11/01 (54F at 8:45am in Lethbridge) left after late breakfast heading south west to Cardston, Alberta. It is so nice out, we are in T-shirts. The Remington Carriage Museum is on the south side of Cardston& has a huge parking lot. We are the only visitors & our 45 minute guided tour lasts an hour & 15 minutes. This is an amazing museum with over 214 carriages. During the summer, you can take carriage rides. We are 15 minutes from the Canada/USA border; it will be good to be back in the US. We thought we would stay in St. Mary but the town is all boarded up except for the grocery store & horses were wandering all around town. Browning, a town within the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana on the east side of Glacier National Park has a casino. It is where we are spending the night.
11/02 (51F in Browning at 7:30am) There’s snow on the hills as we leave Browning. Heading in westerly direction, the road follows the southern border of Glacier National Park. We park at the Elk’s Lodge south of Kalispell, MT.
11/03 (43F in Kalispell at 7:15am) We had planned to stay for 2 nights in Kalispell but the local weather reports are not sounding good. As there is a good possibility of snow tomorrow; we are heading to Coeur d’Alene. The air suspension lever is not working properly. Gaylon called to make an appointment for us in Ridgefield, WA. We have to drive north to Sandpoint, ID before we can head south to Cd’A, as the locals print it. We are parked at the Elk’s Lodge there. The water is still on.
11/04 (39F in Cd’A at 7:45am) Election Day but we have already voted absentee. It is pouring down rain & Gaylon goes out to wash the motorhome & jeep. Sharon stays inside where it’s warmer. Hot soup for lunch helps to warm him up.
11/05 (34F in Cd’A at 7am) After breakfast, we go to a hardware store to buy a For Sale by Owner sign. We’re headed for Bayview where we have a lot; the sign goes up & we take some pictures of the lot & the view of Lake Pond Oreille, the deep end. Back to town, we go to the movies & see Appaloosawith Ed Harris, Jerry Irons & Renee Zelwegger. Tonight is cheeseburger night at the Elk’s. Pretty good food & the drinks were $1.
11/06(29F in Cd’Aat 7am) It’s clear & cold with the prospect of snow tomorrow morning. It’s time to roll. After a leisurely breakfast, we hook the jeep up & head to Pasco with Sharon driving. We have been lucky so far, staying ahead of the weather. After we went through Spokane, it started to drizzle enough that wipers were necessary. Finding the RV park in Pasco was easy, after attempting to set up in Space 8, then 9, we settled on 12, then changed to 14. The changing spaces was due to leveling problems because of the suspension issue. We set up, ate & went to the inside swimming pool & sat in the hot tub. Ooh, it felt so good!
11/07(44F in Pasco at 7:45am) It was cloudy out when we got moving this morning. We found the Post Office & mailed boxes to our grandgirls & our grandson. Then drove across the Cable Bridge into Kennewick. We followed the Columbia River, stopping to watch a couple of kayakers set off. There are a lot of Canada geese here. A little further down the road, we stopped at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. Then to the Visitor’s Center to see what else there was to see here in the Tri Cities Area. On the way back to the rig, we were checking out our leaving route, looking for gas stations & found a Super Wal*Mart, the RV’ers friend. Bought groceries there. Back home, Gaylonwent to the hot tub but forgot his towel so he told Sharon that paper towels work okay in a pinch. Worked on the website with the help of Brian & Shanna.
11/08(46F at 8am) The RV Park is fixing breakfast this morning. $3.00 for coffee, juice, 2 eggs (your way), 2 sausage & all you can eat pancakes, not a bad deal. Just as we start out the door, the phone rings & it’s Geoffrey (our youngest son). We talk for a little while & promise to call him back after breakfast. While Sharon got a pedicure, Gaylon called his Mom. The we went to see more of the Tri-Cities Area. There is a place here called Spud Nuts; the baker makes potato doughnuts. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to taste any, he was closed. Sharon went shopping in the Octopus Garden (she didn’t but any octopi) while Gaylon looked through an Antique store & found a few treasures. Home for an early dinner & another hot tub trip.
11/09 (49F at 7:45am in Pasco) Today’s a travel day. Gaylon drove the motorhome to the gas station we found; Sharon followed in the jeep. $3.09 for diesel in Richland, WA. After taking on fuel, we hooked up the jeep & headed out. Near the Columbia River, a sign said the bridge was closed at the Oregon border so we turned & went west on WA 14. this highway follows the Columbia River on the Washington side just like I-84 follows it on the Oregon side except it’s 2 lanes and a lot less traffic. We have sunshine after 3 days of clouds & a little rain. The sunshine feels wonderful. Stopped just before the John Day Dam at a turnout that overlooked the river & had lunch. The colors of the leaves (yellow, gold, orange, bronze & red) are gorgeous against the backdrop of gray-brown rock & beige grasses. Back on the road again, just rolling along & uh oh! there’s a sign that says “ tunnel ahead 12′9″ clearance“. We are 13′ 4″ at our tallest point & we won’t fit. Yup, all the trucks are making the left turn behind us & at this point, we have already passed that turn, we have to pull over & make a u-turn so we can cross the river at The Dalles. Still beautiful out & we are on the Oregon side of the Columbia now. Started drizzling when we reached the Cascade Locks area. Just getting dark when we pulled into Tri-Mountain RV Park in Ridgefield. Partly late & partly dark gloomy clouds. It’s warmer here, in the 50’s. We are getting set up when Mary (the park owner) brings us some homemade bread, just out of the oven. Talked to family & friends, our grandson Adam called while we were crossing the Columbia for the 4th time today. We were in rush hour traffic & Washington State is a no cell phone while driving state so we told him we would call him back after we parked for the night. Talked to good friends, John & Judy, Madelynne, Carolyn & called our son & grandson back. Also let Gaylon’s brother Don know we were parked & made plans for breakfast in the morning.
