Mountains and Olives

We went to Lesson Volcano National Park today July 31.  It was nice and cool at 8000 feet but the sun was intense.  After we returned to Corning we went to the Olive Pit, sampled their varieties of olives and purchased nearly $70 worth – should last awhile!  Hot again today.

California

Into California today, July30.  This is a case of “be careful what you wish for” as I got the hot weather I wanted, it was near 100 today.  The first 2/3 of the trip was up and down hills and around curves – at least it was all interstate.  A long day.  We learned not to turn into “Visitor Information” places unless a rest stop is also there, they are just business trying to get you in their place.  Not good for a MH that has to turn around.  Was good to park and get the ACs going.

We went to the ocean today, July 27.  After what seemed like a long drive through hills and curves and trees we got to the Ocean.  We followed a car tour around an area and saw the rough shore line – would hate to be in a boat trying to make a landing in that area.  We found a sea side seafood café and had their special of the day, fresh tuna.  It was a good meal.  We went on down the road to Coos Bay and further north finally turning back to Sutherland.

Crater Lake National Park

Today, July 25 we went to Crater Lake National Park.  We had been there two times before but today there was a lot of snow around.  I doubt that the roads in some area had even been open for very long.  Last time there were forest fires!  Then we went to Klamath Falls, we saw the lake, the city, but no falls.  It was a nice trip anyway, took all day.

Sutherland, OR

July 23, more hills and curves until we got to Interstate 5.  We crossed a 4 mile bridge over the Columbia River; we could see Mt. St. Helen from the bridge with a few clouds floating around to top.  We got to Interstate 5 and there was Road Construction of course, sign said the ramp was open but we found out not open to I5 and we ended up in an industrial park.  The good news there was there was plenty of space to turn around.  We made a second attempt at I5 and from this different angle got on the Interstate.  It was good to finally get on a decent road even though the traffic through Portland was intense.  We got to Sutherland, OR to Timber Valley Escapees Park and found a nice lot.  We have it all – 50 AMP, plenty of space, quiet, cable TV and can get satellite and a great view.  It is warm and dry!!!

Long Island, WA

What a grueling July 22.  We went on the west side of the peninsula on our way to Long Island – motorhome pulling the car.  It was curves and hills, hills and curves with narrow bridges, logging trucks and bicyclists who demanded a third of the road, punctuated by Road Work (two lane road all the way).  Then the road went through numerous small towns with turns and slow downs.  I thought it would never end - was seven hours.  In one town we had to make a sharp left turn with two lanes turning.  Just as we were completing the turn – BANG.  We thought someone had hit us but couldn’t stop and no one was waving us down slow down, what could we do but forge on.  When we finally stopped we couldn’t find any damage thank goodness but we don’t know what the bang was from.  We finally arrived in a tight but OK park in Long Island.  We went for a car drive to the ocean, quite the tourist area.

Port Thompson

July 20, we went to Port Thompson today.  It is an interesting old town on the NW corner of the peninsula – water on two sides.  There are many very old and well preserved old buildings and a nice state park where we could see ourselves camping.  There is also an old light house.  On the way back we took an accidental side road which lead us to an area a community of beach houses, not new or fancy but most taken care of well.  We ate a good fish dinner at the renowned Chimacum Café.

Fog

It was house cleaning day today, July 19, and much needed.  Don did some things outside.  There was fog in the tree tops this morning when we got up.  This cold and rain is getting OLD.  Went to a local pizza place for dinner, very good.  Hardly anyone was there when we arrived but by the time we left it was packed.   Guess they were just waiting to see where we were going to eat!

Shoreline Drive

We drove along the shoreline today, July 18.  It is a beautiful area with the water and lots of very tall evergreen trees.  There are many wild flowers along the way.  We stopped at Jack-In-the-Box for lunch; it has been a long time since we’ve eaten at one of those.  The weather has been nice today for a change, dry and even some sun.  This is my two month anniversary of my newest knee.

Chimacum Cafe

July 17.  We went out for Sunday breakfast at the local Chimacum Café.  We could have split a breakfast they were so huge – two big pancakes, a big serving of scrambled eggs and 4 thick slices of bacon.  After getting car gas, we went home for the day.   Still cool and rainy – tomorrow is suppose to be nice so we will do some traveling around the area then.

Cold and Wet

Today, July 16, it is cold and rainy – yes it is the NW so what do we expect?  We stayed home to rest from all the travel, traffic and mountain climbing in the ever trusty MH yesterday.  We went out to dinner at a seafood place which advertised “award winning” – it was good, not great.  We had giant pawns and scallops with clam chowder.  After dinner we drove about 45 minutes to a super Wal-Mart to pick up some food.  They had fresh cherries which we bought about 2 lbs.  It was a long drive, but scenic.  

