The Road Traveled....August 2010

We have now been on the road for 6 days…of which the beginning was extremely stressful for this traveler.  This is the inaugural journey for Lola and Lucy, our 12yr old Blue Russian/Siamese cats, …who appear to have met the challenge and are adapting. I, on the other hand was completely stressed out the first day – on arrival on our first night out we could not find them inside the RV. They had discovered an opening to get underneath the bed, one that we had not detected…and it may have been the smoothest ride, most likely for them. Every new noise within the RV, to the deployment of the slides, whistling teakettles, birds and the neighboring dog  has resulted in a mad dash for the other side of the bed – really what they want is to get ‘under’ the bed, but with the slide out, they are relegated to the wall side of the bed and throw a cat glare in my direction for putting them in this predicament in the first place. 

  

I am confident that they will survive, none worst for the wear…they now ride inside their kennels on top of the bed or, at least that is what I’m telling myself. Getting Lola out from underneath the bed is a chore, so we are looking for the best solution to closing the gap during travel.

 Lola is ignoring me....have attempted to get her to pose, but to no avail.

Spent two days in Kellogg, ID with our friends Pat and Mike Gaylord…friends of Mike for 30+ years and from whom we are getting educated on the RV life… they “retired” about 12 years ago after he survived a near fatal car crash…so they have paved the way and we are looking forward to traveling with them this coming winter and beyond.  While we were parked in their sideyard, the weather turned cold at night and after near freezing  our tookuses off, we ventured to Wal-E-World for a decidedly warmer blanket (note to self: --- put the down comforter in just for good measure next time out.)

We spent the past 2 days in Deer Lodge ,MT… a stop on our way to So Dakota – our goal destination. We toured the Old Montana State Prison, now a museum.

Entrance to the museum - Deer Lodge, MT

part of the massive toy collection - Playthings

Also, as a part of the museum is the "Playthings from the Past" museum, a re-creation of a small town - Cottonwood City, Desert John's Saloon Museum (the wood bar was shipped up the Missouri River and then overland during the Gold rush days) and is filled with artifacts of guns, whiskey flasks, cowboy and gambler gear.

Me and John in the Saloon

Cottonwood City Jail

if there's a jail-we capture the moment

(If you know us, we just like the 'idea' of jail...so we have many photos of our time behind bars. Given the destinations on this particular journey there may well be more sightings.)

I digressed...onto the museums, both prison and auto.This is most likely the only time in handcuffs one will see me in-twas the admission stamp for the 5 different museums.

Outside Desert John's...Mike was playing his part while I tried to stretch further than the actual length of my arm to snap this photo.

Mike's Paddy Wagon

 

 

just prior to entering the prison....operational from 1871 to 1979.

Mike as a guard

Once inside with book guide, you are on a self-guided tour of the prison museum with descriptions numbered and mounted along a neatly trimmed yard....this one to the right is the first one and describes how the wall was built with inmate labor and locally quarried stones to replace the board fence that had been standing since 1871-started in 1893, it was completed in 1894. The original prison opened in July 1871 with 14 cells, 9 prisoners were received, demolished in 1931 for the construction of an administration building

With overcrowding the new cell house building (left) was constructed in 1896 - in only a year, again using inmate labor. With 32 cells it housed 256 inmates.

We visited the solitary confinement areas of Siberia East & West, the bakery, the infirmary, intake lobby, the cellblock, warden's office and dining room. We even saw the gallows used...the whole experience left me grateful for my freedom.

Inmate Mike

 Another photo opportunity, inside the Montana State Prison. (Yes, photo's of me inside are available - on Mike's camera)

Now onto the fun part of this tour...120 automobiles, from Model A's & T's to 1960's Mustangs, GTO's, Barracuda's and Corvettes....they even through in some trucks, a 1930's tent camper and a amphibicar. We really enjoyed this part of the tour. The Prius isn't the first electric car as you will see below two earlier examples of environmentally progressive minds thinking into the future....

1928 Chrysler Imperial Roadster

Cool Old Cars

1974 Citicar Electric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1931 Detroit Electric Car

Below is a 27 sec video of a 1949 Hudson....the license plate at the end was worth the tour.....there is an arrow in the lower right corner of the photo frame

Come back and visit us as we travel the road traveled....

Points East of Portland, OR - Aug 2010

August 3. 2010 (Journey started Sunday, Aug 1, 2010)

The only good part about getting old is that I am retired and my time and attention is pretty much my own. I say pretty much because I am currently sitting in our 5th wheel in the Sherman County Fairground and RV Parking, slot #12, Moro OR. It is blowing like we are at the ocean and that ocean is a good 300 miles from where I am presently sitting. The trailer next to us, which is approx 24’ long, had not one but two dogs in it this morning when we left at 9:30am for our excursion into Central Oregon…I know because they were barking…poor things.

