Lewis & Clark RV Park - Astoria, Oregon

This last weekend we revisited one of our favorite cities on the Oregon coast, Astoria.  We packed up the RV, picked up Paul's parents in Portland and headed NW to Astoria.

ROUTE CHOICES FROM PORTLAND:  There are three main routes to get to Astoria from Portland.   The quickest route is actually up I-5 in Washington, cutting over at Longview to Hwy 30 and then continuing west to Astoria.  The second route, arguably the longest, is to take Hwy 30 out of Portland the entire way to Astoria.  The final choice it to take Hwy 26 out of west Portland up through Seaside and then north on 101.  We have taken all of these routes in the past and definitely prefer the more leisurely Hwy 30 route.  You pass through several quaint towns along the way and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous.  Hwy 26 is loaded with weekend travelers trying to get to/from the coast as quickly as possible and can be quite a hair raising adventure so is one we avoid in the RV.

FOOD:  OK...so if you follow this blog you already know food is HUGE focus for us :)  Astoria happens to have some of THE best food on the coast.  You certainly cannot go wrong with the choices over here.  Our absolute favorite is the Bowpicker located downtown across from the maritime museum.  Fresh tuna fish and chips that just cannot be beat.  This place is VERY popular, so plan accordingly and plan on waiting in line as well.  A new find this trip was only 2 minutes away from the park on Young's Bay with a million dollar view....a Mexican restaurant that looks like a shack you would probably never try without several recommendations.  Well let me tell you, La Cabana de Raya is well worth a visit!  The prices are tremendous, the view is breathtaking, and you will eat for at least two days on whatever meal you happen to purchase.  We cooked the remainder of our meals in the coach so those are the only two nuggets I can share on this trip, but promise to fill you in on future trips to Astoria as we have a LONG list of places we are still wanting to try.

Enchiladas for 4...or 1 at this place

Delicious Guacamole!

Do NOT go to Astoria without trying this place...amazing!

LEWIS & CLARK RV PARK:  This is our favorite summer park in Astoria.  Fort Stevens is a nice state park but is not a relaxing place in the summer.  Lewis & Clark is a smaller park with pull-thru and back-in sites that will accommodate any size rig.  It is located off Youngs Bay Road, SE of Astoria by a few minutes.  Almost all of the sites look directly onto the 9-hole golf course and it is a peaceful and quiet setting.  With the craziness of our weekday lives, we both love getting away on weekends to quiet and relaxing.  The owners are THE absolute best!  They are friendly, fun, know all of the good places in town and really work to make your stay enjoyable.  We rented a "super site" they have that has an RV pad along with a park-model cabin attached where Paul's parents stayed.  There is a huge patio attached with a firepit, BBQ, and seating for 20 easily.  The A and C sites are the best choices for Class A and C RVs with a clear view of the golf course and large grassy area.  They have frisbee golf available, Bocce ball, as well as the adjacent golf course....plenty of relaxing fun times.

Patio Area - A sites in background

Enjoying some ladder ball in front of patio. C sites in background

Paul on golf course adjacent to park

Paul's parents enjoying some summer coastal sun

 

FMCA Virgin Report

So this last weekend was our FIRST ever RV rally....kind of....which really means that we only attended for one day and didn't actually camp on-site.  Since the rally was only 20 minutes from our house it just seemed weird to pack everything up and drive 20 minutes to camp.  We DID however get to spend an entire day at the rally and had a tremendous time....here is why:

1. WE RAN INTO UNEXPECTED FRIENDS.  The biggest surprise of the day was running into Denise and Roger.  Denise worked for me at OSU and I blame her for initiation into the RV lifestyle.  She would describe all of the amazing travels her and Roger would make in their RV and it got Paul and I SO excited that we bought our own RV two years ago and have never looked back.  Denise always brings a smile to my face as she loves people, she gives a great deal back to the community, and she is just fun all around!  We also ran into Doug and Ann, Butch and Jodi and several others that we have met during visits at Pacific Shores in Newport.  Finally, we got to spend time with our favorite salesperson who is now a good friend, Susan Graham from Premier RV Sales in Junction City, Oregon. 

2.  WE GOT TO TRY OUT COMFORT DRIVE.  Newmar was giving test rides in an Essex, Dutch Star, and Ventana.  These were hour-long test drives and included a free jacket at the end of the test drive!  Who can beat that....of course, to keep our slobbering to a minimum, we chose to drive the Ventana.  I do have to admit that the Comfort Drive was quite amazing.  I was most impressed with how you just let the wheel go and the coach would back up in a straight line...something I can never seem to accomplish with my backing abilities.

3.  WE HAD FUN WALKING THE GROUNDS.  We spent time exploring the vendor booths, all of the show coaches there from dealers, and just walking about the 200+ rigs that were camping there to see all of the creative decorating/living that people do.

