In May we go from Idaho to Oregon!
Antelope Reservoir, west of Jordan Valley, Oregon
Rather than head directly west through Burns and then to Bend, Oregon, the crew and I take a round-about route, going south to the small town of Jordan Valley. From there we turn westward and camp at isolated Antelope Reservoir in a small, peaceful, free campground.
No one is camped here but us!
(Click on photos to enlarge in a new window.)
The next leg of our journey is a dreamy drive through low mountains followed by a flat landscape of sage. This is truly “getting away from it all!”
Highway 78 heading toward the northern end of the Steen Mountain Range
We make our camp on the south side of Prineville Reservoir.
A pretty spot for playtime and lounging. (Bridget runs under the BLT to avoid camera.)
The reservoir is east of Bend, Oregon. Prineville State Park is on the other side of the reservoir. I’d rather we camp by ourselves on this side.
Next we camp on the Fall River, south of Bend.
Waterfront property at Fall River Campground, Deschutes National Forest
In the morning we discover it snowed!
Bridget and Reggie have friends over to play.
Lots of fun for the pups!
Reggie and Samantha play tag while Bridget referees.
Julie the dachshund knows better than to enter this zoom-a-thon!
We move to another campsite at Fall River Campground.
Reflections on a frosty morning, viewed from our campsite
Friends take us around La Pine State Park and lead us on trails. We rest by a waterfall.
A short drive takes us to another pretty campground among pines.
Pringle Falls Campground, northwest of La Pine, Oregon
Bridget, Reggie, and I hurry down to the river’s edge.
Our next camp is along meandering Odell Creek at Davis Lake.
East Davis Lake Campground, northwest of Crescent, Oregon, Deschutes National Forest
Odell Creek — Do you know the names of those snowy peaks in the background?
We move our camp to a boondock at the north end of Davis Lake.
Reggie tears into his toy. Bridget hides under the Best Little Trailer.
It’s time to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells (oh, those pines!), and touch of nature, off by ourselves, just the three of us.
Bridget proudly leads us home at the end of morning walk.
Our month of May review comes to a close with sunlight through the pines.
rvsue
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Maybe
yes!
And I read the post!
NEWS FLASH! LONG-TIME BLOGORINO MAKES IT TO FIRST PLACE!
CONGRATULATIONS, CINANDJULES!
yay! Congratulations CinandJules!
That should be a double hooray for being first and reading it first too!
Great pics, I like the area around Bend. Mountains and lots of water to camp by. Thanks for the review and the camp spot ideas!!!!
You’re welcome, Pat H. You’re right about lots of camps by water!
Maybe 2nd Great post enjoy the views.
12 minutes from fame! Maybe one day my name will be in Lights!! Congrats to CinandJules. Enjoy the glory! 🙂
Hi, Sue!
Hi, Dave . . . Thanks. I’m glad you liked the post.
Three Sisters Mountains? Google images helped with this guess. And I’m close to the top again! 🙂
Hi, Monica-CA…. I don’t know the names of the mountains. I don’t think they’re the Three Sisters though. (See comments below.)
Wow! Within the top 10. Dumb luck. What do I win??
The chance to try again next time. Ha!
Missy, you are a mean person!! 🙂
Bwaaaa-hahahaha! 🙂
Loved the frosty morning reflections photo – made me shiver!! And I knew it was Three Sisters without help from Google – hee hee 🙂 Hope all blogorinos and the Crew have a peaceful, wonderful pre-Christmas weekend!
I’ve never been to Oregon; so, Google is my best friend in learning about the geography of the West since I grew up on the East Coast.
A Happy New Year to you too!
Thanks, Cynthia. I hope your weekend is what you want it to be!
Your photos are beautiful!! So nice to look back at the year and smile…wonderful memories!!
Thanks, Betty-Shea. It’s fun to look back at the year with you and everyone!
Sisters
Are you sure? Hmm….
yay Oegon! thanks sue for the recap of your travels. i really am enjoying it.
Thanks for letting me know, bess. 🙂
i think that those mountains may be Batchelor Butte, Diamond Peak, Broken Top. from the LaPine area, the 3 Sisters would be very small visually. maybe the Sisters are in the background. the 3 Sisters are closer lumped together, like a clump of volcanos. probably someone on the blog will disagree with me….oh well, i tried. 😉
I’m going to agree with you Bess. You are from OR so probably know. I also looked at pictures of the Three Sisters on-line and they do not look the same but different angles will do that. Finally, with Odell Creek in the foreground I’m not sure that the The Sisters would even be visible, I know that they do not appear until you are reasonably close to Bend when approaching from the south.
But, I could be wrong.
