The Adventures of Wally and Darcy

It is that time of year again....

2010-09-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

This being our 13th year on the road in an RV is going to be little different.. It is that time in our lives where adult care takes precedence . My 91 yr old mother is now in an assisted living center and an 82 yr old 2nd cousin is in and out of the hospital and nursing home. We will stay relatively nearby to coordinate their care. Our plans are to go to Atlanta for Thanksgiving, Black Mountain,NC until Christmas and then on to Florida. This way we are no more that a day form Maine.. Change is good. We are actually enjoying the frost mornings here at the cabin. We may not be thinking that way when November comes..

2010-04-23T04:48:00.000-07:00

Oklahoma City National Memorial

2010-04-23T04:41:00.000-07:00

The Oklahoma City National Memorial on the site of the Murrah Federal Building was a powerful reminder of that never-to-be-forgotten April 19th bombing. From the recovery has emerged the Oklahoma Standard, a prescription for dealing with a terrorist attach in the most humane and caring way.

In the place where the Murrah Building once stood are granite and glass chairs representing the 168 adults and children who were killed by the explosion of the truck bomb and resulting collapse of the building. In place of the street where Timothy McVeigh drove the Penske truck loaded with explosives is a reflection pool. The museum takes up 3 floors of the Journal building across the street. The museum relives the 9:02 explosion, the recovery of those who survived and those who did not, the reaching out of the community and the nation to provide support to those whose lives would forever be changed and the investigation that traced the pieces of the truck to Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

It was a moving tribute to a terrible event in our country's heritage.

On a lighter note, we spent another 4 hours at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum....fabulous. We ate authentic Korean food, visited Stockyard City and ate at the Cattlemans and walked along OKC's riverwalk in Bricktown.

Trip Home via Oklahoma City

2010-04-23T04:38:00.000-07:00

2010-04-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

Winter Blast

2010-02-14T05:57:00.000-08:00

The fireworks were great...The first night we were within spittin' distance of the launch point..Fireworks are great far away but they are spectacular close up! Last night we had a evening with friends in town and could see the fireworks from their yard. We will be heading back to Quartzsite today and then on towards Benson on Monday. We have no TV signal here so must get somewhere so we can watch some of the Olympics...

Lake Havasu Trip 2010

2010-02-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

Lake Havasu City,AZ

2010-02-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

We are off tomorrow to Lake Havasu City for the week end. It is the Western Pyrotechnics Assn winter meeting. Each evening there is a spectular fireworks show. It should be fun. There are all kinds of other activities going on as well. Looks like rain here in Quartzsite today...though a 3" rain in Quartzsite is rain drops 3" apart! A good day for coffee and a book.

Yuma-San Diego trip Jan/Feb 2010

2010-02-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

Atlanta

2009-10-04T04:13:00.000-07:00

We have located our RV in a campground about 20 minutes from Erin and Brett in a town called Norcross,GA. Jones RV Park will be our home for the next couple of months. We had a great time at the the Childrens Home but Erin is due any minute and we want to be closer by. We will return to the Home for a week in November when other friends will be there as well. We are helping Erin and Brett with a remodeling of an upstairs bedroom/bathroom. As Erin says all you have to do is look around and you will find something to do. We like the neighborhood and are beginning to be able to find our way around, especially to Lowes and Home Depot. Emily is 2-1/2 going on 13. She and Erin were buying link sausage at the grocery store the other day and she says" Mommy, those look like boy parts". Where do they learn so much so fast! She now goes to pre-school 2 days a week and is a shining star( of course)!

Emily and Atlanta

2009-09-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

I was going to write about what happened between June 25th and today but that sounded like an elementary language arts first day assignment so lets say it just came and went! Our first week-end with Emily is far more important. As you can see from the pictures, Erin wanted a few shrubs removed from her yard and Emily was right in the middle of the job. She was such a great help...Love those grandchildren!

2009-09-15T05:06:00.000-07:00

Rocking and drinking coffee

2009-06-25T05:51:00.001-07:00

We are sitting on the porch drinking coffee at the cabin.. Everything here looks good and the bugs are not too bad..We are without internet for a week or so so will update further when we are hooked up.

2009-06-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

Benson, AZ friends show us their life-long home.

2009-06-18T12:24:00.000-07:00

Our second tour guides were Gail and Mike Lenney, "rolling home" friends who grew up in North Tonawanda, north of Buffalo. They made sure that we got to experience the Erie Barge Canal System, Niagra Falls from underneath the frothing torrent, Beef on Wick and Good Guys Tray Pizza. What more could you ask for!

