It was a lovely day for a drive and a picnic. We chose to drive south from Anchorage down the Seward Highway to the coastal town of Seward. We took the car, leaving the RV at camp. This saved on gas. It was about a three-hour drive but was worth the effort and time. The breathtaking views around each curve kept us intrigued! We saw seven glaciers at one point, but it seemed they were everywhere. The town of Seward was covered up with tourists, most of whom seemed to be in RVs. There were dozens of RV parks on every street and especially on the coastal road. There were places to buy tickets for boat and plane tours, and shops of every kind in which to spend money.
We chose to have our picnic lunch at a spot on the seacoast where we could see boats go by. The temperature was very cool, possibly high 50s at noon, warming up to low 60s in the afternoon. The tourists from ships and from RVs and even locals were out walking, jogging or taking a stroll along the seacoast. We saw many bicycles, and even one man peddling a buggy type taxi with a couple in the buggy seat. Gil said he saw these in Thailand.
After lunch we drove around just a bit more in the town, then headed back north to Anchorage. The views were somewhat different from this angle, but just as breath-taking, if not more so. We got back to base about 4 pm and Gil and the kids took the car for a wash. Now it is time for me to start supper. Tomorrow we head out toward Valdez. I will have more pictures then.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday on Elmendorf Base
There is nothing exciting to report today from Alaska, except a beautiful sunny day with temps in the mid-high 60s. Shorlty after 8 am this morning Gil took Suzanne and the RV into Anchorage to have the oil changed. This chore ended up taking the entire morning because he did not have an appoitment, but had to be worked into their schedule. At the same time, Mitchel and I took the laundry down to one of the camp laundromats and it took us 3 hrs. to get that chore done. Then the rest of the morning for us was spent at the commissary picking up some groceries.
Luckily our FamCamp here is just inside the gate of the base, so the place where Gil took the RV was very close outside the base gate and the commissary was just a few blocks away for us to shop. After lunch Gil and I got in a nap (we seldom get this luxury anymore) while the kids watched a DVD on the computer. Gil and I then went to the base hospital (which again is very close to the FamCamp, right across the road) and attempted to get our prescriptions filled. It took several hours waiting on them and then we found out they could not fill two of them for us. One can be filled off base at a pharmacy and the other will possibly be in stock in a few days.
We once again returned to camp, fixed the kids some hotdogs then went to the NCO club for a meal (late birthday for me). Turns out that bases have changed a lot since we retired from USAF, so the NCO club was not operating their dining rooms but had a snack bar only during the week. We ended up with a fish plate (catfish for Gil and Alaskan snapper for me). It was still early so we ended up just off base at Lowe's for a part Gil needed for the RV. So, now it is 7:15 and our day is winding down. Suzanne is so tired she has gone to bed. The sun is still high in the sky, so Mitch went out for a walk. I have only 3 pictures from today; one taken inside the hospital which is a huge complex and very modern. They are adding to it and it will soon be a joint hospital for VA, AFB and Army personnel in the area. The other two pictures were taken on base as we drove back from the NCO club. We are told none of the clubs (NCO, or Officer) open on weeknights, but only on weekends. I guess with other places on base to eat like Burger King and food courts at the BX and Commissary Base Maul along with those fast food places off base, the base does not see the need for the clubs to be open all week. Naturally there are still the dining facilities for the base personel (what we used to call chow halls).
So, there you are....a boring day with the Niemeir-Express. We intend to go into Anchorage tomorrow with the car to stop at the Welcome Center to find out what we might do in this area. We have plans to go to Seward for a couple of nights, and also to Valdez before we leave Alaska. Stay tuned for more details, and hopefully a more interesting day.
Luckily our FamCamp here is just inside the gate of the base, so the place where Gil took the RV was very close outside the base gate and the commissary was just a few blocks away for us to shop. After lunch Gil and I got in a nap (we seldom get this luxury anymore) while the kids watched a DVD on the computer. Gil and I then went to the base hospital (which again is very close to the FamCamp, right across the road) and attempted to get our prescriptions filled. It took several hours waiting on them and then we found out they could not fill two of them for us. One can be filled off base at a pharmacy and the other will possibly be in stock in a few days.
We once again returned to camp, fixed the kids some hotdogs then went to the NCO club for a meal (late birthday for me). Turns out that bases have changed a lot since we retired from USAF, so the NCO club was not operating their dining rooms but had a snack bar only during the week. We ended up with a fish plate (catfish for Gil and Alaskan snapper for me). It was still early so we ended up just off base at Lowe's for a part Gil needed for the RV. So, now it is 7:15 and our day is winding down. Suzanne is so tired she has gone to bed. The sun is still high in the sky, so Mitch went out for a walk. I have only 3 pictures from today; one taken inside the hospital which is a huge complex and very modern. They are adding to it and it will soon be a joint hospital for VA, AFB and Army personnel in the area. The other two pictures were taken on base as we drove back from the NCO club. We are told none of the clubs (NCO, or Officer) open on weeknights, but only on weekends. I guess with other places on base to eat like Burger King and food courts at the BX and Commissary Base Maul along with those fast food places off base, the base does not see the need for the clubs to be open all week. Naturally there are still the dining facilities for the base personel (what we used to call chow halls).
So, there you are....a boring day with the Niemeir-Express. We intend to go into Anchorage tomorrow with the car to stop at the Welcome Center to find out what we might do in this area. We have plans to go to Seward for a couple of nights, and also to Valdez before we leave Alaska. Stay tuned for more details, and hopefully a more interesting day.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday night near Denali Park; Sunday in Anchorage
Saturday night Gil took a picture outside the camper at 10:30 at night to show how dark it is NOT...then again at 1 am on Sunday morning to show the twilight hour. We left our campsite Sunday morning a little late because we knew we didn't have far to drive today to get to Elmendorf AFB near Anchorage. It was nice to sleep late - about 7:00. When we finally got on the road we really enjoyed the drive. We could see mountains on both sides of the highway and at one point we realized we could see Mt. McKinley in the distance and it was so tall and majestic it took our breath away. What a wonderful birthday present I had! It was shortly after that, Aunt Margie, that I lost signal on my phone. Sorry. I will call again soon.
We continued down the highway toward Anchorage and just enjoyed the beauty of God's handmaking. About 135 miles out of Anchorage we came upon a rest area and a wonderful view of the Denali Park from the south. We enjoyed this rest stop for our lunch break then continued on to Wasilla where we got a little sprinkling of rain. We got gas there ($2.93) and got back on the road. We got to the AFB just on the outskirts of Anchorage about 4 pm. It really is nice. Each campsite has shade because the camp is in a wooded area. It was in the low 60s by that time so setting up camp was so pleasant. I intended to do a big wash, but the laundry was very busy so I decided to put that off until in the morning while Gil takes the RV into town for its oil change (2nd one on the trip). We will plan some fun activity then for the afternoon. The host here at the camp lives here all summer, then flies back to Arkansas for the winter months. He owns property in Bismarck near DeGray Lake. We meet nice people everywhere we go.
I fixed supper for the passengers of the Niemeir-Express so they cleaned up the kitchen for me so I could check email. They did a great job. Gil and Suzanne have gone for a walk around the camp. We warned the kids they can't go off the road or ramble in the woods because the signs posted say there are bears in this area. I would love to see one from a distance again (saw two in Canada) but not up close and personal!
