Oh Boy, Oregon

When Rachel got to town, we wasted no time. We picked her up at the airport in Reno, NV, "the biggest little city." Her mother generously booked us a room at the Circus Circus for the night, because her flight got in late. We took advantage of our casino surroundings and tried out the free drinks, the slots, and Kyle got on the Blackjack table for a little bit. We all came out with less than we arrived with... as usual. We had a slow start leaving the hotel the next morning and were in no rush to make the hour drive back to Tahoe. We passed an unique looking vintage store called Junkee, who's front display lured us as we drove by with colorful J-U-N-K-E-E letters and a giant clothing hanger. We went back to check it out and it did not disappoint. With racks and racks of decently priced vintage clothes, to antiques in glass displays, and new costume attire, this store could keep you busy for a while! We didn't make it far before our second stop--- In-N-Out. It's the perfect way to welcome a burger-lover to the West coast. Of course we got our burgers animal style and our fries animal style as well, but hold the spread. In-N-Out has a very simple menu, but there is a "secret" menu so to say. Better go with someone who's in the know, or order what I just said because that is the way to go!! Rachel was in burger heaven, but apparently she's eaten too many burgers since she's been out here so she's taking a break.

Redwood chillin'.

Our road trip through the Pacific Northwest began soon after Rachel's arrival. We left from Tahoe and drove around 8 hours to the Redwood National Forest. We were going to camp at the same place we stayed at on our road trip, but we kept going a little farther. As we were cruising along Freeway 101, we saw a scenic route for old Highway 101, a 31 mile stretch known as "Avenue of the Giants," so we hopped off and enjoyed the sights. Imagine a road literally surrounded by the tallest trees you can imagine! It's surreal! At the beginning of the scenic route, there is a brochure you can pick up that explains the important stops along the way. We didn't think the points of interest were very clearly marked, but we did manage to stop at one: the Mahan Plaque. This plaque is dedicated to the Mahans, who in 1924 took a stand when the surrounding Redwoods were going to be logged. If it weren't for them, this beautiful forest around us might not be here. This is also the start of a short .8 mile loop trail, where there has been an alleged Big Foot sighting. We ended up snagging a campsite at state park called Van Duzen: Swimmer's Delight, along the Van Duzen River. It was late when we arrived and we rolled out early, so we evaded the $20 camping fee. Many official Redwood campsites are completely booked in the summer, so it is important to either book ahead or be flexible! There was another campsite not too far up the road from Van Duzen, but it was a bit more expensive if I recall. Both of these campsites have river access, but we didn't stay long enough to explore. A great place to rest for the night though! Kyle cooked us a delightful veggie pasta and we went to bed all carbed up for our hikes tomorrow. 

A great photo spot along the Tall Trees Trail.

Fern Canyon in the summer.

Since the two hikes we did with Rachel are the same ones we did on our road trip, I won't go into too much detail. Just know they are amazing and obviously worth doing more than once! We did the 4 mile roundtrip Tall Trees Grove and the short stroll through Fern Canyon. It is interesting to see a trail in different seasons. For instance, last time we were here it was Easter and raining. The spring made the forest look rich and green, the rain making the moss heavy with moisture. It was definitely drier in July on these trails. I was especially excited to see Fern Canyon again, because many of the ferns had not recovered from winter and were still brown when we were here last. This area was more alive than in the spring. The walls were covered with thriving ferns! I can see why they would film clips of Jurassic Park here! After our hikes, we were off to Oregon! The drive along the most northern of California's coast is absolutely breathtaking. The rocky cliff shoreline makes you feel like you are in a foreign land like Portugal or Ireland. It was foggy as we were driving through, giving the coast an eerie, ancient look. We stopped in Crescent City, CA for dinner at The Good Harvest Cafe, which was one of about 4 restaurant choices in this quaint seaside town. Our meals were all over the top--- Rachel's 16 oz. steak, my chicken cordon bleu, and Kyle's seafood pasta. Definitely recommend stopping through this gem if you are ever passing through. We made it to Grant's Pass for the night and stayed at another campsite that we stumbled across late and left early... gotta love a free place to crash! 

Cloudy day at Crater Lake.

