Northeast and Northwest tour

[capnTelescope]

I'm embarking on an extended road trip toward the end of this month and was hoping for a few suggestions on things to see and do.

Starts with the Beavers Bend gathering April 20-24 in SE OK. Up to Arkansas and Oachita NF. That gives me a head start to go up to Louisville to see my aunt. Then up to New England. Never been there before unless you count Boston airport. I don't. Maine to invite a few lobsters to dinner. Wander west for Mordor. Then IRG, then home. Unless I decide to take the Alaska trip I've been talking about. I think I'll save that for later.

I'd also be happy to meet any of you teardroppers along the way. We can trade trailer tours.

[gudmund]

sounds more like the "Full Circle Tour". I will be meeting you at the IRG !!!!! Ted Hoefer, Camano Island, Washington (The left 'coast'ed one)

[gudmund]

also, am planning on my trip south from here going by way of the Oregon Coast HY 1/101. into northern Calif. May see you on the road if the paths cross!!

[Vedette]

Hi Brad
Sounds like an ambitious trip! Coast to Coast in that period of time, with Gatherings along the way??
You will be doing some driving man!
From your travel map, I see that there is a lot of new uncharted territory that you will be seeing and enjoying for the first time.
Wish you were planning to visit more of the Pacific North West (mighty Beautiful corner of the country, even that early in the season), but you will love what you see once you get west of South Dakota........you will wish you buzzed straight over from Kentucky.
We would love to meet you on your way to the IRG (we are unable to attend this year) and could conceivably hook up with you in Oregon on May 23rd or 24th at a great spot. Better for you if it was the 23rd considering the miles in front of you to the IRG. An also have a great route and campground recommendation for you on the night of the 22nd. I will do some math for you tonight. Lots to see in Oregon.
Later
Brian & Sandi

[TheOtherSean]

If you're hitting Maine, I heartily recommend at least a brief visit to Acadia National Park. If you like hiking its great for several days. Even if you don't, its good for at least a couple days, hitting highlights like Cadillac Mountain, Bar Harbor, Sand Beach, doing a short boat trip to one of the islands, etc.

[capnTelescope]

I heartily recommend at least a brief visit to Acadia National Park. ... Bar Harbor ...

Good! That was already in the plan. They're conveniently close to each other. Thanks for the other suggestions, too.

We would love to meet you on your way to the IRG (we are unable to attend this year) and could conceivably hook up with you in Oregon on May 23rd or 24th at a great spot. Better for you if it was the 23rd considering the miles in front of you to the IRG. An also have a great route and campground recommendation for you on the night of the 22nd. I will do some math for you tonight.

Get 'er done! This sounds really good. WolfFarmer might be tagging along, too. More is merrier. This would probably get me set up for the Coast Highway and a possible meetup on the road with gudmund/Ted.

From your travel map, I see that there is a lot of new uncharted territory that you will be seeing and enjoying for the first time.

Actually, I'm not a total stranger to the Northwest. I've even been to Vancouver a couple of times! Went to that Expo in the '80s and again to catch a cruise ship in the 90's. The trailer hasn't ever been there, though.

Anyone with a good scenic route through Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate NY?

[gudmund]

Vancouver?? which one?? being I live north of Seattle, you say Vancouver - I think Canada. You live south and most people in this state will think - Vancouver, Washington (the suburb of Portland - that's Oregon, not Maine.) As far as meeting up with Brian enroute to the Gorge Gathering being he is not going to the IRG - that maybe a go just depending on whether they can put up with me a second time around this year being I will be tagging along with them, the end of April heading for the Shasta Gathering also along with do their Farm Gathering the middle of July too. Will have to think about it depending on my planned side trips.

[capnTelescope]

Vancouver?? which one??

Being Brian lives in B.C., I meant the Canada one. I don't know for sure if I've been through Vancouver WA, but I've been to Seattle several times. M.I.L. lived there ~20 years ago. Looking at the map, we most likely went through Vancouver, WA, on our way to the Expo. ('85?). I know we went up I-5 most of the way. Apparently it wasn't very memorable. Mt. St. Helens was definitely more memorable.

