b d babble: February 2012

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Sightseeing USA (part one)

It's late September in Macon Georgia. The leaves are turning color, there is a slight chill in the air and I can't help but become acutely aware of a new addition to the morning commute to school; RV traffic has picked up again. It is definitely that time of year, the Snow Birds are headed south. License plates from those states north of the Mason-Dixon Line, New York, Deleware, New Jersey and so on. There are even some from Canada, specifically from Quebec and Ontario. Regardless of the RV's origin there appears to be two unique commonalities. First, all are covered in a dirty white dusty film which I later learned was snow and various forms of salt and sand used to clear the roads. Truly a car wash's nightmare. Secondly, they are all headed south for the winter, and for them "south" means one place, FLORIDA. Georgia is just another state they will drive through on their journey to warmer weather.

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Most dictionaries define RV as "Recreational Vehicle".

I on the other hand like to think of it as a pet friendly hotel on wheels.

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With the Snow Birds of the Northeast heading south I began my fascination with traveling the country in style and comfort. When I moved to Oregon in 1995 I moved with a camper trailer recently acquired from my aunt and cousins. I towed the camper with the intent of camping and sightseeing the Northwest. Unfortunately that plan went a-rye by the time I started my new restaurant career. Most of the RVs I saw as a youngster were Winnebegos and AirStreams. Both very basic in style and color, nothing too fancy. By the time I moved to Oregon, RVs had taken a turn toward a much more personalized style. Several manufacturers are here in the Northwest and they are by no means modest in their make up. Today many RVs are referred to as Buses with every gadget one can think of. Expandable living and bedrooms are just the start.

Today RV/Buses are a common site on most interstates and highways and they aren't just for retirees on the road to warm weather. From cross country excursions and weekend getaways to tailgating parties and hunting lodges, RVs are America's choice for those who enjoy the closeness of traveling together with family and friends. No lines, no checking the luggage and best of all, your own bed.

Two Uncles in my family have owned RVs; both loved to see the good ole US of A up close and personal.

I suspect both of their wives would have preferred to fly...but humor them they did. I recall a conversation with one of them about life in the RV and how excited he seemed to get at the idea of selling the home and living on the road. It was during this conversation when we began to compare traveling abroad vs. seeing the United States via the RV. We both agreed that traveling the world, experiencing the various cultures, food and scenery would be amazing. However, our overwhelming consensus was that North America, the good ole USA especially had so much to see and so much to offer that we would prefer to start our travelling experience here. While most of my travels have been by car or truck I hope someday to experience the road via a luxury RV or Bus. Even better, an RV with a boat in tow!

Over the years I have been fortunate enough to see a fair amount of America's great wonders. Many of the sites I have seen have been side trips or quick stops while driving across country. While these quick stops did not allow enough time to fully experience the grandness or serenity, they were awe inspiring nontheless. It is my hope that someday, via an RV, I will visit many of these places again with each of them being the intended destination. Regardless of the time spent or the fullness of the trip, just having seen them for a brief moment is sometimes enough.

Grand Canyon, circa February 1995
En route to new home 3 hour side trip

The Grand Canyon, The Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, The Okeefenokee Swamp, Washington DC and The Smithsonian Museum, The Colorado Rockies, The Blue Ridge Mountains, Mt. St Helens, Mt. Hood, The Appalachian Trail,

Okefenokee Swamp, August 2011 Day Trip

The High Desert of Eastern Oregon, The Mojave Desert and even drove past/thru The Petrified Forest although it was the middle of the night.

San Diego Bay, Depot Bay, Puget Sound, San Juan and Widbey Islands, Deception Pass, The Golden Gate Bridge, Sea Lion Caves, The ICW (parts of it anyway) and Lake Tahoe.

Other great locations include North Carolina's Outerbanks, The Florida Keys, Pike's Market Seattle and Victoria British Columbia/Vancouver Island. Historical Landmarks and Battlefields too many to name here.

Okefenokee Swamp, August 2011
Can you see it? I didn't when I walked by it!

Islamorada Key, Florida circa Jan. 2009 or 2010
Great friends, Great Trip

Airial View Mt. Hood, Oregon
circa 1994

To my own surprise this list actually is even longer than this; wow, amazing to think I have been to all of these places. Having lived in multiple cities within five states and driving cross country three separate trips which spanned 11 states each time makes this possible. Hence the time restraints on a few of the trips. I'll work on some photos of the various locales and share a story or two. One last thought tonight, your favorite college conference's football stadiums would make for a great series....maybe someday.

ICW, Savannah/Thunderbolt, Georgia
circa Summer 2011

as always,
bkd

"It's supposed to be a challenge, that's why they call it a shortcut. If it was easy it would just be the way."

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Waterfalls, one of God's greatest ideas

Waterfalls, one of God's greatest ideas.

