Hooray For Unexpected Expenses! (Exploring Newberry National Volcanic Monument)
/Ep. 2 - Making the Most of a Detour! After an unexpected delay hits us on day 5 of our new alternative lifestyle, we spent an extra week in Bend, Oregon.
To skip the story of my biggest blunder to date:
| Jump to Things to Do |
Our original route was to travel north after Crater Lake, hitting up Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, & Spokane on our way to Glacier National Park. Then we would work our way over to Yellowstone before arriving in Pocatello, Idaho at the beginning of November to spend time with family over the holidays. So, in keeping with this plan, and in our desire to have full hook ups for at least a night, we headed up to Bend, Oregon from Crater Lake.
Thousand Trails - A Mini Overview
On the drive, I started scouting out full hookup sites near Bend with an eye toward keeping the cost to a minimum. That was when I found the Bend Sunriver Thousand Trails Campground. We decided we wanted to stay for two nights, so the cost would be $110.00 ($55/night).
When we bought our rolling home in July, the dealership included a one year basic membership to Thousand Trails, a camping club with locations throughout the country. The country is divided into 5 zones; Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest, and Midwest. You get to pick one and can add additional zones for $54 (current price as of February 2019). The free one year membership was a $585 value to us (based on the current price) and lets you stay for FREE at campgrounds for up to 14 days at a time, multiple times throughout the year. I’ll do a separate post going into Thousand Trails in greater detail, and our general opinion of the club.
Our mindset as of 3 days into our new lifestyle initially was to save activation of the membership for when we made it into the Southwest zone, but it made more sense to activate the membership for the Northwest zone, and then we could add the Southwest zone later in the year when we were ready to use it, because just one night in Bend would pay for the cost of the additional zone. By staying for two nights, we were well into saving money!
Remember it’s a big truck, Kate!
The next day, we went into Bend. Since it was likely that Scott would be driving most of the time that we were towing, it made sense that I would be the designated driver whenever we weren’t towing. The first little bit went ok, but then we decided we would stop off at the post office, googled the nearest one, and set off. The problem was - the truck is about 23’ long and the post office was in downtown Bend, an area that was built long before big trucks roamed the earth. I was looking for parking and could feel some anxiety creeping up as I did my best to navigate the tight streets.
On a one way, in the right lane no less, Scott pointed off to the left and said there was a parking lot over there. I quickly looked to the side and reacted instinctively like I would with my Subaru Forester, not with the caution that should happen when driving a larger vehicle. I cut across the left lane, that I’m fairly sure was clear, although I don’t actually have a memory of what the traffic situation was at the time, and headed into what I thought was the parking area. Turns out, I was wrong. There were two driveway entrances side by side and, while Scott had meant the right one, I went for the left. It was actually a bank drive through lane and it was so tight, we barely fit through without bumping the mirrors on the truck.
At the end of the lane was the official alley. The logical route would have been to turn to the right, but there was a delivery truck parked with the driver nowhere in sight. Again, with out the caution that I should have had, I decided I would make the turn to the left. The problem was, on the far side of the alley was a line of garbage bins (the residential kind) and I was right next to the building. In hindsight, even without the garbage bins, I probably couldn’t have made the corner because I was so close to the building. It never even occurred to me that I should try backing up.
Instead, I decided I would do a 100 point turn to slowly pivot myself around the corner of the building, carefully avoiding the building as well as the garbage bins. What I didn’t realize was the building had very intelligently been designed with one of those yellow cement posts to prevent people from clipping the building itself. On the second point of my turn, I ran against the yellow post, putting a dent and 6-7 inches of yellow racing stripes on the driver’s side of the truck bed, just in front of the gas tank. We didn’t feel it or hear it, we were moving so slowly… but once I realized, my reaction prompted Scott to jump out of the truck to check out the damage and the girl that had been smoking at the corner to apparate to somewhere other than there!
