‘The Squire’ is the place to be at concerts
Carl and Jessica DeSimas are at The Gorge Amphitheatre this weekend basking in the sun and Southern rocker sounds of Widespread Panic.
In fact, the Spokane couple are attending both tonight’s and Sunday’s concerts.
“We’re huge fans,” says Carl, a graduate student and part-time bartender at Far West Billiards. “We picked up tickets months ago.”
Several times each summer Carl and Jessica reserve the “family” RV – a 1973 Sportsman Country Squire – for pilgrimages to The Gorge, overlooking the Columbia River.
“It’s one of the most beautiful amphitheaters in the country,” says Carl. “We love going to concerts there.”
Although they could camp at The Gorge, the DeSimases usually meet up with a large group of friends at the Wild Horse Campground.
Just across the highway from the entrance to The Gorge, the Wild Horse Campground offers free shuttle service to all the performances.
“After the concert we all come back to the Country Squire,” says Carl. “Most of our friends tent camp or sleep in the back of their pickups, so they circle around the RV. It is the place that people hang out.”
“The RV has become an institution with our friends,” says Jessica, a pharmaceutical representative. “They treat it almost like a person and always ask if ‘The Squire’ is coming.”
One of big advantage of taking the RV, says Jessica, is having an indoor kitchen.
At both The Gorge and Wild Horse Campgrounds, no open campfires are permitted, only small barbecues and camp stoves.
“I usually make a huge plate of really good enchiladas ahead of time,” says Jessica. “When we get there I don’t have to think about preparing them. All I have to do is just pop them in the oven.”
Other trips
The first week in June, the DeSimases took “The Squire” to an annual camping reunion with a group of friends from Seattle.
“We all met up at Lake Easton State Park, just west of Cle Elum,” says Carl.
“There were close to 40 people there,” says Jessica. “We had so much fun.”
The 30-ish couple has enjoyed RVing so much they hope to buy their own RV within a year or two.
“We’re already talking about camping when we have children,” says Jessica.
Wild Horse Campground
Both dry camping and sites with electricity are available at the Wild Horse Campground
Costs are $35 for electric hook-up sites on first-come, first-serve basis only. Dry camping is $30. Facilities include free hot showers, a small cafe and an espresso stand. Pets and barbecues are okay; however, there are no campfires and no fireworks.
Take Interstate 90 west, take exit 149. Follow signs north to The Gorge Amphitheatre, approximately 6 miles; Wild Horse Campground is on the east side of the road.
Contact information for the campground is (509) 785-2783 or e-mail at wildhorsecg@televar.com; www.wildhorsecg.freeservers.com.
The Gorge Amphitheatre
Located on the eastern bluffs of the Columbia River near Quincy, Wash., The Gorge offers about two dozen weekend concerts between May and September. Ranked one of the best outdoor venues in the country, the Gorge seats 20,000. More information is on its Web site: www.gorgeconcerts.com.
Camping is available the night before, and the night of the concert. Advanced camping reservations are $30 per night at www.ticketmaster.com or $35 in cash at the campground gate. No fireworks, open fires, firearms, pets or large parties are permitted.
For more information
“ Widespread Panic’s Web site is www.widespreadpanic.com.
“ Lake Easton State Park is a forested, 516-acre year-round camping park on the shores of Lake Easton in the Cascade Mountain foothills. The park is 15 miles west of Cle Elum, Wash., and 15 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass. From Interstate-90, take exit 70 and follow signs to the park.
Costs are $15 for standard campsite, $21 for utility campsite. The park has 95 tent spaces, 45 utility spaces, dump station, restrooms and showers. All sites are in a wooded setting. In selected sites, RV units up to 60 feet and some tip-outs. To reserve a campsite, call (888) CAMPOUT (226-7688). For a look at all the Washington State Parks go to www.parks.wa.gov.