August 25, 2014

08/18/2014

We left the Glaspey’s RV Park on Thursday the 14th and headed north up to Hermiston, OR.  Our original plan was to go over the Willamette Pass and then up US 97 through Bend but our mapping program and the GPS used Hwy 58 through Eugene and then up through Portland.  We thought that way might save a few gallons of fuel so that is what we did.  What a mistake that was!  Traffic was horrible in both the Salem area and up I-205 with an accident thrown in for good measure.

After all of that mess, we finally arrived safe and sound at the Pioneer RV Park.  We had only planned to stay there for one night but after talking to the Fairchild AFB Famcamp host about the availability there, we decided to stay an additional night.  That turned out to be a good decision in more ways than one.

We were able to get in touch with our fellow Oregon State Park host, Mike and Dorothy Clements who live in Hermiston.  Also, Rick and Patty Stills were headed north from a trip down in California and decided to stop at the same park for one night.  We all went out for supper at a great Mexican restaurant and had a wonderful time.

On Saturday Joyce and I left Hermiston and after filling up with fuel, we headed up to Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA.  We were pleasantly surprised to see that we got 9.2 MPG on the last fill up with the motor home, which is about 3 MPG than expected.

After a little hassle getting through the main gate here at Fairchild AFB, we snagged on of the last two parking sites in the Famcamp.  We have a 50 amp, full hookup site with WiFi for $18 a night, a fantastic deal.

After getting the rig settled in, we made a run to the Base Exchange and the Commissary, both of which are small but adequately stocked.  We bought some groceries and then after dropping them off at the motorhome, we decide to drive out and look at the Clear Lake Recreation Area, south west of here.

This Rec Area, located on a beautiful lake, is operated by Morale, Welfare and Recreation at Fairchild.  They offer cabins and a yurt for rent, tent camping, RV sites with full/partial hookups for rent.  They also have ski/fishing boats, kayak’s, paddle boards and a lot of other recreation equipment for rent as well.  Joyce and I went to the office to inquire about the prices and wound up scoring a full-hookup site for $18 a night beginning on the 24th.  Although it was very busy when we were there and the RV sites are pretty close together, we anticipate that it will be a little quieter during the week when we will be there.

Yesterday, we made the 80 mile drive up to see the Grand Coulee Dam, constructed between 1933 and 1942.  After checking out the Visitor Center, we took the free tour offered by the Bureau of Reclamation that is short but very interesting.  Here are some facts about the dam:
  1.  Grand Coulee is the largest electric power-producing facility in the US, generating almost 7,000 megawatts.
  2.  It took almost 12 million cubic yards of cement to construct the dam.  With that, you could build a sidewalk four feet wide and four inches thick and wrap it twice around the equator.
  2.  The dam is 5,223 feet in length and 550 feet tall.
There is a laser light show offered each night during the summer so Joyce and I plan to do that while we are here in the area.

08/20/2014

Yesterday we met Jim and Jeanne Glaspey at the Northern Quest Casino, where they dry camped for one night, then caravanned to Rick and Patty Stills home is Rathdrum, ID.  We got both our rigs parked in their backyard with 30-amp electric service where we’ll spend the next few days.

Rick & Patty's B&B and RV Park.  The Pink Flamingo's welcomed us with open wings.

 

Rick and Patty fixed a wonderful supper of smoked baby back ribs with all the fixin’s.  We were joined by Bob and Teresa Shaw.  Bob was a flight engineer in the 7th Military Airlift Squadron and was actually Rick’s first instructor.

Jeanne Glaspey, Joyce, Bob Shaw, Jim Glaspey, Teresa Shaw, Rick & Patty

08/25/2014

On the 20th we all went to Jimmy's Down The Street for breakfast.  This is one amazing place and if your every in the area, make sure you make a visit.  Better go hungry!

 This guy was deep-fried before service.

 Redneck Benedict.  That's cornbread under those eggs.

After eating way too much, we hiked the 2.5 mile trail around Tubbs Hill in Coeur d’ Alene, a beautiful trail that have some great views of Lake Coeur d’ Alene.  And, the girls didn't have to call the paramedics for the old fat boys!

The famous 14th floating green.