11/10 (50F at 7am in Ridgefield) Raining out. We had breakfast at the Country Cafe with Don & Sally Woods at 8am. The a drive up to exit 16 on I-5 to check on propane & fuel prices. Diesel for $2.99. WOW! And back to check on the way to the Allison Transmission place for our early Wednesday appt. Back to the rig, Sharon worked on the website & pictures. She says she needs more info. Gaylon got the bikes off the jeep, worked under the dashboard hooking up his ham radio & took a nap. We did have some nice sun today. It’s dark at 5:15pm.
11/11 (the mid 40’s) Made Doc & Dentist appointments. Our youngest son called to check on us. Gaylon worked on his Ham radio setup. It was mostly a goof around day. Don & Sally took us to Outback for dinner & then to a MLM on Kangen water. Very impressive demonstration. We have 4 gallons of water to try.
11/12 (mid 40’s in the morning) The Alfa went to the Detroit Diesel place; Gaylonwent with it. I went to Don & Sally’s after going to the Post Office in Battle Ground. Sally & I went to the Al-Anon meeting & then to lunch & had Chinese. On the way home, Sally stopped to pick up her goats’ milk. I left, went to Wells Fargo & the grocery before heading back to the RV park getting there before Gaylon & the Alfa. It was drizzly all day. HTook a card back to Don & Sally for their anniversary & Sally had her famous No Peek Casserole while Don got creative with the rice & cayenne pepper.
11/13 (mid 40’s in the am) great V’s of Canada geese honking overhead this morning; the sky was black with them. Mostly sunny today & we went to Mom Woods. Had a good visit, Sharon took her grocery shopping, picking up fried chicken, salad & rolls in the deli. Geoffrey came by for dinner & a visit with his Gramma & us. Ter(short for Terry) was with her when we got there, leaving before dinner.
11/14 (mid 40’s in the am) more V’s of geese heading west & making a huge amount of noise. After making & finishing several phone calls, we left for Mom Woods again. Got there, found out she had put buttermilk on her cereal. Helped Mom into & out of the shower, washed her back & helped her get dressed. Did her laundry with ours. WE all made a trip to Curt & Kathy’s where Gaylon measured to make sure we had enough room to park the motorhome in their drieway for Thanksgiving week. Then back to Mom’s house to check our stew & change laundry to the dryer & start a new load. Randy was pressure washing the steps, sidewalks, driveway & house. Then we all went off to find Elk’s Park on Mulino Rd. It’s a lot farther than we thought & the road in is not for us. Really nice & sunny & we saw Mt Hood in all its glory. On the way home we stopped for a short trip to return a too small red vest for Mom at K-Mart & pick up some things for us in Albertson’s. At Mom’s, Mom opened a can of pears for us & we had stew, cornbread & pear salad for midday. Gaylon helped his Mom with a massaging foot bath; her legs were badly swollen & she was crying from the pain. Called Curtis & he brought the medicine over that brings down the swelling. We left at 7:30pm heading back to the motorhome. Gaylon is losing his voice, has a stuffed head & runny nose.
11/15 (mid 4o’s in the am) sunny all day. Quiet all day & evening. Worked on the dinner, getting things ready for eating at 2:30. Roasted veggies, couscus, grilled outside shrimp & scallops. Tapioca & cookies for dessert. Had a nice visit after their first view of our new house. Gaylon is still sick.
11/16 (mid 40’s – so nice in the am) Gaylon is still sick, so Sharon paid Mary for another week at TriMountain RV Park & went to Mom’s. Couldn’t tell if she had eaten breakfast; she said she had either eggs or oatmeal but didn’t remember. Fixed peanut butter sandwiches for her & gave her a 2 quarters, putting the rest of the quarters in baggies in her refrigerator. Talked to Sharon’s Mom & Dad while Gaylon’s Mom took a nap. About 2:30, Mom got her diuretic for the swelling in her legs, & at 3:30 she had some pear & chicken thigh. She got cleaned up before Sharon left at 4pm. Sharon stopped by Albertson’s to pick up some replacement items for us on the way home. Fixed a frozen pizza & made salad for dinner.
11/17 (44F at 7:30am) Gaylon slept in & Sharon was on the computer this morning working on the blogsite, ordering our laundry supplies from Amway, her decaffeinated tea from Bigelow, arranging for our mail to be sent to General Delivery in Oregon City, checking e-mail, etc. Mt Saint Helen & Mount Adams can be seen from the curbside of our motorhome.
11/18 thru 11/22 spending most of our time running to Oregon City and spending it with Mrs. Woods.
11/23 moved our motorhome to Gaylon’s sister’s house. We parked our 40 ft 6 in motorhome in their 44 ft driveway.
11/24 to 11/30 Mrs. Woods is 15 minutes away & we have spent lots of time with her. The more time we spend, the more socially aware she becomes.
Thanksgiving Day 11/27 typical family holiday – too many people eating too much food!
