DAY 8
We had a good night at the Twin Lakes Resort, it was quite and cool, and now we were ready to pack up our rig and get rolling. Sharon and I were sitting outside on a picnic table watching some geese on the pond when Sharon pointed out a lady in a RV spot abut fifty yards away. She too was sitting on a picnic table watching the geese, but she was talking to herself and rocking back and forth, which is unusual even for RV’rs. We watched her for a while, wondering what her life was like.
This was all interesting enough, but we had to get ready to go. Sharon went in to clean up the inside of the trailer while I started to raise the rear struts and disconnect the utilities on the outside. When I was finished I sat back down on the picnic table for a moment. Before long, I heard a banging noise coming from the direction of the detached lady. I glanced over and saw that she was trying to close the door of an old pickup truck. She would slam the door and it would spring back open. She would mutter some choice words and then slam the door again. After about five tries, she just jumped up into the truck and sat there, muttering to herself. She cursed at the truck and then yelled “Come on Bill” to someone inside a nearby mobile home. Before long a couple came out of a mobile home, talked to her for a few minutes and then hopped into a red Toyota and drove off. After a few more swearing tirades aimed at Bill, I formed a scenario of what her situation might be like;
“Come on Bill; get your lazy butt out here”. What a mess this all turned out to be. Stuck out here in the middle of nowhere; sweating out the 120 degree days here in this dump of a ten foot trailer, with absolutely no one around and nothing to do. This sure wasn’t in my plans. When we got married, I thought I was in love. Bill had swept me off my feet. We left that dump of a town I had lived in all my life and headed to Vegas to get married, entirely against my mother’s wishes, but I never listened to her anyway.
Vegas was great for us. Bill got a job as a janitor in the Lady Luck Casino and I waited tables. Life was good until Bill started to gambling. It wasn’t much at first, but before long he was betting his entire paycheck, and loosing. We pawned our car and whatever other belongings we had. Then Bill broke his leg. He couldn’t work and I had to take care of him. I lost my job and we had to move in with Bill’s brother Gray here in Twin Lakes. Actually we moved into an old trailer Gray had on his property. A dump of a ten foot trailer out in the middle of the Mohave Desert; no air conditioning, up on blocks, and just a step above a pig sty. And Bill’s no help. “What do you expect me to do; can’t you see I’ve got a broken leg?” he would cry. Not that it mattered; he had never helped out around the house anyway.
“Bill, get out here, I want to get out of this dump!” she yelled. Gray and his wife were nice enough, but during the day they’re off to work; and with them gone there’s nothing to do around this place; day or night. Crap, if I had half a brain I would go over and hook up with that old man over there and hitch a ride to Vegas. “Bill, where in the hell are you” she yelled as she jumped out of the truck, slamming the truck door which just bounced back open again. She stomped over to the mobile home cursing at Bill all the way. Finally Bill showed himself at the door. “Stop your bitching I can hear ya” he yelled at her, “ He hobbled down the stairs on his crutches and they argued for a while. Then they both went into the mobile home, yelling at each other all the way.
This was all too weird for me. I walked around to the door of our 5th wheel and told Sharon that I loved her. Then we packed up the dogs, got into the truck, and started off for our next destination; Needles, CA.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
DAY 7
We left Yosemite today. The early morning weather was cold and we had to cancel our route east over the Tioga Pass road because of icy conditions; so, it was back down the 6-7% grade hill we had come up a few days ago. Fortunately there was road work in progress and we had to follow a lead car more than half way down the hill. That gave me an excuse for only going fifteen mph.
Once down on the flat, we followed Hwy 99 the rest of the way into Bakersfield, CA. At first there were small back roads going through the farmlands of CA, a good change from the sterile I-5 route. Later on we were on a good freeway, but still more rural than I-5. Our destination for the night was to be Twin Lakes RV, about twenty miles outside of Barstow. We arrived in Barstow, got a partial fill up of diesel with the intent of topping it off when we got to Twin Lakes.
Twin Lakes was interesting. Turns out that the twin lakes were two ponds two feet deep and of about one acre each, scrapped out of the desert floor. Other than the campground, there was nothing. This was in the middle of the desert. Not a desert like the Sonora desert of AZ, but the Mohave Desert, where the summer temperatures are 120 plus, and absolutely nothing grows.
We found our spot and set up camp for the night. As I was returning from the office where I settled up our camping fees, I noticed a rut scraped in the dirt road, as if someone had been dragging a heavy stick. I followed it right into one of the trailer spots. A 5th wheel trailer had just come in with a blown out tire. They were just at the front gate when the tire blew so they just continued to drive on the tire, which was now just the rim. I talked with them for a while to see if they need any help, but they said they had it under control, which was no control at all. It turns out that the previous day they had had a blowout. The garage where they had it repaired told them that all the tires were several years old and should be replaced. RV trailers deteriorate within five to seven years to the point where they may not be safe.
To be on the save side they replaced all four tires. On their trip today, they had blown out three of the new tires, and now this one was the fourth. They had no more spares and were waiting for a service truck to bring them some new tires. The garage that just sold them the four new tires must have sold them automobile tires. I guess that the old desert service station false repair tactics are still alive and well.
We left Yosemite today. The early morning weather was cold and we had to cancel our route east over the Tioga Pass road because of icy conditions; so, it was back down the 6-7% grade hill we had come up a few days ago. Fortunately there was road work in progress and we had to follow a lead car more than half way down the hill. That gave me an excuse for only going fifteen mph.
Once down on the flat, we followed Hwy 99 the rest of the way into Bakersfield, CA. At first there were small back roads going through the farmlands of CA, a good change from the sterile I-5 route. Later on we were on a good freeway, but still more rural than I-5. Our destination for the night was to be Twin Lakes RV, about twenty miles outside of Barstow. We arrived in Barstow, got a partial fill up of diesel with the intent of topping it off when we got to Twin Lakes.
Twin Lakes was interesting. Turns out that the twin lakes were two ponds two feet deep and of about one acre each, scrapped out of the desert floor. Other than the campground, there was nothing. This was in the middle of the desert. Not a desert like the Sonora desert of AZ, but the Mohave Desert, where the summer temperatures are 120 plus, and absolutely nothing grows.
We found our spot and set up camp for the night. As I was returning from the office where I settled up our camping fees, I noticed a rut scraped in the dirt road, as if someone had been dragging a heavy stick. I followed it right into one of the trailer spots. A 5th wheel trailer had just come in with a blown out tire. They were just at the front gate when the tire blew so they just continued to drive on the tire, which was now just the rim. I talked with them for a while to see if they need any help, but they said they had it under control, which was no control at all. It turns out that the previous day they had had a blowout. The garage where they had it repaired told them that all the tires were several years old and should be replaced. RV trailers deteriorate within five to seven years to the point where they may not be safe.
To be on the save side they replaced all four tires. On their trip today, they had blown out three of the new tires, and now this one was the fourth. They had no more spares and were waiting for a service truck to bring them some new tires. The garage that just sold them the four new tires must have sold them automobile tires. I guess that the old desert service station false repair tactics are still alive and well.
Friday, December 11, 2009
DAY 6
The sky was bright and sunny today giving us a most pleasant drive to Yosemite Park this morning. Along the road we passed many motorists who had pulled off to the roadside to take pictures of the colorful autumn leaves. The mornings were getting nippy and in another week or two the leaves will all be in their full glory of color.
Today we plan on visiting some of the places in the park which were shrouded in clouds yesterday. I also want to visit the giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove which is about thirty miles from Yosemite Valley.
On the way to Mariposa Grove we pass by the cutoff to Glacier Point, a popular destination which gives great views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the Yosemite high country. The road was undergoing some renovation and would not be opened for another hour. If we continue on to Mariposa by the time we finish, we can return to Glacier Point and the road should be open.
We drove on through the small town of Mariposa to the entrance of Mariposa Grove. As usual our luck prevailed and the parking lot was closed for maintenance. They had a bus service which would take you on into the grove, but it was just leaving as we arrived and there would not be another one leaving for an hour. Swallowing our pride, we returned to Glacier Point in hopes that the road would be open by the time we got there.
The road was open and when we arrived at the lookout point, there were only a few people there. Quite a change from the hundreds of visitors you would expect on a sunny summer day. The view panorama delivered everything the brochures said it would. The entire Yosemite Valley was laid at your feet. Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls: because of the heavy rains last week all the falls had an ample amount of water flowing over them. We lay back on the warm rocks and let the sun lull us into a deeper appreciation of the deep spiritual beauties of the area.
Leaving Glacier Point we returned to Yosemite Valley and visited the Valley Visitor Center and the Ansel Adams Gallery. Ansel Adams had always been one of my favorite photographers; such detail, lighting and content. I fancy that my photographs are a lot like his.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
DAY 5
Our first day in Yosemite National Park was a bit cloudy and drizzly. This, however, did not dampen our spirits. We awoke early and by 10:30 am we were on our way. The RV campground was about twenty-five miles from the park but the road was filled with all kinds of scenic views. Because fall was approaching, there were many scenes of fall colors. As we approached the park practically every turn of the road presented us with a new vista of the canyon.
Our first day in Yosemite National Park was a bit cloudy and drizzly. This, however, did not dampen our spirits. We awoke early and by 10:30 am we were on our way. The RV campground was about twenty-five miles from the park but the road was filled with all kinds of scenic views. Because fall was approaching, there were many scenes of fall colors. As we approached the park practically every turn of the road presented us with a new vista of the canyon.
Once at the park my Golden Age Passport allowed us to bypass the $20 fee for a seven day pass; one of the (few) benefits of old age. As we drove up the winding road the colors started to change from greens to yellows, browns, oranges and gold. The valley which had been formed by glacial action those many years ago, presented us with a great variety of the wonders of nature. Our first stop was at Bridalveil Falls. A short hike up the trail and we were at the base of the falls. The wind was swirling about the cliff and blowing the falling water in a delicate free-fall. Because of the lateness of the season we were spared the pressing throngs of tourists. We did meet an older couple shuffling their way to the falls. Twenty-three years ago they had climbed their way to the falls and it was still just as beautiful.
As the day progressed the clouds and rain increased. Now the peaks were shrouded in a cloak of clouds and mist, which gave them an aura of mystery. No matter what the weather, so long as you can see, the valley presents itself in an ever changing canvas of beauty.
For a complete selection of tastefully selected photographs visit https://www.photoshop.com/user/travlinmangallery and select the Yosemite album.
