Puyallup/Tacoma

After visiting Mt St Helens we drove to Puyallup (try pronouncing that one), which is near Tacoma. This morning we visited the Museun of Glass in downtown Tacoma. We were able to watch glass artisans create with their medium while a staff member narrated what they were doing. This date they were making guitars. Jason Johnson was the artist in residence for the week and the guitar is his signature work. He apparantly made one for the Jimi Hendrix museum. We spent a fascinating hour or so just watching them create. Later we crossed to the downtown area via the Chihuly Bridge of Glass where this glass artist's works are on display.

We are currently sitting in the Mandolin Cafe updating our blog using their free Wi-Fi.

We heard from our friends Steve and Veronica Spencer today and will get to visit with them on Saturday. We will be staying at the Port Angeles/Sequim KOA starting September 2nd and will check out that next Tuesday.

Mt St Helens

Today we drove the 50 or so miles from Rainier to Mt. St. Helens. We left the motorhome at a parking lot used by snowmobilers and drove the last 17 miles to Windy Ridge to view the side of the mountain that collapsed during the eruption in 1980. It was an amazing sight. After 25 years the amount of destruction visible was amazing. We climbed the over 430 steps to the top of the ridge to get the best view.

Spirit Lake still has logs blown down by the eruption floating on the lake! The crater left by the explosion and all of the mud and rocks that slid down the mountain and into the valley is huge. We spent a lot of time just surveying the area wondering at the power of nature.

Many plants, especially flowers and heather, are growing in the devastation. Trees are coming back, albeit slowly. Each of you should see this sight yourself.

Mt. Ranier - Sunrise

The alarm went off at 5:00 to get us going to see the sun rise at the Sunrise Visitor Centger on the east side of Mount Rainier. Actually, we had set it for 6:00, but forgot about the time change. Anyway, we were on the road early and made it to the Visitor’s Center around 7:45. We were lucky to see Mount Rainier for about 15 minutes before the clouds came. Actually, the ranger said that today was the first snow of the season. Several groups of brave hikers set out on various trails. We decided on staying in the warm, dry truck and watch the clouds come in.

Karen made some yummy CCC cookies and worked a lot of Sudoku puzzles that Mary introduced to us. Played some backgammon and crib after taking a somewhat rainy bike ride around the campground.

Mt. Ranier

On the road again to see more of beautiful Washington. While Dan stopped to fill up the RV and the truck ($2.78/ gal), I went across the street to a roadside fruit market. I bought tomatoes and peaches – delicious! Drove to Mount Rainier National Park and found a campsite in Ohanapecosh Campground. This is a lush area with many HUGE trees and foliage.

After setting up camp, we drove to the Paradise Visitor center, which is located on the southern side of Mount Rainier. All you DRIVERS would love the road up to the center. On the way we stopped at Box Canyon for a short hike and view of the deep, narrow gorge that had been eroded into the granite by the stream. Mount Rainier is awesome. Watching the clouds hover and move across it was a special treat. We were glad that we had the binoculars to watch some brave hikers as they made their way across a snow field, elevation about 10,000 feet, to Camp Muir, which is a stopping point for those who are climbing to the summit.

Dragoon Creek

Last morning at Dragoon Creek Campground. We are trying to keep our nightly camping costs below an average of $25.00 for the trip and these three free nights really help.

Left camp at 9:30am – a typical time to get going for this trip. Hey, whaddaya expect, we’re retired. Took back roads from camp to US route 12 to avoid Spokane traffic. Interesting but slow. Drove US12 west to Washington 174 which took us to the Grand Coulee Dam area. As school kids we learned about this project that was built in the Depression years (1933-1941).

Camped at SunBanks Resort on Lake Banks as we were in need of a place to dump our black water tank. This place was really crowded and units were only a few feet from each other. We went to town to do laundry and had dinner at the Siam Restaurant for Chinese food. After dinner we drove to the dam to see the nightly laser show. They open the spillways to allow water to flow over them and then project the laser images on the spillway and face of the dam. Very creative and interesting. There was narration along with music to accompany the visuals.

The picture is of Lake Colorado. When I hooked up the water to the motorhome I turned the knob to fill the water tank and forgot to monitor it. The neighbor knocked on the door to tell us of the overflowing water and said he had a fishing rod I could use. Very funny :(!

Spokane

This morning we got up early, for once. Drove to downtown Spokane looking for the Centennial Bike Path on which to ride. We drove downstream looking for a place to park the truck without paying. Finally found one at a place called Peaceful Valley. Rode up to the top of the hill (8% grades are hard on us old folks). Tried to find the real bike path but only succeded in riding around residential areas. There were some very beautiful old homes, however. We drove back upstream back into downtown when we spotted a place called the Rocket Bakery. We HAD to stop and get a couple of chai's. When we inquired about free internet access, we were told that Spokane had set up internet access for much of the downtown area. Great!

Karen and I are going to drive upstream some more to look for another (free) place to park and ride since our first ride was only about 7 miles long. Tomorrow we will leave the Dragoon Creek Campground and head west. Goin' to see the Grand Coulee Dam of which we heard so much when we were in grade school.

