I just have to share this with you

While on Ebay I found a Red Cross Magazine for sale dated Sept 1918 and I thought it might me fun to read and see. Well, it was pretty much a lot of Red Cross propanganda, but I found some advertizements that were just so funny, particularly this one. "Your Boy Must Fight Cooties".

Tomorrow if I have time, I am going to post the best one, White Cross Electric Vibrator. Our outfit gives you the greatest curative agents - Vibration, Faradic and Galvanic electricity.

Hummm, we're getting the itch and it isn't even Spring

Some of you know I took a 6 week job just because I didn't have much else planned and I figured why not. Well, it took me a full week to get use to getting out of bed I still forget to turn on the alarm clock. While working is okay, and the money is nice to have, I just think, I like retirement better. I like it when its cold in the house and I can pretend I'm asleep and wait til hubby gets up to make the coffee and bump up the heat. Of course, some of the time, he out-waits me cause nature calls.
Anyway, I am so ready to get into the old RV and head out. Both Hubby and I are getting pulled in to things I really don't want to be pulled into. The Masons are asking more and more of him, and since he has nothing better to do, he does it, and the same with Red Cross. I love helping our troops and what I do, but I would sure like to be on the road.
And why not. I keep thinking we'll go in March, but whats wrong with January. The weather might be the pits but we have a heater and warm coats. If we get caught in a storm, well just park it.
So anyway, while March was looking good, January is looking better.

Bye, Ian

I heard about a death of a friend of mine. I have known this kid since he was a snot nose little bundle of joy with the widest grin on his face and a smile for everyone. We use to go hiking, and I was never sure that he really enjoyed the hikes (his brother didn't and would vocally complain) but not Ian, he would walk along and talk to me about just about anything and everything. As he grew up, hiking with the old folks just didn't have the same appeal and we saw less and and less of him, but he always came and said hello and we were always so comfortable together, even though we were a generation apart.
He was built like his dad, tall, broad shoulders, good looking. I never understood why some gal didn't snag him. He was shy around girls I guess. They could never compete with his Mom anyway. He adored her and his Dad also. Maybe he was trying to find someone who could cook better than his mom. That would make sense, that would be almost impossible.
He was artistic, and his mom would send us his cartoons. I never understood them, but it was again a generation thing I think. But I certainly was amazed at his talent, that was something you saw right away. And intellect. The boy was a genius.
I remember he use to take me to see his computer, and he'd tell me all about the new program and some awesome thing it could do. Damn, I never understood a word he was telling me, but that didn't matter to either of us. He was just a good kid and I was just the old lady and we were friends.
And he died. He shouldn't have died. He was to damn young. Us old folks are suppose to go first, we shouldn't have to bury our children. Its not fair. Not to him. Not to his family or to his friends. He's leaving to many of us behind.
But he will always live in our hearts. We will always remember that silly grin. We will always remember his talent, his art, and I guess as long as your loved, your still alive.
Will miss you Ian. We had more mountains to hike and you had more pictures to draw.

Easy Sunday

It's so cool to be retired. While most of the camp was packing up to go home, we still had another full day ahead of us to explore. There was only one beach that we hadn't been to and that was maybe a mile or so down the road.
Now, of course, my feet are covered with mole skin to protect the blisters but I am determined that I am not going to let my tired dogs keep me from seeing the world. The beach was beautiful and we spent about an hour watching some folks learn to kayak in the surf. One tipped over but came right back up. I think it would be fun to try, but Roy said that even in wet suits you get cold so I don't think I'm that interested.
Anyway, on the road back we met one of the park workers and we struck up a conversation. He was very nice and told us a little more about the park. Since most of the folks were now gone, the deer were out enjoying the lawn, and eagle flew overhead and an assortment of little critters darted about.
It was a leisurely day and our luck was holding with the weather.

27 Oct, More hiking, Oh my aching feet.

Surprisingly, I woke up feeling no pain after yesterdays 12 mile hike, (okay so Im exaggerating a mite)so after breakfast we decided to take the 2.8 mile hike to North Head Lighthouse, the one we saw from the beach yesterday. The sign said "moderated" but I would have added "to strenuous" at least for us old folk.
It started off pretty flat but we knew that couldn't last and soon we started to climb. The trail was really pretty, but it was so shady, most of it was mud and dead leaves and tree roots, all trying to trip me up. I had visions of landing on my butt and spending the day with a big old mudstain on me. There were many of these old growth trees but this one seemed to be one of the larger


The vistas were beautiful, but I didn't like looking most of the time



Up close the lighthouse looked a little sad. The white paint from afar was a dirty yellow up close, the paint was peeling and the plaster cracking. For $2.50 you could climb to the top, but they weren't getting many takers and you can bet I didn't feel the urge. It was a ladder up, not stairs
Not looking forward to the return trip on the muddy trail we took the road instead, which probably added a mile or so to the hike and my dogs were now complaining loudly. Also I felt a blister developing but it was worth the trip as I can add another lighthouse to my collection.
Tomato soup for lunch and maybe a little nap.Then we talked out to the beach and headed south toward the Jetty

26 October, Friday at the Beach

After a quick breakfast of pancakes that mostly stuck to the pan, and a leisurely cup of coffee, we walked out to Benson Beach (named for a ship that sank in the area) and to the right saw North Head Lighthouse sitting high on a bluff above. Roy thought there might be a trail up but I knew in my heart I wasn't going to try any trail that steep. As it turned out, there was no trail but we got some good pictures.

