Amidst a flurry of summer escapades, our RV has remained firmly stationed at our home campsite. We’ve delved into day expeditions, pitched tents in the woods, and utilized work trips to embrace Pride month. This approach to travel is a departure from our previous style, yet it remains as exhilarating and fulfilling.
Excursions on Foot
Embarking on day journeys is truly a beloved pastime for us, allowing us to explore the intricacies of our local surroundings. The allure of Oregon’s landscapes never tires on us, with the PNW’s verdant forests, cascading waters, and snow-kissed peaks captivating our hearts. Selecting different towns within Mt. Hood Territory for half or full-day adventures has been a highlight. Oregon City, for instance, treats us to views of Willamette Falls from the unique vertical street, accessed via a municipal elevator – a feature exclusive to North America. Explorations have also led us to a working farm in West Linn, a riverfront state park in Canby, and a suspension bridge in Marmot. The hidden treasures nestled nearby never fail to bring joy as we uncover them. For a dash of added excitement, we occasionally venture beyond our immediate vicinity, reaching destinations like Bend, Seaside, or Vancouver, WA within a few hours, ensuring a day replete with merriment. Over our years of traveling, we’ve concluded that local exploration outshines mainstream tourist spots. There’s a certain charm in avoiding the crowds and seeking insights from locals.
Savoring Tent Dwelling
When we transitioned to RV living, the notion of reverting to tent camping seemed far-fetched. Why compromise on the comfort of our memory foam king bed for the ground? Why swap our fully-equipped kitchen in the RV for a petite camp stove and cooler? The answer lies in the desire to embrace every facet of life’s adventures. Surprisingly, tent camping has drawn us closer to nature and to each other. Embracing a slower pace, simplifying our routines, and stepping away from the ordinary imbues us with a tranquil sense of mindfulness and gratitude for the life we lead.
While we cherish our high-end glamping setup in our 42-foot fifth-wheel, complete with a well-appointed home camp and the flexibility for extended travels with guaranteed full-hook-up facilities, we also relish the nights spent next to a babbling river, waking up under a cerulean sky in our tent. Tent camping, a recurrent daydream, didn’t initially align with the rustic imagery often associated with it. We’re not fond of insects, prefer a comfy sleeping surface for our backs and hips, and revel in a warm morning shower. However, we’ve discovered that tent camping can be just as adaptable and versatile as RV living!
After exploring borrowed and rented gear last year, we finally assembled our own equipment. Acquiring REI’s 6-person Wonderland Tent at a bargain, snagging Magma 15 sleeping bags through a recent REI campaign, and procuring accessories like Rumpl blankets, Barebones lanterns, and a Stanley pour-over for morning coffee tailored to our needs have rendered tent camping an exceptionally comfortable experience.
We’ve opted for blow-up air mattresses with buoyant air pumps, powered by an Anker Battery that recharges via a 100-watt solar panel. These decisions were deliberate and entailed a thoughtful selection process, along with a reasonable investment. Waiting until our inclination towards frequent tent camping solidified before committing to gear acquisitions, we scoured used options from REI’s Resupply stores, both in-store and online.
Our inaugural tent camping escapade at Tollgate Campground in Mt. Hood National Forest earlier this summer affirmed our choices and gear selections. Enjoying restful nights, leisurely mornings fueled by camp coffee, breakfast, and the soothing symphony of the nearby Salmon River underscored the serenity of the experience. While much was planned for, we gleaned two crucial takeaways for upcoming trips:
- Embrace Spontaneity. Despite initial plans for hiking and dining out, each camping experience revealed a desire to linger at the campsite, indulging in midday naps, engaging in writing or reading outdoors, and renouncing the hurried pace of our daily lives.
- Embrace Discomfort. Deviating from our customary routines during camping is permissible. Morning showers, essential errands, and punctual work routines give way to a more lax approach. For instance, foregoing showers during our stay at Tollgate, absence of cell service, and chilly mornings compelling us to remain cocooned in our sleeping bags past our usual awakening hour remind us that it’s acceptable to relax and deviate from the norm while camping.
Pride Celebrations
Beyond day trips and tent camping escapades, we’ve been embarking on weekly journeys to LGBTQ+ Pride events across PNW. Commencing our Pride Month in Bend, traversing to Vancouver, WA, and culminating in Seattle have kept us engaged. Although our schedules during Pride events are packed, we cherish the thrill of exploring new locales. In Bend, we capped off the weekend with a hike around a glacial lake, strolled through the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Vancouver pre-event, and savored meals at delectable local eateries in Seattle. Vending at Pride events, although demanding, resonates as a joyous endeavor for us, filling our hearts with queer elation through connections forged and celebrations had!
Transitioning from full-time RV living left us pondering our next steps, questioning “what now?” The realization dawns upon us that our hearts are driven by a spirit of exploration. We’ll forever seek out novel destinations, new trails to tread, and fresh cities to discover. It wasn’t the RV lifestyle that birthed our wanderlust, we’ve always been wanderers. While uncertainties loom over a potential return to full-time RV journeys, we’ve found avenues to diversify our escapades!
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