When we bought our RV in 2019 we had high hopes, but like most of the world Covid stuck its foot out. We had gotten out a couple of times in summer and fall of 2019, winterized the rig, and was about to take it in for promised warranty work when we couldn’t. Then most of the public lands got shut down in our state. We finally got the warranty work done this summer, put in better suspension and other things….and we knew we had to get out for a short trip. And see how bad cold weather RV’ing was when it is windy. Using the RV is definitely different than camping in a tent and a lot more than backpacking. Preflight check lists are much needed. I’ll be posting our final one eventually, once I get it done.
Check in find was a painted rock, that I hid for someone else to find.
Getting a spot at Fort Casey State Park on Whidbey Island is pretty hard year round, especially if you want a power/water site so you don’t have to run a generator and boon dock it. We have an onboard generator and I prefer to not have to listen to it shake the entire RV. I lucked and found a spot for us, before all the Thanksgiving campers showed up. The spot cost us $30 a night plus an $8 booking fee. Fort Casey doesn’t have an RV dump station, but with your receipt you can use the dump station for free at South Whidbey State Park and Deception Pass Sate Park (normally $5), if you need it. Dogs are allowed at the campground, but must be on a leash at all times when outside.
We have a petite Class A that drives like a Class C. Everything we need, without feeling like you should have taken a CDL driving course…..
Once we got set up, I took off before the sun set at…..4:25 pm. Not many hours of light in the PNW in November, so take what you can. I set out to the beach, as the campground is just above the water.
Down the beach, in the distance is the mainland with Port Townsend’s paper factory sending up vapor. The beach access off the campground is one of the best in the park.
I took the trail up the bluff just off the beach access.
Looking over the bluff to the Salish Sea. I had a Bald Eagle fly over me, not more than 15 feet above. Somewhere in the distance, down the left side of land is the bay we live above.
The bluff is lined with native Nootka Roses, full of rosehips, slowly dehydrating on the branches. Vitamin C as far as one can see…..pick, halve, scoop out the innards (and discard) and soak the hips in boiling water for a tongue twisting tea…..
The trail goes to the top of the bluff, and opens up. The fort is to your right, but across and to your left is the open water. Port Townsend is visible far across, with the smoke vapor rising up. The ferry was crossing back to the island. As the sun set, I hurriedly headed down.
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Ferry is in.
The sun set, and the winds kicked up. There is not much to block the wind along the water. But it lulls one to sleep to listen to the wind rocking the RV back and forth. We woke up to intense rain in the night, but metal tent means back to sleep. With a peaceful drumming.
We did find though we had to run the propane fueled heat a lot more, due to the wind. Something we will have to work with in the coming year, as we add in insulation for boon docking.
Woke up early and made breakfast with our hens’ eggs. Nothing like rustling up eggs fresh out of the coop before you leave!
Got up to watch one of the early ferry runs. In the off season only one ferry runs on this route. Most of this year however has been only one run, to tamp down how many use it (wether or not the state will admit that is the reason……) so it hasn’t been easy to take the Port Townsend run. In off season though, it isn’t heavily used, even during a normal year. This is the view from one of the campsites.
I worked on a new recipe: Brothy Ramen with Veggies & Egg that was extra warming on a rainy morning.
For a second breakfast I made up a batch of Skillet Biscuits & Sausage Gravy from PackitGourmet. It’s a one pan meal, the biscuits are a snap to cook up. I plated up the biscuits and took the steeping gravy, and brought it to a quick boil in the frypan (which you don’t have to, but I wanted the gravy extra thick). Easy cleanup in a non-stick pan. I used an MSR skillet, handy to have for smaller meals.
It’s got a kick of spice, which both of us loved. We split the B&G, and then used it to fuel us going for a walk, as the rain lightened up.
~Sarah