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10-07-2013, 06:44 PM
trayson

Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

So, it's been a number of years since I've done a boating vacation, but now that I own a boat I'm starting to think more seriously about it for summer 2014.

I know a decent number of you are from the Pacific NW, and are probably familar with some of the good Central Oregon spots.

Right now I'm thinking mid July as our first choice with Mid June as our 2nd choice of timeframe.

Of course the first place that comes to mind is Cove Palisades State park on Lake Billy Chinook. Another that seems worth consideration is Prineville Reservoir state park.

I haven't been to LBC in 8+ years. And it's been since I was in High School since I've been to Prineville Reservoir.

Any insight for me? Any other hot spots I should consider? Anyone else planning a summer vacation along those lines?

Now is the time to start thinking about this since booking for June is already live and booking for July is very soon approaching.
10-07-2013, 08:48 PM
Boonejeepin

Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

My preference is Prineville. Both LBC and Prineville get strong afternoon winds.http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/08/epesajab.jpg
10-08-2013, 12:49 AM
beat taco

Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

I will be at LBC Memorial Day, July 4th, and the first week of August.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/08/y9ydeza3.jpg
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10-08-2013, 10:46 AM
bergermaister

How's the weather / water temps around Memorial day Jake?
10-08-2013, 01:36 PM
beat taco

Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bergermaister

How's the weather / water temps around Memorial day Jake?

Weather was great this year. I think it was at or around 80 the entire weekend. Usually we get some rain but it's overall decent. Water temps. Burrrr..59 most of the lake except cold water up the river arms, warmest is by the dam at 62. Pics above were July 4th, water was up to 70 iirc.
10-09-2013, 12:49 PM
newty

Re: Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

Its a bit of a haul but crescent bar is awesome. Get a condo and a slip and your set for a week. Pools, bar, store, pizza place, in wine country. Place is bad azz.
10-09-2013, 12:52 PM
mmandley

We goto LBC every year and NEVER go before July due to cold water and unpredictable weather.

Green Peter is a nice camp place,

Havnt been to Prinville or Cresent but looking to make some trip to them next year.
10-09-2013, 02:58 PM
bbuhtz

Quote:

Originally Posted by newty

Its a bit of a haul but crescent bar is awesome. Get a condo and a slip and your set for a week. Pools, bar, store, pizza place, in wine country. Place is bad azz.

+1 we go there often, mostly always a fun time
10-09-2013, 03:47 PM
cab13367

You should also consider Shasta althought it's a bit of a haul. We went there for the first time this August and air temp was in the 100's and water temp about 78-80 which for me, is about the perfect combination of temps.
10-09-2013, 03:52 PM
newty

Re: Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

Quote:

Originally Posted by newty

Its a bit of a haul but crescent bar is awesome. Get a condo and a slip and your set for a week. Pools, bar, store, pizza place, in wine country. Place is bad azz.

Oh yeah, its 25min form the gorge amphitheater. Plan your trip around a concert and your dialed.
10-09-2013, 04:33 PM
bergermaister

Google Crescent Bar WA and - hmmmm

http://assets-edge.vacationhomerenta..._1_001_010.jpg

Now look more closely at the scenery...
10-09-2013, 04:47 PM
mmandley

Ohh yea i see some shirtless, and other less ladies...
10-09-2013, 05:08 PM
bergermaister

New location for the next nw moomba/supra jam!
10-09-2013, 05:12 PM
trayson

Quote:

Originally Posted by bergermaister

New location for the next nw Super/Boobie jam!

Fixed that for ya...
10-09-2013, 08:39 PM
beat taco

Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

My favorite lake in Oregon is Lake Owyhee. It is slightly further from Portland then Shasta but sits in some of the most beautiful country in Oregon. It is almost four times larger then LBC. It is not uncommon to go all day and only see one or two boats pass by, needless to say it is glass all day.
10-09-2013, 08:54 PM
newty

Re: Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

Quote:

Originally Posted by beat taco

My favorite lake in Oregon is Lake Owyhee. It is slightly further from Portland then Shasta but sits in some of the most beautiful country in Oregon. It is almost four times larger then LBC. It is not uncommon to go all day and only see one or two boats pass by, needless to say it is glass all day.

