RV – The Long West Coast Summer Trip.

Visiting Cayman in Portland.

Visiting son Cayman in Portland, new apartment, new car, new job, daytime ,which is great. Right on the border with Washington State. Divided by the mighty beautiful Columbia River , Oregon is truly a beautiful state , lovely hills south of Portland with vineyards as far as the eye can see. Volcanoes with their snowy peaks , alpine meadows and bare riverbeds define the landscape east of Portland. Haven’t even mentioned the great vistas of the Columbia River Gorge. WOW! The appropriatly named “Vista House ‘sits perched on top of a mighty rock outcropping and gives me a perfect view of the Gorge , Skies constantly changing , river used by barges and pleasure craft. What a great area to live.

And then there are the waterfalls , Dripping hundreds of feet from the cliffs surrounding the gorge. Easy to get to and easy to revel in their natural beauty from a bench with a cup of great coffee and a berry muffin. The famous Multnomah Falls drops 542 feet from the top into a small lake , followed by a 56 feet drop to the creek flowing into the Columbia river. An iconic bridge gives me a close up view and great foreground for my 45649 pictures of the same thing . Never learn !

nice life !!

A River’s Song

Mighty Columbia, flowing strong and wide,
Separates the states with graceful pride.
Oregon’s hills and Washington’s green,
In harmony, this river is seen.

The Gorge it carves, a sight to behold,
With waterfalls and stories untold.
Vistas change beneath the open sky,
Cascading beauty from cliffs so high.

Bridging the gap with nature’s embrace,
Connecting two lands with effortless grace.
The Columbia River, a wonder to explore,
Binding two states, forevermore.

Pike Place Market.

If anything is more iconic for Seattle then the Space Needle ,it’s the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee. But it’s so much more. We took a guided behind the scenes tour of Pike Place market with our superb guide , Forgot his name, thats how good he was. We ate many different home cooked goodies , like maple bacon mini donuts ( my teeth still hurt) Coffee, Taco’s , pastries , Coffee, Cake, Cheese( I think , can’t keep track, and oh yeah , coffee!

Seattle as advertised is the coffee drinking capitol of the states . People are hyper, more coffee please! Pike place market is it’s own little community . Very well regulated , has shied away from commercializing the place, and is the pride of the people who live there. They take care of their homeless, workless and mentally challenged . It feels like a great place to have around the corner for your shopping , and of course COFFEE!

Famous sign .

Special mention of the gum wall. Thats all I’m gonna say .

Uncovering the History of Garnet: Montana’s Well-Preserved Ghost Town

Ghost Butterfly on a ghost distle !

Ghost Moss

Garnet is a well-preserved ghost town located in the Garnet Range of the Rocky Mountains in Montana, USA. The town was established in the 1860s, following the discovery of gold in the area. At its peak, Garnet was home to over 1,000 people and boasted a post office, general stores, saloons, and a school. However, as the gold reserves dwindled, the town began to decline, and by the early 20th century, it was largely abandoned.

Today, Garnet is maintained as a state park and is a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the past. Many of the original buildings still stand, providing a haunting yet captivating insight into the daily lives of the town’s former residents. Visitors can explore the abandoned structures, including homes, businesses, and the remains of the once-thriving community. Guided tours and interpretive signs offer historical context and enrich the experience of walking through this historic site.

In addition to tourism, Garnet serves as a site for historical and archaeological research, shedding light on the pioneering days of the American West. The town stands as a testament to the resilience and fortitude of the early settlers who sought their fortunes in the rugged Montana wilderness. With its fascinating history and well-preserved structures, Garnet continues to captivate and educate visitors from around the world.

Garnet, Montana

We visited Missoula to see our Daughter Sasha and her mountain man Tim. Deidre and sasha had a great long weekend in Glacier National Park. Tim and I did the manly thing and visited a ghost town. Because we can and because we’re fearless . Great day with Tim , Thanks !

Last day of spectacular Yellowstone Landscapes !

Can’t wait to go back to my favorite park next year. what an amazing and wild place . Saw a bear , coyote, elk, deer, o yeah Bison and so much more . This park has to go on everyone’s bucketlist, just to get an understanding what our planet is about under the surface. How amazing nature can be and how to have a healthy respect for the forces that control our planet ans thus our excistence . Yellowstone!

Yellowstone National Park holds a special place in my heart, a sanctuary where I have been blessed to witness the wonders of nature firsthand. From encountering bears and elk to marveling at the mysterious forces shaping the land, each visit has been a unique and humbling experience. As I eagerly anticipate my return, I find solace in the memories of its awe-inspiring landscapes and the diverse wildlife that calls it home. Goodbye Yellowstone, until we meet again, I will cherish every moment spent in your remarkable embrace.

Hot Vegas.

One of the many ways to get to Las Vegas is following the i40 cross country for over 1000 miles untill you get to the town of Kingman AZ. There is onto the 93 for 110 miles .

No big deal right.?

The road up to Kingman has been pretty good , occasional bumps and repairs . Now , getting on the 93 is an altogether different story. For 56 miles , yes I checked , it was a true to life washboard from the Wild West. Speed down to 35-40 miles /hour and everything that could shake loose , did shake loose. My center A/C kept tripping the breaker and temperature was slowly rising. My goal was to make a quick stop at the Hoover dam, it has RV parking on the Arizona side only . No signs and before I knew it the damn dam was on my right and disappearing in my mirror. No problem , on to the Campground and checking out the A/C problem. It really was getting a bit hot. Dash A/C was blowing cold and beau was laying next to me . Hmmmm , why next to me if you have a perfectly good bed in the back. shaking for 2 hours must have cured him. That wasn’t it , the second A/C stopped working as well. Now we’re in trouble. Only one A/C left and a heat warning in Vegas and the whole south west. Temperatures up to 115 Fahrenheit (46 Celsius) and it really is that hot!! Yeah but it’s dry heat!!! My ass dry heat. It’s hot !!its very hot .

