Heading to CA July 2010

840 miles in 9 days

Tuesday 7/6/10

We drive West to Lincoln City, OR and then South down the coast.  Spent the night in Florence, OR at the Three Rivers Casino.  They have an RV lot for dry camping for free.

This Ultra Coach caught up with us in Lincoln City.  If you click on it a couple of times it gets big enough to see.  There is some more info on it at Ultra Coach

Wednesday 7/7/10

Old Town in Florence

                      And the Tonka in Florence.

 Drove from the Casino to a spot in Old Town for B'fast.  They have free WIFI in Florence and the cheapest gas on the coast is in Florence.  While we were getting gas and some food at Safeway, a man came up and told us he saw a Tonka toy at the local thrift store just like Wilbur.  So we went over to look at it but didn't buy it.  I already have one at home.  There are a couple of other "little shops" we like to look at and then thought we would drive to the beach.  The fog was along the beach so we went back to town and lunch.  Found the local Fire fighters restaurant and had the deluxe clam chowder.  I would highly recommend it.  Much better than the moe's stuff.  After lunch we drove South to Coos Bay.  And of course the local Macy's store is a must see place.  I even looked at a MH for my brother but it was not really in great shape.  We spent the night at the Mill Casino in the free dry camping lot.

Thursday 7/8/10

Brooking Oregon

Brookings, OR

The Dump Station in Coos Bay

The traffic on 101 is kind of close to the Casino and we got up early.  Not really early for work but early for retirement.  After B'fast we walked into the Casino but didn't see any good shows coming up.  We drove to the city dump station and took care of the holding tanks before heading South.  A few miles out of Coos Bay I noticed the Alt gauge was not showing it charging so I turned around and went back to a Knechts Auto to check things out.  With a meter on the battery there was no charging going on.  I do carry a spare voltage regulator and changed that but still no charge so off comes the Alt.  It was bad and I bought a lifetime Alt.  Once installed we hit the road again and all was good until we stopped for road construction and heard a growling noise from the engine.  We drove into Bandon and I double checked the alt and belt but nothing wrong there.  I took the belt off the Alt and no noise.  So after a call to Knechts and found out that there are no other places South of us we head back to Coos Bay and removed the new Alt.  Guess what, the new Alt is making noise.  So now for the second time this afternoon I change the Alt. We decide to just stay in Coos Bay another night and drive around to try out our newest Alt.  We were kind of tired and I was cleaned up and we just watched a movie and relaxed for the night.

Friday 7/9/10

Today we leave Coos Bay again, and drive to Bandon again.  No noise so we keep going.  It's 100 miles from Coos Bay to Brookings.   It was a sunny day and everything is fine.  We pull into the Brookings Elks only a few minutes before a couple of RV's take the last 2 sites.  Maybe my luck is changing.

This has been a great day.  We have warm weather, cable TV, WIFI, elect. and all the water we want and a dump station right here.  Well worth the $18.00 donation.  So it was bath time, TV time, great food and the world is good again. 

Saturday 7/10/10

The old pump in a Tupperware container to catch the drips.

After a good B'fast and a gas stop at Fred Meyers we drive to Crescent City, CA.  The last time we were in CC we only spent the day and this time we have a couple of days to hang around.  About 3 miles into CA on hwy101 is a casino called Lucky 7.  We did stop and look at their RV parking area and it looked like a good place to spend the night.  We also checked out a casino in CC called the Elk Valley Casino and they have a gravel lot to overnight.  Then there is the Elks lodge in CC that is down town.  Not really a great place to overnight but I called the lodge and was told we could spend the night there.

After lunch and some time looking at the ocean we go to the store for more food.  At the CA border they do a agriculture check for fruit and veggies so we could use some more stuff but at the store things are kind of expensive.  And after driving thru more of the town in CC it looks like people might not be able to buy so much at the store.  Sophie feels bad about that.  We spend some more time on the beach before we drive to the casino for the night.  There is an AC/DC impersonators band at the casino but I pass on that.  As Sophie gets in bed she says the carpet is wet.  Not a large spot but I will check it out in the morning.

