SargeW
Site Team
After we got back from the Alaska trip in one (relative) piece, we decided not to head off to the east coast just yet. Instead we are going to hang out on the western side of the country for the rest of the year. I had so much fun writing the Alaska journal, and I received such great recommendations and tips from other forum members, I decided to continue the journal with a west coast flavor. So now, please join me on my ?West Coast States ? Just the Fact Ma?am? tour.
After we crossed the Canadian border for the last time we made our first stop at North Whidbey Island RV Park. We went to our friend?s house and picked up the ?adult libations? and other supplies we couldn?t take into Canada with us.
We took the Port Townsend ferry over to Whidbey Island. For our 53? rig and tow car we paid $81.15 for the ? hour ferry ride from Oak Harbor to Port Townsend. That saved us about 200 miles of driving. Reservations are recommended on the Ferry for larger vehicles, lest you may get bumped. In Oak Harbor we paid a little under $30 a night for paved sites, grass between the sites and full hookups. That also included WiFi and cable, which we didn?t need.
The next stop we chose Sequim, WA. Sequim is in close proximity to one of the National Parks that we had not visited yet, Olympic National Park. We took two different off road trails in the park. The first was to ?Obstruction Point?. The trail climbed to over 6000? and was heavily treed, with great views of the surrounding snow capped mountains. We could even see a distant glacier from the visitor?s center, which was at the start of the trail.
The other trail was Deerpark trail. It climbed to 5800? through some very twisty narrow roads. There was a campground near the top for small rigs (class B, or truck campers) and tents. Both trails provided a panoramic view looking down on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
We stayed in the ?Rainbows End? RV park. While it is right on highway 101, the traffic noise at night was negligible. We paid $35 a night for full hookups, 50 amp, and included Wi-Fi and cable. They had a large off leash dog area, and a onsite pond with lots of ducks and water birds.
When we got back into the states I need to fill up on propane. I was surprised how cheap (comparatively) that propane has become. I paid $1.89 a gallon for propane at a gas station in Oak Harbor. Apparently the US has a glut of propane right now. Propane is a byproduct of the recovery of Oil Shale mining in the east. The story that I read on it said that by August of 2013, there will be no more room to store all of the Propane reserves that we currently have. Wow.
We have now moved further south and have a spot at the Columbia Riverfront RV Park. The park is right on the shore of the Columbia, and we watch the boats travel up and down the river in route to ports in Portland, Vancouver, and points beyond. We paid $33 a night for full 50 amp hook ups, Cable, Wi-Fi and a pool. There is a 3 acre grass area in front of the RV sites for playing games or walking the pets.
Diane found a local attraction to go visit today. A Grist Mill built in 1876 is still original and still operating. We drove there and watched a demo of the water driven grinding stones turning wheat into wheat flour. We took home some corn meal and wheat flour and Diane whipped up a batch of fresh corn bread using the flour from the mill. Good stuff!
After we crossed the Canadian border for the last time we made our first stop at North Whidbey Island RV Park. We went to our friend?s house and picked up the ?adult libations? and other supplies we couldn?t take into Canada with us.
We took the Port Townsend ferry over to Whidbey Island. For our 53? rig and tow car we paid $81.15 for the ? hour ferry ride from Oak Harbor to Port Townsend. That saved us about 200 miles of driving. Reservations are recommended on the Ferry for larger vehicles, lest you may get bumped. In Oak Harbor we paid a little under $30 a night for paved sites, grass between the sites and full hookups. That also included WiFi and cable, which we didn?t need.
The next stop we chose Sequim, WA. Sequim is in close proximity to one of the National Parks that we had not visited yet, Olympic National Park. We took two different off road trails in the park. The first was to ?Obstruction Point?. The trail climbed to over 6000? and was heavily treed, with great views of the surrounding snow capped mountains. We could even see a distant glacier from the visitor?s center, which was at the start of the trail.
The other trail was Deerpark trail. It climbed to 5800? through some very twisty narrow roads. There was a campground near the top for small rigs (class B, or truck campers) and tents. Both trails provided a panoramic view looking down on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
We stayed in the ?Rainbows End? RV park. While it is right on highway 101, the traffic noise at night was negligible. We paid $35 a night for full hookups, 50 amp, and included Wi-Fi and cable. They had a large off leash dog area, and a onsite pond with lots of ducks and water birds.
When we got back into the states I need to fill up on propane. I was surprised how cheap (comparatively) that propane has become. I paid $1.89 a gallon for propane at a gas station in Oak Harbor. Apparently the US has a glut of propane right now. Propane is a byproduct of the recovery of Oil Shale mining in the east. The story that I read on it said that by August of 2013, there will be no more room to store all of the Propane reserves that we currently have. Wow.
We have now moved further south and have a spot at the Columbia Riverfront RV Park. The park is right on the shore of the Columbia, and we watch the boats travel up and down the river in route to ports in Portland, Vancouver, and points beyond. We paid $33 a night for full 50 amp hook ups, Cable, Wi-Fi and a pool. There is a 3 acre grass area in front of the RV sites for playing games or walking the pets.
Diane found a local attraction to go visit today. A Grist Mill built in 1876 is still original and still operating. We drove there and watched a demo of the water driven grinding stones turning wheat into wheat flour. We took home some corn meal and wheat flour and Diane whipped up a batch of fresh corn bread using the flour from the mill. Good stuff!
I hope you and Diane had a great time and I hope to see it myself one day.