Speaking of pictures, the trail to the beach was lined with beautiful red mushrooms. I looked them up and they are called Amanita Muscaria or Fly Agaric and while they are poisonous, they are also hullucinogenic. Thats probably why we saw folks picking them even though there were big signs that it was a criminal offence to pick the mushrooms.

They werent the only muchroom we saw, but these didn't look as pretty.


From the beach we walked back through the closed part of the park and saw a cayote who stared at us as we stared at him.


We wanted to check out the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the other near by lighthouse called Cape Disappointment but it took some doing finding the trail. Once we did it was rated moderate to strenuous but only .6 miles so we took it and started the climb up. What a treat,the vistas of the beach below were beautiful and I didn't have to get close enought to make my fear of heights kick in. We scared a young deer and actually I think she scared me more than I her and we were so high in the trees that a young woodpecker pecked away at an old growth just within feet of us.
The Interpretive Center was awesome, but the $5. charge per person was a little steep. We heard an interesting talk by a docent on the maritine industry and the lighthouse



The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was built to mark the entrance to the Columbia River and even with two lighthouses, since 1792 about 2000 ships have sunk in the area. ITs not surprizing, sand and silt clog the waterways, and shift around at will. Storms with up to 25 foot swells are common winter occurrances and fog is a year round hazard. One ship we read about the first mate kept hearing this strange noise, it sounded like a rooster, but according to the Captain they were 6 miles out to see. Unfortunately, it was a rooster and they were shortly joining him on the beach.
The trail from the Interpritive Center to the Lighthouse was closed as the Coasties were having live fire practice. I had been willing to try but I was secretly pleased as I didn't think my feet would make another mile and a half and we still had a couple mile jaunt back to camp. I know we ended up walking 5 miles, 6 would be more accurate.

25 October Off again

Truisms like the best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry, could have applied to our Thursday. We planned to leave early but on Wednesday the cargo-haulers hired to deliver our new electric bikes called asking if they could deliver them some time on Thursday. They promised by noon, but we just knew that we'd be waiting until mid-afternoon. BUT much to our delight, they managed to make it before hoon and about 1pm we were off, destination Camp Disappointment State Park, WA, right on the southwest tip of the state.
We drove Hwy 6, a windy road with some very narrow bridges, but beautiful farm-scapes, forests and tiny towns with quaint names like Dryad, PeEll and Frances. Hwy 6 west ends at Hwy 101 which followed the contours of the Pacific and just before it turned east again, we jumped off near Long Beach and followed the signs to our new weekend home, Site 54. Cape Diappointment State Park.
The park is heavily forested with an easy jaunt to the beach. Sites are laid out in a circle so you have space and privacy between rigs. Bathrooms and showers were clean and staff was helpful and friendly.
And much to our delight, the weather looked promising.

End of the Journey

We spent our last night at an Econo Lodge in Prineville, Oregon and it is another town that I would certainly love to return to someday. There is lots of land for sale at a very resonable price and I would love to buy some just to say I have it.

Our last day, we drove to Portland and dropped off George and then headed home. All and all it was a fantastic trip and if I could do it over again, I would park someplace and spend at least a month.

But we have lots of places to see yet and I if I didn't mention it, I think this winter we are going to head south to Yuma and snake our way north, checking out all the National Parks. There are a ton of them, Grand Canyon, last time I was there I was 15. Then Utah has a few, Brice, Arches, etc. Neither Roy or I have been to Yellowstone so that would be on our list and lastly Glacier.

Hope the price of gas goes down.

John Day Fossil Beds/Cant Ranch

Next to the last day and all of us are both kinna sad that its ending and maybe a little tired of the travel. We took Hwy 7 out of Baker City and then caught Hwy 26, stopping at the amazing John Day Fossil Beds and the Cant Ranch.

This is a few of the mountains of the John Day from the Cant Ranch.

The Cant Ranch House. Mrs Cant said that when she went to heaven she would have a dishtowel in her hands. It was a big sheep ranch and not only did she have lots of hand on the farm to feed, the family also had lots of guests. Poor woman fed them all.

There are three sections to the John Day Fossil Beds. This area is called Painted Hills area. They were amazing and very very red.

Baker County

Got ta tell you about the Motel. On our trip we stayed at one, count em, one corporate motel, and the rest were all Mom and Pop places. I gotta tell you, I love thoes Mom and Pop places. They seem to try harder, like the microwave popcorn in Joseph and the friendly staff at La Grande, the cute little rooms in Condon with a warning not to wash your birds in the sink. (That really got to me cause I couldn't imagine why anyone would travel with a bird, let alone want to wash it. Roy had to explain about hunting birds) Anyway, when we got to the Bridge Street Motel in Baker City I was more than impressed. The price was just at $50 a night, and they had free daily newspapers, tons of great food at the Continental Breakfast, free WIFI, and a badly needed laundry. I gave it a great rating, but then I got all bit up and I swear they had fleas in the room. Could have been worse, could have been bedbugs, but I rather think it was fleas as they allow dogs.
Okay, we stayed two days in Baker and we could have done more. We drove north to the little town of Haines, Or and they were having Pioneer Days. The ladies were all decked out in pioneer clothes and the men in their jeans and cowboy hats. They squared danced in the street and you could pan for gold and drink homemade cider and visit their museum. They also had a historic park where they brought in and restored old cabins and area building.

