Sept. 3, 2017

Back in USA and back online

Have been totally out of contact for a week.  Verizon ‘international’ roaming pretty much sucks.

Brief recap of last week.

Left tri-cities to home of our friends the Alfanos in Spokane.  Overnight there and then north with them accompanying us in their rig.  Up through the Idaho panhandle and in to Canada.  Over night in a provincial park and then north and east to Lake Louise. We were there several years ago in May and it was iced over.  Sue wanted to see it in fluid state.  We lucked out - again.  Since leaving home we have had noticeable smoke all the way every day.  Some days more than others.  Could barely see Mt. Shasta.  Traveling over the central Oregon mountains we could barely see 100 yards at the summit. Every day had smoky horizons with red ball sunrises and sunsets.  Smoke still continues on all our trip so far and will continue based on news reports of fires in direction we are heading.  We had two exceptions to continuous smoky skies.  First was day of eclipse.  Sky was clear and we had a great view.  Second was afternoon we arrived at Lake Louise.  We had smoke on the west side of Canadian Rockies but east side was clear.  Great views of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.  LOTS of people but great views.  The next morning the smoke had made it to the east side and Lake Louise basin was full of smoke.  Could barely see across lake.  Normally spectacular drive up the Icefield Parkway was obscured by smoke. Mountains around Jasper barely visible.

Got some flaky internet connection long enough to get email and learn that my cousin, whom we had just visited, had died.  Less than ten days ago she was clobbering Sue in Scrabble.  We will be modifying our journey to attend her service.

East to Edmonton.  Smoke better but still there.  Spent a full day roaming the West Edmonton Mall.  Largest mall in North America – used to be largest in world.  Amazing place. Too much to describe.  Google it .  Except for this – we found  Dole Whip!  

Yesterday we went to Calgary and wandered the grounds of the Calgary Stampede. Extensive site with lots of different venues.  Huge auditorium where local professional hockey team plays.  Holds many thousands.  We know.  When we got there a Garth Brooks concert was about to start.  Lines hundreds of yards long at several entrances.  We went to an indoor arena and watched barrel racing.  Did not get to see inside the huge rodeo arena.

South today back to USA.  Tomorrow further south in Montana and more smoke – lots of fires.

Sorry no pictures.  Smoke sort of dampens picture taking and good ones have not been downloaded from camera.

Aug. 26, 2017 Morning

We spent Tuesday night in a service bay of RV Glass Solutions so that the motorhome did not move while the the cement cured. Up early so we could clear the space for the next wave of repairs. Wednesday morning we headed north on I 5.  Eclipse traffic was over but commute traffic was in force and thicker as we reached Portland area.  Across the Columbia River to Vancouver, WA and parked at an Elks lodge.  Spent the afternoon and evening visiting with friends from Air Force days.  We visited them in Alaska several years ago and they had subsequently moved to Washington.

Thursday morning we headed up the Columbia River, through the gorge and on to eastern Oregon and then across the river to the Tri-Cities area in Washington. Parked and set up the Carbus in front of the home of friends we have known since Scouting in Palo Alto over 60 years ago.  Great visit!  Some sightseeing, delicious meals, and almost nonstop talking and reminiscing for over a day and a half. We should visit WA more.

This morning we will go to Spokane.

August 22, 2017

New Windshield and Fun Visit

Early drive south to Coburg Oregon.  RV Glass Solutions is THE place to get RV windshield replacements.  Will not go in to detail but if questions get in touch.
While windshield was being replaced we drove north to Salem.  Here is what we did:
http://thedestinators.com/2017/08/22/salem-an-opportunistic-rendezvous/#more-3133
Thanks Sue and Doug for excellent description of the day.  Much better than what I might have come up with.  It was fun.  Sorry we are 3000 miles apart.  Happy Trails!

Aug. 21, 2017 Part 2

What we saw

Got colder.  Saw stars. Saw above with naked eye. Crescent shadows under trees before and after totality.  360 degree twilight.

Pretty cool.  Very worth the effort to see.  There will be an even longer one in Northern California in a few years (decades).  Buy property in Susanville now.

Aug. 21, 2017 7:20am

Waiting for Eclipse

After three great days at Yamsi Ranch visiting and helping with some projects we are now in the the RV park in the Benton County Fairgrounds in Corvallis,OR. There are probably several thousand people camped in and around this spot all waiting to experience a minute and twenty seconds of darkness.  Pretty peaceful and quiet here. Other parts of the state are much more zoo like.  Tens of thousands of people, gas and food shortages, clogged roads.  Sun is up and it looks like we should have a decent view right by the carbus.

Sept. 20, 2016

Done – For Now

142 days

18,503.8 miles

Home

Map of trip:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&authuser=0&mid=12x4dHvzJbvb0UcaUtz2NjLNihZE

Sept. 16, 2016

Westward Ho!

Headed home through country we have been through several times.  Staying in parks we have been in before.  Re-seeing sights and sites.  Still very fun and beautiful.  Not my favorite to do interstates but there are no other options really where we are.  If you happen to be in eastern Utah sometime, I heartily recommend I 70. Take it from east to west.  Could be done as part of a visit to Moab area.  Take Utah 128 northeast from Moab to I 70.  Bit of misdirection but outstanding drive along the Colorado river through a spectacular canyon.  The drive west to Salina, UT is constantly changing wonderful landscapes.  Do it east to west for best views though.

Tomorrow to Ely, NV and the day after to Reno and back into grandparent mode.  It has been a great trip.  Time to do some catching up and start dreaming on the next one.