Washington State: Sept 22 – Sept 30, 2025
Toutle River, Mount Saint Helens, Seattle, Kirkland, Whidbey Island, Port Townsend, Elwha Dam RV Park, Port Angeles
Crossing the Columbia River from Portland, OR to Vancouver, WA Sept 22, 2025
Toutle River RV Park – beautiful scenic campground but it’s nestled between Interstate 5 and the train tracks. We were not long at our site before the trains came rushing by blaring loud horns and shaking our Bighorn to the timbers. Marco was upset by the commotion of course and tried to jump into bed with us every time the trains came past. Eventually we were able to sleep, but we’re already booked to stay another night! Our little company of friends thought the playground was amazing and there was a frisbee golf course, but everyone wanted to play IN the goal. Bo and Peep, and Slide the Banana Slug were ready to umpire!
We’re not starting super early, so Captain Whitey checks his phone messages and answers emails. Our Starlink mobile internet connection makes ALL the difference! Today we drive up to the Kirkland area just north of Seattle. I wonder what the traffic will be like? Every day I am more confident that Mike (Captain Mighty Whitey) can indeed handle this big rig. We might stop at one of our favorite restaurants on this section of the I-5 called Jumpin Jacks Rib Eye at Napavine on Rush Road. Autumn colors are showing in the trees and I’m always shocked by how much variety and richness of vegetation there is in the Northwest! I do love the trees! It’s common to see trucks loaded with lumber driving on the freeway.
We have landed at our new campground, Lake Pleasant RV Park, Bothell, WA. It is very secluded from the hustle and bustle of the big city freeways. As we pulled in we could hear the geese and ducks on the little lake. Our Bighorn is backed up right against the water at one end of the lake. Captain Whitey did it again!
From Mukilteo we caught the Washington State Ferry to Whidbey Island where Captain Whitey’s grandparents used to live. Now there is a cousin living on the Island, Eric Freise. Bighorn had to navigate his first ferry crossing. A disgruntled driver obviously offended by the size of our trailer, in an nearby car loudly proclaimed that our rig was “*&%$#@” ridiculous”! Whose problem is it?
For the next couple of nights we will quietly mind our own business at the Island County Fairgrounds in Langley. Only fifteen minutes on foot brought me to the quaint downtown area which features an art gallery, restaurant and gift shop on every block! Along the waters edge a foot path gives the visitor a spectacular view of the bay facing towards the mountains on the mainland.
How Good and How Pleasant – We immensely enjoyed visiting with Cousin Eric and Deanne with Eric’s daughter Erin and her husband, Chris. Their home and every view around it is lovely. So wonderful to relax and visit with wide-ranging conversation, delicious food and beauty all around. They even accommodated Marco and embraced my blog photos/story with all the stuffed toys I brought with me so the grandkids could follow along with our road trip. We’re getting closer to the Great North, (aka Canada). We hope to return to visit again, in the meantime, we extend a heartfelt open invitation for the Freise family to visit us in California.
