Hey, all.

Hey RVerTV family! 🚐💙 Just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for watching our videos and supporting the channel—it truly means the world to us. Because of you, we get to keep exploring, sharing, and bringing these adventures to life. We hope you continue to enjoy all the newest videos coming your way… There's a lot more to see, and we’re just getting started! 🙌

~~~Russ

 

Leavenworth Washington by eBike — What a Town!

Well folks, we rolled the van right into Leavenworth, Washington—and I’m telling you, it’s like we drove straight off the highway and landed slap-dab in the middle of Germany! It’s a full-on Bavarian village tucked right into the Cascade Mountains, timber-framed storefronts and all.

I hopped on the e-bike to cruise the downtown streets, and everywhere you look, there are old-world Bavarian buildings, hand-painted murals, and flower boxes hanging from every single balcony. I kept looking around expecting somebody to hand me a pair of lederhosen and a giant pretzel! It’s a wild spot, beautiful as all get-out, and a total blast to explore.

Highway 97 Along the (Columbia River) - Chelan, Washington

Well folks, we picked up US Highway 97 and pulled right into Orondo River Park, getting down to the water’s edge for a view of the mighty Columbia up close. From there, I rolled over to the Beebe Springs Wildlife Area—it’s an old apple orchard being brought back to its natural state along the river, and what a peaceful spot to take a stroll.

Next, we crossed over the Beebe Bridge and rolled right into Chelan, a neat little town sitting right at the foot of that massive, 50-mile-long Lake Chelan. I hit the pavement to walk the streets, check out the old historic buildings, and take in the local flavor. You never know what you’re going to find when you start wandering these backroad towns!

Bridgeport WA – Tree Sculptures, Dams & the Columbia

Well folks, we packed up and headed north out of Chelan, tracing the mighty Columbia River up toward the tiny town of Bridgeport, Washington.

First stop was the Wells Dam rest area. I took a nice little stroll, stretching out the old legs, and read all the storyboards on how they put that dam together. Fascinating stuff, but man, those engineers sure had more patience than I do!

From there, it was straight into Bridgeport, where I set up camp right on the river's edge at the Marina RV Park. Talk about a front-row seat! Once the van was settled, you know what time it was—I unloaded the Lectric XPeak and hit the pavement to see what Bridgeport was all about. Nothing beats exploring a backroad town on two wheels, even if the locals stared at me like I was lost!

 

Washington's Concrete Giant: (Grand Coulee Dam) Road Trip

 

Well folks, our first stop was Crown Point Vista, and let me tell you—what a view! Standing up there, you can take in the whole operation all at once: the massive dam itself, Lake Roosevelt stretching out as far as the eye can see, the Columbia River winding down below, and both of those neat little towns, Coulee Dam and Grand Coulee. You feel pretty small standing up on that edge looking at all that concrete!

To cap it all off, we rolled on over to the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center to get the full story on how they built this absolute giant. It’s unbelievable what folks were able to pull off back in the day.

Coeur d'Alene Idaho — Steamboats, Mining & Lake Views

Well folks, we packed up, left Electric City, Washington in our rearview mirror, and pointed the van down the backroads east toward beautiful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

First thing we did was cruise through downtown to get a feel for this classic lakeside town—though I had to make sure I didn't get too distracted staring at the water and drive right up onto somebody's lawn!

After that, we headed over to the Museum of North Idaho for a dose of real history. We dug into the story of Lake Coeur d'Alene, the old steamboats that used to rule these waters, and all the logging and mining history that built this whole region. I tell ya, those old-timers were tough as nails—makes sitting in a cozy van feel pretty soft by comparison!

Backroads to (Lava Beds): Caves, Rain, Northern California

We rolled out through Old Station—one of those blink-and-you-miss-it spots that is absolutely worth the stop!

For our first adventure of the day, you saw us hit the Subway Cave, that wild lava tube you can walk right into and explore on foot. We grabbed the headlamps and headed underground into some seriously cool volcanic history. From there, we cruised through Fall River—small-town USA at its finest and the exact kind of place that reminds us why we do this whole backroads thing in the first place.

Then it was on to the main event: Lava Beds National Monument! The rain rolled in and tried to put a damper on some of our exploring, but you already know we didn't let it stop us. We checked out 5 different caves and got to experience that wild volcanic landscape up close—lava tubes, cave systems, and some genuinely rugged Northern California terrain. Thanks for braving the weather and exploring the underground with me on this one!

The Bluest Water in America? (Crater Lake National Park)

We started at Annie Falls Overlook and wound our way into the park, climbing that steep grade up to the cafe and gift shop parking.

Then I took that walk to the rim... and folks, I know you remember that view! Crystal blue water like you've never seen, with the wind and clouds rolling right over the lake. Mother Nature was showing off, plain and simple, and you guys blew up the comments over it!

From there, we drove the East Rim Loop, stopping at several viewpoints along the way, each one better than the last. And to top it all off, we climbed right up INTO the clouds! For about a mile, you saw the road completely disappear into the mist. Thanks for riding along through the clouds and taking in that unbelievable sight with me!

Oregon's US Highway 97—High Desert Road Trip to Bend

HECK YEAH, friends! We rolled north on US Highway 97 from Crater Lake all the way to Bend, Oregon, and what a legendary high desert drive that was!

If you caught this one, you saw us cruise right through the small towns of Chemult, Crescent, and La Pine, watching that beautiful landscape shift from thick volcanic forest into wide-open pine country. Then, we pulled off for a stop that seriously impressed me—the High Desert Museum, just south of Bend. Man, this place is very well done, folks! You guys loved seeing the live wildlife and those incredible history exhibits, and it was worth every single minute.

 

 

To top it all off, the next morning we pointed the rig out on Highway 20 and headed straight to the Three Sisters mountain viewpoint. Sharing that jaw-dropping look at those massive peaks—one of the absolute best mountain views in all of Oregon—was the perfect way to wrap up the trip. Thanks for riding along and exploring the high desert with me on this one!

Thanks, all:

~~~Russ

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