Scott was so mad at me. And I don’t argue that my decision making process in that moment wasn’t severely off. He backed us up through the tight bank drive through and into the street before speeding off in search of an auto body shop. All the while, grilling me with “what were you thinking” lines of questioning. I know what I was thinking… but I don’t know how I thought it would actually work. We walked into JR’s Auto Body Shop to find out how much it would cost and how long it would take to fix. I explained what had happened, being very clear that I was the idiot that had been driving. The owner was even kind enough to slip in a comment for Scott’s benefit, remarking that most often the run in with a yellow cement post typically happened on the passenger side because that’s the side you don’t have a clear view of. In total, it would cost around $1,200 and take a week to repair.
This is where Thousand Trails totally saved us. We drove back to the campground and I again shared my story of idiocy with the front desk and asked if we could extend our stay. There was plenty of room for us, and because of our membership, it was at no cost. All total, we spent 12 nights in Bend, with the Thousand Trails membership saving us $660. At this point, even if we had paid for the membership itself, we would have already gotten our money’s worth.
The only other issue would be spending a week without a vehicle to get around. In talking with my mom, explaining the events of the day and how deeply in the dog house I was, I half heartedly mentioned that she was only 5 hours drive away and that she could come spend the week with us, enjoying the hot tub at the campground, and we could save the cost of renting a car. She took me up on it, and we decided to make the most of our time in the Bend area.
Now, don't do what I did to trigger our extended stay in Bend, but...
Where to Stay
We would absolutely recommend the Bend Sunriver Thousand Trails campground for everyone (even non-campers). You do not have to have a membership, and while they would be happy to explain Thousand Trails to you, you are under no obligation to go to their discussion about memberships.
From a non-camper perspective, they have yurts and cabins dotted throughout the park. Prices currently range from $85-$165/night during the summer months and there is a minimum two night stay.
Several deer that meandered through the park a few times. Wesley sure enjoyed the view!
From a camping perspective, the sites are close to each other, but have pine trees in between to help feel a separation of space. Your reservation is based on your RV length and once checked in, the spots themselves are first come first served. The sites have water & electric hook ups, and there are a few sewer dump stations in the campground. The laundry facility is centrally located and is a little small, but did the job. There are also several restrooms with showers dotted throughout the park.
Amenities wise, they have a pool and hot tub, mini golf course, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, a general store, and in the summer, the option to rent kayaks for use on the Little Deschutes River.
Where to Eat
Sunriver Brewing Company
As Scott is into craft beers, it is very common for us to check out the local breweries. Sunriver Brewing Company is located just off of exit 153 from Highway 97 in the Village at Sunriver shopping complex. They have a full bar, so for those of us (me & mom) that don’t enjoy beer, there are tasty options as well. Scott had the fish & chips, mom had the turkey dip, and I was still full from lunch, so I just had fries and made sure to save room for dessert! We split their NW Fruit Cobbler and it did not disappoint. The spoons were even served with whipped cream on them! This location (they have 3 total) does allow children and even has a play area to help keep them occupied with all sorts of toys & a giant chalk wall.
Café Yumm
This is a small chain, local to the Pacific Northwest that originated in Eugene. In my opinion, anyone visiting Oregon, Washington (Seattle), or Idaho (Eagle), absolutely must try their rice bowls! One of the biggest things we miss in our travels is Yumm sauce - and as I’m writing this, I just found out they ship the sauce!!! Homemade Yumm Bowls were a weekly staple in our house, and we should be back at it soon.
I always get the Jazzy - a bowl layered with jasmine rice, red beans, cheese, salsa, sour cream, tomatoes, avocado, black olives, cilantro, and Yumm sauce. Well, minus the tomatoes & black olives. :) Scott gets the Hot N Jazzy, which is the same bowl with Jalapeño Sesame salsa and he often adds grilled chicken.
There are two locations in Bend, we went to the Old Mill District and enjoyed sitting out on the patio. The patio is dog friendly (most of Bend is this way), so we were able to bring Boomer & Kona with us.