DEC 10, '09
Hello again-
Well, much to the glee of most of you, we did make it home to our beloved MountainBrook. The slight delay in my postings (two months) was due to several factors which I won’t go into here. However I will mention a few. Firstly, when I set up my computer at home, it managed to get some kind of a virus; It would hang up, switch off, etc. etc. etc.. I called a “computer expert” which was advertised in our local MBV news to try and resolve my problem. She came over bubbling with enthusiasm and praise of herself, ready to tackle any kind of problem my computer could throw at her. After half–an-hour of checking out the system she suggested I buy a new computer. No virus software, no analysis disks, only computer prattle, sympathy and “That will be $50 please”!
After I escorted her out the door I called my brother, who does know a thing or two about computers. He recommended some anti-virus, system cleaners, and other programs aimed at cleaning up my computer. I installed what I could and tried to repair the damages. I succeeded to some extent, but I just couldn’t restore it to its pervious pristine condition. Now it was a good computer, but an old computer, I had upgraded it over the past several years, but perhaps it was time to get a new one. I have hauled this thing, (desktop computer) back and forth from AZ to WA at least five times.
It was now time to get a new laptop.
So here I am, with a brand new Toshiba Satellite, Intel Core 2 Dup T6600, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 500 GB HDD computer. It came with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system. Now while this has been my salvation, it has also been my demise. Not all of my previous software would work on the new W9ndows 7. I managed to get some of the software to work, others I had to replace, and others I just had to do without. One of the new software programs was a photo editor, Adobe Photoshop Elements 8. They said it had a steep learning curve, but it was an excellent program. With me, the learning curve was “flat line”.
Now, after just a scant four weeks, I finally am able to put together a small collection of photos. Since I like to include a photo or two along with my travel blog, I am now ready to continue the exciting adventures of Gary, Sharon, The Pip and Jasper.
Hello again-
Well, much to the glee of most of you, we did make it home to our beloved MountainBrook. The slight delay in my postings (two months) was due to several factors which I won’t go into here. However I will mention a few. Firstly, when I set up my computer at home, it managed to get some kind of a virus; It would hang up, switch off, etc. etc. etc.. I called a “computer expert” which was advertised in our local MBV news to try and resolve my problem. She came over bubbling with enthusiasm and praise of herself, ready to tackle any kind of problem my computer could throw at her. After half–an-hour of checking out the system she suggested I buy a new computer. No virus software, no analysis disks, only computer prattle, sympathy and “That will be $50 please”!
After I escorted her out the door I called my brother, who does know a thing or two about computers. He recommended some anti-virus, system cleaners, and other programs aimed at cleaning up my computer. I installed what I could and tried to repair the damages. I succeeded to some extent, but I just couldn’t restore it to its pervious pristine condition. Now it was a good computer, but an old computer, I had upgraded it over the past several years, but perhaps it was time to get a new one. I have hauled this thing, (desktop computer) back and forth from AZ to WA at least five times.
It was now time to get a new laptop.
So here I am, with a brand new Toshiba Satellite, Intel Core 2 Dup T6600, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 500 GB HDD computer. It came with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system. Now while this has been my salvation, it has also been my demise. Not all of my previous software would work on the new W9ndows 7. I managed to get some of the software to work, others I had to replace, and others I just had to do without. One of the new software programs was a photo editor, Adobe Photoshop Elements 8. They said it had a steep learning curve, but it was an excellent program. With me, the learning curve was “flat line”.
Now, after just a scant four weeks, I finally am able to put together a small collection of photos. Since I like to include a photo or two along with my travel blog, I am now ready to continue the exciting adventures of Gary, Sharon, The Pip and Jasper.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
DAY 4
Saints preserve us said Mrs. Gurvis!
We made it through the night at the Trails End RV Park, and hit the road early. We have only about 310 miles planned for our travels today. Tonight we would be staying at the Yosemite Pines RV, and make ready for our tour of Yosemite National Park the following day. This will be the highlight of the whole trip.
The drive down through Northern California was uneventful except for the scenery; it was magnificent. One item of special note was Mt. Shasta. By traveling down through Central Oregon on Hwy 97, you are treated to an entirely different view than you get from I-5. You have a closer approach and there are some stunning views of the mountain. There was one particular turnout that really had an outstanding view. We pulled into the viewpoint, parked the truck and I got out the camera. I framed the shot, braced myself against the truck, and whirrrr, click, ftzzz……..”Batteries need charging”. Oh well, I saw it and you can imagine just how amazing that shot would have been had I been able to take it.
Our final trial of the day was to be the approach to our campground. The book says there is a “steady 6-7% climb for over six miles”. Translated into real terms, this means you will be climbing up the side of a barn for the next hour and a half. I’ve never been up a hill this steep. It just went on and on and on. There was a sign about halfway up that says “Turn off air-conditioned to help prevent overheating”. Good advice, but I still see cars pulled over to the side with steam coming out of their hoods.
Despite this obstacle, the ol' Chevy Duramax Diesel made the climb with no trouble at all; thank goodness
We made it into the campground, parked and set up the rig, and even had had time to make the acquaintance of another RV’ing couple from Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Saints preserve us said Mrs. Gurvis!
We made it through the night at the Trails End RV Park, and hit the road early. We have only about 310 miles planned for our travels today. Tonight we would be staying at the Yosemite Pines RV, and make ready for our tour of Yosemite National Park the following day. This will be the highlight of the whole trip.
The drive down through Northern California was uneventful except for the scenery; it was magnificent. One item of special note was Mt. Shasta. By traveling down through Central Oregon on Hwy 97, you are treated to an entirely different view than you get from I-5. You have a closer approach and there are some stunning views of the mountain. There was one particular turnout that really had an outstanding view. We pulled into the viewpoint, parked the truck and I got out the camera. I framed the shot, braced myself against the truck, and whirrrr, click, ftzzz……..”Batteries need charging”. Oh well, I saw it and you can imagine just how amazing that shot would have been had I been able to take it.
Our final trial of the day was to be the approach to our campground. The book says there is a “steady 6-7% climb for over six miles”. Translated into real terms, this means you will be climbing up the side of a barn for the next hour and a half. I’ve never been up a hill this steep. It just went on and on and on. There was a sign about halfway up that says “Turn off air-conditioned to help prevent overheating”. Good advice, but I still see cars pulled over to the side with steam coming out of their hoods.
Despite this obstacle, the ol' Chevy Duramax Diesel made the climb with no trouble at all; thank goodness
We made it into the campground, parked and set up the rig, and even had had time to make the acquaintance of another RV’ing couple from Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Monday, October 19, 2009
DAY 3
Our next stop will be an interim point on our way to Yosemite National Park. Leaving Bend we drove through the Central Oregon High Desert. This desert is considerably different from our Sonoran desert that we have in Arizona. None the less it is a beautiful desert. We were driving through magnificent stands of juniper, pine and birch. The birch leaves once again provided us with a grand assortment of fall colors. The pale light green of its leaves were in staunch contrast to the darker green of the juniper and pine. There were also the more mature leaves of orange and yellow which added variety to the colors.
Oregon roads are among the better quality of roads we have traveled. This particular road, Highway 97, had recently been resurfaced so we had a nice smooth quite ride for the next hour or so. We were taking Hwy 97 instead of I-5, first of all so we could stop in at Bend and visit with our friend June; and secondly to follow the less traveled road. The repetition of traveling on I-5 all the time becomes a little tedious, and after all, this is The Year of Change.
Before we knew it we were at the border crossing going into California. We pulled into the check station and rolled down the window. A round little Mexican guard approached the truck and asked us if we were carrying any fruits or nuts. I paused for a moment, glanced over at Sharon, smiled, and then answered “No”. He then said “Have a nice day” and motioned us through. As we drove away we both could detect the pungent smell of baked pizza; his cooking lunch I suppose.
We continued on down the road, but the odor of the fresh baked pizza still lingered in the air and in our memories. We hadn’t stopped for lunch yet, and after all, it was ….pizzaaa. Well, we were out in the middle of nowhere now, so our appetites would just have to wait. But it wasn’t long before Sharon said “I can still smell the aroma of that pizza”. To prevent her from drooling all over the dogs, I rolled down the window, just a bit.
Before long we came to a long hill. Laboring up the hill we started to overtake a large truck carrying some of California’s fresh farm produce to market. Glancing over at the truck it was…..”Oh no; it’s a garlic truck”. Our visions of fresh baked pizza were dashed underneath the heady smell of garlic! There must have been four tons of garlic on that truck and we couldn’t even snag one little clove. We hurried on by and just shook our heads and laughed at each other. Where else but in California?
It was about 3:00 PM now and right on queue, Ms. Garmin instructed us to take the next exit to our selected campground for the night. Taking the exit and turning right again as instructed, we preceded the “nine-tenths of a mile to destination point on left” as instructed. We followed the narrow two lane road for the requested nine-tenths of a mile, but when she said “Turn left to destination point”, there was nothing there. There is also a map displayed on the Garmin so I could see that there would be a loop coming up soon where we could turn the rig around; in the mean time the road was getting narrower and going down, down, into the canyon by a series of switchbacks. As the turnoff arrived she said “Turn left”. Nice try, but the turn-around road was at an acute angle and too sharp for us to negotiate the turn. Preceding on down the road “Recalculating” was the only consolation we heard from the machine. Down, down, down we went, into the very depths of hell, followed by 12,000 pounds of 5th wheel trailer. “Curse you Garmin girl”!
Then, as I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction – not to an imaginary ruin, but to the very power of this cursed road, there appeared before me a fork in the road. Not a large fork, but one with just enough room where I could go forward on one, then back up into the other, and by going forward very carefully I was able to turn around and retrace our steps. “Recalculating. Precede four-tenths of a mile to dest…” Click! “Take that you viper” I cried as I turned off the infernal device.
Finally we had retraced our route to an RV resort which we had seen on the way in; Trails End. Now here was a real RV park, with an easy access road to it. Turning onto the road we proceeded to the office in the direction indicated by the sign. Before we could go another twenty feet we found that the entrance had been blocked off with yellow caution tape and orange detour cones. I pulled the rig to an immediate stop, at which time I noticed a man running towards us frantically waving his arms. It turned out that three days ago they had had nineteen inches of rain in less than one and lone-half days and their road and a portion of their park had been washed out. Not to worry, we could take a back road and before we knew it we were snuggly resting in our home on wheels.
Once we got set up I went over to the office to pay for the nights stay. As I stepped up onto the office porch a toothless man with tattoos from wrist to elbow looked up from a table, grinned, and said hello. Three others looked up, grunted, gave a nod with their heads, and then went back to playing cards; a scruffy Pit bull managed a low growl.
When I returned to the RV Sharon expressed her feelings towards the day by showing me this unique shaped rock she had found while taking a walk with the dogs.