You almost got all three! I’m pretty sure these aren’t the Three Sisters. (See Bill & Ann’s comment below.)
Beautiful pictures. South Sister, Broken Top, Mt. Bachelor. So many places to visit in the area.
I’m trusting that you know these mountains since you live in the area and have kayaked within view of them….
So…… You and bess are probably right. Leave it to Oregonians to know!
Absolutely beautiful. My favorite spots are among the pine trees. There’s nothing that smells better. Actually brings back memories of being a little girl camped amidst pine trees, I used to collect the pine cones
Hi, Nancy S,
That camp on the north end of Davis Lake is the piney-est camp we’ve ever lived in. The ground was soft with pine needles. I’m happy it brought back childhood camping memories for you.
Lovely photos…so pretty.
Bridgee looks like a Dahl sheep on the side of a mountain!
I can remember chuckling …the time you woke up and there was snow everywhere!
Winter is here…AO is running figure eights…snowed all day…lake effect so it’s fluffy. About 8 inches of fluff. AO was born (Dec24th) in this so she really doesn’t mind getting the snow caked between her toes/pads. We had boots for SA.
Gotta figure out our routine…donning and doffing the winter attire..and placement of the snowbanks…. for one last season.
Wherever you are Sue and crew…stay warm, enjoy and thanks again for letting us join in your journey.
Eight inch deep snow! I remember that fluffy kind of snow. So light you can’t make a snow man. Very pretty… What fun for AO!
Bridget was thrilled to show us the way home up those rocks. She’s a strange one. She was happy to be in the camera lens that day.
Love the pictures Sue! This recap is so fun!
Hi, Jolene! It is fun when it’s all put together and I can sit back and look at the finished post. There are times when I’m sorting through the photos that I think, “Oh my, what have I started!” 🙂
Sure is fun to catch glimpses of the great camps you had this year. Fun to remember, fun to see again.
Hi, Dawn in MI,
I’m glad that this review of 2015 is being enjoyed. The crew and I aren’t moving from camp to camp these days which makes for less current “material” to work into posts.
Hi Sue,
These last few posts, year in review have been allot of fun! Putting together all the places you have been brings back all the memories. Your blog is so special, almost magical. I have been trying to figure out what makes yours so unique. I only follow a few RV blogs (Nina & Paul, Al & Kelly) but yours is the only one I regularly check for new posts.
I think it’s a combination of all the right things coming together. Kind of like a championship team. First it’s You, then the crew, your story, your writing skills, the adventures, great photos, the theme, layout, letter size, font, colors and attention to detail. Like how every photo looks as if it’s a framed picture. Second it’s the Blogorino’s. I enjoy reading all the comments and the family atmosphere here. The adventures, congratulations, condolences, and we’ll make it through anything attitude.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year To You, The Crew & All The Blogorino’s !!!
FloridaScott
Hi, FloridaScott,
Your comment is like a big Christmas and Happy New Year card! What a wonderful compliment on my blog. Thank you very much. It’s nice to know the effort I put into it is recognized and appreciated. Big smiles here!
Best wishes to you during the holidays, Scott.
one additional thing i love about your blog, which comes directly from you Sue, is you trust the blogerinos to answer questions from others when you may not know the answer or are taking a break from replying to each post. your giving us all permission to share our experiences is rare. thank you.
You’re welcome, bess. 🙂
You really do have a remarkable skill for finding private camps that have the best each area you’re in offers. The beautiful sunlight through the pines photo made me think of that. Last I knew you were beside an ironwood tree in a desert, and perhaps may still be there. Where ever you are, I hope you and crew have everything you need for comfort and joy.
Hi, weather,
We’re still by the ironwood tree! It’s been too cold for the hummingbird to sing from the tree. I see him and his girlfriend at our feeder every day.
I’ve signed up for another two weeks which will have us at Midland LTVA until the last day of 2015. I figure I’ll devote the time to putting together these reviews and recharging from the year’s travel.
Thanks for the hope for us… I wish the same for you. Be cozy and warm!
One couldn’t ask for a more peaceful and private site as far south as you are. I’m glad you decided to stay. You have a lot left to cover in reviews, it will likely be a challenge to get those done by the end of the year. Our temps Christmas eve are predicted to be in the 60’s! The snow in NY state passed north of my location. Autumn has more than fulfilled it’s time, what a treat it’s been, and is.
Wow, Christmas Eve in the 60s in New York state! Easy on the carolers (if people still go caroling!)… No snow, moderate temps, maybe that will translate into fewer traffic accidents, happier holidays for more people. I know you enjoy and find good in whatever weather comes your way.
