Mount St Helens, Astoria - Lewis and Clark Caravan - Part 12 (STR…

Tuesday, 21 June - Day 42

Today was another travel day to Silver Lake, WA, near Mount St. Helens. We departed early to hit golf balls at a course enroute - Kris hit on the range, Darrell wasn't feeling up to hitting. Kris suffered a setback - when she went to hit her driver, the shaft was broken under the grip. We are at a loss to understand what happened. Fortunately, the shaft on her 2 wood is the same type, just an inch shorter. Quick, temporary fix until we can get her a new driver shaft.

Before we left Longview, WA, we filled up with diesel - Sprinty's first $100+ fill-up at $6.29/gallon.

We continued on to Silverlake, WA, stopping at the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center enroute. There we learned about the events in 1980 when Mount St Helens erupted on May 18, 1980.

Mount St Helens

We are at the Silver Cove RV Resort for two nights. A convenient location for exploring Mount St Helens.

Wednesday, 22 June - Day 43

Well this morning started off on a downer. As mentioned before, Darrell started having cold symptoms a few days ago. As cold-like symptoms are also COVID symptoms, we have been closely monitoring and increasing our distance from others and masking up even more. Even though Darrell had not lost his sense of smell, taste or run a fever, he had slight congestion and a sore throat. This morning he decided to do a at-home test. Test came back positive.

We immediately notified our Wagonmaster who was hosting a breakfast for the caravan, and he passed the word on. In searching for COVID test locations, we found many using Google Maps, however many had restrictions - many required an appointment, and many would not test if you had symptoms of COVID. Some medical facilities would not test if you were not already a patient. We made arrangements to get a medical COVID test from an Urgent Care in Chehalis, WA, about 45 minutes away that did not have restrictions.

When we arrived, they said the PCR test would take 3-5 days - we decided it wasn't going to tell us anything new, or change our plan to isolate. After 2+ years of COVID, we felt we had the knowledge and resources to manage unless our symptoms became severe. 

They did provide us with 4 test kits at no charge or paperwork necessary. In their parking lot, we used one of the test kits for both of us to test. Darrell's came back positive, Kris' was negative.

The caravan plan for today was ride-share to Mount St Helens. Two days ago, we had told Bob and Debbie we would not be ride-sharing with them out of concern for Darrell's cold symptoms. So Sprinty headed up to Johnson Ridge Observatory (elevation 4,100 feet) to take in Mount St. Helens, sans going into the Visitor Center.

Masked up, we admired the cloud obstructed view, stayed outside and maintained our distance from others. The bottom of the cloud layer was around 5,500 feet, obscuring the top of the volcano. We hiked the short trail by the Visitor Center, remaining masked and keeping our distance from others.

We spent about an hour at the observatory hoping the clouds would dissipate to get a photo of the top. Not today. We headed back down the mountain to spend a quiet afternoon in the campground. Just after leaving the observatory, Sprinty reached 100,000 miles on the odometer.

Those who arrived later and were more patient (and feeling better) got a nice photo when the clouds parted.

Our COVID plan, per CDC guidelines, is to isolate in Sprinty, stay out of indoors places, practice social distancing, and mask up even more cautiously than before. We plan to remain with the caravan until Sunday as it provides us with paid for campgrounds through Saturday night. We just won't be doing any of the activities with the group.

For example, Dan barbecued some pork chops tonight, which became an impromptu pot luck. Debbie made us a plate and delivered to Sprinty - a caravan version of "meals on wheels".

Thursday, 23 June - Day 44

Darrell woke up feeling better then yesterday morning, and temperature normal. However, Kris had a rough night with a fever and cough. Somewhat typical for us - usually one of us gets sick, and the other follows by a couple of days. Getting sick on the caravan has an upside - our caravan family has been so supportive and understanding.