Our next stop will be an interim point on our way to Yosemite National Park. Leaving Bend we drove through the Central Oregon High Desert. This desert is considerably different from our Sonoran desert that we have in Arizona. None the less it is a beautiful desert. We were driving through magnificent stands of juniper, pine and birch. The birch leaves once again provided us with a grand assortment of fall colors. The pale light green of its leaves were in staunch contrast to the darker green of the juniper and pine. There were also the more mature leaves of orange and yellow which added variety to the colors.
Oregon roads are among the better quality of roads we have traveled. This particular road, Highway 97, had recently been resurfaced so we had a nice smooth quite ride for the next hour or so. We were taking Hwy 97 instead of I-5, first of all so we could stop in at Bend and visit with our friend June; and secondly to follow the less traveled road. The repetition of traveling on I-5 all the time becomes a little tedious, and after all, this is The Year of Change.
Before we knew it we were at the border crossing going into California. We pulled into the check station and rolled down the window. A round little Mexican guard approached the truck and asked us if we were carrying any fruits or nuts. I paused for a moment, glanced over at Sharon, smiled, and then answered “No”. He then said “Have a nice day” and motioned us through. As we drove away we both could detect the pungent smell of baked pizza; his cooking lunch I suppose.
We continued on down the road, but the odor of the fresh baked pizza still lingered in the air and in our memories. We hadn’t stopped for lunch yet, and after all, it was ….pizzaaa. Well, we were out in the middle of nowhere now, so our appetites would just have to wait. But it wasn’t long before Sharon said “I can still smell the aroma of that pizza”. To prevent her from drooling all over the dogs, I rolled down the window, just a bit.
Before long we came to a long hill. Laboring up the hill we started to overtake a large truck carrying some of California’s fresh farm produce to market. Glancing over at the truck it was…..”Oh no; it’s a garlic truck”. Our visions of fresh baked pizza were dashed underneath the heady smell of garlic! There must have been four tons of garlic on that truck and we couldn’t even snag one little clove. We hurried on by and just shook our heads and laughed at each other. Where else but in California?
It was about 3:00 PM now and right on queue, Ms. Garmin instructed us to take the next exit to our selected campground for the night. Taking the exit and turning right again as instructed, we preceded the “nine-tenths of a mile to destination point on left” as instructed. We followed the narrow two lane road for the requested nine-tenths of a mile, but when she said “Turn left to destination point”, there was nothing there. There is also a map displayed on the Garmin so I could see that there would be a loop coming up soon where we could turn the rig around; in the mean time the road was getting narrower and going down, down, into the canyon by a series of switchbacks. As the turnoff arrived she said “Turn left”. Nice try, but the turn-around road was at an acute angle and too sharp for us to negotiate the turn. Preceding on down the road “Recalculating” was the only consolation we heard from the machine. Down, down, down we went, into the very depths of hell, followed by 12,000 pounds of 5th wheel trailer. “Curse you Garmin girl”!
Then, as I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction – not to an imaginary ruin, but to the very power of this cursed road, there appeared before me a fork in the road. Not a large fork, but one with just enough room where I could go forward on one, then back up into the other, and by going forward very carefully I was able to turn around and retrace our steps. “Recalculating. Precede four-tenths of a mile to dest…” Click! “Take that you viper” I cried as I turned off the infernal device.
Finally we had retraced our route to an RV resort which we had seen on the way in; Trails End. Now here was a real RV park, with an easy access road to it. Turning onto the road we proceeded to the office in the direction indicated by the sign. Before we could go another twenty feet we found that the entrance had been blocked off with yellow caution tape and orange detour cones. I pulled the rig to an immediate stop, at which time I noticed a man running towards us frantically waving his arms. It turned out that three days ago they had had nineteen inches of rain in less than one and lone-half days and their road and a portion of their park had been washed out. Not to worry, we could take a back road and before we knew it we were snuggly resting in our home on wheels.
Once we got set up I went over to the office to pay for the nights stay. As I stepped up onto the office porch a toothless man with tattoos from wrist to elbow looked up from a table, grinned, and said hello. Three others looked up, grunted, gave a nod with their heads, and then went back to playing cards; a scruffy Pit bull managed a low growl.
When I returned to the RV Sharon expressed her feelings towards the day by showing me this unique shaped rock she had found while taking a walk with the dogs.
Ah yes, the trials of travel. After a wonderful day, we were finally ready to turn in for the night; at the Bates Motel of RV parks.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
DAY 2
We camped the night at Sundance Meadows RV Park, in Bend, Oregon, right on the edge of a small three acre lake. The morning was cold and crisp, but the sky was clear and sunny so I took the dogs out for a brisk walk. As I walked up a small knoll in the park I was treated to a magnificent view of the Three Sisters Mountains, and off in the distance I could see Mt. Hood. We were going to stay here for the day so I had plenty of time of a leisure breakfast of fried potatoes and onions, and scrambled eggs.
Our Arizona friends Don and Virginia have a son that lives in the nearby town of Sisters, so we gave them a call to tell them what a beautiful day it was, and also find what their sons address was. Turns out that he didn’t know we were going to be in the area so it was a complete surprise for him. He worked at a nearby Toyota dealership so we dropped in and had a good chat with him, looked at a new Toyota, and then went on to check out the town.
Bend is a town of about 81,000 and is a hub for all kinds of sports, such as winter skiing, hiking, biking, rafting and a host of other activities. It is also a college town housing the Oregon State University. Our main destination here was to visit with our friend June who used to be our neighbor in Arizona but moved to Bend four years ago. She also met one of the locals and decided to marry him. Good choice.
We gave June a call to let her know we were in town. I had previously notified her that we would be in the area some time in October but there had been no definite time schedule. There was no answer to the call so we decided to drop by the house just in case she was out in the yard. As we approached the house it appeared as empty as a tomb; with no car in the driveway and the drapes pulled. We pulled into the driveway to knock on the door when Thom, her husband came bounding out the door. “I thought I recognized that truck” he said. After a warm greeting he told us that June was having lunch with one of her friends just about a block away.
We were up to a little lunch so we all hoped in the truck and drove over to the restaurant. When June saw us she jumped up and gave us all a great big hug, except for her husband of course. Good friendships just seem to get better and better. It had been a year since we had last seen June, but her warm greeting made us feel as though we lived just down the street from her. I think that is one of the real pluses of traveling; getting to renew old friendships. So often we have a good friend that moves away and slowly over the years the friendship just fades away into fond memories. I’m glad we got to visit with Thom and June. We are refreshed now and ready to continue on our trip home.
We camped the night at Sundance Meadows RV Park, in Bend, Oregon, right on the edge of a small three acre lake. The morning was cold and crisp, but the sky was clear and sunny so I took the dogs out for a brisk walk. As I walked up a small knoll in the park I was treated to a magnificent view of the Three Sisters Mountains, and off in the distance I could see Mt. Hood. We were going to stay here for the day so I had plenty of time of a leisure breakfast of fried potatoes and onions, and scrambled eggs.
Our Arizona friends Don and Virginia have a son that lives in the nearby town of Sisters, so we gave them a call to tell them what a beautiful day it was, and also find what their sons address was. Turns out that he didn’t know we were going to be in the area so it was a complete surprise for him. He worked at a nearby Toyota dealership so we dropped in and had a good chat with him, looked at a new Toyota, and then went on to check out the town.
Bend is a town of about 81,000 and is a hub for all kinds of sports, such as winter skiing, hiking, biking, rafting and a host of other activities. It is also a college town housing the Oregon State University. Our main destination here was to visit with our friend June who used to be our neighbor in Arizona but moved to Bend four years ago. She also met one of the locals and decided to marry him. Good choice.
We gave June a call to let her know we were in town. I had previously notified her that we would be in the area some time in October but there had been no definite time schedule. There was no answer to the call so we decided to drop by the house just in case she was out in the yard. As we approached the house it appeared as empty as a tomb; with no car in the driveway and the drapes pulled. We pulled into the driveway to knock on the door when Thom, her husband came bounding out the door. “I thought I recognized that truck” he said. After a warm greeting he told us that June was having lunch with one of her friends just about a block away.
We were up to a little lunch so we all hoped in the truck and drove over to the restaurant. When June saw us she jumped up and gave us all a great big hug, except for her husband of course. Good friendships just seem to get better and better. It had been a year since we had last seen June, but her warm greeting made us feel as though we lived just down the street from her. I think that is one of the real pluses of traveling; getting to renew old friendships. So often we have a good friend that moves away and slowly over the years the friendship just fades away into fond memories. I’m glad we got to visit with Thom and June. We are refreshed now and ready to continue on our trip home.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
2009 WA to AZ
DAY 1
We had a great summer this year, up here in the great Northwest. But now is the time of year when the leaves begin to turn from green into blankets of reds, yellows and different hues of orange. As we walk through the neighborhood some of the trees were even draped in white; white images of Casper the Ghost that is. Halloween is just a couple of weeks away, and people are getting ready for an onslaught of spooks and goblins. Me, I’m getting ready for our annual return to a warmer clime. The temps here in Gig Harbor have slid from a balmy 65 to 75 degree days to chilly, overcast and rainy 55 degree days. Now it’s not that I can’t take the cold; oh no, I’m used to cold weather, it can get down to 45, even 35 degrees back at our home in MountainBrook Village in Arizona. Sometimes you will even see a light dusting of snow high on the tops of the Superstition Mountain. But when I get up in the morning, I can pretty well count on it being a sunny day; now that’s something to look forward to.
For our trip back to Arizona this year I have decided to go down through central Oregon, stop in at our friend June’s place in Bend, then stop for a few days in Yosemite National Park, travel down through southeastern California to Death Valley, over to Lake Havasu, Arizona and the London Bridge, with the final leg being a straight shot to our home in Gold Canyon, Arizona.
Todays plan was to leave Gig Harbor, drive to Bend Oregon and spend a day visiting with our friend June. June had been our neighbor in MountainBrook Village before she moved to Bend and it would be great seeing her again, but two days before the epoch journey was to begin, Sharon informed me that she was coming down with a cold, the flue, or possibly something worse. There was no way she would be able to leave on the day planned. Discouraged, but not defeated I called and cancelled our campground reservations in Bend. The next day, our planned departure date, she asked me if we were all packed because she was now ready to go. “It’s 12:30 PM and it is 310 miles to Bend” I exclaimed! “We can make it” she said; so we left.
It may have been late in the day, but it was 54 degrees and raining. That was enough reason for me to get going, and surely the weather would moderate by the time we got to Oregon, so I called the campgrounds back and reinstated our reservations.
