Here we are, on the road: We’re In Birch Bay, WA

Monday, July 16, 2012 Lorraine’s report

I could tell we were home, we had that welcoming Washington rain when we hit Seattle, just enough to get the coach all dirty after we washed it on Friday.

Hello from 1000 Trails in Birch Bay Washington. Yes, we are back in the Great Pacific Northwest. We came into Birch Bay yesterday after spending Friday night and all day Saturday with our granddaughter, Kaitlyn. The temperature was 63, and the wind was blowing. Just your typical Washington summer, the rest of the country is burning up, lots of high temperatures and humidity, and its nice and cool here, days will be in the 70’s during the day, nights in the 50’s, so that you need a light jacked or sweater.

If you recall we last posted from Columbia Falls, MT. We spend two more days there, going back up to Glacier National Park on Sunday, hoping to see more wild animals, but alas, no luck that day. Those last two days there in CF were hot, 97 degrees each day. We truly enjoyed Going to the Sun Road, it was well worth the time. We also made it to Many Glaciers, and St. Mary’s; I think I enjoyed the west side of Glacier over the east, to me the west was more dramatic.

During our time there, we had a call from Mark, our son in law. He asked if we could pick him & our granddaughter Kaitlyn up from SeaTac the following Friday. They were coming up for his brother’s wedding next Saturday, July 21, in Seattle. Both he and Kaitlyn are in the wedding party, with Kaitlyn as a flower girl along with her cousin; Rebecca; Mark is a groomsman. Seems his brother getting married was taking his mother to the Beach Boys Concert there in the Seattle area; his mother had just gotten back from her Peace Corps station in Azerbaijan, and they had no one to pick them up from the airport. Mark said we could keep her through Sunday, since Saturday night was the Bachelor’s Party.

Of course we jumped at the chance to see Kaitlyn. We spent Monday morning changing our plans, countless phone calls to try to find a place to park the rig in the Seattle area for the weekend, you know, the whole domino effect.

We left Columbia Falls on Tuesday morning, headed west. About an hour out we saw a momma black bear and her two cubs, so cute, but no pictures. We stopped in Cheney, WA, set up and went to the Northern Quest Casino to eat. We played the machines for a bit; both of us were up, and found Fat Burger”s where we ate dinner.

The next day we left Cheney and went over to Moses Lake. After setting up, I fell asleep, as did Chuck. I wasn’t feeling very well. It was in the mid 90’s, sunny and nice.

We were off the next day going into Puyallup, WA, the Western Washington Fair grounds to be precise, parking across the wooden roller coaster in the grass; it was $20. with 50 amp, water and sewer.

We got in, set up- same old stuff. After washing the bugs and car, Chuck took us up to Auburn, WA to the Muckleshoot Casino. We played around a bit, went to dinner, the casino gave us $20. each towards dinner; we decided on the Prime Rib Buffet with salmon and shrimp. Dinner cost us $1.80 total, with what they gave us plus the tip. The food was delicious.

We decided to play for another hour. The first machine I sat down at after dinner was very good to me with its bonus. I cashed out and moved to another machine and that machine liked me a lot also. I tried to find Chuck in that huge casino, finally found an area where I had cell service and called him. He was looking for me he said; I left the Muckleshoot Casino with a lot more than I went in with. Chuck wasn’t as fortunate.

Friday, Chuck was out washing the rig first thing, even though I told him it was suppose to rain on Sunday. I got my stuff done and went and helped him.

We got the call that Mark and Kaitlyn were on the plane headed to Seattle at 4:45, so we waited until 6 before we left to pick them up at SeaTac Airport. We took Mark to his mom’s house in north Seattle, then back to Puyallup.

Saturday Kaitlyn was up bright and early, ready to go. She had to teach me her new game Puppyoply, which she proceeded to win. We did art work, all her normal things she likes to do with me; we had a fun day. Papa took us to see the new Ice Age movie in the afternoon. We all really liked that movie.

I had made Kaitlyn her favorite macaroni and cheese dish, a gallon freezer bag full. She had to eat some of it on Friday night after we got home from the airport with her. I asked her how she liked it; her reply was that it was “Nanalicious”, the best ever! When we dropped her off, there was only half a bag left for the rest of her time here.

All too soon our time together was over. We dropped her off at the parking lot in the back of Northgate and headed up here. That was when it rained on us, weather to match my mood.

Hopefully, it warms up a bit here and stays in the mid 70’s, without the rain, after being in the mid 90’s, it’s kind of cool for me.

Until next time,

Lorraine

7/16/12 Chuck’s report

We pulled into 1000 Trails here yesterday afternoon, found a spot with shared utilities that has a first come/first owns 50 amp hookup and satellite view plus afternoon shade, nice spot.

Last Sunday we toured Glacier National Park once again, what a scenic drive. The weather cooperated too, slight breeze to keep the bugs down, sunny and warm. There was a bit more water in the streams and through the rapids from all the rain they’ve had and the melting snow in the upper elevations. Of course, I’ll have to add some pictures of this drive even if they look very similar to the one’s in last weeks blog.

Tuesday our time was up in Columbia Falls and Glacier National Park. We really like the area but once again, it doesn’t meet our criteria for long term living, location is too remote, it gets too hot in the summer and WAY to cold in the winter. But I’ll bet we will return again, it’s sure a nice place.