When I first traveled to the North Georgia Mountains with Boy Scout Troop 8 I instantly fell in love with the vision and sound of waterfalls. Growing up in Middle Georgia, waterfalls were not something you saw on a regular basis. There are two prominent falls to see in North Georgia, Anna Ruby, outside of Helen and Amicalola near Dahlonega. Over the years I have traveled to these falls many times, most recently just a year ago, for my 5th wedding anniversary. At the time Toby and I were still living in Savannah and while Toby had driven through North Georgia she had never had the opportunity to see some of its splendor. It was my mission that she see as much of the great state as possible.

Anna Ruby Falls, Unicoi State Park in White County near Helen, Georgia

circa 1992...?

I know the trip and even the people I was with, just not the year!

Whether hiking the Appalachian Trail or sightseeing in the small mining towns these two falls are rich with history. Anna Ruby is formed from two separate creeks, Curtis and York Creeks. Each of these two creeks begin their decent on Tray Mountain. This particular photograph is of the falls from Curtis Creek. The shorter of the two falls, the one formed from York Creek would be to the right of this photo.

Tray Mountain holds a special place for many past members of Boy Scout Troop 8 in Macon, Georgia as it was our annual fall stomping grounds. Each fall we began preparing for our annual hike on the Appalachian trail which runs along Tray Mountain. Sometime in October we would head to North Georgia and rough it as it were and hike the mountain. It was a learning experience in packing for inclement weather and how to cook without a grill or cooler. Suffice it to say, many a young scout learned a valuable lesson or two, assuming they didn't want to go hungry or cold on the next trip.

The beauty of Georgia's waterfalls is breathtaking. I would recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see Georgia's history.

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Having become a waterfall and nature enthusiast at an early age it was not surprising that upon my moving to the Pacific Northwest I would find my way to similar sites. Much like Georgia, some of Oregon's Falls are literally right off the highway. Tour buses and shuttles are a common site at a few of the falls along the Columbia Gorge. There are a few, however that require a little walking and they are indeed worth the walk.

Multnomah Falls

Good luck walking into any store in Northern Oregon and not see a postcard or calendar sporting a picture of these magnificent falls. As any tourist or new resident to the area would, I headed out to the Gorge with camera in tow to see just what the fuss was all about.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

circa 1995

Multnomah Falls is actually two falls, one upper and one lower. The upper fall and largest of the two drops 542 feet while the lower fall is a mere 69 feet. It is actually quite difficult to get both falls in one picture due to the sheer height of the falls, that is unless you own some really fancy camera equipment. Multnomah Falls is listed as Oregon's tallest water fall. The fall is fed by underground springs and the annual snow melt from Larch Mountain. The trail to the top begins on the right side and crosses over to the left at the bridge shown in the picture above. While it is a fun hike with multiple switchbacks, the prettiest view is from the area below.

The great thing about a trip through the Columbia Gorge, and unbeknownst to me on my first trip, is there are multiple water falls to see as you work your way towards Multnomah Falls.

I highly recommend that if you ever have the chance to take this drive, DO IT! As one heads west on I-84 from Portland you have a nice view of the Columbia River which divides Oregon and Washington State, otherwise known as Washington AC; "above California".

Shortly after leaving Portland you can pick up US Hwy 30 and begin a scenic tour of the Gorge, starting with Crown Point. Crown Point offers a great view of the Gorge in all directions.

View of Crown Point, Columbia River Gorge

circa 1995

I have a tendency to just stop and take in the views when I am travelling. In this case I was heading to see Multnomah Falls and found myself on "Scenic US Hwy 30". Well it indeed is scenic. The picture above is of the Vista House on Crown Point and off in the distance, middle of photo, is Beacon Rock, a great day hike. I have since learned that the point from which I took this picture is most likely Chanticleer Point. Although I am partial to my personal photo there is a similar one on Wikipedia; just search Crown Point Oregon.

I have noticed an interesting phenomenon over my years of traveling and picture taking. If one searches enough they may find, much to their disappointment, that someone else stood in that exact spot with a camera of their own and thought, "what a beautiful scene". But don't let that get you down. Just don't buy a local calendar or post card from the area you are visiting and your friends and family will never know. Or, you could do as I did one Christmas when I gave my parents a copy of a new calendar sporting several of "my photos". I even attached a copy of the originals to "prove it". Guess it is a good thing my parents are so gullible...

Continuing west you'll notice signs for multiple water falls. This is when I move into "stop and start" mode. By the time I reached Multnomah Falls, my intended destination, it was fast approaching dark. So much to see and sooo little time. Hence why I revisit some areas so many times.

The following photographs are of the various waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge area. All of these are on the Oregon side of the river. There are numerous falls and I have titled the ones I am fairly certain of. Included here are the names I believe match up; unfortunately long lost is the list that matched up to each specific photograph. And that ain't all bad. You now have the basic information, and can begin planning your own personal excursion. Seeing these sites for yourself will be of much more enjoyment than reading about mine in the first place. So, add it to your list: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Waterfalls.....

Wahkeena Falls / Latourell Falls / Sheppards Dell / Bridal Veil Falls / Horsetail Falls

Enjoy,