The Weather Gods are Laughing…

 The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry – Robert Burns. Did he drive an RV too? The good news: we are on the road again! The bad news: we cannot get where we planned to go, when and how we planned to get there. Sigh. We spent weeks carefully crafting our route, making reservations and plans. I have a spreadsheet! And then Riley’s snow mojo went totally out of control and the weather gods had the last laugh.  

We left home on Wednesday, 2/22, around 11:30am with plans to arrive mid-afternoon at Hazelnut Haven, a Boondockers Welcome site in Hubbard, OR. This is the same place we stayed last July when we first picked up Raney and we were eager for them to see how she’s grown from 9 weeks (28 lbs) to 9 months (167 lbs). We made a couple of quick stops on the way and noticed a few snow flurries around Lacey, WA. No worries. Then it started snowing harder… but still not sticking. No worries.

  

Snowing... but it's not sticking (yet!).

Ok... snowing a little harder now.

And then we got close to Portland. We took I205 and by the time we made it to the bridge across the Columbia Gorge we were driving through nearly white out conditions. The snow was now a couple inches deep, visibility sucked, the winds were howling and even the semi-trucks had started to get off the road. At one point Rog had to brake and the front of the rig started sliding sideways. Now we worry!! We were frantically checking road conditions and weather apps as Rog inched along in bumper-to-bumper traffic, skirting abandoned vehicles and accidents. Ugh! We seriously debated trying to get off the freeway but were afraid if we pulled off in the middle of the snow globe, we might be stuck for days. The traffic cameras showed bare roads just past Portland, so we powered through. By the time we got to our exit at 99E it was clear sailing. We made it to Hazelnut Haven around 6pm. Easily the most snow we’ve ever driven the rig through and one of our most white-knuckled drives ever. A record we hope never to break. Lol.

 

Driving through a frozen hellscape. Lol. 
I didn't even capture the worst of it on the bridge over the gorge. This was bad enough.

Meanwhile, somebody was totally unconcerned. 

Offering morale support to Dad.

We stayed just one night at Hazelnut Haven and I regret that I didn’t take many pictures. Our hosts were suitably impressed with how much Raney had grown and we appreciated the delicious hazelnuts and cookies they brought us. After that exhausting drive we went to bed early, looking forward to a good night's sleep. Unfortunately Raney had other plans. At home she is only allowed on the bed while we drink our morning coffee. She decided she would like some different rules for the RV and made several attempts to climb onto the bed in the middle of the night. Recognizing a fight we dare not lose, I had to wrestle her off the bed while she valiantly tried to claw her way onto it. Girlfriend outweighs me and has some serious WWF moves, but Mom won in the end. Lol. She voiced her displeasure and demanded pets and cuddles every couple hours, but finally settled down. Hopefully, it won't take long for her to get into a routine that allows us some uninterrupted sleep. 

Morning snuggles with coffee.
Raney power napping after keeping us up half the night. Lol. 

We had a light dusting of snow Wednesday night but the skies were clear and the roads were bare into Albany, OR. Yes, our next stop was just 46 miles down the road at the Linn County Expo Center where we had three nights reserved to attend the Albany Dog Show. With a 9am ring time on Friday, we opted to arrive on Thursday. It was bitterly cold the first day, but we did some exploring with the puppers and took them for walkies twice at the nearby Talking Water Gardens. We had a little rain mixed with snow, but then clear skies. Yay!

 

Enjoying our bubble of blue skies and sunshine in Albany, OR.

Raney and Riley with Rog at Talking Water Gardens.

But Mom, why can't I chase the ducks??

Loved the bright flowers floating in the water.

Riley and Raney.

It was a good thing we arrived early, since many folks were unable to get through Portland and only three of the eight mastiffs that were entered on Friday made it to the show. The other two were already champions, so Raney took Winners Bitch, but there was no competition (literally). Lol.

Friday at the Albany Dog Show.

Hitch, Aslana, and Raney.

Friday afternoon we went for a snowy hike in the McDonald Research Forest about 20 minutes west of town. We missed the trail, so ended up walking for an hour or so up a forest road. Both Raney and Riley had a blast! Riley was thrilled to finally get to play in the snow, all that mojo at work and we drove right through it and wouldn’t stop to let him romp!

 

Riley and Raney both enjoyed the snow!

Looks like we have another snow dog. 
Hope her mojo isn't as powerful as Riley's!

Snow walkies are best.

On Saturday we had five mastiffs in the ring. Raney’s breeders, Mai and Dave, arrived with Raney’s Mom, Kiska, and her sister, Nova. Still several no-shows, but Raney was thrilled to see her sissy. Gma Mai also took Raney around the ring for me, so I could watch. They did great, but still took 2^nd place to Nova. No shame there! I handled Raney on Sunday and it was pretty much a repeat performance-wise. Nova is only three points away from her championship and then maybe it will be Raney's turn. Lol. 

