Franks OTRA - Where's Frank-O now....

Ok, so it’s my turn to start “Tripp'n” and logging them as such. I've been wandering around the PNW for the last 5 years generally weekend camping/diving trips. Now ready to push it all the way. Schedule is updated as needed at:
www.poolesweb.com >Schedule

Website:
www.poolesweb.com
which has the links to the schedule/galleries/Facebook etc.
Email: fbpoole@gmail.com, feel free to drop a note.

Posting:
Each trip will be posted as: Frank’s OTRA + location
(On The Road Again by Willie Nelson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TD_pSeNelU
to help the “Search” feature for those going to the same area.

Home:
Living in Kent, WA just South of Seattle, near SEA TAC airport. Originally from Pasadena, CA, moved to the PNW in ’89, roaming around in Bellingham then down to Seattle. Retired, ready to roam the country.

Frank’s Rig aka “Le Droppe”
2008 Ultra 550, Camp Inn #249
Decals = Mermaid & Wood Nymph on sides, and a “My ‘Happy Place’ “ big one on the back hatch.

Tow Vehicle (TV):
2010 – pres= Chev Colorado 4x4 w/lift bags, Silver w/canopy
2008-2010 = Midsized GMC - Silver

Logs:
Miles & Nites are tracked and logged when completed with running totals Here:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgTsQVZ_JT18dHl5aE11cHZSRGF4cm96Q1VuWEtVY0E#gid=3

Photo Gallery:
Albums ID by locations
https://plus.google.com/photos/108683042376142967861/albums

Blenders:
Carmen = A “Camping Anywhere Remote for a Margarital Environmental Nirvana”
- Yellow- Battery power, will go anyway

Rita = “Really Intoxicating Tequila Annihilator”
- Red - Hook ups needed, power (have battery, will travel)

DAN aka the “Drink-A-Nator”
- Silver – 3 blenders, fully automatic, needs power

MAVERICK = “Mega All-terrain Vehicular Emergency Re-supplier of Intoxicating Concoctions”
- Blue storage bin with various mixes and things to go into them.

Camping equipment: (Depends on the trip)
Canopies: 3 Red tops
12x12 light, summer shade etc, light rain/drizzle
12x12 heavy duty w/Side walls winter/winds/rain
16x16 Circus Tent w/side walls bigger version

Misc:
Fire ring Propane fire pit with logs
Telescope
Wine & Cheese Soiree’ stuff
Red Beer Exchange tub
BBQ – SCUBA Dive tank (seasoned) w/Shark Fin and a Hibachi
Party Favorites - Hawaiian, Halloween and others.
Honda 2000i Generator
Werker 12v 100AH@20amps per Hour
2 extra propane tanks
Red Shower stall with tank-less water heater
CI’s Gray Air Locker
Mountain Bike - Orange

Various links to mentioned items:
Victory Girl: Le Droppe's Decal
Blenders: Camen, Rita, DAN
Science for Kids: Fun science stuff for us kids





Time to hit the road...



Fun.... heheh...

 

Re: Franks OTRA - Anchor

1/16/2013 Frank's OTRA - Dog Sledding, Leavenworth, WA
(Previously posted - just putting under this one)

Round Trip Miles: 133mi
Drive Time One Way: 2.2hrs
Nights in "Le Droppe": 2 nights
Google Map: Route Map
Links to the Campsites: KO Pine Village KOA
Highlights of the Trip: Dogsled Adventures - Leavenworth
The trip was to go Dog Sledding which was fun. About 2 hrs or so... Mannn, those dogs are having fun... they love it and strong? yikes... biggest fear??? that they take off, leaving you behind... heheh, fun...

Previous Post

 

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3/18/2013 Frank’s OTRA Water Falls - Deschutes, Columbia River, OR
(Previously posted - just putting under this one)

Round Trip Miles: 500mi (down I-5 due to weather)
Drive Time One Way: 3.9
Nights in "Le Droppe": 2
Google Map: Route Map
Links to the Campsites: Deschutes River State Park
Highlights of the Trip: Trying to capture the Waterfalls in the area along the Columbia River - unfortunately got "Blown Out" with Gale force winds and rain squalls. Will redo after Summer.

