THE DUTTONS ON THE ROAD : Summer Adventures Continue 2024

Last time I left off with our time in Rockaway Beach. We were headed to the Crater Lake area. Stopped at HH Gingerbread Village Restaurant. It was an alright spot for a night.

Then on to Union campground by the North entrance to Crater Lake National Park. We spent 3 days there checking out the park and area around it. We received an evacuation notice for our campground. There were fires in the area but we never saw fire or smoke from them. So stayed our 3 nights.

Wizard Island.

Some old guy at Crater Lake in a good looking hat.

Moving on again, to Mt. Hood National Forest. Stayed in Spring Drive RV Campground. This was a FHU campground right in the forest. Large ponderosa pines. Spent 3 nights . Checked out the area and enjoyed just being in the forest.

Ronda was having fun

taking pictures of

Mt Hood as we drove around.

This was a great stop. We really enjoyed the area . Ate lunch at a great taco shop.

This was in Government Camp, Washington.

We moved on again. This time to the town of Soap Lake, WA. Staying in their City Park right along the edge of the lake. This is a mineral lake. Stayed here for a week. Taking day trips in the area.

One trip was to Leavenworth, WA. Washington's little Switzerland.

Good looking Hat

What a Hat.

Lunch Spot

Great German food

Really like her in the hat.

Nutcracker Museum.

We had a great day in Leavenworth and as required we walked, shopped and purchased in the tourist town. A great looking new hat. Oh if you can't tell I like her new hat.

Another day we made a drive north of Soap Lake to Dry Falls, which is an amazing site. Then on to Coulee City where we had lunch and then on to Grand Coulee and Coulee dam.

Dry Falls

Near Coulee City is Dry Falls, the remains of a massive waterfall. The waterfall no longer has water flowing over it, but in the past it was a raging cascade. In the same way that Niagara Falls is being eroded backwards toward Lake Erie, each flood carved out more of the underlying basalt layers. The channel kept eating its way farther north, lengthening the lower section of Grand Coulee until it reached its current position. Together, Dry Falls and Grand Coulee provide clear evidence for the magnitude of the ice age floods. This is well worth the time if in this area.

Coulee Dam

Another day was a trip to Moses Lake a larger town SE of Soap Lake. Exciting day. Great Clips, Walmart and Papa Murphy's Pizza to take back.

Time to move on again. As we headed east to Idaho and Montana. We stopped one night in Naples, Idaho at Blue Lake RV Resort. You really have to look really hard to see the resort part in these "RV Resorts". But just one night. Moved on to Columbia Falls, Montana to Whispering Pines RV Park.

It's time for the adventure I've been showing a picture of.

Red Bus tour Glacier National Park.

We had planned and reserved this tour months ahead. Who knew it would be a cloudy and rainy day. It was still a great day in the park. We enjoyed the tour and the driver. Was a west to east and back tour on going to the sun road.

Our ride for the day

We were taking pictures of the falls.

McDonald Creek above the lake.

Lake McDonald Lodge.

More falls on the creek.

A couple along the way.

Pictures don't do these views justice. These need to be seen in person to know how beautiful it all is.

Our driver was so knowledgeable about the park and its history which made the tour more enjoyable.

After our tour in the park it was time for food as we had just eaten some snacks and a P&J sandwich. So on the way back we stopped at Mudman Burgers. We had the Burger called the Mudman which was a new burger experience. It was very good and their fries were very good.

We also checked out the town of Whitefish. They have a really nice park and walking trails by there downtown tourist area. We walked a few miles on the trails and then as required in a tourist town. We walked and shopped. Then some great pizza at The MacKenzie River Pizza Company.

As we moved on again we found another Hot Springs. We stopped at Lolo Hot Spring Rv Park & Cabin Rentals. 8 miles west of Lolo, Mt. It was drug run time for Ronda so we went back about 30 miles to Missoula, Mt. for drugs.

Continuing on we arrived in Harpster, ID at Harpster Rv Park & Store. Our site backed up to the edge of South Fork Clearwater River. We stayed here for a week. We explored parts of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. We Hiked in the Fish Creek Recreation Area.

The town of Grangeville, Idaho. is a neat town. We enjoyed the small downtown area, finding a great breakfast and lunch spot which we enjoyed both. Crema Cafe & Bakery.

We took a drive out of Grangeville up to Snowhaven Ski & Tubing area and on to Fish Creek Recreation Area. The views of the valley and the town were wonderful.

As we finished our time in Harpster. It was time for my monthly drug run and the closest Walgreens was in Lewiston, Idaho which was about 80 miles . So a good day trip along the Clearwater River which led us to the Snake River again. We needed our Walmart fix. Which took us across the Snake River to Washington again.

As we moved on again we were to spend a week at Riverpond Campground in Garden valley , Idaho. We arrived and there were fires in the area but it was clear at the campground. The next morning the wind had changed and the campground was filling with smoke so we had to leave. We found a place in Twin Falls, Idaho.

As I've said before we plan and He laughs and gives something better. Well our time in Twin Falls was a treat. As we had talked about checking out this area and thought we would at another time. Because plans had been to bypass it this trip.

So we were able to see Shoshone Falls, hike trails along the high banks of the Snake River, and Thousand Springs State Park & Hagerman Area and other areas along the Snake River.

Shoshone Falls

Got to get a selfie stick.

Falls

That was cool

Snake below the falls.

Snake River overlook by Hagerman, Idaho

Back at the Falls.

As I said this was a great unplanned stop.

As we leave Twin Falls we're back on our planned route. Heading first to Welcome Station Rv Park by Wells, Nevada for couple nights. This was a rest stop. It is a beautiful park.

Now we're off to Utah. First to Great Salt Lake State Park.

Next on to Loa, Utah to the Fremont River Rv Park for Labor Day weekend. From here we explored HWY 12 on the way to Bryce Canyon National Park.

A true Texan looking at Hoodoos

Lots of Hoodoos

More as we hike the rim trail.

Just cool

From route 12

View from top of Boulder Pass

Hoodoos are amazing.

Amazing

On the way back from Bryce we stopped in Escalante for a late lunch. At Escalante Outfitters.

This was a neat lunch spot with great pizza and salad.

The next day we explored Capital Reef National Park. Hiking Grand Wash Trail.

From our hike in the Grand Wash.

Also stopped at the Petroglyphs Panels.

Hard to see in pictures.

On labor day the Soda Pipeline soda shop by our RV park had $2.00 Hot Dogs. ( until you add Chile,onions and cheese. $5.00 )

Next day we move to Coyote Springs Rv in La Sal, Utah south of Moab. Where we explored Arches and Canyonland National Parks.

We toured Arches with a sunset bus tour with Moab Adventures Center. This was a great way to see the park. Our guide was very good, would have missed lots of sites if we had gone on our own. Plus being able to view more by not driving and parking ourselves.

Setting under the North Window Arch

Turret Arch

Windows

Double Arches

Delicate Arch

Balance Rock

The next day we stopped for breakfast at the Jail House Cafe. Then on to Island in the sky view point and to Mesa Arch in Canyonland National Park.

After touring these it was time to eat again so back in Moab to

Very good burgers

Then on to Potash Road Petroglyphs.

Very hard to see in pictures.

The next day we went to the Needles Overlook, which is on BLM land. Then to the Canyonland Needles District and to the Confluence of the Green River and the Colorado River overlook.