This year has been very short for us on the number of trips we've taken in the TC. We finally got the chance to bust out of town for an overnight rather than the two nighter we had planned. A favorite spot, Fort Ebey was the destination for some nice trail hiking and to take in the view from the bluffs.
The warm sun the weatherman promised never appeared and we had foggy and cold conditions instead that went right through your coat. We got a campsite only 50 feet from the bluff in one of the more private campsites so that was good.
Saturday night we built a fire using the large trunks and branches from a laurel hedge I cut down. The wood felt heavy and very dense which made me think it would burn well. Instead, I found you had to have a large pile of the stuff burning or it won't have enough to keep burning. The wood also smelled awful from the volume of smoke it produced. When burning finished, it left white ash.
After a nice gin and tonic, we hit the hay and got up about 10:00 the next morning. We really needed the rest and it felt great. Went for our hike along the bluff and watched the marine traffic pass by. We drove a couple miles down the road to Ebey's Landing, a historic spot on Whidbey Island.
The landing was an important location to Natives who setup fishing nets and traps here and to early settlers because it was an easy place to access the beach for whatever commerce was going on like mail and shipping, lumber, crops. Ebey's Landing is low to the shoreline on the west side of the island compared the bluffs along much of the west side.
It was time to head home so we decided to take the longer scenic route home going back north and of the island via Deception Pass. At Deception Pass, we stopped on the island in the middle of the passage because it's one of our favorite views and we never get tired of it. I had no sooner parked than a loud thump and rocking of the entire truck happens. Got out to see what happened and discovered an elderly gentleman from British Columbia (Canadian) had backed into our left rear camper jack. I began inspecting the TC for damage and noticed what had happened. First, amazingly, the TC was fine. The Canadian driver, who spoke little English, had hit the left rear TC jack leg which spun the TC in the bed of the truck and rocked the suspension hard to the side. I was thinking the worst, but found nothing happened to the TC. I had reinforced the rear corners of the TC with 4 feet of aluminum angle in each corner. I also have installed substantial framing and metal bracketing under the TC in that area to make the slide out deck more robust. I did loosen the chains on one side and tighten them on the other side to compensate for the new position of the TC in the bed. We drove a few miles to the Farmhouse Restaurant for dinner but also to use the parking lot to raise the TC. Disconnect the cabling and get the truck repositioned properly and reconnected and chained down for the rest of the drive home. I told my eldest brother about the trip and he was most interested telling me about when he was stationed at Whidbey island NAS flying a Martin P5-m and the ramps at the shoreline of the base.
It was a fun trip and all ended well. Now to figure what the next trip will be.
The warm sun the weatherman promised never appeared and we had foggy and cold conditions instead that went right through your coat. We got a campsite only 50 feet from the bluff in one of the more private campsites so that was good.
Saturday night we built a fire using the large trunks and branches from a laurel hedge I cut down. The wood felt heavy and very dense which made me think it would burn well. Instead, I found you had to have a large pile of the stuff burning or it won't have enough to keep burning. The wood also smelled awful from the volume of smoke it produced. When burning finished, it left white ash.
After a nice gin and tonic, we hit the hay and got up about 10:00 the next morning. We really needed the rest and it felt great. Went for our hike along the bluff and watched the marine traffic pass by. We drove a couple miles down the road to Ebey's Landing, a historic spot on Whidbey Island.
The landing was an important location to Natives who setup fishing nets and traps here and to early settlers because it was an easy place to access the beach for whatever commerce was going on like mail and shipping, lumber, crops. Ebey's Landing is low to the shoreline on the west side of the island compared the bluffs along much of the west side.
