Archive for July, 2015

Moving through Washington

Monday, July 27th, 2015

Last week we made it to Washington, actually only across the river from Portland to Vancouver.  We had plans to explore on Saturday but it rained so much we only made it to Costco to buy some things without paying sales tax!  Love Oregon!  I’m not sure why anyone living in Vancouver would not cross the river and save!  It is so weird when you purchase something you can get out the exact amount before you even reach the cashier!

Sunday we moved to Yakima Washington where we are parked in a beautiful spot at the local Elks lodge!  It is on an amazing golf course with another golf course right next to us!  We are even parked on a huge lawn area that looks like another golf course!  Duke is in heaven.

Sisters, Oregon

Tuesday, July 21st, 2015

No signal lights, highway 20 is Main Street where there are lots of eateries, shops and galleries with lots of pretty things to buy.  That is Sisters Oregon, within 20 miles of Bend and very popular if you gauge by the campgrounds are full even on a Tuesday and traffic on Main Street never stops.

There is plenty to do especially if you like to get out and enjoy nature. Biking, hiking, canoeing, fishing, skiing, birdwatching, horseriding and then there is just taking a drive and watching the beauty.   They have an amazing trail system that starts right in town and is for pedestrians, bikes and horses.  PRTrail in Sisters is a very well maintained, well marked systems of trails.  I took a walk along a 3 mile section and had it all to myself most of the time.  There was the occasional group of bikes and a couple joggers.  I didn’t see any other walkers or hikers – I’m thinking I was moving so fast they couldn’t catch me.

PRTrail, lots of nature

PRTrail, lots of nature

It is a lot of nature and nothing around.  The good news is I only saw a couple chipmunks, a couple lizards and no snakes!

Most evenings Paul and I take a walk downtown with the treat of frozen yogurt for our efforts!  Not exactly on the diet but we are walking to get it!

Deer, right in town

Deer, right in town

Tonight we got a treat of seeing this little guy who was very curious about us however his mom in the bushes was definitely watching!  He had a little sibling that was shy and stayed in the shadows with the mom.

Sisters has a lot to offer and this was our second time here.  This is on our list of places we really like to visit!

 

On the road again

Saturday, July 18th, 2015
Bird Condominium

Bird Condominium

Driving along the highway near Junction City, Paul spots this, tells me it is a bird condo!  I have no idea what he is talking about so he makes a u-turn on the highway (in the car!) and takes me back telling me to get my camera!  Yep,  we stop for stuff like this.  There wasn’t a single nest in any of the other poles.  I think birds are like most people, they like to be close to others!

Saturday was a relax and get ready day.  We took a nice long walk along the Willamette River that runs right through Eugene, OR.  The hike took us right through the University of Oregon.

willemetriver

It was hot and we got a late start but we made it about 5 miles and called it a day.  Tomorrow we get to get back on the road and head to Sisters, Oregon.  We’ve been there before and can’t wait for a couple of days enjoying the mountains.

Riding the rails

Saturday, July 18th, 2015

My brother and mom were settled back at the RV for a few days of recovery before heading back to Hanford and I headed to San Jose Wednesday afternoon on the Caltrain from So. San Francisco.

Thursday was a rest day while I prepared for my 16 hour journey by Amtrak to meet Paul in Eugene Oregon.  My train was scheduled to leave at 8:23 pm from San Jose arriving in Eugene at 12:29 Friday afternoon.  The kids and I went for a great dinner at Mod Pizza, where you can have any or all of their toppings on your own personal 11″ artisan pizza crust for only $7.97!  The toppings are interesting, fresh and plentiful.  I love this place!

While we were eating our pizza I got my first text from Amtrak,  my train is late.  No big deal and I expect it as trains are not known for their on-time record.  I ended up with 3 texts and my train finally took off at 9:48 pm.

Arriving 30 minutes prior I was met by the station host who gave me all the details about boarding, the train, where I would be sitting, where I could venture on the train.  It was very nice since I had not been on a real train and overnight!

 

All Aboard!

All Aboard!

Yep, they really blow the whistle and shout!  I found my seat and the train headed north towards Oakland.  Since I will be on this train overnight and it was not even 10 pm I decided to check things out.  The observation car is really the only place to go at night besides the snack cafe or the bathrooms.  Walking was difficult and going throught the first door from one car to the next I stubbed my toe!  So much for my pedicure!

Lots of seating and large windows!

Lots of seating and large windows!

I grabbed myself a coke from the snack spot and took a seat in the car.  The problem was there wasn’t much to see so I read awhile and a few people came in, but mostly it was quiet.

As soon as we left San Jose the conductor told us that it was quiet time and that all noise making devises needed to be off in the cars so people can sleep and that we are going to be delayed in Emeryville to add some cars and fix a couple maintenance items that need addressed!  Great, now we are two hours behind- but they can make up time!

