Hidden Valley Resort, Tijeres, New Mexico - almost 20 years later

We stayed here on our first trip to California, where we stayed at the wild and now off the map Protreros, California. It was a campground I found that was less than 20 miles to San Diego (and of course cheap) but what I didn’t know was that those miles were across mountains and that the hikes there were full of cat smell and we could hear the large prairie dog type animals squeal as they were killed during the night. It was really a beautiful place, but Nicholas was preschool and Maura was terrified so we moved to a campground on the beach in San Diego. Some things are worth what you pay for them…. but on the way we stayed here, where we met Jerry Lewis, who had been to Mexico to get tamales and which Kerry ate one. I declined. He told us that we would soon want something bigger than the pop-up we were traveling in. We did move up, but it wasn’t really our choice, and while we did enjoy it, I wonder what he would say about our little camper that we’ve put 6000 miles and almost two months on. He was a good bit older than us, and even though he was a permanent here, he probably isn’t here, and maybe not alive.

We are extending our stay here, not for the food, which would be what would be nice; but for replacing or hopefully repairing the axle on our small home. Although we do not  know of a really hard bump, there have definitely been roads in need of repair. (I wonder if we should sue California so they’ll repair them up front… we discovered that SC spends more in lawsuits than if they just maintained the roads..) Anyway, bottom line is a tire went flat while we were staying at the Motel 6 in case we were needed for our house closing, and the tire guy said it couldn’t be fixed and that it was an alignment problem. When Kerry looked at the other tire, he discovered that it was starting to bulge in the same way the other one was (except on the other side). The alignment guy in Albuquerque said that they would try to fix it, but if not, it would be a new axle and two hundred bucks more…. and then we need to replace the tires. Needless to say, this was not in our budget. So when we leave here, we will be taking the short route home… which is still not short.

We are looking forward to our new home in Port St. Joe, but I have learned that I have Kerry and our grand-dogs, and all of our needs provided for in our little abode. It takes organization and communication (which is difficult when one of us can’t hear and the other can’t say what she wants to), but those are not negatives, and we are truly blessed.

And speaking of blessed, the reason I have not written in this blog is because I have been with Shosha. It has been way too long and we enjoyed every minute. She did not suffer the breath stifling squeezes that Nicholas had to endure because early in our stay, she hurt her back and could barely move. On the plus side, she couldn’t ride to Davis and worked from home while we were there. On the down side, she was pretty drugged. But I just loved being with her. Watching her sleep is way better than being over 2000 miles away. And we did have some times away from the house. Our first night was in a great restaurant where we actually shared a whole pitcher of beer because we all liked the same thing… a pretty rare thing because I like light beer and Kerry likes it thick as molasses. It was something named after Thelonius Monk who is Kerry’s favorite jazz musician. It wasn’t quite as good for Matt who was driving and could only have one (which is all Shosha and I had, too) We pretty much let Matt drive us everywhere so Kerry and I could sit in the back and let Shosha and Matt have the front. He knew where we were going and had all kind of back roads he knew about.

We also got to go to the farmers market twice where Shosha and Matt introduced us to some awesome tamales… the vegetarian one which actually sold out first. Kerry had pork, of course, the first time and chili cheese the second (which is actually no meat, too) Also, the extremely high calorie chocolate drink. We also picked up the best strawberries that we pretty much wiped out in the first few days. (We got more on our second trip so that Shosha and Matt could have some.)

One of the best things we did was to go to an art show at Matt’s workplace. We were just so in awe of the artwork done with heavy metal… and such intricate work. And, of course, Matt was able to tell us exactly how it was done. Even though he is doing more of the business end, he has learned so much about this really amazing art form. We were so impressed with his knowledge and with the art. (Of course, Matt is like Kerry in that he is super knowledgeable about so many different things.)

We also got to meet Aubrey and Kent who are such good friends with Shosha and Matt. Kent and Matt were constantly talking about things that I believe were in some foreign language. And then there was something about killing Pokemans? in virtual space, like in the house. I have since heard a little bit about it from news shows, but I think I’ll stay in my technology ignorant state. That’s one of the things I’ve loved about this trip… an absence of technology… Granted we’ve appreciated how it’s helped us in many ways in our travels… including blogging instead of journaling on paper or on computer, either place of which I can manage to lose it…but we’ve spent more time doing other things. I’ve read so many books that I am constantly confusing them… a good problem to have.

While hanging out at Shosha’s house, we also tried to make ourselves useful. Kerry weed-eated the front and back yard as well as cooking us great food. I did my usual unskilled labor of washing dishes and vacuuming and sweeping… which was helpful, just not on the same page as the outside stuff. Shosha directed Matt in digging and planting and transplanting their front yard garden. It is really looking good. Kerry would have been at my throat had I given as much direction as Shosha did, but Matt was great. He is pretty much great in all their interactions. I told him he was wonderful at mothering Shosha when she was sick/injured and made me feel better about being so far away. He was constantly encouraging her and helping her physically. they would do this dance in the floor to help her stretch her muscles. I can see a bit of his mid-westerness and I really love it. (Of course, much of what I know of that area comes from Garrison Keller, so maybe it’s just super niceness) Whatever it is, they make a good pair.

I have quite a bit of cleaning to do in this camper while we wait for tomorrow to go get it fixed. We will have the car tomorrow but the biggest challenge will be finding a place in the shade for us and the dogs… otherwise we may be driving as much as a travel day. Wish us luck!

NO DOGS ALLOWED, but bears can do whatever they like.

