Thursday, December 27, 2012
Winterizing - The Emotional Pain
The temperatures have dropped below freezing a few times now, and with no power at our storage location, we knew it was time for the inevitable seasonal pain we call "winterizing". Winterizing is not painful...the lack of freedom it represents is. Gone are the long weekend trips where we can select the most remote site in a campground and know our sink will keep running and our toilet will keep flushing. We are now relegated to staying at parks with nearby facilities and making those 6 a.m. treks in the pouring rain to the public facilities. Don't get me wrong....we still LOVE to get away and explore Oregon every weekend possible, but are saddened by the limitations that come this time of year. The paper plates are restocked, the jugs of water are onboard, and the campground "toiletries" are packed and ready for a daily trek to facilities. This is the time of year where us northerners are jealous of our travel buddies that are down south enjoying the clear sunshine and full facilities. Wishing all 4 of your that read this blog a wonderful holiday and happy new year!
Friday, December 14, 2012
Premier RV Resorts - Salem, OR
Some of our weekend escapes just do not allow us to travel very far from home. Even just an hour away from home can provide a nice escape on a short weekend trip. This last weekend our escape was Premier RV Resort in Salem, Oregon. Located on the Willamette river, the park is just a few minutes SW of downtown Salem, and one of many options in the Salem area. Although not located directly off I-5, this is a convenient location if you really want to explore Salem, or if you happen to be coming East from a coast trip in Lincoln City. We are both impressed with this park...particularly the cleanliness of the park and the amenities provided and would certainly stay here again for events and activities in Salem.
Setting 3.5 The park is accessible directly off Hwy 22. The park is along the river, but the river is not visible directly from the sites. There is a path behind that park that allows you to view the river. Sites are all pristine and spotless. Residents certainly seem to have pride in the park as well....no junk lying around, etc. Downtown Salem is about 10 minutes and Hwy 99 which runs N/S through Oregon is also just about 10-15 minutes away.
Amenities 4 Tremendous water pressure, clean electrical and a huge array of cable channels included. The park also has an extensive DVD library. Some of the sites (like the supersite were were in) have an additional parking space and a picnic table which provides extra space. The only negative was the sewer connection as there were no threads...so unable to make an airtight seal. Great game room available and a small exercise room as well. We did not utilize the laundry facilities, but they looked impressive. Bathrooms were spotless and well apportioned.
Accessibility 5 Easy approach to the park. All sites were easily navigable and any size rig should have no problem negotiated the sites. May be limited on site selection for anything in the 42-45 foot range, but it could not be easier to navigate the park.
Friendliness 4 Very friendly front office and residents also seemed very neighborly. Only staying the weekend, this is always hard to evaluate, but everyone we did meet was friendly and welcoming.
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| Game Room |
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| Sites along the river |
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| Our supersite |
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| Supersite adds picnic table and parking spot |
Amenities 4 Tremendous water pressure, clean electrical and a huge array of cable channels included. The park also has an extensive DVD library. Some of the sites (like the supersite were were in) have an additional parking space and a picnic table which provides extra space. The only negative was the sewer connection as there were no threads...so unable to make an airtight seal. Great game room available and a small exercise room as well. We did not utilize the laundry facilities, but they looked impressive. Bathrooms were spotless and well apportioned.
Accessibility 5 Easy approach to the park. All sites were easily navigable and any size rig should have no problem negotiated the sites. May be limited on site selection for anything in the 42-45 foot range, but it could not be easier to navigate the park.
Friendliness 4 Very friendly front office and residents also seemed very neighborly. Only staying the weekend, this is always hard to evaluate, but everyone we did meet was friendly and welcoming.
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| Exercise room |
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| Hookups |
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Pheasant Ridge RV Resort Review - Wilsonville, OR
Locating an RV park in an urban setting is always a challenge, and the Portland area is no exception. South of Portland there are really only two choices, Pheasant Ridge in Wilsonville or Roamer's Rest in Tigard. The third choice south of town in Tualatin sold to a developer last year and will soon become apartments and condos. Being involved in a program at Portland State University, I am a regular patron of Pheasant Ridge as it is certainly my favorite of the two south Portland locations. We will certainly continue to frequent this park when visiting the Portland area.
SETTING: 3.5 The location of the park is quite convenient. Located just a few blocks off of I-5, this location is ideal for getting around the south Portland suburbs. It is located near grocery, Costco, Target, Starbucks...and Camping World is right across the freeway. Downtown Portland is about a 20 minute drive, but more convenient than the two parks that are north and easy of Portland in my opinion. I also appreciate not having to navigate through downtown Portland or east Portland. The sites are very close together and do no have tables, or even a space to sit outside. The tiered layout of the sites on a hill does make it feel like you have a bit more privacy than you actually have.
