Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction

A favorite place to stop on our way to or from Tucson is Lost Dutchman state park.   The campground there has huge nicely spaced sites with electric and water.   Beat of all is the amazing views of the Superstition Mountains.

 This is the view from our dining room window.     I took the sunset picture during a walk on our first night there.    The edges of a big storm was going through Arizona and this was a great place to wait out the wind and hike a bit.   

Next stop:   Tucson!

San Juan Bautista Mission

Another fun find thanks to the AAA book, was the Mission at San Juan Bautista.   The mission is over 200 years old with a beautiful sanctuary and a quiet pretty garden.   

Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park was a wonderful surprise.    The park facilities are small and limited but the hiking is fantastic.    We went to both the East and the West side.    The Moses Spring trail had great views of the rock formations.    The Balconies Cliff trail did too but it also ended up at the Balconies Cave which was a hard scramble for two shall we say "older" people.   In spots it felt more like a climb than a hike and if we had lost our footing or our grip the fall would have been over 10 feet down to very hard rock.   We were both very glad when it was over & have been patting ourselves on the back that we didn't turn back.

 We stayed at San Lorenzo Regional Park in King City but really wished we had stayed at Pinnacles.   San Lorenzo was nice and we enjoyed it but the national park campground was nicer and more convenient.

 

Redwoods National & State Parks

We found a great little campground just north of Redwoods National Park, called Klamath River RV Park.    Our spot was right on the banks of the river looking downriver.    There was still considerable fog off and on but the views were great when it lifted.

Redwoods is a combination national and state park system.    Nice to see the cooperation.   The scenic drives are so lovely both in the fog and in the sun.   The Lady Bird Johnson Grove is high on a hill and includes a quiet hike.   

The Trillium Falls hike is longer and very nice.   We were the only ones on the trail.

Fog Fog Fog from Bandon to the Redwoods

My one disappointment on the trip down was the fog from Bandon to the Redwoods.    That part of the southern oregon and northern california coastline is supposed to be dramaticly scenic.   Unfortunately we saw very little through the fog.    I am reminding myself how lucky we were to have 4 gorgeous days on the coast and trying not to whine too much.  

Central oregon coast; Newport to Bandon

It has been a very long time since either of us have been south of Newport on the coast.   We took off on another brilliant fall day.    It is so rare to have such beautiful weather.   We stopped at the Spouting Horn for a short walk and to see the water spray up out of the rocks.    But my favorite spot was the Heceda Head & lighthouse & hike.       

On the Road.... again

On the road again.... I know it is almost a cliche but love that song.    We are on the road to the Oregon coast.     The weather is amazing, sunny, calm, clear blue skies.    A bit cool but fall is like that.    Closing up the house took a while so our first stop was close, Newport, Oregon.   Our friend Warren is a camp host there so we wanted to say hi and check out South Beach State Park.

It is a great camping park with hiking trails, bike trail, beach, jetty, marine science center & aquarium all within a walk or bike of our camp site.   Lots of nice sized sites with reasonable privacy and pretty beach pines.    We walked the jetty trail to guess where?   the jetty.   Also rode our bikes and walked to the beach.   Nearby is Yaquina Head & Lighthouse, a national recreation area.   Luckily the government shut down ended so we were able to spend a day there at the visitor center and hiking.    Of course we had to go to the original Mo's on the Newport Bayfront for their famous clam chowder.    More sightseeing and then it was time to head on down the coast.   We were there 3 nights and could have spent longer.

Before we leave

Before we leave for Tucson the yard needed some attention.    It looked so pretty and tidy after a good weeding & a fresh top of bark.  Luckily the yard is very small and we took care of it in an afternoon.

Nana couldn't leave town without some more Isabelle time so Shannon, Isabelle, and I had an OMSI adventure.    The new OMSI is so much nicer than the one I took Shannon & Erik to.   Isabelle's favorite was the flubber play area.

 

We also had a sibling evening at brother Dick's home.    The four of us hadn't been together in a very long time.

Hiking in the wild, wet, green northwest

We did get some hiking in before we leave for the desert.    We made sure to find some hikes with lots of water and green forests because we won't see much of that in Tucson.    The Wildwood Trail in Forest Park is in the middle of Portland but feels like you are miles away.    We had the trail to ourselves for part of the time except for a busy spider and his web.