Chandler Cottage, The first cabin known to have been built in Baker County about 1861.

Haines Museum, Old time truck. They also had a restored backsmith forge, carriages and slays plus a building full of "stuff". They had a lady who made apple head dolls and one who demonstrated tating.

This isn't a real mine, but it looked like one. Part of the Historic Park.

Baker City

Now I told you that I liked Joseph, but Baker City runs a close second. The town is right off I84 and while I understand from the residents that a few years ago it was on the dead or dying list, it's being rebuilt and restored one building at a time. We found a place to park and immediately went to check out the gold display at the US bank. They had a 9 pound nugget, plus lots of smaller pieces on display. Right across the street is the Geiser Grand Hotel probably Baker City's most recognizable historic building. We met another couple who had just eaten lunch there and they said that the Holel was grander than the food, so we passed on that. But we did check out the walking tour and saw some amazing homes and buildings.
The town is coming back to life due to the determination of the folks who live in the area. We checked out their museum. It was in the Baker City Municipal Natatorium. Now I didn't even know what a Natatorium was but it was built in 1919 and had a indoor Olympic size pool and room for dances etc. The building fell to ruin after WWII but eventually the residents talked the city into buying it and they restored it, filling in the pool, and turning it into a museum. It is awesome and fun and very interesting.
Baker City is on my keeper list.

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City

I just don't know where to start when it comes to telling you about Baker City Oregon. First, its right on the Oregon Trail so lots of history in the area. We stopped at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center which is about 10 minutes out of town and it was awesome. It told the history of the trail mostly in the actual words of the pioneers themselves. They had wagon train displays, Native American displays, etc. Its right off I84 so if you are ever out that way, you need to stop. There is a fee, but for those of us who are lucky enough to have Golden Age passes, its free.

Joseph City Oregon

Joseph was probably our favorite of the little towns we visited. Nestled very close to the Idaho border in a small valley, Joseph has become a large artist colony that particularly deals with bronzes. The lady above is one of our favorites.

I gotta tell you about the motel that we stayed at. When we checked in the man gave us keys but told us that they never lock anything and when we leave just leave the door open. Then when I went to check out the coffee pot, I found not only coffee, but cocoa, microwave popcorn, lots of flavors of tea and on the deck outside there was a barbeque for us to use, a table with umbrella and our own little deck. What a great spot. The place was the most expensive of all, but we all enjoyed our stay.

Train ride through the wilderness

Thursday morning we got up early and drove to the small, quaint little town of Elgin to board the Eagle Cap Railroad for a 4-hour tour of Northern Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness. The train, run by volunteers, was full, but we found seats together and really had a great time. The railroad followed the Grand Ronde River for most of the trip and while everyone else saw bear and turkeys and eagles, my claim to fame was seeing one lone white tail deer. Oh well, it was a fun trip and I would love to do it again in the winter.

From Elgin we continued east to the small town of Joseph. What a great little town. If I ever descide to run away thats where you'll find me.

Travel Day, Condon to La Grande (Hardman)

Wednesday was a travel day, Condon to Heppner (with a side trip to Hardman) Heppner north to Lexington and then to Hwy 84 to Pendleton and finally spending the night in La Grande.
Hardman is listed as a ghost town but there were some very alive residents and we were lucky enough to meet Charlotte, a long time resident who actually had a key to the Community Center/museum and she let us in and gave us the nickle tour. There was a small typewritten story about the area which I found interesting enough to take a picture. I won't quote it all, but it is fun to read.
Sometime around 1870 a man, whose name cannot be recalled by the old-timers, stopped for the night beside a spring in the hills. Looking around him at the rolling hills leverling off to plateaus covered with bunch grass and sage bush, he must have envisioned the rolling wheat fields and peacefully grazing cattle which were to come, because he stayed. He stared Hardmans first settlement, building a cabin and barn and raising a garden here. Later he started a dairy and made cheese to sell.
Around 1879 two towns started, one about one and one half miles from Hardmanand one where Hardman now stands. One was called Yellow Dog and the other Raw Dog. Great rivalry ensued between them. Later by order of the courts, the Dog Towns were consolidated into Dairyville, but were still commenly called Dog Town by the settlers.
As one old-timer put it, "The towns first boss was William Royse. He operated the first hotel. One old timer tells the story that when the meal was ready, the Mr Royce would ring loudly the three-cornered dinner bell. He also had 5 or 6 hounds who howled loudly whenever the dinner gong sounded. One one occasion a drummer yelled at these hounds, "Shut up, you so and so's, you don't have to eat it."