As we saw in Billings, organizations in downtown Spokane have decorated bears for a reason we haven't yet determined. It is a cute picture.

Dragoon Creek

Dragoon Creek Campground is our present location. It is about 10 miles north of Spokane, WA. This is a 22 site campground with a curfew of 10 p.m. The best part about this site is that it is free. According to the camp host, there are lots of deer in the area. (We haven't seen any in this campground yet)

Dan played golf at Deer Creek Golf course today while Karen went to Hansen's farm in the Green Bluff area and picked apples, peaches, cukes, corn, squash, lettuce and some flowers.

We are currently in Deer Park at Main Street Bistro enjoying a chai and sending you this message.

Farragut State Park

Our 14 mile bike ride took us around the campground and down to the town of Bayview on the lake. (refer to the picture) There were several training camps on this campground which honored WW II heroes. Special roads were built so that the boy scouts could have a jamboree here in the early 70's.

Farragut State Park

We arrived here in the late afternoon and set up camp. This campground has four camping areas. The camp sites are close together with many large trees in the one where we are camping.

Kalispell

Dan played 18 holes of golf at Buffalo Hill golf course in Kalispell while Karen checked out the Farmer's Market in the center of town. Dan shot an 89. Karen found that Wheat Montana has chai and free internet access. It is from here that we have created this "blog" and have checked our email. We hope that you will follow our travels. Please post comments as we would love to hear from you.

This picture was taken in the Wheat Montana restaurant. Memories of Dan's Grandma and Grandpa Bax.

Kalispell

Drove from Seeley Lake to Kalispell. Stopped at the Glacier RV Park just east of town. Did some shopping for things that have accumulated on our motorhome List. Found the local library to use their internet computers but only had a half hour until they closed. Ate dinner at the McKenzie River Pizza place and really enjoyed their Chicken Fajita pizza.

Seeley Lake, Montana

We left Billings and drove north via Montana Route 3. Then west on US 12 thru Helena. Next we went north to Seeley Lake. Spent the night in a National Forest campground on the lake. It rained off and on during the day. This was some very beautiful country.

Billings One More Time

Karen played "Laundry Queen" using Wally's facilities and Dan played "Computer Geek" on Mary's computer. Mary fed us some delicious Montana corn and hamburgers for lunch. Wally took us to Winds of Montana where we met the owner/creator/musician/artist. We purchased a musically crafted in tune wind chime. These are the best sounding wind chimes that we have ever heard. You can check them out at www.windsofmontana.com.

Back to Mary's and Wally's for a beer, snacks and conversation on their patio, surrounded by Mary's beautiful flowers. After dinner the girls beat the boys in several games of Sequence, but just barely.

Billings Again

Karen took our dirty laundry to Mary's and Dan drove the motorhome around town looking for someplace to have the oil in the rearend changed. The rearend oil needed changing since we had major work done on it in Denver, about $2,000 worth! Good thing we found the problem then instead of the middle of nowhere.

Had dinner with M & W at their favorite Mexican restaurant. Thanks, Wally and Mary.

To Billings

Today we drove from Sheridan to Billings via the Big Horn Mountains. We went north on I-90 to Ranchester then west over the mountains. On the west side was a stretch of 13 miles down the hill that was at a 10% grade. I am glad we had the brakes checked before we left Denver! Kinda scary.

We stopped at the 'original' KOA in Billings for the next couple of nights.

Karen went to see Mary and Wally while Dan stayed at the motorhome and rested.

Sheridan, WY

We rode our bikes up and down Goose Creek bike trail in Sheridan for nine miles in the morning. After a quick shower we drove to the Equestrian Center to watch the 2:00 p.m. polo matches. Nobody was there. A chai at Sprocketz on Main Street in Sheridan and free internet access was next. When we read the paper, the article said that the match was at 4:00. So off we went again to watch the horses. Again, no one was there.

Sheridan, WY

We toured King Ropes store and museum in downtown Sheridan. Nancy and Jim Mickelson, Karen's high school friend and husband, met us and drove around the area showing us the beautiful country. After lunch, which was at Waldorf a Story in Story, WY, they took us to see their horses and where they live.

Say "Hi" to Nancy and Jim.......................................................>>

Buffalo & Sheridan, Wyoming

We stopped in Buffalo to have lunch at the Main Street Diner. This small restaurant is owned by Tom Spence. Tom stayed with Karen's family for a while in Laramie when he was going to school at the University. He has been a family friend since. His brother is Jerry Spence, the famous Wyoming lawyer who was on the defense team for OJ Simpson and other famous/infamous people. It was good to see Tom (picture at right)and give him a hug!

After lunch we drove to the KOA in Sheridan. Spent the rest of the day just resting and eating.

Casper, Wyoming

Today we drove from Denver to Casper. We stopped in Casper to visit with Karen's sorority sister and her husband, Bonnie and Dave Bitner. They fed us dinner a couple of nights and showed us around the area a bit.

Dan played golf at the newest golf course in town while Bonnie took Karen on a strenuous four mile hike on Casper Mountain. Back at the KOA just north of town, we swam in the indoor pool. Lots of motorcyclists are on the road to and from the Sturgis, SD, rally.

Off to Sheridan tomorrow.