I think May you were at the best campsites as far as being
in great campsites……..I wouldnt want to leave any of those
sites forever but I do a lot of fishing and cooking outdoors
over a campfire in cast iron ovens and skillets….
just so you will know I just ordered a metal detector for
a grandson for Christmas and a book on smoking brisket for me…
total $60 something dollars….let me know if it didnt go thru
your blog and I will send it back and reorder….i finally went
with prime since I was ordering so much….
Im sitting here watching the movie SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
which I have seen at least 100 times but I still cry at my age…
chuck
Hi, chuck,
I see the book on smoking brisket… The metal detector will probably show up on tomorrow’s report. If you went to Amazon by clicking a link or ad, I will get credit. Thanks a lot for thinking of me and the crew!
I purposely haven’t seen Saving Private Ryan because I know it would make me cry. You’re made of stronger stuff than I!
Hi Sue,
The recap of your year is wonderful for a very selfish reason. When I’m thinking “We should go to that beautiful campsite in Oregon on the river but what was the name of it?” I will have a convenient spot to find those campsites. They will all be there in your year-end recaps! Thank you for that handy reference.
How are you doing temperature-wise in the So Cal desert? It has been cold in Northern California but at least the rains have started. Last summer I said I would never complain about rain again but I’m already dreaming about an extended trip to Arizona in January or February. It can rain here and fill up the reservoirs while I sit in the shadow of a saguaro cactus?
Hugs to the crew.
Hi, Marilu,
The temperatures here are pretty much what the weather widget has been showing in the sidebar (which you may not see on your device). Highs in the mid-60s, lows in the low-40s. No wind today made it pleasant and warm enough to be outside on the sunny side of the BLT.
Rain and cold is enough to set one dreaming of saguaro land. 🙂 January will be here soon!
Thank you for appreciating the year in review posts.
I especially like the light through the pines photo. So inviting. Not that your many camps were not equally wonderful, but I like how the pines one takes “just” a stand of pines and makes it special, by capturing the light as you did. I just want to walk up and look over the ridge!
Frosty morning reflections were also very nice.
Thank you, Pen. It’s funny how a scene like that one of the light through the pines can put me there, remembering that morning in detail.
Hi Sue, really enjoy the recaps! You and the crew have a very blessed Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Same to you, Piper! Nice to have you stop by!
Picking the best of the best(photos) must be hard as you take so many really lovely pictures, but I love all of them. I have 2 questions for you & the blogerinos; what DO you say when some non-thinking person say “you’re so brave to drive that trailer all alone” ? I just mumble something about how it’s me & my dog. The other question is practical: can I attach my small solar panel directly to the trailer’s battery with clips? I still hope to go to the Everglades National Park which has no electricity this winter. I understand one needs electricity via the battery to run the propane refrigerator.
Hi Maryanne,
On the solar panels, the answer is basically no. I say “basically” because there are tiny panels you can hook up straight to the battery(s), but they are so small they are basically meant to trickle charge a battery while parked (say you leave your car at the airport). Anything over 5 watts (or maybe 10) and you should have a controller. Even a small panel can put out enough current that your batteries would get more power in “float stage” than they really should have. So while there are a few “wiggle rooms,” really the answer is that for any meaningfully sized solar panel, you should have a controller.
As far as how to answer the “oh you’re so brave.” I’ve never really figured out anything that really says what I’d like to. A simple “thanks” kind of legitimizes the comment. The real explanation is likely too long and not really in the spirit of a quick exchange. Also the person just may not know what else to say, and is basically friendly. I find that what I want to do is sort of show that actually this is just normal and somewhat unremarkable. My feeling is that a woman out doing something that she wants to, with some practice, and doing reasonably well IS normal, and so shouldn’t be lauded as if heroic.
So, although it’s not perfect, I tend to say something like a cheerful “All in a day’s work!” or something like that. Granted, it’s not work at this point, but to me that phrase comes across as friendly and matter of fact. Let me know if you have anything better 🙂
Thanks, Pen. You answer these types of questions much better than I could!
Hi, Maryanne,
“You’re so brave to drive that trailer all alone.”
Reply:
“What you see is not bravery. It’s lack of fear.”
Another choice:
“I tow it alone because it’s a one-person task.”
I suppose if one were in the mood, an open and pleasant, “What makes you say that?” might be interesting.
Oh what pictures of sunlight in the pines, I can feel the slippery needles under my feet. Thanks for a beautiful review, I had forgotten about all the places you have taken us! It’s a wonderful 72 here in SoFlo, our first taste of winter. I’ve had the windows open all day. It is breezy and lovely, but I hope you and the crew are comfy and warm.