[gudmund]

when you cross over the Wash/Ore border heading north on I-5 - you leave Portland on the Ore. side and it is Vancouver on the Wash. side thus it being a suburb of Portland. Not much to look at being it is just the continuation of a city from side of the river to the other (except it is one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Wash. and has been for years) Now the one in Canada - that's a city!! One big city!! compared to what we have on this side of the border - makes Seattle and all of our others in this state look dinky.

[TheOtherSean]

Seattle and Vancouver (the Canadian one) have roughly the same population. Does Vancouver have larger ring of suburbs, or more tall buildings, or something, that makes Seattle seem dinky by comparison?

[Vedette]

Yes, Vancouver B.C. held Expo 86. And Vancouver and all of its suburbs I think are closing in on 3 million??
And Brad even if we are not going to the IRG and Ted is heading down the coast on his way there, I know how I can hook you up.
From Southern Idaho to Furtuna there is a fast route and a pretty route. Both are doable in your time frame? I can get you there!
Getting out my calculator right now.
Brian

[Vedette]

Okay....are you up for scenic??
From Mordor (Craters of the Moon) head west on hwy. 20 to Mountain Home. Jump on 84 (I know, In hate Interstates.....but?) head north west to the Idaho/Oregon border, get off at Ontario back on # 20/26. proceed west on hwy. 26 to John Day (there is a great state park campground there I will tell you about later) it should be your Sunday night stop. Monday head west on 26 to Prineville (stopping along the way to see the "painted hills" (google it) go north to Madras on 26 (I have not been on that section of road) or carry on to Redmond, then north on 97 Where we will meet you for the night at a fabulous SP "Cove Palisades" for Monday night. Tuesday head south back to Redmond Lots of Route choices from there....but pretty would be to go over the mountains to Eugene or Roseberg (depending how far you want to drive and where Ted plans to be that night. From Roseburg you can get off of the dreaded I5 Wednesday morning and jump over to Coos Bay on # 42 then south down the Famous Oregon Coast to the IRG on the 101. you can arrive there Wednesday night unless you choose to camp on the coast and cruise in noonish Thursday???
just a rough draft from my memory. I have driven all of these roads before. We might stay with you to the Coos Bay then camp our way north to arrive at "The Gorge Gathering" in Stevenson Wa. Thursday???????
Please keep us posted.
I am sure Ted will check his maps to see if I have guessed right, and we will fine tune it while we travel together to Shasta in 3 weeks.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi
PS
Your other choice is to miss us and drive across the dessert !

[capnTelescope]

I'm going to apologize in advance to any Vancouver WA lovers out there. I don't think anyone here has much of anything to say about Vancouver WA that hasn't already been said. And if you can't say anything nice about Vancouver WA, just don't say anything. Since this is my thread, "Vancouver" hereinafter shall refer to the big one with suburbs in BC, and not the one in WA that is a suburb of an *Oregon* city. Nobody cares about a Washington suburb of an Oregon city that hides behind the name of a real city in Canada. Harrumph. [/Feigned Righteous Indignation]

Now. Having said that, might not Vancouver have a larger footprint than Seattle because it is more spacious? Seattle struck me as being all huddled together. We stayed at a local's house in The Vancouver that was on a good sized lot. That's my theory.

From Southern Idaho to Furtuna there is a fast route and a pretty route. Both are doable in your time frame?

The Mordor Expedition ends Sunday. Morning, I assume. That gives a head start to Oregon on Sunday, leaving all day Monday to get to your spot. Sounds like I can handle the pretty route.

I see you posted something.

to be continued...

[Vedette]

Sorry my posting took so long.
I was checking the map and driving it in my head.
Lots to see!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[capnTelescope]

I'm good with that. It looks like a very scenic spot. I PM'd Randy to see if he has any input.