medialint.com: travel :: Roadtrip 2006

August 7^st, 2006

Well the quest for a combo switch continues. At this point it is now determining my route. I'm heading to Tigard which is just outside of Portland for the only reason that they supposedly have one. If they don't there's a place across the border into Washington that has several. Even if I can't get it installed by the same place I need to get it. Doesn't look hard to swap out, should be a five minute job. The only problem is no one stocks the part. That and the "can't do" attitude I've received from the two Ford dealers I've visited so far.

But enough of the troubles. I took advantage of it and had a nice drive up highway 20 then 22 and stopped here around 4:00pm at the Riverside Campground and found a very nice secluded spot to make camp. Most of the photos today are from this camp site. I'm coding this page and editing the images from my laptop the morning (8/8) before leaving while I get my coffee intake and hope for the tent to dry out a bit.

I lucked out. Before stopping at the camp I had noticed it felt like rain and there were a few spots where a little rain did fall. Once I had the tent pitched and was preparing my dinner the thunder started. It made quite a ruckus for several hours but the rain was light and under the canopy of redwoods and oaks it barely made it to the forest floor as more than a mist which felt good and gave the place that "spring fresh" smell. 8:30am now and the sun is starting to break through the haze.

The plan today is to head up 224 through the Cascade Range into the Portland area. If I get there in time to see The Next Friendly Ford Dealer I'll do that but I'm not rushing. I need a shower pretty bad now smelling of sunscreen, sweat and campfire smoke so I'll probably locate a hotel in that area and if need be make the stop at the dealer tomorrow morning.

Abandoned building on highway 20
N43º48'48" W120º35'57" Elevation 4,653'

route 20 toward Bend
Continuing on 20 to Bend
N43º55'5" W121º0'30" Elevation 4,216'

hey! hay!
Refer to satellite photo for complete perspective
N44º12'8" W121º24'19" Elevation 3,245'

real food
That's what I call a real home cooked meal! The meat was cooked to perfection and is about the best thing I've eaten in months. Brushed the meat with a little "Australian Barbie" sauce and then some seasoned olive oil and spices with the veggies.
At the Riverside Campground campsite #12 N44-30.344 121-56.633
Campsite GPS (all links the same) = N44°38'20.62" W121°56'37.98" 2,350' elevation

camp chillout
Chillin' at the camp. After cooking dinner the mesquite coals make a nice base to get a fire going and with some 2x4s that someone left a stack of at one of the sites getting a nice fire was a pretty trivial matter.
Campsite GPS (all links the same) = N44°38'20.62" W121°56'37.98" 2,350' elevation

riverside's river
And here is the river that I am aside. My site is about twenty feet from this. North Santiam river I believe but I might be wrong about that.
Campsite GPS (all links the same) = N44°38'20.62" W121°56'37.98" 2,350' elevation