Our latest campground was picked for it’s location, less that 20 miles from Lassen Volcanic National Park. For the last week, I have been posting on Facebook one beautiful scenery shot after another, all featuring this beautiful snow-covered mountain in the background. That mountain is Lassen Volcanic National Park. We picked up brochures and surfed the net for all we could find out. I was checking out the trails and wondering which one I dared suggest to Kerry when he informed me that there were no dogs allowed anywhere in the Park except for the parking lot. The rationale is one I totally agree with. It is a protected area and dogs interfere with that careful balance. They are predators and leave their scent (and too many times more) behind. I agree totally in theory…. but in reality, those trails were calling my name. I also suspected Kerry of praying about it. And the campground was not really our style, a “resorty” type with lots of action and lots of people. Warm showers are pretty much always pay in this dry West, but the bathrooms also were combination locked… which is fine in the day, but the door was not lit well enough for me to see at night so I had to feel my way. The best thing about it was that they saved all the spots on the lake for tent campers. I really liked that. We had quite a few comments on our camper and our boxers there. As a lake, I found it a little ho-hum, certainly not as nice as Lake Hartwell, but I guess when you’re surrounded by as much dust as these guys are, any body of water looks pretty good. (I’m much more enamored by the creeks.) I tried to swim but there was really no place where you didn’t run into underwater brush. I’m not a big fan of underwater brush.

So back to the hikes. Because we knew dogs were only allowed certain places, we picked a rails to trails hike near our campground on Saturday. I wasn’t expecting much because the forest looked a lot the same from the road. However, I was pleasantly surprised. On this slow, flat graveled trail, the landscape changed often, mostly due to the low flora, especially the wild flowers, and the random rocks. I was reminded of those people who landscape their yard without grass using natural plants only. It’s just that I had never walked through the real thing.

And then there was Lassen. I know I’ve used the words beautiful, awesome, incredible and fantastic too much already, but I would just hang my camera out the window and snap and ended up with postcard photographs. It was the contrast of colors that was so appealing… browns and greens, blues and white. It all just meshed together in this creative blend that just blew me away every mile. And the smell of sulphur amid the snow… a pretty unusual place and fascinating for my geology loving husband…. and we did get a bit of hiking. We were able to park the dogs in a very shady spot in the visitor center and went about 15 minutes down the trail. It was so hard to stop! But I waited for Kerry at the bottom and we took a picture at the creek and then I raced back to check on the dogs. (I really noticed the altitude being quite out of breath when I got back to them. I also got to climb another mountain trail where we stopped at the biggest sulfur springs area. Kerry stayed with the dogs while I headed for the top, stopping every two minutes to take a picture. I promised myself that I would stop and turn back when the trail turned. (It came way too soon.) Dogs, or no, Kerry and I could not have done this trail together… but I’m hoping maybe one of my children will take me back someday.

Our next stop was Sugar Pines State Park at Lake Tahoe. We were introduced by signing an agreement to pay a thousand dollar fine if we left any food anywhere but in the bear proof containers, and that included our car and any icebox we had. That was okay by me and I was scrupulous about cleaning out the RV and car of any scented product… but that was when Kerry informed me that we didn’t have water or electricity. I suppose I knew that at one point because we had planned to dry camp in Colorado at the national park there, but I had forgotten… and this was our last stop before Shosha. And it is in the 90’s and no shade during the day and in the 40’s at night. More importantly than that, there are two toilets in the women’s bathroom (a toilet and a urinal in the men’s) for about 100 campers. On top of that, Lake Tahoe is well on the beaten path… a bit like Myrtle Beach or Gatlinburg. We did have a nice dip in a creek (I say we, and of course mean me and the dogs) on a dog approved path, but we gave in and called Shosha and asked her could we pretty please come a little early. She said she would love that which we are not going to question. Of course, it is the hottest week on record there, but that is where Shosha is so who cares about the weather there.

We are also thinking that we might need to wash a few clothes there. We have been living in a dust pit for a week now where washing anything, us or clothes, only lasts about 15 minutes.

So dogs allowed and bears are being left behind. Sacramento, here we come.

No horses on sidewalk

We have been on the Ponderosa for the last few days. As we got closer to our really off the beaten path county park… Willow Lake… seven miles from Butte Falls, Oregon.. which boasts a library, cafe, general store and ball field…we began to feel like we were on a set for Bonanza. The road was full of open range signs and we passed guys on horses doing cowboy things, like rounding up cows and making them go somewhere else. The landscape got crispy in spite of fast flowing but shallow rivers.

And then there was our campground. This beautiful, small lake with a snow covered mountain in the background. In the swimming area, I could swim right towards this scene or could do a back and forth sideways swim with it constantly in my view. (I opted for both.) The first day the lake felt about Hartwell-like in Mayish, but it seemed a good bit cooler on the second day, probably because the outside temperature was under ninety. It was the most peaceful and quiet place we’ve ever been camping, at least, in an RV. There was almost no one there. There were a couple of Latino families at the farther end. Evidently, it is popular here for one or more families to reserve a site or two and everyone comes over for a supper party. That happened in our campground in South Beach (and also, in Emigrant Springs with an older white couple meeting their children and grandchildren… so maybe it’s an Oregon thing instead of Latino) This family was all there together as I guess visiting was not possible in such an isolated spot. I met a woman with beautiful long black hair, as thick or thicker than mine but longer trying to comb it in the bathroom. She didn’t speak any English and I discovered that I speak even less Spanish than I used to. It’s not only words in English that I can’t find in my brain anymore. I used to have at least 100 words that I could piece together in grammatically incorrect sentences, but I seem to have nothing left. For quite a while, I’ve been thinking that the pharmaceutical cure is worse than my disease. Anyway, back to my verbal path, there were very few of us, and at night it was the quietest place ever. No distant sounds of cars, no birds, no music, nothing. It was especially noticeable when I left the camper where we were running the fan to make my late night bathroom trips. It was a small lake, but there were paths, mostly for fisherman sites, around the lake that had so many beautiful places to stop and just soak in the scenery… or fish if that is your preference.