We have two Shiz-Tsu dogs that accompany us on all of our travels; Pippin, our seven year old, and Jasper, our 3 year old. They delight in going with us and are eager for any excuse to hop in the car or truck to go out for a jaunt. They had been watching us pack and were all too ready to hop into the truck. Pippin does have a bit trouble crossing over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge though. There are expansion joints installed at each end of the bridge. These are built just like a cattle crossing, and the tires make a “Brrrrupt” sound as you drive over them. This sound immediately sends Pippin scurrying to the floor, looking up at us with that “Why must I be subjected to this abuse” look, while Jasper takes it all in stride. This trip was no exception and The Pip took a dive down to the floor and stayed there for the next 300 miles. Jasper, on the other hand, made himself comfortable in his doggy seat which we have set up in the back seat.
Being mid-October, all along the highway we were treated to a wide array of fall colors, and even though it was raining, we would occasionally experience wonderful breaks of sunshine, which would make the maple trees along the sides of the road explode into brilliant bursts of color. The highway department has planted fir trees alongside the road to form a greenbelt but every so often they would stick in a deciduous tree such as a maple to provide a little color. With this greenbelt and the groves of maple along the hillsides there was no lack of color this year.
This would be a new route we were taking, going south on I-5 to Portland, then turning southwest on highway 20. This takes us through Gresham, Boring, yes there is such a town; Sandy, Rhododendron and Government Camp. All along the way we were traveling through nurseries of tree farms with all kinds of ornamental trees; maple, birch, Christmas trees and various types of shrubs and bushes. This area is one of the largest producers of Christmas trees in the nation.
Once we got into the mountains, we could see Mt. Hood, Oregon’s tallest mountain at11238 ft. looming off in the distance. It is almost a perfect cone in shape and very striking when you can see it. Today however, we could only see about one-third of the base; the rest was obscured by clouds. While there were still small amounts if drizzle coming down, the temperature was 54 degrees and no snow or ice, which was a blessing. There had been snow in these higher elevations just two weeks prior.
The rest of the trip was pretty much uneventful until we were within one-half hour from Bend. The time was 6:30 PM and the sun was beginning to set. The western sky was colored with clouds of orange red, fading into purple and magenta. This was the most beautiful sunset I had seen in a long while. Unfortunately once this display of color was finished, darkness was upon us and it is no fun trying to jockey a 5th wheel trailer into an unfamiliar campsite.
We travel using a Garmin GPS Navigation System. This is an invaluable tool when venturing into the unknown. It’s easy enough to take a wrong turn, but it can be a real nightmare trying to turn one of the big rigs around and get back on the right road. More than once this little device, with the kind gentle voice of its guidance system, has steered us clear of disaster and gently guided us on to a more safe and sane road. Tonight would be no different. The uncertainty of darkness and unfamiliar roads melt away as her gentle command instructs to “turn right in three-tenths of a mile”
And so it was. Through the darkness of night she guided us on until she uttered those comforting words “arriving at destination on right”. How cool is this? But wait! This wasn’t Sundance Meadows, it was some kind of a horse ranch. Not only that, but we had come into a driveway with very little room to turn around. We stopped the truck and I got out, taking my 1,000,000 Candle Power Rechargeable Spotlight which my son had given me for my birthday. I shined it down the driveway to an old barn and hen shined it back the other way towards the road. There seemed to be a small parking area where I thought I could turn around, but then what? I walked back to the road to check out the address; 60445, not the 60335 which it should have been. “Thank you very much Ms. Garmin” I scowled under my breath. Jumping back into the truck, I sent Sharon out behind the rig to guide me back, armed with the 1,000,000 candle power light and a walkie-talkie- device so she could communicate with me. It took about ten minutes, but I finally got the rig turned around and we headed off down the road to the 60335 address. Once we arrived we found a large sign which read “Sundance Meadows”. Easy to find once you have the right directions.
Turning into the drive, we proceeded about one-quarter mile along a narrow dirt road. I always get nervous in situations like this, but soon enough we arrived at the office. They had left me a note on the message board giving me the keypad numbers to the gate and instructions to take any spot in the campground. The night was pitch black with no moon, but as we approached the camping area I could see that some of the sights backed up to a small lake. Once again Sharon jumped out of the truck, armed with the light and walkie-talkie, and guided me back into the campsite. Well it was almost like that. In reality it took me over fifteen minutes to back that sucker in. In the darkness with no reference point I was trying to back in sideways, then crosswise until I finally managed to get close enough to the water and power outlets that my longer hoses and electrical cord would reach the connections. The sight was uneven and the rig was far from level, but it would have to do for tonight. Tired and frazzled I hooked everything up, opened up the sliders of the 5th wheel and we were ready to stay the night.
Before retiring I looked up into the night sky; it was magnificent. We were about ten miles from the town of Bend, and there was very little light pollution, so the stars stood out like sparkling diamonds. I found the Big Dipper and followed it’s pointing stars up to the North Star. From there I followed the handle down to the Little Dipper. Not far from there was Cassiopeia with the Queen of Ethiopia chained upside down in her heavenly chair. The Pleiades was low on the eastern horizon sparkling like a diamond broach, and in the ecliptic I could see the planet Jupiter. Wow! This was indeed the end to a perfect day.
We had a great summer this year, up here in the great Northwest. But now is the time of year when the leaves begin to turn from green into blankets of reds, yellows and different hues of orange. As we walk through the neighborhood some of the trees were even draped in white; white images of Casper the Ghost that is. Halloween is just a couple of weeks away, and people are getting ready for an onslaught of spooks and goblins. Me, I’m getting ready for our annual return to a warmer clime. The temps here in Gig Harbor have slid from a balmy 65 to 75 degree days to chilly, overcast and rainy 55 degree days. Now it’s not that I can’t take the cold; oh no, I’m used to cold weather, it can get down to 45, even 35 degrees back at our home in MountainBrook Village in Arizona. Sometimes you will even see a light dusting of snow high on the tops of the Superstition Mountain. But when I get up in the morning, I can pretty well count on it being a sunny day; now that’s something to look forward to.
For our trip back to Arizona this year I have decided to go down through central Oregon, stop in at our friend June’s place in Bend, then stop for a few days in Yosemite National Park, travel down through southeastern California to Death Valley, over to Lake Havasu, Arizona and the London Bridge, with the final leg being a straight shot to our home in Gold Canyon, Arizona.
Todays plan was to leave Gig Harbor, drive to Bend Oregon and spend a day visiting with our friend June. June had been our neighbor in MountainBrook Village before she moved to Bend and it would be great seeing her again, but two days before the epoch journey was to begin, Sharon informed me that she was coming down with a cold, the flue, or possibly something worse. There was no way she would be able to leave on the day planned. Discouraged, but not defeated I called and cancelled our campground reservations in Bend. The next day, our planned departure date, she asked me if we were all packed because she was now ready to go. “It’s 12:30 PM and it is 310 miles to Bend” I exclaimed! “We can make it” she said; so we left.
It may have been late in the day, but it was 54 degrees and raining. That was enough reason for me to get going, and surely the weather would moderate by the time we got to Oregon, so I called the campgrounds back and reinstated our reservations.
We have two Shiz-Tsu dogs that accompany us on all of our travels; Pippin, our seven year old, and Jasper, our 3 year old. They delight in going with us and are eager for any excuse to hop in the car or truck to go out for a jaunt. They had been watching us pack and were all too ready to hop into the truck. Pippin does have a bit trouble crossing over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge though. There are expansion joints installed at each end of the bridge. These are built just like a cattle crossing, and the tires make a “Brrrrupt” sound as you drive over them. This sound immediately sends Pippin scurrying to the floor, looking up at us with that “Why must I be subjected to this abuse” look, while Jasper takes it all in stride. This trip was no exception and The Pip took a dive down to the floor and stayed there for the next 300 miles. Jasper, on the other hand, made himself comfortable in his doggy seat which we have set up in the back seat.
Being mid-October, all along the highway we were treated to a wide array of fall colors, and even though it was raining, we would occasionally experience wonderful breaks of sunshine, which would make the maple trees along the sides of the road explode into brilliant bursts of color. The highway department has planted fir trees alongside the road to form a greenbelt but every so often they would stick in a deciduous tree such as a maple to provide a little color. With this greenbelt and the groves of maple along the hillsides there was no lack of color this year.
This would be a new route we were taking, going south on I-5 to Portland, then turning southwest on highway 20. This takes us through Gresham, Boring, yes there is such a town; Sandy, Rhododendron and Government Camp. All along the way we were traveling through nurseries of tree farms with all kinds of ornamental trees; maple, birch, Christmas trees and various types of shrubs and bushes. This area is one of the largest producers of Christmas trees in the nation.
Once we got into the mountains, we could see Mt. Hood, Oregon’s tallest mountain at11238 ft. looming off in the distance. It is almost a perfect cone in shape and very striking when you can see it. Today however, we could only see about one-third of the base; the rest was obscured by clouds. While there were still small amounts if drizzle coming down, the temperature was 54 degrees and no snow or ice, which was a blessing. There had been snow in these higher elevations just two weeks prior.
The rest of the trip was pretty much uneventful until we were within one-half hour from Bend. The time was 6:30 PM and the sun was beginning to set. The western sky was colored with clouds of orange red, fading into purple and magenta. This was the most beautiful sunset I had seen in a long while. Unfortunately once this display of color was finished, darkness was upon us and it is no fun trying to jockey a 5th wheel trailer into an unfamiliar campsite.
We travel using a Garmin GPS Navigation System. This is an invaluable tool when venturing into the unknown. It’s easy enough to take a wrong turn, but it can be a real nightmare trying to turn one of the big rigs around and get back on the right road. More than once this little device, with the kind gentle voice of its guidance system, has steered us clear of disaster and gently guided us on to a more safe and sane road. Tonight would be no different. The uncertainty of darkness and unfamiliar roads melt away as her gentle command instructs to “turn right in three-tenths of a mile”
And so it was. Through the darkness of night she guided us on until she uttered those comforting words “arriving at destination on right”. How cool is this? But wait! This wasn’t Sundance Meadows, it was some kind of a horse ranch. Not only that, but we had come into a driveway with very little room to turn around. We stopped the truck and I got out, taking my 1,000,000 Candle Power Rechargeable Spotlight which my son had given me for my birthday. I shined it down the driveway to an old barn and hen shined it back the other way towards the road. There seemed to be a small parking area where I thought I could turn around, but then what? I walked back to the road to check out the address; 60445, not the 60335 which it should have been. “Thank you very much Ms. Garmin” I scowled under my breath. Jumping back into the truck, I sent Sharon out behind the rig to guide me back, armed with the 1,000,000 candle power light and a walkie-talkie- device so she could communicate with me. It took about ten minutes, but I finally got the rig turned around and we headed off down the road to the 60335 address. Once we arrived we found a large sign which read “Sundance Meadows”. Easy to find once you have the right directions.
