Roughing it by the Rogue
We stayed at Farewell Bend Campground in the Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest for a couple of nights – to the east of Crater Lake in Oregon. National Forests are pretty basic – the youth hostels of campgrounds. No electricity hood-ups and we had to carry water in a 5 gallon jug from the faucet across the road. Worst of all, our Verizon internet do-thingy couldn’t pick up a signal and neither could our cell phone. But I’m not complaining.
We had propane to fire up the stove for hot water and our coffee (we stopped carrying an electric coffee maker after it broke) and the frig can run on propane. We pack so we can do primitive – just in case.
We did “primitive camping” many years ago when our kids were young and we were strapped for money, so I know how to make do without a lot of luxury – like flush toilets and electricity. In fact I liked camping in the state forest campground because it helped me remember that it is possible to wash my hair and take a bath with a gallon of water in a basin instead of… well 10 minutes of continually running hot water.
Our campsite by the Rogue did have running water – hundreds of gallons a minute just outside our door. Raging, churning water that averages 44 degrees F. Did you know that river water gets louder at night, about bedtime? We also had a fireplace that was built when the campground was developed during the 1930’s. Unfortunately all but one have been vandalized to the point of not being usable. They had steel grates and doors on them with the seal of the National Forest Service. Must be people wanted souvenirs. It makes me angry.
We arrived late afternoon, got set up, fixed a simple meal, cleaned up, and took a walk through the park, exploring the river at a couple of spots. I practiced water photography while J. explored rocks that float (pumice). It was a very quiet, relaxing time together.
As we strolled back, a couple who live in a nearby town and have camped on this river for years (they have a BIG motor home with a generator) flagged us down. We had stopped to say hi earlier in the evening and they thought of a list of things we should really experience close by; Rogue Gorge, Hidden Bridge, and Beckie’s (where they have the best breakfast around and ice cream). We still had an hour of light so we drove to the Rogue Gorge. The Rogue River (the one next to our campsite) is flowing through lava rock and both Rogue Gorge & Hidden Bridge are pretty impressive.
Land line outside Beckie’s for emergency calls.
When we returned we talked a while about what we had saw, where we were, and where we were going. We did a little reminiscing about camping with the kids at House Lake. J got out the small candles and the new lantern he bought just in case we didn’t have electricity – I think he was excited about using it. I asked what time it was, because the digital clock over the sink was dark. Eight-thirty. Is it too early to go to bed? And we talked a little longer, commenting on how nice it was to just sit and talk without distractions. We talked about how people might have lived before electricity. Silence. We both have readers with batteries that hadn’t been recharged. Silence.
We really like each other, and really enjoy each other’s company but we ran out of things to talk about. Maybe it was because we had been together 24/7 for over three weeks. Maybe it was because I’m an introvert so I let him do most of the talking and he was done. We entertained ourselves for a while but a descent hour for bedtime took a long time coming.
We planned for the next night a little better. We bought a bundle of wood and had a campfire, complete with hotdogs. The hotdogs tasted sooooo good and the nights in the mountains get chilly as soon as the sun sets so the fire felt good. J even made us a cup of Irish coffee – should I call it primitive Irish coffee?
But as we were sitting by the campfire, we made a very important decision. We decided that we are too old for primitive camping. We really don’t need to know that we can live with less, we already did that. I like feeling pampered by a little luxury – like electricity and water when I turn the faucet.
Footnote: We had a great breakfast at Beckie’s before we drove to Crater Lake and had ice cream at Beckie’s on the way back. Both were really good.
Categories: Great Northwest
Really fun post Pat, I would love to do this again. I can smell those hot dogs! I can go for a few days without the creature comforts . : )
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I have come to the conclusion that my memories of primitive camping are more fun than the experience. I really enjoyed our two nights there, but it was enough. Full hook-ups felt really nice the next night.
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I know laughs!
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Love your stories and photos. It’s fun to travel vicariously through someone else !!
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Thanks, I chuckled when I read your comment, Nora. Vicarious primitive camping. I think that’s what I’ll do from now on. 🙂
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Sounds like a lot of fun–camping at leisure without having to mind the kids. I would not mind camping like this.
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Yes, camping without kids is wonderful. We pack small pleasures (like Bailey’s Irish Cream) and actually have time to enjoy them. In fact we are looking at a new trailer that is less work so we can travel and camp through our 70’s. Life is good!
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Bailey’s, that’s something, Pat! Enjoy the rest of your camping. 🙂
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Beautiful campground! I seem to remember that about rivers, too, which is surprising since you’d think they’d make about the same noise all the time 😉
My husband agrees with your stance on camping. He has done loads of primitive camping and is “over it.” I, on the other hand, have really only done pampered camping, so I’m up for an adventure.
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Whoops, Isn’t it amazing how our changes don’t always correspond. Lucky this isn’t one of those major life issues. 🙂
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What a wonderful time you must be having! We used to do a lot of primitive camping, and sometimes now I really want to do it again. But then I remember our ages. 🙂
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I can see you understand. Let’s just enjoy our memories. 🙂
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One more comment… I love your new header photo!
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Thanks.
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Crater Lake and the Crater Lake area is on my Bucket List. I enjoyed your photos and information.
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It is a beautiful place. All the land around it is owned either by Oregon or the US Parks so it isn’t built up. Just nature at it’s best. 🙂
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Those hot dogs look so GOOD!!!
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They were. 🙂
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What fun (or not!)… Reminds me of when my parents took us abroad for the first time, with a small frame tent. A few nights we camped at Fulpmes, in the Stubaital, Austria… In a forest, one cold water sink, no showers, and a non – flush toilet over a stream… And red squirrels scampering amongst the pine trees. I have fond memories, but I do recall the cold water!
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Oh yes, you understand what I was writing about. Would you like to do it again?
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I wouldn’t do it now, no. I still like some adventures, but with my health, that would be a step too far, too fatiguing! But I’m glad I had the experiences, and my husband and I did camp about 20 years ago, I guess, and it was all put the tent up, do it yourself stuff, but at least the water in the facilities was hot! 🙂
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Memories are so wonderful. 🙂 Especially when we can no longer do it. My memories of raising children are mostly good but I don’t want to do that any more either. 😀
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😀 and the great thing about having a store of memories, experiences is that they are future nostalgias to sustain us in later life (well, that’s my theory)
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Hi Pat,
The Rogue Gorge took my breath away. I filmed it so I could have memories of it. Good to hear about Beckie’s. We drove past it but didn’t stop. Nor have we seen Hidden Bridge. Next time!
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Beckie’s is definitely worth a stop. 🙂
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