Oct 24th - Wed - to Ruidoso, NM
Just over 150 miles today but it took us almost as long to find an RV park as it did to get here. I had found a park in the PA book which was not in our GPS system. But I could see on a general map the junction of 2 highways that were in the driving instructions in the PA book so I figured we could find it. Well, the roads did not exactly look like the map so we made a guess and ended up on a narrow street and having to turn around in a motel parking lot by backing out onto the street. A lady at the motel gave us a map of the town and stopped traffic while we backed out. The new map was a “touristy picture map” which wasn’t to scale so we ended up driving forever - it seemed - and went up and then down a steep hill/mountain. We did find the RV park and said “no way”, turned around and went back up and down the mountain. Then Terry drove into a park that he saw and it turned out to be all permanent tenants. The internal roads were very narrow and lined with trees so it took all of Terry’s driving skill to exit successfully. In the meantime, I was making phone calls to find a park with wifi. I saw one park on the map, directed Terry to turn on a road that he did not really like but which turned out to be correct and we finally got a spot. It is very nice.
By this time it was after 2 so we set up and I settled Terry’s nerves with a Scotch with his lunch!
Ruidoso is hilly and spread out along ravines and rivers. We went to a nearby area of shops and wandered around in the lovely sunshine. After dinner we had to make a small donation to the local casino! It is a large hotel/convention center/casino/golf course - Inn of the Mountain Gods.
Oct 25th - Thurs - Ruidoso, NM
We woke to see the truck covered in frost this morning. But the sky was clear and it warmed up quickly once the sun hit.
We drove to Alamogordo (50 miles) and went to the White Sands National Monument. The white sands are gypsum sand dunes stretching about 275 miles. There is an 8 mile road into the dunes with several trails that you can walk. Near the end there are some picnic areas with covered tables and restrooms. The road is paved most of the way and then is dirt/sand. The roads have to be plowed to keep them clear of drifting sand. There are large parking areas that are also kept cleared. You can climb and play on the dunes to your heart’s content. The visitor center sells sand sleds for kids to climb up the dunes and slide down. I had to climb a dune to see what was on the other side. It was tough climbing with about a foot of soft sand on top of a firmer layer. But the view was great!
We came back through a little town called Cloudcroft with an elevation of 8940 feet. (Ruidoso is about 6400). Nice drive but not too much to see besides cows and horses on really tough pasture. We went through some type of insect “hatch” which just peppered the windshield. So Terry had to clean the truck and the front of the 5th wheel when we got back while I did a little cleaning inside the rig.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Oct 19th to 23rd - Texas, New Mexico
Oct 19th - Friday - Grand Prairie (Ft Worth) TX
We took a tour of a federal printing and engraving facility today. They print money, stamps and other “controlled” items. The tour takes place on glassed-in elevated walkways looking over the production floor. There are 2 museums - past and present. Very interesting.
We were then going to check out the downtown stockyards area but just ended up driving through as we didn’t really feel like doing any shopping and did not see anything else and parking at the same time.
Oct 20th - Sat - Grand Prairie TX
Next door to the RV park is a huge weekend market area - some literature says 120 acres and some 154 acres, including parking I‘m sure. Vendor counts range from 2800 to 3500. Either way, it is huge! There are buildings with walls & doors, large covered areas and open areas. We wandered in the morning and bought a tripod for our satellite dish. So we went back to the rig for lunch and to rest our feet. Then we went back, bought a couple more small items and then it was just too hot and our feet were tired. It got to 92 degrees - just perfect to pull out the big recliner lawn chairs and relax in the shade.
Oct 21st - Sun - to Lubbock, TX
We weren’t exactly sure where we would end up today. We have a tire on the 5th wheel that is wearing badly. We actually replaced it before going to Alaska and then of course never found the underlying cause of the problem. Terry figured we needed to stop at an RV repair place but kind of forgot that today is Sunday so that wouldn’t happen. He looked online for tires matching the ones on the other side that we had to replace when we had the blowout but they are sold by Les Schwab which is only in west coast states. So we just kept going and ended up in Lubbock.
We are in cotton country now. Miles and miles of enormous cotton fields. Some are being harvested and others are still green. Just before Lubbock it was 95 degrees and ½ hour later it was 75 degrees. We hit the cold front that has been in the weather forecast for a couple of days.
Oct 22nd - Mon - to Carlsbad, New Mexico
If anyone is following our trip on a map, it appears that Lubbock was out of the way to get to Carlsbad. You are correct! I was looking in the PA book for a campsite and saw one at Post which is about 40 miles from Lubbock. I asked Terry if that was where he had wanted to go and he said yes without actually looking at the map again. It wasn’t exactly the right direction but we didn’t figure that out soon enough. Then we thought we could find an RV repair place in Lubbock so carried on.
This morning Terry decided to replace the worn tire with the new spare which should get us to a Les Schwab to get matching tires. So we packed everything up and then changed the tire in the RV site - much better than trying to do it on the side of a highway!
The landscape is very flat and dry. More cotton and then the addition of oil pumps, hay and some cattle. We arrived in Carlsbad a little too late to go to the caverns so hit a grocery store and kicked back. Later we realized that we were in a different time zone so could have squeezed in a visit to some attraction.
Oct 23rd - Tues - Carlsbad, NM
Busy day today. I entered four days in my word processing file for my blog but we do not have wifi so I will have to wait to post it. We went to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens just a few miles away. Having been to the Desert Museum in Tucson, we were not overly impressed with this one. Even though animals were in “natural” environments, I felt sorry for them being in captivity as they did not have acres to roam in. The weather was nice though so I enjoyed the walk.
Next we went to Carlsbad Caverns. I couldn’t talk Terry into walking the extra mile by using the Natural entrance so we rode the elevator down and toured the Big Room - it was amazing. Unfortunately, you cannot capture the immense size with a camera as it is dimly lit with highlights on certain features. We rented an audio “tour guide” so, along with guide boards, we had quite a bit of information as we walked for about 1 ½ hours. We were going to stay and watch the bats fly out of the Bat Cave but they were guessing that they would leave about 5:30 and we didn’t want to stick around that long. Last night they estimated 4:30 and the bats did not fly until 5:30 so we could have had a long wait.
We found a visitor information site and picked up booklets for other New Mexico areas as we will take off tomorrow.
We took a tour of a federal printing and engraving facility today. They print money, stamps and other “controlled” items. The tour takes place on glassed-in elevated walkways looking over the production floor. There are 2 museums - past and present. Very interesting.
We were then going to check out the downtown stockyards area but just ended up driving through as we didn’t really feel like doing any shopping and did not see anything else and parking at the same time.
Oct 20th - Sat - Grand Prairie TX
Next door to the RV park is a huge weekend market area - some literature says 120 acres and some 154 acres, including parking I‘m sure. Vendor counts range from 2800 to 3500. Either way, it is huge! There are buildings with walls & doors, large covered areas and open areas. We wandered in the morning and bought a tripod for our satellite dish. So we went back to the rig for lunch and to rest our feet. Then we went back, bought a couple more small items and then it was just too hot and our feet were tired. It got to 92 degrees - just perfect to pull out the big recliner lawn chairs and relax in the shade.
Oct 21st - Sun - to Lubbock, TX
We weren’t exactly sure where we would end up today. We have a tire on the 5th wheel that is wearing badly. We actually replaced it before going to Alaska and then of course never found the underlying cause of the problem. Terry figured we needed to stop at an RV repair place but kind of forgot that today is Sunday so that wouldn’t happen. He looked online for tires matching the ones on the other side that we had to replace when we had the blowout but they are sold by Les Schwab which is only in west coast states. So we just kept going and ended up in Lubbock.
We are in cotton country now. Miles and miles of enormous cotton fields. Some are being harvested and others are still green. Just before Lubbock it was 95 degrees and ½ hour later it was 75 degrees. We hit the cold front that has been in the weather forecast for a couple of days.
Oct 22nd - Mon - to Carlsbad, New Mexico
If anyone is following our trip on a map, it appears that Lubbock was out of the way to get to Carlsbad. You are correct! I was looking in the PA book for a campsite and saw one at Post which is about 40 miles from Lubbock. I asked Terry if that was where he had wanted to go and he said yes without actually looking at the map again. It wasn’t exactly the right direction but we didn’t figure that out soon enough. Then we thought we could find an RV repair place in Lubbock so carried on.
This morning Terry decided to replace the worn tire with the new spare which should get us to a Les Schwab to get matching tires. So we packed everything up and then changed the tire in the RV site - much better than trying to do it on the side of a highway!
The landscape is very flat and dry. More cotton and then the addition of oil pumps, hay and some cattle. We arrived in Carlsbad a little too late to go to the caverns so hit a grocery store and kicked back. Later we realized that we were in a different time zone so could have squeezed in a visit to some attraction.
Oct 23rd - Tues - Carlsbad, NM
Busy day today. I entered four days in my word processing file for my blog but we do not have wifi so I will have to wait to post it. We went to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens just a few miles away. Having been to the Desert Museum in Tucson, we were not overly impressed with this one. Even though animals were in “natural” environments, I felt sorry for them being in captivity as they did not have acres to roam in. The weather was nice though so I enjoyed the walk.
Next we went to Carlsbad Caverns. I couldn’t talk Terry into walking the extra mile by using the Natural entrance so we rode the elevator down and toured the Big Room - it was amazing. Unfortunately, you cannot capture the immense size with a camera as it is dimly lit with highlights on certain features. We rented an audio “tour guide” so, along with guide boards, we had quite a bit of information as we walked for about 1 ½ hours. We were going to stay and watch the bats fly out of the Bat Cave but they were guessing that they would leave about 5:30 and we didn’t want to stick around that long. Last night they estimated 4:30 and the bats did not fly until 5:30 so we could have had a long wait.
We found a visitor information site and picked up booklets for other New Mexico areas as we will take off tomorrow.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Oct 15th to 18th - AR, OK, TX
Oct 15th - Mon - to Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Very short trip today - we took the long way and it was only about 1 ½ hours. Checked into a PA park, made some lunch and then went for a drive into town. Eureka Springs is built on hills and almost the entire town is on the National Historic register. There are no two streets on the same level and no right angle intersections. We drove the “historic district” loop - talk about narrow and windy. We looked for a parking spot but the couple that we saw were not big enough for our truck. We took another drive out of town, across a dam and back to town in a big circle. This corner of Arkansas is hilly and treed - very pretty. The town has a trolley system to take people into and around the town since there is not much parking so I went to the RV office to get some info when we got back. They quit running at 5 so we decided that if tomorrow is nice we will stay another day and take the trolley into town.
Oct 16th - Tues - Eureka Springs, AR
The weather forecast is for thunderstorms but not until late tomorrow so we took the trolley into town and walked uphill and back down the main shopping street, taking pictures and wandering through shops. Had lunch and then took the trolley on the historic loop so I could get some pictures. You get a pass for the whole day on the trolleys so can get on and off as often as you wish on 5 routes. Back to the park and enjoyed sitting in the sun for about 4 minutes and then had to move into the shade!!
Took another drive to a retirement community just north of Eureka Springs (Holiday Island). Nice golf course through one subdivision, pretty big houses for retirement in another subdivision - 2000 sq ft minimum.
Oct 17th - Wed - to Thackerville, Oklahoma
We were pretty worried about the weather as possible tornados were added to the mix. We both woke up very early and had the TV on at 5 to check the weather. We got an early start (had to wait until a decent time -7:00 - to get our neighbor to move her car so we could get out) to head south and west to get around the storm front before it developed into ugly stuff. We hit some pretty good winds but otherwise the 6 hour drive to another PA park was uneventful. Thackerville is only a few miles from the Texas border.
The landscape continues to be hilly and treed. The only natural flat spots seem to be rivers & lakes. The highways must be costly to build as they have a lot of long “bridges” over gullies. Oklahoma has quite a few toll highways which we were able to avoid but I think drivers are encouraged to use the toll highways by the lack of maintenance on other highways - pretty rough.
There is a HUGE casino just a couple of miles away so of course we had to go check it out. Not much else to do here especially since it is still windy and very muggy. I am about ready to quit gambling - I just cannot win on anything any more. Luckily, Terry is still picking up some of my losses!
Oct 18th - Thurs - to Grand Prairie (Fort Worth), Texas
Another short drive today. I wanted to see some sights in Fort Worth so we found an RV park in Grand Prairie which is between Ft. Worth and Dallas. Hard to tell you are in a different town, they all kind of run together. Wanda did a fine job of guiding us in on several freeways while not going right through Ft. Worth.
We decided to use a lovely afternoon to get some chores done - including cleaning up the 5th wheel and truck. The park does not allow vehicle washing but we just used wet micro fiber clothes to clean the 5th wheel and then took the truck to a nearby car wash. Then it was great to relax in the sun (in shorts, 82 degrees) and read the mountain of info on Texas that we got at a tourist information center.
Very short trip today - we took the long way and it was only about 1 ½ hours. Checked into a PA park, made some lunch and then went for a drive into town. Eureka Springs is built on hills and almost the entire town is on the National Historic register. There are no two streets on the same level and no right angle intersections. We drove the “historic district” loop - talk about narrow and windy. We looked for a parking spot but the couple that we saw were not big enough for our truck. We took another drive out of town, across a dam and back to town in a big circle. This corner of Arkansas is hilly and treed - very pretty. The town has a trolley system to take people into and around the town since there is not much parking so I went to the RV office to get some info when we got back. They quit running at 5 so we decided that if tomorrow is nice we will stay another day and take the trolley into town.
Oct 16th - Tues - Eureka Springs, AR
The weather forecast is for thunderstorms but not until late tomorrow so we took the trolley into town and walked uphill and back down the main shopping street, taking pictures and wandering through shops. Had lunch and then took the trolley on the historic loop so I could get some pictures. You get a pass for the whole day on the trolleys so can get on and off as often as you wish on 5 routes. Back to the park and enjoyed sitting in the sun for about 4 minutes and then had to move into the shade!!
Took another drive to a retirement community just north of Eureka Springs (Holiday Island). Nice golf course through one subdivision, pretty big houses for retirement in another subdivision - 2000 sq ft minimum.
Oct 17th - Wed - to Thackerville, Oklahoma
We were pretty worried about the weather as possible tornados were added to the mix. We both woke up very early and had the TV on at 5 to check the weather. We got an early start (had to wait until a decent time -7:00 - to get our neighbor to move her car so we could get out) to head south and west to get around the storm front before it developed into ugly stuff. We hit some pretty good winds but otherwise the 6 hour drive to another PA park was uneventful. Thackerville is only a few miles from the Texas border.
The landscape continues to be hilly and treed. The only natural flat spots seem to be rivers & lakes. The highways must be costly to build as they have a lot of long “bridges” over gullies. Oklahoma has quite a few toll highways which we were able to avoid but I think drivers are encouraged to use the toll highways by the lack of maintenance on other highways - pretty rough.
There is a HUGE casino just a couple of miles away so of course we had to go check it out. Not much else to do here especially since it is still windy and very muggy. I am about ready to quit gambling - I just cannot win on anything any more. Luckily, Terry is still picking up some of my losses!
Oct 18th - Thurs - to Grand Prairie (Fort Worth), Texas
Another short drive today. I wanted to see some sights in Fort Worth so we found an RV park in Grand Prairie which is between Ft. Worth and Dallas. Hard to tell you are in a different town, they all kind of run together. Wanda did a fine job of guiding us in on several freeways while not going right through Ft. Worth.
We decided to use a lovely afternoon to get some chores done - including cleaning up the 5th wheel and truck. The park does not allow vehicle washing but we just used wet micro fiber clothes to clean the 5th wheel and then took the truck to a nearby car wash. Then it was great to relax in the sun (in shorts, 82 degrees) and read the mountain of info on Texas that we got at a tourist information center.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Oct 12th to 14th - Branson
Oct 12th - Fri - Branson
We went to the one show with a known country artist this afternoon - Moe Bandy. It was again very enjoyable. One cast member played a couple of comedic characters which added a fun touch. The band was good and looked like they were enjoying the show as well. Female dancers rounded out the show.
A little bit of shopping before going back to the rig for dinner and to visit Dolly. Then to an 8:00 pm show - Country Tonite. Another variety show with singers, dancers and a little comedy. The band definitely did not look like they were having as good a time as others. I wondered if we were getting burned out on shows.
Oct 13th - Sat - Branson
Another day with 2 shows. At 2:00 we went to see Kirby Van Burch, a magician. He and his wife Bambi have both been voted “Magician of the Year” by some national magicians’ organization. Terry really wanted to see this show so we bought tickets - full priced! - here. Kirby & Bambi were both very good and it was mostly a fast paced show that kept your full attention. But we were both somehow a little disappointed and we are not sure why. I felt like Kirby was somewhat arrogant.
Back to the rig again for dinner before the evening show - Bart Rockett. Bart is also a magician but he says he is a “comedian with props”. The show is not as slick - especially since his light & sound person had the night off and the replacement got sick so the lead dancer took over the music & lights. He includes a lot of current news events in his jokes and one-liners. He also does a fun ventriloquist number - and is a respectable magician. We actually enjoyed this show more than the earlier one today.
Oct 14th - Sun - Branson
The lovely sunny, warm weather continues. No show until this evening so we did some laundry, chatted with a couple that we met the first night we were here, cleaned up some stuff on the computer and talked to sister Marg on the phone for quite a while. For everyone who has asked in the past - Dad is doing fine.
After lunch we went to Branson Landing which is a new shopping area on the Taneycomo River that runs past old Branson. There are also a lot of what appear to be apartments and/or hotels above the shops. There is a central plaza area with “fountains” that are used in a water and music show every hour. There are also huge metal upright tubes behind the fountain nozzles that belch fire along with the water shooting up. Quite different.
The trees above our rig are oak trees and the squirrels cause most of the acorns to fall on our roof. The dog next door looks up at the trees when he comes out and barks at the squirrels. Luckily, Dolly has not seen a squirrel or figured out what is causing the noise.
Our last show was tonight at 7 pm - Ozark Mountain Jubilee. It was a family singing group - the Max Bacons (Dad, Mom, 3 sons, 1 daughter-in-law and a couple of songs by grandkids) - and a band. The pianist was the “announcer” and goof-ball / comic relief. It was another very enjoyable couple of hours.
We went to the one show with a known country artist this afternoon - Moe Bandy. It was again very enjoyable. One cast member played a couple of comedic characters which added a fun touch. The band was good and looked like they were enjoying the show as well. Female dancers rounded out the show.
A little bit of shopping before going back to the rig for dinner and to visit Dolly. Then to an 8:00 pm show - Country Tonite. Another variety show with singers, dancers and a little comedy. The band definitely did not look like they were having as good a time as others. I wondered if we were getting burned out on shows.
Oct 13th - Sat - Branson
Another day with 2 shows. At 2:00 we went to see Kirby Van Burch, a magician. He and his wife Bambi have both been voted “Magician of the Year” by some national magicians’ organization. Terry really wanted to see this show so we bought tickets - full priced! - here. Kirby & Bambi were both very good and it was mostly a fast paced show that kept your full attention. But we were both somehow a little disappointed and we are not sure why. I felt like Kirby was somewhat arrogant.
Back to the rig again for dinner before the evening show - Bart Rockett. Bart is also a magician but he says he is a “comedian with props”. The show is not as slick - especially since his light & sound person had the night off and the replacement got sick so the lead dancer took over the music & lights. He includes a lot of current news events in his jokes and one-liners. He also does a fun ventriloquist number - and is a respectable magician. We actually enjoyed this show more than the earlier one today.
Oct 14th - Sun - Branson
The lovely sunny, warm weather continues. No show until this evening so we did some laundry, chatted with a couple that we met the first night we were here, cleaned up some stuff on the computer and talked to sister Marg on the phone for quite a while. For everyone who has asked in the past - Dad is doing fine.
After lunch we went to Branson Landing which is a new shopping area on the Taneycomo River that runs past old Branson. There are also a lot of what appear to be apartments and/or hotels above the shops. There is a central plaza area with “fountains” that are used in a water and music show every hour. There are also huge metal upright tubes behind the fountain nozzles that belch fire along with the water shooting up. Quite different.
The trees above our rig are oak trees and the squirrels cause most of the acorns to fall on our roof. The dog next door looks up at the trees when he comes out and barks at the squirrels. Luckily, Dolly has not seen a squirrel or figured out what is causing the noise.