Fossil, Oregon

The road to Fossil was easy and wonderful compared to our last one that still has me shuttering when I think about it. Fossil was named after the John Day Fossil Beds in the area and it had quiet a fasinating history. Unfortunatedly, the Museum had a sign that it was closed for the winter (It's mid September in the rest of the world) so we were unable to visit, but the town still had a lot going for it. The museum was in the first Masonic Building.
The county building with its blue tower was built in 1901 and there was also an old sheepherders wagon (original RV?) and one-room school house. (I ordered DSL and will post some pictures after I get it. Dial-up is just to slow)I can't tell you about the blue tower, but its colorful if nothing else.

Lonerock, Oregon

Our plan was to explore the Condon area and that included a little town that I read about in the Oregon Travel magazine called Lonerock. I knew there was an old church and a jail but they didn't tell us about the road in. Oh my, you all know that I have a "thing" about heights and suddenly I find myself on a dirt road looking straight down into this beautiful but terrifying valley below? Am I going to slide on the gravel to my doom? Am I going to meet an eighteen-wheeler who will want to pass? Is this going to be the end of me? Roy offers to drive, but that would be worse as I wouldn't be in control. Well I had no choice cause I certainly wasn't going to turn around up there with narry a guard rail in site and so, I inched my way down and at the bottom reminded myself to breath. I'd made it! The only problem was, I had to go back the same way I came and the thought was making me nauseous.

So was the little town of Lonerock worth the drive, well won't be doing it again any time soon but it was a cute little town. We talked to one of the residents and he said that Condon was the closest town (20 miles up that road)and so when one of the residents went they checked with everyone to see if they needed anything. Imagine living is a small town like that.

The lone rock was a huge, maybe 20 foot high, boulder behind the Community Church and not impressive enough to name a town after if you ask me. The church had a two-holer, still being used, behind it, and the jail, well it was a shed size building with bars on the one window. I don't think it held many folks cause even in its hayday, there wasn't much in Lonerock, particularly criminals.

Okay so I drag out the map and it looks as if there are three roads out. Just maybe I can take the one south as we are headed south to Fossil anyway. So we try it and the further we drive, the smaller the road gets and finally we turned around as it was looking something like a cart track. We tried another as it forked off to the left, but it ended in a farmers field. There was one other alternative, but it went east and would take us way out of the way, so gritting my teeth, I headed back up the road, again praying that I wouldn't meet anyone else cause I would now be on the outside edge and nothing in this world would make me move close to it.

Obviously, I made it, going up hill isn't as bad as comeing down, but from that day forward, I asked about the roads we travelled and eyed the map very carefully.

Day 2

Photobucket Album

Day Two

We've gone from the ocean, over the mountains and as you can see from the picture, miles of nothing buy rolling hills.

I got ta tell you, lunch at Grand Lodge started a trend as at every town we are finding Masonic symbols in just about every town.

Our day started with a big breakfast at Black Bear Restaurant. Even their senior menu has big portions and more than any of us could eat.

Traffic in Portland was tough, even after 0900 but we found our way to the Historic Columbia River Hwy from Troutdale and for the next 20 or so miles we enjoyed the scenic and beautiful drive.

There are some must stops and the first was the view from the Portlands Women's Fourm, (frist shot) It was even better than from Vista House, a mile further on. We also stopped at 3 falls, Latourell, Bridal Veil and Multnomah before we returned to I 84.

Forest slowly turned to rolling hills, devoid of trees completely. We stopped at The Dalles for gas and passing turn town we found the Masonic Hall

From I84 we turned off at Hwy 206 and stopped and took a picture of this old church built in the late 1800s and last used in 1914. It was sad to see it rotting away. Stopping at Wasco to ask about the church, I pulled around the corner and parked right in front of the second masonic building.

Condon was our last stop. We came over the hill and there was this patch of green. George couldn't believe it was our destination as it looked like a dot, but it was .

First Day

Can we pick em, the weather was not only glorious, it was spectacular as we headed out today, and the weatherman promises more of the same for most of the week. Our trip to Portland was without incident and George was waiting for us in his driveway when we arrived. After hugs and a few minutes of chats, a quick tour of his garden, we headed to "Grand Lodge" for lunch.

True to Georges prediction, Roy enjoy looking at and touring the old building and we all enjoyed the hamburgers. While Roy explored, I waited in the car and played with the GPS system. Hum, the town of Tillamock was just 39 miles west and the Tillamock Cheese Factory with its awesome ice cream was just the dessert we needed. It took nothing to convince the men and shortly we were off.

Hwy 6 goes from quaint farms, then up and through the Tillimock National Forest and then down to the ocean. After enjoying our 2 scoops, we drove out to Camp Mears Lighthouse and checked it out. George pointed out that last summer we went to the tallest lighthouse in Washington and this one surely is the squatiest.

