Blog

A Tour Like No Other – A Day With Oregon Ducks and Beavers, Day 74

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 21, 2019
Categories In Oregon, The Days Of The Trip
2 Comments on A Tour Like No Other – A Day With Oregon Ducks and Beavers, Day 74

Today we had the opportunity to spend some time with both Oregon Ducks and Beavers.

And if you know anything about Oregon, we aren’t talking about the cute, furry kind.

Instead, today we spent some time at both Oregon State University and the University of Oregon.

As we left the quaint town of Albany, we decided to head southwest to the city of Corvallis, the home of Oregon State University.

We still needed to purchase our Oregon Christmas ornament, and we thought this would be the perfect opportunity.

beaver football stadium — The Oregon State University Football Stadium.

As many of you know, one of our challenges is to collect an ornament from each state. And our only requirement is that the state’s name is printed on it.

So we figured that it would be easy to find one at Oregon State University, especially this time of the year!

Oregon State University – The Beavers

Once we arrived on campus we immediately found the bookstore. And within minutes, we had the perfect ornament to add to our collection.

As we began to drive off campus, we saw the Oregon State University football stadium in the distance. Being huge college football fans, we had to drive by to take a closer look.

We were able to pull right up to the stadium for a little impromptu photo shoot with the trailer.

Beaver field — We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to step foot on the field of the OSU stadium.

But when we drove around the side of the stadium, there was another opportunity that we just couldn’t pass up.

There was an open gate that lead straight to the football field. We figured it couldn’t hurt for two strangers from Ohio to walk down the tunnel to check it out.

So that is exactly what we did. It always amazes us the size of these stadiums, especially when looking at it from the field itself.

We took our pictures and headed back to the parking lot where we saw the equipment tractor trailer being loaded for the upcoming game.

Even the Mack dog on the hood was dressed in the Beavs favorite color – orange!

The Oregon Ducks

Then it was time to head 45 miles south to Eugene, Oregon. We had plans to spend the night here but we knew that we had to make a quick stop before we arrived at our overnight destination.

The University of Oregon is located in Eugene and we knew that a stop to Autzen Stadium was a must.

When we arrived at the Oregon Ducks stadium and it was much different feel than when we were at the Beavers football complex.

The Ducks stadium was off-campus which was great for us. It gave us plenty of room to park and take a look around.

We walked around the stadium, taking pictures of the outside of the locked facility. Although we would have loved to take a look at the inside, there were no gates open.

Therefore we decided that we would just go inside the Duck Store that was adjacent to the stadium.

Oregon ducks store — We are very thankful that we stopped in the Duck Store.

And we are so happy that we did! After speaking with the store attendant she informed us that we could possibly get a quick look inside the stadium.

All we had to do was to go to the front desk of the sports complex and ask Paula if she had time to give us a quick peek of the field.

So we quickly marched up the steps to her desk and introduced ourselves.

Not only was she more than willing to show us the field, she offered to give us a complete tour of the Athletic complex that surrounded us.

The Tour

Talk about excited! On our way through the main building the first thing that we saw was the massive displays of trophies in their Hall of Champions display.

Oregon Ducks Hall of Champions — The Hall of Champions trophy display.

Then as we walked down the stairs to get to the stadium, we stopped at the Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center.

This was an amazing state of the art facility that he funded as a way to give back to his alma mater.

And in appreciation of the donation, there is an amazing display in his honor.

From the awards that he received to the murals made in his honor, this was an amazing sight to see. The details that went into this display were simply incredible.

marcus mariota center — Marcus Mariota’s Sports Performance facility also displays his awards and has murals dedicated in his honor.

Autzen Stadium

However, it was now time to move on to the see the stadium. Paula opened the locked gates and we headed down the same tunnel that the Oregon Ducks run through on game day.

We stepped foot on turf and just looked around in amazement. The stadium was massive and we felt so small as we stood on the field.

We took in the sights for a few minutes and then headed back towards the office building, thanking Paula for the tour.

She laughed and told us if we had time she would show us a few more things. Of course we the have time!

We then headed over to the massive indoor field house that is designed for all athletes. It is the indoor practice facility that can be adjusted to accommodate all sports.

Not only does it have an indoor track, a turf field, nets and cages to meet the needs of every team. It also has climate control capabilities to expose the athletes to various weather conditions that they may be faced with for their upcoming game.

oregon ducks fieldhouse — This massive field house not only serves as a practice field for all of the sports, but also as a large indoor tailgate location on game day.

And on game day, this facility transitions into the location of the largest tailgate party on campus. In fact, anyone that holds a ticket to the game can come inside and enjoy pre-game activities.

What a fantastic way to bring everyone together indoors, especially when it rains!

Our Final Stop – The Heisman Trophy

But no trip to the Oregon Ducks sports complex would be complete without a stop to see Marcus Mariota’s Heisman Trophy.

Set on a tier of 8 levels, the trophy is open to the public to view. Each level is a dedication to someone or something that helped him succeed in his football career.

And unlike most Heisman Trophy displays, this one is not behind a glass encasement. Mariota wanted visitors to be able to get a close up view and even touch the trophy if they wanted.

