Just a note on the continuing saga of Obamacare and the jobs being created.

     Did you hear about some of the jobs being created due to Obamacare?  Of the thousands of jobs supposed to be created to just man call centers here in California answering questions about this fine piece of legislation, turns out it's about a 1/10th of those predicted.  Not only a very large reduction in the number of jobs but after these folks are hired their told it's only a part-time job at a lower wages than anticipated.  Why only part-time......because the State won't have to pay for health care!!!  The new employees are told health care will cost them approximately $1400 for single and $1900 for a family for health insurance.  Everyday it's something new being discovered about this Bill that no one could read until after it was voted on.  Just today the CBO comes out and once again RAISES the cost of another part of this joke......... we must scrap the Bill and not just the parts the president hasn't ALREADY scrapped, yes he has scrapped parts of his own joke of a bill.  Thank God more and more Democrats are moving away from this legislation each day.

California, near the Bay area...Pleasanton, CA.

     Holy cow why didn't someone tell me it's been 4 days since the last blog?  I apologize for letting you all hanging, no excuse just didn't sit down to the computer.  I'll try and catch up in short order......if I can be short.
     We left Oregon heading for California not know exactly what and where we were going.  I have cousins in the Sacramento area and in Modesto just west of the Bay area and we know we'd be stopping there to visit.  Oregon was a high point in the travels, it is a most beautiful State and we couldn't believe what all they grew there. As I mentioned here is so much beside lumber that comes from Oregon, not an acre without something growing on it and along the coast line the beauty is a whole different type of beauty, the ocean is very picturesque.  I'm sure of one thing, Oregon will be a State we come back to from time to time if not just to get to and from Montana or Washington and Idaho.
     There is this noise that keeps getting a bit louder as we go in the coach drive train or at least I think that's where it's coming from.  I stopped at at RV service center yesterday in Redding, California were we spent the night last night, and had the service manager take the coach for a ride to hear what I was talking about.  After we road long enough to hear what I was talking about he crawled underneath and surmised it was Transmission, but he was unsure what it was.  Maybe a catalytic converter, a baffle of some sort, flywheel....he just didn't or have a clue.  He suggested a truck transmission shop to look at it even though he didn't think it was a transmission problem, but maybe they might know what it was.  The thing drives great, the trans fluid is clean and not burnt, shifting is very good and not noise or problems.  If you know what this might be give me a call, it only happens when I letting off the gas and coasting, not when there is a pull on the engine or trans!  Any ideas Freddie?  If I find a shop on the way here to there I may stop but I thing I may just see if I can make it back home without problems.
     O.K. we're in Pleasanton, CA. just east of the Bay area, we're here for 3 days and will sight see from this as a home base for those three days.  A ride into San Francisco for sure, maybe up to Napa, San Jose is a idea or a second day in San Francisco because we both love going there and enjoy the Bay and the food.  You might be wondering why Pleasanton and it's only because where it's located with respect to Modesto and then back up to Sacramento.  We have reservations outside of Modesto for a couple of days to visit my cousin Bill Paper and his family, then we have a weeks reservations in Sacramento (near old town) where cousin Rich Paper and his wife Lynn live and their family and also cousin Don Paper an his wife Sharon and their family.  This should be about a week and a half full on keeping very busy and we can't wait.
     As soon as we entered California from Oregon Bev got a little bummed, she was noticeably upset and it was that from the coast of Oregon we started heading south into California and in doing so were actually heading down the last leg of the journey and it sadden her a bit.  I must say even though we still have about 4 weeks it does seem like it's winding down.  All good things must come to an end I guess, but it may not be too long between ventures next time.
     After all is done in the next week and a half and we must leave the Sacramento area we're hoping to have some cash left to head over to Tahoe for a few days  before making the final GPS setting for the Friendly Village of Orange Wood in Phoenix!
     I'll try not to leave you all hanging like the past few days............................  

The Pacific coast of Oregon

     Today we made it to the Pacific coast of the United States in the state of Oregon.  I was a bit worried about taking the coastal highway due to the fact that I'm driving a 37 foot motor home towing a 4 door Jeep and all in all we're about 50 feet long.  We travel from Albany/Corvallis west to the coast and then went south from Newport to Florence on the coastal highway which was about 50 miles of the coast.  Of the 50 miles about 20 was fairly straight and decent but the other 30 miles was a SOB, narrow, curves, not passing or pullouts on most of it and traffic pissed at times.  The coast looked good but Mike couldn't spend too much time looking because of the road being traveled, drop offs down to the ocean in many places that freaked me out many times!  We made it and plan on staying at the Pacific Pines RV park for two days and then I will be heading east once more to hook up with Interstate 5 south into California.  I would love to travel this coastal highway all the way down the coast of California too, but not in a motor home maybe it would have been best in our Corvette when we had it, now that would be fun!
     We got set up here in Florence at Pacific Pines and went down to the Bay for a little dinner, sea food was abounding don't ya know,  having a seafood dinner seemed a must.  I had a captains special of fish, scallops, prawns, and oysters with veggies and taters..............very good.  Bev on the other hand had surf and turf but felt there was no flavor in anything on her plate, too bad because the sea food was great and so was the bowl of award winning clam chowder. 
     They have a casino here which is a Nevada type with the table games and most all the machines you'd want to play.  Luck has been dwindling and we ended up losing  a couple of $100's (c-notes), the kitty is entering the danger zone pretty soon.
     Tomorrow we'll take the Jeep and travel a ways up and down the coast and maybe put our tootsies in the pacific at some point.