We have learned that the majority of those parked here are working on installing and/or maintaining the “Windmill Farms” that are popping up like new housing-dotting the hillsides and harnessing wind energy in the form of gigantic 3-bladed white windmill generators. Thus my attention was diverted a bit today thinking about those two dogs shut inside all day-in a hot, closed window trailer…not a peaceful start for sure.




We are parked, as mentioned earlier, in Moro-next to the county fairgrounds that this year will only have a fair and not have the usual Fair & Rodeo. We have tried to discover why no rodeo this year, Mike maintains that there are not enough young people participating in the sport of rodeos, I assert that it’s because not one young female ran for Queen…apparently it’s expensive and involves going to other events around Oregon and Washington and the county is now too small to support it. ( note: after 5 days still do definitive answer that inquiring minds want to know)

We drove through some very small communities that once were bustling lamb ranches and timber mills and now contain business to support, and barely sustain the wheat and cattle ranches. Towns called Fossil, Spray, Kimberly, Condon, Mitchell, Antelope, Shaniko and Mayville. Shaniko is almost a ghost town on US 97…not much there. The espresso shop also served as the town’s gas station.

an

Antelope

Grass Valley-only bus. open on Sun.

Down the road from Moro is Grass Valley, OR...another small dot on US 97....right thru the middle of town drive the timber and grain trucks, horse haulers and vehicles from all over the country.  The man who is running this wacky shop filled with western artifacts (some with questionable origins) sang Mike an original tune on his guitar.

Finally arrival destination DONE day 3

Our original goal was to visit this area was to see the John Day National Monument Fossil Beds. However, in about 4 different locations within the boundaries of the National Park system we did manage to get this goal accomplished.

Just when we finished a site and then drive a few miles we would happen upon yet another mileage post sign telling us we were x# miles away from the JDNM fossil beds. So we drove on and got to see some pretty amazing Oregon country. Along the way we also toured the Painted Hills.

Outside the Fossil Public RR

Fossil H.S. Information Board

Fossil – named for the fossil beds currently located behind the high school was the attraction of the town, and for $5 you can go in search of some small artifact…the museum volunteer informed us that “pretty much anything of real substance had long ago been removed”`. I decided to pass on this opportunity to get dusty and grimy climbing a hill that edged the football field. Fossil has a lovely Senior Retirement Facility (ha-ha, fossil/seniors) and great public restrooms….photo….soap, hot water and hot air dryers. (We were impressed given our lack of devotion to public restrooms in general.)

Next stop, Condon – possible ranching community that boasts a True Value/Ace Hardware store that Mike found a reason to visit – but not buy a darn thing. What is with men and hardware stores?….it’s like the car is on auto-pilot and they just HAVE to STOP. We did have lunch at the Twist & Shake…memorable by the 30 min wait to get our meal….food wasn’t bad, just a very slow chef…augmented by the “rush” of having 5 tables ordering all within a few minutes. We left there only to find a lovely park just ½ block away where we could have eaten outside. Oh well, live and learn. Wish I had taken a photo of the Twist & Shake….retro only in the name, the appearance would have shocked visitors of the 1950’s and drive-in devotees.

best veggie sandwich ever!

Junipterguy.com - gorgeous custom
patio furniture, lamps, etc

Mitchell, OR...unless you have to eat or get gas, (IF it’s open) – there is no reason to take the 'by-pass' off Hwy 97.
There is a boarding school there ...of which is mostly foreign exchange students from Japan. We got an earful from the owner of the Bridge Creek Cafe while we were waiting on lunch on Wednesday. It was a charming little converted-home-to-cafe....however, the young woman running it as- owner/waitress/cook- had no qualms in letting us know exactly where she stood on how poorly "this administration" is treating the small business owers AND how she would really prefer to have a say in where her taxes were spent and it was definitely not on foreign exchange students subsidies, highway maintenance for the truckers hauling outside community grain instead of timber, etc. She talked non-stop to us "d.i.n.k.s" (double income no kids) not realizing we were them - (yes she used that term and spelled it out for us) however, my veggie sandwich was probably the best one I have had in YEARS! A grilled onions/peppers/mushrooms with fresh tomatoes on toasted whole wheat bread - delicious. Now if she had just had soup, ice cream or pie! (She ran out the day before, in a snit about those 8 Bend men who showed up and stayed forever .... she "just didn't feel like making soup or pie for today", thank you very much.) hahahahaha....I wanted pie or a milkshake the rest of the day.

