One Last Camping Adventure of 2026: Turkeys, Hills, Pie, and a Weather App That Lied

September 21–26, 2026

If there’s one thing I’ve learned after years of cycling and camping, it’s that no two adventures ever turn out quite the way you expect. My final camping trip of 2026 was no exception!

I headed east from Seattle with my bike, camping gear, and plans for several days of exploring central Washington, riding the Lake Chelan Tour, and enjoying the last of the summer weather.

Along the way, I encountered curious deer, more wild turkeys than I could count, some rather ambitious hills, a Great Horned Owl, and enough food to keep a small cycling club happy.

There was also a weather app that apparently needs to find a new career.

Here’s how my last camping adventure of the year unfolded.

Monday, September 21: Steamboat Rock, Here I Come!

The adventure began with a drive from Seattle to Steamboat Rock State Park near Electric City, Washington. The drive took a little over four hours, but the scenery was beautiful. I even stopped at Vantage for a scenic overlook of the Columbia River before continuing east.

I arrived at the park around 3:00 p.m., got my campsite set up, and quickly changed into a tank top. Temperatures were in the 80s, and I wasn’t about to waste a perfectly good sunny afternoon.

Then it was time to explore by bike.

I rode about eight miles around the park and soon discovered that I had some rather interesting neighbors. About eight wild turkeys were hanging around my campsite. When I returned from my ride, I found another dozen or so near the park entrance.

Apparently, the campground had its own welcoming committee. 🦃

But the turkeys weren’t the highlight of the day.

While exploring, I came across a doe and her two fawns. I called softly to the doe, and she cautiously came over to investigate. She got close enough to sniff my hand, apparently hoping I might have a snack.

Sorry, lady. I hadn’t brought any deer treats!

Later, after coming out of the restroom, I found the little family nearby again. I sat down on the ground and watched them for a while. Mom came over once more, curious enough to get within touching distance.

I could have stayed there watching them all day. There’s something pretty special about being able to sit quietly and observe wildlife in its natural surroundings.

Unfortunately, my stomach wasn’t feeling quite as happy as I was. I spent some time relaxing in my hammock with my audiobook, but the stomach upset that had bothered me a couple of weeks earlier decided to make a repeat appearance.

Fortunately, this time I had the luxury of camping right next to the restroom!

Sometimes it’s the little things in life that make all the difference. 😂

Once everything settled down, I took a shower and managed to eat a simple dinner of soup.

And then came the sunset.

The sky started with layers of yellow and orange before gradually transforming into shades of pink and orange. Absolutely beautiful.

Later, sometime around 2:00 a.m., I woke up for a bathroom trip and looked up at the sky. I don’t think I’ve seen that many stars in a long time.

Wildlife, sunsets, star-filled skies, a bike ride, and a little adventure involving an unhappy stomach—all on the very first day.

If this was how the week started, I had a feeling it was going to be a good one!

Tuesday, September 22: 39 Miles, Grand Coulee Dam, and a Bike Without Gears

I woke up early to the sound of wild turkeys gobbling near my tent. Nothing like a turkey alarm clock when you’re camping!

After breakfast, it was time to get out on the bike.

I rode from Steamboat Rock State Park down to Grand Coulee Dam, taking in some beautiful scenery along the way. The first 17 miles went well, but I knew what was waiting for me on the return trip.

The climb back up from the dam.

And let me tell you, that hill is NO JOKE!

Especially when your bike has no gears and you’re pedaling in a big chain ring the whole way up. Let’s just say my legs earned their lunch that day.

There is something uniquely entertaining about riding a single-speed bike up a challenging hill. You have plenty of time to reflect on your life choices while wondering whether your legs are going to file a formal complaint.

Once I made it back up, I headed to Voltage Coffee in Grand Coulee for a baguette sandwich and a much-needed coffee.

Because climbing hills is hard work, and I wasn’t about to do it without proper refreshments.

After lunch, I turned around and headed back toward Steamboat Rock State Park. The ride back was just as beautiful as the ride there, with lakes, huge skies, dramatic basalt cliffs, and that incredible Eastern Washington scenery.

Along the way, I came across a collection of old windmills, almost like a little windmill museum. Naturally, I had to stop and take some pictures.

One of the things I love about exploring by bike is discovering unexpected little places that I might otherwise have driven right past.

Then I decided to ride a loop through one of the park’s day-use areas.

That’s when things got interesting.

I came upon two large flocks of wild turkeys, one on each side of the road. There were probably 10–15 birds in each flock, including a huge tom turkey in each group.

They were running around, gobbling, and making all kinds of noises. It was quite a sight!

Between the turkeys, the beautiful scenery, the windmill stop, and the challenging hills, I had a pretty memorable day.

By the time I returned to camp, I’d ridden 39 miles.

And apparently, 39 miles just wasn’t enough for me.

Later that afternoon, I got a little antsy and decided to go for about a mile walk. Then, because apparently I hadn’t had enough exercise, I hopped back on my bike to explore some of the gravel roads around the area.