Good Morning USA

It's very early on Saturday morning, hubby is still in bed and only a hint of light is reflected in the morning sky. I don't know why I am up so early, excitement maybe as tomorrow we start on a small, but great adventure and I have lots to do.
I checked my list for the 10th time and wondered if the car will hold everything. Do I really need all this stuff!!. We're only going for just over a week and surely the weather will cooperate. Or will it, it's September and you just never know, so I'm tossing in a jacket and an umbrella just in case.
We're taking the car, mostly because our friend George is coming with us and motels just seemed to be a better idea. We're also taking ice chests and food and do a lot of picnicking as some of our destinations are what one might describe as wilderness, rural, middle of no-where. Just in case I'm packing a lot of emergency gear also as we will be hiking in the wilds and exploring old ghost towns and well you just never know (Hey! I watch Survivorman!!!)
So here is the plan if you want to follow along.
Day One: We are going to Beaverton to pick up George who found a new restaurant in an old Masonic Temple. Hubby should enjoy that and George said it will add to our quest; finding the best Oregon hamburger. We'll spend the night and then get an early start on Monday.
Day Two: While we are heading east, we decided to bypass as much of the freeway as we can (I84) and take the very scenic Historic Columbia Byway, Hwy 30. (Very scenic, very narrow and switchback'ie) There are lots of 'view points, photo ops and I understand lots of waterfalls, Multnomah being the most famous (Add to list, more film for camera)
Then a drive thru of The Dalles. I am not sure why but they have a walking tour of town and some old historic homes that are well worth seeing. We'll continue east for a bit more on the freeway and then at mile 97 we will start our southeastward trek on Hwy 206 to the small town of Condon, OR.
Hey Condon has a claim of fame, a turn-of-the-century hotel (aptly named Hotel Condon) and the one and only annex of Portlands famous Powells Book Store. Also it is said you can buy a great old fashioned soda there. We'll be staying at the not so famous Motel Condon for the next couple of nights.
Tuesday is going to be a real adventure. We are going to a ghost town called Lonerock. Lonerock has a church, a jail, and a lone rock. People still live there so I am not sure why its called a ghost town, but Ill let you know. From Lonerock we are going to the John Day Fossil Beds, Clarno Unit for some geological lessons. The pictures I have seen are spectacular and the hikes are all under a half mile. Afterward we'll return to Condon and maybe treat ourselves to another soda.
Day three is going to be a travel day, Condon to Hardeman, another ghost town and this time I understand its a real ghost town, to Heppner that shows it's heritage with a great big shamrock in the middle of town. Unity is our lunch stop, its mid-point of the Blue Mountain Scenic Hwy and then we'll overnight in LaGrande.
The whole point of our trip was to go on a train ride thru the Eagle Cap Wilderness area. It starts in a small town just east of La Grande called Elgin and for 4 hours we will wander through the wilds. I understand they are going to feed us lunch. It sounds like fun, but we are going to continue to the town of Joseph for the night.
Friday we are going to Baker City and Saturday we are going to kinda play it by ear as there is so much to see and do in the area, we are rather overloaded with ideas. Whatever we do should be fun, but we think we will check with the locals for ideas.
Sunday we are heading west again. Hwy 26 passes through two more areas of John Day and each has something great to offer. Night will find us in Prineville and the on Monday we are going to head back to Portland.
Now, lets see how close we come to following our itinerary.

Solo'ing

Took and survived my first solo RV trip and while I had a great time, I don't think Ill do it often as there is just something comforting about having a 'co-piolet' along.
The RV was in the garage right up to the day I was suppose to go depart, delaying me by a full day. To save time, I loaded up the car with all I'd need on the trip and then just transferred it to the rig. Big mistake, I should have brought it home as when I got to the campground, I found the water tank was only a quarter full and well, I won't even try to describe what the refrigerator looked like after 3 weeks of being unplugged..
I was meeting friends at the campground, so it really wasn't a solo event, but the drive up was awesome. I went over Hwy 90 to Cle Elem and then over Blewett Pass to Levenworth and then the camp is about 10 miles beyond town. I thought it was a couple of miles from town, so when it didn't magically appear, I started to get panicky. I kept telling myself the next brown (National Forest Service) sign I would pull in an ask where Tillicum Campground is. Lucky for me, Tumwater Campground appeared and I didn't have to embarrass myself by asking for the wrong place.
Tumwater Campground is a real jewel in the National Forest system of campgrounds as only the Federal government can afford to space out the sites so that you feel as if your alone in the wilderness. Set in the confluence of the Wenachee River, Chiwaukum Creek and Hwy 2, each sites backs up one or the other. Our site wasn't the best as we wanted to be together but we shared a large area and were out of the way of other campers. Since it is dry, all I had to do was make sure the propane was on the refrigerator and since it had never been lit before, it took some doing, but finally I heard it click on and while it took some time to get cold and I worried about the large steak I bought, it was working. Meanwhile, I noticed that I really needed water and there was no place at all to fill up the tank. It has water but the faucets didn't have treads on them so I couldn't attach a hose. I didn't worry about it cause I was sure I had enough to wash and since the park had flush toilets, I would just use that.
That was Friday, Saturday we decided to head into town an we stopped at Heidleburger for a hamburger. Oh yummmmm, I got a mushroom burger and a huge order of curly fries. I really recommend this cool little place if you need a decent burger for a fair price. Next we went out wine tasting and while the place was pretty, a rustic log cabin, the wine was not to my liking.
Levenworth is a great tourist town, done like a little Swiss village and its fun to visit.
Sunday morning we headed west to a great restaurant we heard about. The service was slow, but worth the wait.
Monday I headed home and cheated as when I got home, I conned Roy into coming with me to dump. LOL So I really didn't have much to do at all. Now I am still cleaning the refrigerator in bleach water and hoping to get it back to its sparkle.

