Friday, September 6
A short jaunt north on US Highway 101 and the crew and I find our weekend camp. Falls River is another Olympic National Forest Campground. It’s in a better location for interesting day trips. Unlike Hamma Hamma which is over six miles from the highway, Falls River is right next to it.
For that reason I choose a site away from the road noise.
You can see from this next photo that the PTV and BLT hardly fit in the space.
There are larger sites, even pull-throughs. Either they aren’t as pretty or they’re too close to the road.
Only a few other sites in the two campground loops are taken. They’re camping in tents and our site isn’t close to them. Of course, I’m anxious to see what kind of internet signal I get with the Wilson antenna . . . Yay! . . . 4-5 bars!
I’m one very happy camper.
I like the separate “sitting room.” I put out the rug so Bridget and Spike can lie down without getting dirty. It’s more comfortable than a bed of sticks and stones. I don’t put out their beds because they’d become soggy outside on this misty day.
Changing camps is enough activity for one day. I settle in my camp chair with one of my new-to-me books.
Supper is left-over rotisserie chicken and corn on the cob. This Washington corn is the best I’ve tasted since leaving New York State in the seventies.
After we eat, I take the crew on the campground trail to view the falls for which the campground is named. At this time of year it’s a thin veil of water dropping over 100 feet (my guess). Too late in the day to get a decent photo of it.
Saturday, September 7
The weather is still overcast with heavy mist and fog until late afternoon when the sky turns blue. We stay at camp most of the day. The crew and I have been moving a lot ever since we left Montana. I figure a day of rest is in order. Sunny days are in the forecast. When they arrive, we’ll be good to go!
Well, we do make the short trip into Quilcene, a village about 3.5 miles away.
The reason for the trip to Quilcene is to get away from some tenters who moved in nearby. The young woman has a voice that would raise the dead. I can’t concentrate on my book while hearing every word out of her mouth, so rather than get aggravated, I toss the crew in the PTV and we take off.
Quilcene isn’t very big.
It has an inexpensive campground ($12) right in the middle of town. I don’t drive into it. From the main street it looks pleasant enough with plenty of trees. A few restaurants and shops are within walking distance. You can read more about it by clicking here.
I’d consider staying there for the security of camp host supervision if I could handle having all those neighbors and street noise. There isn’t a camp host at Falls View Campground (probably was through Labor Day Weekend).
I’m online a lot today.
It’s such a treat to be connected while sitting in a forest campground. Besides replying to comments, reading the news, and writing emails, I research possible day-trips.
Upon returning to our campsite, I notice the young woman has run out of steam. She still pipes up now and then, raising the hair on my head. I hope the young man with her, before he makes any long-term commitment, realizes that voice will probably get worse as the years go by. . .
Oh, right. Now she’s doing tai-chi. I thought tai-chi has something to do with calmness.
People are funny.
One of the reasons I like to be alone is I’m not tempted to be critical looking at the behaviors of others. I can be a nice person without much work.
Well, you can see this post is going nowhere fast, so I’ll wrap it up.
rvsue
Canine Corner: “My Latest Portrait” by Bridget
Bridget — August 2013
Hello, everyone! Bridget here. I want to help RVSue out. Talk about running out of steam! Her blog could use a canine touch.
This is my latest portrait. I like how it shows my white fur and the blush on my cheeks. Spike says I look too serious. Like a girl can’t be serious! He thinks everybody should be a jokester like him. He’s always saying, “C’mon, Bridge! Loosen up, babe!” What? So I can have a screw loose, like him?
I wanted to save this photo for a Christmas card, but I couldn’t wait! I hope you like it.
Oh yeah, RVSue appreciates you shopping Amazon through her links. It really perks her up! Thank you very much.
Just a heads up about water at Sequim Bay State Park. We were recently up in that area. Didn’t stay at the state park but did dump and get water. The water is VERY chlorinated. Smells very strong. Next time we needed to dump we stopped at Dosewallips SP on our way back south. Water there is much better. Still a little chlorine but not like the other. We’re so used to the fresh mountain water. Don’t know about the RV parks in the area. Maybe they have better water. Makes me wonder what’s in the water that requires so much chlorine to kill. Happy trails! Enjoy the lavender farms in Sequim. It’s perfect weather for growing lavender there.
