Oregon Beach Photo–testing

4th State: Oregon (Aug 30, 2009)

Early in July 2009 I was wrapping things up in Monterey, CA and waiting on a dual receiver for my trailer hitch, which would allow me to have the bike mounted between the van and the trailer. I saw one in a parking lot at Subway’s and asked the guy about it. He said they cost about $20 and I could order one online. So, I’d been waiting for the receiver to come. (later I decided that set up didn’t work for me and I gave it away.)

The friend I had been staying with in Monterey, CA lives about four blocks from the Aquarium and I began setting things out on the corner… and stuff was just disappearing, sometimes before I could walk back to the house. Good, I’m glad someone wants my stuff. Left Monterey the middle of July. Then as posted in my last blog, I visit Tahoe again for dental work, paddled NV while there and finally got on the road middle of August.

Since I had paddled CA many times now (Monterey Bay (many), Morro Bay (3), Spooners Cove (1), Elkhorn Slough (4), Tahoe West Shore (1)- was maiden voyage for my new kayak), then paddled AZ, it is confusing on which state is 3rd. But by August 22, I was heading north once again. As mentioned in my last blog, I stayed at Beale Air Force Base FamCamp.

While there I mended clothes, made bug net for my bunk, kayaked Gold Lake, organized the van... slept, rested, watched t.v., made soup, and got 40 mosquito bites.

I was waiting for medications to arrive in the mail and finally left Beale AFB northward to Astoria, OR. It was very hot, so found some shade and waited for the cooler night air to drive. I feared the heat would cause another tire blowout. Oregon... here I come. (Was going to kayak Clear Lake, CA but I was already too far north so will do it next time I’m in CA.) I wrestled with the Laptop being up front with me… and didn’t have it secured and it feel off and bent my air card. A friend suggested I save myself some heartache and buy a short USB extension cable-plug the dongle into that and then plug the extension into the laptop. That’s what I did, and luckily, though bent, it still works.

On August 27, 2009 I stopped for gas in Yreka, CA. A neat looking gypsy wagon pulled in and I just had to go take a picture. Grabbed the camera... then ran over to it and met Suzanne Verdal. She gave me her email address so I could send her the photos I took, but did not tell me – she was THE Suzanne in the song “Suzanne” “she fed me tea and oranges.” I had never heard the song by Lenard Cohen. Never heard of Cohen.. So cool to meet her and I hope to ran into her again. Vandweller friend, Katie (twoknives), says it was her mom's favorite song.

She probably thought I knew who she was… but I didn’t have a clue, other than it looked like a lady living out of a vehicle… a vandweller.
 

August 29 - had a good night's sleep without skeeters and the next day, I hiked over the biggest sand dune I have ever seen, beachcombed for a hour or so... jogged along the beach (yes I can run now), hiked back over the dune and didn’t even break a sweat. A few years ago, I would not have thought such a thing was possible. Then I drove north along Rt 101.

Drove out on the South Jetty Road (well worth the trip) and watched the Harbor Seals inside the jetty. At night I was I'm riding my bike around the campground, just to stretch my legs.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/recreation/tripplanning/oregondunes/

 

 
August 31, 2009 - I kayaked Siltcoos Lake, OR. I paddled out into the lake and saw an island. That's when I decided I needed some kind of goal for each paddle... so I kayaked all around the island. Way kewl! It was really wonderful to be on a rather pristine shoreline, though there were houses on the island, all with boat docks and solar. But I never saw any people and most of the houses are for sale.

Roland and Petra Wittren of Tillamook, OR where the campground host there.  Next year when I returned… they were not there.  Best wishes Roland and Petra wherever you are.

Research of the lake indicates that the lake may be dead. I talked to all the fishermen I saw and they all said they weren’t catching anything. Most have been fishing the lake for 50 years… and said it had never been this bad. I noticed the water where I put in at the campground, looked soapy.

Well, anyway, 46 states left to go.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=43.879,-124.1083&ll=43.879,-124.1083&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

In Florence OR I found this wonderful little Laundromat, which had a shower in it. The place was the cleanest it could be. The owner had worked for the Park Service for years and knew the value and importance of offering showers. Even free towels to us. Boy, did it feel good.

On September 1st, I planned to stop in Portland, OR to have dinner with a friend (Vandweller Dr. Suzanne). We had a great visit and I feel I’ve found another friend for life. Yah. We were going to try for a paddle just west of Portland, but weather didn’t cooperate. Next morning, I headed back to coast... and up Rt. 101. (to be continued)

Forks, WA to Port Angeles, WA

The sun came out.  Boy, how I love blue sky and sunshine.  Coming in to the Forks from the south on 101, you will see a Thriftway store on the left. 

It is a combination Grocery Store/Outfitter/and Ace Hardware.  It’s like the old fashioned country store… and has the widest selection of stuff you can imagine.  I got a big deli sandwich that I can make into two meals.

 

They also have a Transit Center and Restop by the Olympic National Park & Forest Information Center.  There is ample parking in the back and no signs posted about limits.  On the other end of town is a Railroad Park… and last year I spend a night there and was only disturbed by some rowdy teens who eventually went away.

Last night I parked at that Thriftway store and used the Wi-Fi from the Dew Drop Inn across the street.  I could still not get Verizon Air Card to work.  When I was ready to turn in for the night, I drove around town a little and decided to park across the street from the Post Office.  This is off the main drag about one block and was very quiet.  Day time parking is limited to 1 hour between 8am and 6pm… so figured no one would bother with me until 9am.    I returned to use the Dew Drop Inn Wi-Fi before heading on northward on Rt. 101.