Throughout the whole tour you really get a sense of the appreciation and love that he had for the staff, fans and the entire Oregon Ducks community.

A huge Thank You to Paula for taking the time to give us such a fantastic tour!

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 74 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : Eugene, Oregon
Miles Driven : 52.1
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7776.5
Total Gallons Used : 580.34
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 142.5
Hiking Miles : 2.3
Hiking Miles To Date : 171.1

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

How A Chance Encounter Led Us To The Treasure Of Albany, Oregon! Day 73

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 20, 2019
Categories In Oregon, The Days Of The Trip
6 Comments on How A Chance Encounter Led Us To The Treasure Of Albany, Oregon! Day 73

When you leave your options open, you just never know where the road may take you – like to an unbelievable Carousel treasure in the town of Albany, Oregon!

If there is one thing we cherish most about this trip, it is the opportunity to discover unique and beautiful places off the beaten path. Especially when they happen out of the blue.

And did that ever happen in Albany, Oregon – all because of a chance encounter on a hiking trip!

The historic carousel in Albany, Oregon. You really have to see it to believe it. What a community treasure!

There we were, hiking in the sensational Silver Falls State Park, when we came upon another couple on the trail. And as it so often happens, when people find you are traveling, they share something you should see.

And so it was that when we met Renee and her husband on the trial. She told us we just HAD to see the Carousel & Museum in Albany.

Renee happened to be one of the many volunteers there, and told us that it was a hidden treasure of the state. Wow, was she ever right!

The Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany, Oregon.

I don’t know which is the better story.

The fact that an incredibly majestic historic carousel exists in the quaint town of Albany, Oregon. Or, that it was created entirely from donations and continues on because of a massive volunteer effort from the town.

Talk about authentic – this restored band organ plays the music as the carousel rolls around!

You see, this isn’t just a beautiful old carousel ride that people simply ride.

It is an entire complex and museum dedicated to carousels. And one that includes a complete workshop where they build and hand carve the amazingly beautiful animals that grace the platform.

Animals that can take 6 years or more to complete by hand! See : The Animals at The Carousel

dragon at the carousel — This dragon is being completed now in the paint shop. The hand carving is exquisite. Imagine riding this beauty around the carousel!

In fact, it took some 15 years to create the animals that are now circling around the carousel.

The History Of The Carousel

The Historic Carousel was all the original dream of local resident Wendy Kirby. Back in 2002, while traveling, Wendy happened to see an old carousel in operation.

It was then and there, she decided that her hometown of Albany should have one too. And she set about making it happen.

The project was gifted a 1909 Dentzel Carousel Corporation mechanism over a decade ago. It took 10 meticulous years to restore it piece by piece. From the wooden gears, to the mirrors, motors and platform.

The wood shop downstairs where all of the carousel animals are designed and created. The work that goes into these animals is astounding.

And the volunteer effort didn’t stop there. They have created a first class building to house the carousel. Including the work shop, paint shop, and gift shop. Most amazing, it is all run by volunteer efforts. 7 days a week!

A Community Volunteers

In fact, the talented community volunteer staff has logged over 160,000 hours to create something that can be described as nothing short of magical.

On our tour of the carving shop below the carousel, we learned it can take 5 to 10 years to carve a single piece. The carvers are also volunteers, and they are trained and taught on site to help create these stunning animals, all by hand.

Albany Oregon carousel — A chance encounter on a hiking trail led us to this incredible carousel in Albany. And it is pure magic!

One thing is for sure, this town, and it’s residents, have created a treasure that is like no other in the country.

We can’t thank our chance encounter guest enough for sending us on the path of this.

So if you ever find yourself near Albany, Oregon, make the trip over to see the Historic Carousel & Museum. It is more than worth the trip!

Happy Traveling and Discovering – Jim & Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 73 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : Albany, Oregon
Miles Driven : 18.4
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7724.4
Total Gallons Used : 576.44
Biking Miles : 9.5
Biking Miles To Date : 142.5
Hiking Miles : 1.0
Hiking Miles To Date : 168.8

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

You can follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

Hiking The Trail of Ten Waterfalls – Nature At Its Best, Day 72

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 19, 2019
Categories In Oregon, The Days Of The Trip
4 Comments on Hiking The Trail of Ten Waterfalls – Nature At Its Best, Day 72

Today we headed out to take on the Trail of Ten Waterfalls. This scenic trail is located in Silver Falls State Park in Silverton, Oregon.

Located south-southeast of Salem, the state’s capital, it is the considered the ‘Crown-Jewel’ of the Oregon State Park System.

This park encompasses over 9,000 acres. And it is the home of over 24 miles of hiking trails and 14 miles of horse trails.

hiking path — The Trail of Ten Waterfalls takes you from the top of canyon to the bottom of the forest.

Although, most first time visitors to Oregon typically pass by this gorgeous park. Instead, most people tend to visit the Columbia River Gorge area for both sightseeing and hiking opportunities.

I understand that this area is designated as a National Scenic Area. But you would be hard pressed to find any better views than those on the Trail of Ten Falls.

Trail of Ten Falls

This trail is a nationally recognized hiking path that weaves through a dense forested landscape.

