Headed South!

 With the decision to head south this year with the truck camper instead of the 5th wheel, the road conditions were less of a factor, facilitating a bit later departure. 

Bailey checks out the weather! 

But, once the hot tub is drained and winterized, there is not much reason to stick around.

  

There had already been a few snowfalls, but it had all melted around home.

 Further south though, there was a fair accumulation in the fields, and there was even a couple of vehicles in the ditch south of Bragg Creek, though the roads themselves were now all bare and dry.  We topped off the fuel in Pincher Creek and parked behind a friend's house to spend an enjoyable evening visiting. It was a bit of a shock the next morning to find everything covered in fresh snow. Heading west through Crowsnest Pass, we were clearly on the road before the snowplows had a chance to clear the slush!

That night we visited with more friends in the country near Cranbrook, after taking a detour, but not the one on the farm gate!

Next morning, we headed for the border, where we donated some eggs and green grapes to the Ag inspector!  After a quick fuel stop in Hayden Id, we made it all the way to a riverfront spot on the Columbia River near Roosevelt, Wa.

We had plenty of fuel to make it to the coast from there, but with today's fuel prices, we opted to top off the tank while going through Portland at a slightly cheaper price.  That night found us enjoying the first ocean view of the trip overlooking Cape Meares.

The heads up display in the truck includes a convenient leveling monitor, so you can level up without leaving the driver's seat!

Now on the coast, it was time to slow down and start to enjoy the scenery.

With the truck camper, we were able to explore a lot more little side detours that are often not friendly to a 5th wheel.  So, explore we did.  Near Seal Rock, there was some ocean art on display!

Just north of Sea Lion Caves, there was not surprisingly, some sea lions out basking in the warm sunshine.  I could see that one had some nasty injuries, possibly from a shark?  I was also surprised to see that some of them had a large number branded or painted on their sides, for obvious research and tracking reasons!

At another 'no-go' place with a 5th wheel, this very interesting bridge was discovered.  We have driven over it many times on Highway 101, but never saw how it was built before.  Interestingly, at the far end of the bridge in the photo, the highway immediately enters a tunnel!

At another viewpoint along the highway, someone had spent a lot of time and planning to create these designs on the beach - only to be obliterated by the tides in a few hours.  This one was already almost half gone when we came by!

Got a kick out of this on the rear of a car.  If you know the song lyrics, you get it ...

Oregon coastal scenery, spectacular as always.

 

 

Found a new to me waterfront spot near Gold Beach!

Before long, it was the coast of California that we were enjoying.  In Orick, the river's access to the ocean is blocked by sand, though ocean waves regularly wash into the estuary during high tides.   

I guess one seal found himself on the wrong side of the divide, and decided to make a 'run' for it!

I found this little gem of a spot a few years ago - the hard way!  I had towed the 5th wheel right to the shore, only to find that there was no place to turn around!  I had to back it up down the road close to half a mile before finding a place to turn.  This included going back up over a small bridge where you could not see if there was oncoming traffic!  Luckily, traffic was almost nil.  This year, with the truck camper - not an issue at all!

Next, was another place I had discovered a few years ago, but fortunately did not attempt with the 5th.  But I had hiked up to this little spot with an ocean view.  Knowing it would be ok with the camper on, I drove up for a look around.  

 

Once there, I looked at maps and Google Earth to see that there was a small camping area, about six miles along this steep, very narrow one lane road.  Why not give it a try?  With the truck in 4x4 low range, we worked our way slowly though the timber with occasional ocean views.

  

Eventually, after about an hour, we reached this idyllic spot at the mouth of a small stream.  I was surprised to find another couple campers in the area.  But the worst was yet to come.  I hadn't realized that it was FRIDAY, and apparently the spot isn't a secret among the jeep, 4x4 and the off road crowd.  By Saturday night, I was completely surrounded by other campers.  I actually had to close my curtains - a rare thing for me!  But at least this crowd does not usually travel with loud generators, so the only sounds to be heard over the crashing surf was some talking and laughter at night.  As hoped and expected, most people departed on Sunday.leaving only a couple more overnight, and by early Monday morning, we had the place all to ourselves.  Well, to ourselves, and the sea gulls.  And a wild goose chase!

 

I think we'll just hang out here for a few days, till we run low on food or beer, or the weather reports threaten to turn the road impassable.  Getting a few bits of cell service, but falling back on Starlink when required.

 

A month at home? What's with that?

So, we've mostly been at home since our last post.  The weather is mostly to blame.  Not that it has been that bad at all, but usually I can spot a nice week or so of beautiful weather at one of my preferred camping areas.  This time, there were very few temptations, and ridiculous fuel prices made it easier to resist frivolous travel, tho most of my roaming could be likely classified as such!