Never heard of it... have to check it out!
10-13-2013, 09:30 PM
cornrickey

Quote:

Originally Posted by newty

Oh yeah, its 25min form the gorge amphitheater. Plan your trip around a concert and your dialed.

If you time it right and the wind is correct you can sit out in the river across from the Quilimine Dune and listen to a concert. I've hit it right once. The Quilimine is usually a very hoppin place. Can be non kid friendly at times.
10-13-2013, 09:33 PM
cornrickey

Quote:

Originally Posted by bergermaister

Google Crescent Bar WA and - hmmmm

http://assets-edge.vacationhomerenta..._1_001_010.jpg

Now look more closely at the scenery...

Where at Cresent Bar is that?

Never mind I see it was a google picture. That's not actually at Cresent Bar. Probably a local beach to it. That's the type of thing you see at Quilimine but it doesn't look like it from the picture.
10-14-2013, 10:31 AM
moombadaze

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornrickey

Where at Cresent Bar is that?

Never mind I see it was a google picture. That's not actually at Cresent Bar. Probably a local beach to it. That's the type of thing you see at Quilimine but it doesn't look like it from the picture.

Looks like the sandbar down river-west side, when i was going there, there would be only 2-3 other boats. nothing like that at all-kinda sad in a way, all that trash on the ground.
10-14-2013, 12:51 PM
trayson

Quote:

Originally Posted by beat taco

My favorite lake in Oregon is Lake Owyhee. It is slightly further from Portland then Shasta but sits in some of the most beautiful country in Oregon. It is almost four times larger then LBC. It is not uncommon to go all day and only see one or two boats pass by, needless to say it is glass all day.

I've heard of Owyhee. Way in the SE corner of Oregon, right? Yeah, that does sound nice.

Interestingly enough, I'm kinda wondering if I'll really do the weeklong boating vacation this summer. I keep hearing all these stories about how places like LBC and Prineville can get blown out by noon and have lots of boat traffic.

I've been thinking that maybe it might make more sense to take a week off work and have a "stay-cation". We have some great spots to ride that are accessed from the launch that's 15 minutes from my house. 20 to 50' water and pretty damn empty on weekdays during the summer (probably because everyone's going to the lakes!). And if the weather takes a turn, we'd have tons of other options right here at home.

As nice as it is to sleep in my camping trailer (bed, heater, A/C, hot water heater, toilet, stove, fridge, etc), I'd take my own bed at my house over the trailer anyday. Not to mention that we'd have to find someone else to come with us to tow the trailer or else we'd have to drive 2 tow rigs.

Campfire? That's easy. I did that in my back yard last night:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-l...013_195331.jpg

I guess I'm stuggling to find the compelling reason to spend a couple hundred in gas to get there/back, another couple hundred in camping fees, and be less comfortable with fewer contingency options than just staying at home... I guess weather in Eastern OR is typically something you can count on for hotter, but we do get some decent stuff over our summers still.

What am I missing?
10-14-2013, 01:09 PM
bergermaister

There is something to be said for coming out at 7am, pour a couple of coffee, walking maybe 100ft, and having this.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...2/IMG_4116.jpg

No, it doesn't last all day. Well maybe if you get lucky.

Few summers ago I did sort of an impromptu stay-cation. Friends were camping on the beach out of Camas on the Columbia. I played hookie from work, we went out Thursday morning, stayed til dark. They hit the tents, we went home to our nice dry clean house. Played hookie again on Friday - same routine. Thought about camping out with them, but bagged it. Came home at o'dark thirty. Got up early Saturday - same thing. Got up early Sunday - same thing. Rolled in around 10pm Sunday night and had to go to work the next day. One of the best non-traveling vacations I can remember. Only downside was about $450 in gas in a real short amount of time but I'd do it all over again.
10-14-2013, 01:20 PM
trayson

^^^^^^ that is beautiful for sure. Another consideration is that if I wanted to, I have access to moor on the side of my friend's Hayden Island houseboat from time to time. If we were gonna do a few days in a row, it might be fun to tie up there...

