Three view of Moab, UT

GUNNISON, CO -- After 3 days in Moab, UT we're on the road to Colorado Springs or somewhere around there.  Moab was a fascinating place with THREE 'must do' options which each can fill a day. (Top)  The Bend as shot from Dead Horse State Park.  The Colorado River meanders around nearly everywhere it goes.  This location to see the river is famous.  Look closely and you can see a trail on the mesa above the brown waters.

     In Arches NP the hike up to see Delicate Arch close-up seemed a bit more than I wanted to take on: stamina-wise it would be long and slow; balance and agility-wise I decided to play it safe.  The second observation  point in Arches NP was much more my style, but the photos were distant.

     Canyonlands NP is a huge conglomeration of geologic wonders.  It's either deep, strange looking canyons or walls and towers of red rock which look like they were built in a giant's sand box.
 

Our annual stroll around Goldfield

 GOLDFIELD, NV - - Goldfield is always a neat place to wander around.  Friendly neighbors are one of the first things which come to mind. Some folks like to warn the unwary.

     Other folks have fancy 'yard art' while others just let the derelict cars pile up.  Need a pet??  A lot of the wild burros wandering around get penned up and held while looking for home.

     One Goldfield resident (with a sense of humor) has the license plate I'd like.  Grumpy is as Grumpy does.  We learn something on every visit.  This time it was about railroad times here.  The Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad played a part if the high times when silver and gold ruled the area back at the beginning of the 19th century.  Later, in down-sized fashion the railway continued working (for the Nevada Copper Belt Railroad and then as storage units) until 1947.  NOTE:  the double train pics are a sign of tapping the 'print' function too quickly.

On the road views

A cloudy viewpoint from the passenger seat

And now some sun as the road rolls on

GOLDFIELD, NV - - We've left the Pacific coast wandering Eastward...and there's not a wave or sea lion to be seen.  In fact, except for a few tumbleweeds the scenery looks pretty much the same yet the two photos were taken on different days.  It's been 'set the cruise control and do not fall asleep.'
 

On a foggy morning...

Cape Foulweather, now called Yaquina Head, and the nearly 150 year old lighthouse

In the center sea lions and squaking birds adorn the rocks

Rock stacks and guano...not white colored rocks

 

What to do on a quiet morning

Coffee and some quiet 'pickin'

 FLORENCE, OR - - On the deck at River Roasters Coffee this older gentleman was playing his guitar softly while drinking his coffee and thinking about...  A quiet morning on the Siuslaw River with dark clouds hovering.

The view

Heceta Head lighthouse
 

Seal Rock Cove - - early morning

 SEAL ROCK COVE, OR - - There's a trail from the campground to the beach.  No seals, but plenty of tidal pools; sea snail covered rocks and green algae.  Also drift wood and nesting gulls on the higher rocks. We'll have to wait until we get further south in Oregon to see the 'sea stacks'; the tall rock formations which look like miniature mountains.

Most of the fishing / crabbing fleet is idle in Newport

Amateur driftwood artists at work

Cheaper by the pound...

The California sea lion chorus and fans

 NEWPORT, OR - - We've been moving around a bit and have finally landed (for 3 nights) in a RV campground near Seal Rock Cove.  (more info in the next blog.)  For now, we'll concentrate on one of our favorite pass times...checking in on the California sea lion blubber-fest in Newport.  These guys and gals have a special area where they hang out...despite Newport's best efforts to get them to go somewhere - anywhere - else. 

     The locomotive below is a reminder of days past and the booming lumber trade in Garibaldi, WA while the ocean view could include the lighthouse I was standing near if I turned just a bit.

This workhorse hauled lumber over 100 years ago

Early morning surf and haze at Yaquina Head

The mighty Columbia

CASCADE LOCKS,  OR - - We've escaped  two weeks in Mt. Ranier NP and have wandered over some very twisty Cascade Mtns. roads towards the Oregon coast.  Our first stop, or the first town of any size was Stevenson, WA.  Before crossing the Columbia River, we walked along a riverfront area crowded with mainly kite boarders.  The winds in the Columbia Gorge are perfect for plenty of action.  And then there was the paddle wheeler all set to recreate the bygone days.  Unfortunately it wasn't going anyplace but serving as a luncheon host for two bus loads of retirees.

    

     An   AMTRAK commuter train also zipped thru Stevenson while we were there. However the bigger surprise on steel rails awaited us when we crossed a bridge over into Oregon and the Cascade Locks KOA campground.  Aside from having electricity / wi-fi / and cell service plus hot water and showers, the main rail line runs right past the campground.  No doubt some recent campers were surprised, at how close but   we love it.  Although I'll wait until way past midnight to see if there's a 2:30am freight.

 

One person's trash is another person's treasure

Real trash pickers bring their own haulage

One of the better looking displays of 'junk'

We checked it out a day early

 PACKWOOD, WA - - What could better than a nice garage sale and a cold beer???  About two miles worth of tents / trash displays and a couple of drinking emporiums.  Wandering around a day early some set ups were ready to sell what ever you needed although it was a bit hard to discern the trash sales person from the trash.  Actually, it was good for people watching although a vast percentage of the folks looked like they were from the same extended family.  In case you might have missed the Labor Day Weekend Garage Sale and Beerfest, Packwood also does this on the Fourth of July.  Fortunately we've now been forewarned before next year's travels.