 

On the home front, the local fibre optics installation process has been dragging on a long time, with multiple companies each doing only a portion of the work, and often having to wait for one step to be complete before the other starts.  It originally seemed that we would be up and running by spring, but fall and the first snows are upon us, and even though the majority of the work seems to have been completed, there is no completion date in sight. 

 

So, there is still survey stakes and pin flags everywhere, which provides a convenient excuse not to mow the grass! 

 Although a lot of the underground work is done by horizontal drilling, there is still a need for multiple backhoes and hydro-vac trucks to dig holes, before filling them in again.

Not sure why this conduit has two sides?  The strand of wire is there so that the cable can be traced once it's underground.

One of the larger drills used to install the conduit.  Workers told me they had buried the conduit 17' below the bed of our small river!

One of the many backhoes at work digging holes - but they are pretty good at filling them in again.  I know some areas will require a bit of work in the spring.

 Even though I seem to have won the earlier battle with Amazon, and they now (knock on wood) have been delivering to my door, it seems like that was not the only issue to deal with!  I recently ordered a renewed iPad from Amazon - and it was delivered to my door!  Unfortunately, it had a minor issue with some of the sound functions, so it was to be returned.  Amazon agreed to the return, but said I would have to pay the costs upfront and they would refund me.  I then ordered a replacement one that arrived before I could return the first one.  With my luck, my laser printer refused to print out the return label - because it was low on YELLOW!  Eventually, I revived a back-up printer, and got the label printed, as well as the convenient customs declaration that the Post Office would require.  NOT!  Not anymore, it seems!  Now, you have to scan a QR code and fill out all the information on your phone.  I guess people without phones are screwed? And next, ANOTHER QR code, where you have to download another app, and fill in all the information again, so that you can pay a bloody TARIFF to return the item to where it apparently originated from a week earlier!  And then, the app wanted a photo (!) of what you are sending!  So I took a nice pic of my package on the counter at the post office.  Well, no way that is going to suffice!  Do I now have to unpack my carefully packaged iPad in the post office, take photo of it, and then go looking for tape?  Lucky for me, I had the replacement iPad out in my truck, and used a photo of it to satisfy them!  Then they wanted a mandatory phone number of the recipient!!  Anyone know how to get the phone # for the Amazon return center in Vegas?  I surely don't.  I pulled another random Amazon ph # out of my hat and that seemed to satisfy them.  So, after paying the post office $27. and the TARIFF App $57., off it went.  Whew.

Of course, then I discovered that the replacement iPad had exactly the same issue as the first one.   Oh joy!  Of course, I had to call Amazon again and remind them that they were going to refund me for the shipping costs, and they demanded a photo of the receipts.  I had to explain to them in language that would not end the phone call, that the $57 was to an app that doesn't issue receipts.  I did show the billing on my credit card and eventually convinced them to pay me.

When they suggested that I return the second defective iPad, I politely told them where they could shove that idea!  I think I made my point to their supervisors rather forcefully, and to their credit, I do seem to have a substantial gift card balance now..... 

Later in the month, Bailey and I did get away for a few days up along Abraham Lake and the North Saskatchewan river to some of our favourite 'local' camp spots.  Even with school back in session, there were still quite a few people out camping.

 

There is a nice little 8 km (5 mi) hike to Siffleur Falls I like to do at least once a year when in the area.

Siffleur Falls

(view from the camper window)

 (Bailey has been working on his hunting skills around home.)

After years of having almost no mice or anything getting into the 5th wheel, this last year has been a bit different.  A Packrat invasion while in California seemed to have started things, and this summer while at home, the red squirrels have seemed to have found a way partially inside.  Fortunately, none of the intruders have found a way into the living or food storage areas of the trailer, but the enclosed belly has provided plenty of space where I am unable to get at them.  I was at wits end trying to figure out how they were getting in, as I have been under the rig multiple times with a can of foam, sealing up even the smallest crack.  Of course, I was missing the most obvious spot - the open end of a part of the frame that should have led nowhere.  Finally, I saw Bailey chase a squirrel under the rig, and it disappeared there, and I could hear it running around inside the belly liner!  What!  That frame member leads inside?  So it was quickly sealed with foam after the squirrel was evicted, and here's hoping that end all invasions in the future!

 (Squirrel not impressed by being locked out!)

 

 

 

While no decision have been made as to the timing or direction of future travels, I think it is safe to assume that there will be no more posts till we hit the road.