My Journey

[fisher205]

We left the Dodge and the Alaskan at home this year so I was driving a white Jeep Liberty it matches about every other vehicle up there so you probably wouldn't have noticed it. I looked around the Mora campgrounds for you. We headed back home from Portland Fri. morning.
Brad

[Awkragt]

Cool to see you boomeranging around Aberdeen. It's gonna get hot this week. I'm headed to St Helens for the weekend. Sounds like your plan to hit Mt Rainer is right on track. I'd do St. Helens, Rainer, Chinook Pass. Then down to Oregon, Mt. Hood and Bend.

[JerryYukon]

Yep......I'm sure we saw plenty of those Jeeps.........

As Awkragt put it, we are still boomeranging" around Aberdeen. It turns out that after we left Aberdeen on Tuesday, we only drove about (14) miles before we made our first stop. As we crossed over the Satsop Middle Fork River on Route 12, I noticed a large parking area with a boat ramp and great access to the river. It seemed like the perfect spot for lunch and a brief swim. Well, we just left this morning. The water was cold but so clear and clean. It just seemed like the perfect spot for two water dogs to hang out for a little and it just turned into (2) days before I knew it. I was still questioning my decision to go to the mountains with this heat wave moving in. Neither the dogs nor I enjoy being in that camper when it's hot. It just plain sucks. Yesterday we took a short trip to Montesano and stopped in at Fish, Game, and Wildlife to purchase a Discover Pass. This is a permit that Washington requires to use their facilities. I'd gone without it for over a month and I finally decided that I was pushing my luck. While we were in town we stopped by the local coop and filled the propane tanks and found a used book store where I bought myself a few travel books. So we've just been chilling, reading (finished my 4th book of the trip) and swimming. And that's about it for that.

The plan now is to hang around the beach until temperatures drop..........that's predicted for this weekend. So I guess we'll see what's next. Take care............

The Loud Bridge Over Sotsap Middle Fork River

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Sotsap Middle Fork River

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[JerryYukon]

I went with Plan "B" and bagged the mountain idea and turned around and went west. We made a brief stop in Aberdeen (once again) and did some shopping at the Safeway (sorry Wal Mart...but your Aberdeen store sucks) and we walked around the old part of the city. It's kinda cool to hang out around a city and get to know it a little better than just passing through. In the afternoon temperatures were rising (remember the heat wave ?) and when it 84 degrees with clear blue skies, we were ready for the beach and cooler temperatures. We took Route 105 southwest and I swear you could watch the thermometer drop as we left town. About (10) miles outside of town we stopped at Bottle Beach, a bird watcher's hangout along Greys Harbor. The temperature was 73 degrees. After walking the trails and a brief swim in the bay, we were back in the truck and our next stop was North Cove, my campsite right on the beach, just north of Tokeland. The temperature was 58 degrees and there was a thick fog that left us with very minimal views. Just amazes me how different things are in a drive of less than (30) miles. I got out my new to me (used) book "Fatal North" and what a great read. I couldn't put it down. If you like books about Arctic travel, check this one out. I loved it and finished my 5th book of the trip after only (2) days.

Our Campsite....The Ocean is About 50' From This Spot

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[JerryYukon]

We woke up yesterday and the fog had lifted a bit but I knew that the heat wave had moved east so we were good to go. We headed back to Aberdeen (again) and made another stop at Bottle Beach (should be named Tire Beach-check out the picture below). We actually spent half a day here just hanging out and walking and reading. Yesterday was mostly a rest day although we did stop at a car wash where I washed the truck and camper (hate that salt water), found another used book store where I purchased one more used book, and then the high light of the day..........a FREE hot shower at the YMCA (I'm going back for seconds today !). I thought that the shower in Sequim for 25 cents was a good deal but the YMCA in Aberdeen beats them all !! And it's a really clean and modern facility with friendly staff. We spent last night at my least favorite Wal Mart. Up this morning to cloudy skies with the possibility of storms all day. So, now what ?