The joys of camping

 PACKWOOD, WA - - Ah, the joys of camping:  Fresh air, solitude; lots of space.  Well, maybe not.   Ohanapecosh  NP campground is neat, but the fresh air, quiet and lots of space might be missing.  The above shot, taken from our site looks down on a "real camper family."  Just roll out the Airstream Trailer with solar panels on top and (look close) 2, yes 2 generators for the AC and other electrical goodies to make your camping experience just like staying home.   The toughest part for these folks was parking.

Ohanapecosh is a native American term deemed to mean 'standing at the edge' or 'clear water' in reference to the O... river which runs thru / alongside the campground / park.  

This Labor Day Weekend the folks of Packwood get to endure a huge "Garage Sale and Beer Festival.'  Since there is only one main road, anyone traveling to / thru town needs plenty of patience.    

And now for the lighter side

PACKWOOD, WA - - Sometimes you just got to let your inner feline aspirations take over.  This is also known as the feelings you will get when confronted with another 8 days in a camp ground near Packwood.  Labor Day Weekend is fast approaching and in order not to "find no room at the (camp ground / motel / etc.) signs we've luckily gotten into another campground until next Tuesday.  So, we're celebrating...as seen above: happy, happy, happy.  Celebrating is defined as TWO cups of coffee instead of one at Mountain Goat Coffee.
 

Java message

 Packwood, Wa - - After reading my previous missive, you're  probably wondering:  How did he post the blog??  As with a lot of blog posts it involved coffee.  The Mountain Goat, a local coffee stop in Packwood, just 35 twisty mountain road miles away from Cougar Rock campground is the answer.  Today's blog is also courtesy of 'The Goat.'  It was nearly 90 when we were here on Thursday; now it's 60 with low clouds and a nice, cold breeze.

The view

Mt.Ranier; 8am at our campsite

COUGAR ROCK CAMPGROUND, MT. RANIER NP, WA - - Having our own channel marker just about at our camp site in Port Townsend was neat. Seeing Mt. Ranier from where we are camped now seems even better.  OK, so we had to walk about 20 yards for a better view in a break between the very tall fir trees.  Yesterday (Wed) we took off for a lodge up the very winding road and the views got better.

     Once at the lodge we hiked up to a nearby meadow (with waterfalls) for a different view.  At 14,410' Mt. Ranier is imposing.

     We're staying in our camp ground through Sunday ... at $10 per night you can't beat the price.  Of course, there are no showers; no wifi; no cell service...but the views aren't too bad.

 

Market time in Poulsbo

 POULSBO, WA - - If the Scandinavian flags, shops selling all sorts of viking articles and general atmosphere don't clue you in then maybe this wall mural will start you thinking.  'Uff da' can be translated into many meanings but the one I think seems most appropriate is:  "Oh crap!"  So,here we are back again for a few days as the camp grounds are full.

     And what better way to spend part of a Saturday than to wander around the local farmers' market.

Some random photos

Foggy morning, Anacortes

Sunrise, Port Townsend

Archie says: Hi, Port Townsend

Poulsbo pleasure boat harbor

 

Channel marker

It's not often you get a campsite with its own channel marker...and guardian eagle

 

The 'new' kid in town

Washington State Ferry MV Kennewick

 ANACORTES, WA - - Yesterday morning(Mon) the main repair site at Dakota Creek Industries shipyard was empty.  This morning when I checked it was hard to miss that there was something different.  A couple of days ago a shipyard worker had told us a ferry was due in for maintenance, but wasn't sure when.  Now we knew.  And it was hard to miss. In past times visiting Anacortes we've been transported by the MV Kennewick at least once out of / or to Port Townsend. **Update:  we had a reservation Wed. morning on the ferry to Port Townsend; sometime after midnight Washington State Fewrries notified us the MV Puyallup was out of service for repairs.**

     Yesterday  (Tue) our attention had turned to the loading of petroleum 'grain'. a byproduct of the nearby refinery into the Kodiak Island bulk carrier vessel.  The 5-year-old cargo carrier, flying the flag of Hong Kong,  was docked at a special loading station near the repair yards.  The practically non-stop transports (far left in photo below) serviced the loading apparatus...two days and counting

    

Crab time

 Boiling your catch is step one; then...

moving the Dungeness  to a 5 gallon bucket before icing

 ANACORTES, WA - - Dungeness crab, it's what's for dinner or lunch or even breakfast.  Over the weekend, there's been quite a crab-fest as the short Dungeness crab season was in full swing.  It's been that way in past years over the beginning of August.  But this year it was different as the crabs were out in full force meaning a lot of anticipated long days for a good haul were over in a couple of hours having reached the daily quota.

     I approached one rather young guy hard at work preparing the day's catch.  He was almost down to the bottom of his cooker ... and filling up the top of a 5-gallon bucket.  His rhythm never slowed while we talked:  Into the cooker with his tongs; grab a bunch of claws and then shake the excess water off; and finally deposit the goodies in the bucket.

     As I stood there trying not to drool too obviously he asked if I'd like some as he never anticipated meeting quota early on the three days his group was out.  I ended up with at least two pounds of yesterday's catch...fresh off the ice where it was stored.  I should have taken a photo of my Dungeness delight.  Unfortunately, by the time I thought about photographic evidence all that was left was a large pile of smashed shells.

A man with a paint brush and a can of paint

ANACORTES, WA - - -Look closely at the end of the high-reach arm about where the orangeish rust protector starts and you'll see a worker doing touch-up.  The Northern Glacier is a re-porposed nordic tug now working as a (head and guts) fish processing factory ship.  The Anacortes dry dock is a stop over to do maintenance, etc. on the 38 year old vessel.