Crater Lake was our plan for the day, but the weather wasn't complying. It started storming soon after we arrived. We had planned to hike up Garfield's Peak, which is a short, but strenuous hike that rewards you with awesome views of Crater Lake and it's two major features, Wizard's Island and Phantom Ship. We didn't get to do the hike, but maybe next time! Instead, we waited out the weather and drove up to the only "legal" access to the shore of Crater Lake, Cleetwood Cove. The hike down is short, but steep!! The cool waters of Crater Lake are refreshing and rewarding (and also still cold) when you make it down. Cleetwood Cove is the location of the only dock on Crater Lake and where you go if you want to take a boat tour. Crater Lake is a captivating place. The lake is bluer than blue and from a good vantage point, you can see all the varying shades where the lake changes depths. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States at 1,943 feet. The water fills a volcanic depression (known as a caldera) that formed when Mount Mazama erupted thousands of years ago. That night, we camped in the park at the Mazama Village Campground, where I had booked a reservation. For $23 a night, this campsite was a steal! It was centrally located near the park and there were trails and rivers within walking distance. Plus a camp store with local craft brews, coin-operated showers, and plenty of wood already at the campsite! 

Tamolitch Pool.

Our next stop was the Willamette National Forest to camp near the McKenzie River. We snagged our spot at the Ollalie @ McKenzie Bridge Campground, where I had reserved a site for less than $20. It was a nice campground with composting toilets and a well for pumping water. After we got settled, we set off to find Tamolitch Pool, which is also known simply as Blue Pool for it's astonishingly blue water. Tamolitch is a Chinook word for "tub" or "bucket," which is a fitting name. The hike round trip is only 4 miles, but the 2 in felt longer as we anticipated Tamolitch Pool. The hike along the way passes through a dense forest, covered in moss (that seems to be a theme out here), over a wooden bridge, and past basalt lava flows that look like the ruins of a forgotten civilization. Even though the water is a staggering 37 degrees, we all hopped in because how can you resist that water?!

Too bad it looks like the Caribbean, but doesn't feel like it. Tamolitch Pool is actually the point where the McKenzie River "reappears" after it's course was disrupted by a volcanic eruption. The basalt lava flow that remains in the wake of the eruption is very porous and prevents the river from following it's original course unless there is plenty of rainfall or snowfall. So instead, during drier months, the river flows beneath the surface for approximately 3.5 miles, disappearing at the Carmen Resevoir and reappearing here at Tamolitch Pool. During times of heavy flow, there is a waterfall flowing into the pool called Tamolitch Falls. Since we were visiting in July, there was no sign of a waterfall other than the smooth river rocks it usually runs over. I learned about the history of the pool through another blog written by Steven Michael, called Oregon - Like No Other. It's really educational and awesome. Check it out here, if you want more about Oregon! We made some friends by the pool and hung out, enjoying the stillness of the perfectly reflective surface of Tamolitch Pool. We had planned to visit a hot spring later that evening, but were all pretty pooped. There are a few springs in the area. I believe you have to pay to access Belknap Hot Springs, but I believe there are some free, natural ones such as Bigelow (Deer Creek) Hot Springs. Go find them and let me know how they are!!

A Leprechaun's dream. 

The next day was probably my favorite spot on the trip, the Opal Creek Wilderness. We had to have a wilderness pass ($5) for this trail, which can either be filled out at the trailhead or obtained at a ranger's station. Oregon has some of the most insanely blue and crystal clear water I have ever seen. I mean Crater Lake, Tamolitch Pool, Opal Creek, Eagle Creek, the list goes on!! We did a 7 mile round trip along the Little North Fork of the Santiam River to the ghost town of Jawbone Flats. For the majority of the trial, you are walking along a gravel road, which is the original road to Jawbone Flats. There are 12 people who live in Jawbone Flats to maintain the town and they still use the road today. Some of the old cabins are available for rent. Along the trail, we couldn't walk 5 feet without wanting to stop for a quick dip in the glistening water. In the very beginning of the trail, you go over a 60 ft. bridge that crosses Gold Creek and a pool so emerald green a Leprechaun must live there. We stopped to swim and played in the natural water slides. We saw the coolest bright orange salamander or newt, I've been trying to ID it, but many of them look similar. The next point of interest along the trail is the Merten Mill, a sawmill that was built in 1943 with parts of the U.S.S. Battleship Oregon. This area was going to be logged, but it turned out to be unprofitable, so now it's just a bunch of forgotten mining and logging equipment rusting in the forest.