Photo Gallery here

 

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3/27/2013 Frank's OTRA - Lopez Island, WA

Round Trip Miles: 200 mi
Drive Time One Way: 2.8 (ferry ride and wait time)
Nights in "Le Droppe": 3
Google Map: Route Map
Links to the Campsites: Odlin Park
Highlights of the Trip: Just a weekend relaxed camping at the Beach. Went to the Spit on the other side, but mainly just sat on the beach like bumps on a log, watching the ferry go by...

Photo Gallery here

 

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Alan would like to know what is the logo on the coozie?

 

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5/1/2013 Frank's OTRA DAM gathering Mt Shasta, CA

Round Trip Miles: 1176 mi appx (rerouted back via Klamath Falls)
Drive Time One Way: 9.8 via I-5
Nights in "Le Droppe": 3 nights
Google Map: Route Map
Links to the Campsites:
Antlers RV Park
KOA Klamath Falls
Cove Palisades State Park
Maryhill State Park, WA

Highlights of the Trip: Crater Lake. Got to Mt Shasta, left after 20 min, too hot-buggy-dry-crowded. rerouted to Klamath Falls, Crater lake was the highlight.

Photo Gallery Here

Details:
Hmmmm.... Well, the best laid plans of mice & men...

It's just me, I know, I know, but after driving 10hrs from Seattle to Antlers a quick round about the loops and I KNEW this wasn't going to work. Luckily I met up with Sarah and Joan but alas eventually they tried but didn't work.

After about 20-min driving around the park, aside from knowing the fellow Camp Inn campers I left. Just could see any reason to stay, not my cup O Tea.. min 2-6 per site, misquotes (Sarah found those little buggars... Wasps, dirt/dust/ hot, just not going to work. Left after about 20 mun, headed and stayed at Klamath Fall KOA which was actually nice. My thinking is KOA are good during the OFF season.

After KOA (today driving for Wed was 13 hrs headed up to Palasaides Park that Bob & Kathy suggested. Saw it, different name and Garmin kept saying it's .4 miles.. continued on, marina... along the river, crossed the bridge, up to the closed Deschutes park, back down a river, single lane bridge (and yes, I was getting my doubts Garmin knew where it was) back up to the butt, end up along a dusty=dirt road for about a mile and finally sunk in. Never use the GARMIN to pinpoint a state park. It shows you the center of the 20-SqMilesk miles of the park itself. went back to the park found a spot and tried to figure out what was taken or not. Figured I'd just stay to Sun when I actually had a RSVP. Sigh... I was also off a day, thinking it was Wed.. bottom line, stayed one night, now up at Maryhill SP and enjoying it. 2-3 days, not sure yet, but warm, grass open spaced... sweet...
So, I certain everyone had a good time, jut not my Cup O'Tea...
cheers..

 

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59//2013 Frank's OTRA Zion & Bryce Canyon, Utah

Round Trip Miles: 2220 apx
Drive Time One Way: 12.5 hrs
Nights in "Le Droppe": 10 nights
Google Map: Route Map
Links to the Campsites:
Cedar City
(Two other ones can't remember - Twin falls, down in a gully, quite nice easy to miss and one on the way back, fergit.
Highlights of the Trip: Visit Bryce and Zion canyon parks. No hiking, just driving around, was nice but not mind blowing as I would have thought.

Photo Gallery Here

 

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Vietnam Vet cooler... I save that for Beer/wine coolers only... heheh... and old one, not sure they still have them around....

 

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6/23/2013 Frank's OTRA Super Moon - Wanapum SP (Vantage, WA)

Round Trip Miles: 270 mi
Drive Time One Way: 2.1
Nights in "Le Droppe": 3 nights
Google Map: Route Map
Links to the Campsites:
Wanapum SP

Highlights of the Trip: to Catch the Super Moon, heheh fruitless up here in WA due to weather, but a fun relaxing trip. Also to redo the Wind Turbines and Petrified forest.

Photo Gallery Here

 

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7/7/2013 Frank's OTRA Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC, Canada

Round Trip Miles: 768 mi
Drive Time One Way: 6.2 hrs
Nights in "Le Droppe": 8
Google Map: Route Map
Links to the Campsites:
Okanagan Lake Provincial Park
North Thompson River Provincial Park
Highlights of the Trip: River Rafting - Boat Tour - Park Tour
River Rafting with IWE, excellant, then jet boat tour to Azure Lake, nice, then Park Tour, good, to various waterfalls. Left for Kettle Valley Railroad trip, hold up, BBQ - not worth it. then home. Stayed at Okanagan Lake North on the way up - nicer, bigger sites and quieter, and souther, crowded with kids, lake sides have short path to beach which makes it worthwhile, otherwise would not go. Area was Buggy, Kids, not much Traffic (BKTs)