Pleasant Surprize

Last night I had a call from Japan. My travelin' buddy Sallie called and I'll be we talked the good part of an hour. (Japan's phone companies charge about 4 cents a minute so she can afford to call the US. I can't even call Seattle for 4 cents a minute. I think we are getting ripped off) Anyway, she said Nick and Fumie, Bev and Berry and she had gone to see a professional Japanese baseball game in Hiroshima and said they had a great time. I remember when she took me to the games and it was just about kicking and screaming cause I am not a fan of baseball unless its sand lot soft ball and my daughter is playing first base. But I had a ball and I guess Bev and Berry also enjoyed themselves. First of all, the fans are exceedingly polite and they take turns cheering for their team. First the one side gets up with their flags and drums and banners and they cheer for about a half hour and then the other side does the same.
Okay you can soon get bored with that, but then the 7th inning starts and your looking around cause suddenly you see a balloon in a fans hands. Not one of those round balloon. but a balloon about 3 foot long. Then someone else has a one and then you notice that everyone in the park is blowing up these balloons and its a sea of color. Then on cue, they are all released into the air sounding like one big fart. LOL
http://www.gonomad.com/japannomads/2007/06/baseball-in-japan.html Here's a blog about the same thing. LOL, with pictures even

Enter at your own risk, lots of rambling goin on

I love blogs and read a lot of them. I told you about the lady RVer who I read a lot. Also there is George. George has a RV and he travels 30 or so miles a day, parks where he can for free and has seen most of the western US and Mexico. I enjoy reading "George" but lately its become a little repetitive. http://vagabonders-supreme.blogspot.com/ so I only check in once in awhile. I love Horses' Ass, a political, left wing blog but its mostly Washington State politics so you probably won't be interested. Then theirs Jamies stuff. I would give my eye teeth to beable to write like that lady. I would give you her link, but you'll have to ask and Ill email it to you privately. She's sidesplitting funny, or stone serious, but I love both sides of her.
So where is this going. Oh yeah I remember. So you can absolutely find anything on the internet and you have to take all of it with an understanding the folks don't have to tell the truth, like Fox News, you need to make a point, make something up. Or like that Savage Nation guy. Roy actually listens to him and a couple weeks ago when the Chief Justice got sick, Savage blamed the liberals for causing his seisure. That man is a sicko.

Speaking of Sicko, the movie. I went to see it and I really enjoyed it. If your a conservative and don't like Michael Moore, see it anyway. Its not like Farenheit 9-11 at all. Its not conservative bashing, its just asking why all other nations have great medical care for their folks, all their folks including the poor. Did you see the study that came out this week about the life expectancy in the US. 48 countries have higher life expectancys than we do, including Cuba, Tiawan and most of Europe have better health care. Its a shame,

Lets kick the bums out and elect anyone else.

I just finished reading this great blog written by a single lady full-time RVer and she was talking about how most women are the co-piolets who help back the rig up and read the maps. She is right. In our circle of friends, the guys do the driving and the gals enjoy the scenery.

Personally, I love to drive and in our family it's just easier for me to drive since I usually know the way to go, where to go and since Roy rarely wears his hearing aids and can't hear my directions , its worked out best for the both of us.

Now, I have to say that it was Roy who taught me to drive something 30 foot long. He explained the wide corner thing and the "straighten out the road" thing and it's a comfort to have him in my rearview mirror when backing up. Also it's his job to hook up the utilities and SEWER and I certainly don't complain about that.

Would I like to do the single thing? End of this month I am going camping with our friends and Roy can't come, so I decided I would go it alone. I think I can figure out the sewer thing, one hose, one hole, stick A into B. I know that I can do the electricity thing cause I usually have to go behind him and turn the switch to the "on" position, he usually forgets and I don't think the campground has TV or Cable so that won't be a problem. But the backing up thing... Maybe I can find someone to guide me in or find a pull through. Maybe I'll find a big empty parking lot and some orange cones and practice a bit before I go.

There seems to be a lot of different styles to RVers and the more I travel, the more differences we notice. The full-timers must be at the top of the list. They live and love, travel and work in their up to 40 footer. Some workcamp, some have jobs that only require internet connections and some are just lucky like us and are retired. Lots of full timers stop after a few years as health or children or just living on solid ground again draws them back. I spoke with a lady at the pool just recently who sold their home on wheels after 5 years on the road, She missed her piano and thats why they quit.

Then there are the snowbirds and their counterparts the sunbirds. The snowbirds geneally live in the north and when the leaves start to turn, they pack up their motorhomes for some warm weather living. The sunbirds (I think I coined that) live in the warm south, and come out during summers and then go and hunker down at home in the winter. Both are like part-time full timers.

The episotic traveler, like Roy and I, come in all sorts. Roy and I like to just set a compass point and head that way, checking out all the sites along the way. Other RVers find a campground they like, and go spend a week or weekend there when they can. That appeals to be also

Recently we joined the Nomads, a group of RVers who meet once a month and spend the weekend camping at one site or another. We dry camped at Cle Elem, we spent a great weekend by the lake at Tanwax and our next trip is going to be in the mountains west of Levenworth. We eat together and play together and have a great time. I think I am going to drag out the Dutch Oven and see if I can find any great recipes.

