Our 28th Wedding Anniversary - Crescent Lake

Happy Anniversary to us!!! Who would have thought that on August 30, 1982 we would be celebrating our 28th anniversary in Washington state?????? What a special gift to the both of us.
We said goodbye to Diane, Brent, and Harley and made our way down scenic Route 101 passing through the Olympic National Park and Forest. One of the prettiest sights we encountered was Crescent Lake. Crescent Lake is another glacier lake with gleaming blue/green waters set against the backdrop of mountains. There were several scenic turnoffs large enough to accommodate our coach and tow car. So we took the opportunity to spend a little time on one of the beaches. Sammy loved exploring in the sand and foliage while Lee decided to cast a fishing line into the lake. I had to take a picture of him...how peaceful and content he was......another Anniversary gift!!!
For "Twilight" fans, you will be very jealous of us since we passed through the town of Forks which is the home of the Twilight Saga!!!
We arrived at a little KOA campground called Bay Center/Willapa Bay. We had a pretty little site and were able to enjoy a celebratory glass of wine outside. It was a very relaxing day for us. It was a good thing, Martha Stewart!!

Life in BLOOM

WOW!!! What an incredible home!!!!! Situated on Puget Sound, the Bloom home had panaramic water views from every room!!!! It boasted of beautifully terraced landscaping on the outside. The open concept interior with its oversized windows allowed for natural lighting which only added to the spectacular experience. The multi level decking facing the water gave the spectator the pleasure of watching boats and cruise ships pass by while in the distance views of Mt. Rainer added another incredible dimension. One could not help but be mesmerized with this remarkable home. Kudos to the Blooms for what they have created with a little help from "mother nature"!!
We all enjoyed a fabulous breakfast of fruit, yogurt, and, of course, the incredible Sluy's caramel nut rolls. Then the guys headed out to a casino while Patricia and I took the ferry to Seattle to visit the one and only Pike's Public Market. On the ferry, it was fun to see The Needle (which always reminds me of the television show Frasier). Once we arrived, we entered the world of the public market which was filled with fresh produce, fresh flowers, fresh fish, and crafts. What a place!!! One of the fish markets is known for their "flying fish" which has to do with when a customer orders a fish, it is thrown through the air to the person behind the counter to prepare as ordered. Unfortunately, there were no flying fish happening while we waited so we continued to walk through the throngs of people shopping and enjoying their Saturday shopping ritual. We passed the original Starbucks whose signage is different from the logo you normally find on their products. This original logo says "coffee, tea, spices". I had to take a picture of it. Did you know that Starbucks originated in Seattle?? Did you also know that Nordstom's orignated here too??? Now I knew why I just loved this place; coffee and shopping!!!!!! Works for me!!!
Lee and I decided that we would stay another night. We just could not get enough of the Blooms and their home. I helped Patricia with dinner and we all sat down to an epicurean delight of lamb with basil and sun dried tomato, rice, and asparagus. The entire dinner was cooked in her "steam" oven. What a great invention - cooking everything with steam. The oven itself looked like a microwave. I was completely fascinated. After dinner, Patricia and I made a lemon pudding cake for dessert using the steam oven cooking process. Yummy, yummy, yummy!!!
We knew we had to leave the next day but were so grateful to our dear friends for sharing their beautiful surroundings with us. They were the consummate hosts and we look forward to reciprocating when they visit us in Maine.

We've Got Crabs!!!!