We did not make it to Crater Lake. It just didn’t seem worth the extra 200 miles of travel when all around us was so wonderful. We did make a few trips to the public library in Eagle Point for some necessary internet access. Love being out of touch but also love that the public library is there for you when you need it.

I also donated my hair while on our trip into “town”, Medford. It went to Wigs for Kids. I was wavering on giving it away, but Maura called that morning to tell us of her friend, mentor, professor and committee member who died of a really brutal form of brain cancer leaving four young children behind. None of my reasons for keeping my hair could top the opportunity to give it to a child suffering with cancer. It looks like I have had a super perm and I probably will need to cut it even shorter to keep the tammy flips away, but for now, I feel pretty light-headed.

We are traveling now to Chester, California. I must admit that I got a thrill seeing a sign for Sacramento only 299 miles away…. but Shosha is actually in Toronto right now so we have another two stops before we get there. We traveled South down Interstate 5 and then took a turn East towards Lassen National Park, although we are staying in a private campground with water and electricity and flush toilets and showers. We also just passed a sign that warned of severe drought. I can totally see how these forests can go up in smoke. We made a small, bug filled hike on the Pacific Crest Trail and there were dry fallen trees and limbs everywhere. (It smelled like a Christmas tree trail with all the cedar and spruce trees.) It was so hot and dry though that the dogs were letting me lead, not a good sign and the main reason for our walk’s brevity. Oh yeah, and we had an old man with us who is not overly found of the heat.

Not sure when I will post this as I think this may be another of those no service places, but whatever it is, it will be a place of thankfulness and rejoicing.

A month and 5000 miles on the road

We just had the best part. Nicholas’s smile is more beautiful to me than all the mountains and rivers and oceans we have experienced. I know, overload of mush, but also true. I’m glad we had so long. It took a while to get comfortable and just feel like us. Once Nicholas saw our accommodations of the last month, he decided we would be okay just hanging out in his small apartment, even if he didn’t have a dining table and sofa. And that’s when you’re really family, not in restaurants or bars or even parks. And I got lots of hugs from both. (At one point, Nicholas complained lightly that it was a little hard to breathe. :-) I just can’t express how satisfying it has been to have time with my son. Even though it was hard to leave, I just felt so good to have been there and had the time. It’s kind of like how my children are always accusing me of being morbid about the way I talk about being ready to die. I’m still totally enjoying my life and want as much as I am given. But I am also aware of how rich I have been and would try not to be greedy.

Kerry and I got to catch up with Game of Thrones which ended with that terribly violent scene, which was also guiltily so satisfying. Lydia also hooked me on Fear of the Walking Dead, which is unfortunately on HBO so it will be a while before I give in to that one, having to wait until it comes on Netflix. Nicholas and Lydia are addicted to some Pokemon kind of game cards which I’ve already forgotten but which looks pretty cool and I can see how it would be fun to play… if I had more of a functional brain.

So now we are on Interstate 5 headed for more beautiful mountains. These volcanic in nature, hopefully without the activity of Mount St. Helen which erupted and was caught so beautifully by the photographer who knew it would be his last act of life. But if it does, wow, it’s been a great life!

We stay in southern Oregon for the next few nights, close to the Crater Lake National Park, and the Lessen National Park (which is closed due to snow so we probably will have to wait on that one). We spend our next three nights in Northern California in another series of volcanic mountains before heading to four nights around Lake Tahoe which will probably be covered in tourists (like us) but hopefully be beautiful enough to overcome that. Then SHOSHA! She will be in Toronto while we are doing the mountains of Oregon and California. Otherwise, our journey there would be less winding. We are looking forward to relaxing time with Matt and her and making friends with Olive. Our dogs are ready to fall in love having discovered how much fun it is to be with cousin dogs. We plan to take all the dogs on adventures while Shosha and Matt have to work and then to fix them wonderful Kerry suppers. ( I, of course, use that we thing metaphorically. My job is the after the meal clean up.) They have been having a heat wave there though, so it may be really important to hand around water.

What a wonderful journey we have had and are looking forward to every minute we still have to go. I love this old man I am traveling with. I love how we are getting to live the dream of enjoying the never ending Saturday that has been our retirement. I’ve even decided to quit feeling guilty for having so much and just spend every minute being grateful.

Enjoying the son

Because the sun has not shown much of itself.

We have actually had a few times of sunshine, but the moist or really wet times have been more frequent. It’s just like when we were in Prince Edward Island; there’s a reason why it is so green.

Nicholas was out of town the first few days we were here so that he could take a week off. We considered it a fair trade, and we did get some time with Lydia. We met up with her and went to a dog park so the dogs could check each other out. They had one good run and then it was too hot for Luna. All of them were mostly interested in drinking water so we went back to the apartment where they were all very calm. We didn’t stay long as we still had to set up camp at South Beach State Park in Newport. The ride in was long and winding but the scenery, especially coming over the bridge, was fantastic. The dogs love the beach. Luna especially thinks it is a big sandpile created just for her. Their only time off leash at the beach was on a cool evening and I didn’t think she would ever come… which she wouldn’t, but she finally got tired and hot enough that we caught her rolling around in the wet sand… not a good thing in a small camper with two people and two dogs on a queen size bed. But we long ago abandoned old standards of cleanliness. We also managed one hike through the woods by the beach to the jetty and a walk on a fishing pier on the bay before realizing that those paths belonged exclusively to the mosquitoes. We haven’t been able to cook or spend any significant time outdoors since our second day. This place reminds me of Canada in June. Not summer and bug city. But in such a beautiful abode. Our future trips will be in the spring and fall so we’ll have to deal with the condensation in our camper because we will be running the heat inside and the outside will be equivalent to our winters. But it will be where our children are, so worth whatever inconveniences we will experience.