Will close for now and catch you up another night. God Bless you all.
We continued down the highway toward Anchorage and just enjoyed the beauty of God's handmaking. About 135 miles out of Anchorage we came upon a rest area and a wonderful view of the Denali Park from the south. We enjoyed this rest stop for our lunch break then continued on to Wasilla where we got a little sprinkling of rain. We got gas there ($2.93) and got back on the road. We got to the AFB just on the outskirts of Anchorage about 4 pm. It really is nice. Each campsite has shade because the camp is in a wooded area. It was in the low 60s by that time so setting up camp was so pleasant. I intended to do a big wash, but the laundry was very busy so I decided to put that off until in the morning while Gil takes the RV into town for its oil change (2nd one on the trip). We will plan some fun activity then for the afternoon. The host here at the camp lives here all summer, then flies back to Arkansas for the winter months. He owns property in Bismarck near DeGray Lake. We meet nice people everywhere we go.
I fixed supper for the passengers of the Niemeir-Express so they cleaned up the kitchen for me so I could check email. They did a great job. Gil and Suzanne have gone for a walk around the camp. We warned the kids they can't go off the road or ramble in the woods because the signs posted say there are bears in this area. I would love to see one from a distance again (saw two in Canada) but not up close and personal!
Will close for now and catch you up another night. God Bless you all.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Our afternoon tour in Denali National Park, Alaska
We left our camp at Eielson AFB early so we could drive to Denali National Park in time to take the six-hour tour into the wilderness of Denali. We had high hopes to see Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America at 30,320 feet high. The park covers 6 million acres and was first established in 1917 with only 2 million acres, but President Carter signed legislation to add the other 4 million acres. We also wanted to see wildlife that the brochures mentioned - caribou, grizzly bears, moose, and smaller wildlife like foxes, and wolves.
The tour bus we were on was driven by a very nice lady who originally came from Delaware. She moved to Alaksa about 18 months ago after driving a tour bus here for two summers. She said she knew right away she wanted to live here. She now lives in Anchorage during the winter, driving a school bus there, then coming to Denali for the summer months to drive a tour bus. She gave us lots of information about the park which most tour bus drivers do not give. We saw several herds of caribou which she says stay close to the snow because the flies that like to live on the caribou will not bother them as much near the snow. We also saw a fox who insisted crossing the road in front of our bus, then ran down the road in front of us before he finally disappered into the brush. The bears were not out where we could see them today, nor were the moose. We did see several artic ground squirrels which were so cute and they like posing for our cameras! One was sitting on a rock and staring right at all of the passengers on the bus, but we were not able to get a photo of him. Another one was standing on his hind legs and putting on quite a show; but again, we were unable to get a picture because the bus was moving too fast. A little pica (small gerbel-like animal) was so cute as he ran along the rocks, in and out, trying to get to the top of the hill. We tried to get a picture, but he was too fast for us.
Beth stopped for us to take photos when she could, but she was unable to stop in some spots of the road. The road was narrow, just wide enough in most cases for two buses to pass; and it was very curvy most of the 58 miles we drove into the park. Private cars can go only 13 miles into the park, so we had a more extensive look at the park on the bus. There were 37 passengers, most Americans. The young couple in the seats in front of me and Suzanne was from Switzerland. The young couple in the seats across the isle were from The Netherlands. Both ladies spoke English, one more easily than the other; but the men did not speak much English. Again, I used a little German speaking to the couple from Switzerland and that pleased them.
Most of the pictures here to the right were taken from the bus, but a couple were taken at rest stops. We had a stop at a restroom area about every 1 1/2 hours. The weather was cool when we left the wilderness access center, but as we drove farther into the park, and higher in altitude, the temperatures were cooler and cooler. The clouds prevented us from seeing Mt. McKinley today. Everyone was disappointed. We all had on winter coats and were glad when we left the bus for the rest areas. Beth, our driver, said it was a very slow day for wildlife because usually the passengers see more. She loves spotting the wildlife herself and seems to really enjoy her summer job. We spotted several flocks of dall sheep very high upon the side of the mountains, but not close enough to get a picture.
We made it back to our car at the carpark by 6:30 and were just 10 minutes from our RV park for the night. I fixed supper, and Gil cleaned up the dishes. Mitch took out the trash, and took a walk. Suzanne set up the computer, checked her face book then let me load the pictures of the day and update the blog. They are watching TV now. I am almost ready for bed. We will sleep later than usual in the morning because we have only 5 hours to Anchorge. We hope to find a camp spot on the base there. We really need to do laundry tomorrow night-- not what I envisioned for my birthday, but then the other days of the week make up for that.
The tour bus we were on was driven by a very nice lady who originally came from Delaware. She moved to Alaksa about 18 months ago after driving a tour bus here for two summers. She said she knew right away she wanted to live here. She now lives in Anchorage during the winter, driving a school bus there, then coming to Denali for the summer months to drive a tour bus. She gave us lots of information about the park which most tour bus drivers do not give. We saw several herds of caribou which she says stay close to the snow because the flies that like to live on the caribou will not bother them as much near the snow. We also saw a fox who insisted crossing the road in front of our bus, then ran down the road in front of us before he finally disappered into the brush. The bears were not out where we could see them today, nor were the moose. We did see several artic ground squirrels which were so cute and they like posing for our cameras! One was sitting on a rock and staring right at all of the passengers on the bus, but we were not able to get a photo of him. Another one was standing on his hind legs and putting on quite a show; but again, we were unable to get a picture because the bus was moving too fast. A little pica (small gerbel-like animal) was so cute as he ran along the rocks, in and out, trying to get to the top of the hill. We tried to get a picture, but he was too fast for us.
Beth stopped for us to take photos when she could, but she was unable to stop in some spots of the road. The road was narrow, just wide enough in most cases for two buses to pass; and it was very curvy most of the 58 miles we drove into the park. Private cars can go only 13 miles into the park, so we had a more extensive look at the park on the bus. There were 37 passengers, most Americans. The young couple in the seats in front of me and Suzanne was from Switzerland. The young couple in the seats across the isle were from The Netherlands. Both ladies spoke English, one more easily than the other; but the men did not speak much English. Again, I used a little German speaking to the couple from Switzerland and that pleased them.
Most of the pictures here to the right were taken from the bus, but a couple were taken at rest stops. We had a stop at a restroom area about every 1 1/2 hours. The weather was cool when we left the wilderness access center, but as we drove farther into the park, and higher in altitude, the temperatures were cooler and cooler. The clouds prevented us from seeing Mt. McKinley today. Everyone was disappointed. We all had on winter coats and were glad when we left the bus for the rest areas. Beth, our driver, said it was a very slow day for wildlife because usually the passengers see more. She loves spotting the wildlife herself and seems to really enjoy her summer job. We spotted several flocks of dall sheep very high upon the side of the mountains, but not close enough to get a picture.