Portland, Oregon day 2

     After Bev finished some work like until 11:00 a.m. or so we took off for down town Portland for some lunch.  Ended up at a Bay...what bay I really don't know or care at this point.  We ate at a place called Lil Cooperstown but no part of our "Alice Coopers Coopers Town" in down town Phoenix.  Very nice sports type bar and some really good sandwiches and beer, PBR on tap.................Give me a Blue!
     After eating lunch we sat on a bench by the bay/harbor and just people watched for a bit and let our lunch settle before tackling the down town streets.  Not knowing what to expect we were actually pleasantly surprised with the many tree covered streets in nice shade on a semi-hot summers day.  Then we noticed the "Street Food" wagons lining one block the around the corner up another block the around that corner and down another block and so on and on........the pic's are on FB and show just a few of the street food vendors.
     We stopped at you guessed it Wal-Mart on the way home to pick up some supplies and necessities for the trip towards California.  We will be pulling out of Portland tomorrow morning heading towards the coast and down into California.  I've made contact with Rich Paper and we plan on stopping by Sacramento to visit my cousins and their families for a couple of days, right now it's hard to give them a date but maybe in a few days we'll have a better idea on a time frame.  We also want to swing by Tahoe and then over to the Bay area and down into the Napa valley and Sonoma for a bit of wine!
     Bev just asked me what route we planned on taking out of here tomorrow and I said "pick one" then she looked at me and said with a sad face........"we're heading towards home."  All good things come to and end eventually, but wait we still have a lot to do and another month to do it.

Portland, Oregon

     We spent the night last night in a suburb of Portland, Portland/Woodburn RV Park to be exact.  After a nice ride through the Columbia River Gorge we arrive early in the afternoon and got all set up by 3:30 or so.  We made contact with another friend from our home at the Friendly Village of Orange Wood, another snowbird who winters in Phoenix, Kitty Madlinger.  Kitty's from Germany originally and well renowned for her cooking ability around the park, and in charge of all our pot lucks and monthly meal get-togethers at Orange wood.  We did not intent for her to cook for us while here in the Portland area but rather than go out to eat she invited to her home for a home cooked meal.  We enjoyed an evening of conversation with Kitty, her daughter Connie and a very good dinner of pork chops, scalloped potatoes, apple sauce and salad.  The meal was much appreciated and really hit the spot, we thank Kitty and her daughter for the hospitality.  We are planning on Kitty coming to the motor home this evening for drinks and snacks and hope we can get this to happen before we leave the Portland area.
     We plan on leaving here tomorrow afternoon and heading to the coast and going down the coast as long as it visable for the motor home to navigate the sometimes narrow sections of highway.  We understand it's very beautiful but also understand it is more likely made for auto's of normal sizes and not 37 foot rigs towing 4 door Jeeps.......we see what happens, stay tuned.
     Today the plan is for Bev to wrap up some work and then do some sight-seeing of the Portland area and down town.  We do understand from friends and the news there is a real problem with homeless and the problems that go along with large groups and gatherings of these folks, so we may not spend too much time in the down town area.  Really don't like Oregon for the usual reasons, like being a PAC-Ten fan and Arizona State fan you really do hate the Ducks (O)'s and the Beaver's and the Trail Blazers for that matter!  I'm totally tired already of the freaking GIANT yellow & green "O" and saw my first copycat situation in a smaller Orange O with the word State under it for those pesky Beavers................Go Devils!
     I think it was on FB I mentioned "two months down and one to go" which means we've been on the road 55 days now, right at two months and the plans have been to get home towards the end of August.  Right now I'm feeling it wouldn't take too much to extend that after a brief stop to visit the family in Phoenix, who knows what will happen when that time comes to head home.
      