Today was our final travel day of the 47-day caravan to Hammond, OR, a 100-mile leg to our final stop. As late as yesterday, Kris held out hope of golfing enroute, but this morning reality set in. Turns out just as well, the nine-hole course we thought to play was down a gravel, one-lane driveway with overhanging beaches Sprinty could not clear. We took it easy and tried to enjoy the backroads along the Columbia River.

As we crossed the Columbia River at the Astoria Bridge, we encountered a traffic backup due to bridge maintenance. We took the opportunity to take a photo looking up the Columbia River.

Columbia River

Our home for the next three nights is the KOA Astoria Warrenton Campground in Hammond, OR. A large and busy park, it is conveniently located to Astoria and Seaside. Upon arrival, we just holed up as we isolate per CDC guidelines.

Friday, 24 June - Day 45

Kris had a lot of coughing and fever last night. Darrell had some cough, but no fever. We continue to closely monitor symptoms for anything serious enough to seek medical attention. 

The caravan is doing a motorcoach tour today including a Fort Clatsop Tour (where Lewis and Clark wintered in 1805-06), a Maritime Museum Tour, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment and the Astoria Column. We hope to experience today's adventures vicariously through their photos posted on Cluster, the free photo sharing service we have been using for the caravan. As of this morning, over 700 photos have been shared over the last 6 weeks.

We did take advantage of having a known fixed address to get mail delivered from our mail forwarding service while in Hammond, OR. Nothing urgent. Maybe we will get another mail delivery in a couple of months. 😉

Saturday, 26 June - Day 46

Not that the results were in doubt, we re-tested this morning as soon as we got up. Kris test was bright pink, and Darrell's was still pink, although less bright than before. Darrell has been fever free for a few days - Kris is alternating between no fever to 100 degrees just minutes later. Another day to lay low.

The caravan has the morning off as the Historic Astoria Trolley was canceled. Apparently the roof of a building along the trolley tracks has partially collapsed, and the trolley has been suspended from passing the building over concerns for further damage. Our Wagonmaster cancelled the trip as the remaining trolley route was inadequate.

The group will ride-share to Seaside, OR, for a farewell luncheon, wandering around Seaside and visiting the Salt Works where Lewis and Clark made salt for meat preservation when they wintered at Fort Clatsop.

While at Seaside, our fellow travelers saw the The End of the Trail Lewis & Clark Commemorative Statue.

While we were unable to visit the statue to commemorate our completion of the Lewis and Clark Trail this summer, we made careful notes for visiting in a few weeks.

As we prepare for leaving the caravan, we ordered groceries for pickup at Walmart. We used to order from Walmart as a preventive measure to avoid getting COVID - now we did it to prevent passing on COVID. Our experience paid off - we were able to work out a contact-less pickup.

The caravan staff scheduled a dessert social for 5:30, which turned in to another potluck as people cleaned out refrigerators in preparation for their upcoming journeys.

Sunday, 27 June - Day 47

Kris had a better night last night, indicating she is on the mend. Almost no coughing, and no fever.

The final scheduled event was a Hitch-up Continental Breakfast at the Wagonmaster's rig. A most pleasant way to say our good-byes to the friends we have traveled with for the last 7 weeks. Most everyone lingered until the designated breakfast end time, and then only out of consideration for the staff who are all headed for Great Falls, MT to be on staff for the 63-day Alaska caravans that leave next week. Most everyone else has more modest travel - from staying at this park for a few days, to destinations within a couple of hours.

So ends this 47-day adventure following the path of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Focused on early 19th century history, we added four states to our camped-in collection, explored parts of the country new to us, and made 26 new friends.

A wee bit of reflection.  The Lewis and Clark Exploration caravan by Adventure Caravans was Sprinty’s third caravan.  Without a doubt, it was the best one - well organized, event-filled, interesting and traveling with an amazing group of friends.  Sprinty is already looking forward to his caravan adventure next year, and starting to think about what adventure he might sign up for in 2024.

Darrell