Hi, gypsy chick!
When we were at Potlach SP, the sign said Hood Canal is too polluted for swimming. Elsewhere I’ve seen signs advising people to cook any oysters they pull out of the bay.
The best water I’ve tasted in years is from the spigots at North Fork Campground.
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll be sure to taste the water before I put it in the tank.
Interesting and what a shame about the pollution.
Hello Bridget, that’s a beautiful picture of you. I am glad I did not have to wait till Christmas to see it. Spike and Sue are lucky to have you live with them.
Yes, they are, Debra. Thank you. I’m glad you like my picture.
The forest is so beautiful with the bright green foliage. The mist adds a peaceful touch:)
Bridget’s portrait is so cute:)
Hi Pam . . . At first, when we arrived in the PNW, I thought some of my photos had smudges from a dirty lens. Now I see that it was mist.
Go figure…those in tents are occupying a pull through site! Yikes that is a bit short. The road looks narrow you may want to put a hazard marker up to make the PTV visible at night/ misty mornings. I have the perfect solution. (see below)
People don’t realize that voices carry in the woods! When it’s quiet we can hear people talking across the lake. Seriously!
Oh Bridget what a beautiful portrait of you. Yes it would make a great Christmas card especially with the pine needles in the background. But where is Spike? Your Christmas card has to include him.
The solution: In honor of your birthday…we would like to buy you the Flash Flare that is listed on your link. I can attest to their efficiency day and night.
What I do need is a general delivery location. If you are unwilling to provide that…I’ll just ask Mick. Either Mick has a crystal ball or he has somehow hooked up a GPS thingy magiggy to that Wilson antenna that is attached to the BLT and is tracking you without your knowledge. SO…..you can do this the easy way or the hard way….your choice! 🙂
Mick I hope you got my back on this one………… 😉
cinandjules! It isn’t MY birthday! It was Mick’s and Pauline’s.
No, no, no… I get so much from this blog (not to mention from Mick) that I can’t accept any more gifts. You’ve given me so much already. Thanks anyway.
The PTV makes her presence known… She’s a big, white girl with attitude. No one’s gonna’ run into her, day or night. 🙂
My email to RVsue&Crew and her response:
Subject: Re: Post Office
Well it’s like this, my birthday present is an upgrade of an item that I do not need two of and the very best use of this very lightly used item is to record the beauty of the western USA. Being a home bound soul, due to my shop and tools, but loving the outdoor scenery maybe I can trick blogger RVsue&Crew into wandering around the West and providing me with countless hours of enjoyment with vivid photos and elegant prose.
Your new toy will ship today,
Mick
. . . speechless . . .RVS&C
You know I’m kidding right….about the easy way or hard way.
You know I mean no gifts, right? The thought is nice, sweetie. I appreciate your loyalty to my blog. You put life into the comments section.
Did I at least make you laugh?
October is coming….really fast goof ball! I don’t forget details.
Whaddayamean no gifts….that is not written in the rules…..okay if not for you…then how about securing the safety of the crews ride! Now you know..the word “no” is not in your vocabulary when it comes to the crew!
Yeah, you have me laughing now. You’re too much. As for never saying no for the crew… They’re both sleeping. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. LOL!
Check mate! 🙂
BRIDGET SPIKE WAKE UP!!!!
WANNA GO FOR A SOAK…..SP….IKE! YO SPIKE….THERE’S A COW OUTSIDE!
Hahahaha! Spike can’t hear! Checkmate!
Auntie’s got two rotisserie chickens! 🙂
Now that’s not playing fair . . .
Ah hah…now we’re getting somewhere.
Excuse me…I’m having a talk with the crew. 😉 Shouldn’t you be OUTSIDE figuring out how you can get Bridge and Spike in the same Christmas photo?
continuing on…Did I say two??? I really meant it’s an all you can eat buffet!
Love Love Love your new portrait Bridget…………such a stunner, so pretty………..Love Mum’s camp site and all the places you have been in Washington State…….lovely!
Bridget is my beautiful girl. 🙂
Great photo of Bridget! She is so beautiful.
Thank you!