Our restaurant experiences have been very flavorful if limited to outdoor patios where the three dogs can accompany us. We finally found a Thai restaurant where it was a little too spicy. In South Carolina, we always have to convince them that we really do want it extra spicy and sometimes have to convince them to bring the spices out for us to supplement. Both our meals, vegetables in peanut sauce for me and green curry for Kerry left our mouths burning…We even had to ask Lydia for some of her water. But on the second eating, (helpings were extremely generous) it was too much, having soaked for a day or so. Next time, we will order just plain spicy instead of extra spicy. It was Lydia’s birthday and Nicholas was still at work. Unfortunately, he came home early and just barely missed it so was sent back for his own dish.

Kerry and I have been binge watching Game of Thrones with Lydia and Nicholas as we did not have HBO before we left or obviously on the road, and they did not seem to mind a second viewing. Without spoilers, we just discovered the reason for Hodor’s speech. It was very moving. We probably won’t finish before we have to leave but it has been nice to share the experience with our beloveds.

There are boxers everywhere. This state park is definitely a two dog park, and we have run into many hikers carrying dog food and dogs as they walk the coast. That is true dog love. One our next door campers had a chocolate lab and a beautiful white and fawn boxer. There was also three boxers at the dog park on our second visit. However, Luna got two exuberant, and Kapu joined her in barking so that the owner got understandably worried and we had to leave. There have also been other boxers and part boxers here at the campground; and more larger dogs in general than you see in campgrounds we have been in.

Our best meal was the one fixed for us by Nicholas and Lydia’s friends, Michael Anne and Luke. Not only was it delicious, it had all the presentation and expensive wine to match. Michael Ann was worried about serving the red wine in a white wine glass, but I assured her that those subtleties were wasted on us. You have to spend a lot of time drinking really good wines to know the difference, and that would just be another glass to wash in my opinion. There was halibut with dungeness crab and crab legs on top of the halibut and the best scallops I’ve ever had. There were great vegetables, too, including asparagus, but I didn’t want to get too full to miss the dessert which included fresh blueberries and strawberries. What a wonderful treat, and from two people who have taken Nicholas and Lydia under their wing and been such good friends when we are so far away. They are older and actually have a son almost Nicholas’s age, but I love that that has not been a barrier to their friendship. I certainly treasure the people my children have introduced to me and cherish the time with them. I also think that Nicholas and Lydia are so wonderful in their own right that they have given as much as they have received.

Nicholas and Lydia  had a camping type wedding today. You know nothing really goes as planned when camping.  Lydia told me when we arrived that they wanted to get “legally” married while we were here. In deciding on a date that Nicholas might remember, today is the 16th and exactly six months after his birthday. Unfortunately, neither researched marriage laws in Oregon. It seemed that you couldn’t just go to the courthouse and do it. It varies from county to county and there is a 3 day waiting period. The waiting period could be solved with ten bucks but you had to find a clerk available to perform the service, which is not just any time. Anyway, they came down today to Newport (a different county from Corvallis) to get the license and planned to have the ceremony tomorrow. When they went there, the clerk said he could do it today…. the date was more important than our clothes or the white hand corsage that was in Corvallis so we left the dogs in a shaded car at the library and did it today. Kerry and I got to sign as witnesses, which was the whole point of doing it while we were here. It was a sweet little ceremony with a lot of laughter (beginning with the sappy hearts and love sign that they stood under) and continued when they had to figure out which left or right hand to be holding. Nicholas and Lydia had really already committed to one another so this was kind of a formality, but one they knew we would like to be present for. (They had decided to spend what money they had on a house instead of a wedding.) The three kisses at the end was my personal favorite part. I love Lydia and am happy to bring her in to my extended family in an official capacity. They are both good people.

So, this part of my trip is about enjoying my son. Soon we will be at part 2, enjoying my daughter.

It’s not the green

In my conversation with the woman in Utah, she told me Oregon was the most beautiful state. I need the green. But it is not the green that makes it so beautiful, although that is certainly a part and I’ve seen such a little part of Oregon, it is the water.  It’s the Columbia River; it’s the other rivers and creeks; it’s the Pacific Ocean. A land-locked state such as Utah, no matter how beautiful, cannot compete with a coastal state that also boasts such mountains.

We have actually seen only a small piece of the ocean at Newport. Tomorrow is our day to explore the tide pools and visit the lighthouses. The beach here is behind a mountainous looking but level path. It is so green and shaded and then you arrive on a large sand dune that has a path through cold sand to a flat beach. Kanu, and especially Luna, thought they were in heaven. On our first trip, they remained on leash but still managed a frolic in the heavy sand. The second trip was more isolated and they enjoyed several sprints off leash. Luna could only be recovered when she completely collapsed in a wet spot near the surf. She does not come when called, but has a limited endurance.

The road finally ended in its purpose, hugging my beloved little boy blue… who is neither little nor blue but so precious to me. It has been a long two years, and it is in our plan to return twice a year in the future. My wreck, epilepsy, surgery and need to empty the house postponed this trip for way too long. It is also such a blessing to see him with Lydia. We celebrated her birthday today because she is such a special person in our lives and in all life, although she doesn’t see that as well as we do. I am very glad that she fell in love with my son and he with her.

We have had some great Thai food. I think it is my favorite ethnic food and the place we ate at today made it as spicy as we like it and still be so flavorful. A strange place called Woodman that serves Thai and American and is supposed to have the best burger around. I will not be finding out. Who would order hamburger when there is curry?

There is a reason Prince Edward Island and Oregon is so green. It’s called rain. It rains a lot here, especially on the coast. I am glad that we are not in a tent. We actually put up a tent but it is now soaking wet and has been taken down. They also have Canadian sized mosquitos on the coast. We are not the only ones in long pants and long sleeves. Anyone is shorts or t-shirts are so covered in deet that you can smell them coming from quite a distance. I prefer physical to chemical deterrent. That’s okay because I cam prepared with long pants and shirts. We will, and have, encountered hot weather, but those clothes are lightweight and don’t take up much space, and shorts can be worn at least a week before they need washing… and I mostly wear swimming suits underneath just to be ready in case a body of water shows up.

