Silver Cove RV Resort (Again)
We enjoyed our first trip to Silver Cove so much, we decided to camp there a second time, except this time we brought my brother. From our first experience, we knew there were a number of things he’d enjoy — and for my part, I always have a lot more fun when he comes along.
He brought his mountain bike specifically to ride the ramps and hills at the Castle Rock Bike Park. Unfortunately, after only one day riding around the camp, his bike tire went flat with no pump to fix it. The tire stem was unique to his custom mountain bike. It meant a special trip down to Bob’s Sporting Goods in Longview, about 20 minutes from the camp. The guys there were experts and helped my brother with a new pump and some great advice.
We parked in Castle Rock and walked the River Trail while my brother and some other boys he met raced around the banks and humps and hills and got all hot and sweaty. He would have stayed there all day if he could, but it was getting late and I was hungry and thirsty.
The next day we went back up the main highway to the Forest Learning Center for a second visit. This time we hiked the 3/4 mile trail that snaked down the side of the mountain, through clover covered hills, over trickling streams, until it ended at a cliff side overlooking the verdant green valley below. See photo at top of this article.
Of course, that meant hiking back up the long twisting trail to the top, which was no problem for me, but the elderly humans had to rest a few times before their spindly human legs finally got them to the top. Frankly, I’ll never understand how any of them manage to get anywhere on only two feet.
Back at camp, my brother spent some time playing basketball with a few other boys late into the evening. They also had one of those mini electric motor bikes; they let him race around on that a few times as well. That gave my other humans an opportunity to take me on an evening stroll while the sun set over the silent lake, stars glittered overhead, and night birds to sing us to sleep.
On the last day of our trip, my brother and Papa (that’s what he calls my human man person) decided to go kayaking on the lake while Grammie and I stayed back on shore (that’s what he calls my human lady person). I suppose I could call them that, since, after all, they are the old, gray, weak, two-legged grandparents for my brother. Papa and Grammie. That’s what I’ll call them from now on.
I was perfectly happy to stay on land where sensible dogs like me belong. Boats and canoes and kayaks are for people who don’t know any better. For the next two hours they paddled around, swishing through the lily pads, cruising along the flower and tree lined canals, taking photos, crashing into each other, getting tangled in the weeds, and according to them, having the time of their lives.
It was a bit pricey, $25 each for two hours, and their arms and hands were pretty sore afterwards, but they both said it was a blast and they’d do it again in a heartbeat. Maybe so, but not with me on board.
I suggested it in my previous article, but it’s worth repeating. If you’re ever out this way in central Washington along the I-5 corridor, make sure you spend some time at Silver Cove and the surrounding area. Great for dogs and even better for boys. My boy in particular.