As far as how much boat gas you blew through, I have to imagine that it'd be the SAME amount as you'd blow through on a lake. just without the camping fees and truck gas to get to central OR.

BTW, I picked up my son at PDX on Friday and we were driving across the 205 bridge at around 5:30pm. I almost drove into the jersey barrier when I saw how mirror smooth the water was along Marine Drive. The wife even asked if we had enough time to drive home and get the boat! (not a chance with our limited daylight). But WOW.
10-14-2013, 01:29 PM
zabooda

2 Attachment(s)

You're missing a lot. Most people on the west side don't venture this far and that is a good thing for us. I thought this thread emphasized the crowds at Crescent and the condos and stuff. The best boating here doesn't have condos or motels nearby which means it doesn't have people and for a skier that is a good thing. You need a camper, motor home or tent to make this work. 90-100 degree days and no rain guaranteed from July through August and 75 degree water.

The good spots are Lake Roosevelt and Potholes reservoir. I have my vacation already planned out so the chances of meeting would be slim even over here. I noticed the people from the west side that do venture over here often do it every year as the quality of the vacation trumps the cost of getting there. If you go to Potholes be sure to bring a GPS as there are all these sand islands and if you get in far enough it would be difficult to find your way out without a lot of driving and there is usually no one to get directions from.
10-14-2013, 01:36 PM
trayson

Quote:

Originally Posted by zabooda

You're missing a lot. Most people on the west side don't venture this far and that is a good thing for us. I thought this thread emphasized the crowds at Crescent and the condos and stuff. The best boating here doesn't have condos or motels nearby which means it doesn't have people and for a skier that is a good thing. You need a camper, motor home or tent to make this work. 90-100 degree days and no rain guaranteed from July through August and 75 degree water.

The good spots are Lake Roosevelt and Potholes reservoir. I have my vacation already planned out so the chances of meeting would be slim even over here. I noticed the people from the west side that do venture over here often do it every year as the quality of the vacation trumps the cost of getting there. If you go to Potholes be sure to bring a GPS as there are all these sand islands and if you get in far enough it would be difficult to find your way out without a lot of driving and there is usually no one to get directions from.

I did a houseboat trip on Rosevelt once. It was quite memorable as we were on the houseboat during the 9/11/01 attacks. It was a blast aside from the obvious sobering events. and we got lots and lots of water time, but honestly the water was a little too cold to really enjoy just swimming... And our friends that rented the houseboat definitely lost money as we didn't "fill" it with people. So they absorbed the excess cost. It made it a ton more comfy though.

I guess I'm probably at the point where our vacation time and money is still at enough of a premium that I'm second guessing the need to travel... Maybe that will change.
10-14-2013, 01:44 PM
moombadaze

Quote:

Originally Posted by trayson

What am I missing?

The memories, photos, experiance ....
10-14-2013, 01:52 PM
bergermaister

Margarita Tie Dye Parties...
10-14-2013, 02:09 PM
trayson

Quote:

Originally Posted by moombadaze

The memories, photos, experiance ....

I guess so. Although one of my most memorable days was right here near home and ended with stopping at my buddy's houseboat, picking up a couple more ladies, and cruising to a floating restaurant on the river and having a fantastic happy hour...

Don't get me wrong, I've DONE week long boating vacations at Lake Billy Chinook, Brownlee Reservoir and Lake Rosevelt. I'm just questioning whether it makes sense for me to do it when I've got so much at my disposal locally...
10-14-2013, 02:10 PM
trayson

Quote:

Originally Posted by bergermaister

Margarita Tie Dye Parties...

Is this close enough? It does involve a Sombrerro afterall!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x...013_141407.jpg
10-14-2013, 08:11 PM
beat taco

Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

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10-14-2013, 08:15 PM
beat taco

Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

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10-14-2013, 08:22 PM
beat taco

Boating Vacations in Central OR (Surf/Wake/Ski/Camp/etc)

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Worth every penny. Next year I'm headed to Lake Oroville. I love the adventure, from the driving to the lakes and then spending a week or so exploring them. The memories are priceless. I know how quick they will grow up and be gone on their own adventures. I'm only half the adventurer my dad was, but I go for it when I can.