I had never driven into Port Angeles on this road and was delightfully surprised by Lake Crescent.  Strikingly beautiful.  Wonderfully fragrant, flowers, new mowed grass??? I don’t know what it was, but it was a divine smell.  I saw people laying around on one of the boat docks, just talking. I drove by Lake Crescent Lodge where I noted there were kayaks along the shore.  This area of Washington is amazingly quiet and peaceful and I can’t get over the fresh air.  The photos say it all… so I’ll just post them.  I’ve got to come back here again.

Kayaks for rent at Lake Crescent Lodge

Lake Crescent Lodge

I drove on into Port Angeles, and found Gary’s house.  We did some errands and got tickets for the ferry ride to Victoria tomorrow.  This tree trunk with masks mounted on it was outside the Victoria Ferry Office.  Very interesting.

I believe my air card has died so I’m borrowing Gary’s to post my blog.  I’ll have to get a replacement on the way to Bremerton when I leave here.  Now it’s time to rest, clean VanHouse, straighten things up, and did I say rest?  Gary is off “playing” landlord.

Gary’s van, kayak (with bed on top) and bike/trike.  Says, “it’s furnished.” Our vans now look like kissin’ cousins.  His is the window van.

VanGearloose meets VanSwankieWheels. 

Enjoy the photos.  Won’t be posting again for a couple days.

Oh, unless you are into Vampires and Twilight Zone fads… the best thing I found in the Forks was the Thriftway Store complex.  IMHO.

The last five years… for Bob Wells

 

Bob, use what you like.  Ask me questions.  None of this seems very remarkable to me, except for the fact that 10 years ago, I could barely walk and was shopping for a wheelchair.

You wrote I had kayaked 8 states so far in the last article.

They were:

CA, AZ, NV, OR, WA, ID, MT, UT.

In 2010, I kayak 21 more states.  They were:

WY, SD, ND, MN, WI, MI, NY, NH, ME, VT, MA, CT, RI, NJ, DE, MD/DC, VA, NC, SC, GA, and FL.  I can give you dates if you want them.

Winter of 2010 I spent at my sister’s in Florida.  She had done a round of chemo… and we had years of catching up to do.  I also scanned a bunch of family photos that she had.

In the Spring of 2011, I went to GA, and David Hair did some work on my bike hitch.  I hung around to visit with other vandwellers there.  Lots of smokers, a few dogs, a cat, too much time inside watching t.v., good meals, lots of laughs but the exposure to allergens made me sick for the first time since I hit the road, and I ended up in the hospital.  Only time since 2008 that I have been sick.  Living outside is not a choice for me, it is absolute necessity.

After getting well, I resumed  kayaking and did 11 more states.  They were:

TN, WV, PN, OH, KY, IN, IL, IO, NE, CO, NM.  Dates available.

Returned to Quartzsite in the Fall of 2011 and joined the Gem and Mineral Club becoming a rock sawyer, learning to do lapidary and becoming a Foreman in the Lapidary shop and cutting and polishing many of my own stones. I interviewed in the big tent for a job with BLM and was hired to host a campground near Rifle, CO.  

Summer of 2012, I worked for California Land Management for two campgrounds in the White River National Forest out of Rifle, CO, Meadow Ridge Campground and Meadow Lake Campground.  I was terminated before the end of the camping season due to a forest fire shutting down my forest.  I kayaked a number of times at Meadow Lake (used to be called Meadow Creek Lake).  And then…

I returned to kayaking the last 8 of the lower 48 states.  They were:

KS, OK, MO, AR, MS, AL, LA, TX.

Winter of 2012-13 I visited the Big Tent and Quartzsite and learned about a CDL training program for jobs as driver/guides in Alaska.  Since that’s the next state I plan to kayak, I thought I could save money/earn money to help with the trip, if I got that job.  Applied, Spent two months in training and realized my eyes really weren’t up to the task… and I withdrew from the program.

Short term plans call for relaxing… slowly working my way to the northwest, hugging my two little grandbabies, and getting on up to Alaska.

Only states left are:  Alaska which I will kayak in 2013.  And finally, I will kayak Hawaii on my 70th birthday, May 16, 2014.  My 50th state to kayak.  Some family and friends are going to Hawaii for the celebration.  Everyone is invited (Dutch treat of course).

Me in 2009.                                       Me in 2012.

Long term goals… I don’t have any, but I have a bucket list at

http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/p/bucket-list.html

All I know for sure, is that I’m living life to the fullest, I’m happy, and healthier than I have ever been.

My motto is:  “It doesn’t get any better than this… until tomorrow.”

My new Facebook header is:

I painted the eagle.  Just added text to it for Facebook.

ARTWORK:

Only other change in my life is that I began sketching portraits of people and pets and recently of people with their rigs.  So far, I’m not making a lot of money at it, but have plans to make a set of note cards that I will sell in packets.  The first set will be of southwest wildlife.

http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/p/art-work.html

UPDATES ON MY RIG:

Cargo rack, platform, solar system, batteries, 1200 watt inverter, microwave, 12v stove, all working well.  No changes made, nothing broke.

Changes:

Added shelves inside my trailer to keep things better organized.

Added a ladder rack to outside of trailer to stow my cumbersome 10’ ladder.