I’ve been buffing a little bit here and there lately. By hand it is pretty slow going—I really need to just buy a buffer. It looks really nice when that chalky top layer comes off, though.
We continued north to Astoria, where we drove up the hill through town—something we probably shouldn’t have been doing in this old bus—to the Astoria Column. A spiral staircase led us to the top where we found everybody throwing balsa wood airplanes off. Apparently you need to peruse the gift shop before climbing up in order to score the planes. When we went in afterward there was a lady sitting there putting together hundreds of these tiny planes. What a job. At a buck a piece they were flying off the shelves.
Back down the hill we went in search of a particular brew pub with an awesome IPA. Somehow in this small working class town we managed to miss it completely. We found a bookshop, wandered around a bit, and headed for a State Park on the coast.
It was Friday, and most normal people who understand what a weekend is had made reservations. We are not normal—the idea that a park on the beach in the middle of summer hadn’t even occurred to us. I swallowed my pride and pulled into the KOA across the road. Full. Christ, between the two there must have been four hundred spaces, and they were booked solid. We had to drive a few miles in from the coast to find a place for the night.
The next day we drove back to the Fort Stevens beach. We got there early to enjoy an overcast mist shrouded morning. That eventually burned off to give us a bit more of a summertime beach feeling, but really, the Oregon coast is no tropical paradise. Regardless, it’s a fun place to romp around for a day.
Later in the afternoon we were driving along when I spotted something I wanted to take a picture of. I pulled over and watched as the car behind me pulled over too. The guy had been driving me nuts for a few miles because he wouldn’t pass me even on long stretches of open road. When I’m doing 45 in a 60 I expect people to pass. It makes my life easier not having to worry about them behind me. Anyway, he pulled over and my first thought was that he was going to tell me that my brake lights weren’t working. Because with this bus that’s always my first thought. When someone honks and flips me off as they pass by I think, “Brake lights.”’
Turned out instead to be a fellow blogger/wanderer/gypsy/whatever. We’d just missed meeting up in Texas, and now by pure coincidence here we were meeting on the 101 north of Astoria. He’d passed us and turned around to follow and see if we pulled over before the next major turnoff. For some reason I felt compelled to stop and take these pictures a mile before that turnoff. Funny how things work sometimes.
He told us about a campground up the road a bit, so that’s where we headed. The camp was actually on the land of a catamaran builder. We dry camped along the Willapa River within view of two big cats under construction. The fifty-something footer looked like a hell of a boat. Now, if these companies could just cut the price of these by 90% we could all go cruising in style.
There were a bunch of blackberry bushes growing along the bank of the river. The kids stood behind me and ate them as fast as I could pick them. A hundred of them disappeared before I was finally able to fill up a bowl to bring home. Afterwards I decided that those little four dollar containers we buy at the grocery store should cost closer to forty—picking those things is dangerous business.
Today we just tooled along in slow motion until stopping for the day at a State Park along the Hood Canal. As pretty as it is up in this area of the world, it just isn’t for us. Mid-July, sixty-five degree highs, drizzle, and the woods. Pretty, and yet dreary at the same time.
Sometimes it seems people put up No Trespassing signs just for the sake of putting up a sign. How many people were really beating through this forest straight uphill with machetes before this sign was posted?
26 Comments on “Washington”
This is such a pretty part of America. Everyone should take time to travel there.
The beaches on the upper west coast can be really fun when a big winter storm blows in – preferably watching it through a window in front of a fire with a nice comfortable chair.
Best wishes,
Mark and Cindy
Hey…we will be sailing up the Sound to Port Townsend/Port Angeles this weekend. Plan to be anywhere ear? It would be fun to meet, since we missed the Portland to-do.
When I get someone on my tail who won’t pass even when they have tons of opportunity…I simply take my foot off the gas pedal. Completely! They all pass eventually… 🙂
We are camped for the week on Beautiful Jekyll Island in Georgia….taking the scooter for a circumnavigation….what an advantage it has been to have a 49 cc scooter to buzz around on when bicycles won’t do…..problem is Katie can’t ride with us and mopes while we explore….heading to St Marys and then Cumberland Island Thursday….have been down the beautiful Oregon coast from Astoria to San Fran….stunning.
I’ll be in Port Angeles the first two weeks of August. Let us know if we can meet you for a hike in olympic national park, or maybe a beer in town.
And how far north are you headed? Ferry to Victoria Canada leaves from Port Angeles too.
fort george brewery. vortex ipa. you can buy it in grocery stores to. black can, green writing?
The kiddos are looking so grown up in these pics!!! Beautiful little people. Thank you for sharing your family and adventures with us!
I’ve buffed out a half dozen or so fiberglass boats or campers. Started with a “homeowner” buffer or by hand and…. there is just no comparison to a “real” buffer. Two options I have used: 1) A big metal Milwaukee buffer from a tool rental place. Effective but heavy! 2) Finally bought a Makita 9227, which works just as well as the Milwaukee, but is lighter, I own it, and can also be used as a sander, etc.
