Dave has a few days off from officiating football, so we drove out to Maryhill State Park to spend a few days. Now that it's October, Dave's Senior Off-Season Pass is in effect again. We paid $50 for the season, which lasts until May 1. The pass allows us to camp at any Washington State Park for $6 a night if we have hookups, and camp for free if we don't have hookups. It's a terrific deal, but alas, the pass is only available for Washington residents 62 and older. This park costs $28/night without the senior pass. We like to use the pass as much as possible in October, because many of the inland parks turn off their water beginning November 1, and don't turn the water on again until March or April.
Maryhill, located along the Columbia River, is only two hours east of where we live in Vancouver, and it's one of our favorite parks. This time of year the park's campground is first come-first served. We arrived at 4:15 pm on Monday and had no trouble finding a nice big pull-thru where we were able to get a satellite signal. This park has a lot of large trees, so some sites are more satellite-friendly than others. Cell service is 2 bars of 1x Verizon service, but that's enough signal to be able to (slowly) use the internet from the comfort of our motorhome.
Dave woke up this morning with a cold, so we didn't do much today. Mid-afternoon he felt a bit better, so we went for a short drive east on Highway 14 to John Day Dam. There were signs pointing to a COE park called Celilo Lake, but when the paved road ended, we turned around and didn't find the park.
John Day Dam
We also saw some buildings that looked abandoned but with several nice signs that indicated that the buildings were aluminum plants. We spotted some salvage aluminum and a few cars in the area, so maybe that's what was going on. Don't you hate it when you can't quite figure out what's going on? That was us today.
Aluminum Plant--abandoned or not?
A view of the Columbia River east of the dam
Two forms of transportation along the Columbia River
We made a quick stop at the Stonehenge War Memorial, which is located just above Maryhill State Park. It's a fun stop, with a great view of the orchards and vineyards which, with the help of irrigation, grow in this somewhat desolate terrain.
Stonehenge
A closer view of Stonehenge
A view of the fertile valley below Stonehenge
What a nice get away..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful day. Maybe not too many people at the aluminum plant because of the long week-end?
ReplyDeleteThe Columbia River looks beautiful as does the John Day Dam. Looks like great weather to be there. Hope Dave's cold is gone!
ReplyDeleteCarol,
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to travel in such a way that, if you get sick with a cold, your vacation isn't ruined. I hope Dave feels better, and I'm glad he waited, not getting the cold during his refereeing.
Also, just a little edit: Maryhill is east, not west, of where you live (2nd paragraph).
We have nice weather today, as I'm sure you do from your photos. It's sunny, no rain. Also, be sure to notice the full moon tonight.
Jackie B.
Maryhill is one of the parks we want to visit. Seems to be pretty busy during the summer but sounds like it is nice in the fall. What a deal you get with your Wa. State pass. Good for you. Hope you get some more getaways. Feel better Dave.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteIt's so beautiful along the great Columbia it would be pretty hard not to though...
what a screaming deal on the campsite!!..if only we had that here is BC!!!..
ReplyDeletenice pictures of the dam!!!
Maryhill is one of our favorites and October is such a great month to visit state parks. Another favorite of our is Birch Bay State Park. But that was when we lived in Everett which made is about a two hr drive.
ReplyDeleteGreat weather and fun here at Sun Valley Jazz Festival.