The trail takes you up close, and sometimes at the very top or at the base of 10 different waterfalls. And for at least 3 of those, you can walk behind the waterfall to get a unique view and an ear shattering experience of the power of the waterfall.

The South Waterfalls — The South Falls was our first stop and we were more than impressed with the 177 foot drop and the power of the water that flowed below.

But I have to admit, as much as I love waterfalls, I was enamered by the entire experience as we walked along the Trail of Ten Falls.

The rocky, dirt path takes you along a rocky canyon and descends to a winding creek at the forest floor. You could not take your eyes off the trail, otherwise you would likely trip and fall on the exposed rock and or branches that were scattered throughout.

rocky trail — You must keep your eyes down when walking on this trail so that you don’t trip and fall.

Not to mention, the trails today were wet from rain, and dodging puddles was a must to keep your feet dry.

But every time that we could look up, we saw streams of water running over the rocky base leading to a waterfall somewhere down the path.

stream on trail of ten waterfalls — Throughout the entire trail you could follow streams and rivers that led to another waterfall.

The Trees….

But there were also huge pine trees in the distance. And these trees were massive!!! If I had to guess they were at least a hundred years old and stood over 175 feet tall.

But what caught my eye most of all was the thick and dense moss in the forest. The bright green moss encased the trunks and branches of most of the trees that surrounded us.

The moss covered trees were absolutely stunning with beauty in their own right.

The moss sometimes would be tight against the bark. However, many of the trees had strings of moss hanging well below the actual branches.

Later we learned that the areas that had the most ‘stringy’ moss, were the areas on the trail with the most purified air.

But instead of trying to put in words the beauty and magnitude of our trip on the Trail of Ten Waterfalls, take a look at the pictures instead.

However, keep in mind, like all landscape photos that are taken by amateurs, pictures never do it justice.

More Photos From The Trail of Ten Waterfalls

behind the trail of ten waterfalls — Here is a view from behind the South Falls. The power of the water cascading below makes it difficult to hear each other talk.

enchanted path — The beauty of the area is not just from waterfalls. The actual trail itself is lined with gorgeous trees and greenery that will take your breath away.

lower south falls — Another view of the Lower South Falls as we climb up the trail. This is the same waterfall that is in the first picture of this article.

lower north falls — A tree has fallen across the Lower Northern Falls and will sit there until the power of the waterfalls pushes it below.

The Lodge that sits at the entrance of the South Falls trail has been there for over 80 years, when built as part of the CCC government program.

hanging coats to dry — After our long hike, we enjoyed sitting in the lodge for a few minutes in front of the fire to dry off. Even our raincoats appreciated the warmth and dryness as they hung to dry on each side.

Happy Traveling! – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 72 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : Albany, Oregon
Miles Driven : 83.4
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7706.7
Total Gallons Used : 575.13
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 133.0
Hiking Miles : 7.3
Hiking Miles To Date : 158.8

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

A Little Pinot Noir In Willamette Valley – Discovering Oregon’s Wine Country – Day 71

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 18, 2019
Categories In Oregon, The Days Of The Trip
4 Comments on A Little Pinot Noir In Willamette Valley – Discovering Oregon’s Wine Country – Day 71

What a day it was taking in the beauty of Oregon’s Wine Country!

And even more, witnessing firsthand just how much the entire Willamette Valley region in Oregon has to offer.

The fertile, rolling landscape is well-known for producing top-notch fruit and wines. But it also happens to be home to some of the finest vegetable and flower fields around too.

As we drove through the valley, it was surprising to see the huge variety of crops grown.

You name it, and it is grown in the Willamette Valley. In fact, it’s easier to list what isn’t grown here than what is!

Everything from grapes, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries, to roses, dahlias, onions, apples and more.

Hazelnut Trees?

There were surprises along the way too. For instance, we never realized Oregon had such a massive concentration of hazelnut trees!

In fact, so much so, that 99% of the U.S. hazelnut production comes from the Beaver State. Who knew?!

A Little Pinot Noir At Willamette Valley Vineyards

But of course, there are those incredible vineyards to see as well.

The fertile, sloping soil is indeed perfect for growing grapes. So well in fact, that the Willamette Valley is now home to over 450 wineries within a 150 mile radius.

Without a doubt, the highlight of our day was a visit to Willamette Valley Vineyards.

Nestled in the surrounding hills in Turner, Oregon, Willamette Valley Vineyards is known for making great wine. In particular, Pinot Noir.

As we drove through the large gates and up to the tasting room (which seemed more like a tasting castle to us!), we were in awe of size and beauty of the entire grounds.

From Humble Beginnings…

The sprawling vineyard, first started back in 1983, has grown from humble beginnings. Founder Jim Bernau, unable to afford irrigation during his first year of operation, watered his first plantings of grapes by hand with 17 hoses strung together. Talk about passion!

And when it comes to the success of it all? One thing is for sure, our glass of their signature Estate Pinot Noir wine was spot on!

It certainly lived up to it’s billing and then some. It is quite easy to see why they have been called “One of America’s Great Pinot Noir Producers” by Wine Enthusiast.

