Summer is here meaning the tent camping season is now fully open {for us} - we kicked off the season with a two night stay at Memaloose Oregon State Park; actually the same campground we kicked the season off for a few years now. Memaloose State Park is in the Columbia River Gorge just past Mosier and few miles west of The Dalles; this is the place - at least we think so - where the lush green changes over to a more desert feel. The mighty Columbia is just below the campground and Rowena Crest rises high above; Memaloose is located where the gorge is super narrow. The train line is below the campground separating the river from the park; I-84 runs right above campground and Rowena Crest towers above. Yes, it is loud - there is the highway, trains all times of day and night, and - since this is the Columbia River Gorge - one the premier wind/kite surfing places around the world super, duper windy. WE - for some odd reason - love to kick off the season here. It is always a lot warmer, and drier than Portland plus there is a lot to do.
We love hiking up Rowena Crest, or the Tom McCall Preserve but since I hurt my foot {hello Plantar Faciatis} a hike was not in the cards. Let's just say that MiaRose was slightly excited about that fact. Instead of the hike we headed to the Washington side in the gorge, tasted some wine, went to an awesome museum and visited Stonehenge. More about that tomorrow, or soon thereafter...
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| Roasted Marshmallows and s'mores by the campfire |
Other things to do include biking, wind/kite surfing, hiking, more wine tasting, visit the the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, taste fantastic beers at Full Sail and/or Double Mountain in Hood River…
Oh yes and finally figured out how to improve our camping fare; parboil. I obviously did not invent the idea but how on earth did it take me so long to think of it? We finally had great food - perfectly roasted corn on the cobb {parboiled at home before packing} plus potatoes, bacon, and eggs for breakfast - I parboiled the potatoes and they came out fantastic….
Good to know before you camp at Memaloose
- It is loud - there is no way of sugar coating it; trains run throughout the night, and so does the traffic on the highway
- It is windy and the wind can be really gusty; so if you are tenting be prepared to anchor it down
- It is dry and hot
- and yes, despite it all we love it , but it is not for everyone - so if you are looking for a quaint spot to camp this is not it…
- Great Junior Ranger program in the summer