SP Campground Review – Carl G.Washburne State Park, Florence, OR

Lovely and remote Washburne Beach!

A gorgeous and relaxed first-come-first-serve State Park on the Central Coast of Oregon.

Link to campground here: Carl G.Washburne State Park, OR
Link to map location here: Carl G. Washburne State Park, OR

1. Site Quality = 4.5/5
   Overall very nice sites here. They are all paved back-in with good separation, spacious “sitting areas” with picnic table/fire-pit and full hookups (50Amp/water/sewer. 3 sites electric only). Most are fairly wooded, although the sites in the entrance and in front of the back facilities do get some sun depending on time of day. Good size selection with choices up to 57-feet.
   -> Sites towards front entrance (9-15)  are very flat with super-easy access from central 2-way road.
   ->  Towards the back (34-55) the sites are on a smaller single-land road and more heavily wooded, but they are still nicely flat with a good size selection (biggest sites are even numbers 36-43). In this section the “inner” back-ins are almost at 90-degrees to the road (odd numbers) and harder to access, but ”outer” sites (even numbers) are nicely slanted and better suited for big-rigs.
   -> The only sites somewhat “tight” and more unlevel are around the small back hill (22-27). These are better suited for smaller rigs.
2.  Facilities = 3/5
   Facilities are decent. Toilets are spacious and kept nicely clean. Showers are large with separate clothing area. Only ding is they have those annoying timer-buttons and spray-heads. Plenty of surrounding hiking trails. On-site dump station (across the road).
3. Location = 5/5
   A simply fabulous natural location! This park is within a short walk of lovely Washburne Beach and just a few miles north of gorgeous Haceta Head Lighthouse. Only ~14 miles to Florence for all shopping/dining needs.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Another perfect pooch park. Miles of easily accessible paw-friendly beach on a lovely trail from the campground. Lots of additional hiking on-site including the trail to Haceta Head. Poo bags provided.

Overall Rating = 4.4
BONUS ALERT = Camp and relax in rugged natural beauty by gorgeous Washburne Beach and Haceta Head Lighthouse!

Summary: This is our favorite state park on the coast thus far and it’s all thanks to ambiance. Set beautifully in one of the most rugged sections of the Oregon Coast with access to a lovely (and mostly deserted) beach and direct hiking to one of the prettiest lighthouses on the coast. It feels wonderfully remote and quiet, yet is only ~14 miles north of Florence.  The campground itself is one of the few first-come-first-serve parks on the coast. Located just across the road/east of Hwy 101 it’s nonetheless very quiet and sites are paved and nicely flat, full hookup (50Amp), with good separation and nice “sitting areas”. Good selection of sizes and easy access especially in the front  (2-way) section of the campground. The beach is easily accessible via a lovely 1/2-mile trail from the campground (goes under the road), and perfectly gorgeous. Good selection of other trails in the area too. This is exactly the kind of pretty and relaxing spot where we could spend 2 weeks hanging out and still want more. No doubt a place to come back to!

 Extra Info:  NO connectivity in campground with either Verizon cellphone or datacard. There IS a cellphone signal from the beach and we were able to get a very slow (but just usable) internet signal in camp with our external antenna/amp. 55 full hookup and 3 electrical (all 50Amp). Sites cost $26/night in summer season, $22 in off-season, all first-come-first-serve (no reservations). On-site dump station.

Extra, Extra Info  – BOONDOCKING: There are a few boondocking sites around the Florence area. A quiet location for smaller rigs (~24-foot max) is ~10 miles north of Florence on Forest Service road #58 (warning=steep!), 3.5 miles to a horse camp marked Horse Creek Trailhead. For bigger rigs Three Rivers Casino in town offers free RV parking. The Suislaw Forest also advertizes dispersed camping in the Sitcoos Area in the dunes, but no info on rig size or access (do tell me if you go!).

Our large (and quite private) site #32

View of sites near front entrance. Site #4 on left, #5 on right)

View of very easy-access sites near front (site #8 on right, RV in back left in site #13)

View of site #14 (#13 behind it)

View of back section. Site #46 on right. RV in far back in site #42.

View of upper "hill" section more suited for smaller rigs. Site #23 on left, #24 on right

View of one of sites near back facilities area (#53)

View of "sitting area" at our site (#32)

View of back facilities

Land of the Cliff Dwellers – Mesa Verde National Park, CO

Stunning Cliff Palace. There are over 150 rooms and 20 kivas, the largest known dwelling in N.America

I originally thought about calling this post “1000 pictures of awe-inspiring and absolutely mind-blowing Ancient Puebloan dwellings”, but figured both the title and the number of shots might be somewhat, shall we say, too much?  The truth is 1000 pictures probably wouldn’t do it justice. Mesa Verde is enormous and contains so much well-preserved history it’s not hard to understand why it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The spectacular canyons at Mesa Verde as seen from Soda Canyon Overlook

But let me go back and start from the beginning. We were looking for something quiet and unusual to do on the big holiday week-end. Mesa Verde looked interesting and we decided to pick an RV park just by the entrance to explore the area. We made the right choice. Mesa Verde occupies 52,000 acres (~210 km²)  of rugged high-country mesa marked by dramatic canyons, cliffs, ridges and caves. It’s a slow and winding 20-mile drive from the park entrance to the cliff dwellings, and this time of year daytime temperatures heat rapidly so it’s worth being close to get the most of it.