And it was certainly was the perfect ending to a perfect day in Oregon’s Wine Country. We have loved our time so far in Oregon, and with a few days still left in this beautiful state, we can’t wait to see more.

Happy Traveling – Jim & Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 71 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : Albany, Oregon
Miles Driven : 79.8
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7623.3
Total Gallons Used : 568.90
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 133.0
Hiking Miles : 1.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 151.5

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Powell’s City of Books – And Finding Our Book On The Shelf! – Day 70

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 17, 2019
Categories In Oregon, The Days Of The Trip
4 Comments on Powell’s City of Books – And Finding Our Book On The Shelf! – Day 70

Today we had the pleasure of spending a few hours at Powell’s City of Books in downtown Portland, Oregon.

And I will be the first to tell you, we could have spent not just all day there, but several days in this iconic bookstore.

Powell’s City of Books is the world’s largest independent used and new bookstore. It occupies an entire city block and holds approximately one million books.

The original location is conveniently located in downtown Portland’s Pearl District. This area is the home to several reclaimed warehouse spaces that have been turned into bars, restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and specialty shops.

And Powell’s City of Books has stood the test of time and has occupied the space of a former car dealership since 1971.

So how does an independent bookstore get started and remain a hustling business for over 48 years?

During our trip there we learned that the inspiration for the bookstore actually began in Chicago.

How Powell’s City of Book Got Started

Michael Powell was a graduate student at the University of Chicago when he saw a market to resell used books.

His side business became so profitable that he eventually took out a loan and opened a business to do just that.

rooms at powell's city of books — One of the street side display rooms at Powell’s bookstore.

And within 2 months, he had made enough profit to repay his bank loan for the building spaced that housed his bookstore.

Needing some additional help, he asked his retired father to come work with him one summer.

And almost immediately, Walter, Michael’s father, fell in love with the store. So when he returned to Portland, he decided to open his own used bookstore.

He bought every marketable used book that came his way and within a short period of time he purchased the building that Powell’s City of Books still stands today.

In a full circle of events, in 1979 Michael returned to Portland to help his dad run the bookstore. With such an unorthodox concept of selling both used and new books, and sometimes on the exact same bookshelf, many thought that this business had no chance to be successful.

But that prediction couldn’t be further from the truth.

Raised Row Gardening Book On The Shelf

Today, Powell’s City of Books has nine color-coded rooms and over 3,500 different sections. It is open 365 days a year and is staffed by knowledgeable, friendly and passionate booklovers.

bookshelves — We spent quite a bit of time looking through the shelves before asking the staff if they had a copy of our book.

And although there are several different unique rooms, each one makes you feel like you feel welcome to stay as long as you wish.

Of course, being authors ourselves, we had to see if they might happen to have our newest book, Raised Row Gardening.

However, after about an hour of browsing various book categories, we approached the information desk.

The friendly staff member looked up the book title and within minutes she led us to the shelf where we our found our very own book.

Our Autographed Book

Our Raised Row Gardening Book now sits on the the shelf at Powell’s City of Books with an autographed sticker on the front cover.

Although we tried to hide our excitement, I have to admit, that we both smiled liked two little kids. We never imaged that we would find our book over 2,000 miles away from home.

When we told the staff member our story and she immediately asked if we would be willing to sign the book.

Of course, we agreed and then she placed an ‘Autographed’ sticker on the front cover.

We took a quick picture and continued to browse the rest of the bookstore.

Street view — If only we had more time to spend here….

I can definitely understand how Powell’s City of Books has become a one of Portland’s largest attractions.

I wish we had more time to spend here. However, I am not sure even if we spent an entire week in the bookstore that we wouldn’t leave there wishing we had more time there!

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 70 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : Tigard, Oregon
Miles Driven : 7.3
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7543.5
Total Gallons Used : 562.94
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 133.0
Hiking Miles : 0
Hiking Miles To Date : 151.5

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

A Look At Our Top Ten Favorite Photos From The Trip So Far! – Day 69

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 16, 2019
Categories In Oregon, The Days Of The Trip
3 Comments on A Look At Our Top Ten Favorite Photos From The Trip So Far! – Day 69

With one-fifth of the states now in the rear view mirror, and just one day shy of our 70th day on the road, we thought it would be a great time to take a look at our top 10 favorite photos of the trip so far.

I don’t think we can actually put a number to each one to rank them, because they are all special in their own way.

So in no particular order, here are our top 10 favorite photos so far.

Our Top 10 Favorite Photos From The Trip So Far

The Orca “Killer Whale” Photo

top 10 photos — One of our favorite days on the trip so far! What an incredible day it was to head out into Puget sounds for a whale watching trip, and were rewarded with some amazing sights and sounds. Of all the great photos from the day, this one took the cake. It was amazing to see these giant creatures flip their tail up and over into the Pacific ocean.

Mt Rushmore With The Camper

hiking mount rushmore — What a day it was! The sun was shining, and as fate would have it, Mt. Rushmore was in the background. Our time in South Dakota was great, from Mount Rushmore to the Badlands and more.

The Bison at Yellowstone National Park

Canyonlands National Park – And The Arches

Boondocking At Lake Little Moreau

With no one around for miles, our evening camping and boondocking at Lake Moreau was nothing short of magical. We camped right up by the edge of the stunning lake, grilled out, and finished the night looking up at the stars.

