Disc Golf

Champoeg is one of several Oregon state parks that features an 18-hole disc golf course.  The game is played with frisbees which are thrown into baskets like this:

For people who, unlike me, can aim a frisbee and throw it correctly, it's a fun game.  The game is popular all year, not just in the summer.  There is even a Professional Disc Golf Association.  One time we were camping at Milo McIver State Park which has a very well-kept up disc golf course.  We were playing like the amateurs that we are, and we were "shushed" by some "professionals" who were playing in a tournament there.  Evidently the protocol is to be very quiet when they are throwing their shots, just like in real golf.  We didn't realize that they take the game very seriously.

We had beautiful weather today.  I tried to capture a picture of the sky so that you could see how blue it was.  The trees in this park are gorgeous. 

Besides cabins, this park has a few yurts:

We went for another bike ride and today I was able to ride 9 miles.  That's an improvement from yesterday!  Dave rode 10 miles, but I was busy taking pictures during that last mile.

Champoeg State Park

We went on a 6 mile bicycle ride this afternoon.  By the end of the summer, we should easily be able to ride 12 miles at a time.  Today, however, we had to start slowly since we haven't ridden all winter, except for the exercise bike, which is not quite the same.  Here are pictures of our site, an overview of the B Loop that we are staying in, our bikes, and one of the rental cabins. 

Alarm System

One of our neighbors' house was broken into a couple of weeks ago.  Since then, several of the neighbors have decided to get alarm systems.  The system we chose is Front Point. It had to be shipped from Virginia and arrived yesterday.  Dave began installing it but realized that the call transponder wasn't working correctly.  They shipped us a replacement part overnight via FedEx.  The part arrived around 2 pm today and Dave installed it and activated the account.  If there's a break in, the system will call our cell phones and then the police.  The system has a motion detector plus a loud alarm.

After the alarm system was installed and activated, we left for a camping trip to  Champoeg State Park (pronounced (Sham-poo'-ee) in Oregon.  It's one of our favorite parks and we stay here as often as we can.  The park is a little over an hour from home, so it's an easy drive.  We intended to leave home much earlier in the day but had to wait for the alarm system part to arrive.

From October through April, the Oregon State Parks charge "Discovery Season" rates and this beautiful state park is only $16 per night for full-hookup, 50 amp sites but they only have a few full-hookup sites so we reserved one.  The park is located south of Portland and Wilsonville and north of Woodburn.  It's far enough from the freeway that there is no freeway noise.  It's a very quiet and peaceful park in the midst of the beautiful Willamette Valley.