Turning into the drive, we proceeded about one-quarter mile along a narrow dirt road. I always get nervous in situations like this, but soon enough we arrived at the office. They had left me a note on the message board giving me the keypad numbers to the gate and instructions to take any spot in the campground. The night was pitch black with no moon, but as we approached the camping area I could see that some of the sights backed up to a small lake. Once again Sharon jumped out of the truck, armed with the light and walkie-talkie, and guided me back into the campsite. Well it was almost like that. In reality it took me over fifteen minutes to back that sucker in. In the darkness with no reference point I was trying to back in sideways, then crosswise until I finally managed to get close enough to the water and power outlets that my longer hoses and electrical cord would reach the connections. The sight was uneven and the rig was far from level, but it would have to do for tonight. Tired and frazzled I hooked everything up, opened up the sliders of the 5th wheel and we were ready to stay the night.
Before retiring I looked up into the night sky; it was magnificent. We were about ten miles from the town of Bend, and there was very little light pollution, so the stars stood out like sparkling diamonds. I found the Big Dipper and followed it’s pointing stars up to the North Star. From there I followed the handle down to the Little Dipper. Not far from there was Cassiopeia with the Queen of Ethiopia chained upside down in her heavenly chair. The Pleiades was low on the eastern horizon sparkling like a diamond broach, and in the ecliptic I could see the planet Jupiter. Wow! This was indeed the end to a perfect day.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Vacation, Staycation or Daycation
Vacation, Staycation, Daycation; what’s it going to be?
Getting out and around is getting so complicated anymore that it’s a wonder anyone dares to venture out at all. We used to go on a cruise, fly down to see the family in Salt Lake City, or just take a road trip to some near, or far, point of interest. But those who make up the rules are trying to coin a new group of phrases; vacation, staycation or daycation , so that we can be more compatible with our sinking economy.
Take the old family car; please. When I was younger, my first car only cost $20.00, plus the price of a new clutch, which I put in myself. Now that was back in the 50’s mind you, but none the less it was paid for and it was my pride and joy. If, at that time, anyone had called it a klunker they would have had a greasy rag thrown in their face. Not anymore, it is now your patriotic duty to define your older car as a klunker and then turn it in for a new one. You may even get paid for doing so.
You can imagine my consternation when we decided to take a day off and see some of the surrounding area. I couldn’t call it a vacation; since I am retired and everyday is already a vacation. I was thinking of taking a staycation; but how do you really define a staycation? After much thought and deliberation we decided to take a daycation. I figured that if we could get it all done in just one day, then that would fulfill the requirements of the word.
Our first thought was to head north; up to the Hood Canal area and rummage through some of the small towns and points of interest. Working out a time table, we found it would take most of the day, just driving, sightseeing, and eating. That’s a lot of driving just to visit a place we have already been to. Next plan was to visit some of the nearby places which the local newspaper had highlighted as points if interest. Now, this was an idea more to my liking. We could keep the total driving time to less than two hours; visit some local buildings that I had heard about, but never taken the time to visit; and finally we would be in familiar territory when it came to choosing a place to eat. It is all too often that you take unnecessary risks when choosing unfamiliar eating establishments.
Tacoma was to be the city of choice; it was within a half-hour driving time for both Sharon and I, located in Gig Harbor, and our friends Darrell and Norma from Federal Way. We would meet at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma; a collection of art, knickknacks and food. Its central location and easy access would make it a good starting place for our Tacoma daycation.
As you drive south on I-5 through Tacoma, you can see a beautiful church on the right hand side shortly after you pass the Tacoma Dome. Every time we pass by I think of how great it would be to stop in and see it. So today we did. The church is the Holy Rosary Church. It is 89 years old and reportedly the tallest church in the state. It was built with the neo-gothic styling; arches and pointy spires, ……you’ll know it when you see it. They say that the stain glass windows include copies of windows found in the Notre Dame De Paris. Unfortunately we could not get in to see them; which was a shame as it would have saved me a trip to Paris.
The church is near to downtown Tacoma so we decided to pay a visit
to the old Union Station train depot. This building was built in 1929 and saw a lot of action during WWII, (the big one) in transporting our troops, and also transporting much of the Japanese population to the internment camps! Much of it’s history can been seen at the Washington State History Museum which is just next door. The building has been remodeled into government buildings as part of a revitalization project of downtown Tacoma. It is currently undergoing some renovating, so we did not go in; rather we went next door to the Washington State History Museum. The museum was built to resemble the old Union Station train depot and was opened to the public in 1996. The museum houses a few permanent displays and 
an assortment of changing displays. Especially interesting was an artist’s photography exhibit of the Ho River located in Washington’s rain forest area of the Olympic Peninsula. I think I enjoyed the model train exhibit the most though. I had model trains when I was a kid and have enjoyed them ever since. This exhibit was first class. There were several trains with the tracks running from Tacoma's Point Defiance Park on to the Stampede Pass tunnel in the Cascades. Steam and diesel engines travel past the ASARCO tunnel and tower, the Sperry Flour Mill & Sperry 
Ocean Terminal, the Seybold-Miller shake mill, and of course, the museums next door neighbor, Union Station.
After spending a couple of hours at the museum we were starting to get a mild case of the hungries. Leaving the museum we could look just across the street to the Museum of Glass. We had visited the MOG two years ago and decided to bypass it in favor of some good food. The museum is certainly a must see on your
Daycation tour of Tacoma though, with its glass blowing demonstrations and wonderful gift shop.
The highlight of our tour of course could have to be Bob’s Java Jive; built in 1929 it is an excellent example of the deco-art buildings of that era. Seems as though I was the only one impressed with the building though, so we continued on to Freighthouse Square for lunch.
Freighthouse Square is one of my favorite places to eat out. It’s not in the main throng of the downtown area, so it has easy access. There are a dozen or more eateries; Gyros, fish and chips, bubble tea, lumpia, fried chicken, bulgogi, curry chicken, burritos, Chicago style hot dogs and scratch baked cookies. Imagine, you can easily spend your lunch hour just figuring what it is you want to eat. One of my favorite is the Paya Thai Fish & Chips. Owner Tom Pagano is always right out in front of his booth describing his catch of the day. You order, and he brings it right out to your table; fish & chips, Southern fried chicken and garlic shrimp; that was our fare for the day.
What a way to end our perfect Daycation. We satisfied the government’s plea to spend our money close to home, we saved gas (40 mpg in the yellow Beetle), we became more closely acquainted with some of the great architecture of Tacoma, and we had a great meal.
Great friends, great times, great food!
Getting out and around is getting so complicated anymore that it’s a wonder anyone dares to venture out at all. We used to go on a cruise, fly down to see the family in Salt Lake City, or just take a road trip to some near, or far, point of interest. But those who make up the rules are trying to coin a new group of phrases; vacation, staycation or daycation , so that we can be more compatible with our sinking economy.
Take the old family car; please. When I was younger, my first car only cost $20.00, plus the price of a new clutch, which I put in myself. Now that was back in the 50’s mind you, but none the less it was paid for and it was my pride and joy. If, at that time, anyone had called it a klunker they would have had a greasy rag thrown in their face. Not anymore, it is now your patriotic duty to define your older car as a klunker and then turn it in for a new one. You may even get paid for doing so.
You can imagine my consternation when we decided to take a day off and see some of the surrounding area. I couldn’t call it a vacation; since I am retired and everyday is already a vacation. I was thinking of taking a staycation; but how do you really define a staycation? After much thought and deliberation we decided to take a daycation. I figured that if we could get it all done in just one day, then that would fulfill the requirements of the word.
Our first thought was to head north; up to the Hood Canal area and rummage through some of the small towns and points of interest. Working out a time table, we found it would take most of the day, just driving, sightseeing, and eating. That’s a lot of driving just to visit a place we have already been to. Next plan was to visit some of the nearby places which the local newspaper had highlighted as points if interest. Now, this was an idea more to my liking. We could keep the total driving time to less than two hours; visit some local buildings that I had heard about, but never taken the time to visit; and finally we would be in familiar territory when it came to choosing a place to eat. It is all too often that you take unnecessary risks when choosing unfamiliar eating establishments.
Tacoma was to be the city of choice; it was within a half-hour driving time for both Sharon and I, located in Gig Harbor, and our friends Darrell and Norma from Federal Way. We would meet at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma; a collection of art, knickknacks and food. Its central location and easy access would make it a good starting place for our Tacoma daycation.
As you drive south on I-5 through Tacoma, you can see a beautiful church on the right hand side shortly after you pass the Tacoma Dome. Every time we pass by I think of how great it would be to stop in and see it. So today we did. The church is the Holy Rosary Church. It is 89 years old and reportedly the tallest church in the state. It was built with the neo-gothic styling; arches and pointy spires, ……you’ll know it when you see it. They say that the stain glass windows include copies of windows found in the Notre Dame De Paris. Unfortunately we could not get in to see them; which was a shame as it would have saved me a trip to Paris.
The church is near to downtown Tacoma so we decided to pay a visit
to the old Union Station train depot. This building was built in 1929 and saw a lot of action during WWII, (the big one) in transporting our troops, and also transporting much of the Japanese population to the internment camps! Much of it’s history can been seen at the Washington State History Museum which is just next door. The building has been remodeled into government buildings as part of a revitalization project of downtown Tacoma. It is currently undergoing some renovating, so we did not go in; rather we went next door to the Washington State History Museum. The museum was built to resemble the old Union Station train depot and was opened to the public in 1996. The museum houses a few permanent displays and 
an assortment of changing displays. Especially interesting was an artist’s photography exhibit of the Ho River located in Washington’s rain forest area of the Olympic Peninsula. I think I enjoyed the model train exhibit the most though. I had model trains when I was a kid and have enjoyed them ever since. This exhibit was first class. There were several trains with the tracks running from Tacoma's Point Defiance Park on to the Stampede Pass tunnel in the Cascades. Steam and diesel engines travel past the ASARCO tunnel and tower, the Sperry Flour Mill & Sperry 
Ocean Terminal, the Seybold-Miller shake mill, and of course, the museums next door neighbor, Union Station.After spending a couple of hours at the museum we were starting to get a mild case of the hungries. Leaving the museum we could look just across the street to the Museum of Glass. We had visited the MOG two years ago and decided to bypass it in favor of some good food. The museum is certainly a must see on your
Daycation tour of Tacoma though, with its glass blowing demonstrations and wonderful gift shop.