Needless to say, based upon our experiences here, we will certainly be attending the FMCA rally in Redmond, Oregon, next summer where roughly 2,000 coaches are expected...can't even imagine!

Back at the Feathers

OK. I will admit that we are probably here far too frequently, but THIS time it was to meet up with our friend Marcia who is over here from La Pine for a few days.  We of course made it just in time Friday for the truck stop line-caught blackened salmon special....absolutely delicious.

Perhaps you are wondering if every destination we choose is food related...well...yes, sometimes that is accurate. I am happy to report that after dining on salmon and hitting the casino with Marcia, I am up $100 and Paul is up $40. Today we arose and made a trek down to Heaven on Earth, a restaurant in Azalea that boasts the worlds largest cinnamon rolls...from what I saw this could definitely be accurate. Due to our extravagance this morning we will be skipping lunch and then meeting up with Marcia again tonight to try out a local Italian restaurant. 

We tried a new section of the resort this visit, site 174, and were impressed with privacy and views here on the south side. I have added a few pictures so you can check this out. Many of the back-in only sites on this side are quite private. We will definitely stay on this side again. 

I will report back on the Italian restaurant. Next weekend we will be hitting the FMCA rally in Albany, Oregon with our friends Michele and Cathy. Have never been to one of these so look forward to giving you the virgin's perspective!

View from Site 174

View from Site 174

Site 174

Paul and Kasha enjoying the sun

The LARGEST cinnamon roll ever...

Back in Newport

OK...I will admit, we absolutely love Newport, Oregon.  Beautiful beaches, exquisite eateries, fun shops, and a friendly atmosphere throughout.  It is also just 1 hour from our house making it a perfect quick weekend getaway, thanks to our friends Barb & Linda.  The other motivator this weekend is our good friend Michelle is playing Julia Child in a play at Pacific Shores where Julia Child meets Paula Deen.  Not only is this ripe for disturbing content, but Michelle takes Julia to a WHOLE new level with wine drinking, BON appetite, and her rendition of stuffing a turkey....you can imagine where that goes.  We have met a great group of owners that live over here and absolutely love coming over to say hi, catch up, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and fun spirit here, particularly in the summer months when the place is packed.  Most of all, we love relaxing on the deck, plowing through some chapters in a good book and just enjoy the sunshine once the fog burns off in the morning.  I hope everyone is having a great weekend...life is good!

Upgrading Dash Stereo

Although we love our 9 year old coach, we were not in love with the technology of 2004 versus today.  Our in-dash receiver (connected to our 10-disk CD changer) is just too old-school for us and we couldn't take it any longer.  We both wanted to be able to stream music (via Bluetooth) through our phones, and I was specifically looking for bluetooth so I could talk hands free as well.  Unfortunately, neither one of us possesses what I would call intuitive electronic abilities.  Yes, we can hook up a receiver and deal with a wireless router, but as soon a there are more than 6 colors of wires our heads start to spin, our faces get more and more clinched, and our language starts approaching what you would find in a truck stop brawl.  Needless to say, we had reached the point where we were willing to even take that risk to move ourselves to new technology in the coach.

Out with the Old Kenwood

We took the information on our old Kenwood received model to a local stereo store and explained our situation.  As soon as the conversation moved towards the words "wiring harness" and involved the requisite 'more than 6 colors' we knew we were screwed.  A task analogous to making toast for this shop installer was enough to raise our level of anxiety to one that was painfully obvious.  Thankfully, this shop installer saw the grimaces on our faces and pointed us to another Kenwood product that he said "may just fit" into the same bracket and wiring harness as the last one....if we were lucky.  If we were not lucky, it would mean a trip to the installation bay and 2-3 hours labor at a minimum....something we were hoping to avoid.

Our new in-dash receiver

Our new found friend connected us with the Kenwood KDC-X597 receiver which includes a USB input, bluetooth audio as well as bluetooth phone connectivity.  He said to "give it a try" with a friendly grin....one we didn't know how to interpret as "I just saved your ass" or "good luck...I will see you in the morning suckers".  It was 5 p.m. and we thought....let's give it a try!  We knew this was either one of the worst decisions of our lives, or one that would build our self-esteem to unprecedented levels.  We got to the rig, scanned the manual and then proceeded to remove the old receiver with the removal tongs that the old owner faithfully left for us.  Upon removal we found 3 inputs (wiring harness, antenna, and disk changer connector).  We unplugged all three and proceeded to see if the new receiver would fit in the bracket.  Surprise!  Not only did it fit in the bracket, but the wiring harness snapped in and brought the unit to life immediately!  It appears the friendly grin from our salesperson was one of....OK....I am going to save you guys from some serious misery.  Clearly he knew this install would be a piece of cake and was taking pity on us by steering us to the same brand.