Spruce Tree House was built between 1211 and 1278

And well worth it, it certainly is! The unique geology of Mesa Verde (the “green table”) attracted the first settlers, known as Basketmakers over 1,400 years ago. Fertile farming on the mesa-tops allowed the population to prosper and around A.D. 550 they started to build pithouses from poles and mud. By 1000 the population had mastered stone masonry which sparked the development of skillful and extensive sandstone dwellings in the protective recesses of the cliffs. Between 1100-1270 (Classic Pueblo Period) these cliff dwellings grew and prospered with the population reaching several thousand. Then, almost as suddenly the population left and by 1300 only the ghosts of the structures were left to tell their stories.

Balcony House as seen from Soda Canyon Trail

There are ~600 of these ghost cliff dwellings remaining at Mesa Verde within more than 4000 archeological sites. The dwellings are both extensive and superbly preserved with sites such as Cliff Palace (the largest known on the North American Continent), Spruce Tree House (one of the best preserved, with an a Kiva you can crawl into…cool!), Balcony House (the most adventurous visit) and many more. There are mixes of tours and self-guided trails, a museum, bookstore, cafe, lodge, evening programs and drives that take you through all ~750 years and 4 phases of the Ancient Puebloans in the area.

Phew! It’s enough to make your head spin.

Cliff Palace as seen from inside

Mesa Verde a true gem and a ”must visit” for anyone passing through Southwestern Colorado. My advise is take a few days for the stay with a couple of hikes and at least one of the tours. For archeology nuts go full-out and do the whole thing. Just be sure to give yourself several cameras and a week or three to take it all in…this is mind-blowing stuff, after all…

The drive into Mesa Verde

A kiva and dwelling at Spruce Tree

On the tour at Cliff Palace

The cliffs of Mesa Verde

More Cliff Palace

Yours truly poses at Spruce Tree

RV Park Review – High Desert RV Park, Albuqueque, NM

The entrance to High Desert RV Park

A convenient and inexpensive private park stop-over in Albuquerque.

Link to park here: High Desert RV Park
Link to map location here: High Desert RV Park

1. Site quality = 2.5/5
   This site quality is just OK here. There is a selection of large pull-through or back-in sites on compacted dirt with full hook-ups (either 30 or 50 Amp). Not much in the way of extra’s on-site except for an older picnic table. This is your typical parking-lot-style private park and you will be close to your neighbor with no real separation or landscaping.
2. Facilities = 4/5
   Good facilities here. The main showers were spacious with good pressure and temperature, kept nicely clean and with cute, little touch’s (e.g. pink shower mats in the girls). There is a second shower facility (OK but not as nice) in the middle-side of the park which has individual shower/toilet rooms.
3. Amenities = 3/5
   A decent, but not extensive set of amenities here. There’s a very nice on-site community room with TV and pool tables. Also 3 good-sized dog runs, a “car care” center, 2 laundry facilities and a small convenience store. On-site propane. WiFi is available, but you gotta pay for it. No pool.
4. Location = 4/5
   Overall this park is in a good location. It’s right off Hwy-40, only a few miles from Petroglyph National Monument, ~8 miles from downtown and right opposite Camping World. Despite all this it doesn’t feel too cramped and has open space behind and around it.
5. Pet friendliness = 5/5
   Good spot for doggie considering this is a private park. In addition to 3 good-sized dog runs there is a large open space behind the park, with several miles of dirt trails on which to run and walk around.

 Overall rating = 3.7

Summary: We needed to spend a few days in Albuquerque stocking up and wanted a simple, dog-friendly park as a base. High Desert worked perfectly for this. It’s your typical private-park parking lot, but has the advantage of being slightly out of town (~8 miles) and surrounded by a large open area with space to walk. The sites are basic, but do provide full hook-up and the campground has nice/clean facilities and good/decent amenities for one of the better prices in the area (in fact it was the best price/value I could find in the whole of Albuquerque). We liked the location being right off the highway, close to Petroglyph National Monument, accessible to town and opposite Camping World to boot. On-site propane was a nice bonus too. Overall it’s not a place I’d rave about, but a very decent and convenient stop-over if you need one in town.

Extra Info: Verizon aircard and smartphone had full signal. Sites $ 19.95/night (30 Amp), $ 23.45/night (50 Amp). They do take Good Sam’s and offer weekly/monthly rates. 

Extra, Extra Info (Boondocking): I couldn’t find any state parks or BLM next to Albuquerque, but there are casino’s in the area that allow free dry-camping. Thanks to Matt over at Operation Tally Ho, I now know about Sandia casino as a potential place to stop next time. Cheers!

Our site (#605) in the middle of the park

Typical site view. Large pull-through with older picnic table.