Sunday 7/11/10

The lighthouse in Crescent City, CA

After B'fast I look in the back of Wilbur for the leak but not much wet there so we dive to the beach where I will take the rear bed out to look at the water system.  After removing the mattress I see the water pump has a slow drip when it is on.  We find a Tupperware container to put under the pump and I will check on it later.  It does get a little water in it but not much.  The beach is foggy this morning so we drive into the redwoods to take a walk.  Same place we visited last year but we took a longer walk thru the trees.  The road thru this area gets so narrow that they have cut notches out of some of the trees on corners so trucks and RV's can have more room.  We take a nice drive around the forest and back to hwy101 then down another road along the Smith River.  There is a boat launch at a park where we stop for lunch.  This area grows Lilly's and we follow the road to where it goes back to 101.  Close to the Lucky 7 Casino we find a place to get on the beach.  Another place for Sophie to find more rocks to bring home.  Good thing Wilbur can carry more weight.  After getting more sun than we should, and a camp chair that did not want to fold up, we go to the casino.  This place has a great supper deal in the new restaurant so that took care of supper.  We were the only ones in the RV lot and Sophie didn't care for that, so we drove the 5 miles or so back to the Brookings Elks. 

Brookings Oregon Elks

Monday 7/12/10

One month has passed since the big OSU graduation and engagement.  And we never thought we would make it thru that.  We hit the Fred Meyers store where we try to fill up the fridge and cabinets.  Things were getting so empty stuff would roll around.  The trip North was into the wind and it was very windy.  Lets just hope Wilbur holds together.  We stop in Port Orford and check out a park we never saw before.  There is a Coast Guard Museum we look thru.  Still very windy so we keep driving north.  In Bandon we walk around town, buy some clam strips at out favorite walk up eatery, look into some stores, buy some cheese curds and drive on north.  In Coos Bay we stop at the Burger King parking lot to relax and surf the net.  Still very windy so we drive on.  In Florence we stop at the Three Rivers Casino for the night.  This day was 150 miles of a strong head wind.  We walk around the casino and go back to Wilbur and call it a night.  Popcorn and a movie.

In the Redwoods forest.

Tuesday 7/13/10

If this is Tuesday we must be in Florence.  There is a plan that if the Tonka Winnebago is still in the thrift store it will be on sale.  But it was sold so no more Bagos on this trip. Sophie did find a rather large wicker basket that took up plenty of room.  The only good thing was out dirty clothes bag fit in it. Had a B'fast camp in Old Town and checked out some other little shops before driving to the beach.  We had to get hungry and find the firefighters place for more chowder.  Filled up with chowder and then gas.....uh I mean Wilbur got the gas and we headed into Yahats.  After a snack and a nap we take off.  Just before the Newport bridge traffic stopped so we took a detour and parked out on the South Jetty for awhile.  Since it is kind of cold and windy we decide to head inland to Toledo.  Now for those who have never been to Toledo, OR you either like it or not.  It is about 7 miles from Newport. We had been here before but not with Wilbur so I figured it was time to check out the Elks.  A small RV lot with Cable, Elect, water and dump $12.00 so we stay.  The lodge was closed but we check out the town and there is a farmers market tomorrow.  And there are a few "little shops" here.  The town is built on a hillside so a short walk is enough before bedtime.

Wednesday 7/14/10

Down Town Toledo Wednesday Market.

Since we need to be home tonight this is our last day for this trip.  The town has sidewalks set up with tables of everything from fresh fruit and veggies to thrift store give aways.  Don't tell anyone but Sophie even picked up something from the free box at one place.  And then on the way out of town towards Newport I see an old Bago in a driveway that also has a garage sale.  Now any excuse to look at Bagos is a good excuse.  This place had been a wrecking yard/townig place for years and had more RV junk than should be allowed.  I was told there were 40 acres of junk here.  I did find 1 and 1/2 Bagos and there were probably more around buried in mud and blackberries.  Sophie didn't even get out to look at the junk and told me no more of this kind of place to stop at.  I left my phone number with a guy who said this was his dads place and his dad was in bad shape.  So maybe they will just loose my number.  In Newport we check out another "little shop" where Sophie finds a crystal bowl she loves for $2.00.  The casino in Lincoln City is our next stop and then it is on to Spirit Mtn. casino to use the dump station.  I did have a spring break on the toilet in Wilbur and it will need to be removed so I want the holding tank to be clean when I do that.  The last 30 miles home was just fine except the valley is warmer than the coast.  Another great trip down the coast with a few problems but nothing we couldn't handle.

The Casino in Crescent, CA Dry camping lot.

