Travels to Hood River, Oregon

It's a ritual. Each March, to mark the start of spring, I tuck The Little Little Trailer into a purse and set off to meet up with Miss Patty for exploration of some Northwest town or other. (Because the weather often is still iffy, we leave the big trailers home.)

This year we chose Hood River, Oregon, in the Columbia Gorge. We've previously met up in Pendleton and Joseph, Oregon, and in Walla Walla, Washington.

For accommodations, we rented a small, quaint house not far from downtown. Then we imposed a little of our own camping style on it, with a few blooming plants and such. We each had our own tiny room--a little bit like staying in a trailer, right?


Hood River has several claims to fame, one being its title as Windsurfing Capital of the World. Windsurf boards are so ubiquitous that they're almost trash--which is how Miss Patty ended up with a pickup load to take home for a clever project.

The weather turned out to be lovely and calm, and the mighty Columbia reflected this with an almost-still surface.

Mt. Adams, to the north, was clearly visible. So was Mt. Hood, to the south.

Hood River has a lovely, well-kept, and thriving old-fashioned downtown. The restaurant scene is active and creative, with a serious 'farm to table' bent to it.

We got all excited when we walked into a gift store and found a rack of items featuring cute vintage trailers. So excited that we 'forgot to remember' the name of the store!

Hood River's orchards and vineyards make for another of the area's claim to fame. We didn't have to get very far out of town to find both the orchards, and some intriguing roadside businesses.

Like this one, which sold everything from secondhand sporting goods (see Photo #1) to landscape trees (I bought three) to old furniture and house fixtures.

Of course, like big game hunters, we also scout for trailers all the time. 'Trailer trolling,' as it were. When we can get a photo next to one, so much the better. Here, Miss Patty bagged a big one! It's converted into a food trailer, which seems to be a popular idea in the Hood River area. We saw several of these.

To be continued--with more about the trailer trolling.

The Little Trailer Goes Exploring

The Little Little Trailer loves to be out exploring, and after spending most of the winter on a shelf, she hit the road for her first Girl Camping trip of the year.

She set up camp on the banks of the Salmon River, also known as the river of no return. It courses over 400 miles through Idaho before merging with the Snake River. A mountainous divide separates the two rivers above their joining point. TTLT decided to cross the divide and get to the other river.

TLLT crossed the Salmon near White Bird, using a nice modern bridge.

Then she took the road to the left, which goes to Pittsburgh Landing on the Snake.

The road rose quickly and revealed spectacular ranching country. The Little Little Trailer pulled up onto one of the few mailboxes to get a better view.

As the terrain got even steeper, TTLT was amazed to see ranch buildings on a slant.

Right at the top of the divide, TTLT posed at the sign marking the start of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

And then--what a sight! With the Snake River at the bottom of a geological marvel, TTLT was looking at the Oregon side of the entrance to Hells Canyon.

The ultra-remote area is stirringly documented in Home Below Hells Canyon, a memoir by a woman whose family lived and ran sheep on the steep range during the Depression. TTLT has had this book read to her at least half a dozen times.

The Little Little Trailer continued down to the end of the road and to Pittsburgh Landing, which is a put-in spot for boats. The road distance between the two rivers is 17 miles.

Ranches on the Snake, like the old Titus ranch straight across from the landing, are inaccessible by road.  Mail and supplies are delivered by boat, and there is a frighteningly short airstrip at this ranch that allows fearless pilots to get in and out.

The Little Little Trailer backed down to the water's edge, then realized the current was too swift and lapping to be taking any chances.

TTLT made the return trek to historic White Bird without mishap--very happy to have been a visitor to one of Idaho's wild places.

Holiday Travel With The Little Little Trailer

Our intrepid TLLT felt like having turkey with the home folks this year, so she took one of her North Dakota Or Bust trips from northern Idaho with Girl Camping Girl at the wheel. (The full-size trailer stayed home due to 'negative towing conditions.')

