OFF TO SALEM

I have no doubt we will stay at Seven Feathers RV Resort whenever it is along our travel path - what a great stay. We even used the indoor pool and hot tub last night.

I took this photo of the wildflowers along the roadside this morning while we were taking our last walk. The landscaping in the park is beautifully designed and manicured, but the sculpted berms along the long, curving driveway leading to the park appealed to me even more; they clearly had been planted with a wildflower seed mix of pinks, blues and brilliant red poppies. Gorgeous, and such attention to detail.

We dragged ourselves away 15 minutes before checkout time and drove north to Salem, where we settled into the RV parking at the Elks Lodge. Ho-hum. Yes, I got spoiled after only 3 days! But we have a nice big site here, backed up to a park with room to roam (not too far) for Luna. We will be here 2 nights, until we head for a week-long stay in Hood River, along the Columbia River.

I opened up our "Northwest Hiking" book after we briefly explored downtown Salem this afternoon, and found we are less than 30 miles from Oregon's largest state park, Silver Falls. Here is a description of the trail we plan to hike tomorrow, the premier hike in the park:

"The Canyon Trail is a nationally recognized trail system that leads hikers along the banks of the north and south forks of Silver Creek. It takes you to 10 majestic waterfalls, ranging from the grand South Falls (177 feet), to the delicate Drake Falls (27 feet). Four of these falls have an amphitheater-like surrounding where you can walk behind the falls and feel the misty, crisp spray."

That's tomorrow's plan.