We made it back to our car at the carpark by 6:30 and were just 10 minutes from our RV park for the night. I fixed supper, and Gil cleaned up the dishes. Mitch took out the trash, and took a walk. Suzanne set up the computer, checked her face book then let me load the pictures of the day and update the blog. They are watching TV now. I am almost ready for bed. We will sleep later than usual in the morning because we have only 5 hours to Anchorge. We hope to find a camp spot on the base there. We really need to do laundry tomorrow night-- not what I envisioned for my birthday, but then the other days of the week make up for that.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday, A slow day in Alaska
Today was a lazy day for us. We slept late, had breakfast then went to the base clinic to get some prescriptions. They do not have everything we need, so they suggested we wait and get them at the base near Anchorage next week. We did a little shopping at the BX, ate lunch then Gil took the kids bowling. I did some emailing, then took a nap. We will leave early in the morning for Denali National Park to take a tour that we have set up. It begins at noon and will be six hours. We have reservations at a campground near there, so we will stay one night then head into Anchorage Sunday morning. Gil is taking his shower now, and as soon as I get mine we will get to bed early. Watch here Saturday night for pics of Mt. McKinley and the Denali Park. We did not take any pics today.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Another trip into Fairbanks, June 25th
We went back into Fairbanks again today, Thursday, and had an early morning walk through the Georgeson Bontanical Gardens near the University of Alaska. The gardens were beautiful with flowers and trees as well as many vegetables that are grown for experimental purposes. There were places to sit and enjoy the surroundings and a serene waterfall in one corner.
Later we went back to the theater which has a free movie each morning at 10:00 for the kids who are just recently out of school. This theater has 16 screens with very comfortable chairs. We ate lunch at Taco Bell (our first meal out in a long time!) and then walked through Pioneer Park which is a theme park showing what Fairbanks must have looked like during the gold rush years. Many of the log shops and homes there were moved into the park from surrounding areas and are very old. We enjoyed the museum in the paddle boat on the grounds, and Suzanne and I took a train ride around the park. Gil and Mitch toured a car/plane museum which had many old antique cars and planes.
It was a lovely sunny day here with temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s. We returned to the campsite in time to rest a bit and fix supper. Suzanne and Mitch spent some time near the lake and around the camp. Mitch met a young man fishing so they made friends right away. Tomorrow we have some errands on the base to run but plan some fun things as well, then leave Sat. morning for Denali National Park to see the wildlife and Mt. McKinley (if the clear weather holds). The park is on the way to Anchorage so we will spend one night near the park, then drive into Anchorage on Sunday.
Later we went back to the theater which has a free movie each morning at 10:00 for the kids who are just recently out of school. This theater has 16 screens with very comfortable chairs. We ate lunch at Taco Bell (our first meal out in a long time!) and then walked through Pioneer Park which is a theme park showing what Fairbanks must have looked like during the gold rush years. Many of the log shops and homes there were moved into the park from surrounding areas and are very old. We enjoyed the museum in the paddle boat on the grounds, and Suzanne and I took a train ride around the park. Gil and Mitch toured a car/plane museum which had many old antique cars and planes.
It was a lovely sunny day here with temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s. We returned to the campsite in time to rest a bit and fix supper. Suzanne and Mitch spent some time near the lake and around the camp. Mitch met a young man fishing so they made friends right away. Tomorrow we have some errands on the base to run but plan some fun things as well, then leave Sat. morning for Denali National Park to see the wildlife and Mt. McKinley (if the clear weather holds). The park is on the way to Anchorage so we will spend one night near the park, then drive into Anchorage on Sunday.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday night back at camp
We stopped at the North Pole (small town between Fairbanks and the airbase) to visit Santa. The Santa Claus House caters to tourists and locals alike and many people drop lots of money there. The decorated trees were lovely and the gifts are endless. Post cards can be mailed there and postmarked "North Pole" so that is a fun thing to do. We sent several and bought very small souveniers. Once we got back to camp, we ate supper and then played dominoes until after 8 pm. I have been unable to attach pics to email or the blog tonight...not sure why. The internet is very slow here tonight. We are very glad to see that the sun has come out and the rain has stopped. We hope to see Mt. McKinley before the week is out, and tour Danali Park. The glass in our window will keep out the cold, or rain so we are happy it was fixed today. Catch you again soon when I can.
June 24th in Alaska
We are in Fairbanks today, waiting for RV window to be repaired. It is rainy and 38 degrees today, but does not feel very cold to us. We needed to find ways to entertain ourselves while we wait for the RV, so we went to a movie theater for the matinee shows. As it turned out, it was free this morning and we all watched Everyone's Hero which is a very good movie! We asked what the price would have been had it not been free. It is $7.50 per person for matinee; then $10 per person at night! Wow, what a blessing we received. Then we went to the PO to get our mail Ed sent for our vehicle tags which expire next week...another blessing. Thanks Ed! We found the public library so the kids could go on internet or read to entertain themselves. I had my laptop with me so it was nice to have free fast internet to update my blog and check email. We sometimes don't get it at the campsites, even with my ATT card. Well, I will close now and get you more updates when I can. Hope the pictures are not boring you.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Yes, we are in Alaska!
On Sunday we left the campground a little late because Gil's phone (which he used to check the time before we went to bed, and set the alarm) was on Alaska time because we had visited Skagway and the phone automatically set to Alaska time and did not change back when we came back into Canada. So it was 9:00 when we left, but we thought it was 8:00 am. We stopped for lunch at a roadside rest area, then drove all afternoon through some strange countryside. We went around Kluane Lake which had dust storms all around it and the mountainsides were very bare looking. Many areas of the road were gravel and we averaged about 35 mph much of the day. When Gil got tired we had planned to stop at a particular RV park we saw in the book we were given when we entered the Yukon, but it was closed and so was the next one listed in the book. We ended up staying in a rest area with 4 other RVs and the views were spectacular! We had a good night's sleep and got on the road early this morning (Monday). After about an hour and five minutes on the road, we crossed the border into Alaska and the tme changed again. We got into Alaska only five minutes after we left camp....LOL. Today we had some rough road with loose gravel for part of the way but as we got to the Richardson Hwy and turned north toward Fairbanks, the road was great...straight, and level and nice enough Gil could use the cruise control which was helpful on his legs and knees. Just after we got going good, Gil looked down the road and saw a "bicyclist" and said to me he hoped the rider would soon move to the side of the highway. I was taking a picture about that time and looked up and we both realized it was no bicyclist, but a mama moose and her calf. When the mama turned to look at us and saw such a large vehicle headed for her and her calf, they both started running toward the woods. It was a great experience, and I caught it on my camera. Gil said the mama weighed at least 800 lbs and the baby possibly 150 lbs.
We reached the AFB at Eileson about 3:00 and had a short drive to the Fam Camp. We were so happy to find plenty of camping spaces, and ours is near a lovely lake. It is only $18 per night so this saves us money compared to the ones off base. Just in case you wondered, the gas in Canada was almost $4 per gallon (well $1.09 - $1.19 per liter, which exchanges into about $4 per gallon). On base it is $3.05, which is still more than we paid in most places in the States. It took over $1,000 in gas but only about $100 in camping fees to cross Canada to get here. We have driven a total of 5,603 miles from Camden (took the long way via California). Today we did have a little incident on the road when we discovered one of our bedroom windows was broken by a flying rock at some point. Well, since this is the land of the midnight sun, and it never really gets dark on this longest day of the year, I'd better get to bed.
