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A few pics of our 1000 mile coastal road trip, with 4 kids
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thatbaldwinlife
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:02 am    Post subject: A few pics of our 1000 mile coastal road trip, with 4 kids Reply with quote

We decided to beat the Portland heat (90+ degrees every day) and load up the Westy with the kiddos and head to the coast and go south. We have been down the Oregon and Cali coasts many times but it never gets old. Now we have 4 girls ages 17, 14, and 10 year old twins. Six days in 80 sq ft will be interesting!. We slept two up top, two down below and two in a tent. The Yakima box is invaluable as is the collapsible ladder I bought before we left.

Our Westy is a 1987 full camper with added jump seat and middle lap belt added as our twins with one teenager fit nicely in the narrowed Westy seat. I have spent the past six months going over the van for trips like this. Over the 1000 miles the van did amazing. Did not have to open the engine compartment one time and averaged almost 18mpg full loaded on the coastal hills. We packed the fridge and brought a cooler to fit our food and just shopped everyday for food.

Camped every night except one as we expected to run into some issues on a Saturday night along the Cali coast with no camping reservations. We treated the kids to a hotel just north of Eureka.

Anyway, on to the pics!

For lunch breaks, we like to stop at parks or schools (when not open) to let the kids play while we make lunch. This school had a bonus of sprinklers going also.
Alsea, Or
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We meandered west towards Waldport and then headed south to the Sea Lion Caves. Pretty fun if not a bit overpriced and pretty low on sea lions that day.
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Camped the first night at the Alder Dune campground just outside of Florence. Not a bad site.
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My new ladder
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The next day we stopped and got some exercise by climbing some dunes along the highway in Dune City. Serious workout! So windy at the top too.

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Stopped by Shore Acres State Park. Even though it was foggy, it was a beautiful garden at the coast. Worth the stop for sure.
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Stopped by Bandon for some coffees.
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Campsite #2 was a KOA just south of Bandon. Not my first pick but the teenagers wanted a shower and the twins wanted the pool. Gotta compromise to keep everyone happy! I may have had a little incident with some yappy little dogs and an RV. I will say no more.
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The next morning we stopped by Cape Blanco. We had thought about trying to camp there the previous day but did the KOA. Glad we did as Blanco was completely socked in and windy. Felt bad for the campers there.
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Crossed into Cali
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And of course had to stop and see Paul.
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Uh, no comment
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We usually just stop and go but this time we cooked lunch (pasta) and then paid the money for the hike and tram ride. It was a blast.
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From the tram
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Up top, Emma and I
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Stopped and did some hiking along the Newton B Drury Parkway
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Campsite #3
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Headed down towards Ferndale. Cool little victorian town.
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Other vans
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After a failed attempt to head to Capetown along the goaty, beat up road, the kids and wife were not as interested as I was so be backtracked into Ferndale and made lunch at the local school.
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Camp site #4 was in the redwoods at Mill Creek campground just south of Crescent City. Not a bad site except for the RV group who was sooo loud until 10:00. What is it with generators and RV people being loud. The twins enjoyed it as they climbed on every old redwood stump and explored the park.
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Refreshments
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Neighbors from Seattle going north also
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The next morning we headed north to Howland Rd in Crescent City. I got the tip for the road here in a thread and had to check it out. It did not disappoint. One of the highlights for me and my wife.
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Lots of similar interests
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Headed north and stopped for lunch in a day use/campground. Made sandwiches
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North again this time stopping at the beach for some play time. Water was freezing but my twins don't seem to notice.
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Campsite #5 was the same KOA from night #2. Much quieter this time as it was Monday night. Same deal, showers, pool, wifi...
Drying out from the beach
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The next morning it was just headed home. Fought some viscous head winds coming north on hwy 99 through Corvallis and up to McMinnville. Better once we reached Hwy 26 to Portland.

Overall, such a great trip that I got to spend with my family. Sure there were some tense times but that is expected with these types of travels. As my oldest is 17, this may be the last family trip we get to take like this. And I enjoyed every minute of it.

thanks for following along.
nate
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dhaavers
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great trip report - good on you! Reminds me of the trip wife & I did after I
finished my master's program at SOU-Ashland...beautiful!

Don't give up on this as the kids get older...we still managed to get ours
(ages 20 & 18 ) together for a road trip this summer. After a week we flew
them home for work obligations while the wife & I took another week to
mosey back, which was nice in it's own way...(!!!) Do what ya gotta do...

Cool

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Farfrumwork
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice work Nate!

I'm headed out Friday, northbound to Yellowstone and all points between, with the family for a week. Can't wait! Thanks for the pics - I'm having a hard time being at work thinking about taking off on another family adventure. Dancing
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awesome ! Thanks for sharing.
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 11:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great report, thanks for sharing!

Like Farfrumwork, My wife and 2 daughters (8 and 12) and I are leaving this Friday on our trip north to B.C. via Jackson, Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier...Your report motivates me to wrap up the loose ends and get ready to get on the road!
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Farfrumwork
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 1:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe I'll see you on the road Joe!

