Lakes, rivers, and forests in July!
Fourth of July fun on the North Fork Reservoir, southeast of Estacada, Oregon
Campgrounds, state parks, and RV parks are full to capacity for the long, holiday weekend. The crew and I are fortunate to find a vacant, non-reservable site at Lazy Bend Campground located along the Clackamas River, southwest of Estacada.
Our site at Lazy Bend Campground
The Perfect Tow Vehicle develops a slow leak in a rear tire. Fortunately, Les Schwab in Estacada discovers the nail, fixes the tire, and sends us happily on our way — no charge.
The crew and I wait inside Les Schwab’s for air conditioning and internet signal.
Edith comes for a visit!
Although Edith is a well-behaved girl and everyone gets along well, the three-dog crew is not what I thought it would be. I return her to her foster family and she’s happy to be home.
A wave of heat settles over Oregon!
When the weekend is over and the holiday revelers have returned to their working lives, the crew and I set out for a new camp further north. We find pleasant, shady Tollgate Campground on the Zigzag River between Oregon City and Mt. Hood National Forest.
The BLT is in the shade; the PTV’s solar panel is in a patch of sun.
The pretty Zigzag River flows behind our campsite.
Even in July the water is cold!
A riverside walk the morning we break camp
The PTV carries us further east on Route 26, bringing us closer to Mt. Hood.
I’m disappointed that Mt. Hood is only visible a few times from this route. We find that Sherwood Campground on the East Fork Hood River is a good place to stay for a few days.
Sherwood is a small, primitive campground. The crew and I relax on the riverbank.
I don’t have photos of our campsite because we end up cutting short our camp at Sherwood.
Power problems! The refrigerator isn’t working! We need to get out of Mt. Hood National Forest and find a camp near a good repair shop.
The Columbia River Gorge campgrounds are reserved up tight, it being peak season.
We follow the river east on Interstate 84 past The Dalles, and turn south on Route 97. By this time I’m weary of the hub-bub of vacationing crowds and want to get away!
I remember Route 97 as a pleasant, restful drive across grassland. Perfect!
The little town of Grass Valley provides a peaceful home.
Grass Valley RV Park is a small, country park.
I take advantage of the shower and laundry facilities. The crew enjoys the green grass while I take photos of horses in a field behind the RV park.
In the early evening, Bridget, Reggie, and I stroll around the streets of Grass Valley.
Groceries are running low and there’s the repair to be made, so we leave Grass Valley sooner than I’d like, after only two days. It’s such a charming place!
Of course, at this point I don’t know how much we will enjoy our next location!
Madras, Oregon — Big enough to have an RV service and repair facility!
About ten miles south of Madras, the crew and I pull into Haystack Campground.
Mt. Jefferson and Haystack Reservoir as seen from the campground
The friendly camp hosts recommend Dave’s RV in Madras.
Our first site at Haystack is by the reservoir.
It’s a relief to find competent, honest people to work on the BLT!
Rather than go into detail here — what was wrong and the repairs that are done — click this link if interested: “Marathon repair and power is restored!”
Bridget and Reggie are a patient crew.
“Sorry about the wait, pumpkins. This is part of the RV life.”
We camp at Haystack right up to the 14-day limit.
Our second campsite at Haystack with a view of the reservoir and Mt. Jefferson.
The next photo is one of my favorites from our time at Haystack Reservoir.
Where to next?
We motor south on Route 97, through Bend (we’ve come full circle!), past the roads that go to our earlier camps at Fall River, Pringle Falls, and Davis Lake.
Our last camp of July is a beauty — Miller Lake!
This is the kind of place I imagined years ago before leaving Georgia.
Digit Point Campground has many sites with a view of the lake and there’s easy access to the water.
The crew and I walk the trail twice each day.
Our stay at Miller Lake extends into August. More about Miller Lake and the rest of our August camps in the next post!
rvsue
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