You’re welcome, Lisa, Tommie and Buddy! Enjoy that wonderful south Florida weather…
Browsing your Amazon list…(I always check)
Is fruit cake an acquired taste or regional treat? I can remember my mom buying it at Blum’s in SF.
Always had fruitcake in northern NY….
I think fruitcake is a tradition all over the U.S. because it’s a food that refuses to die.
I never cared for the traditional fruit cake like Claxtons but my mother used to make one that was pretty good. She started fermenting the fruit in late October, every couple of weeks she would change out the liquid. Then in middle December she would make it. It was nothing like the traditional.
Really enjoying the recap, we love your pictures. We realized that we have not been to any of the places in this blog. It’s only been two years of full-timing so we appreciate all the ideas we get from reading your journal. Thank you Sue and Crew!
You’re welcome, Barb and Dave . . . Long time, no see. 🙂 Great to have you appear again!
We have never missed one of your blogs, you make our day.
🙂
Hi, Barbara and Dave!
What a nice message. Thank you.
I checked in earlier today, but was having problems with the server. The pics are wonderful as always and the crew so supportive of your endeavors. Glad you are able to stay put for a while as you are organizing your reviews.
Hi, Pheisty in Utah,
Yes, it is good to have this time. We’ve moved a lot over the past four years. Thanks re the photos!
Thanks Sue. I needed that this morning. As I’m sure anyone who contemplates a huge life change has experienced, the last couple of days I’ve had thoughts like, “What are you thinking?! You have a house all paid for (was my parents’ house) that is a sweet little house on 6 acres. And those six acres are smack in the middle of loving friends and family! And you want to set off by yourself and end up who knows where???”…..stuff like that. But then I look at those pictures and think…..”Yea…..but you could be sitting there at that picnic table by the river doing your journal/computer work…..with Wyndy and Bella laying on the rug (cause Sue says you gotta have one. 🙂 ) and Sissy (cat) laying on the table in the sun. You could drink your cup of coffee and listen to the water and the breeze through the evergreens and have that scent added to the coffee’s scent. You could drive from mountains to sea to desert at your whim…….hear the crunch of the desert sand/stones under your feet…..see different faces…..hear different stories……and have a different one to tell when you visit those back at home……because you can do that anytime you want too.” And so, once again, I am energized for the change. Thanks Sue. 🙂
You’re welcome, MB from VA,
Your thinking mirrors mine as I set about ridding myself of house and possessions. The house was one stage (been there, done that) and it was time for what comes next. Letting go lets you go!
You express very well the appeal of the vagabond life!
Exactly !
Hi!
Wonderful photos and recap! And when someone comments how brave…Just say “Not brave, just intelligent! 🙂 Thats what I would say!
Ha! That would work, Terri!
People who make the “how brave” comment are very often women. Their remark says more about them than about us.
Hi Sue and Crew! OH, The places you have been! You sure do know how to the pick perfect campsites! Your photo’s are a beautiful portrayal of what so many people in the world ever only see in pictures. It always made me so sad to think of all of the children in inner cities and such that have never seen an ocean. I have always felt very fortunate to have grown up with the experience. Love watching that energy Reggie has. Why do you think Bridget is so camera shy? I’m looking forward to seeing where and how you celebrate Christmas. I won’t be making my ‘full blown turkey dinner’ again, that is for sure. Thanks for your words, pictures and just for being you. Merry Christmas and the very best wished for you and the Crew in 2016!
You’re welcome, Sealarkesmiles.
I agree — Those of us who had a rich childhood (rich in experiences) are very fortunate. At least these days, children can see via technology that the world extends far beyond the confines of their daily lives.
I don’t know why Bridget is camera shy. There are times when she seems to love the camera. In many ways she’s an enigma.
You look forward to how we will celebrate Christmas? Well, we will celebrate it much like we celebrate every day. Nothing complicated. I usually read the nativity story in the Bible on Christmas Eve while I sit in bed. I look up at the stars and count my blessings, then snuggle the crew and go to sleep!
Thank you for the sweet note. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too!
Merry Christmas Sue and Crew, may you be blessed the New year through! I am still a faithful reader of your blogs even though I don’t post as much as I used to. You lighten up my day as always, thank you so much. Great shots to be enjoyed as well.
ah, fruitcake,…the gift that just keeps giving…
Hi, Diane, Blue Ridge Mountains, VA….
Hello there! Good to see you again! May your holiday and new year be bright and happy. . . .
. . . .And may you never drop a fruit cake on your foot. 🙂
As in re-gifting! Hah
Another great post with beautiful photos. We know Oregon well from traveling through to visit relatives, but have only camped near Roseburg and Sumpter.
I’m happy you enjoyed this post and pics, Renee!