         

Back on the move

     We left Coeur d' Alene this morning and made a stop a few miles down the road in Liberty Lake, WA. just outside of Spokane at R' n R RV Super Center for some preventative maintenance on the motor home.  Made an appointment a few days ago the get the oil changed since we've put on over 4000 miles already since I had it changed before we left.  Thankfully the tech checked the generator oil and found it to need changing also so we went ahead and did a generator service on it, also the house batteries (the six batteries that power the house when not hooked to power or running down the road) had some corrosion on one of them so he cleaned them and seal to prevent the corrosives.  What the hell we're going to be here for about 6 hours so why not give the coach a washing too and so we did or they did, at .99 a  foot it was only $37 and that was cheap in my book.
     We hit the road about 2:30 or so and ended up here in Pasco,WA. (a place called the Tri-Cities) around 6:00 p.m. after a stop on the way for fuel...........which was the highest so far at $3.85/gal.  Some home-made chicken fajita's by Bev and dinner is over and we'll probably get up early and hit the road into Oregon fairly early.
     Our time in Coeur d' Alene was so enjoyable, we played three rounds of golf with friends Jeff and Margene, ate some good food and ice cream (huckleberry) and rented a pontoon boat and almost drowned............Not really but it was a scary moment for Mike anyway.  The week in Idaho with Jeff and Margene like the week in Superior, MN with friends Alan and Kathy flew by and we enjoy spending those weeks with some good friends and it will be nice when we all meet once more on the Friendly Village of Orange wood golf course or Bocce ball court this coming fall and winter.
     Short and sweet tonight and onward to visit another Orange Wood friend, Kitty Madlinger in Oregon! 

Next to last day in Coeur d' Alene

     Tomorrow is our last day in Coeur d' Alene and once again it takes me a week to remember how to spell the name of the place!  Today we are playing another round of golf at the Circling Raven Golf Club (http://cdacasino.com/golf/) which you can check out at the link I just put in ( )'s.  This day will be spent with Jeff and Margene DeSmet again and we've so enjoyed our visit and all the activities we've shared.  It will no doubt be a long day of Golf, probably some dinner afterwards and back to the bus to crash until we head out Tuesday morning.  We have that oil change at R n R RV in Spokane on the way out of town early Tuesday morning and then on to Oregon and just not sure of the route as of yet.  Tonight might be when we take a look at the map and see which way we'll be going through Oregon, we do want to stop by another friend in Oregon and will figure out how we're going to get there tonight.

     Yesterday we went down town and had lunch at a place called Crickets Bar and Grille, we ate lunch there last year and enjoy the place and the food.  It was a good place right on the sidewalk to do some people watching which is always interesting these days, no pic's of ink or chicks this year from the same local.  We had heard that yesterday was "National Ice Cream Day" so what the hell we decided (since we hadn't had huckleberry ice cream yet) this would be a good time and way to top lunch off with a scoop of Huckleberry!  We had the Huckleberry shakes in Polson but this was a scoop with all the berries and it was yummy.

     Well time to throw on the golf attire and get ready for Jeff to pick us up, today it will be dark blue shorts and subtle lime green V-neck T and the new kicks which are blue, black and lime green with my grey and lime green trimmed Calaway hat......................................Wow WTF was that, a fashion segment?  Sorry but you'll see the ensemble in the pics anyway.  Going to have a goooood day!

Pontooning on Lake Coeur d' Alene

     Yesterday (Friday the 19th) was a trip to Spokane, WA. to visit our favorite RV Super Store in the area.  We had some work there last year if you'll remember and was treated great and would recommend the place to anyone.  Anyway I made an appointment for Tuesday morning for an oil change since were now at 4015 miles traveled so far on the journey.  Based on the last few years and the 6000 plus miles we traveled those years we figure we'll be at or near 8000 or more this year.  We asked for and got two additional nights here at Blackwell Island RV resort so we'll have stayed in Coeur d' Alene for a week before we head towards and into Oregon.  Monday we have a tee time with Jeff and Margene for Coeur d' Alene Casino resort golf course, Circling Raven Golf Club.  Those of you interested in the course take a virtual tour at this link: http://dev.cdacasino.com/golf/  Awesome course it looks like.

     Today is the day we rented a 24' pontoon boat with 50 hp Mercury and spent the day cursing the lake, taking in some sun and sights, and having lunch in a little cove on the boat.  I posted some pic's on FB and a few pic's of some of the awesome homes around the lake, if there was one there was 101 fantastic homes well out of the normal persons price range for sure.  Being on the water from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. made for a long day but it seems as if it just flew by and it was time to return to the dock. 
    This old man found out almost the hard was that he's not a young man anymore.  We were hot on the boat and the water looked so refreshing, it was a bit choppy where we stopped and we thought we'd jump in to cool off a bit.  I opened the door/gate on the side of the boat and jumped into very deep, deep, cold water and this big boy went down in a hurry.  As I'm swimming back up to the top I'm finding I'm so out of shape and lacking in strength to fight my suite which was falling off and trying to get to the top and tread water.  My boat mates could see I was in trouble after the initial thought that Mike was just joking around and Jeff reached the ladder out to me to grab.  I grabbed the ladder  with one hand and was still trying to pull my suite up with the other while Jeff was trying to pull this 300 pound dude up.  I reached out and got hold of the railings left and right of the gate as Jeff replaced the ladder in it's place.  I started up the ladder but was sapped of strength and couldn't pull myself up into the boat, thank God for Jeff and between two big guys we hauled my ass back into the boat and it took a while for the old heart to stop racing and my breathing to come back to normal.  I actually was scared and a bit of panic set in and that was not good, when will I learn I can't do all things I used to do especially being so out of shape.  This trip has put some of that 33 pounds I lost before we left home back on and I need to start the program sooner rather than later and get back in the groove.  Pray for me because I need the help of the Lord on this one!
     We made it back and I'm just glad it was me that jumped in first and not Bev, not saying the same would have happen, but I'm thanking the Lord we didn't have to find out.  I think I need a bottom 8 to 10 feet down and not 100's of feet down when I jump from now on.