Cascada de los Ninos

Close by is Cascada de los Ninos or Waterfall of the Children. This was my favorite swim spot along the trail. The pool beneath the waterfall has a sandy bottom and rocks to bask on. I brought my Scuba goggles and explored beneath the surface, chasing the juvenile Chinook Salmon. Closer to the town of Jawbone Flats, we passed another alluring pool with a long natural slide. We strolled through the ghost town, where there wasn't much going on (obviously). Opal Pool is the swimming hole that the 12 residents of Jawbone Flats frequent, so we went to check it out. The river has cut a deep ravine through the rocky banks. I absolutely love gorges: something about the power of water, winding and cutting it's route through stone. From abandoned mines, a mill, a ghost town, so many swim spots, and an old growth forest this is a trail for the books!

South Falls.

Since the campsite we planned to stay at next, Silver Falls State Park, was booked, we splurged on a hotel with a hot tub!! We had to pamper ourselves for our longest hike yet, the Trail of Ten Falls. It's a little less than 10 miles and has 10 waterfalls along the trail: South Falls (177 ft.), Lower South Falls (93 ft.), Lower North Falls (30 ft.), Double Falls (178 ft.), Drake Falls (27 ft.), Middle North Falls (106 ft.), Winter Falls (134 ft.), Twin Falls (31 ft.), North Falls (136 ft.), and Upper North Falls (65 ft.). We discovered that Winter Falls only falls in the winter when there is more precipitation, hence the name... Don't expect to see that one if you come in the summer. The trail is inside Silver Falls State Park and is very popular, which is why the state park was booked. If you plan on camping here, BOOK AHEAD!! There is a five dollar pass you have to purchase for day access to the park, so be aware. All the waterfalls were spectacular, but when you are seeing so many they all kind of blur together! Especially when the names aren't too creative... I mean Upper North Falls, Middle North Falls, North Falls!! How am I supposed to remember which is which?! We stopped at swim spots and ate lunch under a waterfall. Along the trail, we met a furry rodent friend who was gathering ferns and clovers for his home under a log. We got some great footage of him foraging! We did the trail much faster than we predicted and headed to Portland for the night. I found us a place to couch surf through a Ween fan page I am a member of on Facebook called the Ween Appreciation Site (or WAS). Again, if you haven't listened to the band, Ween, check them out now! The guy we stayed with is named Nate and he was asking the members of the Ween Appreciation Site to send him a dollar to his house in Portland if they wanted to help him see Rush, who are doing their 40th anniversary tour this year. I messaged him telling him how we needed a place to stay in Portland and we'd throw him some cash for his tickets. He agreed and boom! A place to stay in Portland! Our experience was that the hostels fill up on the weekends, so if you are looking for a reasonably priced place to stay in Portland, book ahead. Nate took us to a hip downtown area of Portland, where we were passing stores like Poplandia (that sells gourmet popcorn) and the Salt & Straw (which was an ice cream place with a line down the block). We got beers with his roommates at a place called 21st Avenue Bar and Grill. They had a nice outdoor patio where I enjoyed the best beef stroganoff I've ever had. What do you call a masturbating cow? Beef strokin' off, hehe. Someone at Phish told me that joke when I was telling them about the amazing meal I had in Portland. After the beers on the patio, we went back Nate's and played a video drinking game called Drunk Driving on Nintendo 64. It's a Mario Kart game where you have to finish your beer before you cross the finish line, BUT you can't drive your race car while you drink. Thus making you pause every sip you take. And a beer per race gets ya quick! Nate ended up getting all the money for the Rush tickets before we arrived, so he didn't ask us for anything. He even gave up his bed for us! What an awesome dude. We bought him some beers to thank him for all his hospitality. I love my Ween family. <3