The Amtrak Train Ride – The Picture Window

An Evening Camping On The Yellowstone River

campfire at Yellowstone River — What a night it was on the banks of Yellowstone River. With the river rolling by, and a roaring fire to keep warm, it is another of our most favorite evenings!

The Alpaca Farm Photo

Shoshone Falls – Idaho

twin fall idaho — Shoshone Falls was gorgeous in October! This was one of the most unexpected finds on the trip for us so far. We just never knew the beauty the entire state of Idaho had – and it will definitely be a state we go back to again!

Leaving The Farm To Start – September 9th

top ten photos — It seems like just yesterday. This photo was taken the morning of September 9th, just before we pulled out to start the trip. Every time we see this photo, we both can remember all of the excitement we had to get started.

We hope you enjoyed the little look back so far. You can see all of the previous 69 days of the trip so far here : Our Daily Travels

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary.

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 69 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : Portland, Oregon
Miles Driven : 24.50
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7536.20
Total Gallons Used : 560.5
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 133.0
Hiking Miles : 0
Hiking Miles To Date : 151.5

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

A Few Camper Modifications To Make Life Easier – Day 68

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 15, 2019
Categories In Oregon, The Days Of The Trip, Tips
6 Comments on A Few Camper Modifications To Make Life Easier – Day 68

Now that we have been on the road for 68 days, we have added a few camper modifications to our original few to make our life easier and safer while we are on the road.

Ienergy Apex Generator

One of the items that we find impossible to live without is our Ienergy Apex Generator. Although not a permanent camper modification, this power pack allows us to make coffee, toast, instant pot meals and more when we are without shore power.

When we decide to boondock (camping without power, water or sewer hookups), our camper does not allow us to plug into our standard 110 outlets. Although we can use our 12volt power, USB ports, and lights and t.v. when off-grid, it is not able to power the little things that make life easier.

Therefore, we use our battery operated generator to power our coffee pot first thing in the morning. And shortly thereafter, our toaster. It also easily generates enough power to allow us to make meals in our Instant Pot multi-cooker.

ienergy apex generator camper modifications — Some camper modifications are portable, like this Ienergy Apex Generator. It has become one of our favorite products when boondocking.

But most importantly, it is able to keep our computers charged for when we need to write our daily update for not only this website but also our three other websites:

We have had the Apex Generator with us since day one, and this is one modification that we would find difficult to live without.

Digital TV Antenna

The next simple, yet convenient camper modification that we have added since we have been on the road is an internal digital TV antenna.

We first experimented with TV antennas after attending the NuCamp Rally last June. Here is where hundreds of T@B and T@G owners gather at same campground for a week.

Some of the most important ‘real-life’ tips of living in a teardrop camper come from this group of experts.

From experienced traveling veterans to those who live in their campers full-time, we learned more in that week than we could have ever hoped for by reading manuals or watching you-tube videos.

This is where we also learned about expanding out television service while we travel around the country for an entire year.

Dish Network Satellite

dish satellite — One of the camping modifications that we considered was using a Dish Network portable satellite. But honestly, we do not watch that much television to warrant not only the cost but the storage necessary to travel with something so large.

Yes, of course we could extend our home base satellite service and have an extra antenna to get most of the channels that we do at home.

But the cost of adding another satellite can be costly. This is especially true if you don’t watch much television in general.

And that is exactly where we stand. We rarely watch television while we are in our camper. We are not true sitcom or drama show watchers. And the only time that we have television on is when we need to watch the local weather and when we go to bed at night.

And once in a great while, we will watch at game on tv while we work on our computers at the dinette table.

So when we attended the NuCamp rally last year, we began to ask the others what they did for basic television viewing.

our outdoor digital antenna — Although we were able to get several digital channels off this antenna, we found the process of setting it up outdoors for such short stays was cumbersome, especially in poor weather conditions.

Although there were a wide variety of answers from using a paperclip as an antenna to purchasing expansive pole antennas, we finally decided what was best for our situation.

Outdoor Digital TV Antenna

Our first few weeks of camping was done with an external digital TV antenna. We hooked up the cable to the outlet box on the side of camper and placed the antenna somewhere on top or around the camper.

From the back of the starlight window to the top of the camper by the front door, this was a tedious process. And it was nearly impossible to do this in the cold weather.

So after a wind storm blew it to the ground and broke one of the retractable antennas, we decided we needed another solution.

simple camper modifications — Although one might not consider a TV antenna as camper modifications it certainly has been a convenient addition when the weather turns questionable.

Internal Digital TV Antenna

Although not knowing how it would respond, we purchased an internal antenna for the camper. And after having it hooked up for a couple of weeks now, we are extremely happy with the purchase.

For around $30 dollars, we can hook the antenna up directly to the t.v. and get about double of the power of our previous antenna. Plus, we never have to step foot outside!

Now in even some remote places we can get a local television station and some additional stations that we can watch purely for entertainment.

Commando Hooks

This may sound super basic, but commando strips have made our top, must-have camper modifications list.

