Monday, June 30, 2014

BIG SHIPS AND OUR FIRST POW WOW

Currently in North Bend OR (Low 55 Sunny Currently 60)
Heading to Newport OR (Currently 55 Sunny High 68) 

Living along a working bay like Coos Bay you sometimes can see a big ship go by. Here is one early in the morning while it was still yucky weather outside.



We recently went to our first Pow Wow, officially the "Coquille Indian Tribe 25th Restoration Celebration Pow Wow". This was held outside the Mill Casino which is owned by the Coquille Indian Tribe. Here is the big ship tied up next to a big pile of sawdust we saw as we walked to the Pow Wow.



A traditional meal was salmon so that is what they served, first cooking them over and in the fire. Here is the salmon on stakes.



The fire pit.



The finished product, served with brown rice with cranberries, salad and a cornbread muffin. It was very good.



While there another big ship went by with even more sawdust.



There was a day of dancing in the big tent.




This is called a friendship dance.



Our reward for attending our first Pow Wow was Indian Fry Bread with butter, cinnamon, powdered sugar and huckleberry!



Another reward coming back was all the beautiful flowers along the boardwalk of the casino.



With all the rain that we have had while here the Pow Wow was close in case it rained plus we could catch the shuttle from the casino right to our Cameo.

Today we plan to head to Newport Oregon, Lord willing, and the slideout comes in.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

Sunday, June 29, 2014

BRIEF SIGHTSEEING

Currently in North Bend OR (Low 55 Mostly turning Partly Cloudy High 68) 

There was a break in the rain so we headed out to do some sightseeing. Luckily there are great sites very close by. First off was Sunset Bay State Park.





We do like lighthouses, this is Cape Arago Lighthouse.




Then it was off to Shore Acres State Park.






There is a neat botanical garden at Shore Acres State Park. This whole area is the former Simpson estate of Shoreacres, his wife loved the gardens which have survived but the mansion did not.






More from Shore Acres State Park. The tree in the first picture just caught our eye.





We got to see the seals at Simpson Reef Overlook. The reef from a distance.




A closer view of the seals.




Up close and personal with the seals.




At first we thought this was a rock but when we zoomed in it was a solitary seal.




Neat story about this boat, a fiberglass boat from Japan that washed ashore a couple of weeks ago. It was checked for invasive species and they discovered the Japanese markings on the boat so they think it is from the tsunami.




Then it was off to Cape Arago State Park.





We only got a couple of shots in one area then it started to rain. We went for lunch to wait out the storm but it only got worse so that concluded our sightseeing for the day.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

NOTE: photos from our stay in Westfir Oregon are in the Westfir OR 2014 album on Flickr.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

SAW "JERSEY BOYS"

Currently in North Bend OR (Low 55 Cloudy and Rainy High 57) 

The odds have finally caught up with us. If you are in Oregon enough in June you are going to get rained on. We had such a good string of weather we were bound to get some rain and rain it has since we got to North Bend. So we went to another movie, Jersey Boys.



Telling the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons this movie is at times dark, slow and other times uplifting. When they sing though it makes it all worth while. We kind of thought the movie was in thirds; the first third was real slow and not very good. It was one that if we had rented it at home we might have quit early. The middle third was better and the final third even better. 

So overall we liked it but maybe more of a struggle than we would have expected.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

Thursday, June 26, 2014

SAW "X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST"

Currently in North Bend OR (Low 55 Raining but Clearing Later High 63) 

We have to say we have been lucky since we hit Oregon on June 2nd. We have had only 2 days of rainy weather, people have noticed the sunny conditions in our photos. So the BWE (Baskerville Weather Effect) has an impact either negative or positive :-)

On a rainy day we try and go to the movies if there are some that we have not seen. We have been in a lot of small towns lately and what that means is either no theater or no matinees during the week so we have not seen a movie in a long time. 

We chose "X-Men Days of Future Past" since it might be the first movie to be replaced by a newer one.




Not to spoil too much but if you are not a fan of time travel storylines then you might not like this movie. We happen to like them and X-Men so we thought it was a good movie. Anytime you can see Star Trek's Patrick Stewart is a good time. Speaking of Star Trek there was a clip showing the original series in the background of one of the scenes and Captain Kirk was talking about, you guessed it, time travel. A neat touch since we are both Star Trek and X-Men fans. 

We will give you one spoiler though, you won't see a Stan Lee cameo. Also, as with all Marvel films wait until after the credits for some bonus footage.