Well, “gravel” might be a generous description.

There was a whole lot more sand than gravel, which meant plenty of fishtailing and trying to keep the bike upright.

Have I mentioned how much I HATE riding in sand?

Needless to say, that turned into a pretty short ride. But hey, I got out there, explored a little more, and survived the sand.

I’ll call that a win!

That evening, as I was falling asleep in my tent, I heard an owl hooting nearby. After listening to some owl sounds, I identified it as a Great Horned Owl, with its distinctive “whoo whoo whoo whoo” call.

It was a wonderfully peaceful way to end a day filled with cycling, wildlife, and a little adventure.

Wednesday, September 23: Moving Camp and Following the Pie Trail

Wednesday was moving day, which meant packing up camp and heading toward Lake Chelan.

Apparently, 39 miles of cycling the previous day had worn me out because I slept until 9:30 a.m.

Nothing like getting a good night’s sleep while camping!

After packing up, I headed into Electric City for breakfast at Auntie Deans (I think that’s the name). I ordered a huge burrito covered in country gravy and a large mug of coffee.

Because nothing says “I’m going cycling” quite like a burrito smothered in gravy.

After breakfast, I headed toward Chelan, making several scenic stops along the way.

First up was Crown Point Scenic Overlook near Coulee Dam. The views were beautiful, and naturally, I had to stop for photos.

I also stopped at Chief Joseph Dam in Bridgeport before continuing toward Beebe Bridge State Park.

Eventually, I arrived at my new home for the next four nights. I got my campsite set up and then drove about four miles to the fruit stand where Cascade always stops for pie during the second day of the Lake Chelan Tour.

Naturally, I had to make a reconnaissance visit.

I also picked up some frozen beef patties and an ear of corn for dinner.

By this point, I was beginning to notice a pattern with this trip.

Ride, eat, explore, eat some more, and then find something else to eat.

I think I’m doing this camping thing correctly!

Thursday, September 24: The Day I Discovered Sitting Still

Thursday was supposed to be a rest day, and I decided I was going to make myself relax whether I liked it or not.

This turned out to be more difficult than climbing a hill on my single-speed bike.

I slept in, enjoyed a second cup of coffee (a rare luxury when camping), and sat in my chair overlooking the river.

I actually sat. And sat. And sat some more.

Who IS this woman?

I’m convinced my dad is responsible for my inability to sit still. I’ve spent most of my life feeling like I should be doing something productive, so spending an entire day doing practically nothing felt downright unnatural.

I thought about riding my bike. I thought about going for a hike. I even considered finding something useful to do around camp.

Instead, I listened to an audiobook.

And amazingly, I didn’t jump up and start looking for something to clean, fix, or organize.

I just sat there.

I might actually be learning how to enjoy retirement!

Well, that didn’t last all day.

I decided to take a drive up McNeil Canyon, the same road I had considered riding up on Saturday.

After seeing that a good chunk of it was around a 12% grade, I can confidently say I made the right decision.

With no gears on my bike, that hill and I would not have ended our relationship on good terms.

There’s knowing your limits, and then there’s voluntarily pushing a bike up a 12% grade while questioning every life decision that brought you there.

I’m adventurous, but I’m not stupid!

Apparently, I still had energy to burn, so I parked at Beebe Springs Natural Area, about a mile from camp, and went for a walk.

I walked almost a mile and a half at a pretty brisk 2.5 mph—and NO back pain!

I’m giving full credit to my barefoot shoes for that one.

Then came the really important part of the adventure: FOOD.

I drove into Chelan thinking I’d grab a sandwich. But somewhere along the way, my brain apparently said, “Nope. We want something hot and greasy.”

So hot wings, fries, and ranch it was.

Now I’m back in my chair at camp, watching the river, enjoying the quiet, and feeling very content.

Soon it’ll be pajamas, tent time, and hopefully a peaceful night of sleep.

Although I have one tiny problem.

I’m already wondering what kind of trouble I can get myself into tomorrow.

Friday, September 25: The Lake Chelan Tour and a Weather App That Lied

It’s not often I get to enjoy a second cup of coffee when I’m camping, but Friday started with another leisurely morning.

After a decent night’s sleep, I got up around 8:00 a.m. and found there was still a bit of a chill in the air. The next couple of days weren’t going to be as warm as the previous ones, which was a little disappointing.

On the other hand, cooler weather is better for riding, so I guess Mother Nature and I could call it a draw.

I had some cereal, made myself a cup of coffee, and spent the next hour sitting with a view of the river.

And I enjoyed that first cup so much I had to make a SECOND one!

This is highly unusual. Normally, when I’m camping and biking, I’m up early, rushing around to get ready for a ride. The last thing I want is to drink too much coffee and spend half my ride looking for a bathroom.

But today? NO AGENDA.

Nothing I HAVE to do. Just sitting here enjoying the river and drinking coffee.

You’d think this would be easy for me, right?

