August 2023 - Big Guy Tiny Trailer

Our 49th State, Colorado

Our 49th State

Our 49th State for camping was Colorado. For seven years, we have been working on a retirement goal to camp in all fifty states. Finally, in the summer of 2023, we took a trip to pick up the last four unvisited states in the continental United States. The entire trip was challenging because it was over 7,000 miles and two months on the road. I was actually concerned about our ability to do such a long trip as we are older with some health issues. But, we forged ahead, and I’m so glad we did.

However, I wish we had traveled to Colorado years ago because the altitude was too much for me. Despite the issues, I’m so grateful I was able to spend some time in this beautiful state.

Colorado

Our intention for Colorado was to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for three days, with a couple of one night stops getting there. I knew the elevation was high, but we had already stayed in Arco, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah for several days and the elevation for both was in the 5000 range. I was struggling a bit, but hoping that acclimation was occurring. Plus, we were excited about seeing Rocky Mountain NP.

Grand Junction

Our first night in Colorado was in Grand Junction at the KOA. The altitude was 4,593, which is similar to what we experienced on our previous five nights. I could feel the altitude, but it wasn’t extreme.

We had a relaxing night at this very nice KOA. All was good!

The Ride to Gypsum

It turned out that the trip to Gypsum and then to Estes Park was a major part of our Colorado experience. In our travels in the Pacific Northwest, we traveled around mountains. In Colorado, you travel through them!

For example, Hanging Lake Tunnel is almost a mile long. The roads carved out in the mountains were impressive.

Our route was quite scenic because most of it wound along the Colorado River. The river was very wide with fast rapids. We saw a lot of people enjoying the river.

River rafting in Colorado, our 49th state. — Glenwood Springs Rafting the Colorado

My husband did all the driving because the road was very curvy, yet with a fast speed limit. So, I was free to just enjoy it. Sometimes it’s good to be the less-competent one.

River Dance RV

River Dance in Gypsum was gorgeous. We arrived during very high winds. So, we just plugged up the power for the air conditioner and waited for the wind to calm. It was very hot.

After awhile, we ventured out and walked the park. It was very challenging for me to do anything. The altitude was 6,300 and it took my shortness of breath to the next level.

I began to think that Rocky Mountain NP was not going to work for me. My blood oxygen levels were lower than the should be and our next stop was even higher. I looked to see how we could head in the direction of home and get to a much lower elevation in one day’s drive. Unfortunately, all the places we could practically get to were quite high elevations.

So, we decided to go to Estes Park, where we had reserved three nights and to buy some Boost oxygen. It is sold there because of the high altitude and I hoped that it would enable us to complete the trip. In the meantime, we enjoyed the beautiful surroundings at our current stop. Once it cooled down a bit, I could walk around, but I was not moving fast at all. The Eagle River was behind the campground and it was pretty.

Our 49th State Destination, Estes Park

As planned, we made it to Estes Park Campground, which is just a few miles from Rocky Mountain Park. To get there, we drove through Loveland Pass with an elevation of almost 12,000 feet. Both my husband and I were not feeling well. We also went through the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel and after it the road was covered with potholes. I later learned it is because it receives so much heavy ice and snow. I heard some pretty serious cussing from my husband.

We headed first to a pharmacy for the Boost oxygen and then to the campground. Our site was quite short, but adequate for our trailer. The views were very nice though.

The oxygen helped me a little, but the effect was very short-lived. The elevation at Estes Park was 8,000.

We drove around town looking for a place for dinner. The small town was jam-packed with people. We tried to eat at a popular barbecue restaurant, but the parking was insane and once parked, we discovered there was an hour wait. This was on a weeknight. Big Horn Restaurant, however, was not so crowded and we had a very good meal there.

If all was well, we planned to go to the park early the next day to beat the crowds. But, several times during the night, I checked my blood oxygen levels. I used the Boost oxygen, but my levels of 87-88 were below what is considered safe. This meant that my organs and brain could be compromised. We would have to leave!

The Stanley Hotel

I wanted to see two things while at Estes Park. The National Park, of course, and The Stanley Hotel. We didn’t have time to see the National Park and didn’t need the higher elevation, but we could drive just a few miles to check out the Stanley.

The enormous hotel was built in 1909. Stephen King stayed there in the 1970s, when it was in disrepair. It inspired his third novel, The Shining. At that time, it did actually shut down for the winter and required a caretaker. It was also reputed to be haunted.

