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.