AMENITIES: 3 Full hookups are available. Cable channels are limited, but you can check-out a converter box which does access additional channels. Bathrooms are clean, but not overly spacious. Laundry room is quite nice. Exercise room is very limited and is attached to the general gathering room so can be a bit awkward. Like most RV resorts, the exercise room consists of old and tired equipment. An indoor pool is on premises. The utilities can be difficult to access, and some of the sites have the sewer hookup so far back on the pad that your normal sewer hose will not reach....we have had to back up to dump on two of the sites. Most of the daily/weekly sites are on the upper level, above the clubhouse. Good water pressure and internet is adequate. Strong 4G Verizon available at the park, and the office has a great selection of grocery, snack and RV supplies...one of the best I have seen.
ACCESSIBILITY: 3 The entrance to the park is definitely frightening. It must be taken at an angle, and I always prefer to unhook nearby before entering the park....just be careful as you enter and exit. There are many trees in the park that can make negotiating your site a challenge, particularly after dark. You will absolutely want a co-pilot and guide as you enter and exit many of these sites. On our first visit we watched in horror as a couple sideswiped a huge hedge in their brand new class A pusher. That being said, if you are careful and plan ahead, MOST of the park is definitely negotiable. The front office is very helpful if you ask them for a site that has easy access. Like most older parks, you just have to be careful as you are negotiating the property.
FRIENDLINESS: 3 The front office staff is friendly as are the residents. I would guess that 70% of the park consists of full-timers during the slow season. Rigs are all in good condition and residents are thoughtful in keeping their sites clean and orderly. That being said, most people seem to keep to themselves as we have never found this park as friendly as some of the more transient parks like 7 Feathers.
SETTING: 3.5 The location of the park is quite convenient. Located just a few blocks off of I-5, this location is ideal for getting around the south Portland suburbs. It is located near grocery, Costco, Target, Starbucks...and Camping World is right across the freeway. Downtown Portland is about a 20 minute drive, but more convenient than the two parks that are north and easy of Portland in my opinion. I also appreciate not having to navigate through downtown Portland or east Portland. The sites are very close together and do no have tables, or even a space to sit outside. The tiered layout of the sites on a hill does make it feel like you have a bit more privacy than you actually have.
AMENITIES: 3 Full hookups are available. Cable channels are limited, but you can check-out a converter box which does access additional channels. Bathrooms are clean, but not overly spacious. Laundry room is quite nice. Exercise room is very limited and is attached to the general gathering room so can be a bit awkward. Like most RV resorts, the exercise room consists of old and tired equipment. An indoor pool is on premises. The utilities can be difficult to access, and some of the sites have the sewer hookup so far back on the pad that your normal sewer hose will not reach....we have had to back up to dump on two of the sites. Most of the daily/weekly sites are on the upper level, above the clubhouse. Good water pressure and internet is adequate. Strong 4G Verizon available at the park, and the office has a great selection of grocery, snack and RV supplies...one of the best I have seen.
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| Utility Post |
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| Shower/Restroom Stall |
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| Sink Area |
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| Row on Upper Level |
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| Site in Upper Section |
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| Site...noting tree to watch |
ACCESSIBILITY: 3 The entrance to the park is definitely frightening. It must be taken at an angle, and I always prefer to unhook nearby before entering the park....just be careful as you enter and exit. There are many trees in the park that can make negotiating your site a challenge, particularly after dark. You will absolutely want a co-pilot and guide as you enter and exit many of these sites. On our first visit we watched in horror as a couple sideswiped a huge hedge in their brand new class A pusher. That being said, if you are careful and plan ahead, MOST of the park is definitely negotiable. The front office is very helpful if you ask them for a site that has easy access. Like most older parks, you just have to be careful as you are negotiating the property.
