August 24, 2019

August 3, 2019

 Sadly, we left Smith Rock State Park on Thursday the 1st and headed across the hills to Jim and Jeanne’s B&B and RV Park in Oakridge.  We had an easy drive with just one stop for lunch and rolled in here at 2 PM.

Had a visitor the day before leaving Smith Rock.  I darned near stepped one this guy.

Before leaving Smith Rock.

 Jim and I went down to the barn where we have had our 8X12 foot covered trailer parked since we started full-time RVing and brought it up to the house.  We then started the major task of cleaning it out.

 Our plan was to pack everything we wanted to keep in our car and then get rid of everything else.  Well, after looking at all the “stuff” we had in the trailer we quickly realized that that was going to be a challenge.

 Both Joyce and I fretted all night about that problem.  We both woke up very early yesterday morning and discussed our options.  So the plan now is to go through everything in the trailer, pack up what is irreplaceable like our military mementos, some of my Masonic books and other things and leave them in the trailer.  We will then come back out to Oregon next spring, rent a small moving van and then drive back to Florida.

 Joyce and I made a major dent in the sorting process yesterday morning.  We went through several boxes and then put the “keeper stuff” in plastic bins.  Jim and I then took two loads to St. Vincent’s DePaul in Oakridge.  We will be working again today and I think we can get everything done.

 Also, Joyce got her scooter sold yesterday.  A gal who lives in Oregon City bought it for full price and then rode it back home.

August 8, 2019

 Joyce and I got all the sorting done in the trailer on Sunday.  Jim and I made three trips to Saint Vincents DePaul in Oakridge with stuff we decided to donate and then one trip to the dump to get rid of some junk.

 Yesterday we drove up to Seattle to an Airbnb for a two night stay before we go on our Alaska cruise on Friday.  We are staying in a really nice place on NE 41st St.  We have found that staying in Airbnb’s are a lot nicer and for the most part cheaper than staying in hotels.

 After getting settled in we got an Uber to the Sand Point Grill for supper.  Although they said they have parking we decided to take Uber and are glad we did.  All of the parking in that area was full.

 After having drinks we had a delicious dinner.  I chose their halibut that was the very best I have ever had.  Joyce chose the cioppino that she thought was very good.

 On Thursday we took an Uber to the huge Pike Place Market to take a food and culture tour of the market.  Our guide John gave us a lot of information about the market and took us to some really great food shops.  We tasted everything from the most delicious yogurt we have ever tasted to some outstanding chocolates.  We bought some truffle salt at the Truffle Queen that we can’t wait to try on popcorn.

 If you have never been to Pike Place put it on your bucket list.  One of on the places you have to visit is the Pike Place Fish Market where they throw fish.  It’s amazing.  You could spend a couple of days wandering around the market and then maybe not see everything.  Read more here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_Place_Market

August 10, 2019

 Yesterday we took the short drive from our Airbnb to the Port of Seattle to board Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas for our Alaskan cruise. This is our third cruise to Alaska and the first time on this ship.

 After a very easy checkin process (it pays to have loyalty status) and getting on the ship, I headed to the Schooner Bar for a cold one  and Joyce went up to the spa to make her thermal suite reservations.

August 19, 2019

 The cruise cruise to Alaska was outstanding.  Since this was our third cruise to Alaska in Juneau I stayed on the ship in and Joyce got off to buy some t-shirts.  In Skagway we took the White Pass Train excursion that was really interesting.  The next day our captain took us up to the Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier that was beautiful to say the least.  After another day of cruising we arrived in Victoria, British Columbia.  Joyce decided to go into town while I elected to stay on the ship.

Towel Sculptures

 After getting off the ship we made the drive back down to Jim & Jeanne’s B&B and RV Park where we were greeted by Jim and Rick & Patty Stills who were down from Rathdrum, ID.  We had a good time visiting and telling stories about our days flying the C-141 Starlifter.

August 23, 2019

 Joyce and I packed everything up and left Oakridge on Wednesday, jumped on Hwy 58 and headed east where we picked up Hwy 97 south then I-5 in Weed, CA.  We stopped in Klamath Fall to get fuel so we will only have to buy minimal diesel in California.  We arrived at the Elks Lodge in Red Bluff, CA.  After getting setup we went inside and had a drinks before enjoying a great Chicken Parmesan supper.

 After a good nights sleep we headed south on I-5 headed to Travis AFB, CA., arriving here at the Famcamp about 1:30.  After plugging in the power cord and running our coach on their 50 amp connection we noticed some of the power kicked off.  I checked the GFI in the bathroom and that was OK.  After checking our surge protector I saw that we had lost on leg of power at the plug.  I got that reset and all seemed to be good.

 Joe and Lori Martin picked us up at 4:30 to out for dinner at the Chevy’s in Fairfield.  I served with Joe, who was a C-5 Galaxy flight engineer, when we were at the 60th Air Mobility Wing Aircrew Standardization here at Travis.  We had a good supper and great conversation reminiscing about “the good old days”.  And hey, Joe even picked up the check.  Thanks for a great time guys.

 When we go back to the motorhome all of a sudden we started loosing power again.  So after messing with the power connections for a while I finally hooked up to the 30 amp plug and all was good for the night.

 This morning I went to the office to report the problem.  The park host said that they had the same problem the day before yesterday and had an electrician out who work for four hours who “fixed” the problem with a new plug and wiring.  I didn’t ask why someone in the park didn’t checkout his work but I should have.  Anyway, we had to move to another spot today and everything is good now.

Gotta throw in some family pictures.

Move later.

Barry & Joyce