Cathy & Jan's Travels: September 2010

Mt. Rainier Between Cloud Layers - View from airliner near Seattle

We left northern Washington State in the middle of August and drove down to the southwest part of Washington and crossed the long bridge over the Columbia River into Astoria where we took a photo of the Columbia Lightship (photo below). Lightships were movable lighthouses and anchored where an offshore lighthouse was being built, repaired, or could not be built. They had small motors to go to their destinations (or were towed) & they would remain anchored (sometimes for months) shining their beacons at night on top of their masts to warn other ships of impending danger.

We then headed down the Oregon coast photographing lighthouses and stopped for a tour of the Tillimook Cheese factory (and of course enjoyed some of their freshly made cheese and ice cream). We continued down the coast making it to the RV Park at the Marina in Newport and checked in. While driving to the dry camp area (a parking lot with curbs), the gremlins struck again and we hit a curb and broke an axle on the 5th wheel. We think that the axle probably broke due to a stress fracture from all of our 7 years of travels (some over pretty rough roads). When the axle broke, the tire rubbed against the trailer frame and started smoking (at least we did not have fire this time – but it did require a new tire). FORTUNATELY, we were already in our camping spot and did not need a wrecker. The next day we called MorRyde (the axle manufacturer) in Elkhart Indiana and they manufactured a new axle and sent it to us (plus a new rubber spring and shock absorber).

While waiting for the new part (over a week), I (Jan) looked over the axle and determined that everything was ‘just bolted on’. So, I got out our electric impact wrench (run off of our RV solar powered batteries), socket set, cheater bar, etc. and went to work. I managed to get it all apart with a little luck & then waited for the new parts. I might explain that we have an independent suspension system. This means that there is a short axle on each wheel & not the typical long axles underneath the RV to wheels on each side. Back in 2006, we broke a different axle and at the same time bent the axle assembly of another one (so we now have only one of the original four axles remaining).

While waiting for the parts, we decided to rent a car and drive down the rest of the Oregon Coast seeing lighthouses and also to see the tall Redwoods near Crescent City, CA. When entering California, the gremlins struck again and our cherries we had with us were confiscated at the agricultural check point. Cathy did get a surprise bonus when she found out about and attended the Lighthouse Quilt Guild annual quilt show at the fairgrounds in Crescent City.

While in Crescent City, Cathy received the long anticipated call that her brother David had lost his battle with brain cancer. We had been anticipating this, but the call was still a shock. Since David’s daughter lives in London and could not make it back to Austin for a few days, the memorial service was scheduled for a week later. So, we were not rushed to make in back to Newport, OR and then fly to Austin. Before flying to Texas, the axle parts arrived, & I installed part of it (to make sure that the parts were the right ones). Note: The gremlins did get into the shipment and the new shock absorber came damaged, but here again we were fortunate to have a spare new one that we could use.

We closed up the RV, rented a car, and drove 300 miles to Seatac (Seattle/Tacoma) airport [we could have flown out of Portland, but at Seatac we got non-stop flights both ways to/from Texas; plus it was cheaper; plus the flight times were better]. After an uneventful trip to Seattle, we flew to Austin for David’s memorial and to spend some family time. Both of our kid’s families came in for the service and it was great to have everyone together. After a few days visiting in Austin, we rented a 2nd car & drove to McKinney (north of Dallas) to spend some more time with our grandkids, visit 2 of Cathy’s aunts, and attend our ‘home’ church in Sherman, TX. Then we drove to DFW airport, returned our 2nd rental car, and flew back to Seattle from DFW. After arriving back in Seattle in the early afternoon, we picked up our first rental car and drove the 300 miles back to our 5th wheel in Newport, OR. We got 1 bonus on the way back in that we were able to photo the Warrior Rock lighthouse north of Portland on the Columbia River (this was the last remaining lighthouse in Oregon for us to photograph).

The next morning (just before returning the rental car) we tried to start our F450 truck but the gremlins had struck again and the truck would not start. After jump starting the truck with the rental car, we had one of the 2 truck batteries replaced. After this, it was now time to complete installing the axle (which went well) and resume our planned travels. We made it about 100 miles and the gremlins struck one more time causing a blowout on one of the trailer tires on I-5 north of Eugene, OR. FORTUNATELY, there was a great pull-off place right behind a guard rail. [Note: The blowout was not on the same axle that I had replaced]. We quickly changed the tire, got on the Internet & found a place in Eugene with a tire, & drove in to have it installed. After a total delay of less than 2 hours, we made it to Crater Lake National Park as planned where we spent 4 nights.

On the first day at Crater Lake we drove up the 7 miles to the rim and we could not see the lake because wet snow was falling and there was a lot of fog. However, after enjoying a late lunch in the Crater Lake Lodge, the skies cleared and the magical blue Crater Lake appeared. The next 2 days were absolutely beautiful. On the 2nd day, we enjoyed a leisurely ride in a trolley around the lake on the rim drive learning a lot about the history and facts about the lake (it is the deepest lake in North America).

On the 3rd day, I (Jan) decided to take up an early 70th birthday (actual one is in December) ‘challenge’ and climb to the top of Wizard Island (a volcanic island in Crater Lake). After only 2 days to acclimate to the over 6,500 ft. elevation from almost 0 ft. elevation at the Oregon coast, this trek required a hike down 675 ft. in elevation (part of trail at 11% grade) to the boat dock, a boat ride to the island, a 700 ft climb in elevation to the summit of the island, a 90 ft. descent into the crater, then back to the top, down to the boat, a boat ride around the rest of Crater Lake, and then the real hard part - the remaining 675 ft climb back to the parking lot. I think that I climbed up to the top of Wizard Island on adrenaline and then climbed back up to the truck on sheer will power. Even though I was very tired at the end, the trip was super and reaching the summit of Wizard Island was one of those special moments in life for me. Note: If you are able to do the hiking and have the chance, I would recommend that you at least take the boat trip around the lake for a completely different perspective of the lake and the amazingly blue color of the water.

After saying goodbye to one of our top 5 favorite National Parks, we drove thru Lava Beds National Monument in northern California and hiked into one of the lava tube caves there. Since the road that we wanted to take out of Lava Beds was closed for repairs, we decided to take the Medicine Lake “road”. This turned out be a gravel road for the 1st 13 miles that seemed to climb in elevation the whole way. After reaching the high point, the road changed to a deteriorated asphalt road with potholes. Finally we reached good asphalt, but some of the road was marked as single lane and they meant it (with very few places to pullover if necessary). Fortunately, we did not meet anyone on the very narrow sections and the road improved after that.

We made it Lassen Volcanic National park without any additional hurdles and camped out at Manzanita Lake (the north entrance). Three years ago we were here in Lassen when the large Moonlight forest fire was occurring and the smoke was so bad that we hurried thru the park and did not stop at scenic places because you couldn’t see much. This time the weather was absolutely perfect and we could the mountains as we traveled thru the park stopping at scenic areas. Just before leaving Lassen Park, we camped out in the large parking lot at the visitor center there. [Note: They do permit RVs to park overnight here (for a fee) next to the tent only campground.]

Well, this brings us to end of our travels to this point. We plan to visit relatives in the Northern California and Sacramento areas before resuming our lighthouse quest down the California coast to San Diego. HOPEFULLY, the gremlins have jumped off our rig and are not hiding somewhere to strike again. [Note: To counteract the gremlins, we have ordered another axle (to replace the last remaining original one)].