Although our teardrop camper has a ton of storage spaces in the cabinets and around the perimeter of the camper, we decided that we needed a few practical ways to store everyday items.

The most common items that we found that we needed a space for was for basic kitchen washcloths and towels.

So we decided to hang a few commando hooks on either side of the kitchenette window. A double hook on the right will hold the kitchen towels. And the one on the left, right above the kitchen sink, will hold the washcloths.

Prior to installing the commando strips we tried to keep the washcloth in the sink itself. However, with the lid closed, the washcloth never had time to dry out.

In addition, we have added an additional commando hook right inside the door. This is the perfect placement for our keys to the truck/camper. Now we are never looking for our keys as they have a permanent place. That is of course, if we remember to put them there!

Electrical Jack

And this week we are most excited about our newest camper modification -the electrical hitch jack.

Over the past 68 days we have probably hitched and unhitched our camper at least 45 times. And if you know anything about a camper, that requires a lot of rotational shoulder movement to crank the hitch up and down.

camper modifications electrical jack — Our newest addition to the camper modifications – an power operated jack.

Knowing that we will be on the road for approximately 300 more days, we decided that an electric hitch jack would be worth the money.

So while we were on the Amtrak Train to Los Angeles and back, we decided it was the perfect time to have one installed.

And when we returned to pick up our camper from Apache Camping Center in Happy Valley, Oregon we couldn’t have been more excited.

That means it will be even faster to unhitch and hitch the camper to the trailer! We are confident that this single camping modification is going to save us so much time and energy over the next several months as we travel around the country.

The Ring

And the final modification that we have made to the camper is that that we installed a security camera by the front door.

While we travel to every state and into unknown areas we thought it would be a smart idea to have a little view of outside the camper.

Every night as we close up our privacy curtains and we have no idea what is going on outside around us. And every time we hear a noise or a voice, our first instinct is to pull down the shades and take a peak.

However, now that we have the RING installed, we simply look at our phones to see who and what is around us.

Definitely a ‘piece of mind’ modification worth installing!

Now that we have added these modifications we look forward to continuing our trip with just a little more confidence and ease.

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 68 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : Happy Valley, Oregon
Miles Driven : 1.0
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7511.7
Total Gallons Used : 560.5
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 133.0
Hiking Miles : 0
Hiking Miles To Date : 151.5

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here: Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

Taking An Amtrak Train Adventure – Answers To The Most Asked Questions. Day 67

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 14, 2019
Categories In California, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Taking An Amtrak Train Adventure – Answers To The Most Asked Questions. Day 67

Over the last few days, we have received quite a few emails wanting a little more background from our first Amtrak train adventure.

It seems that just like us, there are a lot of others who have also dreamed of taking a long train excursion. And they have a lot of questions.

The Amtrak Train Adventure — Seeing the sunrise and sunset along the way only added to the beauty of the trip!

The funny thing is, they are almost exactly the same questions we had before setting out on our trip as well!

Questions like:

How do you book your tickets?
Are there a lot of stops in between?
How often can you get up and walk around?
How big are the seats?
Is it expensive?
Is the food good?
Did you get a sleeper car?
What are the restrooms like?
Would you do it again?

So as we sit on the train tonight heading back to Portland on the final leg of our inaugural trip, we thought we would take a bit of time to answer those oft-asked questions, and share a few tips and hints we learned from our first Amtrak train adventure.

Oh, and before we go any further – YES! We would certainly do it again!

Lessons Learned From Our First Amtrak Adventure

Here are answers to the most often asked questions:

Can You Move Around The Train?

One of the nicest things about riding on Amtrak vs. a train, car or bus is mobility.

first Amtrak train adventure — One of the many seating areas that face outward in the Observation Car of the Amtrak train. It not only gives you plenty of room, but great views!

You can get up and move around anytime you want on the train. And it is easy to do.

The best thing about these long train rides are that they include an Observation Car, a Diner Car, and a Snack Bar Car as well.

The glass covered Observation Car is where we spent 95% of our trip. It is wide open, with comfortable seats that face out to the wide open views. In addition, there are large tables and bench seats for working or reading, or even playing cards and games.

Bench seats — The bench seats in the Observation car allow plenty of room for working, playing games, eating snacks, or simply relaxing.

We loved not feeling cramped or tied to a seat. It also makes for a great place for meeting people all along the way.

An added great feature is the electrical plugs located all throughout the car.

How Big Are The Seats?

Honestly, the seat size amazed us both on this, our first great Amtrak train adventure.

At 6’4”, I will admit I was worried about not being comfortable in my seat. But the coach seats are actually quite large. And, to boot, they recline way more than airline seats.

The coach seats offer a surprising amount of leg room. And, they recline nicely for resting or even sleeping.

They also have a footstool that slides up to make sleeping or resting in place actually bearable and comfortable.

Each seat section also has two plugs, which is another big plus!

Does The Train Make Stops? Can You Get Off?

For starters, yes, the train makes stops. Our train had a total of 23 stops between Portland and L.A.

A few of the smaller city stops are super quick, and on those, it is usually requested that you stay on board.

stopping the train — The Amtrak train does make stops along the way, but they were all fairly quick for us. And, most allowed a chance to get outside and walk about a bit.

