We're off for two weeks of camping and cycling through Oregon tomorrow! It will be a real test of us and our little car with tent, cots, bags, clothes, bicycles, cooking gear, dog, boy, Susan and me, all stuffed in like the Grinch's sled on Christmas.
We did a practice run a few weeks ago, up to my parents' place on Whidbey. The car looked like Tom Joad and family headed to California, piled high as we were with camping stuff, but it worked out fine and the tent is great
We start in Bend for a few nights (and the Newberry National Volcanic Momument) before moving on to Crater Lake. There's fishing and swimming to do there and a 33 mile rim ride around the lake which I'm raring to do -- with Malcolm on the tandem :).
Ashland is the apex of the trip curve. We have 3 days of camping break/motel there for the Shakespeare Festival which I've always wanted to do. We have tickets to the Pirates of Penzance on the Elizabethan Stage -- yes I know it's a Gilbert & Sullivan show, but a good kid-friendly one I'd wager.
From there it is up the coast -- first the Oregon Dunes (biggest sand dunes in North America) where we'll hopefully be joined by some friends, then up the coast to Newport, finally a few days around Nehalem and Manzanita with more friends, some body surfing and beach fun, then home.
I reckon we'll be expert campers (or a broken family) by the time we're done -- more to come as we go!