Our last show was tonight at 7 pm - Ozark Mountain Jubilee. It was a family singing group - the Max Bacons (Dad, Mom, 3 sons, 1 daughter-in-law and a couple of songs by grandkids) - and a band. The pianist was the “announcer” and goof-ball / comic relief. It was another very enjoyable couple of hours.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Oct 9th to 11th - Branson, MO
Oct 9th - Tues - to Branson, MO
Another beautiful sunny day for driving to Branson. We stopped at a visitor info site in Nevada (with a long “a”) not far across the border in Missouri. They gave us the usual books & pamphlets and then told us that the local radio station had show tickets for sale at very low prices. They are given the tickets in exchange for advertising and then have a auction on Friday evenings. You can then go and buy tickets at the highest auction bid price. Of course this was a small town and the radio station was downtown on narrow streets so Terry was nearly ready to bag it when we found the station and a place to park. We ended up with 6 shows - no big names - for $90. Most of the shows were normally $25 to $35 per person.
Stopped at grocery store just out of Springfield and then started calling the RV parks in the PA book. To our surprise and dismay, Sept & Oct are busy months here and places were full. We found one PA park that could give us a space for Wed, Thurs & Fri and then said they could put us in a pull through (normally reserved for very long rigs) tonight. So even though we would have to move and also wanted Saturday, we said fine. By the time we got to the park I realized that one show was only on Sunday night so we would need Sunday as well. When Terry went to register, the owner said she had switched some rigs around and could give us a spot through Sunday. At $15 per night we were happy!
When we were setting up, the large slide started to go out crooked. Thanks to friends having this problem, Terry knew what to look for (missing bolt) and thanks to a neighbor with a box of misc parts, he was able to replace the bolt and all is well.
Oct 10th - Wed - Branson, MO
Branson is set in/on hills with a lot of trees - quite pretty. We waited until our new site was vacated and then moved before exploring a bit and finding the theaters for our shows.
We went to a show called “Comedy Jamboree” this afternoon. A variety type show with dancers, singers and comedy. The pianist in the band was incredible. They were filming the show and showing it on two large screens at the same time. The pianist’s hands were moving so fast that they blurred on the screen.
There was an group of 3 men playing guitars & drums and singing in the covered picnic area in the RV park so we walked over and listened to them for a while.
We are parked in the trees and one of the trees is a hazelnut tree. So we get nuts hitting the roof. We will have to sweep the slides before we leave.
Oct 11th - Thurs - Branson
Cooled down a bit today but still sunny. We went to the “Buck Trent Morning Show” at 9:30 today. He is a banjo/guitar player who has played for 50 years with various artists including Porter Waggoner, Dolly Parton and Roy Clark and on shows such as Hee Haw. There was a band (of course), 2 excellent fiddle players and a guitar player who sang a lot. After asking the audience about birthdays and anniversaries, they played Lara’s Theme from Dr Zhivago (Somewhere My Love) that was absolutely wonderful. The entire cast sang on some songs and they had to throw in some jokes and one-liners. Very enjoyable. The shows yesterday and today were both 2 hours with a 15 minute intermissions so they could sell some CDs.
Drove around some and had lunch before going to another show at 2. It was “Island Fire” and not country at all. It was a group of 14 dancers from Samoa who performed Polynesian dances. There were also a couple of guys who twirled flaming torches. The male dancers had amazing energy and speed while the women performed traditional “Hawaiian”, graceful dances with storytelling hands and swivel hips.
Another beautiful sunny day for driving to Branson. We stopped at a visitor info site in Nevada (with a long “a”) not far across the border in Missouri. They gave us the usual books & pamphlets and then told us that the local radio station had show tickets for sale at very low prices. They are given the tickets in exchange for advertising and then have a auction on Friday evenings. You can then go and buy tickets at the highest auction bid price. Of course this was a small town and the radio station was downtown on narrow streets so Terry was nearly ready to bag it when we found the station and a place to park. We ended up with 6 shows - no big names - for $90. Most of the shows were normally $25 to $35 per person.
Stopped at grocery store just out of Springfield and then started calling the RV parks in the PA book. To our surprise and dismay, Sept & Oct are busy months here and places were full. We found one PA park that could give us a space for Wed, Thurs & Fri and then said they could put us in a pull through (normally reserved for very long rigs) tonight. So even though we would have to move and also wanted Saturday, we said fine. By the time we got to the park I realized that one show was only on Sunday night so we would need Sunday as well. When Terry went to register, the owner said she had switched some rigs around and could give us a spot through Sunday. At $15 per night we were happy!
When we were setting up, the large slide started to go out crooked. Thanks to friends having this problem, Terry knew what to look for (missing bolt) and thanks to a neighbor with a box of misc parts, he was able to replace the bolt and all is well.
Oct 10th - Wed - Branson, MO
Branson is set in/on hills with a lot of trees - quite pretty. We waited until our new site was vacated and then moved before exploring a bit and finding the theaters for our shows.
We went to a show called “Comedy Jamboree” this afternoon. A variety type show with dancers, singers and comedy. The pianist in the band was incredible. They were filming the show and showing it on two large screens at the same time. The pianist’s hands were moving so fast that they blurred on the screen.
There was an group of 3 men playing guitars & drums and singing in the covered picnic area in the RV park so we walked over and listened to them for a while.
We are parked in the trees and one of the trees is a hazelnut tree. So we get nuts hitting the roof. We will have to sweep the slides before we leave.
Oct 11th - Thurs - Branson
Cooled down a bit today but still sunny. We went to the “Buck Trent Morning Show” at 9:30 today. He is a banjo/guitar player who has played for 50 years with various artists including Porter Waggoner, Dolly Parton and Roy Clark and on shows such as Hee Haw. There was a band (of course), 2 excellent fiddle players and a guitar player who sang a lot. After asking the audience about birthdays and anniversaries, they played Lara’s Theme from Dr Zhivago (Somewhere My Love) that was absolutely wonderful. The entire cast sang on some songs and they had to throw in some jokes and one-liners. Very enjoyable. The shows yesterday and today were both 2 hours with a 15 minute intermissions so they could sell some CDs.
Drove around some and had lunch before going to another show at 2. It was “Island Fire” and not country at all. It was a group of 14 dancers from Samoa who performed Polynesian dances. There were also a couple of guys who twirled flaming torches. The male dancers had amazing energy and speed while the women performed traditional “Hawaiian”, graceful dances with storytelling hands and swivel hips.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Oct 6th to 8th - IA, NE, KS!!
Oct 6th - Sat - Emmetsburg, Iowa
On to the Spam Museum at Austin, MN. It was a fun stop and we had to buy a couple of cans of Spam at the gift shop as it has been so long since we have eaten any. There was more information in the museum than we had time to read - very well done and a worthwhile stop for anyone.
Then we finally headed to Iowa as we had intended to since we left South Dakota. We found out why one of the state’s nicknames is “The Corn State”. There are miles of corn fields, most not yet combined.
We went to the Grotto of the Redemption at West Bend, IA. It is a “shrine” constructed of rocks, petrified wood, crystals and semi-precious stones. It was one man’s vision and was built by him and 2 friends. Since we are not church-goers, we did not relate to the religious aspects of the Grotto but you can still appreciate the immense task.
It was late afternoon by the time we left the Grotto so we were looking for a place to stay. And what should appear in our path but another casino - with an RV park for $15 a night. Seemed like fate! It was so warm when we set up that we both put shorts on and turned on the air conditioner. A bit of gambling when we went to register and then drinks & dinner.
Oct 7th - Sun - Beatrice, Nebraska
Another huge rain storm last night but dry and hot this morning.
We had a food coupon for the buffet at the casino so we had breakfast before we left. And then we drove south - imagine! Lots of corn fields here too. We ended up in Beatrice, NE at a great park that is owned by the city. It has a 20 site RV park with full hookups, a huge covered barbeque/picnic area, an 18 “hole” disc golf course, paved trails and acres of mowed grass. We spoke with a couple who were “golfing” and the guy gave us a quick lesson which was very interesting. We will put this spot in our file for a return visit.
About 9 the lighting and thunder started and once again a downpour of rain. At least the days are nice.
Oct 8th - Mon - Lyndon, Kansas
We visited the Homestead National Monument just out of Beatrice this morning. It is a new building that has the residents of Kansas complaining about the cost. It has well done displays about every facet of homesteading but really not much that we have not seen in other forms in other places.
We are really moving through the states. We left the corn fields for a while but then got into them again as we got a little further south. A lot more trees and hills than in the parts of Iowa & Nebraska that we saw. We went through Lincoln on freeways to Lyndon about 22 miles south of Lincoln. It is a nice PA park. We have been surprised by the number of long-term residents in RV parks lately. In Beatrice, there were a lot of people working on a pipeline.
Arrived here mid afternoon so had time to give Terry a haircut and do some laundry. Also spent quite a bit of time digging around the internet since we have wifi at the site.
On to the Spam Museum at Austin, MN. It was a fun stop and we had to buy a couple of cans of Spam at the gift shop as it has been so long since we have eaten any. There was more information in the museum than we had time to read - very well done and a worthwhile stop for anyone.
Then we finally headed to Iowa as we had intended to since we left South Dakota. We found out why one of the state’s nicknames is “The Corn State”. There are miles of corn fields, most not yet combined.
We went to the Grotto of the Redemption at West Bend, IA. It is a “shrine” constructed of rocks, petrified wood, crystals and semi-precious stones. It was one man’s vision and was built by him and 2 friends. Since we are not church-goers, we did not relate to the religious aspects of the Grotto but you can still appreciate the immense task.
It was late afternoon by the time we left the Grotto so we were looking for a place to stay. And what should appear in our path but another casino - with an RV park for $15 a night. Seemed like fate! It was so warm when we set up that we both put shorts on and turned on the air conditioner. A bit of gambling when we went to register and then drinks & dinner.
Oct 7th - Sun - Beatrice, Nebraska
Another huge rain storm last night but dry and hot this morning.
We had a food coupon for the buffet at the casino so we had breakfast before we left. And then we drove south - imagine! Lots of corn fields here too. We ended up in Beatrice, NE at a great park that is owned by the city. It has a 20 site RV park with full hookups, a huge covered barbeque/picnic area, an 18 “hole” disc golf course, paved trails and acres of mowed grass. We spoke with a couple who were “golfing” and the guy gave us a quick lesson which was very interesting. We will put this spot in our file for a return visit.
About 9 the lighting and thunder started and once again a downpour of rain. At least the days are nice.
Oct 8th - Mon - Lyndon, Kansas
We visited the Homestead National Monument just out of Beatrice this morning. It is a new building that has the residents of Kansas complaining about the cost. It has well done displays about every facet of homesteading but really not much that we have not seen in other forms in other places.
We are really moving through the states. We left the corn fields for a while but then got into them again as we got a little further south. A lot more trees and hills than in the parts of Iowa & Nebraska that we saw. We went through Lincoln on freeways to Lyndon about 22 miles south of Lincoln. It is a nice PA park. We have been surprised by the number of long-term residents in RV parks lately. In Beatrice, there were a lot of people working on a pipeline.
Arrived here mid afternoon so had time to give Terry a haircut and do some laundry. Also spent quite a bit of time digging around the internet since we have wifi at the site.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Oct 4th & 5th - Mystic Lake, MN
Oct 4th - Thurs - Mystic Lake, MN
I updated the blog while we waited (hopefully) for the rush hour traffic to clear out so we could go to the Mall of America. It is in Bloomington which is a southern portion of Minneapolis. Wanda took us directly there on a route that did not occur to us when we looked at a map. We wandered, went to the aquarium, had lunch - and bought nothing except lunch!
We made use of the lovely, warm, sunny weather (79 degrees) by washing the bugs off the front of the 5th wheel and washing the truck in a car wash in the RV park. Then, what else could we do but visit the casino.
It is a huge casino. It seems even larger because it has been added on to over the years so it is kind of broken up and confusing inside. We weren’t doing too well so we headed for the exit. Only problem was, we couldn’t find the right exit. On the way across the casino to the right spot, Terry spotted some slot machines that he likes but hadn’t seen earlier. Luckily he tried one, and then another and I ended up dragging him out just after 9 as I was starving - but he was still winning.
A forecast rainstorm hit at midnight just as we were trying to go to sleep. Lightning, thunder and torrential rains made for a very broken night’s sleep. Dolly barks at thunder so that added to the disturbance. The storm lasted on & off all night and we saw lots of flood watches when we turned on the morning news.
Oct 5th - Fri - Mystic Lake
Terry thought yesterday morning that we should stay another night so we wouldn’t be packing up in a rainstorm - good decision as the rain did not stop for good until late morning Also, it gave me a chance to finish putting comments on a lot of pictures and get them loaded to the internet. It is a very time consuming process which took longer when I answered email and read other blogs first. But all our pictures are posted now and I hope not to get so far behind in the future.
Terry said he would “get out of my hair” this morning and went to the casino while I was on the computer. Talk about a flimsy excuse to go to the casino! He was back about 12:30 which meant he didn’t do well. Spent the amount we were ahead from yesterday. I rustled up some lunch and then we found a grocery store. The roast in the crock pot needed a couple more hours so we visited the casino again. And again, didn’t do so well until suddenly Terry hit on a couple of machines and we came out ahead again.
By the time I made potatoes, carrots and gravy to go with the roast, we were eating after 9 o’clock again. And now Terry is napping on the couch while I do the blog. What a domestic scene!
I updated the blog while we waited (hopefully) for the rush hour traffic to clear out so we could go to the Mall of America. It is in Bloomington which is a southern portion of Minneapolis. Wanda took us directly there on a route that did not occur to us when we looked at a map. We wandered, went to the aquarium, had lunch - and bought nothing except lunch!
We made use of the lovely, warm, sunny weather (79 degrees) by washing the bugs off the front of the 5th wheel and washing the truck in a car wash in the RV park. Then, what else could we do but visit the casino.
It is a huge casino. It seems even larger because it has been added on to over the years so it is kind of broken up and confusing inside. We weren’t doing too well so we headed for the exit. Only problem was, we couldn’t find the right exit. On the way across the casino to the right spot, Terry spotted some slot machines that he likes but hadn’t seen earlier. Luckily he tried one, and then another and I ended up dragging him out just after 9 as I was starving - but he was still winning.
A forecast rainstorm hit at midnight just as we were trying to go to sleep. Lightning, thunder and torrential rains made for a very broken night’s sleep. Dolly barks at thunder so that added to the disturbance. The storm lasted on & off all night and we saw lots of flood watches when we turned on the morning news.
Oct 5th - Fri - Mystic Lake
Terry thought yesterday morning that we should stay another night so we wouldn’t be packing up in a rainstorm - good decision as the rain did not stop for good until late morning Also, it gave me a chance to finish putting comments on a lot of pictures and get them loaded to the internet. It is a very time consuming process which took longer when I answered email and read other blogs first. But all our pictures are posted now and I hope not to get so far behind in the future.
Terry said he would “get out of my hair” this morning and went to the casino while I was on the computer. Talk about a flimsy excuse to go to the casino! He was back about 12:30 which meant he didn’t do well. Spent the amount we were ahead from yesterday. I rustled up some lunch and then we found a grocery store. The roast in the crock pot needed a couple more hours so we visited the casino again. And again, didn’t do so well until suddenly Terry hit on a couple of machines and we came out ahead again.
By the time I made potatoes, carrots and gravy to go with the roast, we were eating after 9 o’clock again. And now Terry is napping on the couch while I do the blog. What a domestic scene!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Sept 29th to Oct 3rd - SD, Minnesota
Sept 29th - Sat - Hermosa
Chore and relaxation day - catch up on the blog, give the dog a bath, laundry, captions on some photos and watching the President‘s Cup (golf). The weather was nice again so we drove into Rapid City and got some steaks to put on the barbeque. Yes, I know we went grocery shopping yesterday but………
Sept 30th - Sun - to Mitchell, SD
I should not have made the comment about the weather feeling like summer - we had a heck of a windstorm yesterday evening and night and a dump of rain during the night. Terry thought he would be packing up in the rain but it stopped just in time.
After stopping for the obligatory wander through Wall Drug, we took the scenic loop drive through the Badlands. Part way through, the memory card in my camera filled up and I couldn’t take any more pictures. Luckily, we have a small card which I was able to use once I realized that I had a bunch of old pictures on it which I deleted.Pretty flat, uneventful driving - I don’t want to say boring but it would be if you had to do it again! Stayed in Mitchell which is one of the larger towns on I90.
Oct 1st - Mon - to Madison, SD
We went to the Corn Palace in Mitchell this morning. It is a large building that is “decorated” on the outside with 12 different colors of corn cobs. The theme changes each year and the designs/pictures are drawn on black roofing paper and marked with colors - paint-by-number with corn. The annual change-over was taking place while we were there so we got to see the process. The inside of the building has pictures of previous years’ themes and historical panels. It also has a large auditorium with a basketball court, a stage and permanent tiered seating so it is used for concerts and other entertainment.
After breakfast at the rig, we left for Madison, SD to visit our friends Clem & Marlene. We parked by their house and got busy catching up since they do not have internet access so do not keep up with us on the blog.
Then they took us on a sightseeing tour around the area and ended up at a casino. We showed them how to play some different slot machines which they enjoyed more than the usual machines they play when they infrequently visit casinos. Had dinner at the casino and got back early enough for a drink and more visiting.
We have a lot of laughs with Clem & Marlene so it was a great day.
Oct 2nd - Tues - Madision
Clem treated us to a late breakfast at a little restaurant on a nearby lake followed by a drive through a large state park. At the park we saw six men (fish & game) with nets set up on the edge of the lake. We stopped to see what they were doing and decided that they were catching suckers - probably to kill them and protect other fish. The wind was blowing very hard and they were having a tough time pulling the net into the boat. Four additional men arrived to help and still had problems. Once a lot of the net was pulled into the boat, they secured it with ropes and stakes and left. We think they quit for the day because of the wind. Terry and Clem went to check if anything was happening later in the day but the net was still just the same.
I used Marlene’s sewing machine to hem some T-shirts and do some mending. Also had to maintain my computer support skills and loaded software on Marlene’s computer and taught her how to download and edit pictures from her new digital camera.
Back to the casino - Clem & Marlene were looking forward to trying more machines! Terry won $187 and then $60 so he was happy. Good thing he did so he could cover my losses! We went to a restaurant in the nearby town for dinner (the casino ran out of their steak special) and then returned to the casino. Good move for Marlene - she won $180 and was smart enough to quit and take it home with her.
Another fun day!
Oct 3rd - Wed - to Minnesota
The plan when we left this morning was to head for West Bend, Iowa to see an attraction recommended by Clem. But everyone knows how our plans change!
We spoke with a couple in a tourist info place on I90 just into Minnesota and they were going to Pipestone National Memorial and to the Spam Museum. Both sounded interesting to us and not too far out of the way. So we went to Pipestone which is where native Indians quarry a soft red stone used for ceremonial pipes. Took a ¾ mile walk around the area - quite windy but not cold.
I was looking for a campground near the Spam museum when I noticed that the Mall of America was only 90 minutes from a town that we had to pass to get to the museum. Time for another change of plans!! I set Wanda (GPS) for a new destination and started looking for a campground. Found one with wifi and cable TV that was not too far from the mall. We got set up but Terry could not find the cable hookup. He went to check and discovered that our spot did not have cable. The spot was expensive and they added $3 per night for a pull-through without mentioning the extra cost so the lack of cable was the last straw for Terry. He went and got our money back, we packed up and left. By this time it was just after 6:00. We headed for a casino that we had seen signs for on the way in. As we were driving I discovered that the casino had an RV park - perfect! Just as we were nearing the casino, there was a “road closed” sign - fit right in with the rest of the day. But the detour took us right past the casino so we got a spot, set up and relaxed.
Chore and relaxation day - catch up on the blog, give the dog a bath, laundry, captions on some photos and watching the President‘s Cup (golf). The weather was nice again so we drove into Rapid City and got some steaks to put on the barbeque. Yes, I know we went grocery shopping yesterday but………
Sept 30th - Sun - to Mitchell, SD
I should not have made the comment about the weather feeling like summer - we had a heck of a windstorm yesterday evening and night and a dump of rain during the night. Terry thought he would be packing up in the rain but it stopped just in time.