A great way to spend a rainy day. Today looks rainy early but is supposed to clear up, if it does it is sightseeing, if not it is another movie.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

NOTE: photos from our stay in Prospect OR and our tour of Crater Lake, waterfalls, gorge and natural bridge are in the Prospect OR 2014 set on Flickr.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - TO NORTH BEND OREGON

Currently in North Bend OR (Low 51 Times of Clouds and Sun High 66) 

We drove yesterday to North Bend Oregon and the Mill RV Park at the Mill Casino. It was approximately 140 miles, this is the route we took.


View Larger Map


The route was a little more elaborate than that. Bob forgot to check the tire pressure the day before departure and one of the truck tires was a little low so as we were just on the highway the TPMS system went off. We pulled off immediately and checked the monitor to find out which tire. It was a drivers side tire and the shoulder was nonexistent so no room to utilize our Ultimate Air Co2 tank. We drove into town and on the second attempt found a gas station with a compressor. All in all this little diversion cost us 40 minutes.

Once we hit the road it was a very scenic drive, first along the Willamette River and lakes then along the Umqua River. We have to agree with the Weavers that Oregon is one of the prettiest states we have been in and we have the coast to explore the next couple of weeks.

We are at the Mill RV Park, part of the Mill Casino. Here is an image from the web.



Here is our Cameo at the park. 



We do have a bone to pick with RV Parks and that is that they tend to cater more to motor homes. We knew that when we saw the 'ask about FMCA here, Family Motor Coach Association. By catering to motor homes we mean that the pull thrus overlooking the water are designed for a motor home to pull thru and have the front window facing the water. If the hookups were on the other side we could pull through and have our big rear window facing the water. You know life has to be pretty good when we have to find this to complain about :-)

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

Monday, June 23, 2014

SALT CREEK FALLS, OREGON

Currently in Westfir OR (Low 44 Mostly Sunny Currently 61)
Heading to North Bend OR (Currently 61 Partly Cloudy High 65) 

After the Oregon Cascaders rally we visited Salt Creek Falls, at 286 feet the second highest plunge waterfall in Oregon. The great thing about Salt Creek Falls is that the parking lot is close to the highway and a few steps from the parking lot and this is your view.



The top of the falls and the surrounding area.



Then you can go down a fairly easy trail, coming back is a little harder :-)



To about the midpoint for a great view



Then another trail from there that is fairly easy going down but more difficult coming back up.



Along the way you can see the falls through the trees.



The trail takes you to the bottom of the falls.



We had a great time at the rally and at Casey's Riverside RV Park which will get a rare 10 from us on rvparkreviews. Lord willing, and the slide goes in, we are heading today to North Bend Oregon to spend some time along the beautiful coastline.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

NOTE: photos from our stay in Ashland Oregon are in the Ashland OR 2014 set. All of our other photos are on our Flickr account.


Friday, June 20, 2014

WALK ALONG WITH BOB - CASEY'S RIVERSIDE RV EDITION

Currently in Westfir OR (Low 44 Mostly Sunny High 72) 

Come along with Bob as he walks around Casey's Riverside RV Park in Westfir Oregon. Here is the view stepping out the front door of the Cameo.




It is a nice walk first along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River.





A riverside swing that Bob and Jo have sat in a few times.




The view from the chair showing the merging of the North Fork and the Middle Fork.




Continuing the walk along the river.





The last view of the river.




Turning back into the park with the trees in the distance on the hillside. Takes about 4 loops to get his 3 miles.




Another very nice walk in a very nice RV park. The roar of the river provides nice background noise and occasionally there is a train whistle. We are having a great time at the Carriage/Lifestyle Oregon Cascaders rally. This is our first rally and besides the great people that we have met the biggest impression has to be the amount of food that we have eaten. Everybody brings such great things to our meals and everybody brings a lot. The only downside is that there are a lot more walks that need to be taken to work off all the food.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo

Thursday, June 19, 2014

REFRIGERATOR REORGANIZED

Currently in Westfir OR (Low 41 Sunny High 80) 

We love the residential refrigerator we recently upgraded to, it is larger and has an ice maker, BUT, with all that added stuff it slides along a lot as we travel. Opening the refrigerator we felt like an episode of "Fibber McGee and Molly" and exclaim, "oh no Bob not the refrigerator" :-)

We were recently in Bed, Bath and Beyond and saw these fridge and freezer bins.




You can see Sandra there beginning to supervise and of course since it was shaped like a box she had to get in.




In addition to the various sized bins (2 of the 4"x15", 2 of the 8"x15") and 1 12"x15" divided tray) we bought a 11.5" turntable and non skid paper for them to sit on. Here is the before picture.




We didn't take any in-progress shots but here is the after picture.




So far so good after a couple of trips. There is a lot less danger now in opening the fridge after our moving day and we are slowly able to find things :-)

Till next time,

Bob and Jo