No love from the judge,
but Raney did great with Mai handling her.

In the meantime we have spent many hours obsessing over weather forecasts, road closures and conditions, potential routes embraced and then abandoned. Ugh! Seems there are no really good options, so we may be winging it. We must leave Albany on Sunday and have to decide if we try to wait out the weather and stick with the original plan to go south on I5 or head for the coast. Given that there were also closures on 101 and more storms on the way that’s not an ideal plan either. Anyone want to flip a coin?

Whichever we choose, I’m sure it will be an adventure which we will happily share with you!

A Fall Jaunt to the Olympic Peninsula

Our fall weather in the PNW has been spectacular. A perfect time to plan a quick get-a-way close to home and 10 days on the Olympic Peninsula fit the bill. It’s mid-October and we’re seeing sunny days with temps in the high 70’s. Yes, the air quality sucks from the wildfire smoke and yes, my plants are desiccated husks longing for rain, but we since we can’t do anything about the weather we might as well enjoy it!

Riley looks like he'd prefer Raney ride shotgun and stay out of the driver's seat. Lol. 

Brothers make the best pillows.
We have two great travel pups!

We had two main goals for this trip. Visit the annual Crab Fest in Port Angeles, WA and ride a portion of the Olympic Discovery Trail, specifically the section along Crescent Lake that was part of the Spruce Railroad. We were delighted to find campsites in the Dungeness Recreation Area near Sequim, WA. And yes, that’s campsites plural since we planned to do this trip with our friends, Bob and Carole and their puppers Ruby and Buddy. Raney’s at the puppy stage (5 months now) where having a friend along to wear her out is a godsend. 

Raney and Ruby - BFF's.
There is no more adorable left in the world. 

For the Raney fans, as you can see, girlfriend is growing like a weed! She weighed in at 5 ½ months at 109.6 pounds. How insane is that?? She has been a busy girl, with frequent playdates with her friends, Ruby, Max and Penny. We are also attending a handling class so I don’t totally embarrass myself at the upcoming dog shows. She went to a match in Bremerton and Chehalis and has three more shows later this month. It will be lots of fun to see her siblings again!

Check out how much Raney's grown in just 3 months!!

Pics from the Chehalis and Bremerton Shows. 
Family photo is Raney, Nova, Kiska (mom), Gunthar, and Ripley.

We left on Wednesday, 10/5, and arrived at Dungeness Recreation Area, a Clallam County campground situated on a bluff above the Straits of Juan de Fuca. What a gem! We were tucked under the trees just a short walk to the Bluff Trail with fantastic views of the Strait. 

View from the Bluff Trail.

Bob and Carole were delayed a bit due to family commitments, so we spent the first few days exploring the campground. The park is 216 acres with a great network of trails that wind through the trees, across an upland meadow and along a cattail marsh. Raney and I did a walkabout and I won’t say we got lost, we just weren’t sure where we were going. Lol.

Which way Mom? Just follow me!

We put Raney in her bike trailer and took her around campground loops to see how she’d do. She’s so tall she prefers to sit up and pop her head out the top like a giraffe in a circus car. Lol. That’s also when I found out it is possible for her to tip the whole thing over! Oops! She didn’t seem too upset, so we righted the trailer and she hopped right back in and we went around again so she could end on a positive note. On Saturday, we took her to Robin Hill Farm Park nearby and rode 6 miles to see how she’d do on a longer trip. She was an angel! She sat up and looked around and seemed content to just watch the scenery. No fussing or whining, which gave us the confidence to take her along for the trail ride along Crescent Lake.  

 

Ready to go!

Bob and Carole arrived on Sunday, 10/9, and we headed over to the Crab Fest in Port Angeles. We took Raney and Ruby in their strollers and that was genius. The kids got to see everything and enjoyed lots of attention and pets, but we didn’t have to wrangle them through the crowds or worry about the many other dogs in attendance. We decided to leave the grumpy old men at home (I mean Riley and Buddy, not Rog and Bob! Lol.) Rog and Carole were interested in the crab feed (a whole Dungeness crab and sides), but the line was enormous so they opted for crab cakes instead. Bob and I were happy to find lots of other dining options to choose from. I like crab, but can’t say I’m a fan of having to disassemble my dinner. Lol.

 

Port Townsend Crab Fest. Wait, that's not a crab!

The Dad stroller brigade. Lol. 

On Monday, 10/10, we converted the strollers back to bike trailers and set out for the Lyre River Trailhead to ride the Spruce Railroad Trail (love those Rail-to-Trails!!), a section of the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT). Rog did the research and I have to say, it was an inspired choice. It was one of the most gorgeous trails I’ve ever been on. The Spruce Railroad Trail follows the historic railroad grade of the Spruce Railroad built in 1918 to transport aircraft-quality spruce for biplanes in the First World War. The railroad was almost complete in the fall of 1918, but the end of the war that November meant the end of the operation and no Sitka spruce were ever processed at the local mills for biplanes. The railroad was purchased from the government and utilized as a common-carrier line and logging railroad until it was abandoned in 1951 and was eventually incorporated into the trail system. Put this one on your to-do list!!

