We set out on our second van camping excursion about six weeks ago. We learned many things during our rookie foray into it September of last year, so go check out that post for all the Tips and Tricks of van camping with a preschooler. This post will be more of reflection on what we did (or didn’t do) and the places we camped. You know, so we can read about it after forgetting everything in a few years.

We spent six nights at two different campgrounds at Deception Pass State Park. Our original plan, which we made back in December of last year, was to spend half the time on the Olympic Peninsula and the other have at DPSP, but that didn’t pan out. We were eagerly awaiting both campgrounds to open to overnight camping due to lifting of COVID restrictions and got our wish about 10 days before our trip. Unfortunately, our campground on the peninsula had a plumbing/drainage issue and they had to close a whole section – which included our site. I scrambled and found a private site via hipcamp.com, but the listing was pulled by the company three days before our arrival because the host’s next door neighbor complained. Hipcamp refunded our money and gave us a $40 credit, which is kinda worthless when many sites are reserved 6-9 months in advance around here. Not sure we’ll use them again. The good news is I was able to find joint sites (friends joined us the first half) at DPSP, so our week wasn’t blown. It just meant that we wouldn’t be getting the variety we sought.

We rented our van from Cascade Adventure Vans again and have no regrets. In addition to being close to home, they’re a local, family owned business offering a great platform for families looking to sleep in a van. They’re offering free refunds with no penalty due to COVID, but we wanted nothing more than to get away from our house. The one big difference in van setup this year was a half lower bunk for Dom – it really opened up our storage and packing options. The floor next to his bed also kinda became Dom’s bedroom during nap times – he could get out of bed easily to use his small potty we had inside. The stowable kitchen was also on a pull-out shelf, which made for easier un/packing and served as our “pull out pantry” with our food storage bins while at camp. Small addition by the owners; big improvement to camp life.

Our poor luck with rain while camping continued. The forecast called for sunny skies all week the day before we left, but a decent sized storm parked over the southern part of Canada for a few days midweek. We were on the southern edge of the rain, so we saw about three days of mostly rain despite Seattle being drier just 90 minutes to the south. Bummer. We explored the area when weather permitted, drove to town for a few supplies, and just plain relaxed at our campground much of the week. We had visions of kayaking, playing in the water, and all those other fun summer activities but it was just too chilly/dreary for most of the week. I think we ended up burning like 15 bundles of wood (gathering is prohibited in WA). The automatic, diesel-powered heater in the van came in super handy on those chilly nights.

Our biggest excitement came when a campfire ember jumped five feet horizontally and three feet vertically to land on Dom’s neck. We called 911 because he appeared to go into shock, but recovered within a few minutes of first responders arriving. After conversing with the paramedics, we elected not to have him transported to the hospital. The paramedics said there wasn’t much the ER would do other than dress the wound… and we already had all the supplies to do the same in our camping first aid kit. My prepping self is happy to report all the bandaging you see at the bottom of the pics was done by me from our kit. The paramedics complimented us #humblebrag. Dom did end up with some third degree burns, but we’ve managed it well since then with a neck gaiter protecting his skin from the sun. It also doubles as his COVID mask, so win/win. Suffice to say, that whole experience was pretty traumatic for everyone involved. The upside is Dom got to meet paramedics, fire fighters, park rangers, and another unit I’m forgetting. Apparently that’s standard procedure for state parks due to multiple jurisdictions being in play.

Deception Pass is a cool part of our state. I believe it’s the most visited state park in WA and for good reason. The area is quintessential PNW with big trees, rocky tidal beaches, chilly waters, and dramatic landscapes. Millions of gallons of water flow through a small pass during 15′ tide changes, so parts of it feel like you’re looking at a quick moving river with white water and whirlpools. I’d love to explore the area by boat. The Quarry Pond campground was the least impressive, but it did have power and water for those looking for it. Cranberry Lake was more of a typical tent campground, which had much better access to water but no hookups at the campsites. Bowman Bay is also popular, but privacy appeared to be a concern; we didn’t stay there. If you’re in the area, don’t be surprised to hear jets training out of the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island just to the south.

Overall, things worked out. It was the first overnight(s) we spent out of the house since COVID lockdown started and a decent way to spend a summer week. We came back more tired than we went, but that’s typical for 1) camping, and 2) traveling with a pre-schooler. No one ever said adventure was restful. :-)

Camp site number 2