Well, Lee and Brent went fishing again for the day while Diane and I visited the little town of Poulso; a Norwegian Village with unique gift shops, galleries, and a spectacular bakery called Sluy's. I made three purchases; one at the bakery for their caramel cinnamon nut rolls for breakfast, a "raku" fired rattle in the shape of a heart with dragonflies on the front and back from the Potlatch Gallery, and a baby gift from Possum's Boutique for my nephew and his wife who are having their first baby next month. The rattle was purchased for its "unique" properties of ensuring blessings all around which I felt was most appropriate considering some of our challenges during the last few weeks. The ancient Japanese raku firing process had been adapted so that the unpredictable color patterns would be created. I just love the piece!!!
On our way home, Diane called Brent to see if they were successful fishing. As it turned out, they didn't catch any salmon but did catch enough Dungeness Crabs which we would be having for dinner. Our mutual friends from Florida, Patricia and Raphael Bloom were joining us for the crab boil later in the day. What an incredible dinner - crab, potatoes, corn on the cob, and kielbasa. I must have personally consumed about 15 crab legs which were delicious. The meat was very sweet and have to admit that I preferred it over lobster (sorry about that Maine!!!!). Patricia had baked a homemade apple pie which topped off the eating extravaganza.
After dinner, Lee and I packed up some clothes and Sammy in the Jeep and followed the Blooms to their new home in Kingston to spend the night. They had just finished building their dream home and we couldn't wait to see it. All I can say is that nothing could have prepared us for the sight we were about to see!!!!!!!!

Sonny's RV

Today was another interesting day in the life of the Griswolds. Originally we had a 10:00am appointment at Sonny's RV. So Lee and I went for breakfast at a sweet little place called The Chimacum Cafe. We definitely had what I would call a "truckers' breakfast" and it was sooooo delicious. I could only eat half of mine so I took the rest home for tomorrow. The cafe was just they type of place that my dear hi-four girls and I would get together over coffee and schmooz for hours (until the lunch crowd would come in!!) It was a Bagels and Things experience for me. I know that my girls will understand this reference. At any rate, Lee got a phone call that our service appointment would be delayed for about an hour which gave us even more time to enjoy the ambience of what could be my most favorite place so far.
When it was time to bring the coach in, Sammy and I (and all our "stuff") went to stay with Diane. While Diane was creating wonderful jewelry with soda can tops (and that is all I am going to say!!!!!), I was busy on my computer. We wound up having lunch with the guys since the appointment was delayed even further. So Brent drove us to Port Gamble where we enjoyed a lovely lunch in the General Store. We once again had some nice views even though it was wicked overcast and rainy at times.
Once Lee picked up the coach (after lunch) complete with eight new 12 volt batteries (which set us back a few pennies), Sammy and I returned to our "home" and settled in for the rest of the night. Before I end this post, I do want to say that when we got back to our site, Lee found that one of our jack hydraulic seals was leaking which now needs to be addressed. In addition, our refrigerator door would not close (thank goodness Lee had purchased additional clips just in case). When all else fails, one needs to put a sign on the door that says "Gone Fishin" and that is just exactly what Lee and Brent are going to do tomorrow.

Chimacum, Washington

Well, I wanted to recap a little with some pictures of Diane and Brent's beautiful outdoor living space. They have a wonderful sitting area with a umbrella table and four chairs surrounded by beautiful greenery and flowers. They have their own private paradise right here.
Yesterday, Lee and Brent spent the morning doing some more trouble shooting with the battery situation while awaiting a phone call from the service center telling us that the new batteries had arrived. Unfortunately, it was about 2:30pm before we found out that we were going to have to wait until the next day. So....Lee and Brent went fishing for salmon and crab and Diane and I went shopping in downtown Port Townsend.
There were art galleries and funky stores which I just adored. I found a black t-shirt for Lee that had a white treble on it. The saying on it was "Here Comes Treble" which I thought was perfect for Lee to wear when he is rehearsing for his concerts. Apart from that, I mostly window shopped and enjoyed the waterfront.
The four of us met back at the resort and made plans for dinner. Sadly, the water was too rough for salmon fishing, so they put out the "crab pots" which will be picked up either Thursday or Friday for a crab boil on Friday night. Crabbing is very similiar to catching lobsters with traps. Once they enter, they cannot get out (gee, sounds like those roach motels!! ha ha ha)
We had a wonderful dinner at "T's". While we were driving, the full moon was rising above the water. Diane had to take a picture and I'm glad she did.
Well despite our morning disappointment, we made the best of our beautiful day. Hopefully we will be able to resolve our coach issues tomorrow!!! Wish us luck!!