We reached the AFB at Eileson about 3:00 and had a short drive to the Fam Camp. We were so happy to find plenty of camping spaces, and ours is near a lovely lake. It is only $18 per night so this saves us money compared to the ones off base. Just in case you wondered, the gas in Canada was almost $4 per gallon (well $1.09 - $1.19 per liter, which exchanges into about $4 per gallon). On base it is $3.05, which is still more than we paid in most places in the States. It took over $1,000 in gas but only about $100 in camping fees to cross Canada to get here. We have driven a total of 5,603 miles from Camden (took the long way via California). Today we did have a little incident on the road when we discovered one of our bedroom windows was broken by a flying rock at some point. Well, since this is the land of the midnight sun, and it never really gets dark on this longest day of the year, I'd better get to bed.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Visiting Skagway, Alaska, on Saturday
Today we drove about 100 miles southwest of our campsite to visit Skagway, Alaska. This is the only way to get to that town except by ship from the sea. We had no problem getting through customs once we showed them our passport cards and the paperwork we had from the gr. children's parents to prove we had the kids with their permission. The drive there was lovely and the town is quaint. We drove around a while, then took pictures of the cruise ships at the dock. We also watched a very interesting movie at the Visitor's Center about the gold rush through this area in the late 1800s. Over 30,000 people made it up to the gold fields either through Skagway, a neighboring town which is no longer there, or through the river route up north of here. Many lost their lives and the winters were terrible for them. Some got rich, but most did not. Skagway is very small but has many stores and restaurants in which tourists can spend their money. We did eat lunch at a pizza place and enjoyed it even thought it was "pricy". Then we headed back and took the wrong turn so ended up taking the long, scenic route back to camp. The man at the gas station at Jake's Corner said we "went around the block" as they say here.
When we returned to camp, it was sprinkling and the kids had some supper and headed back outside to find the fox den. They did not get close, but saw the male at a distance and are enjoying exploring the area. Most of our neighbors from last night are gone, and we are getting new ones as I write this as it is after 7 pm now. Gil is taking a nap, as he is exhausted from the drive. I did drive some, but we were both tired because we got up so early. Our little four legged alarm clock (Sylvia, the cat) always wakes us up about 5:45 or 6:00 and demands her breakfast.
Tomorrow will be a long drive but we will not make it to Fairbanks until Monday, I am sure. The roads are curvy, and up and down mountains so some hours we average only 35-40 mph; but the road is much better now that we are on the Alcan Hwy #1. I will check in again on the blog on Monday night. It was great talking to you Mama today from Skagway. Since we were in the US, the phone could be used with no long-distance, only weekend minutes. Nice talking to you too, Deb. Take care.
When we returned to camp, it was sprinkling and the kids had some supper and headed back outside to find the fox den. They did not get close, but saw the male at a distance and are enjoying exploring the area. Most of our neighbors from last night are gone, and we are getting new ones as I write this as it is after 7 pm now. Gil is taking a nap, as he is exhausted from the drive. I did drive some, but we were both tired because we got up so early. Our little four legged alarm clock (Sylvia, the cat) always wakes us up about 5:45 or 6:00 and demands her breakfast.
Tomorrow will be a long drive but we will not make it to Fairbanks until Monday, I am sure. The roads are curvy, and up and down mountains so some hours we average only 35-40 mph; but the road is much better now that we are on the Alcan Hwy #1. I will check in again on the blog on Monday night. It was great talking to you Mama today from Skagway. Since we were in the US, the phone could be used with no long-distance, only weekend minutes. Nice talking to you too, Deb. Take care.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Camping Friday, June 19th at Johnson's Crossing
We left Dease River Crossing RV Camp with reluctance this morning because of the scenery from every window of our RV. It did not get dark that we know of.....but we slept very well and headed out for the Yukon about 8:30. We had more gravel road and many pot holes for a short distance. The cold weather makes the roads freeze, then thaws, then freezes again, expanding and contracts, making the pavement buckle. The views of the glassy smoothe lakes, waterfalls and mountains make the journey worth every pothole we hit! Then we entered the Yukon and ate lunch at Junction 37 where the hwy we had been on met the Alcan Hwy which goes to Alaska. This highway proved much better, and Gil was even able to use the cruise control most of the afternoon which made his driving chore less stressful. The antique cars on their way to a rally in Vancouver made the afternoon pass quickly for us. We learned at our campground tonight they had all left Anchorage.
Our campground tonight is lovely, among the trees, but very close with our neighbors...about six feet apart. We did 3 loads of laundry (very expensive, about $10 to wash) and Gil washed the RV, the car and the dolly. We were fortunate to have free wi-fi tonight so I could send email and catch up on the blog. The kids are anxious to get online for a while before bedtime. They were very helpful with the wash. I met a very nice Canadian man in the washroom and we had a nice chat about his travels and ours. The foxes in the nearby woods were so hungry they came up to our camper, within 3-4 feet to eat the bread and catfood we gave them. All in all, it has been another amazing day. In the morning we will drive down to Skagway to sightsee (Alaska) then come back to the camp and head west toward Whitehorse, then on to Fairbanks. Skagway has no road into other towns of Alaska, so we have to backtrack. They say it will be worth the drive.
Our campground tonight is lovely, among the trees, but very close with our neighbors...about six feet apart. We did 3 loads of laundry (very expensive, about $10 to wash) and Gil washed the RV, the car and the dolly. We were fortunate to have free wi-fi tonight so I could send email and catch up on the blog. The kids are anxious to get online for a while before bedtime. They were very helpful with the wash. I met a very nice Canadian man in the washroom and we had a nice chat about his travels and ours. The foxes in the nearby woods were so hungry they came up to our camper, within 3-4 feet to eat the bread and catfood we gave them. All in all, it has been another amazing day. In the morning we will drive down to Skagway to sightsee (Alaska) then come back to the camp and head west toward Whitehorse, then on to Fairbanks. Skagway has no road into other towns of Alaska, so we have to backtrack. They say it will be worth the drive.
Many miles from home
June 18, Day 28 on the road...
As we left our camp in Mesiadin at 7:40 Thursday morning, we saw the mountains come closer and get larger and the snow seemed very close. We saw a moose and her calf in a creek but I was not able to get a picture of them. Some of the road today was gravel and we did have a little bit of rain, only sprinkles. We had many curves and a new vista around each curve. Words can not explain the views, only pictures.
At the end of the day our total mileage from Camden was 4,928 miles (after 4 full weeks on the road).....
As we left our camp in Mesiadin at 7:40 Thursday morning, we saw the mountains come closer and get larger and the snow seemed very close. We saw a moose and her calf in a creek but I was not able to get a picture of them. Some of the road today was gravel and we did have a little bit of rain, only sprinkles. We had many curves and a new vista around each curve. Words can not explain the views, only pictures.
At the end of the day our total mileage from Camden was 4,928 miles (after 4 full weeks on the road).....