Where to Go
Lava Lands Visitor Center - Newberry National Volcanic Monument - Open May - Mid-October
Between our campground and Bend was part of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. It consists of 54,000+ acres of lakes, lava flows, and other geological features. The three main sites we visited were the Lava Cast Forest trail, the Lava River Cave, and the Lava Butte. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
One of two visitor centers for the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Lava Lands Visitor Center, is located west of Highway 97, around milepost 149 just south of the Lava Butte. The visitor center is quite large, with an interpretive center and several short films to learn about the monument, in addition to the gift shop. The Newberry National Volcanic Monument is a recreational fee area. The day use fee is $5.00, or if you have a pass (i.e. the America the Beautiful Interagency [National Parks] Pass) it is free. More information is available on the U.S. Forest Service website here.
View looking west from the top of Lava Butte.
Lava Butte - Open May-Mid-October
From the Lava Lands Visitor Center, you can access the Lava Butte for some awesome views of the valley. On a clear day, you can even see Mount Hood and possibly Mount Rainier to the north, and Mount Shasta in California to the south. There is a trail that circles the top of the Lava Butte cinder cone and while it is short, the caldera is a bit on the side of the butte, so the elevation climbing back up to the parking lot is a bit steep.
Getting there - during peak season (Memorial Day - Labor Day), a shuttle runs every 20 minutes to the top of Lava Butte. The cost is $2.00 per person (separate from the recreational area day fee). Outside of the peak season, personal vehicles are able to drive to the top of Lava Butte. The parking lot at the top of the butte is very small, therefore you must get a pass from the Lava Lands Welcome Booth. The pass is part of the day use fee for the Newberry National Volcanic Monument and is good for a 30 minute window. We could have used just a little more time to fully take in the views and read the educational signs posted around the trail.
As you decend the 150 steps into the cave, it quickly becomes pitch black. Definitely bring or rent strong flashlights from the entrance booth!
Lava River Cave - Open May - September
While visiting, we talked with Hank, a ranger at the entrance, to learn the history of the Lava River Cave. The Lava River Cave is actually an underground lava tube that was formed about 80,000 years ago. About 7,000 years ago, the tube collapsed, resulting in the cave opening. The section you can walk in extends to the northwest about 1.1 miles (2.2 miles round trip), goes under the highway, and drops more than 80 feet below ground. There is also a section that is closed off that extends about 1,500 feet to the southeast.
At the entrance, the Forest Service Rangers explain White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a fungus that is killing bats across the country and as of yet, no cure has been found. As part of the efforts to prevent this from spreading, the clothes you wear into the cave can not be worn into ANY other cave, so be sure to wear something old. When we visited, WNS had not been found in the Lava River Cave, but they are taking every precaution to make sure it doesn’t get in.
Along the way through the cave there are signs to keep an eye out for, explaining the different geological features to be seen.
Getting there - take exit 151/Cottonwood Road from Highway 97 and head east for about a mile until you see the Lava River Cave signs on the left side of the road. The same day use fee for the Lava Lands Visitor Center applies. More information is available on the U.S. Forest Service website here.
Lava Cast Forest Trail - Open year round
The Lava Cast Forest is an area where you can see the remnants of the ancient forest that was consumed by a lava flow. The trees are mostly long gone, but in their place are tree molds or holes in the lava. The trail was minimally trafficked; while there were some cars in the parking lot when we arrived, we never saw anyone on the path. It is a short 1 mile paved loop that is handicap accessible for about half of the walk. Along the trail are informational signs pointing out features to look for, such as pahoehoe and a’a lava types, sites where two or even three trees grew together before the lava flow, and a lava log.
Getting there - take exit 153 from Highway 97 and head east down a rather bumpy dirt road for about 9 miles. Between May & September, the same day use fee for the Lava Lands Visitor Center applies. More information is available on the U.S. Forest Service website here. Keep in mind, the area gets snow in the winter, so the road out to the trail might not always be accessible.
Benham Falls East Trailhead - Open year round
The Lava Lands Visitor Center (and access to Lava Butte) closed at 4:00 PM, leading us to find Benham Falls trail. The trail is easy to follow, only about a mile each way and is dog friendly (off leash during the off season). From the parking lot, you cross a bridge and then follow the Deschutes River toward Benham Falls. The picturesque pay off at the end makes this easy trail a must do!
Getting there - from the Lava Lands Visitor Center, continue on the road (NF-9702) headed southwest (eventually curving off to the northwest) for 4 miles.