The unofficial start to camping season in the PNW is the long Memorial Day weekend. Campgrounds are open, summer programs are getting started, and you get to see people trying out the new camping gear they got for Christmas.
I am a bit compulsive on trip planning.
I mark the calendar on the very first day you can make reservations – so I brew an early cup of coffee and sit down as soon as I get up in the winter months and make my camping reservations for the summer. It takes an imaginative mind to think about lush green grass with snow on the ground!
We have done many trips in the State of Washington during the Memorial Day weekend over the years – North Cascades National Park, the Olympic Peninsula, the Washington Coast and we even ventured into Canada a couple of years ago. Our goal is to always try somewhere new and within a 5 or 6 hour drive.
This year I made reservations at Deception Point State Park in the San Juan Islands. This is the most visited park in the Washington State Park system with over 3 million visitors annually.
I can see why.
Towering pine trees, lush vegetation, and a short walk to the beach.
While sitting in our campsite yesterday, Noel identified 7 different bird songs through the Merlin Bird ID app (thank-you Cornell University!).
This morning, Aurora and I had our usual early morning walk around the campground. It is my job to take her on a walk around the campground to pee and poop – while Noel gets the Murphy Bed put away and sets up the inside of the camper for the day.
We have had issues with Seattle traffic on previous Memorial Day weekends – so this time we left on Thursday and largely avoided any major traffic issues.
Today we are “workamping” – working Friday from the campground. This is a bit new for both of us – and we are trying it out to see how it works. I must admit that the YouTube influencers who travel around the country in RV’s full time make “workamping” sound pretty awesome.
We will see.
Noel is inside the camper (where it is nice and toasty) and Kirk got to work outside in the beautiful campground area.
I got the better end of the deal!
Later today we will explore this amazing area of Washington – and count our blessings to be in such a beautiful place!
Some of us are already exploring and doing our own version of “workamping” – there is nothing more fun than a smelly and dirty fire pit while Dad and Mom are working!
Kirk’s Travelogue 