After stopping for the obligatory wander through Wall Drug, we took the scenic loop drive through the Badlands. Part way through, the memory card in my camera filled up and I couldn’t take any more pictures. Luckily, we have a small card which I was able to use once I realized that I had a bunch of old pictures on it which I deleted.Pretty flat, uneventful driving - I don’t want to say boring but it would be if you had to do it again! Stayed in Mitchell which is one of the larger towns on I90.
Oct 1st - Mon - to Madison, SD
We went to the Corn Palace in Mitchell this morning. It is a large building that is “decorated” on the outside with 12 different colors of corn cobs. The theme changes each year and the designs/pictures are drawn on black roofing paper and marked with colors - paint-by-number with corn. The annual change-over was taking place while we were there so we got to see the process. The inside of the building has pictures of previous years’ themes and historical panels. It also has a large auditorium with a basketball court, a stage and permanent tiered seating so it is used for concerts and other entertainment.
After breakfast at the rig, we left for Madison, SD to visit our friends Clem & Marlene. We parked by their house and got busy catching up since they do not have internet access so do not keep up with us on the blog.
Then they took us on a sightseeing tour around the area and ended up at a casino. We showed them how to play some different slot machines which they enjoyed more than the usual machines they play when they infrequently visit casinos. Had dinner at the casino and got back early enough for a drink and more visiting.
We have a lot of laughs with Clem & Marlene so it was a great day.
Oct 2nd - Tues - Madision
Clem treated us to a late breakfast at a little restaurant on a nearby lake followed by a drive through a large state park. At the park we saw six men (fish & game) with nets set up on the edge of the lake. We stopped to see what they were doing and decided that they were catching suckers - probably to kill them and protect other fish. The wind was blowing very hard and they were having a tough time pulling the net into the boat. Four additional men arrived to help and still had problems. Once a lot of the net was pulled into the boat, they secured it with ropes and stakes and left. We think they quit for the day because of the wind. Terry and Clem went to check if anything was happening later in the day but the net was still just the same.
I used Marlene’s sewing machine to hem some T-shirts and do some mending. Also had to maintain my computer support skills and loaded software on Marlene’s computer and taught her how to download and edit pictures from her new digital camera.
Back to the casino - Clem & Marlene were looking forward to trying more machines! Terry won $187 and then $60 so he was happy. Good thing he did so he could cover my losses! We went to a restaurant in the nearby town for dinner (the casino ran out of their steak special) and then returned to the casino. Good move for Marlene - she won $180 and was smart enough to quit and take it home with her.
Another fun day!
Oct 3rd - Wed - to Minnesota
The plan when we left this morning was to head for West Bend, Iowa to see an attraction recommended by Clem. But everyone knows how our plans change!
We spoke with a couple in a tourist info place on I90 just into Minnesota and they were going to Pipestone National Memorial and to the Spam Museum. Both sounded interesting to us and not too far out of the way. So we went to Pipestone which is where native Indians quarry a soft red stone used for ceremonial pipes. Took a ¾ mile walk around the area - quite windy but not cold.
I was looking for a campground near the Spam museum when I noticed that the Mall of America was only 90 minutes from a town that we had to pass to get to the museum. Time for another change of plans!! I set Wanda (GPS) for a new destination and started looking for a campground. Found one with wifi and cable TV that was not too far from the mall. We got set up but Terry could not find the cable hookup. He went to check and discovered that our spot did not have cable. The spot was expensive and they added $3 per night for a pull-through without mentioning the extra cost so the lack of cable was the last straw for Terry. He went and got our money back, we packed up and left. By this time it was just after 6:00. We headed for a casino that we had seen signs for on the way in. As we were driving I discovered that the casino had an RV park - perfect! Just as we were nearing the casino, there was a “road closed” sign - fit right in with the rest of the day. But the detour took us right past the casino so we got a spot, set up and relaxed.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Sept 25th to 28th - North & South Dakota
Sept 25th - Tues - to Miles City, MT
Terry was concerned about the snow forecast so we left rather than taking another day to tour the rest of Yellowstone. We have been to Yellowstone previously so have seen the loop that we missed this time.
We went north on 191 from West Yellowstone to Bozeman and then across I90 to I94. We stayed at Miles City. Not a very exciting drive today! The people parked next to us were from Spokane - originally just a few blocks from where we lived. Small world!
Sept 26th - Wed - to North Dakota
We had planned to stay at Dickinson ND and do some sightseeing but a viewpoint on the way in showed us the supposedly best view of the ND badlands so we decided not to stay there. We had read about a stretch of highway named the Enchanted Highway which was actually one reason for going to ND. A schoolteacher determined that a small town (Regent) needed some tourist attraction so he welded seven HUGE metal sculptures and placed them along a 32 mile stretch. Some of the figures are over 100 feet tall. They are amazing. They include grasshoppers (many - large & small), fish, a horse, flying geese, an “outlined” man on a rearing horse, a family (mom, dad & son), and pheasants. If I ever get captions on a bunch of pictures I will get them on my blog.
We were amazed at the many acres of sunflowers in this part of ND. And there are antelope everywhere. We ended up staying at Bowman in an RV park managed by the city. There was one tent and two other rigs in the whole place - it was quiet.
Sept 27th - Thurs - to South Dakota
Highway 85 south to Spearfish, then through Sturgis and Rapid City to our site near Hermosa which is about 15 miles from Mt Rushmore. We set up and then went to Keystone where we wandered the “old town” tourist shops and went to the Gutzon Burglum museum. He is the sculptor responsible for Mt Rushmore - very talented artist with many pieces all over the world. From there we went to view Mt Rushmore. We took a very narrow, windy road back to our campsite. It has “pigtails” to climb the hills. This is where the road goes under an overpass, makes a tight, climbing loop and immediately goes on the overpass that you just went under. There are also several one-lane tunnels with limited clearance. There is a wonderful view from the top and then you wind back down cutting the corner of Custer State Park.
I had a large grocery list but we didn’t go near any decent stores so we just stopped in Hermosa and picked up a couple of items to go with our ribs for dinner.
Sept 28th - Fri - Hermosa SD
Took a trip to Deadwood today. We went through Keystone where we stopped for breakfast. Then another windy road to Deadwood. And a beautiful sunny day.
Deadwood is an historic town that has capitalized on its gambling roots. Every establishment has slot machines! I won a bit of money right away by getting lucky on a mistaken max bet of $2.00. Terry also somehow hit max bet of $2.00 on the first spin on a machine and won $267. That kept him going with a lot left over and I went up and down to end up $37 ahead so it was a good day. We were there from 11 until 4:30 with a break to view a parade down the main street at 1 and we still did not go in all the places on Main Street.
We stopped at Albertsons in Rapid City on the way back and stocked up on groceries including ingredients so I could make Gayle Earling‘s “Salsa Salad“ - it is so good. The temperature was up to 83 today - feels more like summer than early fall.
Terry was concerned about the snow forecast so we left rather than taking another day to tour the rest of Yellowstone. We have been to Yellowstone previously so have seen the loop that we missed this time.
We went north on 191 from West Yellowstone to Bozeman and then across I90 to I94. We stayed at Miles City. Not a very exciting drive today! The people parked next to us were from Spokane - originally just a few blocks from where we lived. Small world!
Sept 26th - Wed - to North Dakota
We had planned to stay at Dickinson ND and do some sightseeing but a viewpoint on the way in showed us the supposedly best view of the ND badlands so we decided not to stay there. We had read about a stretch of highway named the Enchanted Highway which was actually one reason for going to ND. A schoolteacher determined that a small town (Regent) needed some tourist attraction so he welded seven HUGE metal sculptures and placed them along a 32 mile stretch. Some of the figures are over 100 feet tall. They are amazing. They include grasshoppers (many - large & small), fish, a horse, flying geese, an “outlined” man on a rearing horse, a family (mom, dad & son), and pheasants. If I ever get captions on a bunch of pictures I will get them on my blog.
We were amazed at the many acres of sunflowers in this part of ND. And there are antelope everywhere. We ended up staying at Bowman in an RV park managed by the city. There was one tent and two other rigs in the whole place - it was quiet.
Sept 27th - Thurs - to South Dakota
Highway 85 south to Spearfish, then through Sturgis and Rapid City to our site near Hermosa which is about 15 miles from Mt Rushmore. We set up and then went to Keystone where we wandered the “old town” tourist shops and went to the Gutzon Burglum museum. He is the sculptor responsible for Mt Rushmore - very talented artist with many pieces all over the world. From there we went to view Mt Rushmore. We took a very narrow, windy road back to our campsite. It has “pigtails” to climb the hills. This is where the road goes under an overpass, makes a tight, climbing loop and immediately goes on the overpass that you just went under. There are also several one-lane tunnels with limited clearance. There is a wonderful view from the top and then you wind back down cutting the corner of Custer State Park.
I had a large grocery list but we didn’t go near any decent stores so we just stopped in Hermosa and picked up a couple of items to go with our ribs for dinner.
Sept 28th - Fri - Hermosa SD
Took a trip to Deadwood today. We went through Keystone where we stopped for breakfast. Then another windy road to Deadwood. And a beautiful sunny day.
Deadwood is an historic town that has capitalized on its gambling roots. Every establishment has slot machines! I won a bit of money right away by getting lucky on a mistaken max bet of $2.00. Terry also somehow hit max bet of $2.00 on the first spin on a machine and won $267. That kept him going with a lot left over and I went up and down to end up $37 ahead so it was a good day. We were there from 11 until 4:30 with a break to view a parade down the main street at 1 and we still did not go in all the places on Main Street.
We stopped at Albertsons in Rapid City on the way back and stocked up on groceries including ingredients so I could make Gayle Earling‘s “Salsa Salad“ - it is so good. The temperature was up to 83 today - feels more like summer than early fall.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Sept 21st to 24th - Challis, Yellowstone
Sept 21st - Fri - North Fork, ID
A cold that has been threatening me for several days finally got the upper hand yesterday. So Terry decided that we would stay another day here - the campsite and owners are really nice and I could take it easy and try to get rid of the cold. You can wash your rigs at your site in this park so Terry took advantage of that to clean both the 5th wheel and the truck. I caught up on the blog and did some much overdue backups on the computer. I was also able to swap a bunch of paperback books that I had read. Turned out to be a very productive day.
Sept 22nd - Sat - to Challis, ID
Short drive today to Challis Hot Springs Resort. From the Montana border you drive through narrow valleys. Then just north of Challis it opens up into a wide valley. Very pretty. There are a lot of large cattle herds and a few large hay farms.
We relaxed in the indoor (107 degrees) and outdoor (97 degrees) pools that are filled with water from the hot springs. They do not have the nasty smell often associated with hot springs and are very clean with water continuously running in & out.
Terry set up the satellite dish with no trouble at all. Then we had to go to the lobby to get wifi and download new keys for the receiver. Worked great after one more trip to the lobby for more info. Terry was tickled to have all his TV channels again. I didn’t even mind not going to the pools again as there were lots of families with kids there in the evening.
Sept 23rd - Sun - to Yellowstone
Had a big rainstorm last night with lightning and thunder. It rained off & on as we drove south. Terry checked the air pressure in the tires and discovered that we had a valve stem leak in a front tire on the truck. Little towns that we went through were all closed up for Sunday but we found a tire shop open in Idaho Falls and got it fixed. We stopped for lunch and had another huge cloudburst as we were eating that stopped by the time we had to walk back to the truck.
Nice drive to Yellowstone. Some bushes and trees are turning color and there was bright yellow and red scattered on the hills. We stopped at a PA park that turned out not to be honoring PA any more so we continued on to a National Forest campground 3 miles north of West Yellowstone. The spots are large, separated from each other and have 50 amp electric service for $20.
We spent over an hour trying to set up the satellite dish and could not get the signal!! Very frustrating. The antenna does pick up 3 channels so Terry had something to watch as the temperature kept dropping.
Sept 24th - Mon - Yellowstone Park
Spent the day in the park. It was cool but there was no rain. Some of the hills had a good dusting of snow and people are saying it is going to snow here tonight. The forecast is for temperatures below freezing tonight in West Yellowstone.
We did not see Old Faithful erupt. There was an hour to the next projected eruption when we were there and we did not want to wait. We did a lot of walking on trails to view mud volcanoes, water falls, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and misc steaming holes. We saw lots of buffalo, some elk & deer, no bear and lots of fly fishermen in the rivers.
We came back to the rig to pick up empty propane tanks and went back to town to get them filled. The first service station said they only filled tanks between 8 and 3. The guy said there was only one other place to get propane and it probably wasn’t open since it was 5:15 (he was right). We drove around some more and saw another service station with a propane tank that had weeds around it like it wasn’t used any more. We checked anyhow and just had to wait a few minutes while a guy came to fill our tanks. Another guy stopped with 2 tanks while we were there. He had gotten the same unhelpful response from the same station that we went to first.
A cold that has been threatening me for several days finally got the upper hand yesterday. So Terry decided that we would stay another day here - the campsite and owners are really nice and I could take it easy and try to get rid of the cold. You can wash your rigs at your site in this park so Terry took advantage of that to clean both the 5th wheel and the truck. I caught up on the blog and did some much overdue backups on the computer. I was also able to swap a bunch of paperback books that I had read. Turned out to be a very productive day.
Sept 22nd - Sat - to Challis, ID
Short drive today to Challis Hot Springs Resort. From the Montana border you drive through narrow valleys. Then just north of Challis it opens up into a wide valley. Very pretty. There are a lot of large cattle herds and a few large hay farms.
We relaxed in the indoor (107 degrees) and outdoor (97 degrees) pools that are filled with water from the hot springs. They do not have the nasty smell often associated with hot springs and are very clean with water continuously running in & out.
Terry set up the satellite dish with no trouble at all. Then we had to go to the lobby to get wifi and download new keys for the receiver. Worked great after one more trip to the lobby for more info. Terry was tickled to have all his TV channels again. I didn’t even mind not going to the pools again as there were lots of families with kids there in the evening.
Sept 23rd - Sun - to Yellowstone
Had a big rainstorm last night with lightning and thunder. It rained off & on as we drove south. Terry checked the air pressure in the tires and discovered that we had a valve stem leak in a front tire on the truck. Little towns that we went through were all closed up for Sunday but we found a tire shop open in Idaho Falls and got it fixed. We stopped for lunch and had another huge cloudburst as we were eating that stopped by the time we had to walk back to the truck.
Nice drive to Yellowstone. Some bushes and trees are turning color and there was bright yellow and red scattered on the hills. We stopped at a PA park that turned out not to be honoring PA any more so we continued on to a National Forest campground 3 miles north of West Yellowstone. The spots are large, separated from each other and have 50 amp electric service for $20.
We spent over an hour trying to set up the satellite dish and could not get the signal!! Very frustrating. The antenna does pick up 3 channels so Terry had something to watch as the temperature kept dropping.
Sept 24th - Mon - Yellowstone Park
Spent the day in the park. It was cool but there was no rain. Some of the hills had a good dusting of snow and people are saying it is going to snow here tonight. The forecast is for temperatures below freezing tonight in West Yellowstone.
We did not see Old Faithful erupt. There was an hour to the next projected eruption when we were there and we did not want to wait. We did a lot of walking on trails to view mud volcanoes, water falls, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and misc steaming holes. We saw lots of buffalo, some elk & deer, no bear and lots of fly fishermen in the rivers.
We came back to the rig to pick up empty propane tanks and went back to town to get them filled. The first service station said they only filled tanks between 8 and 3. The guy said there was only one other place to get propane and it probably wasn’t open since it was 5:15 (he was right). We drove around some more and saw another service station with a propane tank that had weeds around it like it wasn’t used any more. We checked anyhow and just had to wait a few minutes while a guy came to fill our tanks. Another guy stopped with 2 tanks while we were there. He had gotten the same unhelpful response from the same station that we went to first.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Sept 16th to 20th - WA state
Sept 16th - Sun - Rochester
Went to breakfast with Skip & Kathy and then went to Dean’s so Skip & Kathy could see his place. S&K left from there to go see Kathy’s Mom in Portland and we returned to the rig. Terry went back to the casino and played for hours to make another $20 or so. Much better than losing! I updated the blog - waiting for rain to let up to run over to the hotel lobby where I could get wifi - phoned Marg and relaxed with a book. I expected Terry to return to the casino after dinner but he was “gambled out” - and I expect didn’t want to walk over in the rain!
Sept 17th - Mon - to Spokane
Didn’t want to get going too early this morning and run into rush hour traffic on the freeway. We left about 9:30 and by the time we were slowed for freeway construction, stopped to dump the holding tanks, stopped for fuel and stopped to fix lunch, it was 4:30 when we arrived at Terry’s Mom’s (Ella Mae & Don) house. A drink, a nice dinner and a little TV and we were done for the day.
Sept 18th - Tues - Spokane
We got busy and pressure-washed Ella Mae’s house this morning while Don went off to work. Finished just as it started to rain again. After lunch, Terry & I went and did a little shopping and then took advantage of Ella Mae’s laundry room. After dinner I got really ambitious and hauled out the pressure washer again and cleaned the driveway. Of course, Terry & Don could not stand to just watch me work so they took turns too. It was dark by the time we finished (7:45) but thought we could check the results in the morning and redo bad patches.
Sept 19th - Wed - Spokane
Driveway looks fine so no redo-ing required.
We have been in contact with Claude & Val (friends from Canada) for the last few days. They were in Le Grande, OR getting some work done on their 5th wheel and were going to be heading north through Spokane. So we turned Bill & Georgia’s back yard into an RV park!! We stopped for some groceries, set up at Bill’s and then went golfing with Bill at a 9 hole executive course nearby. Golf not so good, the day & the company - great!
Claude & Val arrived about 3 - just before Georgia came home from work. We sat outside until it just got too cool and then moved into the house to fix dinner. After dinner and conversation, we introduced Claude and Val to Wii - an interactive computer game - and did a little golfing and bowling. It was a great day.
Sept 20th - Thurs - to North Fork, ID
Claude & Val wanted to get an early start today but I persuaded them to stay while I fixed breakfast for all of us - except Georgia who had to go to work after we kept her up so late. So they got out before 9 and we left shortly after and headed to Missoula, MT. From there we went south on hwy 93 with an eventual destination of Challis, ID. We made a 25 mile (each way) detour to Lolo Hot Springs but there was absolutely no one there so we turned right around and came back. Hwy 93 goes up a huge climb at the MT/ID border where there is a big ski resort - Lost Trail. Then it drops back down and starts following the north fork of the Salmon River. We passed a couple of small towns and then stopped for the night just south of North Fork at an RV park that I found in the Trailer Life book. Very nice place (Wagonhammer) right on the river. We got to sit out a bit before it started to sprinkle.
Went to breakfast with Skip & Kathy and then went to Dean’s so Skip & Kathy could see his place. S&K left from there to go see Kathy’s Mom in Portland and we returned to the rig. Terry went back to the casino and played for hours to make another $20 or so. Much better than losing! I updated the blog - waiting for rain to let up to run over to the hotel lobby where I could get wifi - phoned Marg and relaxed with a book. I expected Terry to return to the casino after dinner but he was “gambled out” - and I expect didn’t want to walk over in the rain!
Sept 17th - Mon - to Spokane
Didn’t want to get going too early this morning and run into rush hour traffic on the freeway. We left about 9:30 and by the time we were slowed for freeway construction, stopped to dump the holding tanks, stopped for fuel and stopped to fix lunch, it was 4:30 when we arrived at Terry’s Mom’s (Ella Mae & Don) house. A drink, a nice dinner and a little TV and we were done for the day.
Sept 18th - Tues - Spokane
We got busy and pressure-washed Ella Mae’s house this morning while Don went off to work. Finished just as it started to rain again. After lunch, Terry & I went and did a little shopping and then took advantage of Ella Mae’s laundry room. After dinner I got really ambitious and hauled out the pressure washer again and cleaned the driveway. Of course, Terry & Don could not stand to just watch me work so they took turns too. It was dark by the time we finished (7:45) but thought we could check the results in the morning and redo bad patches.
Sept 19th - Wed - Spokane
Driveway looks fine so no redo-ing required.
We have been in contact with Claude & Val (friends from Canada) for the last few days. They were in Le Grande, OR getting some work done on their 5th wheel and were going to be heading north through Spokane. So we turned Bill & Georgia’s back yard into an RV park!! We stopped for some groceries, set up at Bill’s and then went golfing with Bill at a 9 hole executive course nearby. Golf not so good, the day & the company - great!