Yep, voices DO carry in the woods or on the lake. One of my favorite memories is canoeing on a very still lake in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota with our son when he was about 3 months 0ld. It was so still you could hear the line whiz out when the fisherman way across the lake made a cast. Then our son woke up hungry! That kid had a set of lungs and totally broke the silence 🙂 He got fed IMMEDIATELY. I reminded him of it when his daughter decided she was hungry NOW!
Hopefully the loud camper will get tired and sleep late or maybe leave soon.
Funny story! I’ve had similar reactions when Bridget and Spike start screaming and barking when they stick their heads out of the BLT in the morning and discover someone camped near us after they went to bed the night before.
As to the tent campers. The site management should post “no tent camping” on all of the pull thru sites. Actually the site you’re in looks like it should be for tent campers.
You neighbors voice can’t be as bad as Yoko Ono when she “sings”.
They aren’t in the pull-through site. They’re on the other side of the site next to us.
Bridget looks very pensive. Great portrait.
Thanks. I love that pic.
Beautiful area you’re traveling thru…can’t wait to see you ferry to an island. Talking about loud voices, my son has a tendency to talk loud. I have to tell him he is talking loud. I don’t think he realizes it until he’s reminded. I often wonder if it’s from him listening to radio with ear buds over the years. I have a tendency to talk loud lately due to slight hearing loss in my right ear. I haven’t been told I’m talking loud yet but I just get that feeling that I am talking loud. Loud people don’t bother me until bed time LOL…then I get cranky if my sleep is interrupted. Love the pic of Bridget…what a beautiful girl she is.
I hope you son hasn’t hurt his hearing. I think there’s going to be an increase of elderly, deaf people in about 40-50 years.
This young woman not only talks loud but she has a voice that could warn boats coming in from the sea.
On behalf of the Bridge, thank you.
“I think there’s going to be an increase of elderly, deaf people in about 40-50 years.”
WHAT???
Boom-boom-boom in cars with the windows closed . . . earbuds with too loud music and computer games pounding the eardrums several hours each day . . .
Those same people who are deaf in 40/50 years are also going to be lame. The way they have to walk to keep their “below the butt” style pants from completely falling down will wreck their hips and knees!
Cops love that style (pants halfway to the knees) on the “gangsters”. Makes ’em so easy to run down in a foot chase.
Hi Bridget – thanks for sharing your Glamour shot! You look marvelous 🙂
Doesn’t she though? Quite a glamorous girl!
Love the portrait of Bridget. She’s a fine gal. You’re traveling through country that is new to us. We’re hoping to make it up there next year. Jello plans at the moment. We’ll be heading south on 395 again in October, pushing it a bit late, but we just can’t resist the drive…maybe we’ll pass again on the road somewhere?
Nina
I love that drive, too, Nina. I try to go new places on new routes during the warmer months. However, that route is easy and worth doing many times. I don’t know what we’ll do. I’d come over to Cape Blanco (where you are) and Port Oxford (where friends Ann and Bill are), but I know I’d bring fog so thick we may never get out of there!
Hwy 395 at Hwy 108 (Sonora Pass) is one of our favorite places to boondock. We live near Sonora (8 miles from the Rim fire) and we can go over for the weekend tent camping with our little off-road trailer or over hwy 99 with the beast and great white whale (Chevy extended cab and 35 ft 5th wheel). We have taken both to our favorite spot.
Traveling south on 395 turn right on Little Walker Road about 1/4 mile past 108. Travel the bladed gravel road. In about 1 mile there are a few pine trees to the right in the high desert meadow. Shortly following that there will be a small grove of aspens on the bank to your left. There is a small road, about 1/4 mile long and rocky, that goes down to the right to a grassy meadow circled by an aspen grove with numerous camping spots. The 7-8 times we have been there we have only had one other camper there that was not part of our group. That last 1/4 mile is rough but in the bottom at the meadow there are plenty of places to turn around.
P.S. Google maps shows a large horse group from Reno in the meadow. I have NEVER seen it crowded, but it does show how many sites there are and that it is trailer friendly.
Thanks SFM… I’ve made a note of it.
Ugh… I have to ‘shhhhhhhhhhh’ my husband all the time… he is hard of hearing, but, um… also ‘hard of listening’ 🙂 I am NOT sure which of the two makes me crazier!
