April 29, 2009

I enjoyed my book and the radio last night. We hit the sack early...9:30PM! Today is overcast and cool, but not freezing. We're traveling Highway 84 along the Oregon side of the Columbia River. The cliffs are very impressive and covered with green and purple and yellow flowers. It's hard to capture in a camera, but we're saving it in our memories. Lewis & Clark traveled this route. I wonder how they would like the changes we've made. ~~ Made it safely to Alderwood RV Resort at 14007 N Newport Hwy (Hwy 2) in Mead (Spokane) WA. 509-467-5320 The ride was uneventfull and only a few WOW sights. The camp host here majored in speed talking so we have no clue as to finding our way around, even to the dog walk. As for the internet connection ???

April 28, 2009

The campground was actually OK for a Motel/RV Park combination. We had leftover spegetti and TV before bed. Hope today's weather cooperates regarding snow. That is a possibility today. The weather station also reported an earthquake at 9.0 in this area. After staring hard at each other, the TV continued that the announcement was a "test run". We don't know exactly where we are going today as there are only a few campgrounds listed along this route, with only a few sites and they don't take reservations! A few of our neighbors are also heading in the same direction and they pulled out before us. Guess they might get a spot ahead of us. We're shooting for Rufus, Oregon. 286 miles. We stopped for gas at Chemult, OR in light snow flurries. It's against the law in Oregon to pump your own gas?? All is going well with light snow and rain on & off. We did run into our neighbors at a rest stop this afternoon. We both honked hello. We will have traveled Oregon from bottom to top. Our route (97) is mostly farm and forest and some mountains. We passed the shoe tree (literally) a few miles ago. It was a large, dead tree with 100 minimum tennis shoes tied to the branches. Is that some Indian folklore? A white ring necked pheasant just crossed in front of us (Pretty). Arrived safely just across the Washington State line and the Columbia River. The campground is Maryhill State Park at 50 Hwy 97 in Goldendale, WA. 360-902-8844. (rates 3+) We had some confusion as there was another campground name on a sign right at the entrance to the park we wanted, but after Norm's blood pressure (and mine) went down, we set up in a nice site next to the river. Big trees, green grass, seagulls and only $26.00 per night. This is our first stay in a State Park. Other than no reservation policy, it might be a nice option. It is very pretty.

April 27, 20009

Clear and cool and a quick start, but we slowed down due to a nice conversation with neighbors. (Shared truck & travel stories) We will stay at Rocky Point Resort 541-356-2287 at 28121 Rocky Point Road in Klamath Falls, OR. 296 miles We're traveling from Nevada to California to Oregon today. ~~We were just inspected by an agricultural guy in California. He just checked the fridge and a new bag of clementines we bought in Nevada. Nice guy, he let us keep our food! Now we've been border patrolled several times, DUI check-pointed in New Mexico and now our refrigerator. So far, we've passed all tests. ~~ We're passing through Milford, CA , population 70, established in 1894 and we saw 2 cowboys on horseback doing a round-up. You have to believe me as I missed the picture - again. ~~ Just reached Antelope Summit at 5,472' on highway 139. We've put this on our DNDA list. (Do not do again) If it were'nt so frightening, it would be beautiful. Just saw 2 white pelicans on Eagle Lake. Wish it was a four lane road, or at least had shoulders! Oops, we figured out we would be going out of our way to the campground we picked out, so now it's Oregon 8 Motel & RV Park. (rates 2+) Mandy knows the name, but not the address so we'll see. 541-883-3431 at 5225 Hwy 97 North.

April 26, 2009

We plan to visit a nearby Unity Church today and then Nascar, laundry and plan the next five days travel. ~~ Found the Church, and again, nice people and inspiring message. The afternoon was laundry, Nascar race (Jimmy DNF) and then returned the monitor. Tomorrow is Klamath Falls, OR.

April 25, 2009

Today was a short ride to Virginia City, NV. This is an old western town on top of a mountain. Very cute and touristy but we had lunch at the Bonanza Saloon that boasts a 100 mile view.

We ate there since they gave us 2 coupons for "buy one drink, get one free" plus $4.00 worth of coins for $3.00 to use in their casino. Needless to say we had 2 beers each and lost $8.00 in the slots! We shopped and Norm got another t-shirt and I got a leather jacket in a leather store for $20.00. (Don't tell anyone) Hope I don't ever get it wet or dirty...The rest of today's story is I took the laptop into the office since I couldn't get online - with my new monitor hooked up. The lady in the office said she could help me if I brought in the computer. Ends up, I still couldn't connect to the internet, but her husband showed me how to lighten the screen on my laptop !! Now I'll be returning the new monitor since the laptop screen is no longer black. Life is Good.

April 24, 2009

Cold and windy. We decided to stay a couple more days so we went and paid the rent. We went off to a nearby Best Buy to solve the computer problem with the laptop monitor. We looked at new computer prices and found out from the Geek Squad that our computer is OK. We could get another external monitor to be able to use the computer even thought it would be awkward. Awkward is a little better than broke! After buying a monitor and a back up thingy for pictures, etc. we got in a Walmart trip plus Costco for steak and hamburger. Oh! We got snowed on in the parking lot! This is April, what is going on? After shopping, we left for disc golf, even though it was almost 4PM. What a beautiful and difficult course. 1st - it was freezing with snow on the trees that fell on us when the wind blew, or when we hit a tree with the disc. 2nd - It was up and down the side of a big mountain. We had another beautiful view of the lake from several of the holes. 3rd - We were afraid we would be locked in the park as no one else was there and there was a gate when we came in. Again, all's well that ends well. It was the most beautiful course we have played so far and we got out the gate and home in time to cook and eat our new steaks by 8PM.

April 23, 2009

Took a ride to Lake Tahoe and did a 2 mile hike around the lake...Spooner Lake, that is. Nice walk, snow on the ground and Chassis enjoyed herself. After a picnic of two granola bars in the car, we drove the 70+ miles around Lake Tahoe and stoped several times for pictures. It is really spectacular. Nice day and we scoped out a disc golf course in Zephr Cove. Maybe Friday we'll play.

April 22, 2009

Next destination is Carson City, Nevada. 232 miles. The campground is Comstock Country RV Resort 755-882-2445 at 5400 S. Carson Street. We saw a giant sequoia in Independence, NV planted by Teddy Roosevelt, so Norm got to see at least one big tree. This trip so far is beautiful, but we are really climbing....just hit 6000'~~~10 minutes later, 7000' and just saw Indian snow (apachee here, apachee there) and we're in a forest. It is so beautiful here it looks like a painting. Stopped at our 1st open rest stop with the redwoods and snow. It's about 60 degrees, sunny and Chassis rolled in the snow. She is a happy - cool - camper. We thought we were at the highest elevation but we've decended for quite a while and passed another 7000' elevation sign. Good thing we didn't know! Now we are passing through Lee Vining and it's true the Eastern pass into Yosemite is closed but Mono Lake is on our route North (& UP) and it is spectacular. OMG, what a beautiful spot. Just passed Conway Summit, 8,138'. It's hard to keep up this log. I don't want to forget anything and I don't want to miss anything. ~~Exciting day, four deer crossed in front of us, going downhill, from over 8000' elevation. They made it, and so did we but I missed the picture. The other fun thing is that we can clear 13' height with the RV. (Gas stop excitement) Good thing we don't have high ceilings. It's 4PM and we're all set up. Found the TV channels and the dog walk. No dogs but Chassis...Life is Good. We met nice neighbors who are in their 3rd year of RVing. We plan to visit Lake Tahoe, Virginia City, Reno and anything else we can find.