May 8, 2010

Start of Week 2

Day 8

Another breakfast and more conversation and then it was time to move on.  Thank you Kathy and Jim for everything.  We appreciate it very much.

 

Sunny day with beautiful cumulous clouds that occasionally rained on us.  Easy drive north to Grand Coulee. 

 

Note rain drops on windshield.

Also note road going through rolling hills/plains of eastern Washington.

 

 

 

 

We are in the same RV park we were in last year and even the same space.  Too early for the tourist season really.  We are the only transient rig.  There are several permanent or semi-permanent RVs though.

 

 

I replaced the washers in the shower faucet (they were probably 14 years old) to make it easier to turn the shower off fully.  The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up on blogs and labeling pictures Sue has taken so far.

Tourist season is several weeks away but one of our favorite Mexican restaurants is just down the street and it is open.  Guess we will celebrate Mothers Day early.

Happy Day to all you mothers!

May 7, 2010

Whitman Mission

We had breakfast, prepared by Jim, but then he had to head off to work for several hours.  The rest of us took a ride to the Whitman Mission National Historic Site which is located just west of Walla Walla.  The site is a testament to the strength, fortitude, ingenuity, success, and tragedy that characterized many who first settled the American west.  It is a small site but very well done and informative. 

 

 

Replica of pioneer wagon sitting on Oregon Trail

 

 

 

 

 

Oregon Trail (very short section)

 

 

 

 

 

Sue and Kathy reading about building that used to stand at that location.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turtles on raft in mill pond

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site of Whitman Mission

 

 

 

 

 

Traveler crossing the Oregon Trail

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial to those killed in Whitman massacre

 

 

 

 

 

Whitman Mission site.  Mill pond on the left.  Buildings were in the area that is now grass.

 

 

 

Everybody ought to have a teepee, even if it is totally out of place.  Indians in this local covered their dwellings with reed mats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Richland where we spent time chatting and had another great, home cooked meal.

After dinner we went to see a movie about the Apollo space program told by the astronauts who went to the moon.  Very enthralling.  Two hours went by like nothing.

May 6, 2010

Richland, WA

 

Wind blew all night. Still windy this morning but bright sun and crystal clear.  This is the view in back of carbus:

 

 

Mount Hood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North to the Columbia River then east to the Tri-cities area. 

 

 

Columbia River

 

 

 

 

 

Freeway headed east to Tri-cities

 

 

 

Filled the carbus at Costco and purchased a couple of things.  Then off to visit with good friends.  Kathy showed us a very nice river path/trail and we took a nice walk along the Columbia River.

 

Clouds over the Columbia River.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fellow walkers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were then treated to a visit to the local museum which currently has much of it devoted to the development of nuclear energy and weapons which was a major part of this areas history.  The museum also has a wonderful hands-on science room much like the Exploratorium in San Francisco.  Much smaller obviously but very well done. 

Nice dinner and conversation and then off to our “house” for the night.

May 5, 2010

Slight change in route

Day 5

We had intended to head east from Bend and stay in John Day, OR today, stopping along the way to see the John Day Fossil Beds.  There was a cold front moving in and predictions of up to 3 inches of snow on the road to John Day.  Going north first looked to be the better choice today although we would miss the fossil beds (again).  Twenty miles north of Bend, in Redmond, we started to get snow flurries.   Our whole trip today we alternated between snow flurries, clouds, and sunshine.  Sometimes all three at once.  At one point it snowed hard enough to stick and make everything around white except the road.  Couple of minutes later, bright sun.

 

Highway 97 south of Moro.

 

 

 

 

 

We are staying at the Sherman County RV Park adjacent to the Sherman County Fairgrounds located on a hill above the town of Moro, OR which is the county seat.  We are the only transient rig.  There are about six long term tenants in a park with over 30 sites.  Full hook ups, large and long sites, cable TV, WIFI, showers, and an inexpensive laundry.  No noise and a decent view.  All for $16 a night.  Probably the best total deal we have seen anywhere.

 

 

Note length of site.  Could hold two RVs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moro, OR (as opposed to Morrow, OH (Reflection on Kingston Trio song))  Population: 337

Click on picture for better view.

 

 

 

Tomorrow we go north to the Columbia River and east to Richland, WA.  Back on track from there.

May 4, 2010

On to Bend

Double click map to see days travel.

Got a little chilly last night.  At sunrise this morning our outside thermometer said 14.5 degrees F.  Second thermometer verified this within a couple of degrees.  We had the furnace on all night.  It ran about three times an hour for 5-10 minutes.  We were comfortable under our comforter and the carbus was comfortable.  All systems were fine in the morning.

Pictures of windshield this morning.

That is not frost on the outside.  It is frozen condensation on the inside of the glass.

We visited with John and Jerri for a while and caught up on things.  While we were there Calli called.  She was going to be induced today but got bumped by two other women who needed it more urgently.  Thursday will be the day.

Crisp clear day with no clouds and occasional breeze all the way to Bend. 

 

Mount Scott

 

 

 

 

 

Mt. Thielsen.  Very difficult to photograph because of dense trees lining the road.

 

 

 

 

Highway 97 on the way north to Bend.

 

 

 

 

 

Entering Chemult, OR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diamond Peak

 

 

 

 

 

Got gas then drove a few miles to Tumalo State Park.  Nice open spaces with lots of grass and trees.  Not very many campers yet either.

Drove the Suzuki in to Bend to look for a camera for Sue.  Her camera takes pictures with smudges on them.  We have cleaned the lens many times with no improvement.  She will be taking MANY pictures and Photoshoping each one would be a real drag.  So she is learning her latest toy right now.

May 3, 2010

Layover at Yamsi

View this morning outside Carbus.

Cold, blustery day.  Didn’t do much.  Helped change beds from mass of fishermen who left this morning.  Did some web shopping and searching for next stop.  ‘bout it.

May 2, 2010

On to Yamsi  Ranch

Double click map to see days travel

Bright sunny morning.  Cool but still shirtsleeve comfortable.  We left Redding at 9:00 am. 

Freeway north of Redding

 

 

 

 

 

North over Lake Shasta

and then up through the mountains and past Castle Crags and Mount Shasta.  No snow along the road but Shasta was totally covered with white. 

Little bit of wind but not enough to affect driving.  Topped off the gas tank in Klamath Falls and then up the east side of Klamath Lake to Chiloquin

 

Klamath Lake and Mt McLaughlin to the west.

 

 

 

 

and then east to Yamsi,  Some patches of snow in the forest over the summit west of Yamsi but mostly just dry land.  Winter has been cold but pretty dry in this area unlike California. 

 

Yamsi main house is nearly 100 years old.

 

 

 

We spent the afternoon visiting with various family members. 

 

Cadin Hyde (second cousin, thrice removed), just shy of 13 months old.

 

 

We found out that Callie (second cousin twice removed) is pregnant.  Actually, she was due two days ago.  She is very big but no sign of impending delivery. 

The fishing operation is hosting ten fishermen right now.  That is a lot at one time to feed and house.  They leave tomorrow. 

For all you fly fishermen, this is what they have to fish.  Miles of it.   And a lake for some diversity.  Tough huh?

 

Looks like it might be cold tonight  Will use furnace to keep Carbus (and us) happy.