However, on the majority of stops, you are allowed to get off and walk about the platform to stretch your legs.

How Are The Restrooms?

Always a big question! So the majority of restroom are small and a bit tight, but certainly work well enough. They are a bit older with the trains of some age as well.

With that said, here is an insider tip we learned from another traveler. The restroom on the other side of the Snack Bar Car is the biggest on the train. Actually, it is wonderfully large!

What Is The Cost Of A Ticket?

Traveling by train is actually quite affordable.

Tickets are of course based on the length of trip, and what section of seating you choose. There are standard coach seats, business class, and then private sleeping rooms – which also include a shower, restroom and seating.

inside amtrak station — The Union Station. The cost of tickets is surprisingly affordable. Especially when Amtrak has their promotional deals.

For this trip, we selected coach and it was a huge bargain. The coach seating is quite spacious, and has plenty of room and overhead storage. It is nothing at all like airline seating with easily 3x’s the amount of room!

Here is another great bargain and comfort feature with train riding – they allow you to bring your own food and drinks on the train!

Watch For Deals

Amtrak will promote specials on-line quite often. You just have to be diligent in looking for them.

In fact, we were able to use a coach promotion for 50% off of our tickets. from Portland to Los Angeles for $122 per person – round trip!

But there are other great options as well. They have a 15 day ($400 range) and 30 day ($600 range) unlimited pass that allows you unlimited travel.

classic train ride — The views along the way are simply sensational.

In fact, there is a wonderful gentleman named Peter, who hails from Amsterdam, on our train tonight. He is here on holiday, and is using the 30 day pass to go around the entire edge of the country. See : Peter’s Travels

All the way from New York to New Orleans, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and back to New York. Talk about an adventure!

Last But Not Least – The Doors Between Cards Open & Shut Automatically!

A little humor here with this one. And at my own expense!

All of the doors on the train that connect each of the cars open with a simple push of a button in the middle, or down on a kick plate at the bottom of the door.

That I figured out with ease. However, I learned the hard way that they do indeed close automatically.

Not knowing this, and while looking for a close button to be considerate, I was hit a few times by the door trying to close automatically. All the while people all of the people in the front rows were trying frantically to tell me to move along.

The doors didn’t hurt much mind you, just enough to get quite a bit of laughter from those sitting nearby.

See what Mary and I go through to make traveling easier for others? 🙂

Now that we are back in Portland, it is time to continue exploring Oregon.

Happy Traveling! And here is to taking your own Amtrak train adventure! Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 67 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : North Bound Amtrak Land
Miles Driven : 0
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7510.7
Total Gallons Used : 560.5
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 133.0
Hiking Miles : 0
Hiking Miles To Date : 151.5

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

An Interesting Day At Santa Monica Pier And Venice Beach – Day 66

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 13, 2019
Categories In California, The Days Of The Trip
2 Comments on An Interesting Day At Santa Monica Pier And Venice Beach – Day 66

Now that we have one full day to spend in the Los Angeles area, we have decided to take advantage of the beautiful and warm weather and head to Santa Monica beach.

From our Airbnb we jumped into an Uber and headed towards the coast.

Our first stop was the Santa Monica Pier. Here people can enjoy taking a stroll down a raised, wooden walkway to various shops, restaurants, fishing and ocean viewing spots.

santa monica pier sign — The entrance to the Santa Monica Pier

During the peak season there is even an amusement park located on the pier for the entire family to enjoy.

Pacific Park On The Santa Monica Pier

Pacific Park is home to the famous Santa Monica pier Ferris wheel. This is the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel and it over looks both Santa Monica beach and the Pacific Ocean.

However, there other rides to enjoy as well, including a roller coaster. And of course there are midway games scattered throughout the park, just in case you haven’t spent quite enough money yet.

santa monica ferris wheel — Pacific Park Amusement Center on Santa Monica Pier.

As we were taking in all of the sights and sounds of the life on the pier we headed towards the end where a small crowd was gathered.

As we were approaching the railing we heard what sounded like barking sounds. Once we looked down we could see a seal hanging out in the water just below the pier.

santa monica beach — After taking a stroll down the pier we took in the sights of the Santa Monica Beach.

About every few seconds it would rise it’s belly above the water and bark up at the crowd above.

As cute as it was, I am pretty sure it was begging for either food scraps or leftover fish parts from the visitors and fishermen.

We sat and watched ‘him’ entertain the crowd for a few minutes before we headed down to the beach.

Santa Monica Pier Seal

It took us about 15 minutes to walk to the beach access area off the Santa Monica pier. And within minutes we had our feet in the warm sand.

We walked to the edge of the water and took a moment to enjoy the sights around us.

We enjoyed hanging out at here while we watched people from all over the world enjoying what a California beach has to offer.

santa monica fishing pier — The view from Santa Monica beach looking out towards the pier.

No matter what language that they spoke, the smiles on their faces as they walked through the sand was priceless.

Wanting to take as much in as we could on our short stay in the area, we decided to partake in some exercise and walk towards another beach in the area, Venice Beach.

Although there were both scooters and bikes that you could rent, we both agreed that we would be able to take in the views better if we traveled there on foot.