The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, our 49th state. — The Stanley Hotel

It was gorgeous, upscale, and very well-maintained. We checked out the lobby and gift shop and also walked around it, but did not get to take the nighttime tour that I would have liked.

The view of the Rockies from the Stanley was stunning! So, we had been able to breakfast at a popular restaurant, The Egg of Estes, and tour the lobby and grounds of the Stanley. It was not all we had planned, but better than nothing.

Departure Landscapes

Before we left, we checked out Mary’s Lake. Pretty, but no swimming or boating there.

The road to our next destination was not as challenging to drive, but still pretty. Colorado, you are beautiful!

Our 49th State Conclusion

I am so glad we were able to visit Colorado, our 49th state, but boy did it kick my butt! I think most people would do fine there, but I have some significant lung issues. If you are interested in any of the other forty-eight states we have visited, check out States Visited, a Campsite Resource. Now all we have left is Hawaii.

Happy camping!

Idaho Camping, Summer 2023

Idaho Camping

Because we have never done any camping in Idaho before, we really didn’t know what to expect. Our three stops were all wonderful, but vastly different. We visited a state park, an RV park in Boise (the state capital and biggest city), and Arco, a small town near Craters of the Moon, a National Monument. Each stop was certainly a uniquely memorable experience.

Farragut State Park

Our Idaho camping began with Farragut State Park. But, I must admit, I had a bad attitude about it before we arrived. I wanted to stay in an Idaho State Park and Farragut is one of its most popular. It also worked well with our route. But, when booking, I learned that out-of-State visitors pay double the rate of state residents. I felt that was excessive, but booked it anyway. I’m so glad I did because it was worth every penny.

We had a very nice pull-through site in this beautiful campground. The park was well-maintained and our stay was most pleasant.

Idaho camping at Farragut State Park — Site # 138

Farragut is in Athol, which is the northern part of the state and the whole area looks much like Montana with beautiful mountains all around. It is in the top, skinny part of the state called the panhandle.

The Lake

Lake Pend Orielle access is in the park. The water was a clear, topaz blue with mountains all around. It was incredibly windy while we were there.

Most importantly, the lake is 1,158 feet deep, the fifth deepest lake in the United States. It covers a lot of territory with 111 miles of shoreline. I took a short hike along the shoreline enjoying the view. It was cool that day and my long sleeves felt good.

Coeur D Alene

Coeur D Alene is a highly popular city in Idaho that is known for water sports and golf. It was a very cute, super clean city. Our pup with us, so we were looking for outside seating. Collective Kitchen was in the heart of downtown with the seating we needed. However, it was so cold! The food was good, but our server gave us a bit of attitude because she had to come out in the cold to wait on us. She was not charming!

There is a really nice park in the city. I liked the Blue Heron statue dedicated to a popular local physician. It’s a cute city.

Blue Heron was dedicated to a popular physician

Farragut Naval Center Museum

A visit ti the museum is free to Farragut State Park visitors and it was definitely worth the time. The 4,000 acres that is now the state park was once owned by several families. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the United States had to ramp up its Navy immediately. They bought the land and built enormous barracks. The Navy ultimately housed and trained over 200,000 sailors at the facility. They tore the barracks down many years ago. The only original building that remains is the brig, which now houses the museum.

Idaho camping at the Farragut Naval Museum — Farragut Naval Center Museum

Teaching sailors who lived in land locked areas to swim was the major training objective and there were multiple training pools for that purpose. The museum has a lot of information about the times and how the facility was built in record time to ready the United States Navy for WW II. We really liked it and learned a lot.

Boise

Our second Idaho camping stop was Boise, the largest city in Idaho and its capital. We loved the city! It was very clean and easy to get around. Boise is very rapidly growing, but is not yet a big city. Its population was approximately 237 thousand in 2021. If it wasn’t so far from family, I could envision living there.

However, we were in southern Idaho now and it was mid-August. So, it was very hot!

State Capital Building

We try to visit State Capitals whenever possible because I love the architecture and the history of such buildings. At this capital, there was a film about the building and visitors can access most of the building. They completed the building in 1912 for just over $2 million. In 2000, a major restoration cost $64 million.

Idaho Camping near the State Capital — Idaho State Capital Building

The building is very ornate with a gorgeous dome. A major focus of the building is marble and something called scagliola, a laborious process to create a marble look with a goal of “ A Capital of Light.”