The highlight of our tour of course could have to be Bob’s Java Jive; built in 1929 it is an excellent example of the deco-art buildings of that era. Seems as though I was the only one impressed with the building though, so we continued on to Freighthouse Square for lunch.
Freighthouse Square is one of my favorite places to eat out. It’s not in the main throng of the downtown area, so it has easy access. There are a dozen or more eateries; Gyros, fish and chips, bubble tea, lumpia, fried chicken, bulgogi, curry chicken, burritos, Chicago style hot dogs and scratch baked cookies. Imagine, you can easily spend your lunch hour just figuring what it is you want to eat. One of my favorite is the Paya Thai Fish & Chips. Owner Tom Pagano is always right out in front of his booth describing his catch of the day. You order, and he brings it right out to your table; fish & chips, Southern fried chicken and garlic shrimp; that was our fare for the day.
What a way to end our perfect Daycation. We satisfied the government’s plea to spend our money close to home, we saved gas (40 mpg in the yellow Beetle), we became more closely acquainted with some of the great architecture of Tacoma, and we had a great meal.
Great friends, great times, great food!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Greekfest 2009
Friday, Oct 2
There have been many books and brochures written describing the glorious wonders of our nation, state, city and world. Cruises, flights, trains, automobiles, all whisking you off to some exotic destination. 1,000 Places To See Before You Die comes to mind as a volume of descriptions and destinations designed to entice you out of the comfort of your home and into a near or distant attractions of our wonderful world. In the introduction of the book we read “she had sailed up Papua New Guinea’s Sepik River and camped out in the Szhara Desert with Bedouin guides”. Now that sounds great, but not very realistic. I would like to tell you of one of my more recent adventures which is within the reach of most anyone near an even modestly large metropolis.
Life is not measured by the number of breath we take but by the places and moments that take our breath away.
-ANONYMOUS
Our friends, Chris and Linnea, or as Chris says “That crazy cousin-in-law”, had told us of the annual Greek festival which would be held over the weekend. We had been to a Greek festival up in the university district those many years ago. Greek food, dancing, beverages and merriment; the memories slowly returned of a good night of entertainment, so we said “Yes, of course we’ll go”!
Friday night we all piled into the yellow Beetle and headed off to the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Tacoma. As we approached the area of the church there were blocks and blocks of cars parked so close that even the Beetle would not be able to squeeze in, and there was also a constant stream of people heading the same direction which we were driving. This had the makings of a wonderful evening.
We parked the car and began to walk towards the church. Pungent aromas of grilled lamb filled the air, with the din of Greek music playing to the approval of a delighted crowd. We entered into a large tent; no admission required, no religious affiliation necessary, just a desire to partake and enjoy. That was our mission so enjoy we did. The tent was half the size of a football field. The sides were lined with booths hawking all types of Greek food, beverages, deli items and even a pastry bar. In the center was a small stage where a dozen Greek Folk Dancers, outfitted in traditional costumes, dancing their traditional dances; the tsamiko, syrtos and kalamatianos.
First off we decided that we should get something to eat. The lines at the food booths were long and the tables were crowded. The method of payment was with a token, which could be purchased for one dollar each so I bought twenty dollars worth of tokens. Over the years they had offered different styles of tokens, and now they were all combined together, so I had a brass token about the size of a quarter; a blue square token and a larger red square token. Not meant to confuse, but to heighten the experience.
The first booth on our epicurean tour would be the Gyros. A Gyros (pronounced year-os) consists of a spicy and savory pressed meat served with tomatoes, onions and Tsaziki Sauce on warm Greek Pita Bread. It was the pungent smell of this meat cooking that we could smell as we had approached the building. Because of the individual types of food being sold at separate booths we decided to split up and each one of us pick up a portion of our meal. Linnea took the Gyros line while I headed for the Calamari line. Sharon and Chris went into the main banquet hall to purchase a full dinner of Kotopoulo Riganato or a full half-chicken baked Greek style, with Salata (Greek Salad) , Fassoloia Yahni (braised string beans), rice pilaf and bread.
Linnea was first to win the prize as she returned with two fresh Gyros clutched in her tiny little hands. She then joined me in the Calamari line. While waiting in line we munched on our Gyros and began to make new friends. There was a fun atmosphere everywhere you turned, so we just made the best of it. As we approached the Calamari booth Linnea reached into her bag of tokens to get the required payment, when the entire bag spilled out onto the floor. In a shoulder to shoulder atmosphere we figured that all was lost, but one by one each token was returned, one by a big toothy man standing in line just in front of us. Others were returned by people standing close by in other lines, while two of them were returned by an anonymous arm protruding from the throng. Despite our concern, not one token was lost.
We were within reach of one of those wonderful baskets of calamari when the line suddenly stopped. They had run out of French fries and we would have to wait until the next batch had finished cooking before they would fill any other orders. Not to worry, that just gave us all more time to talk to the vendor, those around us, or just to take in the energy of the occasion.
After the calamari we went into the main dining room for the chicken dinner. While waiting to be served we managed to down a serving of Dolmathes (grape leaves stuffed with ground beef and rice) and some Tyropitakia (a warm flakey cheese pie).
The whole evening was a pure delight of new smells, tastes, and sensations.
After we had thoroughly stuffed ourselves, we settled down for the entertainment; Greek dancing! There were about fifteen dancers all in a line, arm to shoulder in the traditional style. The music was loud, the dancers were great and the crowd was very appreciative. The dancers jumped, whirled, slapped their feet and kicked their legs high into the air. One even balanced a glass of Ouzo on his head, awesome. I suppose that all that Greek Mythos beer that had been consumed had a lot to do with it. Not by me of course, but that had no impact on the other revelers.
All in all it was a great evening, something different; the culture, the dance and the food. As we headed home we were talking about what a great time we had and what could be next on the agenda. Then Chris came up with a great suggestion, “You know the Shelton Oyster Fest is being held this weekend”.
Friday, Oct 2
There have been many books and brochures written describing the glorious wonders of our nation, state, city and world. Cruises, flights, trains, automobiles, all whisking you off to some exotic destination. 1,000 Places To See Before You Die comes to mind as a volume of descriptions and destinations designed to entice you out of the comfort of your home and into a near or distant attractions of our wonderful world. In the introduction of the book we read “she had sailed up Papua New Guinea’s Sepik River and camped out in the Szhara Desert with Bedouin guides”. Now that sounds great, but not very realistic. I would like to tell you of one of my more recent adventures which is within the reach of most anyone near an even modestly large metropolis.
Life is not measured by the number of breath we take but by the places and moments that take our breath away.
-ANONYMOUS
Our friends, Chris and Linnea, or as Chris says “That crazy cousin-in-law”, had told us of the annual Greek festival which would be held over the weekend. We had been to a Greek festival up in the university district those many years ago. Greek food, dancing, beverages and merriment; the memories slowly returned of a good night of entertainment, so we said “Yes, of course we’ll go”!
Friday night we all piled into the yellow Beetle and headed off to the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Tacoma. As we approached the area of the church there were blocks and blocks of cars parked so close that even the Beetle would not be able to squeeze in, and there was also a constant stream of people heading the same direction which we were driving. This had the makings of a wonderful evening.
We parked the car and began to walk towards the church. Pungent aromas of grilled lamb filled the air, with the din of Greek music playing to the approval of a delighted crowd. We entered into a large tent; no admission required, no religious affiliation necessary, just a desire to partake and enjoy. That was our mission so enjoy we did. The tent was half the size of a football field. The sides were lined with booths hawking all types of Greek food, beverages, deli items and even a pastry bar. In the center was a small stage where a dozen Greek Folk Dancers, outfitted in traditional costumes, dancing their traditional dances; the tsamiko, syrtos and kalamatianos.
First off we decided that we should get something to eat. The lines at the food booths were long and the tables were crowded. The method of payment was with a token, which could be purchased for one dollar each so I bought twenty dollars worth of tokens. Over the years they had offered different styles of tokens, and now they were all combined together, so I had a brass token about the size of a quarter; a blue square token and a larger red square token. Not meant to confuse, but to heighten the experience.
The first booth on our epicurean tour would be the Gyros. A Gyros (pronounced year-os) consists of a spicy and savory pressed meat served with tomatoes, onions and Tsaziki Sauce on warm Greek Pita Bread. It was the pungent smell of this meat cooking that we could smell as we had approached the building. Because of the individual types of food being sold at separate booths we decided to split up and each one of us pick up a portion of our meal. Linnea took the Gyros line while I headed for the Calamari line. Sharon and Chris went into the main banquet hall to purchase a full dinner of Kotopoulo Riganato or a full half-chicken baked Greek style, with Salata (Greek Salad) , Fassoloia Yahni (braised string beans), rice pilaf and bread.
Linnea was first to win the prize as she returned with two fresh Gyros clutched in her tiny little hands. She then joined me in the Calamari line. While waiting in line we munched on our Gyros and began to make new friends. There was a fun atmosphere everywhere you turned, so we just made the best of it. As we approached the Calamari booth Linnea reached into her bag of tokens to get the required payment, when the entire bag spilled out onto the floor. In a shoulder to shoulder atmosphere we figured that all was lost, but one by one each token was returned, one by a big toothy man standing in line just in front of us. Others were returned by people standing close by in other lines, while two of them were returned by an anonymous arm protruding from the throng. Despite our concern, not one token was lost.
We were within reach of one of those wonderful baskets of calamari when the line suddenly stopped. They had run out of French fries and we would have to wait until the next batch had finished cooking before they would fill any other orders. Not to worry, that just gave us all more time to talk to the vendor, those around us, or just to take in the energy of the occasion.
After the calamari we went into the main dining room for the chicken dinner. While waiting to be served we managed to down a serving of Dolmathes (grape leaves stuffed with ground beef and rice) and some Tyropitakia (a warm flakey cheese pie).
The whole evening was a pure delight of new smells, tastes, and sensations.
After we had thoroughly stuffed ourselves, we settled down for the entertainment; Greek dancing! There were about fifteen dancers all in a line, arm to shoulder in the traditional style. The music was loud, the dancers were great and the crowd was very appreciative. The dancers jumped, whirled, slapped their feet and kicked their legs high into the air. One even balanced a glass of Ouzo on his head, awesome. I suppose that all that Greek Mythos beer that had been consumed had a lot to do with it. Not by me of course, but that had no impact on the other revelers.
All in all it was a great evening, something different; the culture, the dance and the food. As we headed home we were talking about what a great time we had and what could be next on the agenda. Then Chris came up with a great suggestion, “You know the Shelton Oyster Fest is being held this weekend”.
Oyster Burgers……..Mmmmmmm.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Drive-by
You have probably noticed there has been an absence of my blog postings lately. Reason being, things have been a little slow around here. Work related things you know. Even though I’m retired, there are still things that need to get done, things that I just can’t seem to avoid.