Claude & Val arrived about 3 - just before Georgia came home from work. We sat outside until it just got too cool and then moved into the house to fix dinner. After dinner and conversation, we introduced Claude and Val to Wii - an interactive computer game - and did a little golfing and bowling. It was a great day.
Sept 20th - Thurs - to North Fork, ID
Claude & Val wanted to get an early start today but I persuaded them to stay while I fixed breakfast for all of us - except Georgia who had to go to work after we kept her up so late. So they got out before 9 and we left shortly after and headed to Missoula, MT. From there we went south on hwy 93 with an eventual destination of Challis, ID. We made a 25 mile (each way) detour to Lolo Hot Springs but there was absolutely no one there so we turned right around and came back. Hwy 93 goes up a huge climb at the MT/ID border where there is a big ski resort - Lost Trail. Then it drops back down and starts following the north fork of the Salmon River. We passed a couple of small towns and then stopped for the night just south of North Fork at an RV park that I found in the Trailer Life book. Very nice place (Wagonhammer) right on the river. We got to sit out a bit before it started to sprinkle.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Sept 10th to 15th - NW Washington
Sept 10th - Mon - to Forks
We drove to Forks this morning, checked in at the visitor info center and decided to go to an RV park halfway between Forks & La Push. It is a rustic park in the trees. Tried the park café for a mediocre lunch and then drove to La Push. Beaches are not readily accessible from there. I walked quite a ways on a path through a forest and still could not see the ocean.
Next we drove to Mora and enjoyed relaxing a while on Rialta Beach. Back at the park Terry tried to hook up the satellite dish. We have not used it for months and had no luck getting a signal and no luck trying to access some web sites for help.
Sept 11th - Tues - Forks
Enjoyed the continuing sunshine by driving to Neah Bay - about 1 ½ hours each way. It is a lovely drive and a larger village than we expected. The road to Cape Flattery (NW-most point of lower US) was closed so we couldn’t go there. We went into Forks for a bit of shopping, had lunch back at the rig and did some “fix-it” things. The RV park was mostly empty so there was no one to visit with, no TV for Terry and the weather was getting cool and windy so we decided to pack up and drive a ways to shorten tomorrow’s drive. We ended up back at the casino in Shelton as we knew we could park there and would have something to do for the evening. We had great Rueben sandwiches there for dinner and with a discount from signing up for their player card, a sandwich and a beer each ended up costing only $13 - great deal!
Sept 12th - Wed - to Puyallup
Took advantage of the inexpensive buffet breakfast at the casino before leaving for Puyallup which also helped us avoid rush hour(s) traffic on the freeway. There was no one at the RV park office so Terry called the number on the door and was told which site to use. We set up but the site was a bit short so we intruded on a small space behind us and our stabilizer on the front was on the road a bit. A car in the spot beside us was parked crooked (no one home) so Terry gave them a bit of room to get out. This made the other side where we had to park the truck quite small so Terry parked in the empty spot behind us. When Terry went to register, he was told to park the truck on our spot which put it right beside the steps. He told them how bad it was when he went to get change for the laundry so they gave us another spot which was longer. So we unhooked everything, put in the slides, moved a few feet and set up all over again!
We found a Costco to see about getting a couple of tires on the back of the truck. They seemed quite expensive so I found the receipt from Discount Tire in Spokane where they were quite a bit cheaper. We called the Discount Tire in Puyallup and they were cheaper but they did not have any in stock. The guy first said it would take 3 to 5 days to get them but when we said it had to be tomorrow he suddenly could get them by 8 am. We drove by and then he said it might be 9 before he could get them. We are going to the fair tomorrow so figured that would work.
Sept 13th - Thurs - Puyallup
No call from Discount Tire so by about 9:30 I figured we should head for the fair since the parking yesterday looked like a nightmare. We were early enough that there was lots of room in the city lot across the street, but unlike Spokane where the parking is free, here it is $8.00 for the day. In fact, the gates did not open until 10 so we had a short wait.
The grounds and fair are huge! We were there from 10 until 5:30 - on our feet except for a lunch stop and about half an hour to watch the “Mutton Busting” - kids riding sheep. Our feet and legs were very tired. We made use of a “JiggleFoot” machine which are all over the grounds. You sit with your feet on a platform which, for 25 cents, jiggles the heck out of your feet for a couple of minutes. Your legs and feet do feel better - for a short while.
We never did hear from Discount Tire!
Sept 14h - Fri - to Rochester
The reason that we hung around the northwest was to attend a surprise birthday party for our son Dean. It is his 40th birthday today and the party is tomorrow. I called him today to wish him a happy birthday and told him we were in Sequim when in fact we were ½ hour from Rochester. Dean said his family had all been sick but were getting better. They were going out for dinner tonight for his birthday.
We are staying at the Lucky Eagle casino again. We ran around looking for a birthday present for Dean and got some groceries. After dinner we had to visit the casino. It treated us quite nicely - allowed us to play for several hours on little money.
Sept 15th - Sat - Rochester
Spent the morning ironing, hemming a pair of pants, getting a veggie tray ready for the party and cleaning the inside of the truck. Skip & Kathy (Terry’s brother) arrived about 1 and followed us to Jennifer’s cousin’s house where the party was being held. Dean was told that Jennifer was taking him somewhere special (just the 2 of them) for his birthday. She blindfolded him and drove him around for half an hour so he would not know where she was taking him. He was indeed surprised when they took the blindfold off when he was in front of all his friends and relatives. We chit-chatted, drank and ate for the afternoon. We and Skip & Kathy left about 7. Skip & Kathy are staying at the hotel here at the casino. We had to visit the casino but it was very busy and we were tired so it was an early evening.
We drove to Forks this morning, checked in at the visitor info center and decided to go to an RV park halfway between Forks & La Push. It is a rustic park in the trees. Tried the park café for a mediocre lunch and then drove to La Push. Beaches are not readily accessible from there. I walked quite a ways on a path through a forest and still could not see the ocean.
Next we drove to Mora and enjoyed relaxing a while on Rialta Beach. Back at the park Terry tried to hook up the satellite dish. We have not used it for months and had no luck getting a signal and no luck trying to access some web sites for help.
Sept 11th - Tues - Forks
Enjoyed the continuing sunshine by driving to Neah Bay - about 1 ½ hours each way. It is a lovely drive and a larger village than we expected. The road to Cape Flattery (NW-most point of lower US) was closed so we couldn’t go there. We went into Forks for a bit of shopping, had lunch back at the rig and did some “fix-it” things. The RV park was mostly empty so there was no one to visit with, no TV for Terry and the weather was getting cool and windy so we decided to pack up and drive a ways to shorten tomorrow’s drive. We ended up back at the casino in Shelton as we knew we could park there and would have something to do for the evening. We had great Rueben sandwiches there for dinner and with a discount from signing up for their player card, a sandwich and a beer each ended up costing only $13 - great deal!
Sept 12th - Wed - to Puyallup
Took advantage of the inexpensive buffet breakfast at the casino before leaving for Puyallup which also helped us avoid rush hour(s) traffic on the freeway. There was no one at the RV park office so Terry called the number on the door and was told which site to use. We set up but the site was a bit short so we intruded on a small space behind us and our stabilizer on the front was on the road a bit. A car in the spot beside us was parked crooked (no one home) so Terry gave them a bit of room to get out. This made the other side where we had to park the truck quite small so Terry parked in the empty spot behind us. When Terry went to register, he was told to park the truck on our spot which put it right beside the steps. He told them how bad it was when he went to get change for the laundry so they gave us another spot which was longer. So we unhooked everything, put in the slides, moved a few feet and set up all over again!
We found a Costco to see about getting a couple of tires on the back of the truck. They seemed quite expensive so I found the receipt from Discount Tire in Spokane where they were quite a bit cheaper. We called the Discount Tire in Puyallup and they were cheaper but they did not have any in stock. The guy first said it would take 3 to 5 days to get them but when we said it had to be tomorrow he suddenly could get them by 8 am. We drove by and then he said it might be 9 before he could get them. We are going to the fair tomorrow so figured that would work.
Sept 13th - Thurs - Puyallup
No call from Discount Tire so by about 9:30 I figured we should head for the fair since the parking yesterday looked like a nightmare. We were early enough that there was lots of room in the city lot across the street, but unlike Spokane where the parking is free, here it is $8.00 for the day. In fact, the gates did not open until 10 so we had a short wait.
The grounds and fair are huge! We were there from 10 until 5:30 - on our feet except for a lunch stop and about half an hour to watch the “Mutton Busting” - kids riding sheep. Our feet and legs were very tired. We made use of a “JiggleFoot” machine which are all over the grounds. You sit with your feet on a platform which, for 25 cents, jiggles the heck out of your feet for a couple of minutes. Your legs and feet do feel better - for a short while.
We never did hear from Discount Tire!
Sept 14h - Fri - to Rochester
The reason that we hung around the northwest was to attend a surprise birthday party for our son Dean. It is his 40th birthday today and the party is tomorrow. I called him today to wish him a happy birthday and told him we were in Sequim when in fact we were ½ hour from Rochester. Dean said his family had all been sick but were getting better. They were going out for dinner tonight for his birthday.
We are staying at the Lucky Eagle casino again. We ran around looking for a birthday present for Dean and got some groceries. After dinner we had to visit the casino. It treated us quite nicely - allowed us to play for several hours on little money.
Sept 15th - Sat - Rochester
Spent the morning ironing, hemming a pair of pants, getting a veggie tray ready for the party and cleaning the inside of the truck. Skip & Kathy (Terry’s brother) arrived about 1 and followed us to Jennifer’s cousin’s house where the party was being held. Dean was told that Jennifer was taking him somewhere special (just the 2 of them) for his birthday. She blindfolded him and drove him around for half an hour so he would not know where she was taking him. He was indeed surprised when they took the blindfold off when he was in front of all his friends and relatives. We chit-chatted, drank and ate for the afternoon. We and Skip & Kathy left about 7. Skip & Kathy are staying at the hotel here at the casino. We had to visit the casino but it was very busy and we were tired so it was an early evening.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Sept 9th - Sequim, WA
Sept 9th - Sun - Sequim
We took advantage of another lovely sunny day by spending most of the day sightseeing - laundry can wait!
We drove to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Forest. By walking up a trail, you get a panoramic view of Port Angeles, Sequim, Straight of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island/Victoria on one side and the snow capped mountains in the park on the other side. Next, on to Lake Crescent to eat our picnic lunch. The mountains go right into a lot of the lake so the beaches are sparse and small. But it is beautiful and lots of people were swimming. From there we drove through Joyce back to Port Angeles and out onto the Ediz Hook which is a massive breakwater forming a protected harbor. Back to the rig to visit the dog and then on to the local casino. Very strange casino with 4 different tickets and cash machines. I was nearing my limit when I won $50 on a 25 cent bet so that bailed me out. Terry did not do so well and I did not cover his losses!
We took advantage of another lovely sunny day by spending most of the day sightseeing - laundry can wait!
We drove to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Forest. By walking up a trail, you get a panoramic view of Port Angeles, Sequim, Straight of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island/Victoria on one side and the snow capped mountains in the park on the other side. Next, on to Lake Crescent to eat our picnic lunch. The mountains go right into a lot of the lake so the beaches are sparse and small. But it is beautiful and lots of people were swimming. From there we drove through Joyce back to Port Angeles and out onto the Ediz Hook which is a massive breakwater forming a protected harbor. Back to the rig to visit the dog and then on to the local casino. Very strange casino with 4 different tickets and cash machines. I was nearing my limit when I won $50 on a 25 cent bet so that bailed me out. Terry did not do so well and I did not cover his losses!
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Sept 3rd to 8th - Vancouver Island to Sequim, WA
Sept 3rd - Mon - to Port Alberni
Got up fairly early and reluctantly said goodbye to Doug, Judy & Dennis and headed down island to Port Alberni. Marg & Dad decided to spend a couple more days with us - at Port Alberni and a trip to the west coast of the island (Long Beach).
It continued to rain while we drove and after we set up in the RV park. We chose the RV park because it had an indoor pool and hot tub. We had to squeeze into a very narrow spot (good thing Terry is a good backer-upper!) and Marg had to back over a cut off stump to get into her spot. The electric hook-ups are at the very front of the site and our connection is at the back of the rig so we can only get 110 as our cable is only 25 feet long and the park does not have a loaner 30 amp cable.
We toured Port Alberni in the rain - it is quite a large town. After dinner Marg & I went to check out the pool and were told that it was closed for the season! It closed at the end of August! Guess we learned to ask more questions when calling for a reservation.
Sept 4th - Tues - Port Alberni/Long Beach area
We drove to the west coast today. The road is narrow and windy so I am glad that we decided to leave the rigs in Port Alberni and just take the truck for a day trip.
The clouds cleared as we drove and it ended up being a beautiful sunny day. We stopped at the tourist center for some info and a park access pass and then drove first to Uclulet at the south end of beaches. Walked on the beach and checked out the Wickaninish Interpretive Centre. On the way north we stopped for a tailgate lunch and then continued on to Tofino at the north end of the beaches for a little browsing in gift shops.
On the way back down, we stopped at Radar Hill for a walk to an overlook from a site used by the army in WWII. Next was a walk on the Rainforest Loop trail - mostly boardwalks about .6 mile through a wonderfully lush forest with huge old trees.
Terry needed MEAT for dinner so we stopped for steaks and had a great meal. Even nicer was being able to sit out in the sun for the first time in a week!
Sept 5th - Wed - to Marysville, WA
It was tough to say goodbye to Marg & Dad knowing that we will not see them for many months. They could not get a reservation on the ferry to Horseshoe Bay so they left about 9 and were prepared to wait if necessary. We squeezed out of our site about 9:30 (had to move a huge barrel planter!) and headed south. We stopped at Chemainus to view the murals that are painted on the sides of many buildings in town. They are amazing and the sun was great for the walking tour. We had a nice lunch there also.
Our ferry was due to leave Sidney at 6 and we arrived there about 3 so we found a spot to park and wait for the ferry terminal to open. Had to go through US immigration before getting on the ferry.
We thought about driving through Seattle after we got off the ferry at 9 but Terry was tired so after clearing customs, we went to Marysville (about 1 hour drive) and stayed overnight in WalMart.
Sept 6th - Thurs - Marysville
We plan to go to the Puyallup fair but noticed the huge Tulalip Casino on our way in last night so decided to check it out. There is a large RV parking lot so after picking up some supplies at WalMart, we parked in the lot and did some gambling. Terry won a bit of money fairly quickly and my $40 lasted many hours so we ended up staying there all day and taking advantage of the free overnight parking. We had a great lunch buffet - one of the best I have seen/eaten - so only had a light dinner. I did take a break to spend some time with Dolly and make a couple of phone calls. Terry was still playing on the casino money at 9:30 pm when we called it a day.
Sept 7th - Fri - Marysville
We smacked our foreheads this morning as we thought “why do retired people have to go to a fair on a weekend?” and decided to spend at least part of the day in the casino again. Well, Terry continued to do OK and I lost another $20 (and a couple of “loans” from Terry) very slowly so we spent the day in the casino and part of another night in the casino lot. You can actually stay7 nights here and then have to leave for 30 days before spending 7 nights again. We took advantage of the lunch buffet again and totally skipped dinner this time.
We decided to get up about 2:30 and drive through Seattle in the middle of the night to avoid traffic. We were awake earlier so actually left about 2:20. What a great decision! There was construction on I5 at Everett with I5 north closed and south down to one lane. We cruised without any slowdowns to Shelton, saw a casino with other RVs in the lot, parked and went back to bed at 4:30.
Sept 8th - Sat - to Sequim, WA
At 9 we went in for a nice buffet breakfast and sat with a couple from Sequim that we met in the parking lot. A nice 2 hour drive brought us to Sequim where the first RV park was full. I called another park and they said they had one spot but we were looking for another RV park so said we would decide. In a few minutes we drove by and dismissed the 2nd park and arrived at the park that we called to see another rig in front of us taking the last spot! Luckily, the park has several “overflow” spots with everything but sewer so that is where we are staying. We are in trees, parked on grass and with lots of parking for the truck. The rest of the park is more “check by jowl” so we are happy that the spot was taken.
We went for a drive to replenish the all important alcohol supply and to do a bit of sightseeing. We knew this area was in a “rain shadow” from the Olympic mountains but were surprised to see such dry pastures.
Got up fairly early and reluctantly said goodbye to Doug, Judy & Dennis and headed down island to Port Alberni. Marg & Dad decided to spend a couple more days with us - at Port Alberni and a trip to the west coast of the island (Long Beach).
It continued to rain while we drove and after we set up in the RV park. We chose the RV park because it had an indoor pool and hot tub. We had to squeeze into a very narrow spot (good thing Terry is a good backer-upper!) and Marg had to back over a cut off stump to get into her spot. The electric hook-ups are at the very front of the site and our connection is at the back of the rig so we can only get 110 as our cable is only 25 feet long and the park does not have a loaner 30 amp cable.
We toured Port Alberni in the rain - it is quite a large town. After dinner Marg & I went to check out the pool and were told that it was closed for the season! It closed at the end of August! Guess we learned to ask more questions when calling for a reservation.
Sept 4th - Tues - Port Alberni/Long Beach area
We drove to the west coast today. The road is narrow and windy so I am glad that we decided to leave the rigs in Port Alberni and just take the truck for a day trip.
The clouds cleared as we drove and it ended up being a beautiful sunny day. We stopped at the tourist center for some info and a park access pass and then drove first to Uclulet at the south end of beaches. Walked on the beach and checked out the Wickaninish Interpretive Centre. On the way north we stopped for a tailgate lunch and then continued on to Tofino at the north end of the beaches for a little browsing in gift shops.
On the way back down, we stopped at Radar Hill for a walk to an overlook from a site used by the army in WWII. Next was a walk on the Rainforest Loop trail - mostly boardwalks about .6 mile through a wonderfully lush forest with huge old trees.
Terry needed MEAT for dinner so we stopped for steaks and had a great meal. Even nicer was being able to sit out in the sun for the first time in a week!
Sept 5th - Wed - to Marysville, WA
It was tough to say goodbye to Marg & Dad knowing that we will not see them for many months. They could not get a reservation on the ferry to Horseshoe Bay so they left about 9 and were prepared to wait if necessary. We squeezed out of our site about 9:30 (had to move a huge barrel planter!) and headed south. We stopped at Chemainus to view the murals that are painted on the sides of many buildings in town. They are amazing and the sun was great for the walking tour. We had a nice lunch there also.
Our ferry was due to leave Sidney at 6 and we arrived there about 3 so we found a spot to park and wait for the ferry terminal to open. Had to go through US immigration before getting on the ferry.
We thought about driving through Seattle after we got off the ferry at 9 but Terry was tired so after clearing customs, we went to Marysville (about 1 hour drive) and stayed overnight in WalMart.
Sept 6th - Thurs - Marysville
We plan to go to the Puyallup fair but noticed the huge Tulalip Casino on our way in last night so decided to check it out. There is a large RV parking lot so after picking up some supplies at WalMart, we parked in the lot and did some gambling. Terry won a bit of money fairly quickly and my $40 lasted many hours so we ended up staying there all day and taking advantage of the free overnight parking. We had a great lunch buffet - one of the best I have seen/eaten - so only had a light dinner. I did take a break to spend some time with Dolly and make a couple of phone calls. Terry was still playing on the casino money at 9:30 pm when we called it a day.
Sept 7th - Fri - Marysville
We smacked our foreheads this morning as we thought “why do retired people have to go to a fair on a weekend?” and decided to spend at least part of the day in the casino again. Well, Terry continued to do OK and I lost another $20 (and a couple of “loans” from Terry) very slowly so we spent the day in the casino and part of another night in the casino lot. You can actually stay7 nights here and then have to leave for 30 days before spending 7 nights again. We took advantage of the lunch buffet again and totally skipped dinner this time.
We decided to get up about 2:30 and drive through Seattle in the middle of the night to avoid traffic. We were awake earlier so actually left about 2:20. What a great decision! There was construction on I5 at Everett with I5 north closed and south down to one lane. We cruised without any slowdowns to Shelton, saw a casino with other RVs in the lot, parked and went back to bed at 4:30.