There are several important pieces of art at the capital that you would expect to see in a prestigious art museum. The French gave the State of Idaho a famous piece, “Winged Victory”, which was once on display at the Louvre in Paris. The statue is 11 feet tall and was discovered in 190 B. C. in Greece. The statue was a part of the Merci Train to thank the United States for its efforts in WW II.

In addition, new artwork on the lawn commemorates 100 years of women’s suffrage. The statue represents past, present, and future Idaho women and she walks in the footsteps of those who have gone before. I loved it!

Best Idaho Meal

Idaho is known for its potatoes and our favorite meal in the state was at Boise Fry Company. We had already discovered that hamburgers in the area were outstanding because of the sourcing of local meat. This combo was a home run. The burgers were excellent and the fries were next level! They also had a wide selection of dipping sauces. The owner came to our table and chatted for a long while and offered suggestions for how we could best enjoy the city. Additionally, we had a fantastic waffle dessert from Waffle Me Up located in the same building.

Mountain View RV

Our campground was in the city. The good was convenience, excellent management, an immaculate bathhouse, lovely trees and landscaping. The negative was it was right beside the interstate. It was noisy, but with the A/C on to address the heat, we were less aware of it.

Idaho camping in Boise — Site # 130 at Mountain View RV

Idaho Territorial Prison

We visited the Yuma Territorial Prison a few years ago. It surprised me how interesting it was, so we checked out this one. There are only four in the United States.

So, why would this be interesting? To me, it tells the story of our civilization and how we deal with problem residents. Above all, this country has criminal justice issues today and knowing the history of how the issues have been addressed in the past is relevant to me. The stories about specific inmates and how the system evolved in Idaho was fascinating.

Many of the buildings have cell blocks on display. The courtyard is peaceful and well manicured today, but it must have been a miserable place in its day.

One of the more modern buildings had a single, disastrous execution by hanging. I think it was the last death by hanging in the state. They closed the prison and converted it to a museum over fifty years ago. Our tour guide did a wonderful job of telling the stories of the prison and its inmates.

Craters of the Moon

Our last Idaho camping was to visit Craters of the Moon, a National Monument and Preserve. The landscape has been described as a wierd combination of lava and sagebrush. It did look otherworldly.

The volcanos that dominated this area erupted many thousands of years ago and left this barren 52-mile system of fissures. I walked the loop and enjoyed it.

The photo below is a Cinder Cone. Many people were walking to the top, but I was feeling the elevation (5,900 feet) and didn’t attempt it.

Meanwhile, nature finds a way to spring forth new life in several different types of flowers in this desolate land.

The seven volcanos that erupted and whose remains can be seen inside the park can be viewed at a lookout on the road outside the park. The oldest is on the left and is believed to have erupted 15,000 years and the most recent on the right about 2,000 years ago.

Craters of the Moon is off the beaten track, but I am so glad we had the opportunity to see it.

Arco, Idaho

Our home for three nights while visiting the monument was in nearby Arco, Idaho. It is a quaint little town with friendly people.

So, Arco is near a decommissioned nuclear reactor and it was the first city in the world to be powered by atomic energy. They were having a festival while we were there called Atomic Days with a rodeo and live music. But, we were too tired to participate. Late nights are not our thing these days.

This mountain in Arco has the class year of each graduating class going back 102 years. Our server at a local restaurant said her mother told her the students were lowered on a tire to paint their year. I have since wondered about upkeep. Do they go back to freshen the paint?

Pickle’s Place is one of very few places to eat and the locals favor it. We had atomic burgers one afternoon and a big breakfast there one morning.

Craters of the Moon KOA

The remote KOA was very nice with a most friendly staff. After the heat of Boise, we enjoyed its temperatures in the eighties instead of sweltering in the nineties. Our pup enjoyed lounging in the shade, something it was too hot to do in Boise.

Free pancake breakfasts and ice cream socials for a dollar made this a fun place and they had huckleberry ice cream! Also, we met some interesting people and enjoyed the shade while doing some laundry.

Another special moment was when Sophie got to meet a horse up close. She always gets excited when we are driving and they are nearby. However, she didn’t know quite what to do with it this close.

Idaho Camping in Conclusion

Idaho camping was so much more spectacular than I anticipated. It is a very beautiful place with lovely people and an awesome variety of terrain and things to do. I feel so blessed that I was able to experience it! If you would like to read about visits to other states, check out States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy and safe travels!

