Andersen's RV Park, Long Beach, WA

You might think that after living at Ilwaco, WA aboard our Bayliner 38 motor yacht for two months during the summer of 2013, exploring the region, and especially the Long Beach peninsula, we'd be looking for something new, but such is not the case.  We love the area's climate, beaches, bike paths, hiking, restaurants, and natural scenery.

This was our first trip to Andersen's RV Park, located on the Long Beach peninsula.  The gravel parking lot style facility is designed to handle slideouts with ease, and the barked area between sites is outfitted with the picnic table.

Site #51

The sites are organized in two rows, one north, and one south.  The space between the rows is incredibly wide.  Lots of room for maneuvering into one's site.  We were in site #51, which backed up to beach grass and pine trees.

The trees on the right are to the north, and they provide a nice windbreak.

I love the way the RV park map reflects the colorful Adirondack chairs at the facility.

The facility shows a pride of ownership.  It's clean and well maintained.  While Andersen's is all about the beach, there are still things to see on a short walk about the park.

Wood, not plastic.

As is my practice, I work while on the road.  The WiFi is advertised as 1.5 Mbps but the best I saw during a week stay was .9 Mbps with .4 being typical.  While the WiFi performance was OK for email and web browsing, VoIP and sharing presentations online were a struggle at times.  Fortunately, Verizon 3G/4G LTE was a solid 3-4 bars, so I used it as a backup to the WiFi.

The room between rows was awesome.

The Beach

It's a short easy walk to the beach.  The rolling beach grass-covered dunes hide the expanse of flat, firm beach, the Long Beach Peninsula is known for.

The path back to the RV park

The dunes had a very gentle slope to then.

Laura on the beach at Andersen's RV Park, Long Beach, WA

One of many sunsets enjoyed on the beach at Andersen's

Laura put a lot of miles on those shoes on the beach.

While I'd work during the day (my workday started at 4:30 am), Laura would grab my Nikon camera and go exploring the beach.

Firm enough to drive cars on.  A common sight on Long Beach.

Laura and Dale.

Cape Disappointment

We like the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment State Park.  Besides telling a great story of the Corps of Discovery, the center has awesome views.

This was our first trip where Laura discovered an interest in photography.

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse overlooking the Columbia River Bar.

Dale at Cape Disappointment

Waikiki Beach at Cape Disappointment State Park.  Below is how it normally looks, but a few days later the area was experiencing surges and sneaker waves that were amazing to watch.

Waikiki Beach

Dunes leading to the North Jetty

North Head Lighthouse

Laura on the North Jetty

Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail

The Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail runs for 8.2 miles between Ilwaco and Long Beach.  Noted for its paved bike path and beautiful scenery, it's one of the area's many attractions that keep bringing Laura and me back.

One of the many pieces of artwork on the Discovery Trail.

Dale at Clark's Tree sculpture on the Discovery Trail.

Laura on the Discover Trail

Waikiki Beach

Contrasted to the photo shot day's earlier, the surf is massive as the swell rolls up the beach.  No one was surfing this day

The logs were being moved about.

North Jetty and the Surge

Laura has an affinity for Pelicans, of which there are plenty at Cape Disappointment.  As a result, we get lots of bird shots when she has the camera;-)

Back at the North Jetty, but this time with a strong surge.

Not the calmer surf from days earlier.

Ilwaco, WA

We had a mix of overcast and sunny days during our visit.  Ilwaco is a favorite destination of ours.  We wish the Port of Ilwaco would invest in an RV Park.

Thee slip to the left of center is where we spent two months on the Bayliner 38.  Absolutely loved it.

Always a great place for photos on a sunny day.

One of the vessels on the hard at Ilwaco is the Jeanne O.  Slowly rotting away, this double ended fishing boat has been the subject of some of my photography because I love its working boat lines and its character.  The boat has also captured the eye of a local watercolor artist.  At the end of our two months in Ilwaco in 2013, Laura gave me a watercolor of the Jeanne O.

Jeanne O

Long Beach

Camping in the Northwest has it share of overcast days, but when the sun comes out the colors are spectacular.

Dale and Laura near Andersen's RV Park

Heading back to camp as our trip comes to an end.

The beach grass is beautiful as it moves to the wind.

Not the overcast of the first day as we prepare to head home.

A final sunset from Andersen's RV Park

Andersen's RV Park was wonderful.  Although missing bike access to the Discovery Trail, getting there was only a short drive.  We enjoyed our week at Long Beach.  As predicted, it was too short.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Shorewood RV Park - Rockaway Beach, Oregon

The trip from Beverly Beach State Park, near Newport, OR on Hwy 101 to Shorewood RV Park at Rockaway Beach, OR was a pretty drive.  I become "that RV" on this stretch of road as I controlled the speed of the descents more conservatively than the long line of cars behind me would have preferred.  The only challenging part of the drive was between Oretown, just south of Pacific City, and Pleasant Valley, just south of Tillamook.  The road became more narrow, had fewer places to pull off if you had enough advance notice to recognize them, and takes a winding path through the countryside.

Shorewood RV Park, Rockaway Beach, Oregon

Shorewood RV Park is more trailer park than RV park, judging by the many long-term trailers and mobile beach cabins.  It was clean, well equipped, and staffed with friendly people. We were in site B8, overlooking the beach, and tucked between two vacation park trailers. Beach access was excellent. The park as gravel roads, 50 amp power, sewer, water, and cable TV with lots of channels.

We came in on 2nd Ave, which was a little tight.  Next time we'll use 3rd Ave for arrival and departure.  I work from the road, so an Internet connection is critical. The park's WiFi was good, but not great because the performance would dip periodically during the day.  Verizon 4G was delivering a solid three bars.

We were in site B8, squeezed between two bungalows facing the ocean.

Our view.  Must be awesome in the winter.

Looking south with the North Barview Jetty protecting the entrance to Tillamook Bay.

Looking north

Shorewood RV Park is all about the beach. Flat, firm underfoot, and seemingly endless, it's great for walks. Laura's parents used to live on the beach at 34585 Ocean Dr, Kiwanda Shores, Pacific City, OR 97135.  I enjoyed the walks from their house to Cape Kiwanda and back.

The site was nice and wide

Our Safari among holiday bungalows

Colored Chairs

Protection against winter storms

While primarily a trailer park, it was fortunate that they set aside some sites for RVs

Sporting a PYC cap, Laura grills yams, and onions

Dusk

Looking north to Twin Rocks

The sunsets were gorgeous

North Bayview Jetty

It was a 1.16-mile walk on the beach from our campsite to the jetty

Watching boats cross the bar at Tillamook Bay was quite the spectator sport.  We were there on a nice day, and it still seemed pretty wild.  I can't imagine what bad conditions look like.

Tillamook Bay Bar

U.S.C.G

Laura at the North Bayview Jetty

Dale and Laura

Another wonderful sunset

We spent two delightful evenings at Shorewood RV Park.  The place underscored that for us it's all about location.  Give us enjoyable walks and interesting places nearby, and we find we're not looking for the RV park to entertain us.  We just want it to be clean, well maintained, safe, and quiet.  We'll definitely come back.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much