Deschutes River State Park
Wasco, Oregon: Just a quick and early update this evening as we
are dry-camping and I don't want to pester our neighbors with the generator...
so this update is coming to you via solar power.
Before getting into every boring detail what we did today, I
want to post a few photos of the Magna Peregrinus cockpit. Several
readers sent emails this week after seeing the odometer photo - so here we go...
The two little dials are gauges for the air-ride system.
This panel sits to the right of the driver - in the center of the dash. Top
screen is the GPS, radio, CD, back-up camera, etc. This screen also is used
by cameras on either side-mirror - when a turn-signal is engaged, the screen
shows the entire lane. Makes for much safer lane changes - no hidden
motorcyclist! Lower screen is the
Silverleaf system. I can't even begin to describe what it monitors,
except to say everything in the coach, plus another back-up camera. There is
also a sister-panel in the rear. While driving, DT has the panel set to scan
through the systems - from transmission to temperatures. The rear panel
shows how much water we have in our tanks, propane, battery load,
starts/stops the generator, shows how much power we are consuming, etc. It
confused us at first, but it became second nature very quickly. The two rows
of switches are for map lights, flood lights, curb lights and other assorted
stuff. The small panel at the bottom is our leveling system. Our coach does
not have jacks - it levels itself with an airbag leveling system.
The side panel (drivers left) has the very-important cup holder, gears, mirror
adjustments, exhaust brake control, tag-axle control and the (yellow knob)
emergency brake.
What is a tag axle? The Magna Peregrinus has two rear axles and the
very rear-most axle is called the tag. The center axle has two tires on each
side. This gives incredible stability to the ride and allows the massive weight
in motorhomes of this size. The tag axle can actually lift-up enough so that -
when traveling at 10mph or less - your turning radius is greatly tightened. We
have only raised the tag axle a dozen times or so in the nearly two years we
have owned this bus - usually when trying to squeeze into our own driveway!
Anyway, back to our day. First, since I had to run
over 600 miles this morning to counter-act the five
deep-fried cheese curds I consumed last night, so
you can imagine we had a late start out of Union. We
continued west on I-84 and decided to call it an
afternoon when we reached the spot where the
Deschutes River meets the Mighty Columbia -
Deschutes River State Recreation Area.
The park is old and the serviced campsites are very small - but
we found a great dry-camping spot in a meadow right on the river!
Before I get any emails - we are not going to have a campfire
tonight. (Not allowed this time of year in the forests anyway.)
The beautiful Deschutes River! (Pronounced duh-SHOOTS,
FYI.) The steelhead are biting like mad and the campground is full! On
Monday!
A beautiful spot to camp along the river - the bathhouse has hot
showers and flush toilets. Water is available, but no dump.
Our little cabin on the river.
I brought incredibly expensive grass-fed, organic, cared-for-by-virgins, New
York steaks along on this trip. The plan was to cook them when we arrived to
see Chris at his new house in Provo. We were a bit premature. While Chris
does own four dinner plates, he has yet to purchase a grill... so Chris
decided we would go out. I left the steaks in our freezer. So tonight, we
dine well. Sorry Chris - but I promise you, we will enjoy your steaks.
Until my next update, I remain, your riverside correspondent.
Added later: I couldn't help myself. I had to post this
photo for Chris:
Thanks, buddy. You know we miss you, right? See you in
two weeks in Tennessee!
RV Park: Deschutes
River State Recreation Area. Water and electric sites available for
smaller RVs and tents. Showers and flush toilets. On the river. Picnic
tables and fire pits (fires allowed winter only). Many dry-camping sites
available. Camp hosts. We paid $9 to dry camp.