     Tomorrow will be another lazy day, resting up for a bit of golf and what looks like according to the virtual tour to be a challenge!

Coeur d' Alene, Idaho (Blackwell Island RV resort)

     Last year we couldn't get a site at Blackwell Island RV resort, booked up completely.  This year we called ahead a week and a half before our planned arrival and got a site for 5 days and wanted 7 days....still on a list to try and get those last two days.  Blackwell Island is the nicest RV park in Coeur d' Alene and we ended up getting stuck (they way we felt about it) at a place called Tamarack RV which was 95% filled with full time locals and when that's the case the places are usually pretty trashy.  Blackwell's is right on the lake, not really an island but Coeur d' Alene Lake on a side and the Spokane river on another, and has a beach area and all kinds of water craft rentals etc.  As a matter of fact we have reserved a 24' pontoon boat for Saturday for an outing/picnic on the lake with friends Jeff and Margene.  We're happy we were able to get the 5 days and hope for the additional 2 days but whatever, we either stay 5 days and leave or stay a couple of extra days.
     As I've mentioned before the best part of a trip like this is not having time tables or schedules to meet and having to be somewhere at or by a certain time or day.  We have always started out with a schedule to be met because of the two family reunions in Iowa  and then are free to roam if and when we feel like it, but booking RV sites seem to be a must anymore if you want a good one.  With all the motor homes, 5th wheels and pull behinds on the roads now days good RV parks and sites a usually full and reservations are becoming a must.  We like the idea of driving down the road and if we feel like stopping for the night no matter how early we do so and at that time look for an RV park or resort (as a lot of them are calling themselves now) but then a Wal-Mart parking lot may be all you can find.  We don't mind that for a night here or there, but for a few day or extended stay not a good idea as you can imagine.  It seems no matter the price of gas the highways and byways are being filled with recreational vehicles more and more.
     Back to Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.......We like it here and enjoy our visits, we jumped right in the first day and played golf and ate at our favorite Italian restaurant and now on our second day we're playing golf once more but only 9 holes today.  We'll find our way down town to roam the shops and sites for the likes of us tourist, this is another nice down town area with fine shopping and eateries along the main street.  Oh yes and we'll be indulging in a "huckleberry shake" from our favorite little ice cream shop just up from down town.
     Friday will probably be a ride over to Spokane, WA.( it's like 5 or 10 miles) for the day and just some putzing about and then getting preparations made for the picnic on the lake  with the pontoon boat.  There should be some good pic's on FB of our day on the lake so be sure and check those out come Sunday or Monday.
     Starting to really miss the kids and grand-kids quite a bit, face time works for a bit but just not the same and having them jump up on my lap, but it won't be long and we'll be heading back.  It's hard to believe we've been on the road for 47 days already but it really is just over half way of our scheduled 3 month trip, so there's still a lot to see and do between here and there.

       

Catching up time

     Well we're now in Polson, MT. right on Flathead Lake a most beautiful place and one I'd summer in if it was something I was looking to do.  But I'd need to accumulate some toys again, like quads, a bass boat, and/or a pontoon or house boat would be even better.  Oh well when the ship comes in if it ever does I'll give it some more thought.
     We pulled into Polson a day early for our reservations at the KOA so we spent the first night here at a place called the Eagles Nest RV park and would stay there again.  It was a bit cheaper than the KOA with the same type amenities but we have found you pretty much know what you're getting with a KOA before you even arrive.  When Bev finally retires (and that might be a while from now since she can preform her business at a high level even when traveling thanks to today's technology) I wouldn't mind being a worker camper for KOA, they pay you, give you free space, and you work for 2 -3 month or more stints.  Jobs range from working the desk, the store, cutting grass, maintenance, any of a number of things.
     Anyway yesterday we spent the day after setting up at the KOA reacquainting our selves with Polson and the Flathead Lake area.  We had our first Huckleberry shake of the season, and hope to get more Huckleberry products and oh yes it's cherry time in Montana's northwest and this is the right time of year with the festival this weekend.  They have said on the news that some stands selling cherries are not selling real Northwest Montana cherries, misleading the public since the real ones arrive this week.  I'm thinking of sending my good friend Dave some to make a pie (he makes a mean cherry pie) problem is I won't be there to help him eat it.  We had a nice Mexican lunch at Fiesta en Jalisco, it was as good as last year, we're weren't disappointed. 
     After checking the shows playing and times at the little theater down town, we did some sightseeing of homes in the area and a couple of golf courses.  The one executive type course we liked so much last year (Silver Fox) was in pretty good shape except for the greens, half of them had water problems and were red/brown in color on 75% of the green itself.  We'll probably play Polson golf club instead this year.  We had a couple of hours left before showtime so why not visit the local casino with some of the "casino kitty cash" we accumulated...so we did.  You must know by now we're not much different than the majority of senior citizens across the United States who enjoy gaming and can't pass one (casino) by without giving it a look see.  We've been very fortunate over the years, not bragging ma'am, just the facts I've usually got very good luck and if not today it all comes back tomorrow and more (knocking on wood here)!  Anyway Bev loses $80 and Mike wins $475 an so the kitty grows just hope I can still say that come the end of our travels.  So it's small town theater time and Bev loves going to movies, not so much me except when we're visiting a small town joint like this one.  We saw the "Heat" and laughed our asses off along with the 24 other folks in the theater (which seats 150) on a Sunday night, the movie was very funny but not an award winner in my opinion.
     Today is one of those lazy days around the camp, maybe a bit of laundry later, Bev has some work to do and I'll be doing some window washing and bug cleaning off the front of the bus!  I'll probably take a couple of pictures and post on FB of the camp and Lake later so be sure to check us out there also.  One more night and day here and it will be off to Couer d' Alene Idaho for about a week, it's only about a 3 or 4 hours drive so not a big travel day for another week or so.     