We did several short walks on our trips up the Columbia Gorge with company.    We also met my brother Arnie and wife Jean for a walk around Lacamas Lake on a very rainy day.    We did manage 3 miles before we were so wet we gave up and went for a fun lunch instead.

Our last hike of the season was Lacamas Creek Park.   Again this park in in the middle of a town but feels wonderfully remote.   The trail is wide and soft and there are 3 sets of rapids/waterfalls.    Loved it!

Well, it is 10 days until we head down the coast for Tucson.    I hope to see Isabelle most of those 10 days if I don't drive Shannon & Chris crazy.   We still have a few get togethers with friends and the Sunday before we leave, we will have a family brunch.   It has been a great spring and summer.    Now, to the desert!

It was a fun summer but almost time to close the Kaspar Inn

Fall seems to be a time for reflection for me.     As I think about this past spring and summer, I feel so fortunate.   Isabelle is growing and changing so fast and I am so glad we are in town to share this wonderful time. She has the cutest corkscrew curls right now.

 It was a busy time what with selling the Brier house and buying the townhouse in Ridgefield.     And then we wanted to share our new place with friends and family.  It is wonderful to be so close to everyone.    And as I think about packing up the motor home and heading for Tucson, I am excited to get to the desert and the new friends we have made at Desert Trails.    What a great life and I am grateful.

Since I wrote last we have managed to get some hiking in and also some fun adventures with friends.    Mary Wales & John are friends we know from Desert Trails.  They gave us free tickets for the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler.   What a treat.   It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed a 2 hour cruise from Cascade Locks to Bonneville Dam and back.

We took a last trip of the season to Port Townsend to see LeAnne and help her move some things.    On the way there we stopped to see Madonna & Matt and also drove to the top of Mt Walker.    On the way home we spent a night with Kathy & Bill & had a fun lunch with my sister & brother in law.   We packed a lot into a long weekend.   

Our last overnight company was Jan & Lonnie.    We had a great couple days catching up, eating, drinking, and driving up the Columbia River Gorge.    We hoped to see some fall color but there wasn't much.    So we made our own color with lots of laughs.

 

September Fun started early

September fun started on the 1st with our second annual Dyer family reunion.   Shannon & her family came up to camp with us a day early.    It was Isabelle's first night camping in a tent and she loved it.    She did take a spill in the gravel and ended up with a skinned forehead, elbow, and knee, poor sweetie.  We had 21 family members from my sisters' and brothers' families.    We start with a huge potluck in the meeting hall at Stub Stewart State Park just west of Portland.    We visited, played games, had a ranger interpretive program and of course ate and drank.    Most of us spent the night either camping or in the cute little cabins at the park.    We had a great campfire with the requisite S'mores.    The next morning we had lots of great food again, with a breakfast burrito buffet.   Everyone helped make it a huge success but special kudos go to Erik for buying and marinading the wonderful chicken,  Shannon for organizing the potluck meals, and Alta for making the reservations and collecting the money.    One of the best parts of the reunion is for all the extended cousins to get to know each other better.

Have you ever had an adult slumber party?    What fun.   Chris & Tom and Donna & Matt from hood canal area came for 3 days and boy-o-howdy did we have a great time.    We were worried at first because a big storm was fore casted but we didn't need to worry.   That storm was almost perfectly timed to miss all our fun.    We started on the deck for a BBQ.   The next day we headed out sightseeing and waterfall walking.    The weather was cool & cloudy which ended up to be perfect both for the people walking and Maya (M&M's dog) waiting in the car.  More good food, good wine, good scotch and good friends.  The women walked each morning to try to offset the indulgences..... at least we tried.   We didn't want to say goodbye so we just said "see you in Tucson!".

Now we are looking forward to our Isabelle days, picking her up from pre-school a couple days a week and occasional days when her Mom is working off schedule.   Not too many other plans except figuring our our new plants and how to feed and prune them and few other house projects.    In October, Jan & Lonnie come to visit and I am excited to catch up with them.

That's all for now......

Lazy summer days with friends & family

The weather this summer has been amazing.   Days and days of sunny, warm weather, perfect for entertaining on the deck.    One criteria that was very important in choosing a new place was an outdoor space for entertaining.   We love the feel of our back yard with lots of green grass, mature trees and plantings.   It feels like we live in a park when we are back there.