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Middle British Columbia
June 17, 2009, Wed. - Gil's birthday
We started out on the road this morning early and drove through more rolling green hills, farms and small towns. There were lots of trees, and lovely purple montains in the distance. We took some pictures at Frazier Lake which was very beautiful, and which was very cool - air conditioned! After a while a very lean, quick, brown fox crossed the road in front of us but I was not quick enough to get the picture of the fox (he was quicker!) We saw several lovely lakes, one of which was over 2756 feet above sea level. When we reached the town of Houston, we began to see snow topped mountains, and then the rain started. It was hard rain only for a short time, but rained sporadically most of the afternoon. We stopped for lunch in Smithers (one of the larger towns) and began to see ski slopes on the mountain sides. There were more cattle ranches, more snow capped mountains and then at New Hazelton we stopped for a while to stretch our legs. At the nearby picnic table we met four tourists from Germany. I was able to speak to them in their native tongue and take a picture before we bid farewell. They were going a different way than us and taking the inner passage to Alaska. We finally found this lovely campground at Lake Meziaden, and were fortunate enough to have wi-fi so I could catch up on the blog and email relatives and friends. We will continue north to the BC border tomorrow and hope to get into the Yukon, possibly in late afternoon.
We started out on the road this morning early and drove through more rolling green hills, farms and small towns. There were lots of trees, and lovely purple montains in the distance. We took some pictures at Frazier Lake which was very beautiful, and which was very cool - air conditioned! After a while a very lean, quick, brown fox crossed the road in front of us but I was not quick enough to get the picture of the fox (he was quicker!) We saw several lovely lakes, one of which was over 2756 feet above sea level. When we reached the town of Houston, we began to see snow topped mountains, and then the rain started. It was hard rain only for a short time, but rained sporadically most of the afternoon. We stopped for lunch in Smithers (one of the larger towns) and began to see ski slopes on the mountain sides. There were more cattle ranches, more snow capped mountains and then at New Hazelton we stopped for a while to stretch our legs. At the nearby picnic table we met four tourists from Germany. I was able to speak to them in their native tongue and take a picture before we bid farewell. They were going a different way than us and taking the inner passage to Alaska. We finally found this lovely campground at Lake Meziaden, and were fortunate enough to have wi-fi so I could catch up on the blog and email relatives and friends. We will continue north to the BC border tomorrow and hope to get into the Yukon, possibly in late afternoon.
Headed North through British Columbia
Tuesday; June 16, 2009
Before we left our camping spot last night in Kamloops, we bought a map of British Columbia so we could make sure of our route today. We decided to take the western loop of the highways in BC to get to the Yukon and into Alaska. We may take a different route out of Alaska and into Alberta Province and down to Montana but we are not sure at this point. The drive through BC and the Yukon is a very long one and the gas prices are very high compared to US prices right now. We have paid 102.5 and 106.9 for gas and that is Canadian dollars for a liter NOT a gallon. So that means the gas we use in Canada is about $3.80 per gallon or more. (our best in conversion not knowing the bank rates) We have been told the US dollar is $1.05 to the Canadian dollar. When we were in Canada 27 years ago we got a much better rate. I thought it was better than that because I noted not long ago on the internet that my book sells for $26 Canadian, but $13 in the US. Go figure that.
Our drive this morning took us into the high dessert, much like Oregon near Barbara’s house with rounded mountains with very few trees and just scrubby brush most of the time. The trees we did see were dried and many had died. By lunch time near Williams Lake (a large town) we began to see more green, and rolling hills with cattle ranches, log homes and lakes. Then by late afternoon as we began to look for a campsite, we noticed more mountains (some steep grades up and down) and small towns.
We are camped at Brookside RV park north of Prince George (town of our destination for today) which turned out to be not as pretty as the name indicated. The kids have spent some time outside walking around the campground and down near the brook. They report many mosquitoes (spray helped some) and as they come in and out we find mosquitoes in theRV which we intend to kill before bedtime.
We have full hookups tonight which means electricity so we can plug in the computer for me to write my daily blog (just can’t email and get on line to send it or update the blog). Gil has a cd player plugged in so we can listen to music and we plan to listen to some of my audio book tonight. Gil has never heard the book, nor had time to read it. He just retired two weeks before we left for our trip. It is only 6:45 so we have plenty of time to do that, listen to some music and maybe play a game before bedtime. The kids are enjoying Upwords. We can bathe with the water hookup and dump sewer in the morning. We needed that since we dry camped last night in a parking lot. Catch you tomorrow evening.
Before we left our camping spot last night in Kamloops, we bought a map of British Columbia so we could make sure of our route today. We decided to take the western loop of the highways in BC to get to the Yukon and into Alaska. We may take a different route out of Alaska and into Alberta Province and down to Montana but we are not sure at this point. The drive through BC and the Yukon is a very long one and the gas prices are very high compared to US prices right now. We have paid 102.5 and 106.9 for gas and that is Canadian dollars for a liter NOT a gallon. So that means the gas we use in Canada is about $3.80 per gallon or more. (our best in conversion not knowing the bank rates) We have been told the US dollar is $1.05 to the Canadian dollar. When we were in Canada 27 years ago we got a much better rate. I thought it was better than that because I noted not long ago on the internet that my book sells for $26 Canadian, but $13 in the US. Go figure that.
Our drive this morning took us into the high dessert, much like Oregon near Barbara’s house with rounded mountains with very few trees and just scrubby brush most of the time. The trees we did see were dried and many had died. By lunch time near Williams Lake (a large town) we began to see more green, and rolling hills with cattle ranches, log homes and lakes. Then by late afternoon as we began to look for a campsite, we noticed more mountains (some steep grades up and down) and small towns.
We are camped at Brookside RV park north of Prince George (town of our destination for today) which turned out to be not as pretty as the name indicated. The kids have spent some time outside walking around the campground and down near the brook. They report many mosquitoes (spray helped some) and as they come in and out we find mosquitoes in theRV which we intend to kill before bedtime.
We have full hookups tonight which means electricity so we can plug in the computer for me to write my daily blog (just can’t email and get on line to send it or update the blog). Gil has a cd player plugged in so we can listen to music and we plan to listen to some of my audio book tonight. Gil has never heard the book, nor had time to read it. He just retired two weeks before we left for our trip. It is only 6:45 so we have plenty of time to do that, listen to some music and maybe play a game before bedtime. The kids are enjoying Upwords. We can bathe with the water hookup and dump sewer in the morning. We needed that since we dry camped last night in a parking lot. Catch you tomorrow evening.
We finally reached Canada
June 15, 2009
Monday morning: We filled up the gas tank at the base for $2.82 per gallon, the most expensive gas yet. The drive from McChord AFB to the border was only about 3 ½ hours. The cities of Tacoma and Seattle were very interesting. We drove right through the middle of them on Interstate 5; infact going under some of the buildings in Seattle. The traffic was pretty steady and not so bad except one place. It took us about an hour to get through the two cities going about 60 mph. We chose to cross the border at Lynden, a small border town that would allow us to get into Canada without going into Vancouver, Canada. We figured the traffic there would make a delay crossing, and it was really out of our way by about an hour because the interstate went west into Vancouver, then out east again toward the highway we wanted. After crossing, we noticed a change in scenery right away. The trees were more hardwoods, unlike Washington where almost all the trees were evergreens. We went through only a couple small towns, a couple of larger towns, and then stopped in Kamloops for the night. We found that the gas was definitely higher in Canada when we filled up at days end. Now we bought gas by the liter instead of the gallon and paid $1.04 per liter, which was Canadian dollars (exchange is $1.00 US to $1.05 Canadian). So the fill-up cost $187 Canadian, about $170 US (which we will not know for sure until we get the VISA bill. We chose to camp in the parking lot of the COSTCO grocery store parking lot to save money tonight. We fixed hot dogs for supper and then Suzanne and Gil took a walk down the street to find a map of Western Canada for tomorrow’s trip. There is a slight breeze blowing in the windows which is nice. We did have a little sprinkle of rain just as we got into town, but now the skies are clear. I will sign off for now and write more tomorrow night. I have saved some pictures from today and put them on the computer so I can email them and put them on the blog after we get into Alaska which we think will be Saturday sometime.
