So now, after 30 years and raising a couple of kids, we think we want to see what things look like. The first day we drove from our home in Keizer, OR and drove to Boise, ID. Now back in the old days we would drive from Ogden, UT to Keizer in one day. Now 2 days seem about enough driving. Once in Boise we find and check into a hotel then have supper at the Red Lobster. And you wouldn't belive that they have a rather large shopping mall close by. We looked but didn't buy anything even at the Macys store.
The next day we headed for Twin Falls, ID where we found a large canyon where the Snake river went thru town. They also have the Niagra Falls of the West. It really was impressive to see.
Arrived in Ogden and found a room and supper. After supper we drove to the apartment we had lived in 30 years ago. Several thoughts ran thru our minds and when we saw that the place was less than we were expecting. I guess the years were not good for this part of town. The mountains up the street were the same, the park across the street was bigger than I remember but it was the same place. Oh well you can never go home or something like that.
Wednesday we went to the museum at Hill Air Force base. Now they have a really great collection of planes. Outside was a B52, but even that didn't look as big as I remember they were when I worked on them in Thailand. Inside I went right for an F4. This one was all shiny and clean. Not like the ones I worked on. Still a lot of memories of fixing them came back.
The top plane is a C130, Next is a B52 and the F4 at the bottom.One plane missing from the museum that I worked on was a KC135. It must still be used since it's an inflight refueling plane. There was a C130 outside and I remember flying across Thailand in the back of one of those, right there with the rest of the cargo.
Then it was off to find some schools my wife use to teach in. We looked up the address in the phone book and off we went. Who would have thought a school out in the country could be surrounded by houses. Roy elementry did not look the same at all. The principle was there so we were able to walk around but it was all rebuilt and new.
Then we found Hooper elementry school. A sectetary was there so we got to see the inside. Now instead of a new school it was still the same building that was new 30 years ago, except the inside was changed from an open classroom school. They walled it all up into regular classrooms but it was the same school.
One thing I did do when we were at the museum was call a cousin of mine who is stationed at Hill AFB. I saw him 2 years ago at a family reunion. He and his family met us for supper at a Cracker Barrel resturant. That was new to us since they don't seem to have them out West where we live. Anyway, after a great supper and learning some of what they have been doing the last 23 years of being in the Air Force, he took us on base to tour the places I use to work. Now some of the base is the same but most is changed. The planes are now newer and smaller with the ability to do more than the old ones I worked on ever thought of. Still it was great to hear how cold it gets in the Winter and how hot it is in the Summer to work on planes outside. They even have covers over the planes where they park them outside.
Then the long awaited person to meet, Old Ed. Now not many CW members have or will ever get the chance to meet Old Ed, but we sure know him. I might even say that after knowing Ed for over 4 years on the internet, I was not sure what to expect. Not wanting to spoil any thoughts you might have about Ed, I will say he is real. You know he is not like the Easter Bunny or Santa. And his wife has a real name too. It is not SWMBO. And his youngest daughter is a very sweet 6 year old going into the first grade, and she loves math. We had a chance to vist in their home where we talked about everything from how the town of Ogden had changed, to Winnebagos. One thing you can say about CW members is they are down to earth. Infact you don't have to be crazy to enjoy old Winnebagos, but it helps.
Back at our room we had several thoughts on the choices we made to leave Utah 30 years ago. Did we do the right thing to move back to where our families lived in Oregon or continue our lives in Utah. Well we think the move back was the right thing to do.
The next day we had enough of Utah and headed towards home. This time we went thru Pocatello, ID. Having never driven this way we thought it might be a nice drive. It was different but you know Idaho and Utah have nothing on Oregon. Sure this was the Southern part of the state but you should see Oregon sometime. Then we stopped in Burly, ID to see some of the Snake river where the have boat races. Some boats were practicing and making a few laps but it was very windy and not many were out on the water.
At that time we thought the place we liked the best was in Twin Falls, ID.
The bridge and canyon trail were very neat. So thats where we went. We got a room with a view. Now what is this motorhome that my wife spotted out our window??
The wind was blowing so hard we wanted to have a picnic down by the river but settled for a pizza in the car looking down in the canyon.
I called another CW friend in Kennewick, WA. Bill said we should stop by so off we went to Kennewick. We first met Bill and his lovely wife at the NWJ (Classic Winnebago Northwest Jamboree). And even though we had met before, we went to their house anyway. Pat makes up for Bill but Bill knows how to BBQ a good chicken. And besides Bill let me name his Winnebago and even gave me 2 CW travel mugs, thanks Bill.
After much great food and good visting we called it a night.
Then came Saturday. The day we are to drive home. After a week of a road trip it was good to think tonight we would sleep in our own bed. We did make a drive thru the town of Kennewick to see Columbia Park. Wow, what a great park on the Columbia river. This is where they were getting ready for hydroplane races. Of course we had heard of a large shopping mall in town so before we left we needed to check it out. Wouldn't you know it we were there before any stores opened up. Don't you just hate that. Oh well we have to get going home.
This time the trip home was on the WA side of the Columbia. Some of the views of the river are really great from WA. There is a replica of Stonehenge. This was built on a high area overlooking the river.
The last part of our trip home went fast. We did think we might meet up with some other CW members but when we got thru to them, they were on the Oregon Coast wondering if we were there. Seems like once the temp gets up to 100 everyone heads to the coast to cool off.
So that was pretty much what we did on our Utah trip. Sophie said she missed Wilbur and was going to give him a big hug when we got home. Sure getting 35 MPG with the Camrybago is good, but the hotels are not as nice as your own bed every night. And Oregon has about everything we saw this week without some of the many miles we traveled. Not to make anyone feel bad about their State or town, but for us the great Northwest will be where you will find us for quite some time....
