I left the office Friday night not knowing much about my weekend other than I knew I was going camping at the Jones Creek Camp Ground on the Wilson River. I looked up Jones Creek and found out that it is equipped with vault toilets. I had to run the Google on that. I can’t find a photo but a vault toilet is a non-flushing toilet but it is permanent not like a port-a-potty. This knowledge left me a bit apprehensive. I like to flush a toilet.
As I have mentioned, I have not been camping since 1977. Until Friday evening, I had no idea how much stuff needs to be taken along when going camping. Although now that I think about it, camping is like packing your clothes, books and stuff for a little getaway and then also packing the hotel and restaurants. I didn’t really know what to do but Deren got home and we started prepping.



Years and years ago, before I was married (either time), my parents would go to Gearhart for a month every summer. Since there really wasn’t room in the O’Connor vacation for fast food, my mom had to have all of her cooking tools with her. She traveled with The Spice Basket, which had spices, good knives, scissors, meat thermometer, etc. Once I was vacationing with my own family, I got my own Spice basket and there it is!

And here is my favorite photo of prep time….Derwood’s suitcase. Derwood packed a suitcase for a trip that would last no more than 36 hours. That’s my clothes horse!
In Derwood’s defense, he also packed many flashlights which did come in handy.

My favorite piece of camping luggage:

The drive was great and it took no more than 30 minutes for Derwood to threaten to leave me at the side of the road. He is tough to travel with because it bothers him how I jump and stomp on the passenger side brake and gasp while he’s driving. No, he’s not a bad driver but you never know.
Our first stop was….
Yep, the Glenwood Park Store, where as you can see they sell Fast Food, Bait and Tackle. They don’t mention that they also sell cassette tapes. In case 1983 rolls back around and you need to listen to some Kenny Chesney.

I bought a couple of bottles of water and Derwood got a styrofoam cup of night crawlers which happily had a tightly fitting plastic lid on it. Gah! They had public restrooms but I decided to wait.


We arrived at Jones Creek Campground, which is first come-first served, and were told that the BEST site C1 was open!
Ermergerd C1!!! Hurry Derwood drive like the wind at 10 mph and get us to C1! And he did. Click on the photos to see the exquisite detail.






We had only one little glitch in set up. Derwood bought a car charger/converter thing that wasn’t powerful enough to power the air mattress pumps. So we had to go into Tillamook and buy another air mattress that didn’t have an electric pump attached and a hand pump. And a box of wine. And a stop at a bathroom with a flush toilet.


In tomorrow’s blog, I leave the campsite and go out in nature and to the vault! Stay tuned!
You must really really be in love. Can’t wait for the vault toilet update. You’re one brave gal. I’ll leave my camping days behind me .. Back in 1987
I am really in love 🙂
Dreamy lady dreamy!
I’m loving your weekend story. Can’t wait for episode 2.
It will be out today or tomorrow so hold on to your tent!
Maggie, I went camping once. In 1982 shortly before moving to more advanced civilization, New York City. The camping trip was to Yosemite with a friend and her friends because her bf had to cancel at the last minute. Sleeping in a bag on the ground just made me yearn from a room in the Hyatt. I also went hiking up some steep mountain trail. I reached the top first and my reward was getting my period early. Yee ha. I appreciate your pictures almost as much as not being there personally. Bring on the tale of the vault toilet!
I think it helps that I was with a camping guru, if on my own….this would have been the Private Benjamin of camping trips. And I’m in menopause so that helps.
I hope you packed your black cohosh.
Fabulous post, as ever. I most liked the rope strung between the two trees. It is one of the absolute essentials when camping. Essentials. I don’t know where you would have been without that. Also, I’m flabbergasted that you got C1. That’s big news, Maggie.
Right and Right! There’s more to come on the rope. I know you can’t stand the suspense!
I’m trying to think of some kind of suspense/suspension/rope joke to reply with but I can’t….
None of this really seems like fun to me, but to each his own I guess. And Busch Beer? Really?
It’s NA and apparently not too bad.
Oh god, that’s even worse!!!
Fabulous story – cannot wait for the suite
Rope between two trees… if you live in Eastern Oregon that either means someone chose a really crappy spot for hoisting their food up to keep from bears (it’s supposed to be away from the campsite) or they set it up for those who camp under tarps/make-shift tents. Which you never want to do… ever. I’m looking forward to hearing what you have discovered about it too!
I love camping! I love your photo of the bait and tackle store. Because I’m a city girl at heart, I really enjoy areas that are a little more country. Can’t wait to hear the rest!
I camped once.
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