Sept 8th - Sat - to Sequim, WA
At 9 we went in for a nice buffet breakfast and sat with a couple from Sequim that we met in the parking lot. A nice 2 hour drive brought us to Sequim where the first RV park was full. I called another park and they said they had one spot but we were looking for another RV park so said we would decide. In a few minutes we drove by and dismissed the 2nd park and arrived at the park that we called to see another rig in front of us taking the last spot! Luckily, the park has several “overflow” spots with everything but sewer so that is where we are staying. We are in trees, parked on grass and with lots of parking for the truck. The rest of the park is more “check by jowl” so we are happy that the spot was taken.
We went for a drive to replenish the all important alcohol supply and to do a bit of sightseeing. We knew this area was in a “rain shadow” from the Olympic mountains but were surprised to see such dry pastures.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Aug 31st to Sept 2nd - Port McNeill
Aug 31st - Fri - Port McNeill
We took off today for a fishing and crabbing expedition. Dennis has a boat so we followed him to Rupert Inlet, about half an hour drive. He launched his boat and went with Marg & Nina to set crab traps while Terry, Dad and I drove around looking for a picnic spot. We ended up right back where Dennis launched the boat and a nice lady said we could set up right beside their travel trailer. Terry, Dennis & Marg went fishing but did not catch any salmon. The rest of us enjoyed a fire - more so before a short rain shower. Dennis got a couple of crabs which he cooked right there and we ate them with our lunch. He got one more crab when he went to pick up his traps.
We packed up as rain threatened again. Dinner was provided by Judy again (I could get used to this!) as we cleaned out the fridge of leftovers that were just as good as the first time.
Sept 1st - Sat - Port McNeill
Marg & Terry went fishing with Dennis this morning. It was pretty cool but not raining. They came home with one good sized (10 - 12 lb) salmon.
There was a charity event in town today with money being raised for needy families at Christmas. A convoy of restored cars and motorcycles left Port McNeill at 11 for a delivery run to Port Hardy. Doug & Judy rode their bicycles and Dad & I drove to watch the procession. When they returned from Port Hardy (about 2), a pig roast and dance began which Doug & Judy attended. We cooked salmon for dinner which we enjoyed with Dennis & Nina.
Sept 2nd - Sun - Port McNeill
Marg & Terry got up at 7 to go fishing again but the weather conspired against them. It poured and the wind drove the rain sideways so they didn’t even leave the driveway. So we had a lazy morning while I defrosted the freezer and cleaned the fridge - long overdue. Marg, Dad, Terry & I went to town for some groceries and to visit the tourist info center. After a late lunch we all got together to play our “golf” version of Horse Race.
We were getting jackets on so Doug could demonstrate his wood splitter when Terry saw that Dennis’ 6 pigs had got out and were heading across the yard toward the front of the house and the road. We should have had one person with a video camera to record 6 people and a “would be” herding dog trying to get the pigs turned around and back into their pen. Luckily Doug has done this before and grabbed the feed bucket to lead them back. But they had to be returned to their pen through the chicken pen to add just a little more excitement.
We intended to teach Doug & Judy to play Sequence but by the time we (mainly Judy!) made pizza for dinner and Dennis & Nina stopped by for a visit, it was 9 o’clock and time to retire to our rigs and give Doug & Judy a little time by themselves.
I cannot connect to Dennis’ wireless tonight so will have to go into the house tomorrow before we leave and post this blog.
We took off today for a fishing and crabbing expedition. Dennis has a boat so we followed him to Rupert Inlet, about half an hour drive. He launched his boat and went with Marg & Nina to set crab traps while Terry, Dad and I drove around looking for a picnic spot. We ended up right back where Dennis launched the boat and a nice lady said we could set up right beside their travel trailer. Terry, Dennis & Marg went fishing but did not catch any salmon. The rest of us enjoyed a fire - more so before a short rain shower. Dennis got a couple of crabs which he cooked right there and we ate them with our lunch. He got one more crab when he went to pick up his traps.
We packed up as rain threatened again. Dinner was provided by Judy again (I could get used to this!) as we cleaned out the fridge of leftovers that were just as good as the first time.
Sept 1st - Sat - Port McNeill
Marg & Terry went fishing with Dennis this morning. It was pretty cool but not raining. They came home with one good sized (10 - 12 lb) salmon.
There was a charity event in town today with money being raised for needy families at Christmas. A convoy of restored cars and motorcycles left Port McNeill at 11 for a delivery run to Port Hardy. Doug & Judy rode their bicycles and Dad & I drove to watch the procession. When they returned from Port Hardy (about 2), a pig roast and dance began which Doug & Judy attended. We cooked salmon for dinner which we enjoyed with Dennis & Nina.
Sept 2nd - Sun - Port McNeill
Marg & Terry got up at 7 to go fishing again but the weather conspired against them. It poured and the wind drove the rain sideways so they didn’t even leave the driveway. So we had a lazy morning while I defrosted the freezer and cleaned the fridge - long overdue. Marg, Dad, Terry & I went to town for some groceries and to visit the tourist info center. After a late lunch we all got together to play our “golf” version of Horse Race.
We were getting jackets on so Doug could demonstrate his wood splitter when Terry saw that Dennis’ 6 pigs had got out and were heading across the yard toward the front of the house and the road. We should have had one person with a video camera to record 6 people and a “would be” herding dog trying to get the pigs turned around and back into their pen. Luckily Doug has done this before and grabbed the feed bucket to lead them back. But they had to be returned to their pen through the chicken pen to add just a little more excitement.
We intended to teach Doug & Judy to play Sequence but by the time we (mainly Judy!) made pizza for dinner and Dennis & Nina stopped by for a visit, it was 9 o’clock and time to retire to our rigs and give Doug & Judy a little time by themselves.
I cannot connect to Dennis’ wireless tonight so will have to go into the house tomorrow before we leave and post this blog.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Aug 27th to 30th - Port McNeill
Aug 27th - Mon - to Campbell River
We intended to end up at Port McNeill today but after a late start and some shopping in Courtney, we decided to stay in Campbell River. We got a spot in an RV park right on the water and enjoyed a stroll before dinner. Marg & I relaxed in the hot tub later. We heard the rain start just after going to bed.
Aug 28th - Tues - to Port McNeill
Grocery shopping this morning so we arrived at my brother Doug’s place in Port McNeill around 4. Rained most of the way and continued all evening. Doug & Judy have a couple of acres so they have lots of room for us to park and hook up to electricity and water. Doug works for CanFor (Canadian Forest Products) and they are on strike right now. He had to put in a shift on the picket line today but he was back by the time we got here.
Judy fixed a nice dinner so we relaxed and enjoyed good food and good company. It was cool enough that Doug lit a fire in the wood stove in the family room and everyone got very lazy!
Aug 29th - Wed - Port McNeill
Judy had to work today. She works 3 days a week for a veterinarian. My nephew Dennis, who lives right next door, has a wireless internet connection that I can use so I caught up on emails while the others checked out the gardens, greenhouses and Dennis’ farm. Running some errands in town used up the afternoon until happy hour(s). We had a fire in the outdoor firepit and ate dinner outside even though it was a little cool. Dennis was recently engaged to be married and we met his fiancé Nina.
Aug 30th - Thurs - Port McNeill
Judy had to work again today. After Doug returned from doing a little job with his backhoe, we went to Telegraph Cove and wandered the boardwalks and whale interpretive center there. Telegraph Cove is a little settlement that used to be a sawmill and has retained a lot of its old buildings and character.. Stopped by the house to pick up propane tanks and back into town for a couple more errands and some groceries.
The weather wasn’t too bad so Terry, Marg and I checked out the local 9 hole par 3 golf course. Very short, nicely maintained. We each just took 3 clubs and Marg & I ran into more trouble than you might imagine from first looking at the course - Terry did well.
We intended to end up at Port McNeill today but after a late start and some shopping in Courtney, we decided to stay in Campbell River. We got a spot in an RV park right on the water and enjoyed a stroll before dinner. Marg & I relaxed in the hot tub later. We heard the rain start just after going to bed.
Aug 28th - Tues - to Port McNeill
Grocery shopping this morning so we arrived at my brother Doug’s place in Port McNeill around 4. Rained most of the way and continued all evening. Doug & Judy have a couple of acres so they have lots of room for us to park and hook up to electricity and water. Doug works for CanFor (Canadian Forest Products) and they are on strike right now. He had to put in a shift on the picket line today but he was back by the time we got here.
Judy fixed a nice dinner so we relaxed and enjoyed good food and good company. It was cool enough that Doug lit a fire in the wood stove in the family room and everyone got very lazy!
Aug 29th - Wed - Port McNeill
Judy had to work today. She works 3 days a week for a veterinarian. My nephew Dennis, who lives right next door, has a wireless internet connection that I can use so I caught up on emails while the others checked out the gardens, greenhouses and Dennis’ farm. Running some errands in town used up the afternoon until happy hour(s). We had a fire in the outdoor firepit and ate dinner outside even though it was a little cool. Dennis was recently engaged to be married and we met his fiancé Nina.
Aug 30th - Thurs - Port McNeill
Judy had to work again today. After Doug returned from doing a little job with his backhoe, we went to Telegraph Cove and wandered the boardwalks and whale interpretive center there. Telegraph Cove is a little settlement that used to be a sawmill and has retained a lot of its old buildings and character.. Stopped by the house to pick up propane tanks and back into town for a couple more errands and some groceries.
The weather wasn’t too bad so Terry, Marg and I checked out the local 9 hole par 3 golf course. Very short, nicely maintained. We each just took 3 clubs and Marg & I ran into more trouble than you might imagine from first looking at the course - Terry did well.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Aug 24th to 26th - Parksville
Aug 24th - Fri - to Parksville
We drove to Parksville today to meet up with brother Doug and his wife Judy. They live on the north end of Vancouver Island (Port McNeill) and are in Parksville to attend a wedding.
We arrived about 1:00 after stopping for some groceries in Nanaimo. We set up, had lunch and went looking for a liquor store for some beer. Guess property is at a premium all over Vancouver Island as we ran into parking problems again where the liquor store shared a very small parking lot with a grocery store.
When we got back, Doug & Judy had arrived - just in time for happy hour(s). Before we had time to fix dinner, Judy’s Mom & Dad (Carl & Pat who live in Parksville) and Judy’s brother - John - arrived for a visit. The weather was nice and we sat out and chatted until past the 10 o’clock quiet time.
Aug 25th - Sat - Parksville
Doug & Judy set out on their bicycles to Coomes but we can’t keep up with them on bikes so we choose to drive there. It is a small town with a large assortment of touristy stores including a market/restaurant that has goats living on the sod roof - appropriately known as ‘Goats on the Roof‘.
Before we went to Coomes, we went to view sand sculptures that had been entered in a competition. There were 3 group entries and about a dozen individual entries. The imagination and sculpting talent is amazing. My nephew in Port McNeill (Dennis) has a wireless internet connection so I should be able to update photos on the blog.
While we were strolling around Coomes it started to rain - and then to pour. We had been keeping an eye out for Doug & Judy but did not see them. After a late lunch when we got back, we went to see Doug & Judy. They had been caught in the downpour and gotten soaked.
Marg & Dad arrived about 5. They had been to Pemberton to see brother Bob and caught a ferry at Horseshoe Bay. Doug & Judy went to dinner with friends and the rest of us had to move inside for dinner as the weather cooled down. It started to rain about 11 and rained off & on during the night.
Aug 26th - Sun - Parksville
Doug & Judy attended the midday wedding while Marg, Dad, Terry & I went first to show Marg & Dad the sand sculptures and then went golfing. The weather had cleared up for a nice 9 holes of golf on a pretty course in Qualicum Beach.
We all gathered for drinks and dinner. Judy’s Mom & Dad and her brother came again so they could see Dad & Marg. John brought his ukulele and Judy got out her guitar so we had some entertainment as well. We had to put out the awning and get cozy to avoid some rain but it wasn’t too cold.
We drove to Parksville today to meet up with brother Doug and his wife Judy. They live on the north end of Vancouver Island (Port McNeill) and are in Parksville to attend a wedding.
We arrived about 1:00 after stopping for some groceries in Nanaimo. We set up, had lunch and went looking for a liquor store for some beer. Guess property is at a premium all over Vancouver Island as we ran into parking problems again where the liquor store shared a very small parking lot with a grocery store.
When we got back, Doug & Judy had arrived - just in time for happy hour(s). Before we had time to fix dinner, Judy’s Mom & Dad (Carl & Pat who live in Parksville) and Judy’s brother - John - arrived for a visit. The weather was nice and we sat out and chatted until past the 10 o’clock quiet time.
Aug 25th - Sat - Parksville
Doug & Judy set out on their bicycles to Coomes but we can’t keep up with them on bikes so we choose to drive there. It is a small town with a large assortment of touristy stores including a market/restaurant that has goats living on the sod roof - appropriately known as ‘Goats on the Roof‘.
Before we went to Coomes, we went to view sand sculptures that had been entered in a competition. There were 3 group entries and about a dozen individual entries. The imagination and sculpting talent is amazing. My nephew in Port McNeill (Dennis) has a wireless internet connection so I should be able to update photos on the blog.
While we were strolling around Coomes it started to rain - and then to pour. We had been keeping an eye out for Doug & Judy but did not see them. After a late lunch when we got back, we went to see Doug & Judy. They had been caught in the downpour and gotten soaked.
Marg & Dad arrived about 5. They had been to Pemberton to see brother Bob and caught a ferry at Horseshoe Bay. Doug & Judy went to dinner with friends and the rest of us had to move inside for dinner as the weather cooled down. It started to rain about 11 and rained off & on during the night.
Aug 26th - Sun - Parksville
Doug & Judy attended the midday wedding while Marg, Dad, Terry & I went first to show Marg & Dad the sand sculptures and then went golfing. The weather had cleared up for a nice 9 holes of golf on a pretty course in Qualicum Beach.
We all gathered for drinks and dinner. Judy’s Mom & Dad and her brother came again so they could see Dad & Marg. John brought his ukulele and Judy got out her guitar so we had some entertainment as well. We had to put out the awning and get cozy to avoid some rain but it wasn’t too cold.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Aug 21st to 23rd - Monroe/Victoria, BC
Aug 21st - Tues - Monroe
A little fog in the morning lifted quickly. Barb made us breakfast and we just took it easy and did laundry until it was time to eat again! I used Barb’s sewing machine to fix a seam on a pillowcase and was able to show her how to use the needle threader on her machine which made her very happy. After lunch we went to Blue Boy golf course to play 9 holes. There was no one at the course as it had been raining on and off there all morning. We had great weather for our game. The course is very pretty. I am glad that we were playing with Larry & Barb as most holes were blind or needed tips to play smart. They warned us about hole 8 being “the hole from hell” and Terry birdied it - after struggling with the first 7 holes.
Another great dinner with good friends.
Aug 22nd - Wed - to Victoria
Breakfast courtesy of Barb again and then we left for Anacortes to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. It goes to Sidney which is just north of Victoria. The ferry left at 2:00 and stopped at Orcas Island and Friday Harbour to take on more passengers. We were driving off the ferry (note - NOT backing off!) at 5:25 and were set up in the Fort Victoria RV park with dinner on the barbeque by just after 7. Quite a bit of traffic noise here.
Aug 23rd - Thurs - Victoria
We went back to Sidney this morning and wandered & shopped along a very nice main street. The lady in the RV park office said they have a street fair every Thursday but it did not start until 5:30.
We next visited Butchart Gardens and could not have had a more lovely day to do so. Summer is a wonderful time to see the gardens as everything is in full bloom - truly gorgeous. I could have spent more time there but Terry was a very good sport about the time that we did spend so it worked out OK.
We then decided to go to the Underwater Gardens which are in downtown Victoria. Parking turned out to be a huge pain so we cancelled that plan and drove along a “scenic drive” along the water before heading back to the rig for an early dinner.
After dinner we went back to Sidney to check out the street fair. They block off several blocks of the main street and put up booths. Again, parking was a challenge - there were lots of people shopping.
We purchased 24 hours of wireless internet access so I have to get this blog done and posted before my time runs out.
A little fog in the morning lifted quickly. Barb made us breakfast and we just took it easy and did laundry until it was time to eat again! I used Barb’s sewing machine to fix a seam on a pillowcase and was able to show her how to use the needle threader on her machine which made her very happy. After lunch we went to Blue Boy golf course to play 9 holes. There was no one at the course as it had been raining on and off there all morning. We had great weather for our game. The course is very pretty. I am glad that we were playing with Larry & Barb as most holes were blind or needed tips to play smart. They warned us about hole 8 being “the hole from hell” and Terry birdied it - after struggling with the first 7 holes.
Another great dinner with good friends.
Aug 22nd - Wed - to Victoria
Breakfast courtesy of Barb again and then we left for Anacortes to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. It goes to Sidney which is just north of Victoria. The ferry left at 2:00 and stopped at Orcas Island and Friday Harbour to take on more passengers. We were driving off the ferry (note - NOT backing off!) at 5:25 and were set up in the Fort Victoria RV park with dinner on the barbeque by just after 7. Quite a bit of traffic noise here.
Aug 23rd - Thurs - Victoria
We went back to Sidney this morning and wandered & shopped along a very nice main street. The lady in the RV park office said they have a street fair every Thursday but it did not start until 5:30.
We next visited Butchart Gardens and could not have had a more lovely day to do so. Summer is a wonderful time to see the gardens as everything is in full bloom - truly gorgeous. I could have spent more time there but Terry was a very good sport about the time that we did spend so it worked out OK.
We then decided to go to the Underwater Gardens which are in downtown Victoria. Parking turned out to be a huge pain so we cancelled that plan and drove along a “scenic drive” along the water before heading back to the rig for an early dinner.
After dinner we went back to Sidney to check out the street fair. They block off several blocks of the main street and put up booths. Again, parking was a challenge - there were lots of people shopping.
We purchased 24 hours of wireless internet access so I have to get this blog done and posted before my time runs out.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Aug 19th to 20th - Washington
Aug 19th - Sun - Rochester
We were planning to go to the fair with Dean and family but it rained during then night and is still cloudy & drizzly today. Terry & I picked some blackberries before he & Dean went to the casino to take part in a poker tournament. Dean got knocked out pretty quickly. Terry lasted a little longer - 16 out of 30. None of us won the $20,000 drawing at 4 pm!!
Aug 20th - Mon - to Monroe, WA
HATE the traffic in the Seattle area! We left Rochester about 9:30 and hit slow traffic right away on I5. Stopped at Camping World for a new sewer hose and got right back into slow traffic. We pulled into a rest area to dump the tanks and then had MORE slow traffic on I405. We arrived at Larry & Barb’s (friends we met in Alaska) in Monroe about 1:30 We traveled about 110 miles!
Barb made a great steak dinner, we put out the slides on our rig in their nice long driveway and “so to bed”.
We were planning to go to the fair with Dean and family but it rained during then night and is still cloudy & drizzly today. Terry & I picked some blackberries before he & Dean went to the casino to take part in a poker tournament. Dean got knocked out pretty quickly. Terry lasted a little longer - 16 out of 30. None of us won the $20,000 drawing at 4 pm!!
Aug 20th - Mon - to Monroe, WA
HATE the traffic in the Seattle area! We left Rochester about 9:30 and hit slow traffic right away on I5. Stopped at Camping World for a new sewer hose and got right back into slow traffic. We pulled into a rest area to dump the tanks and then had MORE slow traffic on I405. We arrived at Larry & Barb’s (friends we met in Alaska) in Monroe about 1:30 We traveled about 110 miles!
Barb made a great steak dinner, we put out the slides on our rig in their nice long driveway and “so to bed”.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Aug 11th to 18th - Washington state
Aug 11th - Sat - Spokane
We had a lazy morning at Skip & Kathy’s and then went to Ella Mae & Don’s to pick them up for a trip to Fort Spokane. It is only about a 70 mile drive so we were set up in the RV park at the Two Rivers casino/RV park/marina complex before dinner. After dinner we had to check out the casino and did not get back to the rig until midnight.
Aug 12th - Sun - Fort Spokane
Breakfast, casino and a sightseeing trip around the area after lunch back at the rig. Another visit to the casino convinced us all that we did not like this casino much. The slot machines take paper money or coins but pay out (less than $100) in coins. It is pain playing the coins or always cashing them in at the cashier.
I ended up a little ahead - made up Terry’s loses.
Aug 13th - Mon - back to Spokane
We left early and stopped at the Northern Quest casino in Airway Heights on the way back to Spokane. Played a couple of hours and then had lunch at the buffet. With the points on our player club cards, it cost Terry & I $3.10 for a good lunch. Played a while longer and then continued back to Ella Mae & Don’s. We parked at the curb and just slept in the 5th wheel without putting any slides out.
