9 Nov 2006
Tucson, AZ
I made Chris do a forced march across Texas and New Mexico - over 300 miles some days. He whines! So we're stopping for a couple of days to play in Tucson. Camping World, one of our "toy stores" is next door to Beaudry's and we want to see a couple of tourist sites.
Both going and coming from Texas I did a few miles of driving - just to keep my hand in, as we say. I don't beg to do it often - it's too much like work! One of our recurring squeaks started yesterday, so we quickly stopped and switched drivers so Chris could go analyze its origin. I kept on the road, and didn't get blown off by the big rigs passing me at 75 mph. Eeek. The rush of air on Toad pushes it to the side for an instant as they pass. Hold on!
It was a wonderful feeling to get back to the dry desert. The last night in San Antonio dumped several inches of rain on us. 
5 Nov 2006
San Antonio, TX
We had a great week in Austin.
-We played with D&V's computers (for someone who designs computer chips and the equipment that makes them, he is awfully ignorant about how to use the little beggars) and made their new e-mail work, we hope.
-We/I started transferring years and years of their 8mm videos onto DVDs for them. I'll do almost anything in exchange for VeAnne's good cooking. Their camera supposedly went on the blink and they couldn't even watch their old videos, so I brought mine to do the job. After arriving and testing it out, theirs worked fine. Hmmm. But I also brought my VHS/DVD recorder with connections in the front or it would never have happened - theirs has connections on the unreachable backside.
-Chris helped Derrel for a few hours as he tries to get the new shed wired and lighted.
We had to rush back to the McKinney Falls RV Park each night before they locked the gates at 10 pm. One night they had to swing them open again for us as we screeched to a halt.
Our mechanical adventure of the week was the short in the car electrics - just after we arrived, it would not shift out of Park. (Unless you set the emergency brake, take off the little cover on top of the steering column, insert your ignition key, move the shift lever to neutral, take out the key, start the engine, shift the gears. Until the next time you put it in park...) Oh, and incidentally, we discovered the same fuse runs the brake lights... My wonderful built-in mechanic finally figured out the electric plug for the motorhome had lost a set screw and was shorting out on the plug cover. I figure that trouble-shooting saved us $300 at Honda.
We received a note this week saying our old neighbors from San Carlos are trying on the full-timing life for size. They've sold their home in the California foothills and are hitting the road in a 5th wheel. We hope they'll come see us in Yuma this winter.
We're in San Antonio at the Admiralty RV Park - clean, nice, close to Sea World, narrow parking spaces. Today we'll go downtown to have lunch with the new cousin; I'm quite excited about it. I'll share family stories and photos and he'll do the same.
Yesterday's genealogy seminar on Palatines put on by the San Antonio Gen & Hist Society was terrific! Hank Z Jones is a noted researcher and marvelous public speaker - even genealogy can be fun.
I've not taken any photos for days and days. No, that's not true - here is one of some of VeAnne's witch collection.
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Meeting our newly-discovered cousin was a terrific rush. He is tall and handsome - has some of the "Wright" look, but not like his dad and grandpa. (But he showed his roots as he told of his upcoming plan to learn to ride Harleys with his son.) We had lunch in downtown San Antonio along the river - we talked, shared photos and family stories. He's promised to send me some of his 'recollections.' Bill is a square-dance addict, much as I'm a family history one - he teaches and is a caller.
Bill knew nothing of our side of the family because his dad died when he was so young and there was no family nearby. It gave me a zing to be able to give him photos of his dad as a child and young man, as well as introduce him to his grandparents and great-grandparents. He followed in his father's footsteps and was career military - his was the Air Force. This was a way-good day!
25 Oct 2006
Kerrville, TX
Okay, so I had to post something about our trip to Texas... We had a nice drive over - stopped in Benson, Arizona at the Butterfield Stage RV, where we had been before. We stopped in Las Cruces, NM at the Hacienda RV, where we had been before. We stopped in Fredericksburg, TX, where we had been before, but not at that park. We came to Kerrville to the Buckhorn Lake Resort, where we have been before. Hmmm. Do you see a pattern here?