FRIENDLINESS: 3 The front office staff is friendly as are the residents. I would guess that 70% of the park consists of full-timers during the slow season. Rigs are all in good condition and residents are thoughtful in keeping their sites clean and orderly. That being said, most people seem to keep to themselves as we have never found this park as friendly as some of the more transient parks like 7 Feathers.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Musings on a rainy weekend getaway
It is Oregon....and with all the beauty that statement encompasses, the reality is that it is November and that means "rain" pretty much anywhere you go in the state. Our last weekend escape was in early November at the Oregon Coast, so we decided it was time to head south....although we are weekend RV'ers so that does not mean far enough south to escape the rain. With a craving for the truck stop Friday seafood special (yes, I am serious, and yes, a delicious find at $10.99) we were off again to the 7 Feathers RV Resort in Canyonville, Oregon. I won't blather on about how much I love this place again...suffice it to say they do it right. With an empty stomach, swimsuit packed, and player's card in hand we again took the 2 1/2 hour trek from Corvallis. We arrived late Friday to find a whopping 8 other rigs in a resort that has 200'ish sites. We also arrived to 30-40 mph winds and pummeling rain...again, nothing that should surprise any northwesterners.
As usual, the blackened salmon dinner made it worthwhile and fueled us for the stormy night ahead.
One of my favorite pastimes at these transient resorts is creating travel lives for everyone that passes through. Of course this time of year with the crap weather in Oregon, I pretend that most everyone is on their way down to the Palm Springs, Phoenix, Quartzite....any place where the sun actually shines and where furnaces don't receive a full-day workout. My second favorite pastime at this particular resort, given that a truck stop is just down the hill, is to imagine my life as a long-haul trucker. I visualize cruising the country, meeting new people, and testing my verbal acuity with CB banter. Of course, my fantasies are far from reality in most cases as I know what a shitty trucker I would be, unable to fix anything significant, and probably hopped on on uppers to actually drive for 10-12 hours straight...but nothing wrong with a fantasy right? That reminds me, I had better come up with a good CB handle for my next fantasy session. On our last visit here we met THE most awesome couple from Palm Springs, so who knows what this weekend might bring...although nothing will compare to the homemade tamales that we shared with our newfound friends on the last visit south.
This brings me to what I love about the RV lifestyle. We are surrounded by people on a regular basis that we would normally not meet nor interact with elsewhere....but thanks to us all having kindred roving spirits, we share a common connection that transcends our differences. I think our country could learn a great deal from this camaraderie. In our country that is getting more and more polarized, with the status quo being finger pointing and blame-laying, RV'ers come together despite their differences and embrace the unique journey that we have the opportunity to share together. By sharing meals together and fun times, we are able to each learn from each other and realize we are really not the polarized factions that the media would make us all out to be. Liberals and conservatives CAN and do get along, and we can each learn from each other and enjoy each others' company. At the end of this election month, I think it is important that we remember this and try and remind ourselves that it is the celebration of our uniqueness that keeps us fueled.....passion for exploration and new experiences brings us joy and awe. Spending our time making judgements and living in places of fear are they way to frustration, anger, and sickness.
Happy Holidays my fellow wandering spirits!
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| Blackened Salmon Friday night special |
One of my favorite pastimes at these transient resorts is creating travel lives for everyone that passes through. Of course this time of year with the crap weather in Oregon, I pretend that most everyone is on their way down to the Palm Springs, Phoenix, Quartzite....any place where the sun actually shines and where furnaces don't receive a full-day workout. My second favorite pastime at this particular resort, given that a truck stop is just down the hill, is to imagine my life as a long-haul trucker. I visualize cruising the country, meeting new people, and testing my verbal acuity with CB banter. Of course, my fantasies are far from reality in most cases as I know what a shitty trucker I would be, unable to fix anything significant, and probably hopped on on uppers to actually drive for 10-12 hours straight...but nothing wrong with a fantasy right? That reminds me, I had better come up with a good CB handle for my next fantasy session. On our last visit here we met THE most awesome couple from Palm Springs, so who knows what this weekend might bring...although nothing will compare to the homemade tamales that we shared with our newfound friends on the last visit south.
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| An empty 7 Feathers Resort |
This brings me to what I love about the RV lifestyle. We are surrounded by people on a regular basis that we would normally not meet nor interact with elsewhere....but thanks to us all having kindred roving spirits, we share a common connection that transcends our differences. I think our country could learn a great deal from this camaraderie. In our country that is getting more and more polarized, with the status quo being finger pointing and blame-laying, RV'ers come together despite their differences and embrace the unique journey that we have the opportunity to share together. By sharing meals together and fun times, we are able to each learn from each other and realize we are really not the polarized factions that the media would make us all out to be. Liberals and conservatives CAN and do get along, and we can each learn from each other and enjoy each others' company. At the end of this election month, I think it is important that we remember this and try and remind ourselves that it is the celebration of our uniqueness that keeps us fueled.....passion for exploration and new experiences brings us joy and awe. Spending our time making judgements and living in places of fear are they way to frustration, anger, and sickness.
Happy Holidays my fellow wandering spirits!
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