Sunday August 31st

Sunday, August 31st

We thought that if we spent the night in the rest area that by morning the wind would let up. Wrong! Also it didn’t cool off too much over night. The temperature was hovering around the century mark most of the afternoon, and I had the generator running with the overhead air conditioning running. I knew that it would tax the engine if I used the dash air. We had heated up to 215 degrees coming over the continental divide, and had the high temp alarm going off.

Due to the winds that didn’t subside, today turned out to be the lowest miles per gallon. Driving an 8 ½ by 40 by 12 ½ foot box down the road, towing a car behind isn’t conducive to 25 to 40 MPH head/cross winds.
We’re used to a 65 mph speed limit in Oregon, but here in ND they slow you down to 65 when you are in the construction zone. In Oregon they would have you at 45 MPH.

We arrived in Wadena MN a little after noon, so I just relaxed for a few minutes before getting set up. Getting out of the coach was like walking into an indoor swimming pool area with the heat and high humidity. Later on, Barb called Ave Koranda, to see if she was up to a short visit and an ice cream cone. Averill was Barb’s Mother’s best friend during high school, and like a second mother, so we enjoy stopping and visiting for a bit while we are in town.

When we returned to the camp ground we took some time to get acquainted with our neighbors, Mike and Judy. Mike had some blueberry cheddar sausage made from his deer meat. He gave us a sample and it was very good.

Red Lion Man (& Lady)




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Saturday, August 30, 2008

This morning we woke up at 5:00 am and leisurely got ready to roll. We left the campgrounds at 6:15 am. The first car that we meet was at 7:10, quit different from freeway traffic. The downside is the roads often have very little shoulders, so Dick has no room for error. Several ranchers were in their fields and fisherman out on the lakes. The other downside is the cows, deer, antelope, and elk have not read the drivers manual and do not come equipped with turn signals!! We both keep our eyes peeled for the ones that dare each other to cross in front of us. While I was standing in the bathroom, one did just that, and Dick planted me against the wall. Oh Well, no broken bones and our coach is still covered with just bugs! The morning was cool and overcast, so the animals didn't bed down until after 10:30.

We stopped in Roundup for breakfast and listened to the locals complain about the government and the motorboats and jet skiers on the water!

By afternoon it became hot, 99 degrees. Dick gave up the wheel for a couple hours this afternoon and I had to drive through some construction and wind. We are at a rest area near Bismark, and plan to spend the night here.




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Friday, August 29, 2008

Dick wanted to get a little earlier start this morning, but he was sleeping so good I didn't have the heart to wake him up. Around 6:30 he woke up, and we had some coffee. We enjoy the early morning drives, because we usually see lots of wildlife and have less traffic. By 7:15 We were pulling out of the park. There was very little traffic going through Spokane. We filled up at the Flying J in Idaho, and were really on our way. I snapped green beans while Dick drove. I set the slow cooker in the sink, so when we arrived (4:45 pm) at White Sulpher Springs, Montana, our dinner was all ready and waiting for us. We left the freeway and took Hwy 12, as we like the slower pace and enjoy seeing the country and wildlife.


We joined the other campers around the campfire that evening for Ice cream. They charge $.75 a scoop. Marshmallow's were provided for smores, but we declined since the bugs needed to be cleaned off the front of the coach.




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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Eagle Crest to Cheney

We got up and had a cup of coffee with Chris and Rob. Chris and I took her dog for a short walk, than she delivered us to our coach shortly after 7:00 am. We stopped and got a Latte' in Redmond. The trip was very uneventful and we arrived at Ponderosa Falls at 2:40 pm.

Steve, Stefanie, and kids came over for a cook out with us. After eating, the men sat around talking while the rest of us went for a swim.


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Off and Running

Well, we are finally on our way. I had hoped to get everything ready yesterday, but the hot water heater was plugged and I had to remove it from the coach to get it fixed. That project kept me busy till after lunch time. Meanwhile, I had previously pulled everything out from under the coach to repack and make sure the things I needed would be there, and the things I didn't need weren't there. So as it turns out, I was working right up to the moment we left trying to get everything in order.

After breakfast, we went over to Autumn Seed to check on our final marching orders. It turns out that the season is running late, and we do not have to be in Michigan till the 20Th of September, so that will give us an extra week to spend in Minnesota plus another week that we will spend at a Western Horizons Resort in White City, Michigan. White city is less than an hour from Hart Michigan, where we will be spending several weeks working at one of the Autumn Seeds plants.