So fun to see your adventures… A ‘mini Bidget’ took up residence at our office last week. ‘PipSqueek’ is now a fixture at our toes. She joins the cats (7) ferrets (2–not my favorites but don’t tell) birds (too many to count) mini piggy (1) and four women who are constantly cleaning up! What a Wonderful Puppy! She is a treasure! Are they all that funny?
Hugs from Hoquiam!
Barb
PS no I do not work for a vet–we are an wildlife rehab group… my boss specializes in bird rehab and welfare. 🙂
Hello, “Hugs from Hoquiam!”
What interesting and important work you do! I remember the time I went to a wildlife sanctuary/rehab place on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The people there said birds (pelicans, herons, gulls) would come to their doorstep (hung up in fish line, hooks embedded in their mouths, etc.). Somehow they knew where to get help.
It was amazing the miracles performed there. Good for you, Barb, for what you are doing!
A mini-Bridget? Pipsqueak probably looks like Bridge did as a pup, which was pretty darned cute.
Well, it is VERY interesting when people come in, since we are mainly a licensing office! 🙂 Yep… we are ‘sub agents’ for the DOL, and I am so proud of where I work… The lady who owns it has done this for 47 years, and her daughter works there too. She is the one who does the major bird rehab. She had a pelican who lived many years and was her best friend. He would build a nest for her every spring 🙂
Pip is SO cute! She is such great doggie! I love her! But Angie (my co-worker) dibbed her first. Oh well. Everyone gets along very well, all open to everything.. birds and kitties sleeping together all day. Very fun to see ‘first timers’ come in, as it is shocking.
Hope you have a great day!
Hugs from were Hoquiam
Barb
Bridget’s eyes are smiling – she radiates love for mom. Some people really do have penetrating voices and they are especially irritating in the wilds. Seems like they are the ones who never shut up too.
Penetrating voices…. Perfect description, Tesaje.
They left a few minutes ago this morning! Hallelujah!
Hi Spike!
We see that Sue is picking on you again so thought some male encourgement was needed. We have Geri out numbered here so she doesn’t pick on us.
That was a pretty hot picture of Bridget, though…..
woof, Radar and Doogie Bowser
Hi there, Radar and DB. . .
Hey, don’t worry about me. No amount of “picking on” can change me!
Yeah, Bridget is one hot babe. Don’t tell her that though. Her nose is high enough in the air already.
Gotta’ go now . . . Lift your leg high, guys!
Aww sweet Bridget with the beautiful eyes! Makes me want to give you hugs and kisses!
PS. You do a great job of taking care of “Mom” and Spike…bet they keep you busy!
Hi shutterbugshea . . . Mom’s pretty easy, but Spike wears me out! He can be such a bad boy. I know he can’t help it. Still, he could at least try to keep clean and follow some rules.
Thank you for the nice compliment. I wish you could hug and kiss me. I love that!
The last photo… before Bridget’s Glamour Shot, of the trees, the road, the hazyness of it… absolutely one of my favorite images so far! Glad the loudmouth left. I know I speak loudly because I am so hard of hearing. I sure hope I never offend anyone unintentionally!
Hi, Geri . . . So you like that photo, huh? You know, one of my favorite parts of photography is cropping. I love taking a shot and making “new” pictures by cropping. This was fun because I found a good shot within a photo by cutting off some of the branches and part of the road.
People who speak loudly because of poor hearing are okay. It’s the people with piercing, strong voices with a grating pitch that can be hard to take. I closed up all the windows and door and it was like she was in the room!
Hi Sue and also CinandJules. I am still here. I bear no grudge nor am I upset in any way. I love you all. It is a trait both my brother and I inherited from our mother. We never carry a grudge and have never really hated anyone, except perhaps his X. A real card carrying self admitted B____H. I have been down to Rodanthe, OBX. He has a beach house about 100 yards off the beach. He and his new wife were married on the beach just a bit down from it. Anyway like everything on the ocean it needs constant maintenance. Whenever none of their friends or her family are there I get to come down and work on it. Our main project is the east side. It’s all glass, huge panels, that have been poorly maintained. We are removing and replacing the middens holding the windows in and re-glazing them all. The old glazing was so old and dry it was literally powder. Just gobs of silicone holding everything together.