Aug 14th - Tues - to Ocean Shores, WA
Good friends Bill & Georgia (from Spokane) are staying in a state campground near Ocean Shores so we decided to join them for a couple of days. I did a load of laundry at Ella Mae’s before leaving so we left about 9:30 and expected to arrive about 4:30. Like many good plans, this one did not work.
Between Ellensburg and Cle Elem (on I90) we blew a tire on the 5th wheel. As we pulled to the shoulder to have a look, we saw a sign saying “Rest Area 1 Mile”. The blown tire was shredded so we limped to the rest area hoping that the remaining tire on that side would hold up as it had a 3 inch cut on the side wall. We changed to the spare and slowly drove to Cle Elem where we could not get Goodyear tires. Back to Ellensburg (23 miles) where we still could not get Goodyear tires so we settled for 2 tires from Les Shwab. They fit us in fairly quickly and we were back on the road with an estimated arrival time (Wanda) of 7:20.
Bill & Georgia had secured a site for us at the RV park and met us with a couple of Scotches! Barb & Larry from Monroe (our Alaska traveling friends) have a lot at Ocean Shores that they had offered to us for camping if we were in the area. Barb had emailed a permission slip so we went to the local McDonalds and paid for internet access to receive the slip. We then had the address of the lot and spent some time looking for the address in the dark but did not find it. Ask Bill how he likes HIS GPS system!
Aug 15th - Wed - Ocean Shores, WA
Found the lot this morning and determined how we could most easily park. Returned to the state campground, packed up and moved. Bill & Georgia had met a couple in the campground that they knew (Chuck & Cherie) so we invited them to join us for dinner. By the time that we picked up some firewood, hit the grocery store and unsuccessfully tried to fill propane bottles, it was time for dinner and a campfire.
We leaned back in lawn chairs for some star gazing and saw a great shooting star (meteor) and a fast moving satellite. Larry & Barb’s lot is on a canal (23 miles of them in Ocean Shores) in a quiet neighborhood. It is set up with water & electric for 2 RVs so we really enjoyed it.
Aug 16th - Thurs - Ocean Shores
Misty rain this morning letting us know why the area is so green. It cleared up mid morning so Georgia and I could do some shopping while the guys got propane and visited the casino so they would not have to join us for shopping. They did end up at a couple of stores after lunch! Back to the rigs for R&R after such a taxing day! Georgia and I walked a couple of blocks down the road and across the sand dunes to the beach. Lovely day.
Aug 17th - Fri - to Rochester, WA
Hard rain and a thunder storm last night. I made us all breakfast before we started packing up. The guys got rained on a couple of times as they were doing the “outside” stuff. We parted company with Bill & Georgia - they were heading to Richland, WA for sprint boat races and we were going to Rochester to see son Dean and his family. We got a spot at the Lucky Eagle Casino (cannot park at Dean’s) and had Dean, Jennifer, Victoria and Cameron over for dinner. Cameron is going to be 6 on Oct 31st and is very shy at first. But suddenly he will start talking and becomes quite the entertainer - kept us all laughing. Victoria is 13 and is as tall as her mother (5 ft 2 inches).
Aug 18th - Sat - Rochester
Dean & Jennifer had us and Jennifer’s parents (Jack & Marty) over for breakfast today. Then we drove out to see the 2 spec houses that Dean and Jack have built about 45 minutes from here. 2 very different houses side by side on 5 acres pieces of property - very nice.
The casino beat us up this afternoon. Terry found that we could get internet access in the motel across the parking lot so I can update the blog. Hate it when I get a week behind!
We had a lazy morning at Skip & Kathy’s and then went to Ella Mae & Don’s to pick them up for a trip to Fort Spokane. It is only about a 70 mile drive so we were set up in the RV park at the Two Rivers casino/RV park/marina complex before dinner. After dinner we had to check out the casino and did not get back to the rig until midnight.
Aug 12th - Sun - Fort Spokane
Breakfast, casino and a sightseeing trip around the area after lunch back at the rig. Another visit to the casino convinced us all that we did not like this casino much. The slot machines take paper money or coins but pay out (less than $100) in coins. It is pain playing the coins or always cashing them in at the cashier.
I ended up a little ahead - made up Terry’s loses.
Aug 13th - Mon - back to Spokane
We left early and stopped at the Northern Quest casino in Airway Heights on the way back to Spokane. Played a couple of hours and then had lunch at the buffet. With the points on our player club cards, it cost Terry & I $3.10 for a good lunch. Played a while longer and then continued back to Ella Mae & Don’s. We parked at the curb and just slept in the 5th wheel without putting any slides out.
Aug 14th - Tues - to Ocean Shores, WA
Good friends Bill & Georgia (from Spokane) are staying in a state campground near Ocean Shores so we decided to join them for a couple of days. I did a load of laundry at Ella Mae’s before leaving so we left about 9:30 and expected to arrive about 4:30. Like many good plans, this one did not work.
Between Ellensburg and Cle Elem (on I90) we blew a tire on the 5th wheel. As we pulled to the shoulder to have a look, we saw a sign saying “Rest Area 1 Mile”. The blown tire was shredded so we limped to the rest area hoping that the remaining tire on that side would hold up as it had a 3 inch cut on the side wall. We changed to the spare and slowly drove to Cle Elem where we could not get Goodyear tires. Back to Ellensburg (23 miles) where we still could not get Goodyear tires so we settled for 2 tires from Les Shwab. They fit us in fairly quickly and we were back on the road with an estimated arrival time (Wanda) of 7:20.
Bill & Georgia had secured a site for us at the RV park and met us with a couple of Scotches! Barb & Larry from Monroe (our Alaska traveling friends) have a lot at Ocean Shores that they had offered to us for camping if we were in the area. Barb had emailed a permission slip so we went to the local McDonalds and paid for internet access to receive the slip. We then had the address of the lot and spent some time looking for the address in the dark but did not find it. Ask Bill how he likes HIS GPS system!
Aug 15th - Wed - Ocean Shores, WA
Found the lot this morning and determined how we could most easily park. Returned to the state campground, packed up and moved. Bill & Georgia had met a couple in the campground that they knew (Chuck & Cherie) so we invited them to join us for dinner. By the time that we picked up some firewood, hit the grocery store and unsuccessfully tried to fill propane bottles, it was time for dinner and a campfire.
We leaned back in lawn chairs for some star gazing and saw a great shooting star (meteor) and a fast moving satellite. Larry & Barb’s lot is on a canal (23 miles of them in Ocean Shores) in a quiet neighborhood. It is set up with water & electric for 2 RVs so we really enjoyed it.
Aug 16th - Thurs - Ocean Shores
Misty rain this morning letting us know why the area is so green. It cleared up mid morning so Georgia and I could do some shopping while the guys got propane and visited the casino so they would not have to join us for shopping. They did end up at a couple of stores after lunch! Back to the rigs for R&R after such a taxing day! Georgia and I walked a couple of blocks down the road and across the sand dunes to the beach. Lovely day.
Aug 17th - Fri - to Rochester, WA
Hard rain and a thunder storm last night. I made us all breakfast before we started packing up. The guys got rained on a couple of times as they were doing the “outside” stuff. We parted company with Bill & Georgia - they were heading to Richland, WA for sprint boat races and we were going to Rochester to see son Dean and his family. We got a spot at the Lucky Eagle Casino (cannot park at Dean’s) and had Dean, Jennifer, Victoria and Cameron over for dinner. Cameron is going to be 6 on Oct 31st and is very shy at first. But suddenly he will start talking and becomes quite the entertainer - kept us all laughing. Victoria is 13 and is as tall as her mother (5 ft 2 inches).
Aug 18th - Sat - Rochester
Dean & Jennifer had us and Jennifer’s parents (Jack & Marty) over for breakfast today. Then we drove out to see the 2 spec houses that Dean and Jack have built about 45 minutes from here. 2 very different houses side by side on 5 acres pieces of property - very nice.
The casino beat us up this afternoon. Terry found that we could get internet access in the motel across the parking lot so I can update the blog. Hate it when I get a week behind!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Aug 4th to 10th - Spokane
Aug 4th - Sat - Worley, ID
We moved all the way (½ hour drive) to the Coeur d’Alene Casino near Worley today. We found a spot to stay in the parking lot and went to the casino. Barry & Yvonne and Larry & Cam joined us about 2:30. We all had dinner at the casino and then we said goodbye to our friends.
Aug 5th - Sun - Spokane
Another short move today - we drove to Spokane and parked in Bill & Georgia’s back yard. We had a wonderfully relaxing day catching up with Bill & Georgia and then Georgia made us a great dinner.
Aug 6th - Mon - Spokane
Bill was supposed to work today (he is retired but got talked into a temporary job delivering landscape materials!) but the delivery was cancelled at the last minute so we were able to spend more time with them doing such exciting things as washing the bugs off the front of the 5th wheel.
We also played “golf” and “bowled” on their Wii game. This is a game that uses a TV and handheld controllers that are moved like a golf club, tennis racket or your arm (bowling). A sensor “reads” the movement of the controller and your “swing” is shown on the screen as a golf shot or a ball bowled. This also allowed us to escape some of the heat of the day in their basement.
Aug 7th - Tues - Spokane
We took the 5th wheel in for some maintenance today - slide adjustments, wheel bearings and brake check. We did errands while it was in the shop and then drove to Skip & Kathy’s (Terry’s brother) and parked in their driveway. We extend across the sidewalk but they live on a cul de sac so it is OK. We are staying in the house while we are here so we don’t need the slides out.
We arrived in time for drinks, dinner and much talk after a tour of their lovely new house.
Aug 8th - Wed - Spokane
I spent some time this morning working on Skip & Kathy’s computer. They have a new PC with the Vista operating system so Skip’s digital camera would not download to the PC. I found a new program on the internet, installed it and it worked. We also discovered a program already on the PC that Skip can use to edit pictures which was a nice bonus. Then we fixed the fax machine that would not accept incoming faxes. Productive morning.
Next was a visit and lunch with Terry’s Mom and her husband (EllaMae & Don). More computer work as I showed EllaMae how to view pictures that I had sent her on a CD.
Skip had a new barbeque delivered today so we had to have steaks to check it out - it is a keeper based on the steaks!
Aug 9th - Thurs - Spokane
Rabies shot for Dolly, haircut for me and then golf with Skip & Kathy at Qualchan golf course. It was a perfect day for golf - slight breeze and temperature not over 80. Pretty course in great shape. Oh yes, I also spent more time on the computer between appointments finding a new program so Kathy could sync up her Palm Treo Verizon phone with the PC. Took a couple of tries but got that to work too.
Aug 10th - Fri - Spokane
Skip & Kathy were having company for a lunch meeting so we picked up my new contacts in CDA and ran a few other errands. Then we visited with good friends Dan & Dottie. They moved to a retirement complex so we got to see their new apartment. We think we could be quite happy in such an apartment when/if we get tired of full timing. We had too short a visit - and another short computer session to set up our blog in Dottie’s “favorites” as she lost the address in the move.
Kathy arranged for an insurance agent (and friend), Debbie, to come for dinner and show us what she could offer us for medical insurance. We will stay with our Cobra coverage (extension of Terry’s insurance from work) until it expires next year and then make a change.
Another great dinner with rotisserie chicken on the new barbeque and fresh corn from a roadside stand.
We moved all the way (½ hour drive) to the Coeur d’Alene Casino near Worley today. We found a spot to stay in the parking lot and went to the casino. Barry & Yvonne and Larry & Cam joined us about 2:30. We all had dinner at the casino and then we said goodbye to our friends.
Aug 5th - Sun - Spokane
Another short move today - we drove to Spokane and parked in Bill & Georgia’s back yard. We had a wonderfully relaxing day catching up with Bill & Georgia and then Georgia made us a great dinner.
Aug 6th - Mon - Spokane
Bill was supposed to work today (he is retired but got talked into a temporary job delivering landscape materials!) but the delivery was cancelled at the last minute so we were able to spend more time with them doing such exciting things as washing the bugs off the front of the 5th wheel.
We also played “golf” and “bowled” on their Wii game. This is a game that uses a TV and handheld controllers that are moved like a golf club, tennis racket or your arm (bowling). A sensor “reads” the movement of the controller and your “swing” is shown on the screen as a golf shot or a ball bowled. This also allowed us to escape some of the heat of the day in their basement.
Aug 7th - Tues - Spokane
We took the 5th wheel in for some maintenance today - slide adjustments, wheel bearings and brake check. We did errands while it was in the shop and then drove to Skip & Kathy’s (Terry’s brother) and parked in their driveway. We extend across the sidewalk but they live on a cul de sac so it is OK. We are staying in the house while we are here so we don’t need the slides out.
We arrived in time for drinks, dinner and much talk after a tour of their lovely new house.
Aug 8th - Wed - Spokane
I spent some time this morning working on Skip & Kathy’s computer. They have a new PC with the Vista operating system so Skip’s digital camera would not download to the PC. I found a new program on the internet, installed it and it worked. We also discovered a program already on the PC that Skip can use to edit pictures which was a nice bonus. Then we fixed the fax machine that would not accept incoming faxes. Productive morning.
Next was a visit and lunch with Terry’s Mom and her husband (EllaMae & Don). More computer work as I showed EllaMae how to view pictures that I had sent her on a CD.
Skip had a new barbeque delivered today so we had to have steaks to check it out - it is a keeper based on the steaks!
Aug 9th - Thurs - Spokane
Rabies shot for Dolly, haircut for me and then golf with Skip & Kathy at Qualchan golf course. It was a perfect day for golf - slight breeze and temperature not over 80. Pretty course in great shape. Oh yes, I also spent more time on the computer between appointments finding a new program so Kathy could sync up her Palm Treo Verizon phone with the PC. Took a couple of tries but got that to work too.
Aug 10th - Fri - Spokane
Skip & Kathy were having company for a lunch meeting so we picked up my new contacts in CDA and ran a few other errands. Then we visited with good friends Dan & Dottie. They moved to a retirement complex so we got to see their new apartment. We think we could be quite happy in such an apartment when/if we get tired of full timing. We had too short a visit - and another short computer session to set up our blog in Dottie’s “favorites” as she lost the address in the move.
Kathy arranged for an insurance agent (and friend), Debbie, to come for dinner and show us what she could offer us for medical insurance. We will stay with our Cobra coverage (extension of Terry’s insurance from work) until it expires next year and then make a change.
Another great dinner with rotisserie chicken on the new barbeque and fresh corn from a roadside stand.
Friday, August 03, 2007
July 30th to Aug 3rd - Canada to Coeur d'Alene, ID
July 30th - Mon - to Shuswap Lake
We drove from 100 Mile House to Claude & Val’s place on Shuswap Lake via Highway 24 - a lovely drive. Arrived about 1:00 after stopping to fix some lunch along the way. Claude arranged for us to park overnight in a neighbor’s lot so we were very comfortable. Val informed us that she was making supper for us - and a fine supper it was! Not enough time to catch up on everything but we tried.
July 31st - Tues - to Summerland
Auntie Jessie called this morning to say that she had to make a mandatory appearance at the first birthday party for a granddaughter so we told her that we would stop for lunch. We were invited to the birthday party but weren’t sure if we would stay. We drove to Summerland through Salmon Arm & Kelowna - again a very nice drive.
After lunch we went to Auntie Jessie’s condo to put together a new headboard. Turned out there was a missing vital part so we ended up trying to find something that would work in town. No luck so we did a couple of other small things and then Terry decided we could get the bed frame together with a metal plate and bunch of small screws. Auntie Jessie & I got the items, we fixed the bed frame and then we all went to the birthday party/barbeque for cousin Cheryl’s youngest daughter. Cousin Kelly and his wife Sam were also there so we enjoyed visiting with them.
Aug 1st - Wed - to Coeur d’Alene, ID
Our friends Barry & Yvonne from Hemet, CA are staying in the Blackwell Island RV park here. I called on the way and we could only get a site for Thursday but they have an area for dry camping if you are waiting for a site so we said we could do that tonight.
When Barry & Yvonne returned from golfing we met the 2 couples (Larry & Cam and Jim & Carol) who are their friends and who are working here for the summer. After drinks and visiting, we went to dinner with Barry & Yvonne and Larry & Cam.
Very warm weather!
Aug 2nd - Thurs - Coeur d’Alene (CDA)
We moved to our site this morning - luckily the spot was vacated early. A group of us were going to go to the CDA Casino but we were able to get a pontoon boat so we toured the CDA river and then the north end of CDA lake and to the CDA Resort golf course. There are a lot of beautiful houses along the river and an amazing new building with condos beside the golf course.
The RV park owners put on a get together with food and drinks for the people working here and their friends so we went to that at 5:30. Afterwards we learned to play 31 - a card game played at many RV parks. The hot weather continues.
Aug 3rd - Fri - CDA
More hot weather (with breezes) for our golf game today at the CDA municipal course. Our friends here already had 2 foursomes but the course allowed us to play 2 groups of 5 so we could join them. It is very obvious that Terry & I have not played much golf!
Dinner tonight was already planned before we got here and we were again invited to join in. Yvonne offered to make baby back ribs (our “recipe”) for everyone. We all contributed side dishes and we had a great meal. The sun & golf zapped everyone and the gathering broke up shortly after 8. All I wanted to do was read but figured I better get the blog updated while we have internet access.
We drove from 100 Mile House to Claude & Val’s place on Shuswap Lake via Highway 24 - a lovely drive. Arrived about 1:00 after stopping to fix some lunch along the way. Claude arranged for us to park overnight in a neighbor’s lot so we were very comfortable. Val informed us that she was making supper for us - and a fine supper it was! Not enough time to catch up on everything but we tried.
July 31st - Tues - to Summerland
Auntie Jessie called this morning to say that she had to make a mandatory appearance at the first birthday party for a granddaughter so we told her that we would stop for lunch. We were invited to the birthday party but weren’t sure if we would stay. We drove to Summerland through Salmon Arm & Kelowna - again a very nice drive.
After lunch we went to Auntie Jessie’s condo to put together a new headboard. Turned out there was a missing vital part so we ended up trying to find something that would work in town. No luck so we did a couple of other small things and then Terry decided we could get the bed frame together with a metal plate and bunch of small screws. Auntie Jessie & I got the items, we fixed the bed frame and then we all went to the birthday party/barbeque for cousin Cheryl’s youngest daughter. Cousin Kelly and his wife Sam were also there so we enjoyed visiting with them.
Aug 1st - Wed - to Coeur d’Alene, ID
Our friends Barry & Yvonne from Hemet, CA are staying in the Blackwell Island RV park here. I called on the way and we could only get a site for Thursday but they have an area for dry camping if you are waiting for a site so we said we could do that tonight.
When Barry & Yvonne returned from golfing we met the 2 couples (Larry & Cam and Jim & Carol) who are their friends and who are working here for the summer. After drinks and visiting, we went to dinner with Barry & Yvonne and Larry & Cam.
Very warm weather!
Aug 2nd - Thurs - Coeur d’Alene (CDA)
We moved to our site this morning - luckily the spot was vacated early. A group of us were going to go to the CDA Casino but we were able to get a pontoon boat so we toured the CDA river and then the north end of CDA lake and to the CDA Resort golf course. There are a lot of beautiful houses along the river and an amazing new building with condos beside the golf course.
The RV park owners put on a get together with food and drinks for the people working here and their friends so we went to that at 5:30. Afterwards we learned to play 31 - a card game played at many RV parks. The hot weather continues.
Aug 3rd - Fri - CDA
More hot weather (with breezes) for our golf game today at the CDA municipal course. Our friends here already had 2 foursomes but the course allowed us to play 2 groups of 5 so we could join them. It is very obvious that Terry & I have not played much golf!
Dinner tonight was already planned before we got here and we were again invited to join in. Yvonne offered to make baby back ribs (our “recipe”) for everyone. We all contributed side dishes and we had a great meal. The sun & golf zapped everyone and the gathering broke up shortly after 8. All I wanted to do was read but figured I better get the blog updated while we have internet access.
Monday, July 30, 2007
July 28th to 29th - 100 Mile House
July 28th - Sat - 100 Mile
Today was a marathon wood cutting day. We got going about 9 after chores and did not finish until 5. We did take a break for lunch and to get new bottles of water. It was hot and of course none of the trees that we were cutting up were in the shade. After lunch we brought in a load, split & stacked it and the stack was still not full. So we bit the bullet and went out for another tree which completed the stack with a little left over. What a good feeling to have that done!