 Yay!  We made it.

After having some refreshments in Coeur d’ Alene, we went to Capone’s Pub & Grill for dinner.

On Thursday Joyce made some killer pulled pork and of course we all ate way too much….again.

On Friday we loaded up and headed to Wallace, ID with a stop at The Old Mission State Park in Cataldo, ID.  Built in 1851-1852, it is the oldest building in Idaho.

After going to church, we then drove into the old mining town of Wallace and to the Oasis Bordello which was in operation until 1988.  Here is a very good description of the cathouse:  http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/13039

Gotta pay to play guys!

On Saturday, Rick & Patty had a salmon bake featuring the fish Rick caught earlier in the month.  In addition to those staying in the RV Park, we were joined by Bob & Teresa Shaw and Dennis & Lori Keller.  Believe me, there were a lot of stories told along with a lot of laughter.

I was able to get into that flight suit and zip it up...for a couple of seconds.

Dennis Keller, Bob Shaw, Rick Stills, Me & Jim Glaspey

Legend's in our own minds!

Yesterday, after reluctantly saying or goodbyes to Rick and Patty, we made the 50 mile run over to the Clear Lake Recreation Area.  The Glaspey’s decided to stop here for one night as well.

Enough for now.

Barry & Joyce

August 10, 2014

07/24/2014

It’s has been said that time fly's when your having fun but in our case, it’s moving along more like a rocket these days.  Here it is already the end of July and it’s almost time to get on the road again.

Last week we had some really hot days with the temperatures hovering in the mid 90’s with a 98 degree day thrown in for good measure.  Couple that with a lot of smoke from the fires here in Central Oregon, and we've had some uncomfortable days.  But, as the folks in this area say, “wait a day or so and it’ll change.”  Well, it did!  The past two days were stormy with thunder bumpers and heavy rain in the area and then last night we had a real cool night.  We even had to run a space heater in the living room.

On Tuesday we drove over to Oakridge to surprise Jim Glaspey on his birthday.  I’m not going to say how old he is but suffice it to say he is darned crusty!  Happy Birthday Brother!

 

Yes, you have to drink it.  Oh, and you can't use your hands!

Some pictures of Smith Roack, July 2014

 

On The Steelhead Falls Trail

 

08/03/2014

Joyce and I couldn’t believe how fast our two months at Smith Rock went by.  But, all good things must eventually come to an end so last Thursday we packed up the rig and headed over the hills to Camping World in Coburg, OR. where we are having a new Winegard satellite dish installed on the motorhome.

Before settling in for the night in their parking lot, we checked in with the service department and got all the paperwork done.  On Friday morning we were standing in front of the doors at 8 AM, happy to see that we were first in line.  Hey, life is good!  They're going to get our motor home in first thing and we’ll get it back in the early afternoon.  NOT!

We had to wait for our service advisor who was running late.  So, when he finally showed up at 8:30, there were three other folks checked in before us.  Never mind that we did all the paperwork the day before and we were first in line.

To make this story a little shorter I will say that our day was very long and extremely frustrating.  We finally got out of there at 7PM and then made the 40 mile run up to Albany where we are now parked at I think the last available site in this area.

Knox Butte RV Park is a very old and tired “trailer park” that is full of permanent residence who for the most part haven't taken care of their rigs or the area around them.

Yesterday, we drove over to Corvallis and did a short walking tour of the downtown area.  Translation, Joyce did some shopping.

08/04/2014

Yesterday we drove from Albany to Champoeg State Heritage Area near the small town of St. Paul.  Jim and Jeanne Glaspey are here with us for five days.  We don’t have anything special planned so we’ll probably just do some relaxing.

08/09/2014

We had a great time at Champoeg.  On Monday Jim and I visited the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, the home of The Spruce Goose.  I have been to this museum several times but this was Jim’s first visit.

Jim and Jeanne left the park on Thursday and then yesterday we drove to their house in Oakridge where we’re going to hang out for a few days.  Joyce has a eye doctor appointment in Eugene on Monday and we need to consolidate some of the boxes in out basement storage compartments.  There is really no sense in carrying around a bunch of stuff just because “you just might need it someday”.  Less weight in an RV is usually a good thing.