All righteee then!
Down and dirty TR. Lot of driving, not much time hiking.
August 27: From Fuggowhee to Lee Vining to Reno to Susanville. Spent night at Apple Inn for $45.00. Best kept secret in Susanville. Kind of like a hostel but more upscale. They allow you to pick 2 free snacks. Rooms had a microwave. Showers were 3 X 3.
August 28: Rain. Rain. Rain. Lassen Peak trail closed due to maintenance. What? Oh well. There goes Lassen. Drive up past Goose Lake (what lake?). Drove through Oregon Outback. Camped in La Pine. Oregon has the best state parks! Site 107 had electric hook up and spigot as well as the other amenities.
August 29: Timberline Lodge. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny! What a place. Windy and a bit brisk. Drove to Portland. Stopped in Clackamas. Dined at Claim Jumper. There is an REI in the same center. Heaven!
August 30: Mt. St. Helens. Johnston Observatory. Low clouds prevented full view. Much different drive than in 1989 since last visit. 1989 could drive past Spirit Lake. Camped at Ecopark. Nice large sites. Showers. Love roughing it.
August 31: Drove to Kelso headed west along the Columbia. Stopped at Dismal Nitch. Over the bridge to Astoria. Purchased salmon at Johansens. Drove down the Oregon coast to Newport. Toured Tillamook Cheese Factory. Stayed at hotel. Dinner at Rogue's on the waterfront. Killer IPA's.
September 1: Drove as far as Brookings to camp another night. Met relatives who is a distant relative. Watched the sunset on the beach. Beautiful.
September 2: Camped in Ft. Bragg, CA. No, not NC. Racoon(s) open up our ice chest and eat all the meat products including OUR SALMON!
September 3: Drove east through Clear Lake and to Sacramento. Spent night. Had to go to IKEA next day to pick up bed for stepdaughter. Note to self: Do not ever do that again. No mixing of vacation, IKEA and camping gear. Wouldn't be prudent.
September 4: IKEA. But first breakfast at Whole Foods. Omelet yummy. Wish they served Portal Pancake and Fries. Yes, for breakfast!
That's it. My wife had never been to Portland or Mt. St. Helens. We had never been through the Oregon Outback.
Down and dirty.
Yes, we had fun.
