After five months living in a house we are hitting the road again, but this time it’s just for two months. We will leave June 1 (the same date we left on the Big Trip), bound for the Oregon coast. We expect to be back August 1. Stay tuned!

Big Trip 2014-2015

• 20 December 2015 – 31 May 2016: Back in the Tucson house.
• 18-19 December 2015: Circus Circus Casino Campground, Las Vegas, Nevada
• 16-17 December 2015: Red Rock Canyon Campground, Las Vegas, Nevada
• 10-15 December 2015: Furnace Creek Campground, Death Valley National Park, California
• 9 December 2015: Walmart, Ridgecrest, California
• 6-8 December 2015: Helen’s house, Davis, California
• 2-5 December 2015: Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Lagunitas, California
• 30 November – 1 December 2015: Jedidiah Smith State Park, Crescent City, California
• 25-29 November 2015: Harris Beach State Recreation Area, Brookings, Oregon
• 22-24 November 2015: Cape Blanco State Park, Port Orford, Oregon
• 21 November 2015: Bullards Beach State Park, Bandon, Oregon
• 19-20 November 2015: Honeyman State Park, Florence, Oregon
• 15-18 November 2015: Armitage Park Campground, Eugene, Oregon
• 12-14 November 2015: Carl Washburne State Park, Yachats, Oregon
• 7-11 November 2015: South Beach State Park, Newport, Oregon
• 3-6 November 2015: Cape Lookout State Park, Tillamook, Oregon
• 1-2 November 2015: Silver Falls State Park, Silverton, Oregon
• 29-31 October 2015: Deschutes River State Recreation Area, Wasco, Oregon
• 24-28 October 2015: Battle Ground Lake State Park, Battle Ground, Washington
• 22-23 October 2015: Seacrest State Park, Castle Rock, Washington
• 19-21 October 2015: Sahara Creek Horse Camp, Ashford, Washington
• 15-18 October 2015: Fay Bainbridge Park, Bainbridge Island, Washington
• 11-14 October 2015: Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, Washington
• 7-10 October 2015: Dungeness Recreation Area, Sequim, Washington
• 4-6 October 2015: Salt Creek Recreation Area, Port Angeles, Washington
• 1-3 October 2015: Sol Duc Campground, Olympic National Park, Washington
• 25-30 September 2015: Kalaloch Campground, Olympic National Park, Washington
• 21-24 September 2015: Larrabee State Park, Bellingham, Washington
• 17-20 September 2015: Colonial Creek Campground, North Cascades National Park, Washington
• 15-16 September 2015: Spring Canyon Campground, Grand Coulee, Washington
• 14 September 2015: Walmart, Missoula, Montana
• 13 September 2015: Beaver Creek Campground, Cameron, Montana
• 9-12 September 2015: Whiskey Grove Campground, Pinedale, Wyoming
• 8 September 2015: Walmart, Rock Springs, Wyoming
• 2-7 September 2015: Timber Creek Campground, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
• 30 August – 1 September 2015: Denver Creek Campground, Granby, Colorado
• 27-29 August 2015: Tunnel Campground, Larimer County, Colorado
• 23-26 August 2015: Kelly Flats Campground, Cache La Poudre Canyon, Colorado
• 22 August 2015: Brush Memorial Park Campground, Brush!, Colorado
• 21 August 2015: Walmart, Atlantic, Iowa
• 20 August 2015: Walmart, Elkhart, Indiana
• 18-19 August 2015: Four Mile Creek State Park, Youngstown, New York
• 17 August 2015: Mclaren Campground, Ingleside, Ontario, Canada
• 15-16 August 2015: Camping Chutes Fraser, La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada
• 12-14 August 2015: Camping Paradis Marin, Les Bergeronnes, Quebec, Canada
• 10-11 August 2015: Walmart, Baie Comeau, Quebec, Canada
• 8-9 August 2015: Where our tire blew 54 km north of Baie Comeau, Quebec, Canada
• 7 August 2015: Pullout north of Lac Manicouagan, Labrador, Canada
• 6 August 2015: Pullout west of Happy Valley & Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
• 5 August 2015: Pinware River Provincial Park, Pinware, Labrador, Canada
• 4 August 2015: Oceanside RV Park, Port aux Choix, Newfoundland, Canada
• 31 July – 3 August 2015: Green Point Campground, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada
• 27-30 July 2015: Pistolet Bay Provincial Park, Raleigh, Newfoundland, Canada
• 26 July 2015: Parson’s Pond, Newfoundland, Canada
• 22-25 July 2015: Pippy Park Campground, Saint John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
• 18-21 July 2015: Elliston Municipal Campground, Elliston, Newfoundland, Canada
