Monday, May 25 (continued)
I’m not in a hurry to break camp this morning. It being Memorial Day, I want us to arrive at our next camp after the holiday weekend folks have left. I also plan a very short move.
For those of you who like to follow on a map . . .
We leave Pringle Falls Campground and take Burgess Road west a few miles to Route 42 and then a few more miles to Route 46 south. I drive down some forest roads along the west end of Wikieup Reservoir looking for a lakeside boondock.
There are several and all of them occupied.
Looking for lakeside boondocks on Memorial Day is a waste of time. The locals are already in them. A small campground is what we need.
Route 46 takes us along the east side of Davis Lake.
I drive by Lava Flow Campground.
I’d like to investigate that campground. Not today. (Lava Flow Campground has a pair of nesting eagles and I believe part or all of it is closed to protect them. I’ve heard it’s a free campground. I’ll report on this in another post after we go over there.)
Next we come to the turn for East Davis Lake Campground.
I read yesterday that this is a small, Deschutes National Forest campground. The road to the campground takes us through an area that experienced a fire several years ago. Dead trees stick up like quills on a porcupine’s back. This doesn’t deter me.
I’m prepared to accept an ordinary campground set in a marsh where the south end of Davis Lake has dried up. We can find something better after Memorial Day.
Instead I’m delighted to find this!
“Oh, my, oh my. . . ”
East Davis Lake Campground is a single-loop campground with several sites along Odell Creek shown above ($12 regular/$6 senior pass). One can sit at a campsite along the creek and see the snow-covered peaks of the Cascades. (I’m not fool enough to attempt identifying them for you!)
Here’s a zoom on one of the mountains.
The campground is nearly full.
I park the PTV and BLT in a pull-through.
“Okay, here’s the plan, guys. We’ll walk the loop and Reggie? You lift your leg on the campsite posts while I discretely read the check-out dates. Bridget, you fill in with a squat or two.”
Reggie and Bridget think this is an excellent idea.
Around we go. They pee; I read. Yay! Most are leaving today!
We return to the pull-through. I set up the lounger, make myself a PB & J sandwich, and take a break.
“Oh, what a beautiful place for a campground!”
Bridget and Reggie explore. Campers leave. Soon the campsite I’m coveting is vacated.
“Time to make our move!”
I pack up the lounger, toss the crew into the PTV, and we zip over to that site.
The view from the lounger in the photo above is similar to what I’ve show so far — the creek with snowy mountains in the background.
Six dollars a day for this?
What a bargain!
Here’s a view of the boat ramp, looking toward the campground. Our camp is at the right side of the frame.
Before the day is over, Bridget, Reggie and I hike a trail to Davis Lake.
I don’t take photos. We’ll hike it again and I’ll come back with pictures to share here. We also relax next to the creek which flows by the campground and meanders through grassland. Lots of birds here!
I watch this red-winged blackbird who hangs out on a log in the water by our camp. He’s there all afternoon, like it’s his personal real estate. It’s nice of him to share it with us!
We also meet fellow campers. (More about them in the next post.)
The crew and I go to bed early, pleasantly worn out!
Tuesday, May 26
Reggie and Bridget are outside as I type this.
I’m going out to join them. I’ve been so involved exploring and enjoying this camp with the crew that I haven’t finished setting up!
rvsue
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