PC = Political Correctness!

     I know...no political crap, but bear with me just for this one for now.  I just was watching some news and seen where some politicians are proposing (it probably would never happen but may straighten some idiots out) to cut funding to schools etc. who's administrators and teachers punish, humiliate, scare, and send totally wrong messages to our young school children when it comes to PC.  When a child is asked to change his or her name because when he or she signs (as in sign language) a part of it looks or resembles a handgun.  We played "cops and robbers" "cowboys and Indians" with finger guns for ever, no harm folks.........no harm.  The harm is the emotional harm you're doing to our kids scorning them for playing with toys and kid games!  A Lego toy or a toy made out of Lego's is not a weapon, it scares no one, kids know this.  Wearing a T-shirt with for example an NRA symbol on it or multitudes of others like your country's flag or your love for God, you all know what I'm talking about...........stop it!

     Do you think the last couple of generations are who have the problems, this wasn't a problem in generations past.........why now!  Stop it!  Everything isn't about race you all are just making it so, guns are not the problem, the folks using them for ill are the problem.

     I could go on and on and on, but you know where I'm coming from and thinking about PC....why must everything have an acronym these days?  You're killing me here, your freaking texting and the like has pushed this stuff way beyond the limit.

Walmart and RV parking

     We're in Butte, MT tonight after about 250 miles of driving.  Couldn't get an RV spot because they have a jamboree and a Folk fest going on this weekend so it's Wal-Mart in a pinch.  It's a full house tonight, we're here with about 18 other units and thank God for Wal-Mart allowing this.  This letting RV's park overnight in their parking lots is just another in what has been great ideas by the Wal-Mart folks.  When we park at a Wal-Mart we 9 out of 10 times go in and pick up supplies, no different tonight and I know most all of the 19 units parked here tonight did the same.  We were in need of quit a few things and as usual when we get in there we pick up just other shit we had no intention of picking up.  Like to night I got a new pair of lounging shorts, Bev some footy socks, a couple of baskets for the coach and a throw rug.........then came the groceries!  So far our camping tonight was the most expensive nightly charge since we've owned the rig, $191.30 got us out the door!  Yep Wal-Mart came up with another winner and I don't usually like the store and never use them back home, but on the road there is no place better is seems.

     Not sure what we're going to do tomorrow, we can't get into KOA Polson, Flathead Lake MT. until Sunday the 14th and need to be to Blackwell's in Couer d' Alene til the 16th so maybe another night here or maybe check out down the road a piece.  

       Ran into a group of folks right out of the 60's man....in a small class C Winnebago and out of gas at the station I'm filling up at.  One of them asked for some money for gas, I said no man real fast.  Thought about it a minute and seen him walking across the lot and summoned him over.   "Dude where you from?" "San Diego man"....."Where you going?" " Denver man"...(just like country Joe would have said it.) How do you leave "San Diego for Denver via Butte Montana without gas money?"..."Don't need money man...need gas!"   Wow.........I've been fortunate lately and gave the dude $40 and said "make sure this goes into the tank" "Wow dude..thanks" He looked at the two $20's like they were hundred dollar bills and went to tell his mates!
Wait..........the best part is we're at the store (Wal-Mart waiting in line and ask the clerk if there is low unemployment since he's the only one working 30 check out lines and folks lined up 6 or 7 deep. He says as straight as he can "No one in Butte can pass a drug test!" Wondering who I actually gave the $40 to?  They call them rainbow people around here and don"t agree with giving them anything.............man right out of the 60's I'm telling you but it's their grandparents who actually participated in the "real 60's and their just wanna bee's!