Oregon Camping, Summer 2023

Oregon Camping

Oregon camping trip far exceeded my expectations! We were looking forward to this new state, but had no idea how wonderful it would be. For instance, Oregon State Parks (Fort Steven’s, Cape Blanco and Ainsworth) were great because there was so much to see within and near the parks. Also, Crater Lake and Multnomah Falls are a couple of the most beautiful places we have seen in the United States. Lastly, temperatures were cool while much of the country was under extreme heat.

Fort Steven’s State Park

Fort Steven’s State Park was our favorite park on this trip. It is on the coast and is just across a bridge from the quaint town, Astoria. There are a few small municipalities very near the park, so the location was convenient. We actually got an oil change there and a guy servicing our truck gave me a cutting of a spider plant. It made it back to our house alive after sixteen stops.

The campground is enormous with sixteen loops. We had an electric and water site on loop O. The campground includes a historic fort, a lake, an interesting shipwreck, and a beautiful beach.

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Our campground was just a short drive from Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. It was a small park that has a Visitor Center with some nice exhibits and a film. The park included a replica of a fort built by Lewis and Clark to survive the winter. A ranger, dressed in period clothing, told a story related to the time there.

The Oregon coast was the final destination of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition and the park commemorates it. It also has a lot of interesting information about the expedition. Travel is so educational!

“Arrival”. They accomplished their goal!

The Historic Fort

The historic fort included old military buildings and some exhibits. There were gun batteries in position towards the water. I had never heard that the Japanese fired upon the US during WWII, but Fort Steven’s is where this occurred. The land and water around the fort was beautiful and we saw about four or five elk in the wild.

The Beach

The beach in the park is rocky and lovely near the jetty. It was also quite windy.

There is an area where the coast includes a sandy beach and quite a few people were there. It is also where a very large ship, the Peter Iredale, wrecked on the coast in 1906. The sea has certainly done much to reclaim the ship.

This was probably the best campground during our entire trip. The only downside was that we heard some strange noises one morning and it appears that one of the many strange-looking squirrels in the park was somewhere in the engine of our truck. It freaked us out! My husband examined it. The squirrel had pulled out a piece of insulation, but no other issues arose. For our next several stops, we put lights out around the perimeter of the truck.

Ainsworth State Park

We had three nights booked at Ainsworth State Park in Corbett, Oregon to visit Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge. As we drove through Portland on our route, we were astounded to clearly see the enormous mountain in the photo below. I learned that it was Mount Hood, elevation 11,250 feet. I thought we would be able to enjoy seeing it for the next couple of days. Sadly, driving through that day was the only sighting.

Mount Hood was very visible as we headed for Multnomah Falls

The Falls

Multnomah Falls was just a few miles from our campground and it did not disappoint. We couldn’t see it on our first attempt because we didn’t start early enough. It was the weekend before July 4th and we began at 10 am. However, there was no available parking near Multnomah Falls or the popular Vista House. We were able to see some of the less popular views and waterfalls, but not those two spots. So, we got up early the next morning and were able to enjoy the falls and Vista House without the crowds. It was wonderful!

Oregon camping near Multnomah Falls — The majestic Multnomah Falls

Historic Columbia River Highway

The Historic Columbia River Highway opened in 1916 and was designed like the great scenic roads of Europe. One goal was to recognize the natural beauty along the route. A modern highway, Interstate 84, has replaced it for transportation, but sections of it remain open and it draws hoards of visitors every year.

The early morning photo below was the view from Vista House, at Crown Point. It was built in 1916 originally as a rest stop for travelers on the historic highway. Much care was taken to make it beautiful with an outstanding view. The Columbia River and valley below were mesmerizing.

The vast Columbia River in the early morning

Vista House is in the distance in the photo below. It was taken from the Women’s Forum Viewpoint. The photo was taken on the day that crowds made it impossible to see. It was closed the next day when we visited.

Oregon Camping in Eugene

Our stay two night stay at Deerwood RV in Eugene was on July 3rd and 4th. It had been getting warmer as we traveled south and while in Eugene it was in the mid-nineties. Fortunately, they switched us to a shady site that helped tremendously with the heat. The campground was very nice with so many beautiful flowers.

Oregon camping at Deerwood RV in Eugene — Shady site at Deerwood RV

Eugene Activities

We had hoped to do some things in Eugene, but most attractions and many restaurants were closed for the holiday. So, our experience with Eugene included a popular noodle restaurant and a grocery store.