I found a Curves in Las Cruces and did my exercises. I found a Curves in Kerrville and did my exercises. No, I haven't lost weight nor inches.
I found a new cousin in San Antonio - Todd gives me a bad time about finding them everywhere. It's true. This one was truly lost. My great uncle William D. Wright's son William K. Wright. He was born when his father was 62 and his dad died when he was 6. His mother remarried and had at least 5 other kids. I found a lady at the local genealogy society who directed me in the right paths and it was a Wow! Happy Dance! when I went to a document that practically gave his ancestry. As Cousin Bill says, this was not a minnow, nor a salmon, but a Whale.
We'll be here for a week and then go to Austin to see Derrel & Ve.
Photos: The serious boondockers have enough solar power to make it last!
The satellite dishes don't all point the same direction - there are lots of satellites to choose from.
The last photo is of our little area at night in the park. I had to climb on the roof in the dark to take it.
27 Sep 2006
Yuma, Arizona
We made it back to our starting spot - we left here last April when it was warming up. Believe me, it's now warm! Over 100 every day this week.
We left Boise last Friday morning, practically moments after Pam got back from her conference. Recent news was that Todd and Trevor were running in the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan on Saturday morning, so we invited ourselves.
Photos: Logan's hills were covered with snow! I had to force Chris to stop.
Photo: Trevor and Todd after the race.
The morning temps in Logan were in the 35 degree range. We put on all our winter clothes and coats to go cheer them on. Todd has been training for 9 months for this race - hoping to qualify for the Boston Marathon. He had been doing great until a couple of weeks ago, when he messed up one knee. We all hoped it survived the race; unfortunately it gave out at mile 19. He was pretty bummed out about it, of course. My attitude is - 19 miles???? Sheesh. Sounds pretty impressive to me.
Photo: Trevor approaching the finish line - he's on the right.
Trevor done good! He finished in 3 hours, 23 minutes and some seconds. Not good enough to qualify for Boston (had to beat 3:10 for that) but came in 132 for the entire race (I think that was the position) - out of 3500 or so runners. We were exceedingly proud!
Photo: Trevor with his finishers medal.
We trucked on down to Fillmore to spend a night before going on to Las Vegas. It was fun to see Gene for dinner and a tour of his new offices, but Brenda was indisposed and couldn't join us. At least we'd seen her in Seattle recently when the new grandbaby was born. We stayed in the posh Outdoor Resorts park in Vegas - way too expensive, but a really nice place and convenient to G&B - and Bass ProShop.
The next day we headed down the last leg of our summer voyage. I even remembered to call ahead for the water and electric turn-ons this year, so we pulled onto the lot as if we belonged. Only Bert & Mikey are in residence so far - last year we were one of the last to arrive.
The house was in fine shape - except for the coating of bugs on the floors. Yikes. Apparently all the bugs in Yuma moved in during the monsoon season this summer. Neri had an exterminator come over a couple of months ago and kill them all - but no one removed the dead bodies.
All my "summerizing" tricks appeared to work - wrapping the toilets in saran wrap, sheets over the furniture and bookshelves, unplugging all the appliances, setting the a/c as high as possible...
We'll be here a couple of weeks is all before we go to Texas for the MotoSat conference and a visit to Derrel & Ve. I hope the bugs don't move back in.
See you next year?
15 Sep 2006
Boise, Idaho
We've been here a couple of weeks and will stay till next weekend. This is a slower, more lay-back visit to Boise than we're used to. When Todd & Lisa & kids departed, the pace slowed down. But Pam & Eric are trying to make up for it. I spent two days this week helping to paint the living room and will put in Grammy Beth 'babysitting' time next week while Pam is in Texas to a Vet's Assistant Conference. This is easy duty, however - after-school supervision for a 7 year old and 15 year old, fix some meals and do some transport.
The weather has been weird - hot, smoky, cold, drizzly... take your pick. It was red alert for several days, with all school sports cancelled. There are a bunch of forest fires in central Idaho.