2009-06-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

2009-06-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

Buffalo, New York with a long-time friend leading the way

2009-06-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

It's always wonderful to see a new place through the eyes of the local folks who love it dearly. That's exactly how we got to see and fall "dead in love" with Buffalo, New York. Our first tour guide was Patty Ann Corcoran Hayes, better known as Officer Pat Hayes of the New York State Police. Seven years ago I was completing an 8-week stint as Camp Store Manager for my sister's family business Offense-Defense Football Camps. The last week of camp for me was to be held at the Buffalo State College campus. I had lived and breathed football with the men and boys long enough and I was determined to have a girl's moment or two at an art gallery or a museum. Since I had arrived early from the last camp up on a mountain top in West Virginia, I struck out that evening to get the lay of the land. [Enter Officer Pat, assigned to the college campus.] She spotted me, the lone woman, hiking around the edges of campus unchaperoned and red flags went up in her mind. She would do nothing less than escort me in her State Police SUV safely back to my dorm, but not before she had treated me to an hour-long tour of the highlights of her city of Buffalo. Before the week was over, we had eaten Buffalo-made Sahlen's hotdogs, Weber's mustard, freshly picked corn-on-the-cob and potato salad together at the State Police barracks on campus. I also had a jug of Chiavetta's Marianade, famous at all Buffalo area chicken barbeques, tucked in my travel bag. Needless to say, we two kindred spirits had become best friends. The next year Wally joined me on the football camp trail, and Pat introduced us to her husband Micheal and son Brian during a supper visit at her home. Since then we have kept in touch with our family news...we are both grand-mothers now! A few weeks ago we received an e-mail from Pat asking if we were getting close to Buffalo. She not only had us park our riglet on her property, but she showed off "her city" in grand style. We ate fish and chips that featured the best haddock ever, foot-long hot dogs from the Red Top Stand that's been serving delighted locals forever. As the day came to a close, we squeezed out every bit of daylight driving past the astounding architectural delights of downtown. Among them was the Buffalo's Roman Catholic Basilica, one of the elaborate churches that has been granted ceremonial rights and privileges by the Pope. Inside and outside, it was a spiritual event. Pat's Irish upbringing has made her a strong supporter of all things Buffalo and we dearly love her for that fierce spirit.

2009-06-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

Lake Superior is a big one...so is Lake Huron

2009-06-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

It took a full day of driving to get around the north shore of Lake Superior from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie. The view out the windshield was mostly water with no end in sight or forests with no end in sight. This was Day 59 of our travels and endless views of water and forests were making us feel a bit weary. It took another day to drive around Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury and then past Lake Ontario to Toronto and Hamilton. We had seen a Greyhound Bus pulling a cargo trailer make its delivery of passengers and parcels in Jasper Town Site back in the Canadian Rockies. We regretted that we didn't have a camera at hand to capture the moment. While we were still in the rural part of Ontario, we spotted another one. What a good use of the well-known "people mover" to get packages back into the boonies. We also got a big kick out of the moving van the passed us with the last of the belongings lashed to the back. Guess it just couldn't be squeezed inside!

2009-06-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Rendezvous Times on the Great Lakes ; 1803 and 1815

2009-06-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

Just as we were about to cross the border into Ontario,Canada, Wally and I saw a sign for the Grand Portage Heritage Center. Since we were only traveling about 35 more miles to Thunder Bay, we decided to check it out. The North West Company in 1803: Chief Director Simon McTavish, voyageurs who paddle far into the wilderness to swap exotic items for mostly beaver pelts, native peoples who participate in the international fur trade, and a fur trade depot inside a fort on the north shore of Lake Superior that becomes the largest in the heart of the continent. Why wouldn't this be the perfect place for everyone connected with "The Company" to rendezvous and celebrate their good fortunes in the easy weather of July?

Beaver pelts were the raw materials for making the felted top hats so highly prized by the upperclass men in England and France. Beaver fur adorned women's clothing as collars, trim and muffs. From 1784 until the mid-1800's, every beaver that could be trapped was trapped...and sold to The North West Company.

When the U.S. border was established, The North West Company felt that their business would be better off under British rule, so their depot/fort was moved 35 miles up the shore of Lake Superior. That site is called Thunder Bay, Canada today. There we found Fort William Historical Park telling the story of The North West Company's trade under the leadership of Chief Director William McGillivray in 1815. The local Ojibwe tribal people share their culture with traditional villages, an annual Pow Wow, and the building of birchbark canoes. Daily life is shown through artisans of the period at work, a farm of mixed livestock and crops being tended, and the business of The Company being carried in 42 authentic buildings.

We spent four hours at Fort William chatting with the artisans, sampling the fare from the wood-fired ovens and hearths, dancing on the main square to fiddle music, cuddling the new-born lambs and imagining those times.

2009-06-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

2009-06-09T18:24:00.000-07:00

North House Folk School

2009-06-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

As many of you know Darcy and I spent several falls volunteering at the John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown,NC. It was probably some of the most enjoyable times of our travels. How could one not enjoy learning a new craft from a top knotch instructor, in a beautiful location, with a community of like minds. Our travels have led us to another such place, The North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN. Its mission tells it all. Enriching lives and building community by teaching traditional northern crafts in a student-centered learning environment that inspires the hands, the heart and the mind. After spending time at John C Campbell Folk School I started looking on the net for other Folk Schools and found North House. It has taken several years for us to find it however once we walked into the office it was like we had always been there. We felt like we were at home. A course in Scandinavian Style Flat Plane Carving was going on but the results of many other courses were around. Boats of all kinds,skis,snowshoes,caskets-yes caskets,timber framing,blacksmithing were just a few.Check them out at www.northhouse.org. A better vacation you can't find. We will definately be back.

