to the camp ground to put away any valuables and found Ringo humping the neighbors dog. That’s the one thing I wasn’t expecting to be happy seeing Ringo doing.

Next stop petsmart for a dog tag. George asked the clerk if we needed to stick under Ringo’s skin so he would be microchipped? The clerk thought George was a dumbass & George thought the joke was really funny (typical).

Getting on with our day… We knew that we’d see a big rock but had no idea we would get these views of the volcanos. These pictures don’t do it justice.

This picture of beer and the tag is for Joe & Merrydeath. We also liked vicious mosquito. Other than a great name, the beer was delicious.

Volcanos & Sisters OR

July 7, 2021October 29, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / 1 Comment

Pulled into our campsite, dropped and then took an amazing drive along the lava flows and volcanos!

George and I saw some guy running up the path in a wet suit and we thought it was weird. Then about 15 minutes later we heard yelling from the top of the falls and George turned around to see this kid splashing into the water after a cliff jump. I just got his picture coming out of the water. Note self. .. When you see someone in a wet suit at a water fall wait around and pay attention. You might see something insane. Maybe we missed this :

Detroit Lake, Cascades

July 7, 2021July 7, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

We had false start in the Willamette wine country. We made an effort but at 25 bucks a tasting,I wasn’t up for the effort and moved on…

Lovely evening. We took several walks about the lake. Played several songs at the campground and Ringo was a dog.

Ringo jumping waves. This was pretty funny. I missed the initial spasm which was funnier.

Roll on Columbia

July 5, 2021July 5, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

We stayed at Ainsworth state park and stop, drop and rolled to the Bridge of the Gods. Then we headed down Scenic Hwy 30 through the Columbia River Gorge towards Mcmenamins Edgefield in Troutdale.

We tried to go to Multnomah Falls but it was July 4th and it was an absolute madhouse parking anywhere, so we figured we would catch it on the way home (Feel the suspense? You’ll just have to wait for it.) There were plenty of other waterfalls to see. Saw another old building (Vista house) but they wouldn’t let us inside.

We ended up at the Edgefield where a Grateful Dead cover band turned into a blues band with this guy. So this is how sasquatch like to spend their Independence Day.

Height: 620′, upper falls 542′ single drop.

Mt. Hood!

July 4, 2021July 5, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / 2 Comments

What a glorious day. We started at trillium lake where we had to pay a day use fee to have a picnic, but we got to see how Portlanders beach. It’s funny. Their coasts are cloudy so they beach at the lakes at the base of Mt. Hood. I think there were 200 floatation devices out there.

After the nature walks, we headed up to the Timberland Lodge to take in the historic building. So funny story: Helen Abbott (one of Sadira’s friends) was describing a family vacay. We asked were she went? What she remembers: apparently the Abbott family visits museums on vacay. So we asked the Austin girls, what do we do on Vacation? That isn’t their experience; they both agreed that the old farts drag them in to old historic buildings alot… Especially old breweries. Here’s one

On the way home we passed Panama point and got a few shots of the Columbia Valley with Mt. Hood.

Soft topper

July 3, 2021July 3, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

Yesterday was mostly a travel and errand day. We were traveling from the ocean to the Mt. Hood area. We had lunch at Mcmenamins in Kalama Harbor and walked along the Columbia River. Kids were playing in the water next to Fishermen reeling in salmon.

We stopped by and saw Rachael/Carson Shore and her boyfriend Armond for a picnic dinner. She lives right next to this amazing park.

We found this soft top on Facebook market on our first pass through Portland but couldn’t arrange a pickup. As we circled back around Portland we reached out . Now our wordly possessions can stay dry. (Frank got a toupee). Oh yeah, look at this campspot on the deschutes river over the fourth of July weekend.

Ecola State Park

July 2, 2021July 2, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

Drove by a Mcmenamins on the way to Ft. Stephens. Since it served bfast we decided to grab a breakfast the next morning on our way to Ecola Beach. Yummy!

After breakfast, we rolled on down the road to Ecola State Park which was amazing. They’ve filmed 4 movies there (point break, goonies, twilight, kindergarten cop)

Then, yeah we did… We drove the truck on the beach at Del Ray. First, we had an appetizer (Chips and Salsa) watched a Ford get stuck and then worked up the courage to follow the rest of the four wheel trucks on the beach.

All in all it was another fantastic day on the OR coast. Glad we didn’t go to Utah and hike the narrows…

What day is it?

June 30, 2021June 30, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / 1 Comment

Yesterday we took an amazing and steep hike out to Cape Lookout. There were lots of cut off posts (trip hazards) neighboring the plummet-to-your-death-cliffs that made me grateful Brian Woods wasn’t there.

Little did you know, I would use this picture in a blog post… #infamousFall

2 things to know about Oregon:
1) They love dogs. There’s a dog hitch outside the bathroom. They are cool to be off leash on the beach as long as they come back to you. George even saw several dogs in the safeway.
2) You still can’t pump your own gas in OR. It’s weird. You just sit there and watch them. Also, do you tip them if they clean your windows? Things I’d like to know.

Campground Beach: Arch in far back ground

From Cape Lookout, we traveled up to Cape Meares Light house and there we ran into the parents of the brewer at Burial Brewery in AVL… So strange. We must give of beer pheromones. They gave us recommendations for beers in Bend, OR. Boneyard/rpm is now on the list.

That’s the end of the cape Lookout hike that we did earlier.

Going through Tillamook we stopped at the creamery for cheese, yogurt, and icecream. Yes, you’re officially on vacation when you wait in line for cheese!

Nahalem Bay wins the best beach award.

Desperately seeking Dungeness

June 28, 2021June 28, 2021 / rugreen4u4632 / 2 Comments

Trecking down Hwy 101 towards Jessie Honeyman State Park. We’re stopping at several seafood markets hunting Dungeness crabs but it sounds like they are out of season because Halibut season just started. I guess we’ll just have to suffer through all the local smoked salmon. Yesterday we bought a salmon tube stick that resembled salmon jerky/salmon sausage. It was good, but the smoked salmon we got in Brookings at Pacific Ocean harvesters was the best so far.

We then went to the sea lion caves. I took lots of pictures and lots of videos and I’ll try not to bore you, but they’re like giant slugs. Incredibly funny in their posturing with thier tiny little flappy fin arms. The cave is the states largest sea cave. http://www.sealioncaves.com/

What I wasn’t expecting to see on the Oregon coast was little blue dune buggies in the sand. I kinda wish I had an atv.

We ‘hiked’ up to the top. Atvs having a lot of fun right over there.

We are eating blueberries like they are free because they practically are.

Ringo was so stinky from ocean water and sand after his SandDune romp that he and Dr. Bonners met in the campsite shower. While waking around the campsite drying him off we noticed this set up. I think it would be funnier to have a dangling step ladder instead of the step stool.