     I love the "Big Sky Country of Montana" it's a beautiful place especially in the summer months!  Did I ever tell you I spent the coldest winter of my live in Great Falls, Montana in 1967-68.....the Hawk as it's known blows mighty hard and cold.

 

Short days travels full of stuff..............

     We didn't travel far today 195 miles that's only about 2 1/2 hours of driving.  Left Bismarck, ND and ended up in Glendive, Montana and the only RV park here is just that, a real DIVE!  It's cheap at $20 for 50 amps and water but I was just plain bushed and didn't feel like driving into Billiings which was our planned stopping point.  Why so bushed..........well we stopped for nine holes of golf at "Bully pulpit Golf course" in Medora, ND.  A young man at Nevada Bob's in Duluth was telling us if we came anywhere near this course we should give it a go, so we did and enjoyed it for the most part and found it to have some holes equal to some of the best holes in Arizona.  The North Dakota Bad Lands surround this golf course which was made by and with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, dedicated to preserving the rich history.  It was named "Bully Pulpit" because Bully was Teddy's favorite term and Pulpit because the way all the tee boxes are like platforms or pulpits looking down and over the fairways.  I'll be putting some pictures on FB of a couple of the holes and the beauty the course holds.
     On a different subject, I think of a lot of things while driving down the roads.  I have a lot of time to myself with Bev usually busy with her phone, computer and work calls especially when there's a 3 hour time zone difference.  At times it's nice just being alone with my thoughts and others it's probably annoying to Bev when I sing to my hearts content, especially when I can find an oldies station on the radio.  Anyway for the past couple of days I've been dwelling on who's the keepers of the highways and byways, the interstates and the back roads, who's constantly watching over these roads?  I've come up with what I think is the answer, it's the "Red-wing Black bird"............I find that no matter what State I travel in is seems these birds are always along the road side sitting up on fences, reeds, sign post, mile markers etc.  You usually can't travel much more than a mile without seeing one or two or flying across the road looking for something tall and skinny to lite on.  Other than watching those birds I also to this point must keep my eyes peeled for deer running onto the road.  Iowa and Wisconsin was freaking nuts with deer along the road sides and jumping out and running out and many just laying along the roads dead.   We've seen literally dozens of deer just standing along the roads in the weeds thinking about it, it seemed the closer to towns and cities they became more plentiful.  We had one close call with on yesterday darting out of the trees, I seen it running towards the road and started hitting the brakes and all of a sudden (with things flying off shelves and tables in the back) the stops at the roads edge as I pass it by..........close call.
     Gotta enhance, crop, shade and basically get my pictures ready for FB, check them out the golf course and Bad Lands should be some good pics.





   

On the move westward.....

     OK, yesterday we left Superior, WI. and ended up spending the night....you guessed at a casino called 7-Clans near Thief River Falls, MN.  It was out of the way but a very nice place and always a good place to have a little dinner and gaming.  Didn't start off very good gaming wise but ended up winning about $100 so it was worth the stop and the space rent was free.  Took off in the morning and made a stop in Larimore, ND where Bev and her family lived while Dad was stationed at the USAF base outside of Grand Forks, North Dakota.  As it turns out it was were Bev had some of the most fondest memories of her childhood as it turns out, and she was very happy we made the stop.  We visited the school Mark attend (he asked if we'd look in on his trophies in the trophy case) and visited a while with the schools A.D. and reminisced with her about some of names Bev could remember going to school with.  She indicated that next year in July the 3rd week they were having an all school reunion and all old trophies would be brought out of storage and displayed for anyone to take theirs if they found them.  We found the house they lived in, some changes were or had been made and a barn was missing but all in all Bev recognized the place right off.  The DQ her Dad took them to was now a place called "Scoops" and was still serving ice cream to the folks of Larimore.
     We continued our travels westward after Larimore toward Bismarck, North Dakota and I even thought about driving on a while into Montana and Miles City but why push so we looked up a KOA camp ground in Bismarck and found one with an opening for the night.  So it was right about 4:30 and we got set up for the night but after a big lunch at Arby's we had a light dinner, Bev ate leftover Ribeye steak from Grizzly's in Superior and I added my left over wood fire chicken to some chips and made myself some nacho's.  This was all topped off a bit later with some popcorn  and Mike's hard lemonade....good dinner!
     We'll leave her probably by 9:30 or 10:00 a.m. and head into Montana and try and make Billings, figure it's about 5:30 or 6 hours of driving at the pace we travel.