So, plans for the future. In September we're going to northeast Oregon and spend a week or so over there. George, our buddy and friend is coming with us and I know we will have a great time. There is just about something for everyone. For the History Buff in me, we are going to see the Oregon Trail. Do you know that there are places where you can still actually see the wagonwheel ruts in the ground. We are going to take an antique train thru Hells Canyon wilderness. We're going to explore John Day Fossil Beds and walk thru a couple ghost towns. All in all, its going to be a great time and I am so looking forward to it.

Do you know I was like 10 when I last saw the Grand Canyon and so I think Roy and I are going to just "do" National Parks next year, starting with the Grand Lady and ending at Glacier. I know its going to be fun.

Well that trip note kinna died

From Yakima we headed to the Tri Cities area and spent a few days so Roy could do Grand Lodge and when it was over, we headed north through some of Washington's most beautiful countryside, ending at Grand Coulee Dam. That was an amazing experience. We toured the dam and then spent the night in a parking lot, (with permission from the locals) so we could watch the laser show. (I'm glad we didn't have to pay to see that cause while it was okay, I was pretty bored with the whole thing in about the first 10 minutes)
So our trip was great and now we are off to another adventure.

Yakima

Cherries and Asparagus are in season so we bought both at a small fruitstand and then found gas at Safeway for 3.06. Thats a bargain!!!

Always ask the locals

Roy and I decided to keep heading east and one of our camping buddies told us that if we go to Yakima, to take Hwy 821 instead of the Interstate (I82) The road twists and turns and the speed limit is only about 45 mph but what a beautiful trip it was. We followed the Yakima River for about 25 miles and it was just a spectacular trip.
Spent the night at the Yakima KOA and its pretty, our camp is right on the river and from our door we watch the ducks, turtles and even a few fish swim right by us. Having this site means we don't get Cable but who wants to watch TV when you have this beautiful site to watch. (Besides I am reading Richard Proenneke's More Readings from One Man's Wilderness. You might have seen One Man's Wilderness on PBS about him building his log cabin in Alaska. This book isn't as good, but I am enjoying it. )
We'll probably stay tomorrow also and then head to Tri Cities.

Sing it Willy

On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again,
And I can't wait to get on the road again.

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world be turnin' our way
And our way
Is on the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again

Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world be turnin' our way
And our wayIs on the road again

Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again
And I can't wait to get on the road again

This was a spur of the moment trip. Some friends invitied us camping and neither Roy nor I had to think about it very long. They were going to dry camp at Teanaway Campground near Cle Elum, WA and it would be a perfect shake down cruise for our new RV.
(I didn't mention that we bought another Motorhome about two weeks after returning from our last trip. This is a newer Class C, Tioga and we love it. )
Directions in hand, we left home about 11am and topped off the tanks, both gas and propane and headed for I 90 and the Snoqualmie Pass. Passed Cle Elum, we headed north for a couple miles and then west for a few more and found this huge free campground right on the Teanaway River. There were about 6 RVs already there and we made number 7. (Eight and nine came later) Teanaway Campground is absolutely free, all that they ask is that you pack out your trash and it was a very clean camp. We were the largest group there, but there were other campers spread around the place and yet we didn't feel at all crowded. There could have been a dozen more trailers and we wouldn't have noticed.
There was a family of chipmunks, well Mom and two tiny ones (sex unknown) who darted around our feet and ate anything we dropped. They were use to humans as they showed no fear at all but they were about the only wildlife we saw. The camp is under towering Ponderosa Pines and they were sheading their cones so the ground was littered with them. The river is pretty small but fast flowing and clean. I used it for coffee water the first day and it was delicious.

We stayed until Monday morning and then we all broke camp and headed off in different directions. We had such a great time, we decided to meet again next month and do it all over again.

Last leg of our journey

This is the Snake River the northeastern corner of Oregon - and while not our last night out, we were close to home and feeling the pull. Those clouds, full of rain are - guess where - in the west toward Portland and even they looked inviting. Traveling through Nevada and Southern California, there becomes a point when your a tad bit desert weary and we could now enjoy the green.
From this point we headed northwest to Pendleton, where we spent Cinco de Mayo and finally headed home via Hwy 12. OMG, yet another mountain pass and this issue I have with heights has got to stop cause again I found myself hanging on the edge of the world, and not enjoying the view at all.
Now we are home and we were greeted by the most glorious weather that could be had in the northwest, mid 70ies, sunny, with that glorious view of Mt Rainier just out our window. The motor home needs a good scrubbing, the lawn is knee deep and at least two loads of wash await, but they can wait.
Now I need to think about going to Iraq again. The opportunity is there, and the money is good, but am I up to it.

Thanks for following our lastest adventure.

Carson City, Nevada

Unscheduled stop. We were very lucky and we found Carson Carburator and the great mechanic invited us to spend the night in his driveway so he could test the motor cold. We did, and the next morning he found nothing major wrong, but cleaned the injectors and we were on our way. Running like a champ.
But I was done with mountain driving, and so we changed our route and headed north on Hwy 95.

