Leavenworth to Metzler

Trip #42

For this last trip we visited Bonair Winery in Zillah, Leavenworth, Deschutes River SRA, Barton Park, Stub Stewart, and Metzler.

It was our 42nd trip with the trailer in the past 43 months. A total of 412 nights on the road.

Leavenworth is one of our favorite places to visit but this is the first time we towed a trailer the 300 plus miles to this Bavarian style village in the Washington Cascades. The 98 degree heat slowed our progress in the passes. (anything over 85 degrees and 6% grade climb can cause the truck to overheat if I push it.)

We stayed at the Chelan County Fairgrounds. Not the prettiest RV park, but full hook ups and half the price of a park in town.

We visited Clackamas County Parks for the first time, Barton and Metzler. Logistics turned the 15 mile trek between the parks into a 127 journey. Barton was the better park for playing in the Clackamas River. Our time in Metzler was spent with grandkids and their church group.

Clackamas County Parks gives a generous 28 days free camping a season for veterans with a service connected disability. See CC Parks pass .

Between the CC Parks we visited L.L. Stub Stewart State Park for the 13th time. We rode our Ebikes on the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. One day we went to Buxton and back. The next day we road to Vernonia and back. 11 and 21 miles respectively. The elevation climb to Vernonia was not as bad as I thought it would be and we had plenty of battery power when we got back to camp.

Two restaurants in Vernonia were reluctant to let us charge our bikes. I later ran into the owner/operator of Fishhawk ECyclery at the city park on Adams Ave. They rent ebikes and even let non customers charge their bikes for free while they stop in town (bring your own charger and lock). See Fishhawk.