LaPine State Park, Oregon

Waaaaaay back in the 1970s, when we had four little stair-step kids, camping was the only vacation we knew.  We had an old utility trailer at first, and we would throw all the camping gear into that old trailer, hook it up to our 1963 Chevy pick-up and away we would go.  That was back in the days of tents, sleeping bags on the ground, camp stoves, and porta potties.  Where did the kids ride?  We had a canopy on the back of the pick-up and some boards to make a twin bed-sized “shelf” across part of the back.  We arranged mattresses and blankets back there, threw in some snacks, drinks and games and that was that.  Insert 4 kids and a dog and we were off.   No one thought anything about it in those days.

Later on we graduated to a 17’ travel trailer and a Suburban.  Still the kids rode unrestrained, with the back of the Suburban made into a large bed.  That little travel trailer had a top bunk where all three boys could fit, a sofa that made into a bed for Russ and me (we were a lot smaller then!), and a dinette bed for Merry.  Privacy was nonexistent.  One morning I was getting dressed before the kids were awake (or so I thought).  Our youngest was about 4 or 5 at that time and I heard his sleepy little voice saying, “Mommy, you look pretty in that bra.”  I about fell over myself trying to get my shirt on and control my embarrassment and laughter all at the same time.  Shortly after that, we bought a 21’ trailer with a little more separation of space and more privacy!

At any rate, we hauled those various modes of camping all over Oregon, with occasional forays into California and Nevada.  One of the places we often visited was Central Oregon and LaPine State Park.  I must have been much younger (but of course) and less spoiled in those days, as I thought LaPine State Park was wonderful.  Now when we pulled in I thought YECH!!!  Dry, dusty, with broken down asphalt parking pads and no communication with the outside world.  How will I survive?  All I could think of was the theme song form Gilligan’s Island….”No phone, no lights no motor cars, Not a single luxury,  like Robinson Caruso, as primitive as can be.”
Hard as it is, I am surviving!!  We have a fairly nice site and the crowds have disappeared for the season.  It’s quiet here and the town of LaPine is only 6 miles away.


There is a nice nature trail along the river, but no way to get down to the water.  The bank is high and very steep and sandy.  Any attempt to go down to the river and you would be IN the river!!



The Deschutes River is beautiful here and is popular with fishermen in boats.  This is from a viewpoint just down from the campground.
  
Lots and lots of hiking and walking trails and fishing and hunting if you enjoy those activities.  We used to love to fish but it just doesn’t interest either of us anymore.  I’d rather just watch the wildlife rather than catch it.  We saw a coyote cross the road right in front of us as we were leaving the park yesterday.  I stopped the car and watched the coyote as the coyote stopped in the woods and turned to watch us.  No camera at the ready so I missed getting a picture.  Plenty of ground squirrels and chipmunks around to watch though. 

Our neighbors had left a flannel backed table cover upside down on their picnic table.  This little vermin thought she/he had found the mother lode of nesting material and was hard at work collecting it.  The campers came out several times to chase it away but it just kept coming back.  Finally they got smart and took in the table cover.

We had breakfast in LaPine at the Harvest Depot restaurant.  Russ had corned beef hash and it was made with big chunks of real corned beef.  This stuff was not out of a can.  It was a good breakfast for a fair price.



There is also a great laundromat here and we got all the laundry done.  We had gone into Bend the day before to get my broken glasses fixed.  We looked for a laundromat there but didn’t find one that looked decent.  Bend drove us both CRAZY.  Definitely not the same town it was 20 or so years ago.  It’s big, busy, and bursting with traffic. We couldn’t wait to get out of there.  LaPine on the other hand is small, quiet, and just right.  Hopefully we can find some internet at the local McDonalds and get caught up on some things.  We don’t even have phone service here in the park so have been incommunicado for several days.

One nice thing about this park is it’s location.  It is only 13 miles to Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  We visited a small part of that, including Paulina and East Lakes.  It’s an interesting geographical area but that's a post for another day.