Bob and Carole with Ruby. Rog and I with Raney. 

Tunnels on the trail are so much fun!

Crescent Lake.

We stopped along the way to hike the short side-trail down to the Devil’s Punchbowl. The water was an incredible dark aquamarine blue, trust me when I say the pictures do not do it justice. Ruby and Raney also enjoyed the walk and the chance to play and sniff.

Devil's Punchbowl.

A break for play time - Ruby for the take down!

Ready to roll!

Gorgeous paved path through the forest. 

Bob and Carole had visited the area years ago and remembered that Grannies Café on Hwy 101 served an excellent blackberry pie. Never one to pass up a chance for delicious baked goods, we happily added a stop at Grannies on the way back. Carole got the pie to go and we paired it with the New Zealand style ice cream (think very flavorful soft serve made with fresh local fruit) that we’d scored from Welly’s at the Crab Fest. What a treat!

Enjoying happy hour back at the campsite.

Carole with Buddy and Raney in the lead.
Walking off our dessert. Lol.

Tuesday, 10/11, was our move day but since we only had 36 miles to go we had time for the short walk from the campground is the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. Sadly, no pets are allowed so the furry kids hung out in the RV’s while we hiked down to the Dungeness Spit.  The New Dungeness Light Station marks the end of the spit. Built in 1857 it is the second oldest lighthouse in WA state. It's also an 11-mile round trip hike, so not on the agenda this trip. But we did enjoy the scenery and the information boards along the trail. The Dungeness Spit was formed by sediment deposits from the eroding bluffs carried by wind, waves, and tidal currents. Extending over five miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, it is one of the largest natural spits in the world. We hope to make it back someday and hike all the way to the lighthouse. Better not wait too long though, since the spit continues to grow in length by about 13 feet a year and that hike just keeps getting longer! Lol. 

Dungeness Spit.

The lighthouse with Mt. Baker in the background.

Did I mention we had high winds and a small craft advisory? Ouch.

Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Kelp and driftwood and stones. Oh my!

I’ve mentioned the Escapee’s RV Club Co-op parks a few times in the blog, we’d stayed at Jojoba Hills near Temecula, CA and Timber Valley in Sutherlin, OR. So we were very interested in checking out the Escapee’s Evergreen Coho park in Chimacum, WA. It’s a lovely RV park with many of the amenities and friendly residents that we’ve experienced at the other Escapee’s locations. The kids loved the huge fenced dog run and we explored the clubhouse with its library, fitness room, game rooms, kitchen, and cozy fireplace and big screen TV. The landscaping was beautiful and nearly everything is built and maintained by resident volunteers. While we could easily have spent longer, we only had three nights booked, so we were not idle.

The short-term rental spots gave us a shared patio space. Perfect!

Loved the the extensive landscaping and fun statuary. 

Bob and Carole and I are huge cider fans and one of our favorites, Finn River Cidery, was only a mile and half down the road. Woohooo! We went Wednesday evening and enjoyed a flight of outstanding ciders. A few bottles mysteriously followed us home too… funny how that happens. 😊

 

Finn River Cidery - yes, yes, yes. 👍

On Thursday, we drove to Port Townsend and strolled the touristy downtown area. There were lots of fun shops, historic architecture, and interesting restaurants. But here’s a travel tip for Port Townsend, do not wait until 2PM to eat! I was starving and many of the restaurants close in the afternoon, so they were either about to close or wouldn’t open until 3 or 4pm for dinner. Ugh! It ended well though, because we had lunch at Tommyknockers (which thankfully did not shut down mid-day!) and served a truly delicious Crab Mac and Cheese. Rog and I shared that and the Washington Apple Salad – both were exceptionally good. They’re known for their Cornish Pasty and serve local craft beers and ciders too! A definite hit!

Old Port Townsend ferry dock.

Loved the restored buildings. Clam Cannery 1885

Speaking of old, when's the last time you saw a pay phone?
Bob tried it out, but no service. (Verizon? Lol,)

Sadly, our short trip was coming to an end and we departed Evergreen Coho for home on Friday, 10/14. It was marvelous to discover so many fun things to see and do in an area so close to home. We hope to return for a longer stay!

Carole got a great shot of Raney, she is up for a longer stay. 

I’d also like to note this is our 200^th blog post!! A huge shout out to all the faithful followers (those masochists among us). If you’ve made it this far, you rock!! Of course, epic scenery and adorable puppy pics don’t hurt either. 😊