We are here for two weeks so feel like we are really settled for the moment. They have self-wash pet washes here that we will definitely be taking advantage of. It’s a pet tub that is like a car wash where you can change from shampoo to rinse to conditioner to take the dog out and disinfect it. It’s ten bucks and probably a deal. A pet store will charge you fifty bucks. The hose is free but the mosquitos, like i said, are huge and hungry.

I’m trying to get used to it being ME on the west coast and I’m the one who is three hours earlier. I’ve spent so much time thinking the other way. Kerry keeps me straight though whenever I ask him what time it is in Chicago or Greenville. He is so patient and hardly ever rolls his eyes.
We are planning a Game of Thrones marathon one day this week. Nicholas has HBO and we have not seen any of this season. Being on the road with limited access to internet has helped us stay in the dark, but it should be nice to watch it as fans together. Nicholas is taking the whole week off next week so we will have more time together than I had even hoped for. I am one very thankful mama.

We are on the beaten path

This may be the only state park I’ve ever been to where the highway traffic is so loud that you can hardly hear each other speak. Well, Kerry can hardly hear me speak anyway so I try to not even attempt it here. Emigrant Springs State Park was named for the spring where the emigrants on the Oregon Trail found water after so much desert. It took me the whole day after we camped to find any evidence of it. It is a boardwalk that covers more of a muddy place than a spring, but there is definitely a puddle or two there caused, I presume, by an underground spring.

It is hot here. 103 today. With no humidity. Still HOT. I worried about the dogs as we took the “river walk” in Pendleton, Oregon, home of the Pendleton Mills that makes the great blankets. The River Walk had no access to the river that we could find. It was a asphalt path separated from the river by distance and large rocks. We were deceived by the couple with two labs and some children frolicking in the river. How they got there we never found out. We went maybe a quarter of a mile before deciding that we needed to return to the car, even after giving the dogs water several times and me soaking their bandanas and their feet with water. Fortunately though, we had parked near the public library and were able to post our blogs. Actually, Kerry tried and then I went back and did it. It’s not hard, it’s just that I have been doing it because of limited time on WiFi. I sat with the dogs and continually gave them water in our somewhat shady parking lot. Kerry turned on the AC.

Driving into Oregon was another lesson in how wonderfully diverse our land is. The high desert was something we had not yet seen and we climbed all day. Our mpg that day was the worst ever… still never as bad as the Durango in Canada. Rest areas are few and far between and a must visit. At one there was only a small, dry side of the road for the dogs to poop, and there was so much poop there that the dogs could not drink for smelling, even though they were so thirsty. I finally took them back to the camper and they drank there.

We decided to leave Idaho with the bed down since my back was not at it’s best and we thought it was going to be a 400+ driving day anyway. It wasn’t. I got my mileage from Google but I must have put something wrong in. It seems that our drive across Oregon will be our long day. Anyway, we got here earlier than expected, and there was much less than we hoped here. After a short hike in the extreme heat, Kerry declared this was ridiculous. So we returned to the camper and napped in the AC.

On our trip out to find firewood (which later we discovered the camp host sold for five bucks for two cubic feet) we ran into this tiny store that was more of a  restaurant. They “opened” for us, but when we told them we were only looking for firewood, she pointed us down a forest road a couple of miles away where we could pick up all we needed. On the way out, we ran into a man who wanted to converse with us, probably because of our accents. Once we discussed a range of topics, I gently let him know when he suggested that we move on to politics (his were already made abundantly clear) that we probably didn’t want to do that as we were probably some of those flaming liberals he was complaining about. He was taken aback. I guess because of our accent, people assume. I think a lot of people assume you agree with them if you are polite. It was interesting though and we eventually got to that forest road for firewood. That was definitely off the beaten path.

The next morning we went to the cultural center museum of the Tuh Must slick - can’t actually spell it but that was the pronunciation guide cultural museum telling the tribal viewpoint of the “taming” of the wild west. It was interesting that they began with Darwin and the evolution of plants and animals to their conditions in order to survive. There was a definite message there as the displays took you through their evolving ways of life before the white man and after the white man. They were not the same. But they were still there, showing their strength in adapting to what had always been their land. I found their legends and myths interesting. Coyote said many of the same things as Jesus and Buddha and Muhammad about treating others with kindness. I think there are just some things that are true in whatever culture. Things that were meant to be by the Creator of life.

We were also able to get fresh produce there, sweet onions, fresh asparagus and cherries. With those kind of ingredients Kerry was able to make a fine rendition of his flatbread pizza. It felt like home. And any time we can get fresh fruit is good.

We returned to another nap in the AC, something we probably need to set as a precedence when living in hot conditions. It really cools down here at night. By the time we were planning supper it was cool enough for me to walk the dogs. We went to the horse camp and I think this may be a great horse place when it’s not so hot. No chill water to explore today, but we will be in much cooler weather when we hit the Oregon Coast anyway.

Luna is telling me that she is still hungry so I need to get my priorities straight. She has told me this twice already tonight. :-)

We need a kayak!

We have been so many cool places that are perfect for a kayak. We already thought about getting one for the bay, and that is a great place, too. But the roof rack we got for the camper is really not conducive to putting anything on it but a kayak or a canoe. We thought that was a mistake because of how unlikely we were to carry a kayak on our trips. Not so!. Eagle River in Gypsum, Colorado was the first to call our name, a class one river section in such a beautiful place and running right by the great campground we stayed at there, River Dance RV. It had heated floors in the bathrooms and showers and all were one person private. Anyway, I kinda wanted a kayak there. And then there was Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho. They call it the Niagara of the West, but I think it was more beautiful for being smaller and having so many different falls instead of one huge one. No, I’m not going over the falls, but underneath you could kayak on smooth waters going up to the falls for a view like no other. And then, low and behold, you could kayak to the famous bridge in Twin Falls, where the side to side view is just too amazing to describe. I definitely think a kayak is in order, especially since we paid for a rack that is otherwise  not useful.