2009-06-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

"Where in the World is Ely, MN"

2009-06-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

If you would have asked me last year where Ely,Mn was I wouldn't have had a clue! If it weren't for Bonnie and Charles, friends from Benson,AZ, we wouldn't know where it was today. It is a beautiful community, the gateway to the "Boundary Waters Canoe Area,a two million acre designated wilderness with a network of portage trails between pristine lakes", in northern MN surrounded by lakes of all sizes. It looks very much like many parts of Maine. The area often has the lowest recorded cold temperatures in the winter. There are therefore many summer-only residents. Bonnie and Charles have a beautiful home on Shagawa lake. They fed us a feed of Walleye,a fish unknown to us, but very delicious along with many other delictable items. My diet went to the wind while here. While in Ely we had the opportunity to visit the International Wolf Center. The center follow many wolves via radio collar in MN. Since reintroduction the wolf population in MN has grown to 3000 many located in the areas around Ely. I was surprised to find that they were only fed once a week to simulate their feast or famine feeding cycle in the wild. Saturday nights they get a deer or maybe a few beaver that have been given by local trappers. They are truly a beautiful animal.

2009-06-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

2009-06-08T06:03:00.000-07:00

Grand Rapids to Soudan, MN; The Iron Range

2009-06-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

Once we reached Hibbing on Rt. 169, we were beginning to traverse The Iron Range of NE Minnesota. The Hull Rust Mahoning Mine in Hibbing is the world's largest open pit iron ore mine. It has evolved over 105 years from the digs of forty separate mining operations. We were reminded of the Morenci Copper Mine's huge terraced pit in SE Arizona. Further along on Rt. 169 in Chisholm, we were greeted by 85 foot Iron Man, a monument to the miners. Nearby was IRONWORLD. Inside we found the story of the life of mine operations. Especially interesting was the ongoing battle between mine management and the miners, as well as the method for getting the iron ore "taconite" into pebble-sized pieces for shipment to the steel mills. Outside was Heritage Park: a northwoods cabin, a homestead, a building typical of traditional Scandinavian life, and the nomadic Lapp Landers' more permanent sod-covered "darfegoahti". Many Minnesotans have a lilt in their speech that can be traced back to their Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish ancestry. We love to just sit and listen to conversations! We ended the day at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park near Ely, where we traveled in a mine elevator 27 levels below ground to see first-hand how miners worked. The mine closed in 1962 due to technological changes. United States Steel gave it as a gift to the State Park System. Our tour guide was the best.

2009-06-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

2009-06-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Grand Forks, ND through Bemidji to Grand Rapids, MN

2009-06-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

When we traveled from the North Dakota border to Bemidji, MN we were following the Great River Road of Minnesota. At the Bemidji rest area on Rt. 2 we found ourselves at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. We had become so accustomed to rivers getting their start as snow melt high in the mountains, we were rather surprised to find that the mighty Mississippi gets its start in a rather unimpressive lake on the prairies. Who would have guessed! We knew we had arrived in logging country when we spotted Paul Bunyon with Babe the Blue Ox in downtown Bemidji. The city of Bangor, Maine has huge statues of the same two logging icons. Both areas can certainly claim that woods operations played a big part in their history, but how do two states so far apart come to share the same folklore? We traveled on to the Cohasset/Grand Rapids area where we spent the afternoon at the Forest History Center. Inside an attractive, spacious building were exhibits that told the story of various people's interaction with the forests of the region from the earliest recorded history to modern times. Wally loved operating the timber harvester. Outside and down a walkway was the guided living history tour of an 80-man logging camp where the date was Dec. 15,1900. Darcy's favorite part was getting up close and personal with Queenie and Patty, the Percheron draft horses that pull the sled loaded with white pine logs. We chatted with the clerk, the camp cook, the filer of all those cross-cut saw blades, the blacksmith and the teamster. We followed that with a climb to the top of a 100 ft. tall fire tower with the Forest Service Ranger. Those interpreters really make history come alive!

2009-06-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

2009-06-03T20:32:00.000-07:00

From Great Falls, Montana to Grand Forks, North Dakota

2009-06-03T20:05:00.001-07:00

For the past two days we have been crossing through the prairies of northern Montana and northern North Dakota. At times we drove for more then an hour without turning the steering wheel. Farmers on huge equipment till and tend the endless wheatfields; from time to time we share the highway. Grain storage silos mark the next town, often standing next to the rail line. In Rugby, North Dakota we discovered that we were standing in the Geographical Center of the North America. It was worth the placing of a fancy obelisk and a photo opportunity for us. As we approached Minnesota, the level land began to take on a few humps and bumps. Now we found standing water in the depressions, a reminder of the recent snowmelt and spring rains. The bird population loved it! As pretty as the prairies had been, it was a relief to see the terrain change, even if ever so slightly.