Back in the USA

 

Today we entered the United States through the Peace Arch Border Crossing. The arch which is pictured above has words at the top which say "Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity" and words at the bottom which say "May These Gates Never Be Closed". I thought that this was very meaningful and wanted to share it with you. Once we crossed the border we were on our way to the Port Townsend Ferry which would take us to Chimacum, Washington. The ferry ride was about 30 minutes and was a refreshing change of travel for us. Imagine, sitting in the motorcoach and traveling without driving. Pretty sweet!! Upon arriving in Port Townsend, we were just about 20 minutes from our friends Diane and Brent who were waiting for us at their home at the Evergreen Coho Resort. Upon our arrival, we saw Diane and Brent walking towards the office. Perfect timing!! We got to our motorcoach site and then enjoyed a wonderful evening with our friends. Dinner was fabulous; we were treated to grilled sock-eye salmon(I believe that Brent caught the fish himself)and finished with peach cobbler. Diane, I was hard pressed not to take some home for breakfast!!! We are looking forward to making some wonderful memories during our stay here. It just doesn't get any better than this!!

Vancouver, BC

We arrived at our campground in Vancouver in the early afternoon which was great. We had a full hookup site with 30 amps. After we settled the coach in its new home for two days, we just decided to take it easy. Lee was busy on the phone making arrangements with an RV service in Seattle, WA to order new batteries. It was time!!! We would also be able to have them check out the generator as well. I made Lee his long awaited breakfast or shall I say brunch and then headed to bed for what I thought was a nap. It turned out that I slept through the entire afternoon, woke up to brush my teeth, and then went back to bed for the night. I guess I was a little tired.
The next day, Lee and I woke up to a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the temperature was perfect. It was going to be a great day for sightseeing in the city and that is just what we did. We bought an all day travel pass and took a bus to the train which brought us to the waterfront in downtown Vancouver. We arrived around lunch time and found a perfect restaurant on the water called Aqua Riva. We had a table by a window which overlooked the port. A cruise ship was docked which reminded us of all the cruises we had taken especially the one to Alaska which departed from Vancouver. We cruised with David and Michael and had a blast. Where does the time go????
After lunch, we walked around the downtown area only to decide to go back and walk along the waterfront. We passed beautiful parks and fountains. We found a park bench and watched the sea planes take off and land. We watched all the young families, young couples, and cyclists. We looked out on the marina. It was just beautiful. This area was all abuzz with people enjoying the outdoors. It was perfect.
Tomorrow we are returning to the states. Next stop, Chimacum, Washington to visit our dear friends Diane and Brent Roulier!! Can't wait!!!

Kamloops, British Columbia

Well here we were at another Walmart. After driving another 300+ miles, we were ready to settle in for a good night. And we did.
It was the morning which made us a little anxious. And do you know why??? Give a guess....sounds like BATTERIES!!!
Lee woke up first as usual and went to start the generator with the auxillary start like he has been doing and this time nothing happened. Our battery levels once again showed low charge. Lee tried again, no go. So Lee turned on the coach engine hoping that this effort would charge the batteries. The level remained the same. This was not a good situation. We had no "juice" as they say or very little of it. We unplugged everything we had and realized that we had to get moving. So....we just threw on our clothes and readied the coach. Then we realized that two of our slides worked on electricity. Would we have enough to close the slides so we could leave??? Once again our guardian angel was with us. We were able to bring the slides in, but very slowly. Now we were off to Vancouver which was just about three hours away. However, with no morning coffee, this was not a pretty ride!!!