• 17 July 2015: Walmart, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada
• 15-16 July 2015: Brimstone Head Campground, Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada
• 11-14 July 2015: Dildo Run Provincial Park, Newfoundland, Canada
• 7-10 July 2015: King’s Point RV Park, King’s Point, Newfoundland, Canada
• 6 July 2015: Walmart, Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada
• 5 July 2015: Walmart, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
• 4 July 2015: Walmart, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
• 26 June – 3 July 2015: Anchorage Provincial Park, Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, Canada
• 22-25 June 2015: Cobscook Bay State Park, Whiting, Maine
• 15-21 June 2015: Blackwoods Campground, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
• 12-14 June 2015: Winslow Memorial Park, Freeport, Maine
• 7-11 June 2015: Moose Brook State Park, Gorham, New Hampshire
• 31 May – 6 June 2015: Grand Isle State Park, Grand Isle, Vermont
• 28-30 May 2015: October Mountain State Forest, Lee, Massachusetts
• 18-27 May 2015: Granny’s, Stamford, Connecticut
• 15-17 May 2015: Lisa & Dave’s, Glen Rock, New Jersey
• 14 May 2015: Marika & Jon’s, Wilmington, Delaware
• 11-13 May 2015: Meadow View K Farm, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania
• 8-10 May 2015: Tom & Jens, Owings Mill, Maryland
• 1-7 May 2015: Pohick Bay Regional Park Campground, Lorton, Virginia
• 26-30 April 2015: Big Meadows Campground, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
• 24-25 April 2015: Oregon Inlet Campground, Nags Head, North Carolina
• 18-23 April 2015: Ocracoke Campground, Ocracoke Island, North Carolina.
• 17 April 2015: Cedar Island ferry parking lot, North Carolina
• 12-16 April 2015: Hunting Island SP, Beaufort, South Carolina
• 9-11 April 2015: Mistletoe State Park, Augusta, Georgia
• 7-8 April 2015: the Best place, Hiawassee, Georgia
• 31 March to 6 April 2015: Jim Miller Park, Marietta, Georgia
• 24-30 March 2015: St. George Island State Park, Florida Panhandle (second visit)
• 16-23 March 2015: Road trip in Jetta to NYC for a bar mitzvah.
• 9-15 March 2015: St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Florida Panhandle
• 1-8 March 2015: St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach, Florida
• 27-28 February 2015: Alexander Springs Recreation Area, Ocala National Forest, Florida
• 26 February 2015: Monument Lake Campground, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
• 24-25 February 2015: Long Key State Park, Florida Keys
• 22-23 February 2015: Curry Hammock State Park, Florida Keys
• 8-21 February 2015: Long Key State Park, Florida Keys
• 3-7 February 2015: Long Pine Key Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida
• 1-2 February 2015: Monument Lake Campground, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
• 28-31 January 2015: Midway Campground, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
• 24-27 January 2015: Highlands Hammock State Park, Florida
• 18-23 January 2015: Manatee Hammock Campground, Titusville, Florida
• 9-17 January 2015: Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, Florida
• 4-8 January 2015: Blue Spring State Park, Orange, Florida
• 28 December 2014 – 3 January 2015: Ochlockonee River State Park, Sopchoppy, Florida
• 23-27 December 2014: St. George Island State Park, Apalachicola, Florida
• 17-22 December 2014: Grayton Beach State Park, Grayton Beach, Florida
• 15-16 December 2014: Davis Bayou Campground, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
• 12-14 December 2014: Bayou Segnette State Park, New Orleans, Louisiana
• 8-11 December 2014: Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, Lafayette, Louisiana
• 4-7 December 2014: McKinney Falls State Park, Austin, Texas
• 1-3 December 2014: Guadalupe River State Park, north of San Antonio, Texas
• 25-30 November 2014: Malaquite Campground, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
• 24 November 2014: Walmart, Uvalde, Texas
• 19-23 November 2014: Rio Grande Village Campground, Big Bend National Park, Texas
• 18 November 2014: Walmart, Horizon (outside El Paso), Texas
• 16-17 November 2014: Leasburg Dam State Park, Las Cruces, New Mexico
• 15 November 2014: Walmart, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