2009-06-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

Great Falls, Montana on the Missouri River

2009-06-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

Our first Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center was in Astoria,Oregon where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific Ocean. We were so impressed with the story of those skillful young men. When we learned that Great Falls, Montana also had an Interpretive Center, we put it on our schedule. Benson friends Pat and Gerry Yecny and pup Sassy connected with us on their way to Alaska, so all four of us went to learn about the young explorers' expedition. "Pull" and "portage" were the watchwords. Since the Missouri River flows east toward the Mississippi, the Corps of Discovery had to make their way west against the current with heavily loaded dug-out canoes. Life was already tough enough; here they faced the almost impossible task of getting around five great falls spread out for eighteen miles!

The local knowledge of the tribal peoples of the areas they traveled was extremely important to Lewis and Clark. They collected details that even today's tribal people turn to in learning about their ancesters.

2009-06-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

Ride the Dream and Live the Magic

2009-05-31T17:52:00.000-07:00

Several years ago we saw a documentary on how a community got together and resurrected an old carousel. They rebulit the mechanics piece by piece and carved and painted all new horses. From that day we have wanted to see and ride that carousel. Today was that day. It is located in downtown Missoulo,MT. What a site to see and even better to ride. I didn't even get to grab the brass ring but it was still worth it. Over 100,000 volunteer hours were spent on this endeavor and well worth every one.

2009-05-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

"My Montana"

2009-05-31T17:32:00.000-07:00

Up to this point this trip has been Darcy's....I have been a willing participant and chaufeur but it has been hers. This part however is mine. I have always wanted to see the big sky of Montana. If I didn't have committments in Maine I would not leave. We were both afraid since we have just left the Canadian Rockies that Montana and Glacier National Park wouldn't stack up. We were wrong. It has lived up to all of my expectations. Very few thing in life have...We rode the bike 7 hours to go 13 miles up the mountain into Glacier as Logan Pass at the Continental Divide still has 80 feet of snow. They hope to have it open by June 16th. The ranger showed us a picture of her back yard 5 weeks ago with 2 deer walking across the lawn...the only thing that you could see were their heads! The trip still was beautiful. I love snow when it is 75 degrees outside.

2009-05-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

2009-05-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

2009-05-30T06:42:00.000-07:00

Canadian Rail service is alive and well

2009-05-30T06:41:00.001-07:00

It's been nice to see the Canadian Railroad actively hauling people as well as freight. Actually, it was the Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific Railroad who created the first East-West route across Canada. After spending all that money and time, the owners were eager to get pay back. "If we can't take this fabulous scenery to the people, we'll have to bring the people to the scenery," became their watchword. Thus the birth of the grand hotels in Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff... the steamy mineral water soaking pools... and the promise of exploration of the wilderness caused the Canadian Rockies to become the playground of the wealthy and adventurous.

2009-05-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

From Vancouver, British Columbia to the Canadian Rockies

2009-05-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

From Vancouver, we began our trip to Jasper and Banff National Parks in Alberta by following the muddy Fraser River up Rt. 1 to Lytton. This First Nations town is where the clear-running Thompson River merges with the muddy Fraser and for a while the two share the same riverbed without mixing. Quite a sight! This phenomenon is so unusual that the native peoples must have honored this spot as sacred waters. We continued up Rt. 1, now following the Thompson River, and Saturday night we camped at the Kamloops Exhibition Fairgrounds amidst horserace competitors. We came into Jasper town site on Rt. 16 and through Yellowhead Pass, having stopped to admire the spiral patterns of Mt. Robson, the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. Jasper has Canadian Northern Railways service, bringing goods and people to the park every day. The opulent Jasper Park Lodge has provided plush accommodations for more than a hundred years. Many other motels, bungalows and Nat’l Park campgrounds round out the overnight options. We loved relaxing in the 104 degree Miette Hot Springs north of town; plunging into the 65 degree cool-off pool was shocking, to say the least. Most of the soakers were from foreign countries, so, alas, we had little chance to converse. Canadream out of Edmonton, Alberta has sewn up the market on RV rentals. We are surrounded each night by visitors from around the world proclaiming Canadream’s motto on the front and back of their RV: “Experience Canada at your own pace”. That is exactly our motto, too!

2009-05-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

Jasper National Park Alberta, Canada

2009-05-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Rockies always get the highest of praise from visitors. Now we know why. There are more WOWs! per kilometer than any other place we’ve ever visited. They begin with towering, rugged snowy peaks (many with glaciers) that march on and on, milky-white glacial streams and fast-flowing crystal-clear emerald rivers, limpid reflection pools and lakes and breathtaking falls; they continue with road-side sightings of herds of big-horn sheep, grazing elk, posing white-tail deer, and foraging bears.