So Tuesday we went to Cheney, Washington, home of Easter Washington University. We thought about stopping in Coeur d’Alene but knew we would only be there one night and that wouldn’t be enough time to see all the sights in the area. Cheney, however, is not that big and we’ve never stopped there before. We found a a small RV park, Peaceful Pines, not a resort by any stretch but full hookups so we could run the air conditioners.

There is a casino nearby that we’ve stopped at once before so we decided to return there for dinner. They had a Fat Burger place inside so that’s what we had plus the casino was nice enough to let us both win some on the slots.

Next morning we headed out, this time it would be a sort trip, we stopped at Moses Lake. We’ve driven by here lots of time but never stopped. I have a friend who was staying in the area but he left the day we got there, bummer but we’ll catch up with you somewhere Tom. So once again we were able to tour a portion of the state we’ve lived in for over 35 years and never toured before. Someday we may be able to say we’ve seen all of a one state that we want to see but so far can’t say that about any state, even Washington.

Then on to Western Washington, this time to Puyallup, home of the Puyallup State Fair later in September. They have a fairly large area set aside for RVs with full hookups. It wasn’t too busy so we were able to pick out a spot, spread out our stuff and get ready to pick up our grand daughter Kaitlyn the next day. They said we could wash the rig and the car if we wanted so I washed the car the first day before we took of exploring the area. Of course, there are Indian Casinos in the area so we picked one we’ve never been to before, Muckleshoot Casino. They gave us points and with the ones we earned, we were able to have a very nice buffet for $1.80, that was for both of us. Plus Lorraine hit a couple of nice jackpots, enough to replace all she and I have lost this trip at all the casinos we’ve stopped at.

Next morning I washed the bugs off the windshield and decided to go ahead and wash the rig. Lorraine came out to help and it wasn’t too bad of a job and it looked clean once again. We don’t get a chance to wash it very often so it was nice to have it done once again. Lorraine needed to go to a grocery store and it’s been awhile since we’ve been to a Fred Meyer so that’s where she wanted to stop. She seemed to enjoy shopping there, even found a few items she’s been looking for.

Later we headed out to pick up Mark and Kaitlyn at SeaTac Airport. We waited in the cell phone waiting area after they landed and gave them enough time to get their luggage. We timed it just about right, they were waiting at the curb, we pulled up and loaded with minimal waiting time for them. Boy was Kaitlyn and Lorraine glad to see each other, lots of hugging, laughing and talking.

We were to drop Mark off at his mother’s house in North Seattle, about 30 minutes away and we were going to find a quick place to eat. What place is quicker than McDonald’s? So a couple of hamburgers, a chicken burger and chicken nuggets we on tap for our dinner. We then dropped Mark off with a promise we would come back on Sunday morning and he could pick up his daughter for the remainder of his time in Seattle. Thanks for letting us have her for Friday night and Saturday, it was good for us and I think for her too.

So with Kaitlyn with us, Lorraine went into Nana mode fulltime. That meant feeding her every 10 minutes, can’t let her get to hungry you know, playing games and coloring pictures. They played a game Kaitlyn brought with her, Doggy Monopoly, I think Kaitlyn won but they sure had fun. Later we went to the movies, they wanted to see the new Ice Age movie. Then back to our place for more games, food and coloring, it’s fun to see them together.

Sunday morning we got things ready to get on the road, headed to North Seattle to drop Kaitlyn off with her dad and his family. The day before we had found a spot where we could pull into a parking lot so that’s where we met Mark. He had Kaitlyn’s cousin, Christopher, with him when they got there. After a short time, Lorraine and I said our so longs and headed back on the road to here in Birch Bay. Mark said there might be a chance we could see Kaitlyn once again before they leave in a week, otherwise we are staying in the area and taking it easy.

The weather has been getting a bit cooler as we traveled West. We we at 107F in Garryowen, Mt, high 90’s throughout Idaho and Eastern Washington but much nicer here in Western Washington. It got into the low high 70 while we were in Puyallup and was in the low 70s yesterday. We do have unusual weather here, thunderstorms. It isn’t normal to have thunder/lightening in Western Washington, we get our rain but not by thunderstorms. We did have some rain in during our travels yesterday and a good rain last night but it’s back to sunny with slight clouds today. The forecast is for good weather for the next few days too, yea.

I have two doctor visits this week then next week we are thinking of attending a FMCA chapter rally in La Connor, about 45 miles South of here at a different 1000 Trails park. After that, it will be back here to finish up our annual doctor visits and enjoy the area. This area may be the best place in the US during August, weather wise. Like I said, we don’t usually get thunderstorms, the temperature rarely get above 80F and most of the days will be sunny and clear. Along with family and friends in the area, this makes it a nice place to be for a month or so.

This year will be our 40th wedding anniversary and Lorraine would like to have some of our friends and family get together in late August before we leave. We haven’t made plans for this yet, it’s still in the talking stage but sometime in late August sounds most likely. Lorraine’s sister and her husband, Thelma and John, stood up for us 40 years ago and I hope are glad they did. But more on that later.

By the end of August or early September, we will be getting itchy feet and wanting to get back on the road. We don’t have an itinerary or route planed yet but will work on that while we are here. With all the places to see, it sometimes takes awhile to make our plans, tough life, huh!! But for now, we plan on taking it easy and enjoying our time here.

And now for some pictures and then get this posted.

More Glacier National Park.