Installed and fully operational!

The final step was to attach the bluetooth microphone, which fit perfectly under the dash and clipped right below our backup camera screen.  The bluetooth works like a charm, both with audio streaming AND via the phone.  We discovered an added bonus....as long as we are in cell coverage....no need to use radios when parking the coach as I can be on the bluetooth with hands free while Paul can direct and be on his cell phone as needed.  Awesome!

Microphone placement

LESSON:  If you are looking to replace your old dash receiver with a new one, use an expert, and stick with same brand, as you may end up, like us, with a wiring harness that simply plugs in and boom...done.  If you have a Monaco with the same old Kenwood CD-changer receiver, I would highly recommend the brand we chose....works like a charm and a piece of cake to install!

Winchester Bay - Oregon

Best laid plans right?  So our week exploring Southern Oregon has now turned into our week on the Oregon Coast thanks to a heat wave that hit the valley this week.  We decided that 4 more days with near 100 temps might just be our sign to head west.  Don't get me wrong, I of all people LOVE the heat, and if we were near a pool I would be all over it...but we aren't.  Luck dropped us at Winchester Bay in what may be one of the best sites at the campground overlooking the marina with a HUGE private grassy area just outside our door.

View out of our front window

Looking out the left side of the window

 There are three main camping areas here at Winchester Bay. (1) Dry camping on the marina $14, (2) Overnight camping with full hookups at Windy Cove A or Windy Cove B for $23, and (3) Larger sites at the Winchester Bay RV Resort with all amenities including cable and the best views of the Bay and ocean inlet for $42 a night.  The marina dry camping sites are on a first come basis, but all have nice marina views and could be a very good option for a couple of nights.  The Windy Cove campground is well...just not our type of place...full of ATV riders, flooded with kids, fires burning everywhere, and loads of random crap piled on everyone's lot.  Of course, if you are into that scene every seat has a......  Winchester Bay is a major recreational gateway to the sand dunes as well as a fishing and crabbing community.  Tourism clearly represents a large portion of the economy.  This is one of our favorite parks on the coast for just relaxing and enjoying the scenery.  We will be here for two nights and then will be heading north towards Pacific Shores in Newport where we will be spending the 4th with friends and enjoying the cooler, but still sunny weather.

View from our site #109 - nobody to the right

Another ocean view lot

Windy Cove Campground B - Popular ATV spot

View of bay from end of dry camping area

Dry Camping Area - Great views!

Ocean facing lot at Winchester Bay RV Resort

Dry Camping spot facing marina

View from Ocean facing lot

Emigrant Lake - Ashland, Oregon

In celebration of the end of the academic year and the 4th of July, Paul and I are taking the week for more Oregon exploration...first stop...Emigrant Lake County Park in Ashland, Oregon.

We absolutely love the arid, picturesque beauty of Southern Oregon...and of all of the cities in the region Ashland is by far our favorite.  It is a hotspot for people watching, gourmet dining, unique shops, and abundant outdoor exploration, as well as the home of two very good friends Carl and Annette.

The choices in campground right near Ashland are pretty limited, but we certainly did not sacrifice at The Point RV park located at Emigrant Lake, a park with over 1400 acres and 12 miles of lakefront.  A hotspot for fishing, water activities, and escaping the heat, Emigrant Lake is popular for residents of Ashland and Medford, particularly when the weather is in the high 90's like we are experiencing!  The Point has 32 RV sites and there is a nearby tenting location that has 42 sites.  There is an upper level and a lower level to the campground.  The lower level has several sites with perfect views of the lake...#19 and #21 being the highly coveted.  The upper level sites all have tremendous views of the lake, mountains, and the valley.  Site reservations are essential here in the Summer, particularly if you want one of the prime spots.  We reserved #29 which had a sweeping lake view from our living/dining room.  Each of the sites has a fire pit and picnic table along with full hookups.  The shower rooms are private and locking and the restrooms were very clean, although with limited sink and counter space.

There is no shade at the campground, so plan accordingly.  We are happy our 2 A/C units are pumping out enough to keep us comfortable, but have watched several campers without A/C scoot out early.  The rates are $30 a night and in our opinion, for the views, well worth it.  Check it out....