• 11-14 November 2014: Enchanted Trails RV Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico
• 10 November 2014: Walmart, Bernalillo, New Mexico
• 6-9 November 2014: Squaw Flat Campground, Needles District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
• 4-5 November 2014: Goose Island Campground, Moab, Utah
• 30 October – 3 November 2014: Arches National Park, Moab , Utah
• 23-29 October 2014: Horsethief Campground, outside Moab, Utah
• 22  October 2014: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
• 18-21 October 2014: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
• 12-17 October 2014: Cherry Creek State Park, Aurora, Colorado
• 11 October 2014: Sierra Trading Post, Cheyenne, Wyoming
• 10 October 2014: Walmart, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
• 3-9 October 2014: Game Lodge Campground, Custer State Park, South Dakota
• 30 September – October 2 2014: Cedar Pass Campground, Badlands National Park, South Dakota
• 29 September 2014: Cottonwood Campground, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
• 26-28 September 2014: Juniper Campground, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
• 23-25 September 2014: Downstream Campground, Fort Peck Dam & Lake, Montana
• 21-22 September 2014: Frenchman Valley Campground, Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan CA
• 16-20 September 2014: The Hoodoo RV Resort and Campground, Drumheller, Alberta CA
• 15 September 2014: Walmart, Leduc, Alberta CA
• 14 September 2014: IKEA, Edmonton, Alberta CA
• 13 September 2014: Walmart, Whitecourt, Alberta CA
• 11-12 September 2014: Mile 0 RV Park and Campground, Dawson Creek, British Columbia CA.
• 9-10 September 2014: Kiskatinaw Provincial Park, Alaska Highway, British Columbia CA.
• 8 September 2014: Bluebell Inn RV park, Fort Nelson, Alaska Highway, British Columbia CA.
• 7 September 2014: Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, Alaska Highway, British Columbia CA.
• 6 September 2014: Teslin Lake Campground, Alaska Highway, Yukon Territory CA.
• 4-5 September 2014: Yukon River Campground, Dawson City, Yukon Territory CA.
• 3 September 2014: Eagle Plains Lodge, Arctic Circle, Dempster Highway, Yukon Territory CA (in Toad; RV left behind in Dawson City)
• 31 August – 2 September 2014: Yukon River Campground, Dawson City, Yukon Territory CA
• 30 August 2014: West Fork Campground, Taylor Highway AK
• 29 August 2014: Pioneer Park parking lot, Fairbanks AK
• 28 August 2014: Walmart, Fairbanks AK
• 25-27 August 2014: Chena Hot Springs Resort, AK
• 16-24 August 2014: Chena Wayside Campground & Pioneer Park parking lot, Fairbanks AK
• 15 August 2014: Walmart, Fairbanks AK
• 8-14 August 2014: Teklanika Campground, Denali National Park AK
• 4-7 August 2014: Riley Creek Campground, Denali National Park AK
• 31 July – 3 August 2014: Talkeetna AK
• 30 July 2014: Eagle River Campground, Eagle River AK (suburb of Anchorage)
• 23-29 July 2014: Fishing Hole Campground, Homer AK
• 16-22 July 2014: Resurrection Campground, Seward AK
• 13-15 July 2014: Williwaw Campground, Portage Valley AK
• 10-12 July 2014: Eagle River Campground, Eagle River AK
• 9 July 2014: Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site, AK
• 8 July 2014: Snag Junction Campground, Yukon, CA
• 5-7 July 2014: Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Area, Haines  AK
• 2-4 July 2014: Dyea Campground, Klondike Gold Rush National Park, Skagway AK.
• 25 June – 1 July 2014: Wolf Creek Campground, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, CA.
• 24 June 2014: Teslin Lake Campground, Yukon Territory, CA.
• 22-23 June 2014: Boya Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, CA.
• 20-21 June 2014: Meziadin Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, CA.
• 18-19 June 2014: Tyhee Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, CA.
• 17 June 2014: Prince George, British Columbia, CA.
• 15-16 June 2014: Banff National Park, Alberta, CA.
• 12-14 June 2014: Many Glacier Campground, Glacier National Park
• 11 June 2014: St. Mary Campground, Glacier National Park
• 6-10 June 2014: Bakers Hole Campground, just outside west entrance of Yellowstone National Park
• 5 June 2014: Walmart in Idaho Falls, Idaho
• 2-4 June 2014: Bryce Canyon National Park
• 1 June 2014: boondocked near Sunset Crater