Rather than deprive your minds eye of some literary relief , I would like to submit to you a short story which I wrote to our grandchildren back in the fall of 2004.
It seems an appropriate story at this time with the uncertainty of it all, what with all the gangs, the drive-by shootings and muggings that are occurring daily in our cities. I had written this article to our grandchildren after a particularly upsetting incident that happened to Sharon and I while out on an evening walk one day.
Drive-By
by Gary Hyde
October 2004
Your grandmother and I were out walking Pippin this evening, enjoying each others company along with the early appearance of our northwest fall weather. A stiff breeze came up sending fragile fall leaves tumbling from nearby trees covering lawns and roadway with a carpet of red, yellow and gold. What a great time of year it is with the nip of fall in the air, the colors of autumn leaves, and the fading light of early evenings. The occasional car driving past would send waves of fallen leaves flying across the road in a jumble of intricate patterns.
Walking along the side of the road I could hear an automobile approaching from behind. I thought I detected a strange noise emitting from it, almost as if a large dog were howling at the blaring siren of a fire truck. As the car drew near a blast rang out! Heads turned; a flock of birds launched into a frenzied flight. The noise grew louder, taking on the distinct sound of one of Jonathan’s trombone practices. Just as the car passed by I caught a glimpse of the business end of a brass trombone sliding in and out of the driver’s side rear window. We had just been tromboned!
It all happened so fast we didn’t know what to do, and by the time we got our wits about us the automobile had sped off into the evening dusk. As he disappeared down the road and into the night, I thought I could hear, just for an instant, the maniacal laughter of Jonathan, much as if he were involved a game of Pippin bowling.
Needless to say, the whole incident has us quite unnerved and we are both wondering if Jonathan had come home on weekend leave from the Air Force Academy. If not, I don’t quite know what to do. What has the world come to when an innocent citizen can be tromboned like that without warning? I only hope that all of you are OK and I want you to know that, even though we are shaken, we’re both alright.
Love,
Grandpa
Rather than deprive your minds eye of some literary relief , I would like to submit to you a short story which I wrote to our grandchildren back in the fall of 2004.
It seems an appropriate story at this time with the uncertainty of it all, what with all the gangs, the drive-by shootings and muggings that are occurring daily in our cities. I had written this article to our grandchildren after a particularly upsetting incident that happened to Sharon and I while out on an evening walk one day.
Drive-By
by Gary Hyde
October 2004
Your grandmother and I were out walking Pippin this evening, enjoying each others company along with the early appearance of our northwest fall weather. A stiff breeze came up sending fragile fall leaves tumbling from nearby trees covering lawns and roadway with a carpet of red, yellow and gold. What a great time of year it is with the nip of fall in the air, the colors of autumn leaves, and the fading light of early evenings. The occasional car driving past would send waves of fallen leaves flying across the road in a jumble of intricate patterns.
Walking along the side of the road I could hear an automobile approaching from behind. I thought I detected a strange noise emitting from it, almost as if a large dog were howling at the blaring siren of a fire truck. As the car drew near a blast rang out! Heads turned; a flock of birds launched into a frenzied flight. The noise grew louder, taking on the distinct sound of one of Jonathan’s trombone practices. Just as the car passed by I caught a glimpse of the business end of a brass trombone sliding in and out of the driver’s side rear window. We had just been tromboned!
It all happened so fast we didn’t know what to do, and by the time we got our wits about us the automobile had sped off into the evening dusk. As he disappeared down the road and into the night, I thought I could hear, just for an instant, the maniacal laughter of Jonathan, much as if he were involved a game of Pippin bowling.
Needless to say, the whole incident has us quite unnerved and we are both wondering if Jonathan had come home on weekend leave from the Air Force Academy. If not, I don’t quite know what to do. What has the world come to when an innocent citizen can be tromboned like that without warning? I only hope that all of you are OK and I want you to know that, even though we are shaken, we’re both alright.
Love,
Grandpa
Friday, September 11, 2009
First of all I must thank you all for your comments on my Blog. I am truly delighted and amazed. Most of the comments were on the Oyster Burgers, instead of the actual content of the blog, but what the heck, if you are reading it and enjoying, then my mission is accomplished. Personally I thought I would get at least one request to borrow my new set of bolt cutters, but you comment about those things that interest you and what you have a need for.
One person has told me that they are going to take a trip to the Grayland area for their birthday; Sept 14. Happy Birthday Ann. As a birthday present she will be treating herself to an Oyster Burger, and of course a trip to Ugly Ed's. Another has indicated that he will also be taking a trip to the area and using my blog as a guide. Now this is just the purpose behind the introduction of this blog.
Not to get all puffed up though, because there was actually one individual who wrote "Oyster burger???!!! That sounds ... disgusting!!! " Not to worry, as she is a landlocked individual and has no idea as to the great tastes of fresh seafood.
Now, to get on with the trip;
Wednesday
DAY 4
Today is the day! All you can eat at the Shoalwater Bay Casino Seafood Buffet. We got up late, strolled the beach and then headed for Tokeland and the Shoalwater Bay Casino. I have no interest in their gambling, but I am a great fan of eating. So into the casino we go. We are greeted at the door by Security. First we must get the Shoalwater Bay Casino card, a credit card sized card with our names on it which proclaimed that we are now the proud members of the Players Club.
It also gave us the senior discount to the buffet.
In order to get to the buffet, we first had to wind our way through the smoke filled rooms of the slot machines. Ding! Ding! Dining, ding, ding! Bells and whistles were sounding at each machine giving the impression that each and every player was a winner. The expressions on the players faces told of a different story. Glassy eyed and comatose, they blankly starred at the whirling numbers or designs on the machine, anxiously awaiting their turn to win, which did not come during the time we were watching them.
After arriving at the buffet, we presented our cards and were handed two plates, a small one for salad and the larger one for the entree. A plump server touted the breaded shrimp. We loaded up both plates, multiple times. While the food was OK, I think I prefer the Oyster Burgers.
We finished up at the casino and headed for the beach for one last day of kite flying. Still no wind. Four days at the beach and not able to fly a kite once; now that's pathetic.
One person has told me that they are going to take a trip to the Grayland area for their birthday; Sept 14. Happy Birthday Ann. As a birthday present she will be treating herself to an Oyster Burger, and of course a trip to Ugly Ed's. Another has indicated that he will also be taking a trip to the area and using my blog as a guide. Now this is just the purpose behind the introduction of this blog.
Not to get all puffed up though, because there was actually one individual who wrote "Oyster burger???!!! That sounds ... disgusting!!! " Not to worry, as she is a landlocked individual and has no idea as to the great tastes of fresh seafood.
Now, to get on with the trip;
Wednesday
DAY 4
Today is the day! All you can eat at the Shoalwater Bay Casino Seafood Buffet. We got up late, strolled the beach and then headed for Tokeland and the Shoalwater Bay Casino. I have no interest in their gambling, but I am a great fan of eating. So into the casino we go. We are greeted at the door by Security. First we must get the Shoalwater Bay Casino card, a credit card sized card with our names on it which proclaimed that we are now the proud members of the Players Club.
It also gave us the senior discount to the buffet.
In order to get to the buffet, we first had to wind our way through the smoke filled rooms of the slot machines. Ding! Ding! Dining, ding, ding! Bells and whistles were sounding at each machine giving the impression that each and every player was a winner. The expressions on the players faces told of a different story. Glassy eyed and comatose, they blankly starred at the whirling numbers or designs on the machine, anxiously awaiting their turn to win, which did not come during the time we were watching them.
After arriving at the buffet, we presented our cards and were handed two plates, a small one for salad and the larger one for the entree. A plump server touted the breaded shrimp. We loaded up both plates, multiple times. While the food was OK, I think I prefer the Oyster Burgers.
We finished up at the casino and headed for the beach for one last day of kite flying. Still no wind. Four days at the beach and not able to fly a kite once; now that's pathetic.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
DAY 3 (Addendum )
I completely forgot to tell you about one of the highlights of our trip; Raymond, WA. This great little town is the home of the Dairy Queen Oyster Burger. That’s right; five delicious fried oysters plopped atop a hamburger bun complete with secret sauce. This is the only Dairy Queen in the entire U.S. that has oyster burgers on the menu. Well worth the trip.
Unfortunately a few of the museums we wanted to visit were closed, so we turned to The Visitors Guide book. Here’s a jewel right here on page 26. UGLY ED’S AND DEB’S NEW & USED. How can you miss? We walked up the ramp to the store and sure enough, there was Ugly Ed perched on his wooden stool ready to greet us. “Welcome to Ed’s; tools ‘r in the back” he growled. Oh yes! This is meeting all my expectations and more about the place. Inside, the store was packed with “memorabilia”; old pictures, dolls, clothes, trinkets, just about anything you think you would want or need. I ventured back into the tool room where I started to look around. Ed had wandered in and wanted to know what I was looking for. “Do you have any bolt cutters” I asked? “Over there” he said, with a waive of his hand, and then he abruptly turned and walked out. A young girl came over and said “Oh don’t mind him, he’s always a grouch. I think we have some bolt cutters over here”.
The reason that I need a bolt cutter is because during a recent family outing at our son Michael’s home on beautiful Lake Geneva, our grandson Jonathan locked up the paddleboat and then promptly fumbled away the key into seven inches of muck, never to be seen again. And at this very moment, he is attending Air force Fighter Training School at Vance Air Force base in Oklahoma. Go figure.
Well anyway, she led me over to the largest bolt cutters I had ever seen. A brand new pair of red handled bolt cutters with a pair of jaws like Godzilla’s. I’m telling you, these babies could cut through any bolt made by man. With these things I could be the Paul Bunion of locksmiths. For only $29.95 I now have the key to the city. Any city!
I completely forgot to tell you about one of the highlights of our trip; Raymond, WA. This great little town is the home of the Dairy Queen Oyster Burger. That’s right; five delicious fried oysters plopped atop a hamburger bun complete with secret sauce. This is the only Dairy Queen in the entire U.S. that has oyster burgers on the menu. Well worth the trip.
Unfortunately a few of the museums we wanted to visit were closed, so we turned to The Visitors Guide book. Here’s a jewel right here on page 26. UGLY ED’S AND DEB’S NEW & USED. How can you miss? We walked up the ramp to the store and sure enough, there was Ugly Ed perched on his wooden stool ready to greet us. “Welcome to Ed’s; tools ‘r in the back” he growled. Oh yes! This is meeting all my expectations and more about the place. Inside, the store was packed with “memorabilia”; old pictures, dolls, clothes, trinkets, just about anything you think you would want or need. I ventured back into the tool room where I started to look around. Ed had wandered in and wanted to know what I was looking for. “Do you have any bolt cutters” I asked? “Over there” he said, with a waive of his hand, and then he abruptly turned and walked out. A young girl came over and said “Oh don’t mind him, he’s always a grouch. I think we have some bolt cutters over here”.