Marg & I were so happy to have leftovers from our company dinner so we didn’t have to cook - just heat and eat. Needless to say, we were all pretty tired this evening.
July 29th - Sun - 100 Mile
A day of rest!
Terry, Marg & I played 9 holes of golf this morning at the short Marmot Ridge course in 100 Mile. I got 46 - one better than last Wed - and beat both Marg & Terry. After lunch and a few misc chores such as plant watering, we went to Al & Cecile’s to get some raspberries. They had picked a bucket yesterday that they said we could have but we felt guilty taking what they picked so we picked some more. And then Cecile gave us their bucket full as well! We enjoyed big bowlfuls after dinner and they were wonderful.
Marg lost a small, expensive earring when she took off her ear protectors when we were cutting wood yesterday. She heard it when it hit the tractor step but we could not find it. We marked the spot and went out with the metal detector to try to find it. The metal detector did not pick it up but Terry spotted it in the grass. A good day all around!
Today was a marathon wood cutting day. We got going about 9 after chores and did not finish until 5. We did take a break for lunch and to get new bottles of water. It was hot and of course none of the trees that we were cutting up were in the shade. After lunch we brought in a load, split & stacked it and the stack was still not full. So we bit the bullet and went out for another tree which completed the stack with a little left over. What a good feeling to have that done!
Marg & I were so happy to have leftovers from our company dinner so we didn’t have to cook - just heat and eat. Needless to say, we were all pretty tired this evening.
July 29th - Sun - 100 Mile
A day of rest!
Terry, Marg & I played 9 holes of golf this morning at the short Marmot Ridge course in 100 Mile. I got 46 - one better than last Wed - and beat both Marg & Terry. After lunch and a few misc chores such as plant watering, we went to Al & Cecile’s to get some raspberries. They had picked a bucket yesterday that they said we could have but we felt guilty taking what they picked so we picked some more. And then Cecile gave us their bucket full as well! We enjoyed big bowlfuls after dinner and they were wonderful.
Marg lost a small, expensive earring when she took off her ear protectors when we were cutting wood yesterday. She heard it when it hit the tractor step but we could not find it. We marked the spot and went out with the metal detector to try to find it. The metal detector did not pick it up but Terry spotted it in the grass. A good day all around!
Friday, July 27, 2007
July 25th to 27th - 100 Mile House
July 25th - Wed - 100 Mile
We moved the wood cutting process to a field where Marg had several big fir logs waiting to be cut up. Dad picked up each log on forks on the tractor, I marked the lengths with a crayon, and then Terry cut the rounds with the chain saw while Marg & I balanced and moved the log. This puts the log at waist level so the chain saw operator isn’t bending the whole time he/she is sawing. We cut up 3 logs, split them with a splitter hooked to the power takeoff on the tractor and loaded it on a wagon. Marg & I had to play golf at ladies’ night so we only brought in one load. We left the tractor in the field and the load of wood did not allow for passengers on the ATV so Marg, Terry & I had to walk all the way back to the house in very warm weather. A cool shower felt mighty fine!
Did OK at golf considering I have only played once in the last 2 months.
July 26th - Thurs - 100 Mile
Terry went out this morning to bring in some logs that the power company cut down so they would not fall onto power lines sometime. He turned off the ATV to load some pieces on the wagon and the ATV would not start again. Terry & Marg pushed it to the shop and checked out a few things with no luck. So they loaded it on the trailer and took it to the mechanic while Dad & I puttered in the shop.
The ATV had to stay overnight in the “hospital” so we went out to finish cutting the remaining logs into rounds. Dad said there were 5 left but we discovered 7 when we got there. We did take our nice clean truck instead of walking all the way back there! We finished cutting the trees and enjoyed a cool shower again in time to welcome Francis & Nicole and Allan & Cecile for dinner - which we had put in the crock pot after lunch. Lovely evening with great friends!
July 27th - Fri - 100 Mile
Marg & Terry picked up the repaired ATV while I did the breakfast dishes, farm chores and updated a few days on the blog. We just had time to split the rounds from all 7 logs and load them on a trailer, a wagon and the bucket on the tractor before a quick lunch so Marg could take Dad to town to get the dressing on his leg changed. Terry & I stacked the wood that we had brought in and used the ATV to take salt to the cows. We still were not exhausted (close to it!) so we washed the 5th wheel since we could not even see out the back windows. Then we all enjoyed large glasses of iced tea while we rested on the front porch.
We looked at a lot of pictures on the computer after dinner and I will join the rest of the seriously relaxed group as soon as I post these entries!
Dad is doing good. He thinks he should be able to do more than he can but we keep reminding him of how long he was inactive before his surgery and the month (almost) that he spent in the hospital. He can walk way further than before the surgery but has no strength or stamina.
We moved the wood cutting process to a field where Marg had several big fir logs waiting to be cut up. Dad picked up each log on forks on the tractor, I marked the lengths with a crayon, and then Terry cut the rounds with the chain saw while Marg & I balanced and moved the log. This puts the log at waist level so the chain saw operator isn’t bending the whole time he/she is sawing. We cut up 3 logs, split them with a splitter hooked to the power takeoff on the tractor and loaded it on a wagon. Marg & I had to play golf at ladies’ night so we only brought in one load. We left the tractor in the field and the load of wood did not allow for passengers on the ATV so Marg, Terry & I had to walk all the way back to the house in very warm weather. A cool shower felt mighty fine!
Did OK at golf considering I have only played once in the last 2 months.
July 26th - Thurs - 100 Mile
Terry went out this morning to bring in some logs that the power company cut down so they would not fall onto power lines sometime. He turned off the ATV to load some pieces on the wagon and the ATV would not start again. Terry & Marg pushed it to the shop and checked out a few things with no luck. So they loaded it on the trailer and took it to the mechanic while Dad & I puttered in the shop.
The ATV had to stay overnight in the “hospital” so we went out to finish cutting the remaining logs into rounds. Dad said there were 5 left but we discovered 7 when we got there. We did take our nice clean truck instead of walking all the way back there! We finished cutting the trees and enjoyed a cool shower again in time to welcome Francis & Nicole and Allan & Cecile for dinner - which we had put in the crock pot after lunch. Lovely evening with great friends!
July 27th - Fri - 100 Mile
Marg & Terry picked up the repaired ATV while I did the breakfast dishes, farm chores and updated a few days on the blog. We just had time to split the rounds from all 7 logs and load them on a trailer, a wagon and the bucket on the tractor before a quick lunch so Marg could take Dad to town to get the dressing on his leg changed. Terry & I stacked the wood that we had brought in and used the ATV to take salt to the cows. We still were not exhausted (close to it!) so we washed the 5th wheel since we could not even see out the back windows. Then we all enjoyed large glasses of iced tea while we rested on the front porch.
We looked at a lot of pictures on the computer after dinner and I will join the rest of the seriously relaxed group as soon as I post these entries!
Dad is doing good. He thinks he should be able to do more than he can but we keep reminding him of how long he was inactive before his surgery and the month (almost) that he spent in the hospital. He can walk way further than before the surgery but has no strength or stamina.
July 20th to 24th - 100 Mile House
July 20th - Fri - BC Cariboo
Terry & I left early this morning for the drive to Horn Lake. It took about 4 ½ hours - good roads until a 12 mile gravel section at the end which was very bumpy. There were only 3 small, widely spaced campsites left but we lucked out and were able to use a large boat launch parking/day use area for 3 of the rigs in our group and an adjacent site for the 4th rig.
Cousin Pat & Rick and Marg & Dad arrived about 6:30 and a couple from 100 Mile House (Janet & Bill) are coming tomorrow. We made good use of the firewood that we brought with us and sat around the fire until bedtime.
July 21st - Sat - Horn Lake, BC
Did some vehicle shuffling when Janet & Bill arrived this morning.
Marg, Terry, Pat & Rick set out in kayaks late this morning to try their luck at fishing. Pretty slow - Pat caught one trout. The weather got windy & rainy this evening so we moved inside after dinner.
This morning a potato chip bag on the table in our 5th wheel had been chewed by a mouse so Marg picked up some traps for us when she went with Rick to get some gas. Set them with peanut butter and a raisin (?) and hoped for better results than fishing.
July 22nd - Sun - Horn Lake
A beeping noise woke us last night about 2 - turned out to be Terry’s cell phone running out of juice. While we were trying to locate the source of the sound, we saw a mouse running around the rig. Much later I heard a trap snap. But this morning, even with a mouse in the trap, the napkins left on the table had been shredded. Not sure if the mouse did it before it got caught so will set traps again tonight.
We drove to Bella Coola today. A little cozy with 4 of us in the back seat of our pickup but it is 150 miles each way so we didn’t want to take 2 vehicles. Bella Coola’s “claim to fame” is a very steep hill in the middle of a 40 mile gravel stretch. Downhill going west (to Bella Coola). Earlier in our trip we had considered taking our 5th wheel there and are glad that we didn’t. So we had a nice lunch, checked out one store and headed back.
Pat & Marg went fishing when we got back and Marg caught a lovely trout. The weather was nice so we enjoyed the campfire again.
July 23rd - Mon - to 100 Mile House
Caught another mouse last night - yuck!
Headed out this morning after digging out jumper cables when Marg’s motor home would not start. Rick & Pat had a couple of propane problems with their 5th wheel so they took it to an RV place in Williams Lake on the way back to get it fixed. The RV place is very close to a casino so we all had to stop and check it out. Marg, Terry & I lost all we were prepared to lose and left Pat at the casino waiting for Rick to return with their rig. They joined us at Marg’s to spend the night and Pat informed us that she had won $511 after we left her.
July 24th - Tues - 100 Mile
Marg took Dad to a couple of medical appointments early this morning. They were back before Terry & I and Pat & Rick had finished breakfast. Pat & Rick left about 10. We washed our truck and Marg’s truck. After lunch Marg & Terry went to retrieve the log splitter while I took Dad back to the dentist. Dad & I had time to drive around the farm for an “inspection tour” on the ATV before we hooked up the splitter and made short work of splitting and stacking a few logs. This is the wood that will be drying to burn in the winter of 2008.
Terry & I left early this morning for the drive to Horn Lake. It took about 4 ½ hours - good roads until a 12 mile gravel section at the end which was very bumpy. There were only 3 small, widely spaced campsites left but we lucked out and were able to use a large boat launch parking/day use area for 3 of the rigs in our group and an adjacent site for the 4th rig.
Cousin Pat & Rick and Marg & Dad arrived about 6:30 and a couple from 100 Mile House (Janet & Bill) are coming tomorrow. We made good use of the firewood that we brought with us and sat around the fire until bedtime.
July 21st - Sat - Horn Lake, BC
Did some vehicle shuffling when Janet & Bill arrived this morning.
Marg, Terry, Pat & Rick set out in kayaks late this morning to try their luck at fishing. Pretty slow - Pat caught one trout. The weather got windy & rainy this evening so we moved inside after dinner.
This morning a potato chip bag on the table in our 5th wheel had been chewed by a mouse so Marg picked up some traps for us when she went with Rick to get some gas. Set them with peanut butter and a raisin (?) and hoped for better results than fishing.
July 22nd - Sun - Horn Lake
A beeping noise woke us last night about 2 - turned out to be Terry’s cell phone running out of juice. While we were trying to locate the source of the sound, we saw a mouse running around the rig. Much later I heard a trap snap. But this morning, even with a mouse in the trap, the napkins left on the table had been shredded. Not sure if the mouse did it before it got caught so will set traps again tonight.
We drove to Bella Coola today. A little cozy with 4 of us in the back seat of our pickup but it is 150 miles each way so we didn’t want to take 2 vehicles. Bella Coola’s “claim to fame” is a very steep hill in the middle of a 40 mile gravel stretch. Downhill going west (to Bella Coola). Earlier in our trip we had considered taking our 5th wheel there and are glad that we didn’t. So we had a nice lunch, checked out one store and headed back.
Pat & Marg went fishing when we got back and Marg caught a lovely trout. The weather was nice so we enjoyed the campfire again.
July 23rd - Mon - to 100 Mile House
Caught another mouse last night - yuck!
Headed out this morning after digging out jumper cables when Marg’s motor home would not start. Rick & Pat had a couple of propane problems with their 5th wheel so they took it to an RV place in Williams Lake on the way back to get it fixed. The RV place is very close to a casino so we all had to stop and check it out. Marg, Terry & I lost all we were prepared to lose and left Pat at the casino waiting for Rick to return with their rig. They joined us at Marg’s to spend the night and Pat informed us that she had won $511 after we left her.
July 24th - Tues - 100 Mile
Marg took Dad to a couple of medical appointments early this morning. They were back before Terry & I and Pat & Rick had finished breakfast. Pat & Rick left about 10. We washed our truck and Marg’s truck. After lunch Marg & Terry went to retrieve the log splitter while I took Dad back to the dentist. Dad & I had time to drive around the farm for an “inspection tour” on the ATV before we hooked up the splitter and made short work of splitting and stacking a few logs. This is the wood that will be drying to burn in the winter of 2008.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
July 14th to 19th - in B.C.
July 14th - Sat - to Telkwa
We drove halfway to Prince George today. The road follows the incredibly wide & shallow Skeena River for a long ways. When we drove to Prince Rupert I wondered how far back the tide would affect the river and we found out when we drove out. For miles you can see exposed sand bars in the river.
We made a slight detour to check out the Hagwilget Canyon suspension bridge. It is a 460 ft span which is 262 feet above the Skeena River on the way to old Hazelton. We did not drive over the one-lane bridge but Larry & I walked out on the bridge to take pictures. There was a sign with information and pictures about previous bridges - amazing, primitive construction.
While we were checking into the RV park, Max & Eva showed up. We met them in Dawson City and Fairbanks where they stayed for 2 weeks. When Larry & Barb and we were sitting out before dinner, another traveling couple (Joe & Sandra from St. George, UT) joined us. Talking with other people is one of the greatest things about this lifestyle.
July 15th - Sun - to Prince George
I chatted with Max & Eva this morning before we left and it turns out that they went to almost all the places that we have been, just a few days behind. They are on their way home to Sutherlind, OR.
We had some torrential rains on the drive to Prince George today. We pulled off in a parking lot for about 5 minutes to let the worst of the storm (we thought) go past. But it continued off and on all the way to PG. When we got to the RV park it was full. Terry & Larry both needed fuel and had to fill up in the pouring rain. We found another park and the rain cleared up in time for us to set up.
We were parked beside a canvas shelter with 2 picnic tables and a robin had a nest in the corner. She/he finally got brave and started feeding the babies with us sitting at a table.
We visited the casino after dinner. Larry & Barb went with us in our truck even though Terry warned them that he might want to stay a while if he was winning. We didn’t win but still stayed until nearly 11.
July 16th - Mon - Prince George
Terry & I found a Laundromat in town for that lovely weekly (or so) chore. Picked up some groceries at the Superstore and made some lunch. Then we all went on a tour of the PG Pulp & Paper Mill. The tourist info center leads the tours so we followed the guide to the mill, donned all the protective gear (hardhat, safety glasses, vest, emergency breathing pack and ear plugs) and had an interesting hour tour.
Terry thought we better visit our money at the casino so he & I went back for a while and made another deposit.
July 17th - Tues - to 100 Mile House
We said goodbye to Larry & Barb this morning. They are continuing down the Yellowhead Hwy (#16) on their way home to Monroe, WA. We will miss them but plan to get together somewhere “down the road”.
We stopped at Quesnel and went through an interesting museum there. Quesnel has the most beautiful flowers along the streets, in hanging pots and in flower beds at the visitor center (actually “visitor centre” in Canada!).
Arrived at sister Marg’s in 100 Mile House about 2:45. Sunny and hot. I guess this concludes our Alaska trip. We put on 6480 miles from Dawson Creek back to here.
Hooked up jumper cables to get Marg’s motor home started and moved to the house. We are going camping later in the week so need to get Marg’s rig ready. After dinner Marg & Terry went out on the 4 wheeler to look for Marg’s bull. Her bull and the neighbor’s bull had gotten into a fight across the fence which led to the neighbor’s bull coming through the fence to continue the fight. The neighbor told Marg about the fight , took his bull home and fixed the fence. No sign of Marg’s bull but the cattle are in 160 acres of wooded land so he can hide anywhere.
July 18th - Wed - 100 Mile House
We all spent the morning in the shop working on a wishing well. After lunch, Terry & I made a quick trip to town for diesel and to find material to patch a hole in a lawn chair from a campfire accident. Patched the chair and spent some more time in the shop before dinner. Marg, Terry & I went out again on the 4 wheeler and found the bull with the rest of the cattle. Marg took us on a long tour through fields, woods and trails. Spent the rest of the evening watching TV.
July 19th - Thurs - 100 Mile House
Marg got Terry set up to haul split wood from a “drying” pile into the carport for winter heating before her and I took the motor home to town for propane, air in the tires, gas and current insurance/license. Also had to do grocery shopping for our weekend trip.
Terry & Dad were still hauling wood when we got back at nearly 2 pm. I gave Terry heck for not stopping for lunch as we had left sandwich fixings and instructions when we left. Busy afternoon cleaning the motor home, finishing moving the wood and cutting down/bucking/splitting a dead tree for firewood to take with us camping.
We are going camping about halfway between Williams Lake and Bella Coola at Horn Lake. There is a small, primitive forestry campground so Terry & I will leave early tomorrow morning to try to snag 3 or 4 campsites for the 4 rigs in our group. There will be no blog updates until we get back first thing next week.
We drove halfway to Prince George today. The road follows the incredibly wide & shallow Skeena River for a long ways. When we drove to Prince Rupert I wondered how far back the tide would affect the river and we found out when we drove out. For miles you can see exposed sand bars in the river.
We made a slight detour to check out the Hagwilget Canyon suspension bridge. It is a 460 ft span which is 262 feet above the Skeena River on the way to old Hazelton. We did not drive over the one-lane bridge but Larry & I walked out on the bridge to take pictures. There was a sign with information and pictures about previous bridges - amazing, primitive construction.
While we were checking into the RV park, Max & Eva showed up. We met them in Dawson City and Fairbanks where they stayed for 2 weeks. When Larry & Barb and we were sitting out before dinner, another traveling couple (Joe & Sandra from St. George, UT) joined us. Talking with other people is one of the greatest things about this lifestyle.
July 15th - Sun - to Prince George
I chatted with Max & Eva this morning before we left and it turns out that they went to almost all the places that we have been, just a few days behind. They are on their way home to Sutherlind, OR.
We had some torrential rains on the drive to Prince George today. We pulled off in a parking lot for about 5 minutes to let the worst of the storm (we thought) go past. But it continued off and on all the way to PG. When we got to the RV park it was full. Terry & Larry both needed fuel and had to fill up in the pouring rain. We found another park and the rain cleared up in time for us to set up.
We were parked beside a canvas shelter with 2 picnic tables and a robin had a nest in the corner. She/he finally got brave and started feeding the babies with us sitting at a table.
We visited the casino after dinner. Larry & Barb went with us in our truck even though Terry warned them that he might want to stay a while if he was winning. We didn’t win but still stayed until nearly 11.
July 16th - Mon - Prince George
Terry & I found a Laundromat in town for that lovely weekly (or so) chore. Picked up some groceries at the Superstore and made some lunch. Then we all went on a tour of the PG Pulp & Paper Mill. The tourist info center leads the tours so we followed the guide to the mill, donned all the protective gear (hardhat, safety glasses, vest, emergency breathing pack and ear plugs) and had an interesting hour tour.
Terry thought we better visit our money at the casino so he & I went back for a while and made another deposit.
July 17th - Tues - to 100 Mile House
We said goodbye to Larry & Barb this morning. They are continuing down the Yellowhead Hwy (#16) on their way home to Monroe, WA. We will miss them but plan to get together somewhere “down the road”.
We stopped at Quesnel and went through an interesting museum there. Quesnel has the most beautiful flowers along the streets, in hanging pots and in flower beds at the visitor center (actually “visitor centre” in Canada!).
Arrived at sister Marg’s in 100 Mile House about 2:45. Sunny and hot. I guess this concludes our Alaska trip. We put on 6480 miles from Dawson Creek back to here.