     Oh I forgot to mention Bullyan RV in Duluth, MN. and the RV repairs.  The had the shroud in stock and said they'd replace a fuse for the bedroom reading light but as they had told me when I called initially they would be having to squeeze us in.  They opened at 8:30 and we got there at 8:00 a.m. and about 8;15 I met a service tech by the name of Vince and talked a bit about what I had talked to the service manager about a few days before.   He was nice about it but didn't want to promise anything and figured it might be the best part of the day.  When 8:30 came I went in and Vince wrote up a ticket and just said we'll do what we can why don't you guys go get some breakfast and that's what we did.  After a good breakfast and reading the news paper we decided to head back to Bullyan and see if the RV had even been moved inside yet, it was about 10:00 now and when we got there it was being pulled out and into the pickup area...amazing!  Vince was going to call us when it was finished so we went inside and picked up a few items we needed and while shopping he called and I told him I was in the store already.  They got us right in (knowing we were on the road and it was starting to rain) put the new shroud on, sealed around the A/C unit, replaced the filter inside and broken vent that had been glue repaired by me and replaced the fuse for the lights in the bedroom.  Top notch service once again by an RV service center while on the road, Camping world in Mesa you have a lot of changing to catch up with some of these places we've visited in the past few years!  All is good, no leaks, lights for reading and all is well.

Wrap up day on the North Shore of Lake Superior

     Yep, it's time to wrap things up and get ready to pull out of here tomorrow. There are chores to be done in preparation for our departure, but we've done it so many times it a routine now. We need to be at the RV Service center tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. and hope that they don't have it all day, but whatever we need this taken care of for rainy days and leaks into the bedroom. The A/C shroud will take care of this and we can be on our way. They are squeezing us in and getting there at 8:00 a.m. might help insure the 11:00 a.m. time they have for us will be met.
     Bev is doing a load of laundry so that when we leave that is all caught up while I clean around the coach.  She keeps robbing my "Big Texas" cup on the counter in which I throw all my change for the kids piggy bank for the quarters, so I just gave her a $20 to get quarters at the office.  The cup is one I bought in Texas when we were last there, it actually holds about 2 to 2 1/2 cups of liquid and it was full of change before last laundry day.  The grand kids religiously get every penny of change I get at the end of each day.
     Read for the second time in the past year of so about the pennies in a half full sandwich bag (baggie) of water getting rid of fly's.  A friend, Sherri Cox had posted it yesterday on Face Book so I tried it where we were having a bit of a problem with fly's, so far after 24 hours it is working great.  No fly's today or last night so I'm sold on this nifty trick on the fly's and those many eyes they have!
     By the way I may not denote paragraphs with all those ............................ anymore, what a goof, trying to do this on the "compose" rather than "HTML" and this should work, don't take me long to catch on does it....duh!
     We road up the South Shore yesterday to Bayfield, WI. and ran right into an Indian Pow Wow, the Red Cliff 35th traditional Pow Wow.  A nice souvenir button for the $5 to get in and Bev naturally had some Fry Bread (a fry bread taco actually) and I had a Bison burger which was terrific!  Many colorful outfits worn by the Indians participating in the dancing and ceremony, and I'll never figure out how those big bad braves have such high voices when doing their chants while beating the drums.  At times and I'm not being disrespectful, when their chanting it's almost or sounds similar to packs of coyotes I heard so many times living in Arizona.  Besides the colorful outfits and all the feathers and skins, the high point for us had to be the young boys participating in the hand held drum singing as they call it.   This is chanting with English rhymes or words to the songs mixed in with the chanting or Indian words and some where really funny, overall these were brave little guys....no pun intended.  Check FB for some pic's of these colorful outfits and more.  Oh yes, they had a casino there also and we had to give it a go as you might imagine and so glad we did the kitty grows once more!

    

Raining like hell to end a good day

Did some sightseeing today, took some pictures and ended the day on a 3 hours train ride up the North shore. Found a lookout spot over looking down town and the industrial parts of Duluth, the day was cloudy but still got a few good pic's. Had some coffee and tea at a little joint on the lake side, met a gal working there from Mesa, Arizona, she said she liked walking on the green grass. I asked if she liked walking on the grass after is was covered with a few feet of white stuff and she said no..........you learn to bundle a lot and you also learn to appreciate the good days even though there aren't that many(her words not mine). We ate lunch at a Mexican joint in Fitger's and it turned out to be very good, Jalisco type Mexican food and it tasted like it too. From there we went across a third bridge here in Duluth which crosses over onto a long peninsula reaching out into the lake. For the most part while driving to the end of the peninsula we could see water off each side of the single road running the length of the peninsula. For the most part this couldn't be more that two football fields wide and to enter you crossed a hydraulic bridge where the deck was raised up and down to let the big ships pass through. This was amazing and something we had never seen anything like it before(pic's on FB). From there we had a date with a train, the North Shore Scenic railroad, a three hour train hide up the North shore with pizza, beer and soda and other snacks served while traveling. This was very relaxing but not very scenic. Bev and I seen far more super scenery driving up the North shore the day before, but still enjoyed the company and the relaxing train ride.................................... Like I start off with, it started pouring down rain as soon as we left the depot and hasn't really quit some 3 plus hours later. Very heavy rains and we have a small leak where the rear A/C unit is with a cover (which will be fixed on Tuesday, pray for no more rain until after that). Tomorrow morning it's breakfast with our friends the Nelson's and the last we'll see of them until we meet again on the golf course at Orange wood village in Phoenix. We will thank them for their hospitality and the golfing we shared, their days are full Sunday and Monday and we hope to leave Tuesday if repairs go smoothly. The next couple of days will be most likely largely uneventful, maybe laundry, reading, and just relaxing and maybe doing some cleaning of the coach.