It was time to head home so we decided to take the longer scenic route home going back north and of the island via Deception Pass. At Deception Pass, we stopped on the island in the middle of the passage because it's one of our favorite views and we never get tired of it. I had no sooner parked than a loud thump and rocking of the entire truck happens. Got out to see what happened and discovered an elderly gentleman from British Columbia (Canadian) had backed into our left rear camper jack. I began inspecting the TC for damage and noticed what had happened. First, amazingly, the TC was fine. The Canadian driver, who spoke little English, had hit the left rear TC jack leg which spun the TC in the bed of the truck and rocked the suspension hard to the side. I was thinking the worst, but found nothing happened to the TC. I had reinforced the rear corners of the TC with 4 feet of aluminum angle in each corner. I also have installed substantial framing and metal bracketing under the TC in that area to make the slide out deck more robust. I did loosen the chains on one side and tighten them on the other side to compensate for the new position of the TC in the bed. We drove a few miles to the Farmhouse Restaurant for dinner but also to use the parking lot to raise the TC. Disconnect the cabling and get the truck repositioned properly and reconnected and chained down for the rest of the drive home. I told my eldest brother about the trip and he was most interested telling me about when he was stationed at Whidbey island NAS flying a Martin P5-m and the ramps at the shoreline of the base.
It was a fun trip and all ended well. Now to figure what the next trip will be.
Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:Pangaea Ron wrote:
Unfortunately, you described the weekend weather perfectly. We live on the beach just inside Deception Pass on Similk Bay. Even though we live on the beach, we frequently take the MH to Fort Casey SP to camp there, it's a great spot. We also like Fort Ebey SP, but it's not open year-around.
In the early '70s I worked for an architect that was planning for use of the Forts (Casey/Worden/Flagler) by the WA State Parks. We had use of the original linen drawings that were used for construction, and many stories from soldiers and caretakers that were stationed there. It was a boondoggle that even Halliburton would be proud of.
We saw the Sun today late in the afternoon for a few minutes before it vanished. Looking out over Puget Sound near Burien from jobsite.
Hi Pangaea,
I understand it will continue to be fogged in through the weekend. That's going to be close to three weeks of fog. Downtown Seattle was getting some sun as I drove home.
Hello Jeff. Yes, every time i remember going over to Whidbey Island, Ft Casey, Ft Ebey, Deception Pass. Always the same weather, no change it looks like. Still a great area to explore and camp. Thanks for the trip report.
Scott
Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:Pangaea Ron wrote:
Unfortunately, you described the weekend weather perfectly. We live on the beach just inside Deception Pass on Similk Bay. Even though we live on the beach, we frequently take the MH to Fort Casey SP to camp there, it's a great spot. We also like Fort Ebey SP, but it's not open year-around.
In the early '70s I worked for an architect that was planning for use of the Forts (Casey/Worden/Flagler) by the WA State Parks. We had use of the original linen drawings that were used for construction, and many stories from soldiers and caretakers that were stationed there. It was a boondoggle that even Halliburton would be proud of.
We saw the Sun today late in the afternoon for a few minutes before it vanished. Looking out over Puget Sound near Burien from jobsite.
Hi Pangaea,
I understand it will continue to be fogged in through the weekend. That's going to be close to three weeks of fog. Downtown Seattle was getting some sun as I drove home.
We're heading up the Skagit River this weekend to find a bit of sun?
Pangaea Ron wrote:
Unfortunately, you described the weekend weather perfectly. We live on the beach just inside Deception Pass on Similk Bay. Even though we live on the beach, we frequently take the MH to Fort Casey SP to camp there, it's a great spot. We also like Fort Ebey SP, but it's not open year-around.
In the early '70s I worked for an architect that was planning for use of the Forts (Casey/Worden/Flagler) by the WA State Parks. We had use of the original linen drawings that were used for construction, and many stories from soldiers and caretakers that were stationed there. It was a boondoggle that even Halliburton would be proud of.
We saw the Sun today late in the afternoon for a few minutes before it vanished. Looking out over Puget Sound near Burien from jobsite.
Hi Pangaea,
I understand it will continue to be fogged in through the weekend. That's going to be close to three weeks of fog. Downtown Seattle was getting some sun as I drove home.
seldomseensmith wrote:Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
There's your firewood! - too bad you couldn't camp near this beach....
I'm glad you got out of town, even for a quickie. That is what makes the TC life so wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Seldom,
Ebey's Landing is a State Park for day use only, no camping posted. The State of WA is very possessive of drift wood and posts not to remove.
No problem though. Being in construction, I always have several contractor bags on hand of various 2xX kiln dried material, along with beam cut offs, oak and other hardwood flooring.
All but a few WA beaches are closed to vehicle traffic.
Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
There's your firewood! - too bad you couldn't camp near this beach....
I'm glad you got out of town, even for a quickie. That is what makes the TC life so wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
