June 26-July 1

We had a great time watching our oldest grandson graduate from high school, followed by a week of family fun then two more weeks of just us with the grandsons.  What more can grandparents ask for, quality time with their children and grandchildren.  We are so blessed.

Time to get back on the road, we had reservations for a one-night stay at Cane Hot Springs in Oregon, this was a surprise stay.  We were not looking for anything special, but when we realized that there was a hot spring pond that was 5 feet deep with a maintained temperature of 104-106 and open 24 hours weather permitting, we changed into our swimsuits faster than Superman in a phone booth.  The mineral springs are known to have high amounts of negative ions which can help promote feelings of physical and psychological wellbeing.  Well, whatever they do after 2 hours of soaking we felt pretty darn good.  Would have been nice to say an extra day but we already had reservations at our next stop.

Next destination was in Culver, Oregon for a one-night stay, again.  This RV Park was a KOA which are known to be very family friendly.  The park was nice, but when they said they were having a ice cream social that night Walter said  “this is awesome” just two scoops!

On to the Eagles Nest RV Campground that was located on the Washington State side of the Astoria Bridge.  The campground was ok, maybe because it was cold and muddy from all the rain they recently had but the location was great.  We got to see so many things.  Astoria is where Goonies, Short Circuit and Kindergarten Cop were filmed.  So first on our punch list was locating all the Goonies icon locations. Success, we found the Goonies House, the jail that the Fratelli brothers broke out of and the Flavel House.  The last iconic Goonies stop was a drive to Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock.

The Short Circuit house was fun to see, they even had a life size Johnny Five decal in the window.  Last but not least, the John Jacob Astor Elementary School where Arnold’s character taught kindergarten. (and no, it is not a tumor)

We visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, learned a few things that we either forgot from American history in school or never were taught, either way it was a great experience. Hiked to the Cape Disappointment lighthouse (not disappointing at all) and the toured Columbia River Maritime Museum.   

Have you ever been to a cranberry museum, well we have.  I have a better appreciation for our Thanksgiving cranberry jelly, it takes a lot of work to get wrangle those little berries.

What is a trip without finding the largest gooey duck oyster and frying pan!!

July 1-2

We found a hidden gem of a campground, the Taidnapam Park campground.  This is a campground that is managed and supported by the Tacoma Power Company.  Full hook ups, co-located to a fishing lake, walking paths, playground for the kiddos and every campsite is paved, and had fire rings, covered with beautiful 100 ft pine, spruce and alder trees.

We planned on two nights at Taidnapam Park so we could make the 1 ½ hour drive to Mt. St Helen.  Can you believe it has been 46 years since the eruption?   Most of the forest that was destroyed has been reforested but you can still see the scars of the damage to the Toutle River  when all the debris flowed down stream to the Columbia River and then the Astoria harbor where it meets the Pacific Ocean.