Monday morning: We filled up the gas tank at the base for $2.82 per gallon, the most expensive gas yet. The drive from McChord AFB to the border was only about 3 ½ hours. The cities of Tacoma and Seattle were very interesting. We drove right through the middle of them on Interstate 5; infact going under some of the buildings in Seattle. The traffic was pretty steady and not so bad except one place. It took us about an hour to get through the two cities going about 60 mph. We chose to cross the border at Lynden, a small border town that would allow us to get into Canada without going into Vancouver, Canada. We figured the traffic there would make a delay crossing, and it was really out of our way by about an hour because the interstate went west into Vancouver, then out east again toward the highway we wanted. After crossing, we noticed a change in scenery right away. The trees were more hardwoods, unlike Washington where almost all the trees were evergreens. We went through only a couple small towns, a couple of larger towns, and then stopped in Kamloops for the night. We found that the gas was definitely higher in Canada when we filled up at days end. Now we bought gas by the liter instead of the gallon and paid $1.04 per liter, which was Canadian dollars (exchange is $1.00 US to $1.05 Canadian). So the fill-up cost $187 Canadian, about $170 US (which we will not know for sure until we get the VISA bill. We chose to camp in the parking lot of the COSTCO grocery store parking lot to save money tonight. We fixed hot dogs for supper and then Suzanne and Gil took a walk down the street to find a map of Western Canada for tomorrow’s trip. There is a slight breeze blowing in the windows which is nice. We did have a little sprinkle of rain just as we got into town, but now the skies are clear. I will sign off for now and write more tomorrow night. I have saved some pictures from today and put them on the computer so I can email them and put them on the blog after we get into Alaska which we think will be Saturday sometime.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Visit with Hudson family in Toledo, Washington
When we left Oregon on Friday it was only about 2 1/2 hours to get to Toledo, WA where we are now visiting my dear friend Joyce Hudson and her husband Gary. They have a lovely home near the Cowlitz River not far into Washnington and near Mt. St. Helens. They took us up to see the mountain on Saturday but the fog and mist prevented us from seeing the famous mountain that blew it's top in May 1980. We were able to go into the visitor's center and see photos and videos of the volcano's eruption and the damage and devastation it caused. Now the mountain is very green and has recovered from that fateful day.
On Saturday afternoon Joyce's daughter Sheri and four of her children and Greg and his wife and son came over for a cook-out. It was so much fun to see them grown because the last time I saw them when I left Germany Greg was about 3 years old and Sheri was 10 mo. old. Joyce came back to the states the next year and had another son Eric who was unable to come to the cookout. We had a wonderful time talking about those long-ago days and telling stories about our life then and the children when they were small. Ed was only 2 when we came stateside.
Joyce and Gary have been the perfect hostess and host but we must move on today and drive north to the Fam Camp at McCord AFB near Seattle. We will go into Canada tomorrow as soon as possible and will not be able to use our cell phones and ATT internet connection until we get into Alaska. Those calls or internet use would be overseas calls and be very expensive. You will hear from us again once we get to Alaska. So be patinet, and watch for more on this blog as soon as possible.
On Saturday afternoon Joyce's daughter Sheri and four of her children and Greg and his wife and son came over for a cook-out. It was so much fun to see them grown because the last time I saw them when I left Germany Greg was about 3 years old and Sheri was 10 mo. old. Joyce came back to the states the next year and had another son Eric who was unable to come to the cookout. We had a wonderful time talking about those long-ago days and telling stories about our life then and the children when they were small. Ed was only 2 when we came stateside.
Joyce and Gary have been the perfect hostess and host but we must move on today and drive north to the Fam Camp at McCord AFB near Seattle. We will go into Canada tomorrow as soon as possible and will not be able to use our cell phones and ATT internet connection until we get into Alaska. Those calls or internet use would be overseas calls and be very expensive. You will hear from us again once we get to Alaska. So be patinet, and watch for more on this blog as soon as possible.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Toledo, Washington
Yesterday afternoon it did not take us long to get to our destination in Washington where we are visitng friends, Joyce and Gary Hudson. I knew Joyce in Germany when our children were very small. She lost her husband, Dick, a number of years ago to cancer and she remarried. Gary has built a lovely house on the banks of the Cowlitz River. They will take us to see Mt. St. Helens today which is only a short drive from here. Watch for pictures tomorrow.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Hood River Museum
Gil and the kids are touring the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River this morning. We left Barbara's house about 8:00, came down the mountain and filled up the RV with gas (very thirsty today, over 64 gallons), got propane in our tank in case we need it for heating and then dumped at the Port of Dalles. We will eat lunch here at the airport in the museum parking lot and then head west to Portland, turn north on I-85 and go to Toledo, WA to visit my dear friend of over 40 years, Joyce Hudson and her husband Gary.
We will stay there Friday and Sat. night and head to Seattle Sunday and stay at the McCord Fam Camp if there is room. Then we will stock fresh groceries and cross the border into Canada on Monday. There will be no cell phone use or computer use while in Canada, so the blog will be on hold for about 5 days, depending how long it takes us to get into Alaska. Then we will be able to call home and use the computer again while in Alaska. Watch for some pretty pictures at that time.
By the way, today is June 12th and my son's 42nd birthday....so Happy Birthday to Ed, back in Camden, AR.
We will stay there Friday and Sat. night and head to Seattle Sunday and stay at the McCord Fam Camp if there is room. Then we will stock fresh groceries and cross the border into Canada on Monday. There will be no cell phone use or computer use while in Canada, so the blog will be on hold for about 5 days, depending how long it takes us to get into Alaska. Then we will be able to call home and use the computer again while in Alaska. Watch for some pretty pictures at that time.
By the way, today is June 12th and my son's 42nd birthday....so Happy Birthday to Ed, back in Camden, AR.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday in The Dalles
Yesterday we did not do much sightseeing, but used the day to visit with Barbara and Allen and just hung out at the farm. I did a big wash on Monday so that was a blessing. Last night and tonight we have played cards late. This morning we rode over toward Cascade Lock and Bonneville Dam. It was very exciting to see how the locks worked for the boats going up and down the river. We saw two lovely waterfalls, and also visited with Barbara's two daughters and their children who live in Hood River.
I have put several pictures on the blog to show you what we saw today. The deer was seen on the road near the farm. They live 20 miles out of town and it is very peaceful and quiet. The kids had a fun day with us sightseeing and picnicing, then they went fishing again tonight with Brian, Barb's son. They didn't get to keep all their fish because some were too small. Brian loves to fish (as does Mitch) and has several area ponds he uses, and the Columbia River on occasion. Last night the kids used the pool here at the farm even though it was rather cool. Tonight it was too cold for swiming.