Arriving at the RV resort , on the phone for the recommended rv mechanic, they were here in 3 hours , analyzing the issues and I’m on the phone with the warranty company for two new A/C units. Good experience with them this time . Friday I can have it inspected and new units installed.

Beau and I are locked into the bedroom with the only working

A/C and keep somewhat cool (82 degrees cool) the front of the RV is a balmy 101 degrees . No fun.

I got up at 4 am , beau deep asleep and got my first taste of Vegas . a bit overwhelming but pretty spectacular. Walked the strip in front of Paris and Bellagio at 5:30 in the morning , saw the sunrise over the strip , had an early morning coffee at subway with my homeless buddies and all was good with the world.

7 am back to the RV to make sure beau is ok and feed and poop him early before the fiery heat comes back.

Welcome to the west!

Into the fire

The fourth travel day took me into Arizona and a first visit to a state park. A few hours at Painted Desert and Petrified Forest was a welcome change to straight roads and happy truckers passing me by. A leisurely 29 mile track through the park with many stops was just what the boredom doctor ordered. First time I took my camera out and tried to get in the groove. It always takes me a while to catch the photo bug .

Rig runs great , no issues , generator hums right along and keeps Beau cool in his king size bed. Dogs have it made!

No idea what’s coming later that day and the coming three days .Stay tuned.

Petrified Forest National Park is a unique and captivating natural wonder located in northeastern Arizona. It encompasses a vast expanse of 346 square miles, showcasing a remarkable array of petrified wood deposits and the breathtaking Painted Desert. The park’s main attraction is the fossilized remains of ancient trees that have turned into colorful and intricate stone formations over millions of years, creating a surreal and otherworldly landscape.

The park is divided into two distinct sections: the northern area features the iconic Painted Desert, a mesmerizing badlands region with vibrant hues of red, orange, and purple, sculpted by wind and erosion. The southern section boasts the most extensive and well-preserved petrified wood forests, including the Black Forest Bed, Blue Mesa, and Rainbow Forest, where visitors can marvel at the petrified logs, stumps, and fossilized plant remains dating back to the Late Triassic period. With its rich geological history, archaeological sites, and diverse flora and fauna, Petrified Forest National Park offers an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike.

Our Happy Place

I grew up “camping” , 4 days in the DAF to cover 1000km stopping at every church , vineyard and Castle in Belgium and France . They were good times for a young man .

Playing on the lakefront beach in Lacanau Near Bordeaux was the highlight of the year for us.

These days we’re spoiled with an incredible home on wheels , time to use it and already some really great memories in our pocket .

This year we have planned 4 months to the West , starting in South Florida , I’m driving to Vegas with Beau, our Lab,I’ll take about 1 week to cover 2600 miles Deidre will join me there , flying in and we’ll spend a few days seeing the sites

After sun city our first stop will be The town of Virgin close to Zion National park and many other great locations . Stayin about one week .

I’ll leave you today with a nice scene from a few years ago on Anna Maria Island when we were entertained by a group of manatees.

Talk tomorrow

Gator Hunting , with a camera!

Loop Road, Big Cypress State park, Everglades, Florida

A 20 mile dirt road leads through the unspoiled part of Big Cypress, Aligators sunning on the side of the road, statues maybe. sure feels like it untill you get too close. They are fast, not agressive, thats us trying to get too close !

The Everglades today is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including alligators, a variety of bird species such as herons, egrets, and the rare snail kite, as well as the endangered Florida panther. Visitors can also spot dolphins, manatees, and a rich tapestry of marine life in the waters surrounding this unique ecosystem. The Everglades continues to be a haven for nature enthusiasts seeking to observe an abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat.

A relaxing couple of hours with Captain”I was born here” to navigate the Baron River and get a glimpse of the thousand Islands wildlife refuge. Many dolphins, great calm water and mangrove islands. A great place to get lost in !

Everglades City, located in Collier County, Florida, has a rich and varied history. The area was originally inhabited by the Calusa Native American tribe, who thrived in the region’s abundant natural resources. In the late 1800s, the town was established and became a hub for the Southwest Florida’s frontier.

It played a significant role in the construction of the Tamiami Trail, which was completed in 1928, connecting Tampa to Miami and opening up the Everglades region for development. During the early to mid-20th century, Everglades City was a thriving hub for the fishing and stone crab industries.

Notably, the city also gained notoriety as a center for the illegal activities of the infamous “Outlaws” during the 1970s, including smuggling and drug operations.

The rich history of Everglades City is interwoven with the unique ecosystem of the Everglades, making it a compelling destination for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Back Tomorrow.

Shaking down the RV

Crucial before starting a long trip!

After each long trip in an RV ,things are broken ! So after paying a kings ransom to the RV shop we hope all is well again and ready for the next trip. We include oil changes for the Engine as well as for the Generator. We have them check the sliderooms and levelers, airbags and many more systems. Won’t bother you with these. So after all that we make a short trip to check if repairs are done correctly and everything works as it should . Driving your house on bumpy roads for 6000 + miles takes a toll!

We choose to go a long weekend to Everglades Isles RV Park. A beautiful little Rv park in the middle of the Everglades. We face a working marina across the channel where fishing boats drop off their stonecrab pots everyday. Tourists on airboats visit the gators and speed across the river of grass. Shaking down is a tough job but someone has got to do it!!😇