As you can tell, we spent our extra day in Three Islands Crossing State Park going to Twin Falls. It was definitely worth the trip as Kerry’s pictures will later attest to. The park itself was located on the Snake River which is still a beautiful sight in spite of having been dammed for irrigation, and also another great place for kayaking, which it would not have been without the dams. The campground was fantastic. Lots of room between sites and each one with shade from old trees and with a picnic table and fire pit. The showers and restrooms were centrally located in a circle of sites. Unfortunately, ours was on the long end of the circle. The bathrooms and showers were decent and we did not have to pay for hot water. I remember that you did not want to run out of quarters in a pay for hot water shower like we found in many of the places we stayed on our trip West with Steve. There was a path that meandered down the snake river between the two campground areas and by a day use part of the park that also included the coolest little cabins with beds and ac and a little porch with a great porch swing. There was only one family there so we went to one far away and spent a leisurely conversation on the swing. No pets were allowed in the cabins, but I think you could leave them leashed or in a cage on the outside porch. There was also an education center about the Oregon Trail and a small hike related to that, but it was not dog friendly so we didn’t do that this trip. I think it may definitely be a stop on future trips to our beloveds. We have just had such a wonderful trip. I am continually humbled and grateful for the opportunity.  There was also a recreational trail through the city which was quite an interesting place in itself. Cute little bars and restaurants, which we didn’t check out (as we are trying to be as cheap as we can on this trip and that’s not the necessity that gas is), and all kind of murals related to Oregon Trail and the West in general.

Our first stop yesterday was at the Hagerman Fossil Beds. Well actually, it was at the visitor center which had great touchables for kids. They also offer a Junior Ranger program for anyone between the ages of 3 and 100. So we didn’t even need grandchild or niece or nephew. However, we didn’t participate as the timing was wrong. Then we went to a walk only bridge over the snake river to a small marina for motor boats. There were two ski jets that kinda ruined the scenery and olfactory ambience but they didn’t stay long moving on to elsewhere. I looked at all the signs and none said no swimming and it was so inviting there close to the bridge. I wasn’t exactly prepared. I was wearing a swim top for a bra, but as no one was around, I let my underwear be my bottoms. It was deliciously chill and it was all Kerry could do to keep Luna from following me. Just as I was enjoying myself, I realized that I had left my fitbit on. I returned to the dock and got out, congratulating myself on not having a boat with people drive up anyway. Even though my husband and daughter have taken showers with their fitbit, mine bit the dust after its plunge into the cool waters of Snake River. I had already lost the use of my phone. After all night on the charge, it had one percent, and that soon left. I tried it on several different chargers but none worked. It’s been with me for almost 3 years and I know that makes it ancient by today’s standards but I loved my phone, and I hate learning new technology. We passed right by a Verizon on our way back to the highway from Twin Falls so I guess it was destiny that I replace mine. I got the SE which is as close to the one I had as I could get. My old case even fit it… and I have a lifetime warranty on my protection cover… if I can just get it off and remember where I am supposed to mail it.

We are now headed through Idaho almost to the Oregon border. I hope there is a welcome center where we can get a map. We missed getting Idaho and Colorado. I really like having a physical map. It helps to see the whole picture when deciding where to go. Once I know where I am going I am google maps all the way. It knows things a map doesn’t.

I am now in the state with my son and have a map. Life is good.

A day of rest in East Canyon Utah - June 1, 2016

I can't help but think of my parents this day that long ago two teenagers promised to love each other forever, and did. It was not a marriage made in heaven. They were so different and had many heated discussions. I used to think that was a bad thing. I didn't realize how it meant they were still communicating and wanted the other to know their feelings and thoughts, even when they disagreed. My mama was a very popular girl with the boys, even at 15, when they met. My daddy spent a fearful and lonely year and a half in Japan and they wrote the sweetest letters to each other. They married when he returned. It meant a lot to him that she was so faithful to him. She never knew the faithfulness he showed her when she was fading away with Alzheimer's, but she never lost the glow in her eyes when he came into the room. Their marriage was a rare gift to them and to us. I hope that my children see the same in their parents. We've had hard times like anyone else, but Kerry is still my best friend; and to travel with him as we are is an unmerited but appreciated gift.

This place is so peaceful. The sun is bright but there is a pretty constant breeze that gives it a tranquility and respite from the heat. The sounds of birds mix with prairie dogs, cows and sheep. It is strange to look down at this beautiful lake surrounded by mountains and hear the bleating of sheep and the lowing of cattle. I have been able to sit quietly for long periods of time, something Kerry is quite grateful for. When we stopped for gas and ice at Grumps, the hopping place in town, or as Kerry said, the only hop in town, I told the pregnant woman there that I thought Utah might be the most beautiful state in the country... and she said she thought Oregon beat it. I admitted that I had not seen Oregon yet, but that I was on my way. I told her it was the variety of mountains that had struck me so. She said she needed more green and that it could get muddy in the summer. I deferred to her greater knowledge.