The reason that I need a bolt cutter is because during a recent family outing at our son Michael’s home on beautiful Lake Geneva, our grandson Jonathan locked up the paddleboat and then promptly fumbled away the key into seven inches of muck, never to be seen again. And at this very moment, he is attending Air force Fighter Training School at Vance Air Force base in Oklahoma. Go figure.
Well anyway, she led me over to the largest bolt cutters I had ever seen. A brand new pair of red handled bolt cutters with a pair of jaws like Godzilla’s. I’m telling you, these babies could cut through any bolt made by man. With these things I could be the Paul Bunion of locksmiths. For only $29.95 I now have the key to the city. Any city!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Monday
DAY 2
When I visit a new place, or go on a little vacation like this one, I generally like to stop in at the local visitors’ center and pick up some of their brochures. It saves a lot of time rather than just wandering around in order to find something interesting. After reading the brochures I can plan out what I want to do and then pursue it in a systematic way. Along the way we invariably find some unique spots of interest that are not in the brochures.
Our first stop would be to visit the nearby town of Westport; the Salmon Capital of the World, the Sport fishing Capital of the World, and who knows what other “Capital” they may lay claim to.
Grays Harbor Light Station
Since lighthouses dot the Oregon and Washington coastline, we decided to visit the Grays Harbor Light Station first. The lighthouse was commissioned in 1898 and its Third Order Frensel lens rotated continuously until 1989.
After a brief history of the lighthouse by a charming “host” couple from Arkansas we headed up the 135 steps of the 107 foot tall lighthouse. This is the tallest lighthouse in Washington. Its Fresnel lens would shine twenty-eight miles out to sea as a navigation aid for passing ships. The lens is no longer used today; in fact the whole lighthouse has been replaced by a completely automated beacon no larger than a five gallon bucket, located outside a window atop the lighthouse.
The Shellflair Shell and Marine Museum
The lighthouse keeper had told us on an interesting place just down the road; The Shellflair Shell and Marine Museum. While the museum was an interesting place, it was no match for its owner and curator. this 82 yearold lady had been collecting shells and buying shell displays for the last thirty years. She and her husband had combed beaches; dived the oceans, and bartered and traded for shells the world over. She could tell the story behind each and every shell in the small museum and was well versed in the scientific names and quality of each shell. Just talking to her for an hour was well worth the trip.
Westport waterfront
Our next stop was to be on the Westport waterfront. This is where we would find the fish markets and the fishing charter boats, but our first destination was to be the Westport Maritime Museum. We arrived at the museum but decided first to take a brief visit across the street to the waterfront and check out the harbor and boats. The first boat to catch our eye was the Tuna “Hustler”. The crew was unloading the catch of the day, albacore tuna. The fish was brought on deck where a man immediately began filleting them. We watched for a while and then ventured down to ask about buying some tuna or salmon. After asking him how to prepare the tuna, he said he had some recipes he could give us or if we wanted to taste some we could go just across the street to the One Eyed Crab restaurant. The latter seemed like the easiest thing to do so we ventured over to the One Eyed Crab. It was a simple setting with about 10 tables, a cashiers counter with a small bar and a pass through window back to the kitchen. A pleasant girl came to the table to take our order.
She suggested the garlic prawns but we had our tastes fixed on the freshly filleted tuna. We ordered two servings of deep fried albacore tuna, one pan seared albacore tuna sautéed with mushrooms, and one deep fried cod burger. I started off the meal with a cup of clam chowder. The food was great. The tuna was moist and firm, the cod was fresh and the tuna and mushrooms was done just right. All the orders came with an order of fries, and what fries they were. Lightly battered and then deep fried. Probably the best fries I had ever eaten. So good I even ordered and extra side of them.
DAY 2
When I visit a new place, or go on a little vacation like this one, I generally like to stop in at the local visitors’ center and pick up some of their brochures. It saves a lot of time rather than just wandering around in order to find something interesting. After reading the brochures I can plan out what I want to do and then pursue it in a systematic way. Along the way we invariably find some unique spots of interest that are not in the brochures.
Our first stop would be to visit the nearby town of Westport; the Salmon Capital of the World, the Sport fishing Capital of the World, and who knows what other “Capital” they may lay claim to.
Grays Harbor Light Station
Since lighthouses dot the Oregon and Washington coastline, we decided to visit the Grays Harbor Light Station first. The lighthouse was commissioned in 1898 and its Third Order Frensel lens rotated continuously until 1989.
After a brief history of the lighthouse by a charming “host” couple from Arkansas we headed up the 135 steps of the 107 foot tall lighthouse. This is the tallest lighthouse in Washington. Its Fresnel lens would shine twenty-eight miles out to sea as a navigation aid for passing ships. The lens is no longer used today; in fact the whole lighthouse has been replaced by a completely automated beacon no larger than a five gallon bucket, located outside a window atop the lighthouse.
The Shellflair Shell and Marine Museum
The lighthouse keeper had told us on an interesting place just down the road; The Shellflair Shell and Marine Museum. While the museum was an interesting place, it was no match for its owner and curator. this 82 yearold lady had been collecting shells and buying shell displays for the last thirty years. She and her husband had combed beaches; dived the oceans, and bartered and traded for shells the world over. She could tell the story behind each and every shell in the small museum and was well versed in the scientific names and quality of each shell. Just talking to her for an hour was well worth the trip.
Westport waterfront
Our next stop was to be on the Westport waterfront. This is where we would find the fish markets and the fishing charter boats, but our first destination was to be the Westport Maritime Museum. We arrived at the museum but decided first to take a brief visit across the street to the waterfront and check out the harbor and boats. The first boat to catch our eye was the Tuna “Hustler”. The crew was unloading the catch of the day, albacore tuna. The fish was brought on deck where a man immediately began filleting them. We watched for a while and then ventured down to ask about buying some tuna or salmon. After asking him how to prepare the tuna, he said he had some recipes he could give us or if we wanted to taste some we could go just across the street to the One Eyed Crab restaurant. The latter seemed like the easiest thing to do so we ventured over to the One Eyed Crab. It was a simple setting with about 10 tables, a cashiers counter with a small bar and a pass through window back to the kitchen. A pleasant girl came to the table to take our order.
She suggested the garlic prawns but we had our tastes fixed on the freshly filleted tuna. We ordered two servings of deep fried albacore tuna, one pan seared albacore tuna sautéed with mushrooms, and one deep fried cod burger. I started off the meal with a cup of clam chowder. The food was great. The tuna was moist and firm, the cod was fresh and the tuna and mushrooms was done just right. All the orders came with an order of fries, and what fries they were. Lightly battered and then deep fried. Probably the best fries I had ever eaten. So good I even ordered and extra side of them.Beach walk
By now we were too full to go to the museum, so we decided to walk the beach. There were only about seven other people on the beach, so we let the dogs loose and watched them enjoy themselves. This was Jaspers first encounter with a sandy ocean beach. He had to sample biting at the sand and every little clump of seaweed he could find. Then he would run down the beach nipping at the waves as they lapped upon the shore. After a couple of mouthfuls of water he soon gave up that bit of excitement. We walked, the dogs played and the sun set. It has been a great day.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
You are about to enter the blogosphere with the Travlinman. This is my first attempt at a blog so I hope you will bear with me for a week, or more, if I can keep you interested.
I thought I would start off with a travelogue of our recent week long RV trip to the Washington coast where we stayed at Grays Harbor at the Twin Harbors State Park............
Monday, Aug 31
DAY 1
We packed up our 5th wheel trailer in preparation for a five night trip to Grays Harbor on the Washington coast. It is always a pain to pack up the trailer after leaving it sit for more than a few months. There is always something that doesn’t seem to work as well as I would like it to. It either leaks, it's stuck, it leaks, or maybe it isn't even there. So there is always at least one hour spent in getting things back into optimal working condition.
Just after 10:30 AM we pulled out onto the road just in front of the house, where we parked, and then spent the next half-hour searching for the dogs leash and Sharon’s sun glasses. Found the sun glasses but who knows what happened to the leash. It was on the kitchen counter waiting to be packed just minutes before we were ready to leave.
We left Gig Harbor and took the back roads on our way to Grayland, WA, a trip of about 100 miles. The weather was perfect; 73 degrees, sunny with a few clouds, and the scenery was magnificent. The road meandered through alder and fir covered hills, then it would tuck in close to scenic vistas of the Puget Sound.
The road took us through Alyne, home of the Big Bubbas Burger, then on to Shelton, where just a few weeks earlier we had stopped in for a scrumptious all-you-can-eat seafood breakfast at the Little Creek Casino. It was just after noon as we passed the casino, but we had the big-rig on and besides we had just eaten before we left home.
The scenery, the distance and the time passed quickly and before we knew it we arrived at the Twin Harbors campground, space number five, our home for the next week.
I thought I would start off with a travelogue of our recent week long RV trip to the Washington coast where we stayed at Grays Harbor at the Twin Harbors State Park............
Monday, Aug 31
DAY 1
We packed up our 5th wheel trailer in preparation for a five night trip to Grays Harbor on the Washington coast. It is always a pain to pack up the trailer after leaving it sit for more than a few months. There is always something that doesn’t seem to work as well as I would like it to. It either leaks, it's stuck, it leaks, or maybe it isn't even there. So there is always at least one hour spent in getting things back into optimal working condition.
Just after 10:30 AM we pulled out onto the road just in front of the house, where we parked, and then spent the next half-hour searching for the dogs leash and Sharon’s sun glasses. Found the sun glasses but who knows what happened to the leash. It was on the kitchen counter waiting to be packed just minutes before we were ready to leave.
We left Gig Harbor and took the back roads on our way to Grayland, WA, a trip of about 100 miles. The weather was perfect; 73 degrees, sunny with a few clouds, and the scenery was magnificent. The road meandered through alder and fir covered hills, then it would tuck in close to scenic vistas of the Puget Sound.
The road took us through Alyne, home of the Big Bubbas Burger, then on to Shelton, where just a few weeks earlier we had stopped in for a scrumptious all-you-can-eat seafood breakfast at the Little Creek Casino. It was just after noon as we passed the casino, but we had the big-rig on and besides we had just eaten before we left home.
The scenery, the distance and the time passed quickly and before we knew it we arrived at the Twin Harbors campground, space number five, our home for the next week.
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