Finally on the road again!

Well we left Mt Vernon Thousand Trails Park on Sunday morning, 14 Oct, as planned.  We didn't get too far before the truck started acting up.  We were driving down I-5 at about 30 mph.  It would get better and we could go speed limit and then it would start slowing down again.  We made it to Olympia and Ray decided to pull off the Interstate.  By then the truck was running really rough and no power at all.  We went to the closest RV Park.  Of course it was Sunday and nothing open.  Ray was at the Ford Dealer when they opened on Monday morning.  They found the problem pretty quickly.....a faulty High Pressure Fuel Pump.  They told us it would take a couple days. It turned out to be 4 days. We got the truck back on Thursday afternoon and were on the road again Friday morning.

 Toby enjoyed watching the birds in the tree beside our trailer

 This is where we spent 5 nights waiting for our truck.  Not a fancy park, but was clean and owners were nice people.

After leaving Olympia, WA we took I-84 along the Columbia River.  Some beautiful views of the river.  Friday night we stopped in Pendleton, OR at the Wild Horse Resort & Casino RV Park.  We had a nice dinner at the casino and put a little money in the slot machines.  We didn't win any big money, but didn't lose either. So a nice evening.

Saturday night we stopped in windy Mountain Home, Idaho.  We stayed at the Mountain Home RV Park, a beautiful park.  If you are ever through Mountain Home be sure to stop at this park.

Sunday afternoon we arrived in Ogden, Utah.  We are staying on Hill Air Force Base at the FamCamp.  We had plans to go to Antelope Island State Park while we were here but it didn't happen.  Monday the wind blew with 50 mph gusts and poured down rain and today we got up to snow and cold.  We did go to the Hill Aerospace Museum, a US Air Force Museum.  The collection of aircraft is quite large and they are divided into five exhibits that focus on a specific era in the history of flight.  They also tell the story of the history of Hill AFB.  They have the best display on our involvement in the Korean War that I have ever seen.  If you enjoy visiting Air Craft Museums this is one not to miss.   We are hoping to leave in the morning between storms.  We have had to change our route.  Originally we were going across Wyoming on I-80, but will now head south and go across I-70. 

 Beautiful sunset from our trailer looking towards the Great Salt Lake

The same view the next morning.  

Entrance to the Hill Aerospace Museum

Just a couple of the many photos Ray took of the airplanes in the museum.

 Views are from our trailer.  You can't see the lake this morning.

Our Tuesday morning.  Looks like winter has arrived!

Pacific Beach Resort & Recreation Center

Following our RV Rally in Montesano Ray and I went to Pacific Beach for 5 days.  We stayed at the Pacific Beach Resort and Recreation Center, a Navy recreation facility.  It is a full-service resort with a Hotel, Cottages and RV Park. There is a Restaurant & Lounge, Gift shop & Espresso Bar, movie theater, bowling alley, playgrounds, Whale-watching tower and more.   The Pacific Beach Hotel was built in 1906, became known as one of the Northwest's most romantic hotels until the outbreak of World War II, when the Navy and Air Force converted the rooms into regional headquarters for training anti-aircraft recruits.  After the war, the facility was offered to the local community for $1.00, but the sale failed because the community was unincorporated.  The base sat idle until 1950 when the Air Force moved in using it as a radar station for 5 years.  It again sat idle until 1957 when the Naval Facility engineers redeveloped the base.  It is now a very active part of the Fleet & Family Readiness (MWR).  2000-2001, the hotel underwent complete renovation and in 2010-2011 the base had a makeover project that included all 30 cottages.  It is a nice place to spend a few days.

 You can drive on the beach

 Sandy & Ray at the beach.

 A few photos taken walking on the beach.  Pacific Ocean waves were not large, but water very cold.

 Sun setting on our trailer

 Beautiful sunset from our trailer

 Whale watching tower 

Looking toward our trailer and RV park from the Whale watching tower. 

 Pacific Ocean from the Whale watching tower.  We never saw a whale.

 Another beautiful sunset from our trailer

The Pacific Northwest Area National Sojourner's were having a conference at the Hotel and held a Flag Retirement Ceremony at the large Fire Pit near the Whale watching tower.  It was an impressive ceremony.  The National Sojourners is a National fraternal organization for Mason's who have served in the Military.

Tomorrow we will be leaving for a trip to Missouri and Kansas.  We will be spending a week in Branson, Missouri.  We have an appointment at the NUWA factory in Chanute, Kansas on 5 November to have some warranty work done on our trailer.  We expect to be back to Washington the middle of November, in time for Thanksgiving.

Summer 2012 Part 2

In August our Rally was held at the Port Townsend Elk Lodge RV Park.  We always enjoy having our rallies here especially being able to have meals at the Lodge.  The best is always their Fish & Chips  This year besides the Fish dinner they had Make your own Taco Night that we all enjoyed.  We also went on a tour of one of the Victorian Homes in Port Townsend.  It was a fun week.

 The Rothchild House sits on the hill overlooking Puget Sound

 The kitchen has no running water.  The only room updated was the bathroom with running water.  

 There are lots of deer roaming around Port Townsend.  This one is watching us from the Apple orchard.

View from the front porch of the house

On Labor Day Weekend the Wenatchee Youth Circus came to the Mt Vernon Thousand Trails Park.  The Wenatchee Youth Circus, known as the "Biggest  Little Circus in the World" is considered one of the four top nonprofessional troupes in the nation. The show includes all the regular circus acts with the exception of wild animals. This year's troupe had 50 members and the ages ranged from 3 to 18 years old. The Wenatchee Youth Circus was celebrating it's 60th season.  It is still led by Founder & Managing Director, (aka Guppo the Clown) Paul K. Pugh.  It was a wonderful show and very talented kids.

Grandma and Lily ready for the Circus to begin

Guppo the Clown

Our last 2012 Rally was held in September at Friends Landing at Montesano, WA.  It is located along the Chehalis River with a 32 acre man made lake.  There is a 1.7 mile paved trail around the lake.  There are several piers and floating decks into the lake and boat launches, floating decks and fish shacks along the river.  There is sturgeon fishing year round and when the salmon are running it is great salmon fishing.  The only complaint was we didn't have an enclosed room for our activities.  It was cool and foggy in the mornings and evenings, but we had a good time.  We had blueberry pancakes one morning, bbq'd our own meats one night and cooked biscuits on a stick over open fire.  We were to wear silly hats at Happy hour and on Thurs prizes were given out to the best hats.  We have some very creative people in our group.

 The man made Lake

 Foggy morning 

 Just a couple of the fish caught in the river

Our group wearing their crazy hats.