Kathy and Bill came to visit from Mukilteo.   We had lots of warm afternoons and evenings on the deck.   Then we took a drive up the gorge to Crown Point, the waterfalls and Bonneville Dam.   Mostly we laughed as we always do with Kathy and Bill.   Great fun.  

 

Our five days with Isabelle was so much fun and Shannon & Christian enjoyed their anniversary get away in Ashland.   We took Isabelle to the zoo, storeytime at the library, the park, and even hosted my neice Kelly for dinner one night.    We were happily exhausted when Izzy's Mom & Dad returned.    She was so excited to see them that she danced and squealed when they came through the door.   

We had fun lunches with my Sister & husband, Gloria (our neighbor at the rv park), and Mary Wales & John from Desert Trails.    All on the deck in the summer sun.   Our friend Ken surprised Trina with a birthday dinner at their house.   

Trina & Sue & I had our annual girls trip and spent a long weekend at the Oregon Gardens Resort.    We stayed local to save money because we are planning a big 20th anniversary trip next year.    The Resort had a girlfriends weekend special that included two nights in a cute room with a nice deck.    The package included dinner, wine, a spa treatment for each of us, and entrance into the garden each day.   We lucked out and there was a art fair at the city park in Silverton where I found some fun garden art and also enjoyed the music.   Our friendship is a cherished part of my life and every year I look forward to time with these dear friends.

LeAnne and Ben came for a visit.   Ben is at Pacific University in Forest Grove again this year.   He is a sophmore and will be on the varsity tennis team again.    Proud Grandma has to brag a bit.....  he is in honor society and on the deans list.    Pretty great.    While LeAnne was here we had a family dinner with 3 of our 4 kids.

Summer at home

Now that we are mostly moved in and settled, we are enjoying having a home and being close to family and old friends.    Shannon and Christian moved right after we did so we had fun with Isabelle while they painted and moved.    In between we spent time with Sue, Gary, Darcy, Trina, Ken, Arnie, Jean, Kate, Melina, Erik, Jenn, and Kelly.

We had been in one place too long, so it was time to be on the move again.   So we headed to Seattle where our friend Brenda from Texas was visiting with her twins M & M.   We hadn't seen her in more than 10 years.    Brenda, Annemarie, Cindy and I had a great time catching up.   We even made it to the Wheel at the Seattle Waterfront.    

While I was there, John found us a great spot at Fort Worden State Park for a week.   Brenda drove me to meet John and we stopped at Fat Smittys for burgers.   Brenda got the big one....

 We spent a little time with Ben and several great evenings with LeAnne after work.  One night LeAnne and Craig picked us up in a 1950 Willeys Overland convertible.   We drove to dinner with the top down but were wimps and had to put the top up to come home. Cold but fun.   On the way back to Ridgefield, we stopped in Shelton to visit with Tom, Chris, Madonna, and Matt.     John and Tom had a project to work on and Matt helped while Chris and Madonna and I had wine on the deck.   Not a bad deal.    Thanks guys!

Well we settled in for a few days before heading out again.    Brenda and kids were coming to Portland to pick up husband Hank so we were lucky enough to have them over for dinner.   Annie was here from Pittsburgh and was the hostess with the mostess.

Ryan and Annie, grandkids from Pittsburgh came for their annual summer visit.   In years past, we would travel in the motor home but this year we decided to rent a house at Sunriver so everyone had a bit more room.   Now that Annie is 5 ' 9 " and Ryan is 6' 2" they don't fit very well in the fold down dining area and the hidabed.    Sunriver has great amenities especially for these sports loving kids.   There are 30 miles of bike trails, basketball, soccer, regular swimming pools and a huge new water park.   Best of all there are lots of teenage kids to hang out with.   If that wasn't enough we had several adventures.    We took a ranger tour of a lava tube cave that was a mile long.   We hiked the obsidian fields at Newberry Volcanic National Monument, Paulina falls, rafted the Deschutes river and drove to the top of Lava Butte to walk around the crater.   The kids did a mountain bike and natural water slide all day adventure called the Paulina Plunge and left the old folks behind.    

Today is the last day of the Sunriver week.   We head back to Ridgefield to meet Mom Chris and Aunt LeAnne.   Our next adventure?    We will be spending 5 days with Isabelle while Mom and Dad celebrate their anniversary in Ashland.    A good time will be had by all.