View down left side of RV Park

View of RV Park from entrance

View of one of the 3 dog runs

View of main facilities/store/office and propane

The big, open area behind the RV park where we walked Polly. This trail goes for several miles, with some side-spurs into deeper desert area.

Capturing the Perfect Shot -> Cheap Macro

Shot in CO with my 50mm lens and 20mm extension tube

So, it’s another gorgeous day here in S.FL, and with a tad less wind it would have been the perfect opportunity to get in close and tight for some macro shots. That thought brings me smoothly into the next chapter of my photography series and a few more juicy tips for those budding shutterbugs out there. 

 

Close-up shooting is a fascinating little activity, usually involving yours truly lying flat on my stomach in the dirt, riveted to my “subject” and waiting patiently for a half hour or so for that perfect 1 sec lull in the wind to get the shot….ahhh, fun times indeed.

 

Nov bloom in TN. Taken with 20mm extension tube.

 The problem is that it can also be rather pricey. For those of you with SLR-type cameras a dedicated macro lens can cost upwards of $700+, and if you’re just a macro-hobbyist like me that’s a tad pricey. So, let me change your life and introduce you to “home-made” macro. You see there are  2 “tricks” you can do with removable lenses that allows you to get closer to your subject, and they can be done really cheaply!

Reversal Ring

1. Lens Reversal - Reversing your lens (putting it on your camera the wrong way around) will actually give you instant macro power. Instead of the lens taking big things (whatever you’re looking at) and making them small (for your sensor), it now does the opposite. How cool is that! You can buy a cheap $10 reversing ring (like this one), and off you go! Just make sure the reversing ring you buy fits the lens you’re going to use. Your auto-focus won’t work anymore, but with a bit of fiddling back and forth manually, you can get some amazing shots.

Typical set of extension tubes

2/ Extension Tubes
- Another little trick for getting closer is to put distance between your lens and your camera body. The more distance the closer your picture and any old, empty tube will do as long as you can get a light-tight fit at both ends. For the super-cost-conscious you can use an empty can of Pringle’s chips (like this example). For the more refined a $80 or so set of Kenko or Zeikos extension tubes (like these) will do the trick. Make sure to buy the version for your camera brand. I’ve used extension tubes for years and love the fact that they’re so light and easy to carry around. The other neat thing about extension tubes (if you buy the commercial version) is that your auto-focus will still work. It still takes quite a bit of fiddling since your range of focus gets a lot smaller, but it can be soooo much fun to try.

Summer bees in France. Taken with extension tubes and a bit of fiddling

Neither of these methods are, admittedly, as versatile as a “real” macro lens. The “tricks” allow you to bring your camera closer (so, for example instead of focusing out a few feet from your subject, you can bring the camera as close as a few inches to the subject). Macro lenses allow you the get close-ups without having to get so close, if you see what I mean, which can be useful for easily-spooked insects and such. But, the methods work and with a bit of practice can produce some really stunning results.

So, if you’ve been put off macro by the costs, hopefully these tips give you some ideas to get started. Happy shooting, everyone!

Capturing the Perfect Shot -> Embrace the Mood

A moody day in WY gives a glorious sunset

So, it’s another chilly day here in FL. The big blast up North has brought a front down here which makes me dream of hot cocoa, big fuzzy socks and photography. You see it’s a bit dreary out there today and a lot people with a camera get totally bummed when the sunshine goes behind the clouds. I’m the exact opposite. I love the changing moods of the weather since each one gives me the unique opportunity to take a different kind of shot. If you embrace the weather, your photographic horizons can open up dramatically. Here’s a couple of examples of what to do on the darker days:

Wild country and wide skies, WY

4/ Look for rays of Light - When the sky is dark and ominous, sometimes you get a ray of light peeking through which illuminates your foreground. Some of the coolest contrast comes when the sky is dark and your front is bathed in light. It’s a photographers dream.

Magic moment of morning mist in Iowa. My exposure compensation was -0.7

2/ Go Misty - The early morning, when dew is recent and mist is coming off the ground is a perfect time to get that “moody” shot which won’t be as interesting later on. Mist tends to “white out” your automatic camera settings (i.e. picture looks way too white), which is a result of how your camera calculates exposure. so there’s something called “exposure compensation” (normally a +/- button on your camera) which can help to darken the shot and keep that moody feel. Set your exposure to -0.7 and see how the picture changes.

A misty day gives these mushrooms a cool glow

3/ Go Small - when the sun is diffuse it’s a great time to focus on the little stuff. Sometimes that eerie light can give a kind of “glow” to the things on the ground and a nice, soft light for flowers. So, when the sky turns grey, look below for your treasures.

4/ Take a Portrait – Believe it or not some of the best light for portraits is a soft, diffuse light. When I was doing professional photography I used to actively seek this light for my family photos. So, when the light is soft, zoom in and take those portraits.

Diffuse light was perfect for this shot

4/ Wait for sunset - A lot of times a “moody” day can give a really cool sunset. Lots of clouds can make for brilliant colors as the setting sun reflects against the cloud layer. If you have a “sunset” setting on the camera try it at this time. The “sunset” setting tends to darken and saturate the shot which really brings out those deep, gorgeous colors.