Lake Louise, Banff

We woke up to what we thought was extreme fog and haze in the mountains. We figured it would burn off by the time we headed off to Lake Louise. Well, we found out that it wasn't fog, but smoke coming from fires in British Columbia - what a shame- there were times when we could barely see the outlines of the mountains as we drove along. BUT....we are glad to say that it was a simply magnificent vision to behold when we came upon Lake Louise; Breathtaking Lake Louise nestled between two mountains separated by a glacier. The water was a gorgeous turquoise blue which looked a little milky when you stood close to the water. We read that this phenomenon resulted from the rock flour which stays suspended for quite a time. Rock flour, also known as glacier flour, consists of finely ground rock particles produced by glacier abrasions which actually give Lake Louise its emerald and blue color depending on how the light hits the surface; AMAZING!!
You really felt that you were in the presence of something divine. It was quite a spiritual experience.
Lee and I found a park bench near the Chateau Fairmont Hotel overlooking the lake and had our lunch. When the sun came out, it warmed our bodies and filled us with the most blissful and tranquil feelings. I think we must have sat there for a couple of hours entranced.
When we did leave and were driving back, we did see our first bit of wildlife on the road. It was a massive elk. Yippee!!! Finally something other than cows and horses. I knew it would happen. What a great day!!
Tomorrow we will be heading to Kamloop. British Columbia slowly making our way back to the United States.

Canmore, Alberta, Canada

The backdrop of the Spring Creek Campground in Canmore was just incredible. Surrounded by mountains, it offered magnificent views. The mountains behind Lee are called the Three Sisters. The campground itself was okay; nothing to write home about. We were just delighted to sit down in one place for a few days especially with a full hookup. Yippee!! Long hot showers after 4 days of dry camping. The next day, we decided to take a scenic drive to find some wildlife which apparently was everywhere. We were excited to see moose, deer, bears, horned rimmed sheep, etc. So with maps in hand and a picnic lunch, Lee, Sammy, and I got into the Jeep and got started. The beginning of the scenic route was on a highway (40) which Lee didn't appreciate because it forced us to travel at higher speeds than what we wanted. We did turn off the road to explore "The Widow Maker" trail which led to a river where people in kayaks were practicing their skills since the river was very rough in this spot. It was fascinating to see them capsize then flip themselves back up. A friend of theirs was taking photos and then followed them down river to their next meeting place. We returned to the car and then Lee noticed a gravel road turnoff which lead to Powderface Trail and we took that. Despite the fact that we weren't finding any wildlife here either, we just continued to drive and drive and drive. We found ourselves on a neverending gravel road leading up and down the mountains. It went on and on and on!!! At certain turns, there weren't even any guardrails and the dropoff was pretty scary (Thank you, Lee, for your expert driving). Well, after what seemed like hours, we finally came to a highway which led us back to our campground. Phew!! So much for the scenic tour. Oh well...there will be more opportunities, I'm sure, to see wildlife. Now all we wanted to do was clean up and go into Canmore for some dinner. We chose The Grizzly Paw (the closest thing to wildlife we ever going to find)which was a pub and brewery. We, of course, sampled one of their home brews(Rutting Elk Red) and each of us had a hamburger (Lee actually had a bison burger!!). After 60oz of beer, I daresay, we were quite content. We went back to the coach and settled in for the rest of the evening. All and all, it was quite the day!!!!

Off to Saskatchewan, Canada

Well, we did stop at Capital RV Center in Minot and the technicians checked our batteries and they tested fine. What was going on here????? Lee later surmised that being hooked up to shore power had prejudiced the results(read future posts!!)
At any rate, we were on our way to Saskatchewan, Canada. As we traveled along , the countryside began to change. There were more rolling hills and valleys other than just flat farmland. There were many grain processing plants along the railroad tracks which made sense for the ease of transporting the grain. There were fields and fields of wheat swaying in the breeze as well as fields of magnificent sunflowers. What a sight!!! Also alongside the roads you could see bales and bales of hay. We had seen cows and horses grazing in the fields. We had beautiful weather and our appreciation for the incredible hard work that is required to be a farmer humbled us. Wow!!! I think I will look at my food a little differently from now on!!!! We will be staying at another Walmart tonight;getting closer I hope to a full hookup in our future.