2009-05-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Keeping in Touch

2009-05-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

Two other couples were on Darcy’s “Must See” list. Gwen and Don Callahan now live in Bellingham, WA, but they were on the infamous Parking Committee with us on our Escapees Adventure Caravan into Mexico in Feb. 1999. They paid us a visit during our B&B years as they traveled with friends to explore the Maritimes. We just seemed to always “hit it off”; our visit with them in their lovely Sudden Valley Golf Resort home was equally enjoyable. Don re-routed us to Jasper Nat’l Park so we could drive the magnificently scenic Icefields Parkway to Banff Nat’l Park. We headed off with full tummies, with freshly-washed clothes and without, sadly, a group photo.

Our friendship with Jennifer and Martin Cuthbertson of Richmond/Vancouver, BC goes way back to the late 1970’s in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. They visited with us shortly after we moved back to the coast of Maine, and we have kept up a yearly correspondence ever since. Since leaving Arabia, they have both served on the mission field for Youth with a Mission (YWAM). Our arrival in Vancouver coincided with their return from a family celebration in The States. Blessings all the way around! Martin has been wheelchair- bound for 20 or more years. He and Jennifer live in a downtown condo that is complete with gardening space. The location makes them very accessible to their work and daily needs. We walked and rolled two blocks to the Speed Skating Arena that has just been built for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics and marveled at its beauty and expansiveness. Time just fell away as we shared grandbaby stories, our own “growing up” stories and reminisced about days gone by.

2009-05-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

Our round-about trip through Seattle, WA

2009-05-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

We were so eager to tell about our long-awaited reunion with Jeff and Diana Holmes in Anacortes, WA that we jumped right over how we got there from the Olympic Peninsula. Anacotes is on Fidalgo Island. Ordinarily, three toll ferries and two bridges make it easy to access Anacortes. We arrived, however, during repair season. Since half of the choices were out of service, the bridge was our most affordable alternative. To reach the bridge, we had to drive around Puget Sound...south to Olympia, east to Tacoma and north to Seattle. Wally has never passed by an exhibit of airplanes and Boeing’s Museum of Flight in Seattle was no exception. During that afternoon, we even had the rare chance of seeing a B-17 in flight. Rides were being offered at $485 for 20 minutes! At 3:30, Interstate-5 was choked with most of the city’s 1.5 million residents as we made our way north, reminding us of why we avoid most congested areas.

2009-05-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

Canadian Rockies

2009-05-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

We made a slight detour and now are in Jasper, Alberta Canada at the top of the Ice Fields Highway leading south to Banff and Lake Louise. We will therefore be without reliable internet for a few days. Will catch everyone up when we get back into Montana later this week.

San Juan Island National Historical Park

2009-05-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

This park celebrates how nations, and hopefully individuals, can resolve disputes without resorting to violence. The first photo tells the story of a British/ American negotiation that brought about a peaceful 12-year joint military occupation of San Juan Island from 1860-1872. The American Camp and the British Camp were 13 miles apart, but they celebrated the 4th of July and Queen Victoria's birthday at each others camps. Today the islands continue to be home to a diverse population made up of
actors, alpaca ranchers, artisans, farmers, fishermen, loggers, movie producers, pilots, shopkeepers, writers and many more.

2009-05-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

From Anacortes, WA to the San Juan Islands

2009-05-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

It's always a treat to reunite with friends from our Saudi days. Joining Jeff and Diana Holmes at their lovely hand-crafted home in Anacortes was no exception. The 27 years fell away and we were back "in country" reliving our life and times. Anacortes is on Fidalgo Island in Puget Sound. The Washington State Ferry System can take you from Anacortes to the San Juan Islands and on to Victoria, British Columbia and back. Our first day was spent seeing the highlights of Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands... Deception Pass State Park, Mt Erie Viewpoint, stunning harbors and beaches and nearby hiking trails. By our second day Jeff was driving his vintage 1984VW Vanagan (remember ours!) onto the ferry bound for Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. We went directly to the Whale Museum and our understanding of Orca whales grew and grew. We continued on to Roche Harbor; our love of the seaports of Maine swept over us as we walked the docks admiring the graceful boats in their slips. The sun warmed us, gracious homes looked down from the hillside and the sea breezes snapped at the flags and pennants. What a delightful place.

2009-05-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

From Temperate and Steamy to Alpine Chill

2009-05-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

In little more than an hour, we had left the summer-like rain forest and hot springs behind and we were surrounded by 20 foot deep snow banks. Hurricane Ridge overlooks mighty 7,965' Mt. Olympus and the many peaks that make up the Olympic Range to the south. To the north, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Victoria, British Columbia are in full view. Talk about those WOW! moments... this was definately one of them.

2009-05-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

Looping the Olympic Peninsula

2009-05-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

Just to the west of Seattle, the Olympic National Park protects forests of Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, hemlocks and Big Leaf maples that flourish to grand proportions in 200+ inches of rain a year...the only temperate rain forests in the world. After parking the riglet on the main road, we road the Harley 18 miles along the Hoh River to the Hoh Rain Forest. We hiked through the interpretive Trail of Mosses. We were curious about the many huge trees lined up in rows. They had all grown on a "nurse tree." You will want to read the sign board in the photos below for details. We ended the day soaking in the Sol Duc Mineral Hot Springs, an outdoor spa that has offered "soothing relief for whatever ails you" for more than 100 years. Ahhhhh!

