Central Oregon Road Trippin' - Part 1: Waldo Lake

 

Kai and Nikko paddling across quiet (and smokey) Waldo Lake

The boys were ready to go. These past few weeks have been too smoky and the boys were stuck bouncing off the walls. 

Waldo Wasn't looking great, but definitely better!

Nikko dancin' after the long drive.

The canoe was full, so we towed Kai on his own SUP.

"What up dude?"

The Lake was a bit smokey, so we had it pretty much to ourselves.  We found a sweet site that was almost an island.  Shasta was ready to get off the canoe

Kimbo was in no hurry

Sweet site!

The boys were inspired by the Younkin boys and wanted to sleep in their own hammock

Dinner time!

After dinner games

Kimbo the loser!

Strava links

• Aug 3 - Canoe camping
• Aug 4 - Waldo Lake Run/Rhodo Island Paddle

Next time

• Mtn Bike the Waldo Lake Trail  - IMBA Epic Trail - 20 mi, XC ride, not too kid friendly... yet.  
• https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/3734125/waldo-lake-loop-imba-epic
• https://bendtrails.org/trail/waldo-lake/
• https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/bicycling/waldo-lake-loop/
• Tons of other mtn bike options.
• Trail run... home of the Waldo 100k... 
• Do some more snorkeling?  Geocaching? 
• Be ware of mosquitos... go a bit later?  

Shasta in Shasta! Selling Seashells in Smokey September

That's the sun... 

Late Aug to mid September was rough in S. Oregon.  Well, most of the west coast actually this year.  So much smoke from record breaking wildfires.  We had finally had it and decided to join the Balesteris for a weekend camping trip in Shasta over Labor Day.  Sand Flat area has tons of open camping enough for a 1000 folks to camp socially distanced.  But it's quite dusty.  Anyway, we had a blast playing games (can jam, poker, bags, etc...)

Shasta at Shasta.  He always looks like he's in trouble when I try to take a pic of him in front of something...

Mama! Gimmie mo' ramen!  Nikko, why are you in a can jam?

There are some fun trails here, but many parts of the trails need some more TLC.  Also, the dirt here is sooo dusty... 

Can Jam!

we rode from Ski Bowl down to our camp... there were lots of hike a bike sections... but the kids fared well.  

A bit dusty...

Let the games begin!

a dip at Lake Siskiyou was essential after this trip.  

Coast Camp pseudo-bikepacking

I made a last minute call to head out to Coast Camp as I saw that the weather was ok and there happened to be a cancellation.  Coast Camp is easily my favorite camp at Pt. Reyes and I figured I'd make another attempt at reaching Secret Beach.... Pt. Reyes is pretty cool as every campground is bike accessible.  There is a fire road that the maintenance trucks drive on, so there's always a way to a campground via bike.  It's just in such high demand... that'd the downside.

As this was a last second decision, I hastily packed everything and figured if I'd left something, oh well, we'd be gone for a day.  

The boys bikes were already in Oregon so I borrowed bikes from the Smiths.

after the bike ride I figured the boys deserved some bacon

We quickly headed to the beach to do some tidepooling...

and went exploring.

This is the Sculptured Beach section.  Lots of fun tunnels, and great tide pooling.

we found a swallow's nest

complete with eggs!

There are many beaches here that only exist at low tide

Fun sections of the trail... 

Keeping up with the summer reading... 

lots of fun things to find.

this was the boys favorite spot... I dozed off and took a nap.

When I woke up, I followed these tracks back to camp... who leaves their shoes behind?

There was a boyscout troop next to us.  

About this time I realized I forgot a stove... 

And opened up our bear bin to find all this stuff... 

So after borrowing a lighter from the boy scouts, I cooked up some ramen using the propane grill

Next morning... note I forgot utensils too... so I made some chopsticks (or just found sticks)... ramen was fine.  Grits was tougher... 

after some ninja kicks, we decided it was time to head back... 

a truck would've been nice.

a stop at Pt. Reyes Station was mandatory for some ice cream.  Trace 8 is the best in the world!

We stopped back by the visitor center so the boys could get their Jr. Ranger badges.  

Soon we were home to take Moshi on a walk.