But for a one-time, I don’t want to have to store it thing, renting the Milwaukee (or heck, maybe they rent Makita 9227’s now) was SO MUCH more effective than the homeowner buffer or by hand. On the rental buffer I used a pad like a 3M Superbuff (forget which exact one as it has been awhile).
Hi Pat,
Here’s an idea. You have “get-togethers/open houses” with your followers at various places. You’re also making slow progress on hand buffing the motorhome. Why not combine the two and make your next get together a buffing party! Buy a few bottles of compound and wax and one of those “bag o’rags” and let your followers have at it.
You’re in our backyard now! We are up north by Granite Falls. Enjoy Washington! Happy & safe travels
Dammit man.. No pics of the Cat being built!
So wonderful meeting your family in Portland. We adventured over to Fort Stevens last weekend too! It looked like an Airstream party going on at the KOA. Astoria is a gem, and Jon has his eyes on the brewery 🙂
StudioJema
I love your pictures. Have you just gotten better over the years, took a course, or always that talented? The composition is always so beautiful. Enjoy following you
There are a lot of gold mine claims in that area. Probably why there was that sign in the middle of nowhere.
I loathe what online reservations have done to our state park and national forest campgrounds. It’s become almost impossible to find a good site at the last minute on weekends in season. They need to hold back more sites for first-come, first-served campers. The $10 or so reservation fees are low enough that folks just book a site “just in case”. I think you’ve had similar complaints in previous blog posts on here in the past.
Yeah, sorry you missed it. The Fort George Brewery may even be worth turning around for. The pizza upstairs is excellent too. Astoria is a charming place. If you do pass through it again, the kids would love to ride on the restored $1 trolley. The Maritime Museum is fascinating too. All the best.
I stumbled across this the other day thought you might be interested. I know it has to be good if Jay says it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1cTpSZ1l8
(Literally) Brilliant!
You just missed our three weeks of 80 degrees plus. Sweltering heat for our area. 65 degrees was a blessing and even better that it rained overnight. It should be in the 80’s this weekend. If you stop by Bremerton you can see air craft carriers and tour a ship, the Turner joy. Do you think you’ll have a meet up in Washington, Kitsap County? Would love to see all the work you did to your ride. Enjoy Washington, It is so beautiful here.
So glad you guys are all having such
a nice time. 🙂 Washington looks beautiful.
We have driven the beautiful Oregon coast in July, and it is beautiful. On the day I read your cruel mention of 65 degrees and drizzle in Washington, down here 8 miles from the Rio Grande in zip code 78570 it was 101 in the shade. Commonly there is a breeze,and sitting in the shade on the porch with an icy mango-nade is good; but this day it was sunny & humid with no breeze, and I had been out in the sun,cutting the grass, perspiration dripping off of me.
Pat, that’s hilarious. My wife and son and I were just on a little weekend trip from Seattle to Westport to look at the boat that I’m going to be doing a big passage on soon (Westport to San Diego). And we stopped at that same RV site slash gimungo catamaran builder (pedigreecats.com). Holy cow. The 50′ was impressive, but the 100’+ was mind blowing. The operation didn’t look like it matched the product. Not sure if you guys are coming Seattle way, but I’ll likely be out anyway on my sail trip. Happy rollin’.
So I’m on my morning walk today and just truckin’ on down the beachside road I typically walk or bike along when up ahead I see parked an old kinda pukey turquoise-colored motorhome. I’m thinking “Gee, that looks much like the one the Schultes purchased!” As I get closer I can see the personalized plate that reads “BUMFZLE”!
I first read “Bumfuzzle” over a year ago and absolutely loved it. Funnily enough, I just re-read it last week!
Although the weather’s been a little crappy in the PNW lately I hope you guys enjoy your time here on the Kitsap Peninsula!
I have been trying to love the OR coast for a decade now but I just can’t due to those temperatures and the bone chilling damp. And that’s in the summer, pile those winter rains on and we’d be suicidal. It feels like a personal failure because there is so much to love in Oregon. Ungodly beautiful, a bazillion parks and campgrounds and hardly any people about.
BUT, if you haven’t checked out the Columbia River Gorge yet you should, right now that is perfect weather in the summer and the Mecca of windsurfing and kiteboarding is in Hood River, the most athletic, fitness oriented party scene in the nation, a wild and hard core tribe gathering there every summer. I like Hood River county park campground outside of town, bath in the glacial river every morning, that’ll wake one up.
Love the panel delivery truck! The bus is looking great.
Hi! I just found my way here from Zach Aboard. Our family is the opposite of yours. We bought a Travco (1970’s vintage, not sure what year) when I was pregnant, then sold that before traveling to the ocean to live aboard (moving onto the boat in 6 days!). Isn’t that funny? We LOVED our Trav, even though it wasn’t as cool looking as yours. Such a housey motorhome.