Our new home in Stehekin, Washington, is a treasure trove of history and natural beauty. Stehekin is a National Recreation Area, lovingly preserved by the National Park Service. Nestled within this haven is the Buckner Orchard, a living testament to the region’s agricultural heritage. This working homestead, which began its journey in 1889, is home to one of the oldest apple varieties, the Common Delicious. The orchard’s rich history and the unique apple variety it houses make it a must-visit for any history or nature enthusiast.

After a fulfilling year of teaching, we embarked on a road trip to pick up our beloved Dagny from Vinnie’s Northbay Airstream Repair in Sacramento. This was where she was stored over the winter, and we were eager to reunite with her. Vinnie, the skilled repairman, had also taken care of some much-needed repairs and upgrades. Our Dagny now sported a shiny new ceramic coating, and we were thrilled to find that we could finally access our bathroom, thanks to a new door handle. These small but significant changes made our journey back home all the more enjoyable.

As we continued our journey south, we couldn’t resist a stop at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area outside Redding, California. The lure of another National Park Passport stamp was too strong to resist. After collecting our stamp and purchasing a patch, we eagerly headed to the Tower House Historic District, where Charles Camden and Levi Tower purchased property along Clear Creek. Levi planted an orchard, which he later sold to Charles. Although the Carr Fire in 2018 decimated the orchard, there are a few surviving trees, and recovery efforts are underway. It was a thrill to see historic apple varieties like at the Buckner Orchard. Charles Camden had three daughters, just like Harry and Olive Buckner. I couldn’t help but wonder if Harry Buckner’s father, William, who founded the Buckner Orchard, knew Charles Camden as the Buckners moved from California. Hmmm…