2009-05-18T20:37:00.001-07:00

Centralia, WA and Mt. St. Helens Nat'l Monument

2009-05-15T22:13:00.000-07:00

Ever since we met Betty and Terry Braaten in Oaxaca, Mexico in 2001, we have felt a warm family connection. For three winters we worked on an orphanage project with them, and at the end of a exhausting work day, we'd always have enough energy for a game of Mexican Train dominoes. Last night at their home overlooking the town of Centralia, we played yet another evening of our favorite game. At age 80 and 81, they have bought a new 5th Wheel and truck and they have plans to hit the road again sometime soon. What a great spirit of service they show!

This morning we headed south on I-5 and traveled into the Mt. St. Helens Nat'l Monument. May 18, 2009 is the 29th anniversary of the volcano's eruption. Could it be that long ago? The Johnson Ridge Observatory was scheduled to open for the season today, but it didn't. Just below the observatory we hiked the Coldwater Lake Trail and learned about the making of a lake, volcano-style. Then we hiked the Hummock Trail. We were 14 miles from the eruption and yet we were surrounded by the hummocks created by deep ash piles and huge stone chunks that had landed that far away. The sun beamed down on us all day and we were thankful. Tonight we are back at the Washington coast in the Aberdeen/Hoquiam area. This is a good staging area for beginning the Olympic Peninsula, west of Seattle, tomorrow. We hope to do some of our exploring by Harley. Don't even think that "R" word!

2009-05-15T22:10:00.000-07:00

Ocean Park, WA gives us a wet welcome

2009-05-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

On May 12th/13th, Ken and Jo Bloedel and pups Ivan and Jazzy made us feel right at home on the coast of Washington. We know them as motorcycle-riding motorhome friends from Benson, AZ but they also have a home just across the Columbia River from Astoria, Oregon. We had hoped to ride our Harleys together on a sight-seeing tour of their area, but alas, the rain was relentless. Instead they drove us to The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment State/Nat'l Park. With Darcy's National Park Senior Pass, we were all given free admission. We were quite surprised to learn that Lewis and Clark spent much of their time writing in their journals about the local tribes' appearance, habits, living conditions, lodges, and abilities as hunters and fishermen. We were not surprised to learn that of the 106 days that the explorers' Corps of Discovery spent at the mouth of the Columbia River at Fort Clatsop, it rained every day but 12! It was totally appropriate that for lunch that day we went to The Wet Dog Cafe. Their crab cakes were indescribably delicious. Jo and Ken also toured us through nearby Oysterville, a hamlet dating back to the 1800's. The Daughter's of the Pioneers have made information placards for the 200+ year old homes; here and there, oyster shells reside in mountainous piles. The oyster farming business in Oysterville has been booming for some time. Viva la seafood!

2009-05-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

We say farewell to Oregon

2009-05-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

After just six days in Oregon, we have come to appreciate the richness of the history and the raw natural beauty of this state. Except for the coast, we have been reminded of the wildness of Alaska... miles of forests, rivers, lakes, and bluffs with snow-capped peaks always beckoning in the distance. At the Pacific Ocean, the impression is of a much more bustling life. Fishing drives everything here. Fishing boats are rigged out for catching salmon and dungeness crabs, while oyster farms abound. Speaking from experience, we can vouch that the local seafood is fabulous. These beaches don't seem to be user-friendly for swimmers or pleasure boating; the surf seems to always be pounding and the water is icy. They sure do look stunning, though. Note: Tillamook County Creamery Association is a co-op of local dairymen who have perfected the art and craft of superb cheddar cheese and ice cream. We took the cheese factory tour and are still eating the cheese and ice cream.

2009-05-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

Oregon Coast Aquarium Newport, Oregon

2009-05-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

We had no disappointments in our afternoon's endeavor to stay warm, dry and still become acquainted with Oregon's coast. The Oregon Coast Aquarium provided the perfect one-stop shop. Inside four different buildings were tanks of all shapes and sizes exhibiting sea creatures from the sandy and rocky shores of Yaquina Bay, as well as the coastal waters and deeper regions of the Pacific. Living in outdoor homes similar to their natural environments were seals amd sea lions, sea otters and a variety of sea birds. Feeding time was a favorite time for them and for us. We rounded out our learning experience down on the waterfront by dining on very tasty oysters and cod that had just been plucked from the nearby waters. M-m-m good!

2009-05-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

Little Fishing Village in Oregon

2009-05-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

Today was a day for a nice motorcycle ride south from here in Newport,OR...We suited up, even though the sun was nowhere to be seen, and headed south...bad idea!! We went about 20 miles until I couldn't feel my fingers any more and decided that was enough...now guess what.....20 miles to ride back. Back at the RV,frozen, we took a nap under a warm quilt until we were finally warm. Enough of motorcycle riding in this weather.

2009-05-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

Serendipity...just the way we like it!