What else have we done?
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W
e had dinner with Mike and Dawn, which was good. A day or two later Mike gave us the 75-cent tour of the POST (police) academy where he works. We even found my photo on the wall - in the "old days" series of photos.
Photos: Note the car parked near the POST swimming pool - hmmm. The academy has terrific training areas, including a cell block for rowdy visitors.
-Trevor came over and visited one evening. He's finding out how tough it is to live away from the folks, and find a job, and be responsible, and try to fit everything into small amounts of time.
-Chris took Pugs in for an oil change and a radiator clean.
-We borrowed Eric's new parakeet for a few days and tried to make Bubba believe he was a close relative, but it didn't work. The little beggar just bullied Bubba - he looks half the size, but is feisty. We did manage to calm him down and get him used to touch and interaction. He was a stray - found in a city park and taken to Pam's office.
-I borrowed Zuriel's sewing machine and made chair cushions for Pam while I was sitting around also. I almost feel worthwhile. Caitlin and I worked on gourds one day also.
All in all, pretty boring. This is a good thing.
Brothers, Oregon
1 Sep 2006
We stopped for a couple of days in the Portland area - we had to beg for a parking spot! Why don't all these RVers go home???? We ended up on the south side of the Columbia, very convenient to Vancouver, Washington, where Garry & Marcia live. We went out to dinner with them one night and then I spent several hours over his shoulder while he gave lessons on gourd carving, burning and painting. Cool!
Lights, magnification, steady hands, expensive tools, good designs, anyone can do this... His stuff is so impressive. Now he has masks and leaf bowls and new Northwest Indian stuff, in addition to his great Southwestern designs.
The next couple of trips were rough - the antithesis of Alaska. One day was to Salem (50 miles); we stayed a couple of nights while we visited the state capital and went to the Oregon State Fair (a great fair!) - the next leg was to Eugene (50 miles) for just an overnight stay and some checking up on parts and alignments. Okay, so sometimes we don't do 300 mile days.
Photo: Oregon's capital was re-built in the 1930s - hence the art-deco flavor.
Photo: In Oregon, they fence off & pen up the cactus! I don't think we're in Yuma anymore.
While at the Monaco/Beaver factory we ran into Roy and Vicki, one of the couples from the Alaska tour (he was dumpster diving for discarded wood pieces when we saw him. And why should we recognize that end?) We went to dinner with them that night. They are in Eugene for a month - paint and windshield and fix-its from when their coach was new a year or so ago. This is how we know we own a motorhome - there's always something wrong. We did the factory tour also, while we were there. The lady kept prattling about how terrific their QC is. We all chuckled.
Photo: At the fair we saw the most spectacular cow udders we've ever seen. This is but one of a series of photos. They also had a series of milking machines set up, which were interesting to watch. The cows breathed a sigh of relief...
Friday afternoon we started for Boise. The beginning day of a major 3-day holiday. We were pleasantly surprised by the light traffic! We stopped along the road for lunch and picked a pint or two of fresh blackberries from the side of the road. Yum! At their peak. We didn't stop in Bend, instead we went on to the the major metropolis of Brothers. We're spending the night at a rest stop - unless the OSP comes along and boots us. We'll put the satellite down after dark so it doesn't attract them, y'know?, like bugs.
18 Aug 2006
Everett, Washington
We are back where we began the Alaska Trek - actually, we've been here a week already. Leaving Moses Lake was not difficult, not that we want to say bad things about the town.
It was difficult to find a place to stay in Seattle! I seldom call ahead for reservations, but the little bell in my head suggested it might be a good idea in the big city in the peak of the tourist season. Four parks said 'no room at the inn' before I finally found one off Hwy 99 in Everett (north of Seattle proper). There just aren't enough places for the big boys in this area!
This one (Maple Grove) isn't bad, but they definitely didn't waste any space between sites or on road width, let alone the length of the sites. We're clear down at the end, at the bottom of the hill; out from us is the dog walk trail - a hiking/biking trail running between us and the condos/apartments next door. It is lined with blackberry bushes!!! 