The Carts are Coming, the Carts are Coming....

Well, we pulled into a Walmart in Ironwood, MI. We were settling in nicely having a delightful dinner when all of a sudden, we heard a loud crash and it sounded like someone had crashed into our tow car. Lee and I ran outside only to find that a Walmart Grocery Cart had slammed into our coach (it was very very windy yesterday.) Thank goodness it didn't scratch or dent our coach but it hit us so hard that it shattered the lug nut protective covering on two of the lug nuts. Thank you Guardian Angels for looking out for us.
After we recovered from that shock, we hoped that we would not have any repeats of runaway Walmart carts attacking us in the middle of the night. Wouldn't you know that because of a heavy storm with very strong winds in the middle of the night, Lee looked out our window and noticed that all the carts were being brought into the building. Thank you..thank you...thank you..apparently the wind was whipping up something awful with rain last night (of course, I slept through it!!)
Well morning came way too fast for us and Lee tried the start the generator only to find our batteries had a "fair" charge. He used the auxillary button and got the generator started and told me that we will have to find an RV Service Center so we can replace some of our batteries. As we traveled on Route 2 again towards our next stop, Crookston, Minnesota, I found an RV Service Place in Minot, North Dakota which would be a good place to stop. Tomorrow morning we will call over to see if they would have time to help us. There is another Walmart or possibly a campground where we can stay overnight in that area.
On the road today, we saw quite a few little towns. It was pretty uneventful. There were two interesting places which I could not capture on film, but I have to tell you about. First, we passed by a place called Grizz Works which had a tremendous assortment of handcrafted wood animals and other object for sale. Of course, the name Grizz, caught my eye but before you knew it we had passed it by and couldn't take a picture.
The other sign which caught my interest was one that said Pottery and along side it it said See Barb's Jugs. Well, that brought a chuckle to Lee and me and I told him I would talk about it in my blog. And I did.
We arrived in Crookston, MN for the night. Wish us luck tomorrow so we can have the coach taken care of so we don't have to stay two nights in Minot, ND.

Fabulous Route 2 North

We were sorry to leave Hearthside Grove today, but we spent an enjoyable driving day on scenic Route 2 North up to Ironwood, Michigan. Funny enough, on route to Ironwood, we actually left Michigan, went into Wisconsin, and then came back into Michigan. As we left Mackinac City early on in our trip, we drove on the beautiful Mackinac Bridge. It was a shame that it was overcast but what beautiful views you have when it is sunny. We were told by someone on the ferry that on July 4th, they close down one lane of the bridge so people can walk across it.
As we drove along, Lee and I admired the beautiful lakes with their beaches, numerous golf courses which Lee especially liked since the land was pretty flat and level, and the little towns along the way. One particular town, Crystal Falls, caught my attention. As we passed through, I noticed a sign which read "Fungus Fest". I couldn't resist and had to take a picture through the windshield. I couldn't stop laughing. This was a hoot. What could a Fungus Fest be??? I wish we could have found out!! Oh well!!! I may have to google it when I have a chance. I think I might have to make it my mission to photograph as many bizarre signs as I can. I just have to have my camera ready.
Well, we are pretty tired this evening and I am going to make us some dinner. So, bye for now.