2009-05-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

When we left the breath-taking view of Mt. Bachelor refected in still icy Lava Lake this morning, we didn't know what the day would bring. Some days are like that. We only knew that it was time for a Wal-Mart pit stop and the city of Bend, OR was our destination. Darcy is always reading up on the highlights ahead and taking down suggestions from friends, both long time and just discovered. As we neared the city, a sign for the High Desert Museum caught our attention. We recognized the name from our "To Do" list, so in we went. For nearly four hours we were mesmerized by the story of the "Old West" as it played out in west central Oregon. The exhibits showing the transformation over time of the people and their life styles, the animals and the natural surroundings were spectacular. Exhibits were both inside a lovely spacious series of buildings and outside amidst the Ponderosa pines. Volunteers in period costume of 1850 created a living history for the visitors. A great variety of live animals make up a permanent part of the displays. We joined the raptor presentation on an outside patio and learned a lot about hawks. A traveling collection of wolves and bears, life-like but stuffed, had such an interesting story with it that we went to that room twice. Life-sized bronze statues of many animals claiming the area as their home were placed throughout the walkways outside. A shared cinnamon roll and coffee made a perfect end to the afternoon. We are looking out at the snowy Three Sisters Peaks from the Municipal Park in Sister, Oregon tonight. Since we are near the downtown shops, we're about to go in search of an ice cream.

2009-05-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

Surprise,Surprise, Surprise!

2009-05-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

We are now ready for our campground just around the corner and then what do we see? Road Closed! and SNOW! We had been seeing glimpses of snow but now lots of it. We took the only road available to us and ended up at the campground that all the books had told us would be open April 15th. I would guess that the writers of those books had never been here before. There is no way this campground could be open by April 15th! The lake is still ice covered, deep snow in all the campsites and all the roadways still covered with snow. One campsite in the sun was clear and we are in it! Hopefully tomorrow at a lower elevation the snow will be gone.

2009-05-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

North into west central Oregan

2009-05-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

Darcy was back behind the wheel now that her hand(that was sprained during a hike on Day 4)has recovered its ability to grip. It was baptism by fire. After leaving Yreka, CA, 4,200 foot Siskiyou Summit had to be topped, 7 miles of 6% grade, before dropping into Oregon. Then the road turned to switch-backs and pig tails. The high meadows that opened up were spectacular... when we could lift our eyes from the roadway to marvel at them.

At Chiloquin, a logging museum caught our eye. Equipment and buildings from the 1920-'30's were on display. Much of it had been donated by the local woodsmen/loggers who shared knowlege and wisdom on their signboards. Neat!

As we approached our campsite in the Deschutes Nat'l Forest SW of Bend,OR, the thick forests opened up. To our shock, we realized that we were looking at areas of charred stubs and remnants of what had recently been a lush forest. Suddenly, a 50- foot high trail of black rubble blocked our view on the driver's side as far as we could see. We were in the midst of the lava/pumice field from the Mt. Newberry eruption. But our surprises for the day were not over.

2009-05-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

Redding,CA Arboretum

2009-05-07T19:23:00.000-07:00

---Colorful blooms by the bridge
---Fanciful twig house
---Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake and Mt Shasta

2009-05-07T19:06:00.000-07:00

It has been a great 25 days in California!

2009-05-07T18:56:00.000-07:00

---Fog in the valley on scenic RT 299
---Reunion with on-the-road friends in Weaverville
---Oldest wooden Chinese Temple-Joss House-in U.S.
---Unique Sundial foot bridge in Redding

2009-05-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

2009-05-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

2009-05-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

Our last day on the California coast

2009-05-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

As we prepared ourselves for our trip through California, we've been turning to a 1970 Sunset book called Redwood Country and the Big Trees of the Sierra. It may surprise some folks, but the details haven't changed much in 39 years. The Save-the-Redwoods League began their tireless efforts in 1918. Raising millions of dollars, these three men bought dwindling Redwood forests and turned them over to the state. They aquired old growth stands along the highways and also those ancient giants that were in the path of lumbering operations. Most of the infrastructure for preserving these national treasures was in place by 1969. On our motorcycle trip today, we discovered that the four northern state parks lie within the Redwood National Park. That is a most uncommon situation. Even more uncommon is the practice of charging no admission fee to visit those "parks within a park." What a gift to the people!

Another special treat today was our visit to Trinidad State Beach. From a bluff we were spell-bound by a cluster of 40 foot fishing boats on their moorings. Of course they were all facing into the onshore wind...just like those in our beloved harbors back in Maine. We made our way ever-so-carefully down the 150+ slickery wooden steps to the shore. As we strolled along taking pictures through the fog, we startled a Canada goose and her many goslings and off they scurried. It was just us, the geese and the waves trying to roll up under our feet.

Darcy and Wally... close up and personal

2009-05-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

We've been "holed up" in Eureka while drenching downpours bring much needed rain to northern California. Since we have been showing you this great state close up and personal, we thought that today we'd give you a closer look at us. You may have noticed our nipped haircuts. Gail Lenney back in Benson showed us the simplicity of using a clipper with the one inch guard. Now we give each other a monthly trim. It makes our daily life simpler and the helmet-hair problem is gone. Less is more!