Yummmmy blackberries just coming on.
[Photos - upper left - Todd with Eliza & Abigail in front of the Institute; left - the troops relaxing at the beach front on Lake Washington; lower right - Taft paints the entry way corners - we all helped! And yes, it's a split entry... there weren't a lot of choices.]
In the past week we've:
-admired Todd & Lisa's new home,
-helped paint the hall and foyer,
-visited umpteen stores looking for matching towels and shower curtains,
-fixed the garbage can lids so they can be opened from above,
-watched the Raiders win Monday Night pre-season,
-toured Todd's new facility and office,
-watched the drawbridge open,
-cruised the U of W campus,
-cooled our heels & watched the kids play in the water at the lake-front civic club with beach & boat launch (a membership that came with the house),
-fixed Pug's leaking hot water hose going to the shower,
-sent in all our receipts and requests for reimbursements from tow services & tire companies (okay, so we can dream...),
-picked blackberries with the kids for dinner last night (Chris cooked chicken curry and we had blackberries & strawberries over cake for dessert - yummmmy),
-made arrangements to go to dinner with very pregnant Nicole & Travis...
This coming week, we're going to talk everyone into playing tourist. There's so much to see and do here, we need to get started.
[Photo right - Lisa and Taft got to ride the Segway (?) that a guy in the park owns. 'Perfect', as the word is in Seattle.]
My log will wind down now, with only occasional highlights as we travel to Eugene for an alignment and to Boise to see Eric & Pam. (Eric called a week or two ago to announce he is now teaching a class for Boise State Math Dept. Whee! This is way cool.)
Moses Lake, Washington
8 Aug 2006
Well, a week later, we're still here. But we're back in a real RV park with grass and full hook-ups - the same place we were towed from a week ago. Wow, how nice.
The weekend in the RV repair shop yard was quiet - we got financial records caught up, I carved on my diamond willow sticks, we played computer games, we ate dinner at home, we sat. At least we were out of the hotel.
[Photo right: This is what a BIG tow truck looks like! From the price we paid, it appears we may have made this month's payment on it for them.]
The adjuster finally appeared on Monday. The repairs are now mostly done. The airbags will be in Thursday. (What do you mean, "Why weren't they ordered last week????") Friday Chris & I took the brake shoes over to Spokane to get them re-lined and found a couple of other parts while we were there.
As an aside, you might ask why we have to re-line the brakes because we had a blow out? Well, it seems a piece of tire must have flown back, hit the transmission, bounced forward into the parking brake drum, which is on the drive train. It caused a small fire - I saw the smoke from Toad after we started up again on the road & Chris grabbed a fire extinguisher to put it out. The combination of the extinguished goop and the way over-heated rubber did a number on the brake drums and shoes! The next morning, after all had cooled off, the brakes were solidly 'rubberized' and set into place. That was when we called for the big tow truck...
[Photo above left: The mechanic gets into the sewer pipes and valves.]
We called Todd & Lisa tonight to tell them we might be over to visit by the weekend. Yeah, right... don't hold your breath until you see them arrive.
Photo right: The Les Schwab man with the dead tire.
Photo left: It's a long, lonely road in central Washington.
Photo lower middle: Three objects - Pugs is embarrassed - caught with his tires off the ground, the tow truck driver is gleeful and Chris is discouraged.
Moses Lake, WA
2 Aug 2006
Well, we made it back across the border, safe and sound - and Bubba is home free. The lady at the US Customs looked at our 25 of 27 Beavers to Alaska sign and asked "So, where are the first 24?" We told her we had split up and she laughed and sent us on across. No questions asked, even. Cool.
We stopped one night at Cranbrook, BC on the way. That town had bad memories from the last time we went to Alaska. It didn't improve a lot in the re-visit. We stopped by the coal mining and huge slide area on the way over the mountains, though, and that was interesting.