In the morning, we couldn't resist driving across the border into Washington to visit a recreational marijuana store. We found one in downtown Vancouver, WA called High End Market Place. That just happens to stand for hemp. Going into a shop is definitely an experience: there is a "barista" to help you with your purchases (we had a lovely lady named Morgan help us), a menu of strains, pre-rolled joints, edibles, pieces, deals of the day, AND you can smell anything you want! We left the store with 2 pre-rolls of a strain called Allen Wrench (which was the deal of a day for only $10!!), an 1/8th of Purple Kush, a 420 Bar, and some brownies. We noticed some commotion downtown as we were leaving the store. It happened to be a car show called Cruisin' the Gut! The sun was out and making all those classic bodies sparkle. We left Washington en route to our campsite near Hood River, OR. The summer in the Columbia River Gorge can get pretty busy. Two nearby sites, Wyeth Campground and Eagle Creek Campground, were both booked for the nights we needed to stay! Luckily, Wyeth Campground had an overflow lot where you are allowed to set up your tent. You can't have fires there, but we didn't mind 'cause we have the camp stove. We would have loved to have stayed at Eagle Creek Campground, because it's literally a stone's throw from the Eagle Creek trailhead, which was the hike we would be doing the next day. If you plan on doing this trail, camping here would be ideal, so book ahead in the summer if you want to secure a spot. Wyeth was a good alternative and we were thankful for the place to rest. Kyle was eager to get to Rotary Skatepark in Hood River, so we headed that way. Along the way, we stopped at The Juicy Blue, a u-pick berry farm. Berry picking was so lovely! The farm was down a dead end road. The air smelled of lavender and sun ripened berries. The picking is based on the honor system and you leave your money in a deposit box (it's $3 a pound, bring cash or check). They had three types of berries available when we were there: currants, haskaps, and blueberries. We came just at the right time because the berries were at the end of their growth season. The next morning we made blueberry pancakes and they were delicious!! Did you know that Oregon is one the leading producers of berries? While Kyle was at the skatepark, Rachel and I went and took a dip in the Columbia River. I hadn't swam in the river yet because it was so cold last time we were here. The water was perfect on that hot July day. We got iced coffees afterwards at Doppio, a coffee shop I've blogged about before! It's THAT good. We got Kona Mocha smoothies and an Oregon Berry one for Kyle. I highly recommend ordering both of those. 

My favorite place, view of Punchbowl Falls in the distance.

In the morning, I drove to Portland to pick up an old friend, Brittany, so we could all hike the Eagle Creek Trail together. We hadn't seen each other since 9th grade! We hiked 12 miles round trip to get to Tunnel Falls. Kyle and I did some of this trail on our road trip, but only 2 miles in. There is so much more to see! Keep going!! The first sight along the trail is Metlako Falls (240 ft.), which is only visible from a vista on a short side trail. About 2 miles in, you reach my favorite part of the trail: Punchbowl Falls (35 ft.). Although there are signs that say no jumping, there are multiple spots to jump off of Lower Punchbowl Falls (15 ft.) and one off of Punchbowl (35 ft.). Rach and I jumped off the smallest one and Kyle did the biggest one off Lower Punchbowl. It's crazy last time we were here, we were in wetsuits and it was pins and needles cold. It wasn't enjoyable to be in the water. The heat of July allowed me to float, belly up, in the refreshing water in only a bikini! I swam up the gorge into the punchbowl that gives Punchbowl Falls it's name. The water is crystal clear, perfect for seeing the colorful river stones along the bottom. It feels like a place out of a fairy tale. Next you pass the most beautiful view of all time: Loowit Falls (90 ft.). The water flows down a smooth rock face into a perfectly circle pool carved in the stone by water. It is on my to-do list to swim in that pool!! 

Kyle in the tunnel at Tunnel Falls.

We ate lunch at Skoonichuk Falls before making it all the way to Tunnel Falls (160 ft.). Apparently, there is another waterfall along the trail that is only visible during the wetter months. We were all exhausted and out of water when we reached our destination. We resorted to drinking water from the fresh waterfall trickles. It tasted great!! We rested in the damp shade of the tunnel, which felt like AC compared to being out in the sun. Trail builders in the early 1900s blasted this hole through the rock behind the falls so that you could walk through, hence why it's called Tunnel Falls. We hiked quickly on the way back because we could hear our tummies starting to growl. We dropped Brittany off at a bus station so she could get back to Portland. On our way back, along the Historic Columbia River Highway, we stopped at a restaurant called Shirley's Tippy Canoe. We ordered a beer and realized it was way out of our price range, so we paid and continued the search for food. If you don't have a budget, Shirley's looked really delicious and was along a river. The outside seating had tables completely made of stone. Impressive... Our food hunt brought us to Double Mountain Brewery and Taproom, which specializes in pizza and beer. We ordered the Truffle Shuffle, a pizza featuring goat cheese, mozzarella, and portobello mushrooms marinated in truffle oil. We ordered another pizza and wished we had gotten two of the first, so I highly recommend it! As for the beer, I'm not really a connoisseur, so I can't speak on that. Did you know Oregon has the most breweries per capita in the United States? Beer lovers, get out here!