Bottle Beach

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Bridge in Aberdeen.... Hitting a Bridge is Always a Fear of Mine

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[JerryYukon]

Since the skies were ugly on Saturday and, of course, since we're in no hurry to go anywhere or somewhere, we just stayed in Aberdeen another night. In the afternoon I rented one of the worst movies ever from Red Box (I'm beginning to think that all of their movies suck), and we took some long walks along the river, and of course plenty of reading. I think I'm finally at the point where television no longer enters my mind. I rarely miss it anymore. In the evening a bunch of cops showed up and arrested a guy right outside my camper door. Poor guy.......who knows what was up with that. We took our last walk of the day just before nightfall and were treated to (3) otters feeding in the river. We (the dogs and I) were all mesmerized by their activities. I know we followed them for at least half an hour while they fed on fish (??). They totally captured the attention of both the dogs. And that was it for our Saturday. I guess you'd call it a rest day.

Poor Guy..............

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Highest Diesel Price Yet...I Filled Up a Few Blocks Down the Road for $3.95 at Arco......Go Figure

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[JerryYukon]

So the weather was looking awesome for Sunday so we dropped by the wonderful Abeerden YMCA and to take one last hot shower. As I undressed I could hear (not see) some guy in the showers grunting and groaning. Yes I was apprehensive to go in alone, but I went in anyhow naked as a jay bird. As I walked in, there was this guy that must have weighed 400 pounds. Yikes. He was struggling to shower himself. Ugh........not a beautiful sight and enough said about that. We left town feeling good and drove west to our planned destination, Olympia. What a beautiful city Olympia is ! I loved walking through the city, strolling along the walkways along the water, checking out the boats, and visiting many of the shops in the old district. Lots of the people here were like the people I saw in Portland, but in my opinion, a little more laid back. I don't know, I just liked Olympia.

Last night we drove south on Interstate 5 and camped at the Chelialis Wal Mart. I was awakened at 2:00 a.m. by loud music right outside my window. I looked outside and it was Marilyn Manson in his 1995 Pontiac. After about half an hour I couldn't take it anymore and I went outside to tell Marilyn to hit the road. Well, it turned out not to be Marilyn Manson but some want a be crazy kid with nothing to do but hang out at Wal Mart. I scared him to death (seriously) and he left shortly thereafter. Thirty minutes later, just as I was dosing off, three car loads of teenagers pulled up and were acting like three car loads of teenagers. Ugh.........that lasted for another (30) minutes or so. I finally got back to sleep and then at 5:37 a.m. (PST) my most wonderful most beautiful most awesome niece texted me from Boston (3) times. Ugh......not a good night's sleep. And that's it for now. We plan to leave today and head west into the Cascades, and more specifically Goat Rocks area to do some hiking. Take care.............

Olympia

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One More Olympia

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Dog Water Fountain in Olympia......How Cool is That ?

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[memetotes]

Haha, whoops! You'd think after living in the MST time zone for the past year, I'd remember the time change and wait to send a text or call until later. My bad! Apologies to Montana and Yukon as well. Continuing to love reading up on your adventures and checking out all of these amazing pictures! Safe travels (Lauren via Mom's account

[Mudder11]

.......and then texted you around 8am and woke you up!....wow, such punks those teenagers were! those pictures are amaaazing! oh look, there's Tanner! I like the pictures of the big tires on the beach, and that open/closed sign! HA! dogs are cute as always! enjoy and stay safe!

[memetotes]

Hey there little bro....I'm just checking back in again and catching up on your adventures. Amazing, amazing photos....though you do need to ask someone to take a shot of you from time to time Must admit I envy your travels...reminds me of my days traveling with the Fritz family all across the beautiful USA. Glad you seem so relaxed and enjoying this trip so much. I'm going to look for that book "Fatal North". Safe travels and a pat to the pups! Love ya, Glo