We arrived at Chris and Rob's about 5 PM and went to one of the local eating places at Eagle Crest for dinner. We will be missing both Chris and Rob's birthdays, as well as Rob's 50Th birthday bash, so this is kinda a last farewell for a few months.Tomorrow it is on to Cheney, WA, where we will get to see Barb's brother Steve, as well as his daughter Stephanie, and some of her children.

Red Lion Man & (Lady)

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Jr. 4th Class Skier

Would you believe that Christopher is out skiing his mom? He ran the course yesterday and bumped up into Jr 4th class!! Congratulations Christopher. You were terrific!! Karen only missed a full pass by one ball. Jessica is looking great also. She was whipping around the course on Sunday and never fell once!
After the Saturday evening potluck they had some drawings. I don't have my own gloves or handle, so when they had a "girlly" pair of gloves, I missed it by one number. I let out a big cry and my daughter stands up and hands me her ticket!! What a sweetheart. Now I have my very own gloves, ski, and vest. Now all I need to get is a handle, also a ski boat would be nice! The handle is possible, but I don't know of anyplace giving away boats. If you hear of one, let me know!

Back in Albany

We got back to Albany in the early afternoon and I spent some time washing the coach before I set it up. We leave for Michigan on Wednesday, so time seems to be flying.

Barb didn't do any practice runs on Saturday or Sunday, but has managed to become the FAVORITE skiing grandmother at the tournaments.

Below are smaller slide shows of her two runs, but if you want to see the full size pictures, go to the following links.

Barb's Saturday Run.

Barb's Sunday Run.

Saturday's Slide show



Sunday's Slide show

Last Tournament Before We Leave

Yesterday we drove to Tug lake, near Vancouver WA, for the last INT tournament of the year and also the last ski tournament before we head to Michigan. Barb was not sure that she would compete in this one, because she was having trouble getting up with the handle she was using, as it would catch the ski and cause her to fall.

Last night though, she was able to get a practice run with a different handle, and was able to get up, so she is going to GO FOR IT today.

Red Lion Man

Almost Time to Leave

A week from tomorrow, we pack up the coach for our longest trip in the coach time wise. We will be arriving in Minnesota the 31st of August, and then tentatively continuing on to Hart Michigan, where we will spend 2 months before we start our return trip to Oregon. If the weather is cooperative, we will spend a few days in Branson on our way back.

Red Lion Man

Barb Competes Again

The weekend of August 2nd and 3rd, we made another trip to Winlock Water for another INT water ski tournament. Barb decided that since she had already joined INT three weeks ago, she might as well go for another run. If you would like to see some of her skiing pictures, jump over to my skiing blog and take a look. You can also take a look at her practice run as photographed from the back of the boat. During the actual competition, I am not allowed to be in the boat, so I shoot from the shore, so if you compare the two series, you will see why I like to shoot from the boat.

Red Lion Man

Jet Boating Up The Rogue River

Tuesday morning the, 29Th of July, we headed South on I-5 to Winston, OR. where we then cut over to the Oregon Coast on HWY 42 which ties into US 101 at Bandon, OR. We then continued South till we got to Gold Beach, OR. We had previously made reservations on the Internet, for the only Bed and Breakfast that we could find in Gold Beach, to spend 2 nights. It was going to be cheaper than Motel 6, and also included breakfast, so how could you loose? We didn't! This was our first experience staying at a B & B, Endicot Gardens, and it turned out to be a very pleasant one.

The Ron Kelly's left Albany about an hour after us following the same route, arriving an hour or so after we did, but they planned to spend only one night at the B & B. The plan was to take the Mail Boat run on the jet boat up the Rogue River on Wednesday morning. We had previously reserved spaces on the 104 mile trip, which is the longest run, and goes as far up the Rogue as motorized boats are allowed to go.

The two rooms reserved for us were facing the garden area and had an adjoining deck. Since we were the first to arrive, we got the room of our choice first. Since our granddaughter Jessica likes girly girl and pink, we selected that one, and left the blue one for the Kelly's.

The four of us went out to dinner at a restaurant that we had come by as we were traveling the four miles up the river to the B&B, and then spent some time playing a gave of hand and foot before retiring for the night.

After enjoying a fabulous breakfast put on by our host, we left for the loading area for the Jet Boat ride. The boat holds 42 passengers, and it was a full load. The trip was outstanding and would highly recommend it to any one that wants a little light adventure.

We got back to the B&B before 5 PM so Barb and I went out to another restaurant for dinner. This was to celebrate our anniversary which we had not done on the 11Th of July as we had been at a ski tournament.

We took our time coming home on Thursday and just spent some time viewing some of the Southern Oregon Coast.

Red Lion Man (& Lady)