Notes from Trip to NorthWest US 2013

So sad we are done with our trip to the North Western United States.  Was the best trip we have done so far - took our time, stayed for weeks at campgrounds to savor the environment, visited 15 national parks and countless monuments and historical sites, fulfilled my dream of traveling to completion the Lewis and Clark's Corp of Discovery 1804-1806 trip across the United States to Fort Clatsop in Astoria, saw the furthest northwest point of the US (Cape Flattery), witnessed some magnificent Native American cultures and traditions, met some wonderful people along the way (Ron and Carol, Russell and Susan).

We set up the RV in elevations as high as 6000 feet and as low as 26 feet.  Did an up and down type of journey all summer - surprised that when we set up camp at an elevation that should have kicked our butts didn't because we were gradually working our way up, did not affect us.  Hiked some beautiful trails in the mountains, saw some unsettling geography and wanted to leave (the uncertainty of tsunamis and earthquakes and volcano eruptions).  We put over 8,200 miles on the truck, the RV worked well (some glitches along the way) and got new shocks and suspension in Sequim, neither one of us got sick or even had a cold!  Had only 5 days of rain during these last 6 months!  Wow.  Never was delayed traveling due to bad weather - always clear.

Wish we could have spent more time in some areas because we felt so 'at home' especially in Packwood, Washington at the base of Mount Rainier, or in Sequim, Washington where the sun shines 300 days a year and is a temperate climate all year long.  Learned about temperate rain forests and rain shadows, learned the cycles of the ocean and saw tremendous tides around Astoria on the Columbia River.  We know we want to visit Alaska but will only do that via cruise ship from Seattle - we learned we cannot see past the vast forests from the roadway, so why bother doing that?

If we do not see Oregon or California or Nevada again, not a problem.  We were so surprised with Idaho that we may go back there some day.  We also verified that we do not like a lot of people living around us - no city camping, no canopy-to-canopy camping (cramped RV campgrounds). People are so inconsiderate of others - talking loudly late at night, slamming doors, leaving their trash out, not picking up after their dogs.  We loved the wide open spaces.  And nature with coyotes yipping, burros braying, elk lumbering around (Packwood), eagles flying overhead, saw orcas swimming and feeding.

The wildflowers!  Mountains, glacier lakes, the ocean, pretty streams and creeks, snow in July, what a great country. Till next spring when we head maybe towards Wyoming - thanks for reading the blog!  I will update only when we visit something new or a significant event.