Petoskey Stones and Tunnel of Trees

Today was an interesting day in the Griswold household. If anyone of you out there has ever tried to reconnect your Direct TV boxes in your motorcoach, you will appreciate Lee's frustration with trying to figure out all the connections. So we made arrangements with Ranch RV in Alanson, MI (7 miles from Petoskey) to have their Cable Guy reinstall our two boxes. This meant having to leave our site at Hearthside Grove and leave our coach with them for however long it would take them to assist us. So off we went with Sammy in tow at around 9:30 this morning. This worked out very well for us since we had wanted to take the road (M119) which would took us through the Tunnel of Trees. Yes, most of this road was covered with an umbrella of overhanging branches of trees which created a most delightful pathway for bicyclists and motorists alike. A lot of the terrain reminded us of Maine. Along the way we stopped at Sturgeon Bay, and took a pathway to the beach where Sammy had loads of fun romping in the sand. Note the picture of Lee and Sammy!!!
By the time we finished with our trip, it was time to pick up the coach. Yippee!!! We want to give a special thank you to Damian, Mark, and especially Dan for helping us with our coach today. If anyone needs any motorcoach assistance in upper Michigan, Ranch RV is the place to go!!! You guys are the best!!!
One thing I forgot to mention in a previous blog was the fact that Petoskey is the home of the Petoskey Stone. Now, a Petoskey Stone is a tetracoral (colony coral); "Hexagonoria" is its scientific name. This fossilized coral was formed during the Devonian Age, approximately 350 million years ago. When polished, many beautiful colors and designs are revealed. Marge had taken me to Lake Michigan Rock-Gem where I was introduced to Josephine Van Avery. Josephine sold me a polished stone and had given me a stone that was unpolished. It is amazing to see the difference. I hope my photo does it justice(the one on the left is the unpolished stone!!)
Well, we will be taking off tomorrow. I am not quite sure where we will be stopping overnight but I am sure it will be an adventure. Thanks to Marge and Hearthside for their hospitality. It was a wonderful respite from the "road"!!!

Somewhere In Time

When Lee and I watched the movie Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, we had expressed a desire to see The Grand Hotel where the movie was made. I remember looking at the movie credits to see where this hotel was located and saw that it was on Mackinac Island in Michigan. To tell you the truth, I never thought that we would ever go there in a million years.................. or so I thought!!!!
Well today was the day and it didn't take a million years. Today we took the ferry from Mackinaw City (about 30 minutes north of Petoskey) to Mackinac Island.
It was like taking a trip into the past. The surrounding Victorian homes were just gorgeous with their expansive flower gardens. Only Horse and Buggies and bicycles are allowed on the island; absolutely no motorized vehicles. So Lee and I walked up to the Grand Hotel. We were able to see the hotel from the ferry as we approached the island but nothing could prepare us for what we saw up close. The Grand Hotel is an amazing piece of living history which keeps in touch with the present but always reminding you of the past..... the velvet couches, the wallpapers, the sconces, the pictures, the lamps, the silver. I could go on and on. Even though we were allowed to wear comfortable casual clothing, I have to admit that this environment warranted more formal attire at all times; not just in the evening as the hotel requires. Wow!!!
We purposely arrived in time for their renowned Grand Luncheon Buffet in the main dining room. Talk about GRAND. What a selection of food!!!! I really wished that I had a bigger appetite since there was so much choose from. I did, however, indulge with dessert. How could I resist a mini cannoli with chocolate chips and a mini fruit tart?? It was worth all the calories since it added to the entire dining experience.
After lunch, Lee and I took a tour of the hotel. There were so many rooms for people to gather and talk; the parlor level being one of them. The hotel boasts of a large front porch with chairs overlooking the gardens. There was an art exhibit in one area; they have a theater; a library; they have a numerous bar areas; one of which is the Cupola Bar located at the top of the hotel. It used to be an open space but now it is enclosed and has a two sitting areas. The views from this bar is, of course, just awesome!!
When we returned downstairs to the parlor level, they were getting ready for Afternoon Tea which consisted of champagne, sherry, coffee, tea, petit fours, mini sandwiches, etc. It was a shame that we couldn't stay since we had a ferry to catch and had little Sammy waiting for us. Where did the afternoon go??? It was like a dream. All I can say is that we had a magical experience that will remain forever Somewhere In Our Time!!!