After a few lovely days strolling the beach at Carl Washburne State Park, the weather forecast took a turn for the worse, calling for a few days of heavy rains. Our original plan was to ride the storm out, but after a half day of being cooped up in the RV with the nearest town a half hour away, we made a snap decision to pack up and head inland an hour to Eugene Oregon where there was supposed to be less rain. Also, the city is a much better place to be on a rainy day because you can get out of the house doing errands, etc.

When we arrived at Armitage Park just north of Eugene we snagged a campsite near the bathroom. Very early in the trip we decided to decommission our toilet and use campground restrooms instead. We needed more storage space and the toilet room made a great place to throw all sorts of odds and ends. Also, I had never liked having to empty the “black tank” (as it is known in RV circles) every few days, especially after one unfortunate episode where the drainage hose came loose in the middle of the process (yuck!). Once we started using campground bathrooms exclusively we quickly learned the value of being close to the bathroom, especially when it is rainy.

The bathrooms at Armitage were probably the nicest we have seen, and we have seen a lot. The best feature was that instead of a men’s room and a ladies room there were five individual private bathrooms, each with a shower (free!), toilet, sink, and infrared heat lamp. For us, it was like being at a resort! The icing on the cake was that the bathroom building also included a spotless laundry room with commercial grade machines for reasonable prices. One of the few things I miss about living in a house is having a washer and dryer and being able to do laundry at home.

The other thing we loved about Armitage Park Campground was that it was out in open fields, not in a forest. Over the course of this trip we have become less and less enamored of camping in the woods. Being in the forest just feels too dark and claustrophobic. We much prefer camping where its bright and spacious.

During a break in the rain we engaged in another staple activity of the Big Trip: seeking out a local playground for the kids. Our kids have probably played at more different playgrounds than any other kids in North America. In this case we went to a playground near downtown Eugene that had a great play structure.

When it started raining at the playground we switched gears to another staple rainy day activity: a slow troll through Costco; up and down every aisle, stopping to try all of the (non-meat) samples. Although it may not sound very exciting, it sure beats watching the kids bounce off the walls of the RV while listening to the drumbeat of rain on the roof (which can be quite loud in an RV).

Another day we went to the Science Factory museum on the University of Oregon campus. After we strolled around the first room, Ma and I both thought “well that was nice, I wonder what’s in the other rooms.” Except there weren’t any other rooms; that was it. Fortunately, our kids had a grand old time for hours in that one room. After we left the tiny science center we spent an hour walking around the massive Oregon Ducks stadium complex next door. Oregonians sure love their Ducks.

Once the rain passed we headed back to the coast again. Now that we are heading into serious winter we have to stay close to the coast to avoid freezing temps and snow. Because of the relatively warm Pacific Ocean current off the coast of the Northwest, it almost never freezes or snows near the ocean.

When we decided to leave Newfoundland via the Trans-Labrador highway I realized that our route would take us through the town in Quebec where my sister and her family spend time every summer. I wrote my sister, and sure enough it turned out that they would be arriving in La Malbaie exactly when we expected to get there.

When we got to La Malbaie Big Kid and Little Kid had a great time playing with their cousin Petey while the the grownups caught up. Little Kid, who really loves music, was fascinated by Uncle Austin’s guitar playing, and got to play some guitar himself. Big Kid and Petey spent a long time sword fighting with sticks, miraculously without any injuries!

The next day my sister suggested we go to a waterfall on the banks of the St. Lawrence River that had a natural waterslide. Big Kid went down the waterslide first, and loved it. Then Petey and Uncle Austin went together, then Little Kid went with his big sister. Little Kid was cackling with glee the whole way down, but when he hit the pool of ice water at the bottom he burst into tears. Despite that, he asked to go two more times, and each time he had a blast until he got to the bottom and burst into tears. The kids seemed to be having so much fun that both I and Ma took a few runs each. Big Kid and Petey rounded out the afternoon with a epic mud fight down on the tidal flats.

After DC we drove up to Baltimore to visit with my aunt, uncle and cousins. We stayed with my cousin Tom and his wife Jen, who have a little rural homestead tucked in the bottom of a wooded valley a quarter mile from a major commercial boulevard. They have a huge garden, chickens, a pond filled with supersized frogs, and lots and lots of cats. Needless to say the kids loved staying there, and Big Kid chipped in with the chores by pulling weeds in the garden and painting. On Saturday night Big Kid built a fire and we had a family get together with my aunt and uncle, cousins, and their children. The first words out of my aunt’s mouth when she saw me was “you look like a hippy!” which was understandable given that I haven’t had a haircut in a year. It was great to see everyone again and catch up. The next day the reunion continued at my cousin Sandy’s house where we had more great company and great food.