Chimacum

They turned on the water sprinklers just as we were trying to leave the park this morning, July 15!  Could they have not watered during the night?  We traveled up and down mountains including thru the Columbia River canyon which was beautiful.  After climbing many miles (passing trucks) we got to the top of the canyon and there in front of us was a beautiful view of Mt. Rainer covered in snow.   The traffic picked up as we approached Seattle, we took a shortcut which everyone else also took – it was a bit grueling.  Then Interstate 5 which was bumper to bumper as usual and we had to stop for diesel, we lucked out and had a pump which was easy in and out something to consider when you have a train like ours!  Then we headed for the Olympic Peninsula, they had changed the intersection and road so our GPS had a fit and we got lost.  What are the chances we would take a random exit to stop and get orientated and it would be the correct exit to get us going the right way?  We did.  We are parked at the Escapee’s Evergreen Coho Park in Chimacum in the NE corner of the Peninsula for a WEEK; we get to not move for a week!!!  It is a beautiful area, tall evergreens and water all around.

Wild trip thru Spokane

Today July 14, we made it to Moose Lake, WA.  We were up and down mountains in Montana and more rain.  In Spokane, OR we got into heavy traffic and heavy road construction.  In a couple places the road was suppose to be two lane but about a lane and a half.  At one point we were about two inches from a bus through the tight area, I’m not kidding.  Thanks to my excellent driver we made it thru and landed in a nice park just west of Moose Lake.  

Missoula, MT

Heading west again on July 13.  We are in Missoula, MT tonight after just five hours on the road.  Montana has road construction almost all the way across the state.  There is a sign saying “End of Construction” and in a few miles “Construction Ahead”.  We got into some rain on the way and a storm passed thru this evening.  We went to Fuddruckers for dinner then to Wal-Mart for juice and milk (and a few other things got into our basket).  

Visiting Friends

July 12 – today we visited with our friends Lamont and Georgann (we worked with them at Happy Holiday the first year we were there) in West Yellowstone where they are working this summer.  We had lunch with them and then went back to their motorhome for more visiting and greeting their golden retriever, Clayton.  It was raining on our way there but cleared later.  

Old Faithful

It was off to Old Faithful today, July 11.  We got there about noon and just missed an eruption so we had lunch in their Cafeteria.  By the time we were done eating many people had gathered on the viewing benches so we quickly went there and did find seats.  It seemed that Old Faithful was higher than we had remembered; perhaps it was just where we were sitting.  Then we visited some of the geyser basins.   There were so many people it was difficult to find a place to park.  Our wildlife sighting for the day was three elk.   (If you don’t count the many crazy drivers.)    Again clouds were forming on our way back to the campground, we had a good rain.  

Yellowstone National Park

July 10 – Today we went into Yellowstone, mainly the Canyon area.  Of course we stopped at the “Artist Point” lookout which offers one of the most beautiful views I have seen - of the falls on the Yellowstone River.  We took a lot of pictures of the canyon, falls and river.  Then we drove south to Fishing Bridge, stopped in their store and looked around, I came out of the restroom to see Don holding two huge ice cream cones!  We saw a black bear on the edge of the road shortly after entering the park, also saw lots of buffalo and some strange big bird that people had their expensive camera equipment out to take a picture of it.  I got a fairly good picture, now maybe someone can identify the bird.  We had the car roof open for just a little while until we realized we were burning, I have a red neck.   Coming back to the campground we got into hit and miss showers which continued throughout the evening. 

Yellowstone's Edge

After a 400 mile trip in near 90 degree temps on July 9 we made it to Yellowstone Edge campground which is south of Livingston, MT and north of the north entrance to Yellowstone.  It was a long trip, all went well but we are tired.  There was a lot of road construction = slowdowns.  Ate dinner at home, I did dishes while Don debugged and nearly got eaten alive by mosquitoes.  We are almost too tired to notice the beautiful view – a very full and fast flowing Yellowstone River with snow capped mountains behind.  

Roosevelt National Park

Don’s birthday July 8.  We went out for a good breakfast at the Cowboy Café then went to Roosevelt National Park.  First we did the south unit then the north in the afternoon.  We saw a few buffalo and lots of wild horses.  We got caught in lots of rain coming back from the north unit, the clouds looked very ominous.   This area is in the North Dakota badlands.  In the evening it was back to the Cowboy Café for dinner (so-so) and home for Carrot birthday cake.

Medora, ND

On July 7 we headed north to Medora, ND.  The scenery is so non-exciting we had to work to find something interesting:  Lots of sweet clover (that is what Don calls it) growing in the ditches, some oil well pumps (Jacks, I think they call them), White Butte the highest place in ND at a whooping elevation of 3508 feet, lots of cattle and sheep and the one pheasant that crossed the road in front of us.  There were a lot of semi trucks and RVs on the road.  We parked at Red Trail Campground in Medora for two days, was 90 degrees when we made camp.  We had boasted chicken at a very local café, good food and nice people.  In the evening we went to the Medora Musical, recommended by many people.  For us it started slow and gained momentum.   They had many special effects, great set and costumes.  Now we will recommend the show.

Don wants me to blog this trip so here goes.  I had my second knee replacement May 18.   We left Minnesota June 27 for the two day trip to the Black Hills stopping the first night at Oasis Campground and then on to Spearfish Park Campground.  One thing we had to do was get new SD Driver’s licenses, which we did on the second attempt.  Getting that little piece of plastic is one major event – you have to prove who you are, where you live, etc.  We went to the 4^th of July parade and Jay’s annual picnic following.  Took a drive up the always beautiful Spearfish Canyon.   Also we got to visit with some friends, Cliff and Kathy.