Restrooms

View from Upper Level Sites

One of the coveted sites #19 - teasing us

Cluster on the Point - #21 pull through at end

View from our picnic table

Our site #29 on Upper Level

View of campground from Emigrant Lake Park

Gambling Escape

Busy schedules have left us with one night to get away this weekend...which is ALWAYS better than no nights, but definitely does limit the options.  We have been craving breakfast at Spirit Mountain Casino for a few weeks now, so decided to pack it up and make that our overnight for this weekend.  There is no official RV park attached to this casino, but there is a large lot where dry camping is allowed and if you time it right you can get one of the 3 spaces facing the wetlands next door.  Lady luck must be traveling with us as were able to snag the best spot in the lot...literally 5 minutes before a herd of Class A's came into the lot.  Could this mean that those loose slots are ready to fill out pockets? We'll see...

Of course parking here is free, but if our normal gambling luck holds true, this night will probably cost us much more than even a fancy RV park....but who knows...right?  If our next post contains the words "new coach" you will know the answer.

Our coveted "view" space

The 3 "view" dry camping spots

Our view on the living side

Back to the Oregon Coast

We have not fallen off the face of the earth, been kidnapped by pirates, or anything of the like.  I have been trudging through the final months and weeks of a doctoral dissertation and just have not had the energy to update the blog.  Now that I am on the tail end of THAT project, blogging AND weekend travel updates will return!

This weekend, thanks to our generous friends Barb and Linda, we are back on the Oregon coast at Pacific Shores in Newport.  The HOA is clearly getting the place ready for the summer season with the landscaping crew working at full speed.  The weather on Friday was rainy and stormy, but today brought bright sunshine and a visit from friends in the valley....Margaret and Melissa.  We took a quick beach walk and sat around enjoying the afternoon sunshine and spring weather.  It is this type of weather that gives us Oregonians hope for summer!

Melissa, Margaret and Paul

Favorite new route from I-5 to Palm Springs, CA

In our quest to find the most pleasurable way to make it from I-5 South to Palm Springs we happened upon a route we had never tried before that has now now hit our "favorite" list.  Our friend Garmin always wants to take us through the grapevine and over on the 210/10 combo.  Not only is the traffic unpredictable, but the road quality is marginal as well...certainly not relaxing in any way.  Last trip we tried Hwy 58 East, connecting to the 395 south and then the 215 down to the 10.  The traffic was better than I-5 but the 395 was a bit of a two-lane nightmare with impatient truckers, RV's, and cars all trying to pass each other.  The road quality was also just as bad if not worse than the 10.  This time we took Hwy 58 East all the way to Barstow where we connected to the 247 South and then to the 62 South.  Other than the 58 it was primarily 2-lane roads with very little traffic.  Best of all it only took 20 minutes longer than the route our friend Garmin loves.  The only hair on your knuckles portion is an 8% grade right before connecting to the 62...nothing a strong foot and exhaust or compression brake can't handle and certainly beats the downhill drama of the 215.

Orange Grove RV Park - Bakersfield, CA

Who wouldn't love the concept of an RV park in the middle of an orange grove where you can pick all of the oranges you want?  On our southern trek to the desert, the Orange Grove RV Park is our favorite for night two of the trip.  Located about 15 minutes East of Bakersfield, this small oasis makes for a perfect stopping point and is a great location if you prefer the HWY 58 routes to the desert as opposed to fighting with LA traffic.  Definitely plan on calling for a reservation here as the night we arrived even the overflow lot was full....VERY glad we called ahead.

Setting 4  This place gets extra bonus points for uniqueness.  The office loans you orange pickers and even has bags so you can pick whatever you like.  About 1/3 of the park on the North end is for long term residents while the remainder is for shorter stays.  There certainly is not privacy, and the lots are gravel, so you should probably look elsewhere if that is a concern.  We absolutely love the feel of the place.

Amenities 3  Take a look at the hookup picture below.  Everything functions, but the sewer hookup is a bit on nasty side...it has a t-joint and you had better make sure the cap on the t that you are not using is on tight.  We started dumping our grey and noticed bubbles and water seeping out of the other t.  Were were very happy we weren't dumping our black tank at the time. Very generous cable channels...WIFI typical for a park like this where an access code is required.  Bathrooms were clean, but minimal services.  The office has RV supplies and some groceries.  Of course the orange pickers were a huge bonus.  There are not restaurants or grocery stores nearby so make sure and come prepared with what you need for the stay.

Accessibility 3.5  The park is directly south of Highway 58.  The approach could not be easier.  There are some sites that are difficult to access so make sure the office knows the exact size of  your coach and tow car so you don't run into a surprise "back up" situation.  Some of the sites are a bit uneven but all seemed to be manageable.

Friendliness 5  Both the park employees and residents were extremely friendly.  As most residents are only at the park for a night it is fun to walk around and find out where everyone is going and coming from. 

View down on of the lanes of the park

Our rig and tow in our spot for the night

Front view of the site

Yes...really surrounded by an orange grove

Another view of our site and neighbors

Bathroom area

Hookups at site

One of 3 showers...plenty of privacy