Photo Gallery Here

 

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7/25/2013 Frank's OTRA Mossyrock Park - PNW CICO



Photo Gallery Here

Round Trip Miles: 248 mi
Drive Time One Way: 2.3 hrs
Nights in "Le Droppe": 3 nights
Google Map: Route Map
Links to the Campsites:
Tacoma Power's Mossyrock Park
Highlights of the Trip: fun Trip for the 3rd Annual PNW Camp Inn Camp Out

 

Re: Franks OTRA - Anchor

Welcome Home

 

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heheh, home?, well on behalf of all Vets, thank you both... I'm really looking forward to meeting the both of you.. Me thinks we have a "Like" sense of humor and life... heheh, cheers...

 

Re: Franks OTRA - Anchor

We also have a BOOS cutting block. It's on the kitchen counter.....I guess I could take it camping and use it for a spare tire since it's the 3" round one!!

We are looking thru your latest post and love the photos. FEBRUARY AND MARCH are pretty nice here in Florida (except for the traffic on the "major" roads)and we are looking forward to your visit!!!!! So when will you be roaming around our neck of the palm trees as Alan won't go back to the LEFT COAST!!!

Alan here...

Yes Welcome Home. As a Nam vet, 3 tours as a combat corpsman, I know well the price paid and never let a vet go by without thanking them for their service and giving them a welcome home. I know the welcome I got in 71 and will never forget it, so I make sure that I appreciate the service of others.

 

Re: Franks OTRA - Anchor

Susan,
Boos.. yep, same round 3" incher, some 14" diameter love it when group camping, but had to down size to this one but just can't seem to use it for Meats/chicken etc.. heheh, so got another Bamboo smaller cutting board... sigh, still cut on paper plates... heheh... not to mention a cheese board... but downsizing for long distance traveling... too much stuff, so little time...LOL.. you can kinda see it here:



Alan,
Welcome home Brother... felt more at home over there than here, but life is a little easier here... spent 2.5 yrs in SEA, non-combat, but not entirely out of the mix, AF - Air Operations..
I know the feeling of the coming home, sigh, at least the next gen of Vets didn't have to go through that again, lesson's learn thank Gawd...

Hava good one, thought you'd be going to the CICO in a couple of weeks... if not, will catch up in my planned, well sorta planned, mad dash through the lower 48... heheh.. one day at a time as they say...

cheers...

 

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Mine's an 18 inch rounder' and whenever we know we'll be camping with you... I'll be sure to throw in an extra NORITAKE IVORY CHINA "Trudy" dinner plate in the soft sided cooler!! I figured my mother never used 'em enough....holidays...so I'm using them, enjoying them, and going to break 'em one at a time!! They're actually very tough!

 

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Noritake, LOL...
Yah, sent a complete set to my A-hem, 'Ex-Girl Friend' at the time.... for her wedding present... bamboo style... I would have been greatly surprised if she even opened them up outside of looking at the first one...
Sigh, I can only do:
What I can,
When I can,
With What I have.... LOL...

See ya around the campus...

 

Re: Franks OTRA - Anchor

Thanks Jenn and Alan,

Time to move on to the business at hand... CAMPING...

Next stop for Moi???
The Lumber Jack Jubilee, next week back at Morton (near Mossy Rocks)...
http://www.loggersjubilee.com/

Whoa... "Back in the Saddle again... heee Hawww..."...

 

Re: Franks OTRA - Anchor

8/10/2013 Frank's OTRA - Logger's Jubilee



Hightlights:
Never been to one, thought it would be fun, it was. Crowded, buggie, kids and allergies cut it short by a day. Lawn Mower racing, Parade, Bed Racing, Flea Market and of course the Loggers… They’re ‘Knutts’.. heheh amazing.

Photo Gallery Here


Detailed trip report here

Round Trip Miles: 177 mi
Drive Time One Way: 1.9 hrs (Hwy WA 161 & WA-7)
Nights in “Le Droppe”: 5
Links to the Campsites:
Taidnapam Park (Tacoma Light & Power)
url=http://www.loggersjubilee.com/] 2013 Loggers Jubilee [/url]

Google Map: Route Map


Fun..

 

Frank Loggers Jubilee does look like a lot of fun.