Mount Pisgah Aboreum

Mount Pisgah Aboreum was open though and was nearby. It was nice, but very hot. We took a walk on a shady trail to the water where many locals were swimming.

The holiday proved to be relatively quiet in the campground. We had a nice meal with our next door neighbors, Marty and Becky from California. That plus doing some laundry was our holiday.

Cape Blanco State Park

Cape Blanco was our third Oregon State Park and it was excellent as well. We had moved further south, but back to the coast. I was thinking that we could be laying on the beach there. Not!! It was actually cold, windy, and raining. We did not expect weather like this! Our site was nice, shady and near the bathhouse and we were warm and cozy in our Lance. The campground is tucked well into the forest.

The Beach

The beach was equally unexpected. We first visited an area accessible inside the campground. Great amounts of driftwood lay against the bottom of the cliffs like a massive stack of bones. People can drive their vehicles down there and my husband initially considered it. But, I dissuaded him by telling him how dirty it would get. A truck was down there and, for a moment, it looked like they might become stuck. But, they finally made it back up. A host told us that it costs $1,000 just for someone to come out there if a vehicle gets stuck. We certainly didn’t need any of that.

The Lighthouse

It was incredibly windy at the lighthouse. This part of the Oregon coast is the most westerly. Perhaps this explains why it is colder and much more windy than the more northern shores. The lighthouse is the oldest standing one in Oregon, dating back to 1870. It is still operational. We took a tour and went inside, but could not go to the top.

The shore around the lighthouse is very rocky and windy, but quite beautiful.

The Hughes Homestead

The Hughes Historic Homestead is also within the park. We took a tour and learned that the Hughes settled the land that they obtained through the Homestead Act. They were very successful dairy farmers. Most importantly, their land became what is now Cape Blanco State Park.

Crater Lake National Park

We spent two nights at Crater Lake RV in Prospect, Oregon to visit Crater Lake National Park. The campground is very convenient to Crater Lake and the small town of Prospect was fun to visit. While we were there, we did laundry at the campground and had meals at Prospect Pizza and Beckie’s Cafe. It was an awesome stop and included the most natural beauty we saw on our trip.

The Lake

Crater Lake was breathtaking to see. The deep blue color is like no other I have encountered. The lake is almost two thousand feet deep and is the deepest lake in the United States. It is only feed by rain and snow. It gets plenty of snow because Park Headquarters averages 42 feet of snow per year. The lake is actually the shell of a collapsed volcano that erupted almost eight thousand years ago.

We arrived early in the morning to beat the crowds. I highly recommend going early because we got a sense of how crowded it becomes as we were leaving. It was also wonderful to see the lake in the early morning light.

Though we were visiting in mid-July, there was still snow in the area. The lake elevation level is approximately six thousand feet and any time I was very active, I was reminded of the high elevation.

Rogue River

The Rogue River is the most beautiful river I have ever seen. Our viewing of it included waterfalls and a natural bridge. The water is a tropical looking aqua color and is crystal clear. It is in the Siskiyou National Forest and there is a lovely area that has multiple easy-to-access places to view the river. All I can say is, “Wow!” The beauty of Crater Lake and the Rouge River made this the best overall stop on our Oregon camping adventure.

Oregon Camping in Burns

Our last stop was just a one night travel stop in Burns. We did not see anything in the city or have any meals there, but we did enjoy the countryside along the way. The roads were still curvy and mountainous, but the green of the forest was no longer present. Still beautiful though, just different.

We weren’t crazy about our site at the RV Park because it was awkward to park and near a pretty grungy bathhouse with some stored rvs. There was a nicer area, but they were full hookups, which we didn’t need for one night.

Oregon camping in Burns — Site #14 at Burn RV

The best thing about our time at the RV park was the sunset. This was across the street from us. It wasn’t a bad end to our Oregon camping adventure.

Oregon camping with a beautiful sunset — A beautiful sunset

Oregon Camping Conclusion

To sum up our Oregon Camping experience, it was perhaps the best state we visited on this trip. The State Parks were all above average and Crater Lake was perhaps the most spectacular natural beauty that I have seen. The people we encountered were all nice and the weather was more comfortable than many places on our journey. The driving, however, was very challenging with curvy mountain roads, relatively high speed limits, and a few crazy drivers. But, all things considered, we highly recommend a visit to this beautiful state! Check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource if interested in more of our travels.

Happy and safe travels!