Farragut State Park was our next stop. We've wanted to stay there before, but Barbara & Roland live just down the road a few miles and it seemed impolite. They weren't expecting us for another day, so we pulled in - ignoring the signs that said "camp full" on Saturday afternoon. Not only did they have spots available, the one we got was terrific! And both satellites worked!! They have a new area built more for big rigs. The trees are farther apart... We really like the park as we drove around and explored it. If you were in shape, I suppose you'd have hiked around and explored it. We went to dinner in Bayview and had prime rib and fish & chips at a waterfront table. Cool.
We only stayed a couple of days with Chris' cousin Barbara & husband - and her daughter Victoria was visiting, who is one of my favorites. 
They have a family home for disabled boys/men - mentally and/or physically. They have 4 kids with them right now, in addition to their 3 dogs, cat, 7 horses and 2 fish. We get to back up next to the house and relax when we're there - watching them work. They've constructed a barn and now stables and fenced much of it since we were there first. They also just bought a new/used motorhome - only 25 feet long and well beat up, but they enjoy camping with the boys. This replaces an old Winnebago they've used for a couple of years. While we were there Chris put his magic fingers to work and made 4 of their computers function again. Some were purchased from ebay and totally wiped, some had died (but not gone to heaven). 
He was quite proud of himself - and so was I. Tenacity, perserverance and skill.
Then we headed for Seattle. Unfortunately, we didn't make it yet. Along the way from Fort Nelson we had looked for a matching front tire to the one replaced in the blow out. No one had it, so we planned to wait till the states and try in either Seattle, or go clear to Eugene, where we will also get an alignment. Well, the driver's side one decided to blow just outside a little town in central Washington. How does 5 days in Moses Lake sound? 
As we repair the wheel well (no welders in the camp this time), the sewer connections, wait for a new tire to come in (they didn't have one either, but put on an expensive 'loaner'), and check for other damage. The RV repair shop here appears to be okay. We'll see.
26 July 2006 (Happy Birthday, Eliza!)
Cardston, Alberta, Canada
Todd says I find relatives tucked into corners wherever we go. Well, there are kissin' cousins in Cardston! Morgan & Alma and Byron & Edna live here, all of them in their late 70s and early 80s. The brothers are also descended from my great-great grandfather Thomas Woolsey (1805 - 1897). Okay, so it puts our relationship a bit distant, but that's cool. (The exact calculation is "half 2nd cousin, 1 time removed." I'm not sure I knew that designation existed...) I've been emailing with their daughter & she alerted the folks - we were invited to stop for some family time. [Photos: left above - the huge fields around here grow fantastic yields of hay, which are then baled into these gigantic 1400 lb rolls. All 4 of the Wolsey cousins were raised out on the prairie outside of Cardston. right above: visiting cousin Sarah - Morgan, Sarah, Alma, Byron and Beth. Sarah had a great collection of old photos we looked thru. lower right: Morgan's old truck - the family bought it new way back in 1940!]
We've toured cemeteries, seen the old rolling grain fields of home up close, visited cousin Sarah at the nursing home, admired Morgan's restored 1940s truck, wandered through the House of Miniatures Museum & the Card's old home (where Alma & Morgan were married many years ago), and attended Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - live - at the local movie theater/live playhouse.
Cardston has a very nice little municipal campground with full hookups and one site even made the internet possible (after much trying and many swear words.)
Cardston is southwest of Lethbridge on the way to Waterton and Glacier Parks. On clear days you can see the huge range of mountains from here, but it's been hazy. [photo left: a painting of the Wolsey farm and Chief Mountain in the background.]
The population is about 3500 - probably 90% Mormon - it was settled in the late 1800s by Utah people, including some of my shirt-tale relatives. 
Grandpa & Grandma Miner spent a couple of years up here while he did construction on the St. Marys canal, which still is around. [photo right: Morgan and Byron - super new family finds, we really liked these people!]
Tomorrow night we're joining the family for a bbq at their home, Friday we'll head west and south. Cousin Barbara called today & said Victoria will be at their north Idaho home over the weekend, so we'll hurry things up a bit in order to see her.
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