I have been checking out where your at and it looks like a dream. Has to be a lot of fun. The pups look happy, it is so nice you have them with you, for company and security, even if they won’t keep the critters out.
As always Enjoy and wishing you all the best.
Alan.
Alan! I’ve missed you! Thanks for letting me know it wasn’t something I wrote. Whew!
Well, you have been busy. The Outer Banks … a special place. A beach house is nice, but it has to be maintained.
Don’t feel like you have to write. I just hated the thought you might have left feeling badly about me. I’ve enjoyed your presence here very much. Drop in when you have time. And don’t work too hard!
Oh, Bridget, that portrait is better than the Mona Lisa!
And the Mona Lisa is Bridget’s favorite! ML is serious, like her. No toothy grin.
Never heard of the Outer Banks..or Rodanthe, OBX.
Nice to see you back Alan. I’m taking a wild guess, because I haven’t googled OBX yet.. is it safe to say…any property on the beach is subjected to salt air? I know my folks place is not weathering the elements very well.
Enjoy your project! Take care.
Hi cinandjules, The outer banks of N.C. is a little strip of land from a few miles wide to maybe 100 yards in places. It goes from the northern part of N.C. and goes all the way to almost the southern most part. Kinda like a barrier reef, just sand. It was created by a hurricane ages ago and others have slowly ate away at it ever since. Rodanthe is a small town at the beginning of Cape Hatteras at the eastern most edge of the banks. Mostly huge seasonal rental homes 8-10 bedrooms and 4 or more baths all about 8 feet in the air. The locals live in much smaller places mostly at ground level. My brothers place is a bit unique. It is only 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on 3 floors, very vertical. It is also the only house there, with an unobstructed views of sunrise and sunset, moon rise and set also. It is built on a strip of land that has been owned by a family in CA since they whole place was divided up in the early 1900’s. The strip goes from the ocean to the sound and the house is the only house on it. The northern edge of the town is rapidly fading away. each year several houses fall into the sea, and once that happens they can never be rebuilt. You can do anything you want to stave off the sea, but once it wins you lose.
I was laughing at the story about the old guy at MT. St. Helens refusing to leave. The locals in the area of Rodanthe are pretty much the same. Seen so many hurricanes they just kinda ignore them. But Irene taught them a lesson, it came up the sound between the banks and the mainland. The sound is real shallow and the hurricane pushed all the water into the marshes on the mainland and then once it passed by it pushed it all back. Since there are no dunes on the back side, the land is at sea level. A 6 foot tidal wave was pushed across the area and wiped out everything at ground level. the only road was washed out and they were isolated for about 2 months before they got an emergency ferry setup and running. That was four years ago and there are still businesses that haven’t reopened. The banks are a unique place and great if you like fishing, surfing or just laying in the sun. Otherwise there ain’t nothing to do there but rot or rust. When the house came on the market a couple of years ago someone in NYC bought it, it is really a pretty famous house, it was designed by a NY architect named Fosse back in the sixties. But they backed out of the deal. The issue was they had never ever been to the banks and thought they were getting into a situation like Cape Cod or the Hamptons. Complete culture shock when they came down to look at the place. When it fell thru the agent called my brother and they bought it immediately.
Hope you are doing well, it is nice you have an old chessie. I am pretty much a cat person, but chessies are a very special breed, so kind and loving of people.
Originally I thought OBX was somewhere in Canada? hah hah As you can tell I’m an East Coast transplant.
It sounds nice…if that’s is where they want to live. I’ll take an earthquake over a hurricane any day…but different strokes for different folks…right?
SA is a golden not a chessie…but chessie’s are sweeties too!
Thanks for the info…
Love your portrait, Bridge! I bet you’re happy it’s sunny and warm today. You won’t get all muddy. Ole Spike might manage to get dirty anyway, but not you.
The mud puddles are gone so Spike dug up some moss and made a bed for himself in the wet dirt! And RVSue put out our pretty mat for us to sit on!
Thank you for loving my portrait, Miss Alison.
RV Sue,
We’ve been reading your blog since you started and it’s our favorite. You’re a real inspiration to us as we will be retiring early and going full-time next year. We can’t wait.
John and Cindy.