And what interesting views there were!!!!

Interesting Views At Venice Beach

Although close in proximity, there is a huge difference in the atmosphere of Venice Beach when compared to Santa Monica.

Santa Monica is a laid back, family-friendly area with restaurants, shops and entertainment.

On the contrary, Venice Beach is filled with free-spirited individuals and the boardwalk area is the site of funky shops, street performers and colorful murals.

Although there are many artists that have booths in the area, there are also several homeless camps along the pedestrian sidewalk as well. Here they attempt to sell you drawings, sculptures, or even rocks to make a few bucks.

Then right in the middle of the boardwalk is the famous Muscle Beach Outdoor Gym and sports recreation area.

Here you will find not only a weight lifting area, but also a skateboard park, pickleball, volleyball and basketball courts that are open to the public to enjoy.

venice house — Once we walked through the crazy boardwalk, we found the quieter, residential section of Venice Beach.

But just past the crazy atmosphere of the boardwalk we entered in the beautiful residential area of Venice Beach. Here it is designated as a ‘Quiet Zone’ where there is no skateboarding, camping, or selling of anything on the sidewalks.

The Quieter Side of Venice Beach

Both old-fashioned Cape Cod style and modern homes lined the edge of the beach. They were absolutely beautiful, and I can’t even fathom what the cost must be to own a home here.

surfer — After walking the beaches for so long, we enjoyed a little rest on the Venice Pier with these views.

As we continued to walk towards the Venice Beach Pier, we were both in awe at tall glass homes that overlooked the beach and ocean.

It wasn’t until we reached the actual pier and sat down that we realized how tired our legs were from walking the distance from Santa Monica to Venice.

So we spent the next hour resting and taking in the beach views of fisherman, surfers and sailboats.

And after reflecting on our trip to the coast today, we would have to admit that our one day exploration tour of Santa Monica and Venice beach was definitely a fun and eye-opening experience of how life is on the beaches of California.

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 66 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : East Los Angeles, California
Miles Driven : 0
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7510.7
Total Gallons Used : 560.5
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 133.0
Hiking Miles : 3.6
Hiking Miles To Date : 151.5

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

A Classic Train Ride! Our Ride On Amtrak’s Coast Starlight Train – Day 65

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date November 12, 2019
Categories In California, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on A Classic Train Ride! Our Ride On Amtrak’s Coast Starlight Train – Day 65

Ever since I can remember, I have dreamed of taking a long, classic train ride throughout the country.

For so many folks, there is something so romantic and nostalgic about a train ride. And I can say I certainly have always shared that passion.

The sound of rail car’s wheels gliding over the rails beneath your feet. The panoramic views of stunning outdoor scenes rolling like a movie before your eyes.

Our dining car table before we sat down to our meal. There really is something special about having diner on a train!

For The Love Of Trains…

I guess the thought of the experience has always sparked excitement and wonder for me.

Especially when you throw in the chance of having dinner in an old-fashioned diner car. Or perhaps enjoying a glass of wine from with a view out from the cafe car’s picture window.

And then there is sleeping through the night as the train quietly rumbles through the darkness on it’s long journey.

It all just always sounded so amazing.

And now, after completing an incredible 30 hour ride on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train along the scenic Pacific coast from Portland, Oregon to Los Angeles, California – that dream has been fulfilled.

And yes, it really IS amazing!

The Experience Of A Classic Train Ride

To say that we had an incredible time and ride is simply an understatement.

Seeing the waves of the Pacific come crashing ashore as we rolled by was sensational. As was taking in the lush fields of vegetables growing all throughout the valley.

And then there was rolling through Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and other cities along the way. The train gives you views you simply can’t get from a plane or automobile.

It was all so very spectacular!

Video From The Observation Car…

It is hard how beautiful it all is along the way, but here is a little clip of the views from the Observation car:

We were even blessed with a clear day that let us take in the Golden Gate bridge off in the distance!

To some people, 30 hours on a train might seem like a lot. But on a train, you can be everywhere. You can have dinner. You can go to the observation car and meet new friends, work on your computer, or simply stare out in wonder.

But most importantly, you can relax. There is no driving. No rushing. Only the opportunity to take it all in.

It was incredible to have that kind of time for that. We had so many peaceful moments. Met so many wonderful people. And just enjoyed it all.

We have both spent a fair share of our working life in airports. And of course, in automobiles as well.

And I will say this, we both would now take traveling to a destination by train over any of those.

We rolled by the San Francisco 49’ers Stadium early in the day.

Tomorrow we get to spend a day in Los Angeles soaking in the warmth and checking a few local spots out.

And I have to say, I am certainly excited about getting back on the train for one more ride back up the coast to Portland before continuing our time in Oregon.

Happy Choo-Chooing – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATS

Day 65 of 365
States Visited: 11 / 50
National Parks / Monuments Visited : 10
Stayed In : East Los Angeles
Miles Driven : 0
Total Trip Miles To Date : 7510.7
Total Gallons Used : 560.5
Biking Miles : 0
Biking Miles To Date : 133.0
Hiking Miles : 0
Hiking Miles To Date : 147.9

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States