Convict Lake - Mammoth Lake, Calif

We left Red Rock Canyon early, continuing north on Hwy 395 past Bishop, Ca and found Convict Lake Campground. The lower picture was a picture of the creek that bubbled right past our campsite. It was wonderful. The weather was now cool as we were higher in the mountains but the sky was blue, blue and the sun sparkled on the water. The only problem was the wind came up and by nightfall it was really blowing hard and when we departed the next morning, it hadn't gotten any better.

The road also got worse. As we climbed into the Sierra Nevada's, the road twisted and turned, the wind bobbed us around like a cork on water, and big "Strong Wind" signs warned of what was to come. Also, when we started the RV at Convict, it started acting up again, so I was worried about that. We even hit 8000' elevation!!! This was not fun.

Red Rock Canyon - Cantil, Ca

This was a real find. Just off Hwy 14 in Calif was this amazing campground Red Rock Canyon. We spent the night and it took tons of pictures. At night, the sky was like a million tiny jewels the stars were so bright. Trails to hike, wildlife was awesome, it was just an amazing place and our last night in the desert.

Joshua Tree Natl Park

You know, Joshua Tree is like my spiritual home. I really love the area and we had a great time. I didn't know how much I missed the place until I went back and visited with MaryFran and Gary, and my old buddy Steve. I wish I could have seen Mara again and John, but now I know, I am going to return one of these days.
Starting to have car problems. I don't think the RV likes the heat. We broke down in Barstow and Cody at Barstow Automotive fixed us right up. You hear horror stories about getting ripped off, but we were so lucky, he really went out of his way to make sure the RV was running right.

Death Valley

This is about the best view of Death Valley. The weather was in the 90ies so it was hot, but it was beautiful. We stopped at Scotty's Castle and really enjoyed the tour. Unfortunately, the camera decided to go bad and so our picture taking was limited.

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada

I have given up on days, I haven't a clue.
We stayed two nights in Pahrump so we could drive over to Ash Meadows and Death Valley. Ash Meadows is a great place to visit, right in the middle of this arid desert we found this great little place, and we had it mostly to ourselves. The reason was because it was an 8 mile washboard dirt road into the place and then we found we could have come in from another direction and would have only been three miles of dirt. The wildlife was amazing. A kingfisher showed off for us and lizards darted around us, ducks were everywhere and when we came to the pool (above) I would have gladly gone skinny dipping in it. It was just that blue and they call it fossil water because they believe that it went underground about 1000 years ago.
I would love to volunteer out there but Roy turned up his nose at the thought of summer in Nevada.

Tuesday

We haven't had enough of Hwy 95, besides from Mina, it's 95 or nothing. Tonapah was the next town and we needed gas. What do we see across from the gas station but yet another Hotel, built probably in the 1920s, empty and also for sale. If someone could come up with something to do with these beautiful old building that would make money, it would be great fun to restore them.

Speaking about old hotels, Remember the last one in Alturas. About 10 years ago, our son-in-law tried to buy it but someone had just purchased it. Isn't that wild.

Back to 95. Before and after Tonapah Roy was clicking the camera like crazy. The mountains, some still capped with snow were just amazing. I haven't down loaded them yet, but when I do, you will see how beautiful Nevada really is.

Stopped in Beatty for some homemade ice cream. It wasn't the best that I have had, but it sure tasted good. At about 4 we got into Pahrump, NV where we spent the night. Tomorrow, we are going to explore Ash Meadows and Death Valley

Monday, I think

Nevada, at least the western portion that we visited was awesome. They brag that Hwy 50 is the Lonesomest Road, but Hwy 95 south must come in a close second.
Lets see, we were in Fallon at the Naval Air Station. They train "top guns" there and there was a static display of jets that was really something to see, but the weather was cold, raining and miserable and reminded us of home, so we stayed inside and enjoyed the warm, and got our laundry done... for free. Can't beat that.

Monday, as we departed, the sun came out and the landscape turned from farms to desert in a matter of a mile or so. We laughed at the occasional "Wildlife Viewing" sign, because our sum total of wildlife has been was a deer in Oregon and a coyote in California. Hawks occasionally, if they count, but I sure wouldn't pull off the road for that. Every once in a while we would see a herd of cattle, but Roy doesn't believe they can be considered wildlife. To break up the monotony, a town would pop up, but they always seemed to be on the brink of extinction. Gas stations would be closed and windows boarded up, motels would have a hopeful "For Sale" sign fading in the sun. Walker Lake, like Pyramid had narry a tree. A ranger we spoke to speculated that cattle had probably denuded the area, but you would think one tree would have survived.

Then we came to Hawthorn, NV and Roy kepi saying that it looked, off in the distance like army bunkers. Sure enough, there was both an Army Depot and a Navy Underwater Warfare Training Department - now that's a stretch, the lake was miles in to the north.

Our stop for the night was in Mina, NV and talk about a ghost town, this little town was mostly empty, decaying buildings, dusty dirt roads, dying vegetation..... (see picture) but it had the most awesome little RV park, cheap, clean, WiFi, no TV but we have satellite, so that didn't matter.

We are at that point, we have been gone for a week and I have to really think about what day it is. The only time I think about the time is Roy is keeping a log and asks me when we arrived and when we departed. This is great living.