Not much to write about in the event realm, but what a place to be boring. I hope to put some "history" pictures in as soon as I have enough internet time to move them to the computer.

p.s.  No mountain lions but Kerry saw an eagle sweeping low over the prairie dog holes this morning. I think prairie dogs may be like rabbits, best as food. I forgot to mention the tame but living in the campground white rabbit at our last campground. It was kinda surreal. It just hung out on the grounds with no fear in spite of the presence of many dogs. And it was also huge, about the size of a bobcat. Maybe that's why it was unafraid.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

We are well off the beaten path. East Canyon State Park in Utah to be exact. Nine miles from a tiny town where all the houses seem to have a long rectangular pasture in the back…. It is like all of Utah so far, stunning. We are on a lake surrounded by huge sixth-grader mountains of green but hardly any trees. The campground said full but there are only about six or seven campers here. I guess that was left over from some other time.

It’s a shame that when most people think of Utah, they think Mormons. This may be the most spectacularly beautiful and diverse state I have ever visited. Such gorgeous places and so many changes in so few miles. This is what Utah should be known for. It could easily contend for most beautiful places of the world. Today’s journey was easily as diverse and beautiful as the one from Colorado to Green River, but just completely different.

We have been eating a lot of carbs as we have been getting most of our meals at grocery stores, adding to our cheese, breads and pastry some token fruit and peppers. The most memorable cashier was the ever smiling one in Colorado. He was so friendly and happy about our purchases. (Both times. I had to go back for something.) Way nicer that the patronizing lady in Moab who secretly (right) showed me that I had insufficient funds. I fortunately had the cash to pay her after she apologized so profusely to the people behind me. After it happened again, with a nicer clerk, I figured out that I had not informed my bank that I would be traveling. It just got left off the list. However, I think cannabis should be required for all grocery store attendants.

The dogs are settling in a little more. We made them stay in the camper with us outside tonight. Kapu barked a good bit at first but finally settled down and even ate and drank.Luna was depressed and laying on our comforter when we came in. Now they are both asleep beside me.

Oh yeah, this place is covered with prairie dogs. It reminds me of a place we stayed in Potrero California. Only we heard their screams as they were being killed and eaten at night, probably by some type of cat. I hope that doesn’t happen here. Kapu and Luna have yet to see them, but they definitely heard them underground and I had to stop Kapu from digging at one in its hole.

I guess that’s all for now. Another beautiful day in the rest of our lives.

Memorial Day, May 30, 2016

Sitting in a camp chair by Kerry and listening to that bird that sounds like an owl, but isn’t. Tried to convince the dogs to eat and drink but to no avail. Kapu is too busy protecting us from stuff, and Luna is too busy worrying about him and her sofas and this daily change of scenery. We had a good day. Landed last night in Green River at a Passport America campground, A/ok RV park. Nothing fancy but a pull thru site which is always a plus. The air is breezy enough to make it cool and the bugs don’t like this dry climate much.

Today we drove down to Moab, Utah and visited the Canyonlands National Park at Needles. That would have been worth the trip… and if you are ever near road 191 in Utah, you should drive on it… well below the speed limit. We also visited Arches National Park, which was way more crowded with tourists (like us) but Kerry managed to find a few spots for pictures and we can’t walk any of the trails with the dogs anyway. (They are not yet ready to stay alone in our tiny house of sofas. We are weaning them of our presence by going together to the bathhouse, etc. They were fine in the bigger one, but I think they feel less insulated in this one… which they are. Kapu can hear way too much of what is going on.) Even without walking the trails, it was a great trip. It feels like visiting ancient ruins in the middle of a Star Wars movie. You just know some of those structures are going to get up and start moving. It is so alien to the landscape of the East.

We also found a dog-friendly patio to have lunch while we waited on an email, a very important email. The one containing the contract on our house. Hopefully, this one will make it to the end. It was a much straight-forward contract and they are prequalified for way more than our house. So… not going to publish my song yet, but our hopes are high.

We left gypsum and traveled through some of the most amazing landscape I’ve ever seen from an interstate. How have we missed Interstate 70 in all our trips out West? I want to go back again and again because once is not enough to appreciate it. I really can’t describe it in adjectives. Even my “history” phone photos are beautiful, and Kerry’s are fantastic, but a photograph just does not do it justice.

I have been thinking about the newness of these mountains. It’s like the West is a nursery and the East is a retirement center. There are the really newbies, smooth red with erosive loss of dirt and rock making them look like a set of ancient ruins. And then there are the toddlers, who have been shedding rock and soil to provide for the green fuzz of growth that holds the earth in place. Then you have the children mountains, with tufts of bush and plants and sometimes even flowers that are showing some of the signs of the green wealth that will someday be of Appalachian strength.

That all of this could happen in 10 to 12 thousand years is more than I can believe. It’s hard for me to understand how others can. But that certainly doesn’t mean that I think all of this is not the work of the Creator. If man is made in God’s image then we should be able to tell something about God from what we know about man. Whether it is a song, or sculptor, or canvas, I have never seen the creative process as a zap. It may come in spurts for some or take years for others. But zaps, I have not known.

Matt’s mother and I were talking about creative energy, and she obviously gets hers from others as she feels Matt does. I think both Kerry and I get ours from solitude. Shosha has always seemed a mixture. But most creativity comes with time, either way. I can’t help but think something as wondrous as our world took time, especially when you can see what a wonderful process is still going on. The resilience of wysteria is a testament to that, possibly the most beautiful weed I know.

But I regress. Mostly I’m just overwhelmed by the beauty and diversity we have been living and also just overwhelmed by this opportunity to experience it. Every day is a joy.

How to survive in a Tiny house on the road

Organize, Organize, Organize....