Hooked up jumper cables to get Marg’s motor home started and moved to the house. We are going camping later in the week so need to get Marg’s rig ready. After dinner Marg & Terry went out on the 4 wheeler to look for Marg’s bull. Her bull and the neighbor’s bull had gotten into a fight across the fence which led to the neighbor’s bull coming through the fence to continue the fight. The neighbor told Marg about the fight , took his bull home and fixed the fence. No sign of Marg’s bull but the cattle are in 160 acres of wooded land so he can hide anywhere.
July 18th - Wed - 100 Mile House
We all spent the morning in the shop working on a wishing well. After lunch, Terry & I made a quick trip to town for diesel and to find material to patch a hole in a lawn chair from a campfire accident. Patched the chair and spent some more time in the shop before dinner. Marg, Terry & I went out again on the 4 wheeler and found the bull with the rest of the cattle. Marg took us on a long tour through fields, woods and trails. Spent the rest of the evening watching TV.
July 19th - Thurs - 100 Mile House
Marg got Terry set up to haul split wood from a “drying” pile into the carport for winter heating before her and I took the motor home to town for propane, air in the tires, gas and current insurance/license. Also had to do grocery shopping for our weekend trip.
Terry & Dad were still hauling wood when we got back at nearly 2 pm. I gave Terry heck for not stopping for lunch as we had left sandwich fixings and instructions when we left. Busy afternoon cleaning the motor home, finishing moving the wood and cutting down/bucking/splitting a dead tree for firewood to take with us camping.
We are going camping about halfway between Williams Lake and Bella Coola at Horn Lake. There is a small, primitive forestry campground so Terry & I will leave early tomorrow morning to try to snag 3 or 4 campsites for the 4 rigs in our group. There will be no blog updates until we get back first thing next week.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
July 11th to 13th - Terrace/Prince Rupert
July 11th - Wed - Terrace
YES!! We drove out of the rain and into some very warm weather. The roads were good, clear blue sky - lovely drive. Part way here we were stopped for about 20 minutes at a road construction site and I went into the 5th wheel to change into a T-shirt. I discovered that a couple of items had fallen out of the pantry and we had sticky Margarita mix all over the floor. A quick clean up just left a tacky mess to clean up when we got set up.
Larry & Barb caught up to us. Luckily, since we did not have cell phone service, we both had wi-fi at our site last night and we were able to “converse” and figure out if and where we could get back together. Did a bit of misc & grocery shopping and enjoyed the sunshine and a nice steak dinner.
July 12th - Thurs - to Prince Rupert
Another lovely day for the short drive to Prince Rupert. Time enough for a hair cut for me before we left Terrace. We were going to stay at a PA park in Port Edward but the sites were small and hard to get into so we carried on to PR. They have an interesting way of locating people who are camping together. They have long sites that accommodate 2 rigs backed in from each end. We pulled through the site and out the other side and then Larry pulled in and parked his 5th wheel “backwards”, unhooked and moved his truck. Then we backed in right up to his rig. This puts our doors on the same side which is nice when you are together.
Our barbeque quit working last night and we determined that the hose was the problem so Terry and I went out to get a new one. We managed to explore quite a bit of the town before we found a hose. Had a nice dinner and sat around a fire.
July 13th - Fri - Prince Rupert
We were sightseeing, shopping tourists today. There is a section of PR called Cow Bay which has some great shops and the Museum of Northern BC is located there as well. In Cow Bay, of course the emphasis is on “cow” names (Cowpuccino coffee house) and cow (Holstein) paint jobs. Had lunch, picked up some groceries and tried to find some fresh crab. Larry got the last 1 ½ lbs that were cooked at a place that offered live Dungeness crab at $6.00/lb. A guy at Safeway told us that we probably could get some crab at the docks so we checked it out. They had a boat coming in in a couple of hours so Terry went back and got 6 broken/incomplete crabs for free! We set up our camp stove outside and cooked and cleaned them. Great dinner!
YES!! We drove out of the rain and into some very warm weather. The roads were good, clear blue sky - lovely drive. Part way here we were stopped for about 20 minutes at a road construction site and I went into the 5th wheel to change into a T-shirt. I discovered that a couple of items had fallen out of the pantry and we had sticky Margarita mix all over the floor. A quick clean up just left a tacky mess to clean up when we got set up.
Larry & Barb caught up to us. Luckily, since we did not have cell phone service, we both had wi-fi at our site last night and we were able to “converse” and figure out if and where we could get back together. Did a bit of misc & grocery shopping and enjoyed the sunshine and a nice steak dinner.
July 12th - Thurs - to Prince Rupert
Another lovely day for the short drive to Prince Rupert. Time enough for a hair cut for me before we left Terrace. We were going to stay at a PA park in Port Edward but the sites were small and hard to get into so we carried on to PR. They have an interesting way of locating people who are camping together. They have long sites that accommodate 2 rigs backed in from each end. We pulled through the site and out the other side and then Larry pulled in and parked his 5th wheel “backwards”, unhooked and moved his truck. Then we backed in right up to his rig. This puts our doors on the same side which is nice when you are together.
Our barbeque quit working last night and we determined that the hose was the problem so Terry and I went out to get a new one. We managed to explore quite a bit of the town before we found a hose. Had a nice dinner and sat around a fire.
July 13th - Fri - Prince Rupert
We were sightseeing, shopping tourists today. There is a section of PR called Cow Bay which has some great shops and the Museum of Northern BC is located there as well. In Cow Bay, of course the emphasis is on “cow” names (Cowpuccino coffee house) and cow (Holstein) paint jobs. Had lunch, picked up some groceries and tried to find some fresh crab. Larry got the last 1 ½ lbs that were cooked at a place that offered live Dungeness crab at $6.00/lb. A guy at Safeway told us that we probably could get some crab at the docks so we checked it out. They had a boat coming in in a couple of hours so Terry went back and got 6 broken/incomplete crabs for free! We set up our camp stove outside and cooked and cleaned them. Great dinner!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
July 9th to 10th - Stewart, BC
July 9th - Mon - to Stewart, BC
The road improved immensely just after Iskut but the rain decided to start again and stay with us. It did wash the mud off the front of the 5th wheel but I think we missed some great scenery. The Cassiar mountains made very brief appearances through the clouds. After we got settled and had lunch, we checked out Stewart - very small town and it was still raining.
July 10th - Tues - Stewart
Terry had watched a weather forecast and thought the rain would stop so we hung around a bit after breakfast. No such luck so we took off for Hyder and the Salmon Glacier. The roads past the edge of Stewart were terrible. There was no need for 20 MPH signs in Hyder as you could only comfortably drive about 10 - 15. We stopped at the fish viewing platforms (6 miles from Hyder) and were told there were no fish spawning and therefore no bears. We continued up the road about 4 more miles toward the glacier and then decided to turn back. Apparently we turned back just before a road block/warning about bad roads so we could not have driven to the glacier anyhow. There were no warning signs before you drove 10+ miles on a bad road!
We saw a bear and 2 cubs cross the road just before the viewing platforms so we stopped, dug out the umbrellas and checked it out. Beautiful facility for bear viewing but just like a few other things we are slightly early for this activity.
Spent the afternoon and evening on the internet, watching TV (than goodness for cable on rainy days) and doing miscellaneous little chores that don’t otherwise get done.
The road improved immensely just after Iskut but the rain decided to start again and stay with us. It did wash the mud off the front of the 5th wheel but I think we missed some great scenery. The Cassiar mountains made very brief appearances through the clouds. After we got settled and had lunch, we checked out Stewart - very small town and it was still raining.
July 10th - Tues - Stewart
Terry had watched a weather forecast and thought the rain would stop so we hung around a bit after breakfast. No such luck so we took off for Hyder and the Salmon Glacier. The roads past the edge of Stewart were terrible. There was no need for 20 MPH signs in Hyder as you could only comfortably drive about 10 - 15. We stopped at the fish viewing platforms (6 miles from Hyder) and were told there were no fish spawning and therefore no bears. We continued up the road about 4 more miles toward the glacier and then decided to turn back. Apparently we turned back just before a road block/warning about bad roads so we could not have driven to the glacier anyhow. There were no warning signs before you drove 10+ miles on a bad road!
We saw a bear and 2 cubs cross the road just before the viewing platforms so we stopped, dug out the umbrellas and checked it out. Beautiful facility for bear viewing but just like a few other things we are slightly early for this activity.
Spent the afternoon and evening on the internet, watching TV (than goodness for cable on rainy days) and doing miscellaneous little chores that don’t otherwise get done.
Monday, July 09, 2007
July 7th & 8th - Atlin to Iskut
July 7th - Sat - Traveling (Alaska Hwy)
We drove from Atlin to the junction of Hwy 37 (Cassiar Hwy) today. Stayed at the Baby Nugget RV park which is about 14 miles from Watson Lake. Celebrated my birthday by washing the rigs, doing laundry and catching up on my blog - exciting huh?! On the way, we took a break and walked into Rancheria Falls which we had done on the way to Alaska. The snow patches from the previous walk turned into mosquitoes on this trip.
July 8th - Sun - Traveling (Cassiar Hwy)
We made a little detour into Watson Lake this morning for propane and a few groceries before heading down the Cassiar.
Larry & Terry looked at maps before we left Skagway and decided we would meet in Jade City unless we could get cell phone service and make other plans. Well, we do not have cell phone service and Larry & Barb were not at Jade City by 1:30 so we decided to carry on. We ended up at Iskut which is 198 miles from the junction with the Alaska Hwy. It was a tough 198 miles - bumpy pavement, bumpy gravel and mud when it rained. Sure glad we cleaned up the rigs yesterday! A guy camped beside us tonight was washing his rigs in front of us last night and he is the same mudball that we are.
The sun just decided to stay out for a while so we took a long walk through the trees to a lake. Very nice. A guy was fishing and had caught a couple of small, throw-back trout but did not get any more while we were there.
We drove from Atlin to the junction of Hwy 37 (Cassiar Hwy) today. Stayed at the Baby Nugget RV park which is about 14 miles from Watson Lake. Celebrated my birthday by washing the rigs, doing laundry and catching up on my blog - exciting huh?! On the way, we took a break and walked into Rancheria Falls which we had done on the way to Alaska. The snow patches from the previous walk turned into mosquitoes on this trip.
July 8th - Sun - Traveling (Cassiar Hwy)
We made a little detour into Watson Lake this morning for propane and a few groceries before heading down the Cassiar.
Larry & Terry looked at maps before we left Skagway and decided we would meet in Jade City unless we could get cell phone service and make other plans. Well, we do not have cell phone service and Larry & Barb were not at Jade City by 1:30 so we decided to carry on. We ended up at Iskut which is 198 miles from the junction with the Alaska Hwy. It was a tough 198 miles - bumpy pavement, bumpy gravel and mud when it rained. Sure glad we cleaned up the rigs yesterday! A guy camped beside us tonight was washing his rigs in front of us last night and he is the same mudball that we are.
The sun just decided to stay out for a while so we took a long walk through the trees to a lake. Very nice. A guy was fishing and had caught a couple of small, throw-back trout but did not get any more while we were there.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
July 4th to 6th - Skagway/Atlin
July 4th - Wed - Skagway
Slept in this morning (after our late night!) and then went to town to take in more 4th activities. Parade at 10 - down the main street, around a block and back up the main street! - and then foot races, etc. We finished going through the shops that we hadn’t gotten to yesterday, got some lunch and came back to the RV park. Not so nice weather today. Very windy last night, cloudy & cool today.
Barb invited us over for (all-American!) hamburgers for dinner today. Larry did a very good job of grilling the burgers and we all ate too much.
July 5th - Thurs - to Atlin
We parted company with Larry & Barb today. They are staying in Skagway and taking a day tour to Juneau while we continue on to Atlin, B.C. The beginning of the road to Atlin is very bumpy gravel and Terry was ready to turn around when we stopped for lunch. Then he looked at the Milepost and saw that the last 18 miles was pavement so decided we would carry on. We are glad that we did - it is a beautiful setting. There was a music & arts festival in Atlin for the weekend so the only RV park with services was full except for a peninsula with dry camping. What a gorgeous setting!!
We stopped for a few groceries and happened to see some T-bone steaks in the little store. They were the best! What a life!
July 6th - Friday - Atlin
Lazy day - wonderful. We visited the tourist center to find out where to do some gold panning. It was a lovely drive - no gold. There are 2 other rigs (traveling together) on the peninsula with us but the people are German and their English is a little rudimentary. We collected wood while we were out and enjoyed a fire and the scenery.
Atlin is on the largest natural lake in B.C. In the lake is an island with the highest peak in fresh water in the world. And Atlin is the northwest-most town in B.C. We really hit the list of superlatives here.
Slept in this morning (after our late night!) and then went to town to take in more 4th activities. Parade at 10 - down the main street, around a block and back up the main street! - and then foot races, etc. We finished going through the shops that we hadn’t gotten to yesterday, got some lunch and came back to the RV park. Not so nice weather today. Very windy last night, cloudy & cool today.
Barb invited us over for (all-American!) hamburgers for dinner today. Larry did a very good job of grilling the burgers and we all ate too much.
July 5th - Thurs - to Atlin
We parted company with Larry & Barb today. They are staying in Skagway and taking a day tour to Juneau while we continue on to Atlin, B.C. The beginning of the road to Atlin is very bumpy gravel and Terry was ready to turn around when we stopped for lunch. Then he looked at the Milepost and saw that the last 18 miles was pavement so decided we would carry on. We are glad that we did - it is a beautiful setting. There was a music & arts festival in Atlin for the weekend so the only RV park with services was full except for a peninsula with dry camping. What a gorgeous setting!!
We stopped for a few groceries and happened to see some T-bone steaks in the little store. They were the best! What a life!
July 6th - Friday - Atlin
Lazy day - wonderful. We visited the tourist center to find out where to do some gold panning. It was a lovely drive - no gold. There are 2 other rigs (traveling together) on the peninsula with us but the people are German and their English is a little rudimentary. We collected wood while we were out and enjoyed a fire and the scenery.
Atlin is on the largest natural lake in B.C. In the lake is an island with the highest peak in fresh water in the world. And Atlin is the northwest-most town in B.C. We really hit the list of superlatives here.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
June 30th to July 3rd - Skagway
June 30th - Sat - to Haines
More gorgeous scenery on the drive to Haines. Nicer road with not so many frost heaves. Then Dolly got a treat at the RV park which is totally grass - very nice place with full hookups including sewer. A lot of places in Alaska just have central dumps - I think the long, cold winters make it difficult to keep sewer hookups open.
Explored the town and drove out to Chilcoot Lake where people where fishing for salmon from the banks of the Chilcoot River. The landscape here is different from much of Alaska - large evergreens and very lush forests rather than the scrawny black & white spruce trees. And of course amazing mountains everywhere!
July 1st - Sun - Haines
Today we drove to Chilcat state park and saw Rainbow and Davidson glaciers. Then we finished touring the town although some stores where not open since it was Sunday. We went to the Alaska Bald Eagle Foundation Interpretive Center which had a wonderful display of animal mounts - mammals, birds and fish - and an interesting film on eagles. There is a huge bald eagle preserve just outside of Haines. The film had a lot of footage from there and included quite a bit of footage from the eagle preserve at Brackendale (Squamish), B.C.
July 2nd - Mon - to Skagway
We decided to take the ferry from Haines to Skagway rather than driving around. It is 14 miles by water and 350 miles by road. With diesel costing $3.50 a gallon here and $1.34 a liter in the Yukon, the cost of the ferry didn’t seem quite so bad.
We left the RV park in Haines at 10:30 as we had to check in 2 hours ahead of our 1:00 pm departure time. The ferry was an hour late leaving Haines for the 1 hour trip and we were almost the last rig off so it was 3:40 by the time we were driving to the RV park here. So basically the whole day was taken up for a 1 hour ferry trip.
When the ferry docked at Haines, we saw that cars exiting for Haines and cars getting on (us!) would be entering the ferry through a door on the side rather than the front or back like we have done previously. This means you have to turn around somehow inside the ferry and do some backing up! We were the longest rig taking the ferry (55 feet) so they pulled us out of line and had us board after 2 other rigs. We made a 90 degree turn in the ferry and drove all the way to the back where large loading doors were open. We figured we would be driving off that way at Skagway - but we figured wrong! The side door was used again so Terry had to back up the entire length of the ferry (past the loading doors) and make a 90 degree turn to drive off. There are 3 lanes in the middle of the ferry and the rigs on either side of us were still there when Terry had to back out - quite a challenge.
We did not have a reservation at the RV park here as it was full when I called earlier. The guy said to just show up and “something would break loose”! Larry & Barb had a reservation here so they reminded the guy all morning that we were coming and wanted a spot. So we did get a space when we arrived.
July 3rd - Tues - Skagway
We chatted with neighbors this morning before heading to town with Larry & Barb. It was a gorgeous sunny day, just right for wandering around. We figure 80% of the shops in Skagway are jewelry stores. They are catering to the cruise ship passengers. There were 4 cruise ships here when we arrived, all due to leave tonight. We came back to the RV park for a rest and dinner so we could take in some evening activities for the 4th of July holiday.
There was a street dance starting at 9. The band was not playing music that appealed much to us but it was fun watching kids “dancing” and just watching people. Fireworks were supposed to start at 11, actually started at 11:25 but were worth the wait. It was a very good show with some fireworks set off from a boat and others from the end of the cruise ship dock.
More gorgeous scenery on the drive to Haines. Nicer road with not so many frost heaves. Then Dolly got a treat at the RV park which is totally grass - very nice place with full hookups including sewer. A lot of places in Alaska just have central dumps - I think the long, cold winters make it difficult to keep sewer hookups open.
Explored the town and drove out to Chilcoot Lake where people where fishing for salmon from the banks of the Chilcoot River. The landscape here is different from much of Alaska - large evergreens and very lush forests rather than the scrawny black & white spruce trees. And of course amazing mountains everywhere!
July 1st - Sun - Haines
Today we drove to Chilcat state park and saw Rainbow and Davidson glaciers. Then we finished touring the town although some stores where not open since it was Sunday. We went to the Alaska Bald Eagle Foundation Interpretive Center which had a wonderful display of animal mounts - mammals, birds and fish - and an interesting film on eagles. There is a huge bald eagle preserve just outside of Haines. The film had a lot of footage from there and included quite a bit of footage from the eagle preserve at Brackendale (Squamish), B.C.
July 2nd - Mon - to Skagway
We decided to take the ferry from Haines to Skagway rather than driving around. It is 14 miles by water and 350 miles by road. With diesel costing $3.50 a gallon here and $1.34 a liter in the Yukon, the cost of the ferry didn’t seem quite so bad.
We left the RV park in Haines at 10:30 as we had to check in 2 hours ahead of our 1:00 pm departure time. The ferry was an hour late leaving Haines for the 1 hour trip and we were almost the last rig off so it was 3:40 by the time we were driving to the RV park here. So basically the whole day was taken up for a 1 hour ferry trip.
When the ferry docked at Haines, we saw that cars exiting for Haines and cars getting on (us!) would be entering the ferry through a door on the side rather than the front or back like we have done previously. This means you have to turn around somehow inside the ferry and do some backing up! We were the longest rig taking the ferry (55 feet) so they pulled us out of line and had us board after 2 other rigs. We made a 90 degree turn in the ferry and drove all the way to the back where large loading doors were open. We figured we would be driving off that way at Skagway - but we figured wrong! The side door was used again so Terry had to back up the entire length of the ferry (past the loading doors) and make a 90 degree turn to drive off. There are 3 lanes in the middle of the ferry and the rigs on either side of us were still there when Terry had to back out - quite a challenge.
We did not have a reservation at the RV park here as it was full when I called earlier. The guy said to just show up and “something would break loose”! Larry & Barb had a reservation here so they reminded the guy all morning that we were coming and wanted a spot. So we did get a space when we arrived.
July 3rd - Tues - Skagway
We chatted with neighbors this morning before heading to town with Larry & Barb. It was a gorgeous sunny day, just right for wandering around. We figure 80% of the shops in Skagway are jewelry stores. They are catering to the cruise ship passengers. There were 4 cruise ships here when we arrived, all due to leave tonight. We came back to the RV park for a rest and dinner so we could take in some evening activities for the 4th of July holiday.
There was a street dance starting at 9. The band was not playing music that appealed much to us but it was fun watching kids “dancing” and just watching people. Fireworks were supposed to start at 11, actually started at 11:25 but were worth the wait. It was a very good show with some fireworks set off from a boat and others from the end of the cruise ship dock.
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