Oregon/Idaho High Desert

Bend, Oregon to Mountain Home, Idaho

Followed the Oregon Trail route across the high desert from eastern Oregon to Idaho.  Can’t imagine how they did this in wagons.  Stayed in Mountain Home, Idaho for a few days to be able to plug in during the heat and use our air conditioner.

Juniper bushes

Juniper Campground, Ririe, Idaho

Found a great county park campground at a dam, and “damn nice it was”.  Juniper bushes around 15 feet tall that smelled great, made us crave a gin and tonic.

Grand Teton National Park

After a hair-raising drive through Teton Pass (10% uphill grade, we white-knuckled it up the pass), we arrived in Jackson, Wyoming.  Headed just a few miles out of Jackson to Grand Teton National Park.  The mountains seem to spring right out of the prairie.  I think we probably say this at each and every park, but "this might be our favorite".  

Jackson Wyoming from the top of Teton Pass 

Grand Teton National Park view

Gros Ventre Campground, Teton National Park

Our campsite was surrounded by sagebrush with a view of the Tetons.  A huge bull moose walked through the campground early our first morning there. Buffalo were roaming along the road.  The sunsets were spectacular!

Moulton Barn on Mormon Row in Grand Teton

Sunset in the Tetons

Jackson Lake at Colter Bay

Moved to this campground on Jackson Lake in the Tetons.  Nice trail from our campsite to the lake and a little village with a general store just down the path.   

Yellowstone National Park  

Yellowstone Lake visitor center

Drove the highway between Grand Teton and Yellowstone.  Only stayed in Yellowstone for the day.  It seems to have a little of everything - lakes, gorges, rivers and geysers.  Wish we could have spent more time here.  That might be another trip.

Bighorn Mountains 

Drove through the Bighorn Mountains to get into South Dakota.  Seems that each mountain range has its own unique appeal.  Lots of driving in low gear on steep downgrades in a really rugged mountain range.  Again, gorgeous scenery!

Badlands National Park

Devil's Tower on the road to the Badlands

Last national park on the tour.  We had been here once many years ago but enjoyed it just as much the second time.  Surreal.

Kilen Woods

Spent our last night of the trip back in Minnesota at a really pretty Minnesota State Park, Kilen Woods, outside of Worthington.  

The State Parks in Minnesota are unrivaled by any state parks we saw on the trip. 

Back to Northeast the next day.  

Guess there’s no place like home…

Time to plan the next trip.

WASHINGTON AND OREGON COAST

Drove down the coast to Tillamook Bay, as most of the listed State Parks on Highway 101 were day use and not camping, we ended up in a great RV park outside of Tillamook. This part of the coast has mountains on one side, grazing dairy cows in the middle and the ocean on the other.  Known for their cheese.

The farmer’s market had really great fresh peaches and nectarines.  Had to go out for seafood a couple of times.  

Took a hike on a historical interpretive trail to Tillamook Bay.  Paul’s opinion - “a few too many history lessons", but a nice trail all-in-all.

Rocks at Oceanside, Oregon

A pensive moment

Caught by the waves

At the wine and cheese shop - another pensive moment

Drove about an hour south to Depoe Bay.  Checked out the Whale Watching Center.  Learned a lot about the gray whales that stay in this area.  Had a number of whale sighting, a fin here, a water spout there, from the shore of our campground.  Still pretty awesome to get a glimpse of these giants.

The drive down the Oregon coast was awesome, yet terrifying.  This, however, is no comment on the driver, who did an excellent job!

Whale watching area in Depoe Bay

Met this guy in Depoe Bay

June's favorite camping spot so far - she couldn't stop smiling

WINCHESTER BAY/SALMON HARBOR MARINA

Stopped at Winchester Bay, Oregon for a couple of nights of camping on Salmon Harbor Marina.  Two nights turned into five.  Really different from the usual parks we’ve stayed.  Boats on the harbor are our closest neighbors.  Lots of small seafood restaurants and bars located right on the harbor.  Again, had to try the seafood at a few of them, and bought fresh prawns and scallops to cook at the trailer. Did a couple of day trips to see the lighthouse and the huge sand dunes.

Salmon Harbor Marina

The Nomad trying to fit in

Seafood restaurant on the marina

Our favorite place to pick up fresh seafood

June's favorite neighbors looking out the window

The fog rolling in to the marina in the evening

Next up, a drive across the high desert into Idaho and on to Grand Teton and Yellowstone.