• Something I learned at the family lakehouse - keys are returned to a very strong magnet on the refrigerator. A bonus for us in our Eureka, roughly 7 x 10 – the largest one they make, is that the refrigerator is located right next to the door. (I think this is true in many small campers.)
• Everything has a place, and this place does not change.
• There needs to be a system for doing everything. Our system for changing the bed into sofas is that I do it every time while Kerry walks the dogs. The reason is that it takes a lot of crawling over the bed which is easier for me than him. Pillows, night clothes, etc. are always placed in the cabinets above the bed and air conditioner.
• As Kerry is 6 feet 4 in., we had the sofas raised 18 inches instead of the more regular 12. This was good in so many ways, but not for me sitting and doing things on the bed as I am only 5' 8”. Therefore, I roll up our comforter every day and tie it with an old shoe string. This is the perfect size to put behind my back, put my feet on the opposite sofa and read or write or whatever. (So far, we use the comforter over the cushions and under us. If we were without a heater in the cold, we might change that.)
• If we didn't have a really tall person, I would suggest 15” for the sofas/bed so that the underneath the bed space can be used for storage. Almost all of our stuff is in storage under the bed/sofas. As we have 18”, we can carry so much! Also, it is good to put food and kitchen stuff closet to the sink. Everything needs to be in a container, preferably clear.
• In the Eureka camper, the sofas convert to a bed using three almost square boards. One direction fits between the sofas and one direction fits nicely under the sofas. I immediately marked them as they are almost square and hard to distinguish. Also, we always leave the last one under the air conditioner for a table. This is really nice as we move things from the space beside the sink back and forth, again in a container – this time an old Coca-Cola open tray. This leaves that space beside the sink empty for cooking items. (One of which I recommend is an electric kettle – hot water in a matter of minutes is really convenient!) This also leaves another storage space under the “table”.
• A narrow rug between the sofas is really good, especially if you have dogs as we do. However, you should sweep every day, and vacuum at least every other day. If you don't have a hand vacuum, you need to immediately invest in one. And keep it plugged in all the time.
• I keep twin sheets on top of the sofa cushions when the bed is not made. They are easy to tuck in and easy to wash.
• Some people put a shower across from the galley but as most places we go provide showers (and a sink bath is doable short term) we made this more storage. We have about a 12” top shelf and on the bottom we have a storage box for more stuff (mostly kitchen) and beside it our porta-potty. They never meet, but you might want to put something different in the box. Under the top shelf we put a shower rod so that we can hang things and this is where I keep the broom and the vacuum plugged in.
• Also, I use a travel bidet instead of toilet paper which solves two problems. First, you never have anything solid in it. (Most places have flush toilets and those that don't are good enough for poop.) Second, it acts as a natural flush. It is available on Amazon and I'm sure other places.
• Hangers, preferably the padded kind your grandmother used to make, is also essential. You are going to have wet clothing. That is a given. Your choice of where to hang them is individual. If you have room for the old fashioned fold out, that is probably best. We use the rack on the Eureka that is for the privacy curtain. Eyelets inside make great places to hang clothes hangers when it's raining.
• Always be charging one of your devices. We have two smart phones, two tablets and two computers. Some battery is low all the time.
• Invest in a kindle or other e-reader. Get over needing the feel and smell of a book. You can carry a whole library in your hand. Yes, some campgrounds have a lending library, but do you really want to depend on that. Public libraries lend e-books for free, and you can really supplement your library on book-bub with cheap or free books of quality. Just make sure to have a good selection on your device and not depend on the cloud for those times you don't have access to internet.
• Propane devices for dry camping should be stored in the corners as they are usually used less. Things that you use the most should be the most accessible.
• A milk crate or other box outside the door means less sand/dirt inside and more space inside. The rule is take your shoes off before getting in the camper. Or if it's really wet, put it beside the door and take your shoes off as soon as you get in.
• Save your plastic grocery bags for inside trash (and poop picker-uppers if you have dogs.) I put them in a cardboard box that I get crackers or cereal or something else in.
• Disinfectant wipes are a must. At home I use cloth (and cloth grocery bags) but you need disposable cleaning as you don't have a washer/dryer convenient and your laundry bag small.
• Take easy to dry clothing and wool clothing. Thin wool clothes can be worn for weeks without stinking. Yes, I said weeks. And they are as cool as cotton. Also, instead of bulky jackets, layer. Several thin layers of clothes will keep you as warm as a thick jacket, and those other layers can be worn for other days/times. But splurge and take a rain-proof jacket or poncho. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around.
• Put things back in their place immediately. You don't have the space to leave things lying around to be put away later. And remember the golden rule, everything has a place and it doesn't change.
• Know how to unplug. If you don't read, bring cards, board games, a harmonica, whatever. Not everywhere has internet, and electricity can go out.. So flashlights and plenty of batteries, and/or hand-wound devices. Or better yet, talk to the person or people you are with.
• Travel with a roll of quarters and replenish them whenever you run low. Laundry, carwash, and air pumps all require quarters. And if you have kids that want to play arcade games....
• Always buy local fruit, whatever is in season by the road. Same for vegetables.
• Invest in Yeti-type cups. Beats reheating coffee, or using all your ice, or drinking warm beer. Just be sure to rinse them as soon as you're finished. Or, like us, label one for coffee and/or get one per person and put their initials on it. You don't want your ice water smelling like coffee or stale beer.
• Always carry extra water
• Liquids need to be stored upright. Those little plastic baskets that are like two for a dollar can help with this.
• A minimal tool kit and first aid kit is necessary
• Pack a fishing pole. The good places sell daily or weekly licenses.
• If you are 62, there are many perks. National parks sell you a pass for ten bucks that let you and up to three others in free. Also, half price camping at many locations. State parks, and even some private parks will also give you discounts. Some of these are Sunday through Thursday because that's when non-working people can come that others can't. Plan your trip accordingly.
• Gas up when you aren't hooked to your camper. I don't care how good you think you are. It's just easier without that load behind.
• Decide beforehand HOW (and if) you are going to communicate with the person parking the camper
• Also, make turns like you are hauling something bigger, the small tongue makes turns more difficult.
• Stop at every Welcome Center. Walk at least five minutes, get a map (GPS doesn't work without service) and check out the inside. Free coffee, juice, entertainment is often inside along with information about the state.
• More to come