Pleasure Cruise

Pleasure Cruise.

 We needed to violate the prime directive of the Meander (No Destinations, No Designations) to get to Vancouver for the reunion, so the way up left us feeling like something was missed at the Carl G Washburn State Park, it proved to be a relevant and delightful foresight  a week or so later. 

As Gwen's sister Ellen and hubby Jim came aboard for their first taste of RVing and since this required a definite port of departure and return, it turned out to be a kinda "Grand Tour" de Oregon.

 We crossed the backbone of the Cascades four times, visiting Mt.Hood Timberline Lodge,  The Cove at Palisades State Park, Smith Rock (see pic above), Crater Lake, Diamond Lake State Park, Belknap Springs Resort and then back for a few days at C. G. Washburn State Park .(Not in that order. What? Actually PLAN a trip? Perish the thought!)

 The Cruise was a huge success by all accounts  (unanimous vote).

 Timberline lodge at Mt. Hood is a Movie set kinda place ( The Shining) with awesome views of the Mountain (They were STILL skiing in 80 degree weather).   The bar on the mezzanine serves Mt. Hood Ales brewed just a few miles down the mountain, I'm not sure , but I swear altitude makes the beer better, the Ice Axe IPA is outasight.

 Then down to the East side of the Cascades to follow the Deschutes River to a State park we picked just because it's close to Smith Rock S.P.

 The Cove Palisades State Park.

 But first, I'd like to write a word or two about navigation.

 I've used a GPS for flying airplanes and navigating boats, but this is the first time I've used a road GPS. 

 The Garmin Nuvi I bought at Best Buy has, I  swear, an evil pixie controlling it's database. 

 "Shortest rout?" No Problem, unless you count change in altitude a significant factor in your calculations.

 It will gladly direct you down a one lane mountain road to save .0001 miles.

 It's all part of our learning curve, so large paper maps will be the decider, the Gremlin will be used as a suggestion only. (It will get you to ANY address anywhere, so it is useful for visiting and finding stuff, you just have to laugh when you snake through surface streets to get somewhere that is under a freeway overpass with offramps.) 

 The Cove Is a conglomeration of several camping areas above Pelton Dam.

 We stayed at the one just before you drive down to the water area, a large GREEN lake that is situated in a blast furnace. 

 The rangers kill each other regularly to be transfered to the campground where we stayed a thousand feet up from the water. Kidding, but probably not much.

 The view over the sheer cliff (straight down and I'm not kidding, fear of heights?. don't look) Is wonderful, the colors at sunset. WOW.

 The Campground is nice and tidy and flat and is popular in that you will probably survive the heat.  We have A/C and used it.

 Next day, Smith Rock

 Smith Rock is proof that God believes in evolution.

 In the middle of freeking nowhere on a Crooked River is a chasm 1000 ft deep. rising out from the middle of that valley are humongous rocks some of which are clearly photoshopped. The sides of these rocks are so vertical it causes a subset of humans (rock climbers) to have religious epiphanies with dire consequences involving gravity, instant Darwin Award.

 That said, the trail (not too steep) to the bottom and casual wandering about is well worth the trip. Day use only, so it's a short visit, we saw Canadian Geese, Ospreys, Gnarley Pines and a quiet serenity unusual to say the least, binoculars helped spot eagle nests and the frayed end of ropes dangling to the last users demise, Kidding.

 Next was a cross over the Cascades to Belknap Hot Springs Resort.

 This privately owned resort is one of the best kept secrets that I will probably ruin.

 For about ten bucks a day per person you can soak in natural hot spring pools, full sized for swimming, wander  acres of manicured gardens of flowers and fancy sculptures and fountains. there is a lodge with stuff, campfire rings and the Mackenzie River. We met people that had stayed for weeks at a time, I don't blame them.

Next day Southward Ho! (after crossing the Cascades of course)

 Crater Lake needs no description from me, go there.

 Deepest lake in the US with NO streams or rivers going into it, yet it doesn't dry up.

 Kind of like the US budget.

 We stayed just a few miles down the road at Diamond Lake State Park.

 Nice quiet and of course beautiful, they have a reservation area and a no-res area, we lucked out and scored a super nice lakeside spot YA HOO.

 Then across the Cascades AGAIN out to the coast to Carl Washburn State Park.

 When we stopped there on the way to Vancouver for the reunion, we got the feeling that this place was special, so we lobbied Jim and Ellen to visit for a couple of days there on the return leg of the Pleasure Cruise.

 What a treat. Coastal rain forest, friendly (read too slow to run away) newts, miles of beachcombing, relaxation in beauty. Hobbit beaches, lighthouses. and the road back to Vancouver through Tillamook puts you on Highway 6 and right directly on the way to, and I'm not making this up,

 Alice's Restaurant 

 I don't know or care if this is THE Alice's Restaurant

 It ROCKS! The service is nice and homey, but don't be in a hurry, everything is handmade by Alice herself and I bow forever to her ability.

 (Hint.. the smoked pork chop and eggs.....mnnnnn.)