We left for Bend and got settled at our spot by the creek for the next three nights at Sisters Creekside Campground. Even though the site was 30 minutes from the venue where we'd be seeing Phish the next two nights, for $15 a night, we couldn't beat it. They had hot showers and we had a creek-front spot! We made Jell-O shots on our camping stove that night, so we could sell them on lot. That's dedication. We were nervous how the congealing would turn out in just a cooler with ice versus a refrigerator, but it worked great in case you ever need to make Jell-O shots while camping in the future. We only made a hundred compared to our usual three hundred, because we weren't sure what the lot scene would be like. Actually, no one did. This was the first time Phish played at the Les Schwab Amphitheater, let alone in the town of Bend. The next day, we parked in a lot that looked like it was part of a Hampton Inn and Suites, but was actually event parking. It ended up turning into the smallest Shakedown I've ever seen, but it was a Shakedown none-the-less. I picked up a couple Ween pins off my friends, Sage and Michelle, who I originally met in Colorado at show and have since seen them around the country! You can find some of their work on the Boognish Rising Pin Group on Facebook. Music is incredible in the way it brings people together! I love running into the same faces over and over. The venue was super small and everyone was looking for tickets. Once we heard how good soundcheck sounded from the parking lot we were hanging out in, we stopped looking for tickets. We ended up raging both nights in a gravel overflow lot right behind the hotel. If you ever want to see a show here and it's sold out, GO ANYWAY! It was so much fun dancing with 100+ other people who didn't have tickets. The first night, we got a Sample in a Jar, Sand, 555, Ghost, Birds of a Feather, Mike's Song, Weekapaug Groove, and Boogie on Reggae Woman, + more. The second night, we got a Stash, Simple, First Tube, Bathtub Gin, + more. What a run!!

Hanging out with Curt Kirkwood, the guitarist
from Meat Puppets.

We had one night to chill before Phish's next show at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA. We had to drive 8 hours home from Bend and then make 300 Jell-O shots for lot the next day, so we didn't get to chill that much. It was still nice to sleep in a bed after our extending camping trip. Our friends who had been to Shoreline before assured us we'd have no problem getting rid of 300 shots, and they were right! Shoreline was a rager!! It was even more fun because we had a crew! Our friends had seat tickets though and we had lawn, so we parted ways once we got inside. We got an amazing spot on the lawn though, right on the rail. Phish proceeded to SLAY it, opening with a Moma Dance and proceeding with songs like Yarmouth Road, 46 Days, Reba, Twist, a jammed out Light, and a Harry Hood encore. Check out the full setlist here. After the show, we got to go rage at our friend's mansion in San Francisco. We stayed up till the wee hours of the morning listening to records in a room with vaulted ceilings and luxurious, lacy draperies. It was dreamy. Even though our friend was continuing on Phish tour to LA, he let us stay at his house so we could see the Meat Puppets the next day at The Independent. The Meat Puppets are an 80s band, who never received much recognition despite Nirvana covering three Meat Puppets' songs on their MTV Unplugged album. Seriously, if you jam out to Nirvana's versions of Plateau, Oh Me, and Lake of Fire then you have to listen to the original!! Meat Puppets kill it and they did not disappoint the night we saw them. They played some of my favorites, including Aurora Borealis II, Lake of Fire, Up on the Sun, Plateau, and Maiden's Milk. Unfortunately, they were the opening band. The next band that came on was called Soul Asylum and we were not feeling it... You can't put something so boy-band after something so psychedelic. Total mood killer. Since we left early, we happened to run into the band. They are all such cool dudes. Curt (the guitarist) was shredding in pajamas the whole time!! The guitarist and bassist are brothers, and now the guitarist's son plays rhythm guitar. I love how they are doing a family thing. We snagged some souvenirs and a quick picture before we headed back to rage the mansion again. 

Thus ends our crazy whirlwind trip and we are settled back in Tahoe! My next post will be about all the spots we've explored around this magnificent lake. Rachel is an excellent photographer and we've been taking a ton of film pictures. I wish I had them developed so they could go along with this blog, but I can't find anywhere reasonably priced! I will post them as soon as I get them developed. Stay tuned!