Bridget and Spike,
You’ve been a real inspiration to us as well. We especially like it when Spike soaks. In fact we have been practicing at the dog park and look forward to some nice streams when John and Cindy retire. Here’s a video of us in case you’re interested. Hope we get to meet you some day.
Trixie and Eddie
Hi, John and Cindy and crew,
Cute video! Your crew has a lot more energy than mine, but it looks like they keep up with Spike in the mud department.
Thanks for reading my blog and voting it your favorite… Best wishes for you plans to retire and go full-time!
Mick–can I pick your brain a bit? See, I don’t have a Mick, and I don’t think Sue will mind if I borrow hers. I am going to be full-timing in eight years (sigh) and I’m in full-blown research mode. For some reason, portable solar panels seem to be appealing to my needs and aesthetics. What’s your opinion? Thanks!
Oh, hi Sue! Love your camping sites lately. I went top see an art exhibit of Art Deco era cars and motorcycles. The name of the exhibit was “Sensuous Steel.” You know I was all over that. They were very cool.
Hi DeAnne . . . I’ll loan you Mick as long as you promise to give him back. 🙂
Hi DeAnne in TN, Chuck an I had a discussion a few posts ago about Ultima batteries and he mentioned using a tri-fold 95 watt solar panel. Chuck and Geri travel with a 30 foot fifth wheel trailer. Anyway you should ask Chuck about the tri-fold panel. You might need two. I think it is a great idea but you will have to setup and plug everything together at each campsite and trip over the wires. Chuck is here:
http://www.phunnyfarm.blogspot.com/
Also be sure to read Sue’s Solar section at the top of the page. I gave a couple examples showing the math involved.
Hi Mick! Thanks for the info. The fellow that installed that great rack you made for RVsue was over doing some mx for us and said only one battery was going bad. The other(both group 27) waqs in great shape. It’s a Centennial sealled battery. Tried to match it up and found boat dealers carry it but can’t get one shipped here to NM(they say it’s vented and has to go freight for $186. Battery cost $99. DUH.
Hi Deeann in TN! The 95w solar kit that Mick mentioned is avail thru RVSue at Amazon. Warranty on our roof precludes roof mounting the solar panel. We saw this in kit in Utah and it has available a one time installation of an exterior plug in so that though none is as cool, effiecent and convenient as Sues, this could work for us! Chuck.
I think your biggest concern would be theft. Expensive solar cell panels would be sitting out on the ground. Easy pickens for the dishonest folk.
WOW!!! Thanks for all the helpful replies. My first order of business is to be able to read your responses and understand them without my eyes glazing over. Alan Rabe–I also thought about theft, but Sue takes her solar panels with her when she “goes to town” and I thought maybe I could lock them up in trailer or back of my truck? Like I said, still in planning stages, but trying to learn everything I will need. Thanks again to all of you and I have printed out your responses for translation.
Duh–I just realized…because Sue travels with the solar panels, she is charging for future use. If I put panels away, I would use what is already stored, right?
Right… The longer you can keep the sun on the panel, the better.
Keep in mind . .. If you’re anything like me… Having to pack something up in order to leave camp may influence me not to go somewhere on a whim.
Re: Chlorinated water. I filter all my drinking water with a Brita filter pitcher. Takes the chlorine taste and smell out along with bacteria, etc.
Neat!
Beautiful landscape pictures. Bridget; you are gorgeous!
Thanks!
Dear Bridget, I didn’t realize there was a photography studio in your campground. You look lovely, my dear! I agree with Ms. Sue that this would be a great Christmas card, but you really should be fair and include Ms. Sue and Mr. Spike in it.
I always build in a day of rest and relaxation when I’m traveling for more than a few days. Gives me a chance to recharge my (emotional) batteries and give my body a chance to unwind and unkink from being cooped up in the car. I think you’ve found a very restful spot (glad to hear the discordant voice lady left!) with gorgeous surroundings.
I’m going the “largest RV show in the Southwest” this coming weekend to do some more serious shopping and research. Sigh…need to get my budget in order…
Hi Cari . . .
So you understand the need to slow down and recharge. I’m not a high-energy person to begin with (note the many times I’ve mentioned sitting in my camp chair … LOL!).
Hope the RV Show gave you the info you’re looking for!