Jupiterguy.com is right next door....an oversized chair sitting near the roadway caught my eye so we wandered over to investigate. He had lamps, tables, chairs, mantels made from wood he found on ranches...much of it twisted jupiter trees that he powered washed the bark off to reveal the beauty underneath.

More from the field tomorrow with a link to all of the photos we took along the way. Ciao~

the inside scoop

during our maiden voyage I was in conversation with several friends  (who hadn't seen out new 2nd home, at least not photos of the inside with the slides out ) referring to our "roughing it"  travels.

As you can see from the photos below - we aren't exactly 'roughing it' as Mabel does provide for expanded space which = more room
We are going to need it as Lucy (seen here, not actually thrilled with the decision) and her sister Lola will join us. Prepare to discover along with us how that all goes....starting in September. I'll post both the good, the hilarious and the bad. 

  Mabel out in front of our house.

The bedroom and living room slides are out....

Living/dining room from the door

Kitchen - refrig/freezer work great. Gas top stove, oven and microwave, dual sinks and a 2' extension that mounts on those two white plates on the side of the counter -provides additional counter space, and the pantry is just next to the refrigerator and above it.

Bed (taken standing next to refrig) and the full length closet with mirrored doors. On the right wall is the sink/medicine cabinet - which is next to the shower.

Shower  (I'm on the bed taking this photo) is just inside the bedroom compartment.





There you have it....the inside scoop! All the conveniences of stick homes in a 300 sf home on wheels.  Lots of windows & skylights make the space very bright and comfy to be in.

Until next time...be safe.

Maiden Voyage

The 'maiden voyage' was a grand success! Am having to "fill in" after the fact as we aren't yet wireless for traveling - but soon will be.

We departed last Wednesday and drove (ouch, my aching back) 9 hours to Hayden Lake, ID. On the way we stopped (actually we stopped several times, but this one was worth the photo op) for lunch in Arlington OR - Pleasant Grill, and it was surprising good! Family owned, with Dad manning the grill. Once we had consumed our meal we returned to the task of hauling ourselves and our 29' 5th wheel East.

 Ms. Chrysalis



We found the Alpine RV Park Resort on Hwy 95 around 6pm. While Mike got the rig settled I fix dinner and we were able to enjoy it along with our first dinner guest. She didn't stay for dessert, but we enjoyed having a bit of company our first night in town.


Given that it is summertime, space to park/camp is at a premium - we were lucky to have this location and would recommend it - for it was 30 miles from Coeur d'Alene, 7 miles to Silverwood and 11 mi to Farragut State Park - our next overnight destination.

Beautiful setting on Lake Pend d' Oreille...we will need to book months in advance and plan to spend more time in that area next year.


Below is a view of our "camp site" - really nicely maintained with complete hook-ups, and we had no one behind us and most of the sites were staggered so neighbors were near but not right on top of you.  (Pre-park days-this was a Naval Training area during WWII ). The camp hosts come by when you have departed, clean out the fire pit, sweep debris and make nice for the next camper. 

There is a naval museum on the grounds that we couldn't get into this journey but will the next time we are in the area.

Our Kellogg friends, Mike & Pat Gaylord joined us for the afternoon along with their grandsons Cameron and Carson - we took them swimming and then we all headed out for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.

Above (center) is my Mike and Mike Gaylord....the two Mikes - now this is a pair to be sure! Never doubt for a minute that trouble isn't too far behind....with Gaylord leading the way. I just call him Mr. Mischievous! He is full of it...

We love our second home and I'll post some additional pictures soon.

Preparations

We are in the middle of getting our home-on-wheels ready for our first trip out next month....it's a lot of work. Everything from salt & pepper to bandaids needs to be added - I've been scouring our cupboards for the plates, pots, linens and grocery items for weeks. There is a weight limit, so we have to scale down, but it is going to be fun to start trekking....


At right is a view from the sitting area at the back looking forward to the bedroom area up front. The slides are in so it appears very narrow, however it is quite comfy once they are deployed. Both the living/dining & sleeping areas have sliders.

More to come...

On a rainy day last February we purchased a 2007 Wildcat from a RV dealer in Eugene and drove her home. Well, not home exactly but to a storage lot where she continues to sit as we prepare her for her maiden voyage. Sometime in July we will head to eastern Oregon or into Idaho for a week of "learning about our new travel digs" on a discovery mission. What did we forget, how much water can we use to shower and not run out, are we insane?

Tune in for the real adventures which begin in July 2010...