About 11:30 we are leaving Emeryville and I decide I could probably sleep now.  The seats recline and there are footrests.  I go back to my seat and the person that is suppose to be in the window seat is still not there.  I assume they found somewhere else to sleep and proceed to spread out and take up both seats.  I’m pretty comfortable and get right to sleep.  I hear the train stop but no announcements are made because it is quiet time so I go back to sleep.  This will be a piece of cake sleeping on the train.

I’m resting peaceably and about 1 am I hear someone saying oh there is my seat, #58.  Whoops thats the empty seat!  If I stay asleep surely they will find another seat as there are plenty of empty seats!  She leaves!  But wait, about 1:30 she returns, taps me and says I have to move!  Great, at least she let me take the window and she quickly slipped into her seat.  I got back to sleep but not as comfortable.

At 4 am I wake up and feel the train leaving a station.  I check my phones map to see where we are,  Sacramento!  What!!!  Apparently we sat on the tracks somewhere near Martinez for 2 hours for who knows what!  Anyway the person next to me is not there but their bag in on the seat, I look down and she is curled up in the floor below her seat!  Geez!  I was able to get back to sleep and didn’t wake up until 7:15.  Time to start the day!  My seatmate moved to the seat and we chatted a minute.  Apparently she had found another car that was really empty and took a seat thinking she would be fine and could rest. The attendant told her she had to take her own seat and had to go back.  When she got back she found out attendant and he made her wake me!  Geeze.  Plenty of empty seats but they have thier rules.

The bathrooms are not fancy and slightly messy from passengers but they had a small changing area in the bathroom so there was room to change.  I got changed, and cleaned up a bit and made my way to the dining car for breakfast.  There was a 30 minute wait but once I got into a seat, breakfast was pretty quick and pretty good.  Basic eggs, bacon and a biscuit but hot and fresh and the coffee was great!

No one eats alone!

No one eats alone!

Right out of the movies except with the modern conviences of cell phones.  Most of the time I had pretty good service, no wifi, but cell service was good.

My breakfast mates were a single lady from Monterey and a couple from Southern CA.  The couple had a sleeping car but didn’t look as rested as me!  I think they really didn’t want to travel by train but airfare at the last minute to Seattle was very expensive.  They really didn’t like that the train was 3 hours late!  After breakfast I returned to the observation car and enjoyed the views of the morning.

Mt. Shasta

Mt. Shasta

We made it to Shasta by about 9 am!  That is nearly 12 hours!  Even Paul and I in the RV make better time than that!  Oh well.

Another nap about 11:30 and we made it to Oregon!  Three stops in Oregon and I arrived in Eugene about 4 pm.

EugeneTrainStation1

Public art at the station

Public art at the station

Not the fastest mode of transportation but you do get to see some landscape.  If you can’t take the slow route in an RV this would be a good alternative.

 

One more time…

Wednesday, July 15th, 2015

So,  this summer has made a few turns as we try to head north to continue on our journey.  First the motorhome has a problem and we have to wait for repairs which took about 2 weeks and then my brother  recently found out that the cancer from 2013 has cropped up again and he needed another surgery.  So,  Paul put me on a train to San Jose and I spent a week in San Francisco with my mom visiting my brother each day until the finally released him this past Wednesday.

The surgery went really well, they were able to remove the tumor without causing any damage and now it is wait and see what the test show.  We spent 5 days traveling from the Candlestick RV park into San Francisco, spending a good chunk of the day in the hospital and then returning each night.

Farewell!

Farewell!

A few remaining structures

A few remaining structures

My brother has a very good attitude as he struggles with the pain, drs., the cancer and the unknown.  He felt so bad a couple of days and still he would put on a smile or crack a joke.  He was on the 10th floor with an amazing view of the Bay and the Ocean and he would be having a really hard time and then he would say “just look!”

The view from the hospital

The view from the hospital- You could see the bridge through the clouds

The white building is the hospital and his room was right behind the black window building!  Pretty cool

The white building is the hospital and his room was right behind the black window building! Pretty cool

I have to admit the view was spectacular and he was only 3 blocks from Golden Gate Park.  Everyday I would sneak out for a walk ( I think I walked about 60 miles while he was recovering).

Forest in San Francisco?

Forest in San Francisco?

Golden Gate Park, lots of open space

Golden Gate Park, lots of open space

The Conservatory

The Conservatory

Even a waterfall!

Even a waterfall!

Once he went home I prepared to catch up with Paul who had taken off for Oregon so he could get some work done.  He didn’t have a swell time either as the second stop he made in Grants Pass, OR our slide had another problem.  After talking to Winnebago it was determined he could drive to Junction City and have it looked at there.  He did, and they seem to think they fixed it again!  We will see!