Happy 4th of July ******

A good day all around, started off with a round of golf with friends, a terrific burger at "Aces on 29th", then going to the movies with Beverly to see "The Lone Ranger" and then some fireworks over looking Lake Superior and down town Duluth, then a few minutes at the casino down town Duluth with about a $300 profit........long day but very good day and improved on yesterdays round of 96 with a round of 92 today. First off the Movie the Lone Ranger was great, we both loved it and would/will see it again for sure. Regardless if you grew up with the Lone Ranger or not you'll really enjoy this flick and Johnny Depp makes Tonto so much fun you won't believe it. Not just your run of the mill western, no it's got plenty of laughs to be had throughout.............................. Fireworks in this area is a hoot, all around the Lake you see fireworks being launched and then the big show off the lake shore from down town Duluth is very good, no Las Vegas on New Years Eve but very, very good for sure. Folks are out in the thousands parking wherever they can, on boulevards in between the freeways up on curbs, all parking lots full and the Jeep fit just fine in this grass area between overpasses and freeways with the rest of the nuts!................................. After leaving the fireworks just before they ended to beat the traffic we drove down town to this casino like on main street right down town in a three story building. Not the fanciest casino you'll ever visit but we've stopped in twice and won at least a few $100 each trip so why not so we did and took another $300 out of the joint. In that respect the trip has been a big success, the kitty has been in the thousands ever since the first stop at a casino outside of Flagstaff, yes I'm knocking on wood as I type! We have slowed down and they dwindle a bit between here and Idaho and believe it or not Mike is getting a bit tight with the funds.......................... Tomorrow is a sight seeing day and a trip to an RV service center to see about getting an appointment to get an A/C cover for the back unit, as far as I can tell it might have been blown off during that storm leaving Des Moines and all the strong winds and sheets of rain we drove through. No big deal just hope they have one in stock and ready to install................................. We'll probably stay here in the Superior/Duluth area through the weekend and leave Monday for points further west, planned on leaving Friday but need that A/C cover and today was a holiday and they were closed. It's late and I'm up way too long so off to bed and see ya tomorrow!

Day 5 in Superior/Duluth

Hard to believe we've been here 5 days already, so much more we want to see and do here and now not sure when we will leave. Had planned on leaving after 7 days but a couple of things may change that, like another round of golf and looking up an RV service center. The only thing I can figure is that while driving in the storms and strong winds and sheeting rain from Des Moines into upper Iowa/Wisconsin we lost the cover off one of the A/C units on the roof. Need to see about getting another one and having the black water valve checked since it's been working hard to close (not a good thing) and don't want problems with that shit (literally)!........................ Had a great dinner with Kathy and Alan Nelson last night, born and raised in Superior, Wisconsin but now and have been for some years winter residence of Phoenix (Orange Wood village). We have golf with them today and then again tomorrow before celebrating the 4th and fire works over looking the lake. It's nice hooking up with friends while traveling and we have more of that to look forward to in Idaho and Oregon as we travel on towards home. We are really looking forward to seeing some things in North Dakota believe it or not but as I've said more than once before "there is so much to see and do in the United States" and we love exploring new towns and areas of this beautiful and wonderful country...................................... Once again this morning I looked at my phone(which I do occasionally while traveling)and seen 3 voice-mails all of which were from my Mother. When she calls I answer the phone, but so far I haven't been returning all, some but not all of the voice-mails. To hear them you'd think she might be in real trouble but since this last visit to Davenport I'm understanding more of what my family is and has been going through with her Alzheimer/Dementia. And yes my sister mentioned the "sun downer syndrome" which really is true I'm finding. Most the calls and voice mails are towards evening when she really seems to get bad. This is very hard to deal with and harder to understand from her side I'm sure as from those around her. I give my niece Mandy all the credit in the world for handling this on a daily basis and taking care of someone we all love dearly. Mom does not remember calling me or talking to me 5 minutes after we talk or call, it's hard to answer her questions honestly when you know just agreeing and going along with her will end things sooner if you know what I mean. It's oh so sad to watch someone who accomplished all that she did and go through all that she has gone through end up this way. You can see it scares the hell out of her and then in turn scares the hell out of me and the family. I will call Mom today and hopefully she'll be better and not so scared as in the voice-mails last night, she sounds so afraid in those evening calls as I'm sure she really is but there's nothing we can do.............................. On a brighter note we have a great day planned and since it doesn't get dark here until well after 9:00 p.m. we may do some more sightseeing and picture taking after golf and dinner. The days are flying by it seems, it's hard to believe we've been on the road for over a month already but oh so thankful the weather has been much better this past week. Heading to the stove to make a little breakfast and get ready to leave the motor home in about an hour for today's activities!