Only solid plan we have is a site at Bay Bridge Sunday night, otherwise we'll be roaming and camping at the less-traveled campgrounds. It would be cool to see you and meet your fam (as they are never at SS... Wink )


Sorry for the threadjack goldtooth (Nate) Anxious


Man - I really need to get out to the west coast again. Maybe next summer Think
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kamzcab86
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 1:32 pm    Post subject: Re: A few pics of our 1000 mile coastal road trip, with 4 ki Reply with quote

Fun trip! Very Happy

I've made a note of some those neat places for when me and my van finally venture north of Monterey.

goldtooth wrote:
I may have had a little incident with some yappy little dogs and an RV. I will say no more.
...
Not a bad site except for the RV group who was sooo loud until 10:00. What is it with generators and RV people being loud.


There are exceptions, of course, but it's been my experience that people in general are just plain rude and self-centered these days, whether it's at home or when out camping/RVing and enjoying nature... they have little regard for who and what's around them. Evil or Very Mad
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thatbaldwinlife
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 1:36 pm    Post subject: Re: A few pics of our 1000 mile coastal road trip, with 4 ki Reply with quote

kamzcab86 wrote:
Fun trip! Very Happy

I've made a note of some those neat places for when me and my van finally venture north of Monterey.

goldtooth wrote:
I may have had a little incident with some yappy little dogs and an RV. I will say no more.
...
Not a bad site except for the RV group who was sooo loud until 10:00. What is it with generators and RV people being loud.


There are exceptions, of course, but it's been my experience that people in general are just plain rude and self-centered these days, whether it's at home or when out camping/RVing and enjoying nature... they have little regard for who and what's around them. Evil or Very Mad


I understand people have different ideas of camping fun but when it starts to affect those around them, I start to have an issue. Yappy dogs and their owners are on the top of my list. When it is just my wife and I, we camp way differently.

nate
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 1:53 pm    Post subject: Re: A few pics of our 1000 mile coastal road trip, with 4 ki Reply with quote

goldtooth wrote:
Yappy dogs and their owners are on the top of my list.


They top my list too, and that includes here at home: two are this close to being turned into the city.
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Love My Westy
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We got back about 3 weeks ago from a trip up the California coast from San Francisco to Crescent City. Unfortunately we didn't take the VW but took my wife's Casita trailer. Not as much fun driving the trailer on those narrow, twisty, hilly roads as the Vanagon would have been.

Here's a photo from a trip I did 4 years ago in my Westy. I think this was Cape Blanco, Oregon.
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 6:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great trip with great memories...I am currently camping with my wife and 2 daughters....I look forward to trips like this.
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 7:18 pm    Post subject: Re: A few pics of our 1000 mile coastal road trip, with 4 ki Reply with quote

goldtooth wrote:
The next day we stopped and got some exercise by climbing some dunes along the highway in Dune City. Serious workout! So windy at the top too.

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How fun. Enjoyed the pics. My girls would love to climb a dune like that. You (we) are lucky that your kids still want to go westy camping.
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for sharing your trip. We have it good here in the Northwet. I love our backyard!
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 10:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice report and a welcome change of pace compared to the typical fixit thread.

Happy Sunmer!
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 10:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks dude..awesome pics, man.. timbers are huge! Nice looking Welty too. May have to go next year Very Happy
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JudoJeff
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Loved your report and photos!

When you said the ocean was freezing, did you mean to a Californian, 72 degrees, or a New Englander, 50 degrees? I walk around in CA in T shirt and shorts, everyone around me is bundled up because it's a freezing 75 degrees.....
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thatbaldwinlife
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

JudoJeff wrote:
Loved your report and photos!

When you said the ocean was freezing, did you mean to a Californian, 72 degrees, or a New Englander, 50 degrees? I walk around in CA in T shirt and shorts, everyone around me is bundled up because it's a freezing 75 degrees.....


Cold to an Oregonian! After 10 minutes your legs go numb and then it is fine. The air temp was fine just the water was cold.
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 7:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Love the picture of your two kids reading ----actually reading. Not a phone, iPad or whatever but reading.

Beautiful trip - when my wife who grew up off Highway 9 in CA sees this the plans will start for a vacation to happen there at some point.

Thanks for posting this -

Scott
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 11:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your trip echoes one that we made with our two boys and another family with two girls a number of years ago.

Running around in the redwoods, climbing the dunes, freezing in the surf, Florence, Usal Beach. It was at the time that Harry Potter first came out in paperback. We lined up at a Fred Meyer in southern Oregon and the kids had their heads in the books quite a bit! At least until halfway home. Wink

Good times.
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

oldschool84 wrote:
Love the picture of your two kids reading ----actually reading. Not a phone, iPad or whatever but reading.

I loved that too. As an English nerd, any time someone reads a an actual book, instead of staring at their phone I want to take a picture.

Where did you get that ladder? How small does it fold up and where do you stow it?

What a great trip! How lucky that wide age range enjoys camping and road tripping in a Westy.
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