While at the Wal-mart in Hood River today, we ran across a camper in the parking lot which had on the side the CMA logo. We waited to meet the owner and found out she was on her way to the Washington State Rally over in Eastern Oregon this weekend. She was going over early with her grandson and her husband was to join her later in the week. It was nice to meet another CMA er. We exchanged cards and went on our way.
I have put several pictures on the blog to show you what we saw today. The deer was seen on the road near the farm. They live 20 miles out of town and it is very peaceful and quiet. The kids had a fun day with us sightseeing and picnicing, then they went fishing again tonight with Brian, Barb's son. They didn't get to keep all their fish because some were too small. Brian loves to fish (as does Mitch) and has several area ponds he uses, and the Columbia River on occasion. Last night the kids used the pool here at the farm even though it was rather cool. Tonight it was too cold for swiming.
While at the Wal-mart in Hood River today, we ran across a camper in the parking lot which had on the side the CMA logo. We waited to meet the owner and found out she was on her way to the Washington State Rally over in Eastern Oregon this weekend. She was going over early with her grandson and her husband was to join her later in the week. It was nice to meet another CMA er. We exchanged cards and went on our way.
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Dalles, Oregon
What a beautiful drive we had after we turned East toward Hood River and The Dalles! I have never seen anything more beautiful than this area except Switzerland and Austria...only because the mountains are a little higher there. The Columbia Gorge is fasinating. We got into The Dalles in time to stop in the K-Mart parking lot to fix supper before Barbara picked us up for church. We enjoyed the service and the singing was especially lovely. It was nice to meet the folks at her church and worship with them.
The drive out to her house was very interesting. Once we turned out into the countryside and began to climb, the wheat fields spread before us like quiltsquares on a home-made quilt. I had seen fields similar in Kansas but never on hillsides like this. It was about 20 miles to Barb's house and it took about 45 min. for our RV to pull the hills. We are at 2200 feet here at their farmhouse. They do not farm, but work in town. The farmhouse was in a state of disrepair until they moved in and began to fix it up and paint it and now it is a very nice house in which to live.
Enjoy the pictures on the blog to the right and there will be more each day. We will be here until Sat. morning before we head into Washington.
The drive out to her house was very interesting. Once we turned out into the countryside and began to climb, the wheat fields spread before us like quiltsquares on a home-made quilt. I had seen fields similar in Kansas but never on hillsides like this. It was about 20 miles to Barb's house and it took about 45 min. for our RV to pull the hills. We are at 2200 feet here at their farmhouse. They do not farm, but work in town. The farmhouse was in a state of disrepair until they moved in and began to fix it up and paint it and now it is a very nice house in which to live.
Enjoy the pictures on the blog to the right and there will be more each day. We will be here until Sat. morning before we head into Washington.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Our first day in Oregon
Well, we finally made it to Oregon and how beautiful it is! We saw many bikers along the Intersate as they rode along with us most of the day. Gil would have enjoyed riding with them.
As co-pilot, I have my own space....my desk has maps, magifying glass, travel journal for notes and a pen. I am keeping up with elevations as we cross the largest mountains in each state, the mileage of how far we go each day, the cost of gas as we go from state to state, and our expenses. Interesting fact in Oregon, you can't fill your own gas tank....rather nice to have help.
We saw some lovely views of Mt. Shasta in No. California as we left the state this morning, but the clouds never parted enough to get a nice picture. We decided to stop early today so we might take a side-trip to the Pacific coast in Oregon. Our campsite on a river tonight is really nice with full hookups. We set up the RV about 3:00 and took the car for the side-trip to the coast. It was 81 miles to the town of Coos Bay and we enjoyed the drive as well as seeing the boats docked there. On our way out of town we stopped at the Fred Meyer Store (very nice!) to get some groceries and to have supper at the deli there. We also stopped at a covered bridge on the way back to the RV. It is no longer used for vehicles, but can be walked across. It was very close to a local winery, but the tasting hours were over. Tomorrow we will continue north on I-5 to Portland and then east on I-84 to The Dalles to visit 5 days with my cousin, Barbara. Okay, Barb, we really are close now. We plan to meet you at your church for the evening service then follow you up the mountain to your house.
As co-pilot, I have my own space....my desk has maps, magifying glass, travel journal for notes and a pen. I am keeping up with elevations as we cross the largest mountains in each state, the mileage of how far we go each day, the cost of gas as we go from state to state, and our expenses. Interesting fact in Oregon, you can't fill your own gas tank....rather nice to have help.
We saw some lovely views of Mt. Shasta in No. California as we left the state this morning, but the clouds never parted enough to get a nice picture. We decided to stop early today so we might take a side-trip to the Pacific coast in Oregon. Our campsite on a river tonight is really nice with full hookups. We set up the RV about 3:00 and took the car for the side-trip to the coast. It was 81 miles to the town of Coos Bay and we enjoyed the drive as well as seeing the boats docked there. On our way out of town we stopped at the Fred Meyer Store (very nice!) to get some groceries and to have supper at the deli there. We also stopped at a covered bridge on the way back to the RV. It is no longer used for vehicles, but can be walked across. It was very close to a local winery, but the tasting hours were over. Tomorrow we will continue north on I-5 to Portland and then east on I-84 to The Dalles to visit 5 days with my cousin, Barbara. Okay, Barb, we really are close now. We plan to meet you at your church for the evening service then follow you up the mountain to your house.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Goodbye Redding, CA
We ended up staying in Redding one day longer than planned to get an electrical problem fixed on the RV (yes, Randy, it blew a fuse). We left the RV at the repair shop and went sightseeing with cousin Jacque. Her three grandchildren are delightful and we had a great morning. We saw the Sundial Bridge over the Sacramento River as well as the Shasta Dam north of Redding. The lunch at Hometown Buffet was too good, thanks Jacque! We spent the afternoon waiting on the RV and then finally drove out of town about 5:30. We have found a lovely campground near a lake at Lakehead, CA. It is still raining but we are tired and will be getting to bed soon. We are going to play a game or two with the kids. We will not be far from the Oregon line in the morning and hope to see better gas prices there. We paid $3 per gallon today for some in the car, but it was premium. We use unleaded in the RV and it was $2.79 in Redding. Catch you tomorrow night if we have internet. This ATT connect card is the best thing since sliced bread!
More about our visit in Redding
After spending one night on the mountain with Randy and his family, we drove back down into the valley to see Jacque, Gil's cousin and Randy's sister. We had a lovely visit with her and ate supper on her farm just outside of town. Jacque has critters she loves, and the kids enjoyed seeing them - horses, goats, a turkey, a peacock, chickens, donkies, pot belly pigs, and llamas. She also has two Persian cats that we enjoyed in the house. Suzanne helped her feed the critters while Gil and Mitch drove back to the camper to set up at the RV repair shop. We had a little wiring problem Gil was unalbe to fix. We need the break lights and signals to be repaired. While we wait for those repairs today, Jacque will show us the sights of Redding.
The picture of the Niemeir clan at Randy's shows their eight grandchildren who live next door. Randy's son Dan had already gone to work, but we gathered Deanna and the children for a pic. They have a house over 5,000 sq. ft. and Deanna home schools the kids....ages 18 - 1. She looks like a high-school student herself. What a lovely family and a beautiful setting to rear them.
