We took Kenji and Sakura to Frog Pond Farm in Wilsonville. It was really fun!
There were a bunch of animals to pet and feed.
Even CAMELS?! By the way, they immediately stole our food cup. Judging from the many food cups on the ground, I think they do that a lot.
Plus, there were games, slides, and even a big maze.
One of our very favorite things, though, was rolling around this huge hamster wheel. Kenji and I know how to have fun!
We went to Silverwood Theme Park in northern Idaho! They have a section called Roller Coaster Alley where most of their extreme coasters live.
My first ride was Corkscrew. Fun fact: this was the first Arrow Corkscrew ever built and the first inverting coaster in the world. It originally operated at Knott’s Berry Farm until it was relocated to Silverwood in 1990.
It was also a rough headbanger.
Later, we rode the wooden coaster, Timber Terror, and this kiddie coaster, Tiny Toot.
I loved this swing ride called Barnstormer.
The next day, it was time for the long drive home…
…and a lunch stop at the Boardman, Oregon-famous C&D Drive-In. Daddy actually had the Bozo Burger! (I had the strawberry smoothie.)
Almost exactly a year after my first camping trip, I went on my second camping trip!
We arrived at the Tin Willows Sheep Farm in the high desert of Oregon in the early evening and set up our rented camper van at sunset.
I slept in the pop top, of course!
We had oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, cooked on our indoor propane stove.
We had access to the creek from our campsite and waded in the chilly water for a bit.
One of my very favorite things about camping was catching flies in our van! We had sooo many flies. We all had a mason jar that we used to catch and release.
Another thing I loved were s’mores! We couldn’t have a campfire due to the fire ban, but the propane stove worked just fine.
On our last day camping, we walked to the actual sheep farm to see some animals.
It was quite windy.
Daddy can always find the dogs. This was Ellie…
…and this was Lora.
The sheep were all lined up, ready to be milked.
Terry, the owner of the farm, showed me how to milk a sheep using the milking machine.
I also found a cute little barn kitten named Dottie!
She climbed right up into my lap for some cuddling.
Mommy and Daddy went to go pet some sheep…
…oh, and Daddy found another dog.
Meanwhile, I found the greatest dirt hill ever.
Another camping trip in the books! Thanks, Tin Willows and our 1989 Ford Economline!
I went on my first camping trip! We headed west to Powder Creek Ranch in the Shiloh Valley. I loved the creek immediately and spent most of the afternoon there.
Next thing you know, it was time to start a fire. I collected kindling around the campsite and Daddy got the fire going.
Then I spotted a deer who came for a snack from the nearby apple tree!
On our first night, we had chicken sausages for dinner, cooked on our propane stove.
Once it got dark, it was time for bed. But then we woke up to this beautiful view of our creek.
We went for a walk around the ranch to look for farm animals – and we found them!
When we got back, it was time for an oatmeal breakfast. A bunch of moths were sleeping on our picnic table. I gently poked one and it fluttered away.
I loved this hill and rolled down it on my skateboard, dubbing it “The Campsite Coaster.”
Then it was time to wade in the creek again. My goal was to walk all the way to the Nestucca River, but the rocks were too slippery to make it. Also, the water was cooooooold!
For lunch, we had ramen cups. They were good!
And then it was time to make a fire again. We had a lot of firewood, so we got it started early.
For our second night, we made pie iron pizzas on the fire.
And s’mores, of course!
It was super fun and I’m already thinking about where I want to go camping next summer!
We crossed the Hood River Bridge to visit…Hood River!
I waded in the Columbia River at the Hood River Waterfront Park.
It was over 90 degrees, so we took breaks in our sun shade and laughed at something I can’t remember on Daddy’s phone.
After a day at the river beach, it was time to head back to our cabin. But I wanted to climb this cool dirt hill first!
I also mastered climbing the ladder that goes to the loft in our cabin!
Mommy and I went to the Enchanted Forest near Salem, Oregon.
It started with Storybook Lane, which had weird things to go in and pass through.
But then we found the rides, which is what I really cared about. One of my favorites was the Bumper Boats.
I also liked the Tiny Tune Train.
But my very favorite was the Ice Mountain Bobsled Roller Coaster!
Grandpa wanted to go to the Ham Radio Convention in the coastal town of Seaside. So, while he and Daddy went there, Mommy and I hit the beach!
The first thing I noticed was a swing set!
Then it was time to dig to “the void.”
I also wanted to get my feet wet, but I was kind of scared of the cold water.
But I did it and spent the next hour running away from waves!
Here’s a video of me running away from those waves:
I have been fantasizing about driving to Interstate 82 for at least half a year now. Today, we made it a reality.
I was navigator and instructed the driver (Daddy) on where to go.
Our first stop was the Bridge of the Gods that spans the Columbia River, from I-84 in Oregon to SR-14 in Washington. Isn’t it a beauty??
We drove east in Washington for a bit and got to look back across to Oregon.
We eventually crossed the Hood River Bridge and had lunch in Hood River, OR. Mommy ordered a sandwich called the Turkey Meister, a name I can’t stop saying.
And Daddy played with toothpicks.
Then it was off to drive some more until we hit I-82. It took a long time, but was totally worth it! (Bonus: we saw lots and lots of bridges and trains. Official count: a gazillion.)
Then Mommy and Daddy really needed some tea and coffee, so I lounged here in this gigantic recliner.
Finally, we headed home after sundown. It was a long day, but an interstate dream was fulfilled.
The northeast was good to me, but it was time to go home. I logged my 7th airport on this trip – Newark! (The others I’ve been to? JFK, BOS, LAX, SFO, SEA, and PDX.)
Perhaps in a couple days, I’ll show off the many drawings I made on this trip.
Good to see you again, Mt. Hood. This sight meant we were just minutes from landing home. Thanks for the fun trip, Grandma and Grandpa!
