Summer Vacation, 6/5 - 11/2013 MOC Rally

Montana Owners Club Rally
June 5 - 11, 2013

We arrived at the Spokane RV Resort to join the Montana Owners Rally on Wednesday the 5th.  The RV park is actually associated with the golf course in Deer Park, WA north of Spokane.  It is a beautiful park with large campsites and very nice facilities.  Here are some photos of our site and our group of Montana 5th wheel trailers.

Our campsite

 


Look at all of the Montanas





There is a grass mini golf putting course, pool, playground and dog run as well as all of the other amenities that are usually found at a premier RV resort.  Deer play an important roll in the town of Deer Park.  We didn't see any live ones, but there were some cut-outs that marked the fairways to each hole of the mini golf course and the gates to the park had deer on them.  Throughout the area, there were references to deer, in all sorts of ways, as well.

Mini golf course with playground in the background.

 

Deer cut-outs mark the fairway for each hole.  Dog run and playground in background.

This was a very laid back rally.  We spent time around the camp visiting with other members, biking or walking around the grounds and did some sightseeing in the area. Our friends, who had moved to Spokane from California, came to visit us at camp one afternoon.  It was nice to spend time with them and have dinner together.

(L-R) Dan, Terri, Fran, Earl

Our group made use of the large clubhouse for meetings and some meals. Then there was the daily happy hour in the shade of the RVs.  Montana Owners know how to cook and how to eat, whether it is a full potluck meal or snacks with happy hour!
 

Spacious clubhouse for meeting and meals



Happy hour in the shade of the RV

We tried for a group photo...

John trying to organize the shot

 

Lots of cooperation

 

and lots of advise

The golf course was across from our camp site and to the west, so of course, I had to take a few sunset pictures. 

 

 
Well, it's time to get ready to move on tomorrow.  We had a great time at the rally.  Now we will be traveling around for the next 16 days until we reach the Escapade in Gillette WY.
 

Summer Vacation, 6/3 - 4/2013, CA to Spokane, WA

Traveling from California to Spokane, WA
June 3 - 4

There were two RV rallies that we wanted to attend this summer, so we decided to make an extended vacation over about 6 weeks.  We would attend the Montana Owners Rally in Spokane, WA.  From there, we planned to explore some of the areas located near I-90 and I-94 before making our way to the Escapees Escapade (RV Rally) in Gillette, WY.  Then we would take our time going back home to California.  In the following posts, we will share some of the interesting places that we discovered along our route.

We traveled north along I-80 and US 97 to get to Spokane.  Since it was still spring, the mountain peaks of the Cascade Range in CA and OR were beautiful with their snowy caps.  Here are samples of what we saw.

North side of Mt. Shasta, CA

 

Three Sisters, OR



Mt. Washington, OR

 

Mt. Hood, OR in the distance

One of the rest areas, where we took a break along US 97, was a surprise.  It was actually Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint.  It is located along the Crooked River Gorge.  There is a park there and a walkway along the edge of the gorge.  When we got to the viewpoint, we saw the Oregon Trunk Railroad Bridge to the left.  Built in 1911, it was the first structure to cross the gorge.



Oregon Trunk Railroad Bridge

Following the beautiful gorge toward the right, we saw the Crooked River (High) Bridge.  It is 464 ft. long and 295 ft. above the river.  When it was built in 1926, it was the first road across the gorge, but it has been for pedestrians only since the late 1990's and is part of the viewpoint's trail system. 

 

Crooked River (High) Bridge


You can see the new highway's shadow and base behind the (green) bridge.  This was an interesting, educational and beautiful break and totally unexpected.