Weather Deteriorates
(but then, we are in Oregon)

June 4-5, 2007

Now at Sunnyside Campground
Sweet Home, OR

Yesterday began with an excellent hike to Proxy Falls, up Hwy 242 about 10 miles. The snow gate is closed at mile 11. A great walk through lush greenery and blooming flowers, through old lava flows and then back into the green, fern-filled woods. Temperature was about 75—just perfect –a relief from the last couple of 90 degree days.

The falls (upper and lower—don’t know which is which, as they are accessed by 2 different trails) glistened in the late morning sun.

Upon returning to camp, we moved the rig forward about 15 feet and were able to get a satellite fix. Subsequently moved to the next space (36) which provided a clearer shot to the skies and allowed yesterdays posting to occur. In the course of doing all of this rig-jockeying, time got away from me, so I just punted on golf at Tokatee. By 4 pm rain was in the air, and by 6pm there was a good drizzle starting. It continued all night, thumping off the leaves overhead and creating an irregular rat-a-tat on the roof. Not conducive to sound sleep.

After a breakfast of sausage patties and fresh blueberry pancakes, we hit the road. Since the internet advised it was 31 degrees up top on Santiam Pass, we opted to head back down the river canyon to Springfield (where an “RV 360” black tank vent cap awaited us). After picking up the aforementioned cap, we headed up through Mohawk Valley, alternating between drizzles, rain and sunshine. The greenery was gorgeous on the meandering country road (Marcola Road). We reached Sweet Home where the ladies at the Visitors' Info Center directed us to a nearby county park, Riverbend Park. We had checked out this park last year and it looked good to us then. A couple of park maintenance workers stopped as we were unhooking the toad and advised us that Sunnyside campground (about 4 miles away) would be a better place to stay.

We took their advice and wound up at Sunnyside, one of the nicest public campgrounds we have stayed at. It is located on the shore of Foster Lake (Santiam River), and there are about a dozen campers in the 100+ spaces. We located one (20C) that looked like it would give us a good satellite fix. (It did--A good shot between trees and over a forested mountain.)

Before the heavens opened with a late afternoon pouring rain, I was able to install the new vent cap. Hopefully the road will smell a bit better now. Carly is getting tired of being blamed for all of the foul odors.