2009-05-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

2009-05-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

Unexpected reminders of Maine

2009-05-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

Who would expect to find a New England village on the coast of northern California? Yesterday we came upon Mendocino, settled by folks from the East who felt right at home on the rugged, rocky, haunting coastline. Cape Cod-style and Victorian homes are perched on the bluffs over-looking the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean. A redwood sculpture of Father Time and the Maiden decorates the top of a tower on a Colonial-style downtown building. The homes and attractive shops reminded us of those in Camden, a favorite destination for tourists looking for windjammer cruises and the flavor of coastal Maine. Today we moved further north to Humboldt County. We had a break in the rain by afternoon, so we headed off to explore on the Harley. Lo and behold, another Victorian town is tucked beside our new home-base of Eureka. Ferndale was built years ago by successful dairy farmers. Their gingerbread-decorated homes have been dubbed "butterfat castles" by the locals. The Humboldt Creamery is famous in this area for an assortment of milk-products, including many choices of delectable ice cream. Our taste buds and stomachs are still leading the way... yum, yum!

2009-05-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

A misty day in the Redwood Forest

2009-05-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

A persistant rain fell as we made our winding way up the coast of northern California. Rain and fog, two substances we've seen and felt a bit too much today, turns out to be the lifegiving substance in these parts. They create the perfect conditions for the Giant Redwoods. The fog alone, condensing on the needles of the trees and then dripping to the ground, accounts for as much as seventy inches of moisture per year. Those BIG TREES that we loved in California's southeastern mountains and these TALL TREES of the northern California coast share remarkable characteristics. Both are resistant to disease and insect attack, and their super-thick bark and absence of lower limbs protects them from damage by fire. Both can self-heal from the attacks of wind and fire and then keep growing for many hundreds of years. No wonder people travel from all over the world, even further than Maine, to behold these gentle giants. More rain in the forecast? But of course!

Napa Valley

2009-05-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

---Wally,Darcy,Donna and Graydon
---Castle Winery
---One vineyard of many
---Home at the Petaluma Elks Club

2009-05-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

Back together after 30 years

2009-05-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

Take yourself back to the early 1980's. How vividly can you recall those days today? For those of us who accepted an overseas assignment with the Arabian-American Oil Company in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, time has stood still. That fact is no more apparent than when ex-ARAMCONS get together. We had the pleasure of just that kind of reunion with Donna Slining in Novato, CA. Although Donna's husband John passed away many years ago, his spirit lives on in the telling of the tales. Not only were the old stories told, but Donna revealed the piece de resistance...the photo album of our infamous SCUBA Club trip across Arabia, from the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea, complete with the commentaries handwritten by the four couples making the sojourn. WOW!

After our two days in San Francisco, Donna and her special friend Graydon, whisked us away to Napa Valley. Vineyards and their tasting halls filled the rolling landscape for as far as the eye could see. Our tasting moment was in a castle, and we ended the glorious afternoon at a French restaurant back here in our "home town" of Petaluma. Bon Appetit!

San Francisco

2009-04-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

--Pier 39 Sea Lyons
--Looking out to Alcatraz and Angel Island
--F-line street car

2009-04-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

We left out hearts in San Francisco!

2009-04-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

When we met Deirdre and Mel in our Escapee Park in Benson, AZ, little did we imagine that they would share their love of 20+ years in downtown San Francisco with us. After riding the Harley in over the Golden Gate Bridge and finding a safe place to park, we toured Mel and Deirdre's spacious and elegant 3th floor Hyde St. home. Mel then led the hike up and down those hilly streets, pointing out the cultural diversity of neighborhoods, the famous monuments, the handsome architecture, the cable cars that move on a track by grabbing and releasing a moving cable underground, the street cars that stay connected to an electric line above their track and much more. We caught our breath and relaxed over Bohemian sourdough sandwiches. As Darcy was reciting the names of the crabbing boats along Fisherman's Wharf, a shrub leaped up and growled. We had just been scared by one of the infamous street entertainers, Bush Man. Pier 39 was alive with visitors and the everpresent sea lions who sunbathe on the floats and bray/bark as they jostle one another for position. Then it was time to make the uphill trip home. Wally is certain we trekked ten miles! Deirdre revived us with many of her fabulous culinary treats as that delightful day came to an end. The next morning, having gained our bearings, we bid our dear friends goodbye and rode the Harley to Fisherman's Wharf. We joined the throngs and rode a cable car to Union Square, strolled around and then rode a street car back. It was time to savor dungeoness crab cakes and fish and chips. M-m-m good! The rest of the afternoon was spent on the four Hyde Street Historic Ships being restored in the San Francisco Maritime Historic Park. Five quarters in the parking meter held our space for five hours...not bad. As we passed the Presidio and crossed over San Francisco Bay, we could feel the pull of the city. What a great place!

San Francisco

2009-04-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

--Mel and Deirdre
--Darcy at the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park
--"Bushman"
--Wally and Darcy at Pier 39