I left my small piece of Paradise on Wednesday. I was planning ahead because I knew that Labor Day Weekend was coming up and I wanted to find a place to camp for the whole weekend. It was a bright, beautiful day, about 65 degrees when I said goodbye to everyone. I didn’t think I would find such a friendly place again soon.

As I headed west the day grew very warm, 89 degrees in Kooskia, Idaho, 94 degrees when I hit the Oregon border. I wanted to camp on the Columbia river, I have been following the Lewis and Clark trail and felt that this would be a good last stop before heading to the coast. In the late afternoon I arrived at the Columbia River and started searching campsites and RV parks to find a place to stay, no one had any openings. It started to get late and I was feeling desperate, I asked the camp host at an RV park called Peach Beach if he knew of any place in the area I might find a campsite for the long weekend. He suggested Celilo Park and gave me directions.

I found Celilo Park, drove wearily in and found a large parking lot with a number of RV’s set up in the lot. There was a beautiful lawn dotted with trees and tents and we were right next to the Columbia River. I still wasn’t sure if this was a “real” camping spot so I drove to the end of the lot and asked a couple if you were allowed to camp here and how much was it? The answer was yes, for 14 days and it was free – there were flush toilets and water, no showers. The couple invited me to pull in right next to them. When folks saw I was having trouble backing up a man named Wayne immediately offered to do it for me; I was so tired I handed the wheel over to him – Maya is now used to strange men getting in and backing up the trailer.

The people were so friendly! The couple to the left – Debbie and John were also retired and full time RVers. The family on my right were also full timers. Their son Tim who was about 13 helped me get all set up. Wayne gave me directions to the next town over, Dalles, where I could get groceries. Celilo Park had a feeling of community about it.

John, Wayne and Debbie

Jimmy playing with Wayne’s dog Jake.

Jake and Maya, new best friends!

This park along the Columbia river was beautiful in a very different way from the one I had just left in Idaho. One great difference was the sounds; in Idaho all you heard was the river and a few squirrels – in Celilo Park there was the sound of traffic from the highway and the freight trains that came barreling through a dozen times a day (and night). It was a taste of urban camping. The people were just as nice and although we were strangers on Wednesday by next Tuesday when it was time to go, I felt like it was when the Fellowship of the Ring was broken! We had shared many meals together, pooling our food, and shared stories of our lives. In many ways all of us there were travelers, no one was on vacation – some of us had chosen the mobile life while others had not but they were doing the best they could. I gained a new perspective on homelessness and a new respect for people who find themselves in that situation.

The Columbia in the evening light.

The landscape was stunning, in the evening light the hills looked like rounded curves in a body. It was as if mother earth would rise up and shake herself from sleep any moment. The river itself had many moods,the colors ranged from gray to blue to turquoise and green.  It was often very windy and whitecaps would form. When that happened the windsurfers came out in force, swiftly riding the waves and wind. One morning when the river was calm I was finally able to get the kayak out for awhile before the wind picked up. It was exhilarating paddling on the mighty Columbia River! The salmon were running so there were a lot of boats with fisherman out. John and Wayne tried it out and both liked the experience.

Curving hills

Riding with the waves.

Windsurfers!

View looking towards, The Dalles, you can see the train tracks right along the edge.

An unusual rainy day.

My cousins Beth and Ed.

One afternoon I drove to Portland and met two cousins that I never knew existed until a year or so ago. We had lunch at a great outdoor cafe and shared photos of grandparents, aunts and uncles. Lately life seems to have so many new adventures and surprises, I look forward to every day!