Nope!

I’ve always got to be doing SOMETHING. I come by it honestly, though. My dad was the same way. That sit-still gene apparently got passed down, and nobody thought to include an OFF switch!

Eventually, it was time to get ready for the Lake Chelan Tour.

I woke up at 2:00 a.m. to the sound of rain hitting my tent. Fortunately, I managed to fall back asleep and didn’t get up until 6:30 a.m.

It wasn’t raining when I got up, but everything was wet. My weather app predicted rain practically every hour until 6:00 p.m., so I layered up, packed my rain poncho, loaded up my bike, and headed to Chelan.

I was NOT looking forward to a long, wet ride!

First stop was breakfast at Blueberry Farm. I ordered corned-beef hash with a side of fruit.

Holy cow!

They brought out this enormous oval plate piled so high you’d think I was feeding a family of four. I barely made a dent! I packed up the fruit for later and settled in on the back porch with coffee and a beautiful view.

Tough life, right?

Then it was off to The Root Cellar cidery to pick up a sandwich for later. I was still stuffed from breakfast, but a cyclist has to plan ahead!

Naturally, I managed to get off my planned route and had to double back, which involved climbing a VERY steep hill.

Because apparently I hadn’t suffered enough already!

On the way up, I scared the bejeebers out of about a dozen quail. Watching them scatter in every direction was pretty darn funny.

Sorry, guys! Didn’t mean to interrupt your morning meeting!

When I finally reached the cidery, Cascade was just about set up, and I was the first rider there. I spent about an hour drinking Diet Coke and chatting with riders as they arrived.

And then Mother Nature decided to have a good laugh at my expense.

The skies turned BLUE!

Not a drop of rain all day, despite my weather app continuing to insist I should be getting soaked.

Stupid app!

Maybe I should have ridden the full Cascade route after all, but who knew? Mother Nature clearly doesn’t consult the weather apps.

On the way back to Chelan, I made my annual stop for a photo in front of the Manson sign along the lake.

Some traditions are non-negotiable!

At the finish, I collected my T-shirt, loaded up my bike, and headed back to camp. It was time for a shower, a change of clothes, and some serious relaxing before the evening social.

Another Lake Chelan ride in the books!

The weather app lied, the quail got ambushed, and breakfast could have fed an army.

Just another day in the life of this cycling adventurer!

Saturday, September 26: When the Weather Wins

Well, all good things must come to an end, and apparently my final camping trip of 2026 decided to wrap up a little earlier than planned!

After spending a chilly night at the campground, I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and decided I’d been away from home long enough.

With temperatures forecast to be in the high 40s to low 50s for the next couple of days, I wasn’t particularly excited about riding my bike in that kind of cold.

Apparently, I didn’t pack a warm enough jacket for this adventure!

So I sent William a text letting him know I was heading home as soon as I got a little more sleep and packed up camp.

Sometimes knowing when to call it a day is just as important as knowing when to keep pedaling.

But before heading home, I made one last stop at a fruit stand on the way to Leavenworth.

And what a bargain!

I picked up 20 pounds of Ambrosia apples for only $15. I’m splitting them with Jean, which means there’s an apple pie and possibly some apple streusel in my future.

Now THAT’S my kind of souvenir!

This final camping trip of the year may have ended a little sooner than expected, but I still got in some wonderful rides, explored new places, enjoyed beautiful scenery, and spent some peaceful time outdoors.

When I get home, I’ll unload the perishables and bring in my clothes. The rest of the camping gear can wait until tomorrow.

Today, I’m officially off duty!

Until Next Year, Camping Season!

Looking back, this trip had a little bit of everything.

I rode 39 miles around Steamboat Rock, climbed hills that made me question my choice of bicycle, discovered that sand and I will never be friends, and encountered enough wildlife to make me wonder if I should start charging admission to my campsite.

I enjoyed beautiful lakes, dramatic cliffs, scenic overlooks, and some spectacular Washington scenery.

I listened to a Great Horned Owl, watched a doe and her two fawns, and experienced the kind of peaceful moments that remind me why I love camping in the first place.

I also ate some wonderful food, enjoyed more than one cup of coffee, and came home with 20 pounds of apples.

Not a bad haul for a camping trip!

And while I didn’t get to ride every mile of the Lake Chelan Tour as planned, I’m perfectly content with my decision to head home.

One of the best things about being retired is that I can change my plans whenever I want. There’s no need to prove anything to anybody.

I can ride 39 miles one day, sit around listening to an audiobook the next, and head home when the weather turns cold.

That’s the beauty of this life I’ve created for myself.

My tent is going into storage, my camping gear is getting put away, and my bike will probably be wondering what happened to all the adventures.

But don’t worry, bike. We’ll be back out there before you know it.

After all, there’s always another ride, another campground, and another opportunity to find pie.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned this week, it’s that I should never underestimate how much fun I can have on two wheels.

Until next year, camping season!

❤️🚲🏕️