May 8, 2022
May is sometimes a cold month here in the Pacific Northwest. Of course, “cold” is relative. It never freezes here in May, flowers and trees have long since started blooming, animals have shed their winter clothing (including humans), and we are dreaming of summer while enjoying spring.
But still, sometimes May is cold. It was cold here this year, 2022. And we had more rain than usual, yes even more than usual for the rainy Pacific Northwest. But after such a very cold winter, I wanted to get out in the camper even if it was a bit chilly. So I headed out to one of my favorite campgrounds close to home, Friends Landing, near Montesano, WA.
I managed to snag my favorite campsite right next to the lake, with electricity (for heat), and with only one possible neighbor (for peace and quiet). I didn’t care if it was cold and rained a bit … I was going camping! 🙂
With my dinette at the very back of the trailer, this was a perfect spot with a perfect view of the lake.
I got the trailer all set up, everything connected and checked. And then I went for a walk through this small campground.
The Chehalis River runs right past the campground. Lots of fisherfolk come here to use the boat launch and put their small power boats in the river to go fishing, or they come here and fish off the pier below.
I walked out onto the pier and turned to the right and looked downstream, towards the west, towards (eventually) the Pacific Ocean. The river was so beautiful and calm. You can fish from that floating pier, or launch a kayak, or sit there and watch the river glide by.
And then I turned to the left … so pretty. But in this photo below, you can see the dark clouds that had recently passed overhead, and the rain water still on the deck of the pier.
I walked out to the far end of that deck to look upriver.
So gorgeous and peaceful. I loved the old pilings that had supported a larger pier or a floating dock at some point in the past. Note the logs that have been linked together to protect this pier from debris/logs that float downriver towards this pier.
Below … the view looking back onto land and looking at the campground. In a campground that has only 18 RV campsites (and 9 tent campsites), there were only 5 RVs here this week, and that includes mine. It pays to go camping in the off-season.
I walked back to my campsite, then walked the few feet to the lake and turned around to take the photo below. Ah, another rain cloud coming in, but I have the perfect campsite and the perfect rig.
And, later that evening, after that rain cloud had passed by overhead, this perfect evening sunset appeared. 🙂 Happy camper here!
I’ve never tried to launch a kayak from a dock. I’m pretty sure I’d flip. The place looks beautiful!!
I rented a hard-shell kayak once at a place where they had TWO docks such that the kayak would fit exactly between the docks. One attendant held one side of the kayak while I got in, they did that for everyone, piece of cake. My inflatable kayak is way more stable and easier to get in/out of. And, no, I wouldn’t even dare to launch a hard-shell kayak off the dock in that photo. But I know people who do it all the time and they swear they’ve never flipped … do I believe them???? 🙂
Yay, camping! Brings joy to our hearts. 🙂
Janey
Mine too. 🙂 Thanks, Janey.
I don’t mind it at all that I get to read about warm, sunny camping trips, when we’re actually in the middle of cold winter. 🙂 Such a pretty lake.
Ok then, I’ll keep reporting on this warm, really warm!, sunny camping trip. 🙂
That river is gorgeous. That sunset is gorgeous! Is that a mountain kind of off to the right? Maybe in the Olympics? But aren’t they north of you? And the sun is to the west? Usually? ha!
At first I thought “what mountain” … but indeed the sunset photo does show what looks a mountain in the distance. But it isn’t one. It’s just a cloud. Sorry, Rob. And yes, the sun is to the west this evening, you are so good … 🙂
Photos of the pilings in the water are amazing, and mesmerizing. And the sunset. No wonder this is a favorite campsite!
Exactly. 🙂
I love those early camping trips to a favorite place after a cold winter too. Those flowers at your campsite are so pretty. Is it rhododendron?
Yes indeed, you are correct, Virginia. They are rhododendrons. They are so prolific in the Pacific Northwest that some people get tired of them. I love them.
Beautiful sunset. I love the reflections of the pilings in the water. A perfect campsite indeed.
Thanks, Kinny. 🙂
Hi Ann, just found your blog and we’re reading along, will catch up soon. We used to own an Escape trailer! But we are at home these days. We loved that trailer. See on the blog that you’ve been in the Yakima area twice in the past year or two. Please feel free to contact us via email (I’d bet Word Press shares our email addresses with you). We’d be happy to share ideas about more great things to see and do here. You take really good care of your Escape!!! We had a 19. Ok, enough. 🙂 Gorgeous photos.
Hi Paul in Yakima! Welcome to the blog. Happy to have you here, especially a former ETI trailer owner! I bet you have stories, and great memories. I wish we lived closer so we could share tales and suggestions and warnings and fun things and such. WordPress does share your email address with me. Next time I’m heading over to Yakima (I went again this past year), I will let you know. In the meantime, please feel free to comment as much as you like here … there’s lots I can learn, and lots that other readers here would enjoy too. Very best wishes to you and yours. 🙂
January is a great time to read about a warm sunny gorgeous camping trip. Thanks! 🙂
Sure is, Pat. For me too. I’m having fun looking back through my photos and deciding which ones to put on the blog. Tonight, where I live, it’s going to be below freezing. I’ve turned the heat up here at home and I’m going to look at sunshiny photos from my trip to Friends Landing and ignore the weather outside!
The first camping trip of each year is always the best. Get out and go!! 🙂
Thanks, Wanda. Sometimes in the early spring, I hesitate about going camping … the chores, the cost, the unknowns, possible breakdowns, etc. But once I get out on the road for that first camping trip, I’m good to go! So that’s great advice … just “get out and go!!” 🙂