The picture of the Niemeir clan at Randy's shows their eight grandchildren who live next door. Randy's son Dan had already gone to work, but we gathered Deanna and the children for a pic. They have a house over 5,000 sq. ft. and Deanna home schools the kids....ages 18 - 1. She looks like a high-school student herself. What a lovely family and a beautiful setting to rear them.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Our visit with cousin Randy Niemeir,
We left Rancho Cordova Wed. morning and had a lovely 3 1/2 drive to Redding, CA. We were surprised to see many rice fields along the w, ay because we never dreamed rice was grown in California. The mountains came into sight pretty soon and the interstate was lined with big bushes of blooming oleandas. We stopped at a rest stop and the kids climbed an olive tree. There are many olive groves along the highway in this area. When we got to Redding, Gil's cousins's Randy, Donna, his wife and another cousin met us for lunch. Then we ran some errands and followed Randy up the mountain out of town to his place.
Gil's cousin, Randy and his wife Donna, have a lovely home on an acre up in the mountains near Redding, CA. Randy has a huge garden with many berries, vegetables and herbs. Donna helps him put up the fruits and vegetables every year. They eat solely from their garden. She makes her own breads, and cheese from the goat milk. They have chickens for eggs and rabbits for eating as well as breeding to sell. They both enjoy the "critters" very much and love the mountain view they have from their lovel home. Their son Dan lives next door with his wife Deanna and their eight children, all of whom are home schooled (ages 18-1). We had a wonderful visit with them and enjoyed the meals so much. The kids had a great time helping with the evening chores, feeding the animals and milking the goats. The next morning (today) we met their dau. in law and the children. Dan, Randy's son has an electric contracting business so he had gone to work early. We left Randy's home reluctantly to go back down the mountain and to town to see Gil's other cousin who lives there. We will visit with Jacque this afternoon and then camp on the Sacramento River before heading to Oregon tomorrow.
Gil's cousin, Randy and his wife Donna, have a lovely home on an acre up in the mountains near Redding, CA. Randy has a huge garden with many berries, vegetables and herbs. Donna helps him put up the fruits and vegetables every year. They eat solely from their garden. She makes her own breads, and cheese from the goat milk. They have chickens for eggs and rabbits for eating as well as breeding to sell. They both enjoy the "critters" very much and love the mountain view they have from their lovel home. Their son Dan lives next door with his wife Deanna and their eight children, all of whom are home schooled (ages 18-1). We had a wonderful visit with them and enjoyed the meals so much. The kids had a great time helping with the evening chores, feeding the animals and milking the goats. The next morning (today) we met their dau. in law and the children. Dan, Randy's son has an electric contracting business so he had gone to work early. We left Randy's home reluctantly to go back down the mountain and to town to see Gil's other cousin who lives there. We will visit with Jacque this afternoon and then camp on the Sacramento River before heading to Oregon tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Visit in Rancho Cordova ends
We have had two evenings with the Sornbergers, their daughters, gr. children and sons-in-laws. Monday night we had supper all together and then the children decided to have sleep overs. The boys went to Linda's house, and the girls stayed at John and Kathy's home. We knew John and Kathy at our base in England and Gil and John were deacons at Friendship Baptist Church there. We had not seen the family since we left England in 1987. At that time the girls were in highschool but now they have families of their own. One lovely memory we all have is a weekend in Wales. We stayed in a Bed and Breakfast there and had a wonderful get-away.
This morning Gil and I slept a little late, then cleaned the RV and headed to Walmart to pick up a few needed items. We ate lunch with Kathy and John, and visited all afternoon and played dominoes. I also was able to catch up on laundry. After supper we said our goodbyes and came back to the RV. In the morning we head north on I-5 to Redding, CA, and will visit with two of Gil's cousins who live there.
All the pictures tonight are of our friends, their daughters and their gr. children. It was so good to see them after so long and catch up on what has happend since 1987. We have been staying in touch with Christmas cards, and email, but there is nothing like seeing dear friends after so long. Thanks, Kathy and John, for being such perfect hosts and having us in your home during our stay in Rancho Cordova. I sure hope to see you one of these days in your nice 5th wheeler come rolling into Camden, AR so we can return the kindness.
This morning Gil and I slept a little late, then cleaned the RV and headed to Walmart to pick up a few needed items. We ate lunch with Kathy and John, and visited all afternoon and played dominoes. I also was able to catch up on laundry. After supper we said our goodbyes and came back to the RV. In the morning we head north on I-5 to Redding, CA, and will visit with two of Gil's cousins who live there.
All the pictures tonight are of our friends, their daughters and their gr. children. It was so good to see them after so long and catch up on what has happend since 1987. We have been staying in touch with Christmas cards, and email, but there is nothing like seeing dear friends after so long. Thanks, Kathy and John, for being such perfect hosts and having us in your home during our stay in Rancho Cordova. I sure hope to see you one of these days in your nice 5th wheeler come rolling into Camden, AR so we can return the kindness.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Monday in Sacramento
We got up this morning early as usual because our kitty never lets us sleep must past 6:00 in the morning. After breakfast we took a drive along the shore of Lake Tahoe and took some pictures (see right), then headed back to the interstate and toward Sacramento. The drive was really pretty, with ups and downs and more ups and downs through those lovely mountains. We got to Rancho Cordova (a suburb of Sacramento) and ate our usual picnic lunch in the camper then found a camp site at the local fair grounds in Roseville nearby. By the way, gas here was the most expensive we have had to buy at $2.79 per gallon. It may get higher, especially in Canada.
Tonight we will visit our friends who have planned a cookout for us. Kathy is taking off work tomorrow so we will stick around to visit more on Tuesday, then leave here on Wed. morning headed toward Redding, CA, north of here. I need to catch up on some wash
Tonight we will visit our friends who have planned a cookout for us. Kathy is taking off work tomorrow so we will stick around to visit more on Tuesday, then leave here on Wed. morning headed toward Redding, CA, north of here. I need to catch up on some wash
Sunday: From Utah to Calfornia in one day
When we left Utah Sunday morning, we knew we had a long drive to get to California on Monday to visit our friends the Sornbergers. We intended to camp on the west side of Nevada, but did not find a campground until we crossed into California. We crossed Nevada in one day and the best part was Reno...beautiful town! The long drive (13 hrs) tired us all, but the drive was worth it when we saw how lovely Lake Tahoe is. We had a nice place to camp, but no hookups, so we used the generator again. Neither was I able to get internet, so I am behind in putting pics on the blog.
The picture of Suzanne on the horse was taken at a rest stop when we met this drifter. He said he was walking from California to Arizona with his horse, pack horse and two dogs. We enjoyed talking to him.....quite a colorful character! Suzanne loved riding the horse and we gave his dogs a little something to eat. He said he had been there three days and so far the "law" had not run him off. He appears to be older than he is, but I guess he has had a hard life. He said he is 59.
The picture of Suzanne on the horse was taken at a rest stop when we met this drifter. He said he was walking from California to Arizona with his horse, pack horse and two dogs. We enjoyed talking to him.....quite a colorful character! Suzanne loved riding the horse and we gave his dogs a little something to eat. He said he had been there three days and so far the "law" had not run him off. He appears to be older than he is, but I guess he has had a hard life. He said he is 59.
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