Grapes, Grapes and more Grapes

Tuesday, July 7th, 2015
Welcome to Lodi

Welcome to Lodi

Woodbridge is a one street town right next to Lodi and so many wineries.  The area is full of fields of grapes on lots of small farms. There are tasting rooms in town and on the farms.

Our first stop was the Lodi Visitors Center where you can taste wines from several local wineries.  We didn’t taste, but did get the map and some information about which ones would be fun to stop in to.

Our first stop was Jessie’s Grove a winery that has been in the area since the 1800’s and they still use some of those vines in their wines.  The wines were very nice and yes I bought one!

Next was Oak Farm Vineyards which is definitely a different feel

Oak Farm Vineyards

Oak Farm Vineyards

The home of William DeVries, built in the 1800's

The home of William DeVries, built in the 1800’s

There are lots of Oak trees and the property is beautiful.  The winery tasting room is huge with lots of outside patio area to sit and enjoy a nice glass of wine.  The Barbera has many awards and is very tasty!

Reflecting pond

Reflecting pond

A lovely spot to relax in the shade enjoying the vineyards and the babble of the pond.  Yep,  I bought more wine!

Two wineries is enough for me so we headed into Lodi.  A quaint little town with lots of charm.  More tasting rooms are nestled among antique shops and restaurants.  The collection of statues were definitely worth the stop.

Welcome to Lodi

Welcome to Lodi

Paul's business suit!

Paul’s business suit!  Love the sandals!

A rich mexican heritage

A rich mexican heritage

Classic

Classic

Tourism

Tourism

Welcome Home!

Welcome Home!

My favorite,  just for fun!

My favorite, just for fun!

Lodi seems to be a sleepy little town with lots of charm.  We are definitely enjoying being back on the road!

Yeah, the RV is working again

Sunday, July 5th, 2015

Our RV was fixed in one day once they received the parts.  Paul left the dealership on Friday, finally heading north and I joined him in Woodbridge at the Elks.  We will spend the holiday weekend here and finish up some work this week and then Paul heads to Oregon and I am heading back to San Francisco for family.  Hopefully I get to join him in Oregon sometime around the 15th.

The Elks is very nice, with lots of lawn area that Duke loves but on the 4th of July there will be a large fireworks display at the Lodi Lake which is very close.  Duke hates fireworks so we chose to head for the mountains where fireworks are not allowed.  The things we do for our children!!!

We went to Pioneer where our friends Pat and Kip live and they were going to be enjoying a BBQ after their golfing tournament.  What a good deal that was.  Lunch of Burgers, cooked to order complete with all the fixings including a wonderful dessert, and the best part is we didn’t have to shop, cook, clean up, just eat and enjoy the fresh air looking over the golf course!

Sunday morning we played 9 holes of golf.  I had a terrible score, but had some very nice drives, 1 great putt and a few fairway shots that were pretty good.  Thats the best part of golf, I can always find something great about the day even if it is just being out and getting some fresh air and a bit of exercise.

Well that was our 4th of July, hope everyone had a great holiday.

Taking advantage of the situation

Thursday, July 2nd, 2015

Paul is waiting for the RV to get repaired and I’m heading back to San Jose for a few days to hang out where it is cooler and see my girls a bit more or so I thought!  Then I realized my friend Diana is renting a house right on the beach in Santa Cruz.   When it is hot in the valley the beach is always a great answer and since Diana has this house with a few empty rooms I’m going to take advantage.

So, instead of hanging with the girls I’m laying on the beach!

View from the deck

View from the deck

I arrived on Monday and it was beautiful.

I would give up my RV for this place!

I would give up my RV for this place!

Diana, Where did you get that Hat?

Diana, Where did you get that Hat?

Tuesday was even better.  Vikki, Marie and I took a nice 4 mile walk to the lighthouse while Diana made us Swedish Pancakes!

Looking back at the harbor from the lighthouse!

Looking back at the harbor from the lighthouse!

HarborLightHouse SC

Lots of food, great friends, beautiful weather and the waves crashing while we enjoyed a bonfire on the back patio.  Life is pretty good!

Live entertainment too!

Live entertainment too!  Lipsyncing for the family!

Two days of relaxing and walking on the beach and it is time to think about heading back to the city!

Thursday,  Paul called and said the RV is repaired and he is heading north!

I did spend some time with the girls, we walked to Campbell and ate at my favorite Greek restaurant, Opa!  and on Thursday Stephanie joined me for 9 holes of golf before I headed back to the Valley.  I met up with Paul in Lodi where we will spend a the holiday weekend at the Elks.