It's almost 40 hours of driving, round trip, over the Rockies at Lookout Pass and then over 1,000 miles across the northern plains. The halfway point, going to and from, is in the general vicinity of Billings, Montana.

Through the auspices of 'Sisters on the Curb,' a function within Sisters on the Fly, GCG (Sister#444)  enjoyed and appreciated the overnight hospitality of Sisters #1 and #1570, Maurrie and Wanda.
('Curbers' offer parking and/or bunk space for fellow members who are traveling.)

We have to say that it changes women's solo travel completely to know that there's a safe place and a friendly face waiting at the end of a day's long drive. GCG rolled out her sleeping bag for a great night's sleep and loved being shown around.

And you really can't beat the local color that's available off the Interstate.

TLLT got lucky with dry roads through the Badlands.

She arrived 'home for the holidays' in time to help assemble the Thanksgiving table centerpiece.

TTLT was back on the road again the next day and found the many miles of farming country to be extremely picturesque. Progress was slow because GCG kept insisting on stopping to take pictures.

Yippee, grandkid time!

And, another fun night with new-found friends in Montana.  GCG loved the Cowboy Bar in Fishtail, and the Fishtail General Store!

The Little Little Trailer got lucky again with some dry travelin' roads for the last leg home to Idaho. She's restin' her tired wheels tonight, but never fear--she'll soon be ready and rearin' to go again!

The Little Little Trailer & Friends

In the beginning, there was The Little Little Trailer, all by herself.  She needed a place to park and call home, which led to her slice of Idaho real estate called Girl Camp.

Then she met another tiny trailer, Cherry Lane, who also needed permanent parking. One thing led to another, and soon Girl Camp became twice as big--big enough to hold several more trailers than two.

An enormous vintage Airstream arrived and took up residence as a guest house.

Then more trailer friends arrived, some of them with watercraft, and all sorts of frivolity ensued.

Now, The Little Little Trailer is surrounded by friends, old and new, and considers herself to be the luckiest little trailer in the world.

(And she thanks you for reading this, too!)

The Little Little Trailer Goes Glamping

The Little Little Trailer keeps hearing about this phenomenon called 'glamping' (glamorous camping). There's even a new book about it. Time to hook up, Girl Camping Girl at the wheel, and go investigate.

TLLT--being a rugged sort of little trailer--wondered if she would fit in. But the welcome sign was clearly out. 'Always be color-coordinated' seems to be an unwritten law of glamping, so TLLT fit in right away.

There'a a significant quotient of vintage style in this glamping thing.  One of Girl Camping Girl's life-sized trailers was featured in this issue of Vintage Style magazine that was inside someone's glampmobile, so TLLT felt a bit famous by association.

The Little Little Trailer loves color. Red camping cooler? Right up her street.

And red glamping cowboy boots?! Now we're talkin'! Those came very close to being tossed into TLLT's truck bed in the dark of night.

Apparently, the glamping crowd loves color, too. Bright pops of color were to be seen everywhere.

Something turquoise is practically a requirement, it seems. No ordinary TV trays for a glamper--stand back while she gets out her can of spray paint!

TLLT was impressed by the glamper girl who was able to put red, yellow and turquoise together so masterfully.

No glamper-girl gathering is complete, it seems, without someone who's seriously into pink. TLLT thought this vintage pink radio was pretty darn sweet.

Glampers don't like to leave anything undecorated. But they have a sense of humor about it: Mad Housewife, plus bottle apron!

They give each other gifts, like this table runner sewn up in vintage-trailer fabric.

And like this handcrafted sign made of wood.

TLLT even encountered a glamper girl who travels with a customized bling case!

Eventually, the glamping weekend was over, and The Little Little Trailer returned to her more rustic camping pursuits. She could see why certain women have fun playing with their glamping toys, though.

Sure beats the heck out of chopping wood!