Saint Helens, OR

We drove into the town of Saint Helens and right off found some of what we call "little shops" (Thrift stores).  And one very good one too.  After checking in with Jerrie and Diane we parked at the Elks lodge and rested.  Then we were picked up and given a tour of the twin Bagos that Jerrie has collected and their house on the hill.  I will say he has his work cut out for him with those 2 .  But he just might build one good one out of the two.  Then it was off for a tour of town and dinner.  Very nice town and a great meal.  Then it was back to Wilbur for some more good conversation.  We sure like talking with good friends.   To bad Jerrie didn't get a MH they could use without so much work (sorry Jerrie) then we coulkd have more friends to vacation with.

6/24/10

It was kind of hot weather yesterday and the Elks RV area was so quite we sleep in until after 9 AM.  That was really sleeping in.  And we have only been retired less than 2 weeks,lol. 

This was shower day and it was noon until we got going.  Parts of the Twilight movie were shot here and since Sophie and Steph have read the books and seen the movies we had to buy a book  of the different things that were filmed here.  So after looking in the book and touring the town we took in the local concert in the park on the river with Jerrie, Diane and Diane's mom.  It was fun to listen to the music and watch the huge cargo ships go up and down the river.
After some listening we went over to Diane's mom's house.  Park like back yard on a creek.

During the concert in the park.

Mount St Helens in the background. We were told this is a car hauler.

Beaverton Elks

Beaverton Elks 6/22/10

Drove to Beaverton where our daughter lives.  It was her 22nd B'Day and we thought we would try out the local Elks lodge RV park.  Kind of nice with workout rooms and sauna.  They have a park at the lodge that looks like a great place for family fun.  The RV lot was not very level but had some large ramps to drive up the front wheels up on.  Electric and water at the sites.  They have some wifi but since we got in at closing we never figured out how to use it. 

Moving again

Lucky me.

When it comes to pulling a Uhaul trailer, the big one, my van works good.  That is until yesterday.  My future SIL is moving to Beaverton from Corvallis after graduating from OSU.  He starts a real job Monday.

So with a loaded trailer we left Corvallis headed to Beaverton.  Only 5PM or so we hit I-5 and I notice the battery gauge is lower than it usually is.  I turn off the lights and it goes up some.  As we drive on I notice it going lower.  Off goes the radio, GPS, fan and anything to save power.  As we get closer to beaverton the gauge is getting very low.  I guess the lowest mark is 8 and so when does this thing die.  We have people arriving to unload the trailer so I will keep driving until it quits or we make it.  Well we did make it and then I took the battery out and off to get another one.  Great thing about GPS is finding a store.  The closest Autozone was about 5 miles away and I bought a battery and off we drove.  Installed the batt and it looked like everything was AOK.  But then the battery light came back on.  We made it home and I charged up the batt before returning the Uhaul.  Removed the alternator and had it tested and they said it was good.  Installed new belt but when I started it up the same battery light came back on.  Oh well another thing to work on...........

I'm Retired, week one............

It has been a full week since I have retired and now I know why people say about retirement, "I am busier now then when I worked full time". 
I guess it was the Memorial day weekend when we were on the coast that we turned off the brain and relaxed.  I told Sophie that we were relaxing and decomposing, lol.  I meant to say decompressing, but if the word fits, use it.
So this first week off I have moved my daughter home from Corvallis, helped my wife move 20 years of teaching materials from her school to our house, That took 2 days and some of it is still needing to be put away, picked up son and GF from the airport and took them back a few days later, dealt with parents doctors, attended OSU's graduation for my daughter and her Mr right and the proposing to of my daughter following that, OH she said yes, had one open house to celebrate the graduation and then went to another open house, Had to hear about all the planning it takes to get married, NO I did not go look at dresses, and I know there were several other things done during the first week of retirement, but you know the mind is the second thing to go................... And tomorrow I get to pick up another U-Haul trailer to move someone from Corvallis to Hillsboro.  And of course my little someone is going there too.
 
Let's see fathers day is coming up and maybe another day off.

Memorial Day weekend 2010

Another great getaway for us was a trip to the Oregon Coast.  Things around home have been way to busy lately.  But all that was put behind us as we loaded up Wilbur and drove to Lincoln City Saturday.  The weather was pretty good Saturday when we arrived at the coast.  Then we went to the Fab Four concert.  It was a very good time.  I almost forgot how good the Beatles were.  This was a way to forget about a busy life. 

Did I tell you only 9 more days of full time work.   Yes retirement is close, very close and we are ready......

Hoodstock 2010

Another great time was had at the Hood River County Fairgrounds during the Blossom Festival.
We let our hair down, so to speak.