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Published: August 4th 2005
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All in a days work
Dont worry Mum it really is very safe up here Well, its all falling into place, after spending the afternoon watching a volcano grow I am now in a truck stop rest station cooking supper & Graeme is playing his newly acquired guitar. The last volcano I walked / crawled up (Ecuador) I remember thinking “once is probably enough” but this was American style and all very civilised.
Luckily the "James" disaster affect did not occur and the volcanos current state is still "on alert" but not very active. They have closed the close up treking trails though,
So a quick update on our travels.
First of all don’t think its all a holiday here, in fact there doesn’t yet appear to be a spare moment in the day. See pictures of me at work.
On the way to the coast we stopped for our last tax free shopping spree ( no purchase tax in Oregon) One important remaing item required was to purchase bikes, well how is this for service?
Eugene is a fair sized city but we thought we would try and go shopping in the rig.
We had been given an address of a bike shop in the old town, so putting the
Another job to do
putting the bike on is easy, its the cover that took hours address into our best new gadget (satellite navigation, the left/right problem was to ingrained to overcome, and you can only do so many U turns in a 39ft bus and still be speaking) off we set. It took us straight to the shop and there happened to be 2 parking meter spaces outside. I went into the shop to ask if it would be OK to park there ( a 39ft bus!!) the lady said “ That’s fine honey” and promptly gave me the money for the meter(s) We went in, chose 2 bikes & all the necessary items, helmets, lights, bike rack etc, they attached all the bits including rack to RV, gave us some water bottles and a lock and off we went.
Well our beautiful new bikes soon looked like nothing on earth, let alone the rig. We came across some unexpected road works and did our first off roading!! Probably not to be recommended (see picture)
One day I will find out how to insert photos into the text as I go, (if there are any bloggers out there reading this who have that information please let me know )
The next purchase
RV Off roading
Perhaps not the best thing to do, everything was covered in a thick reddish dust
was covers for the bikes. Simple you think, so did I. We found said covers at Camping World, all very easy, however the
2 1/2 hours it took us to work out how to put the thing on was at best worth a generation game slot.
Various people came along, looked vaguely interested and continued to do their shopping. The fact we were still there on return was cause for conversation.
The last laugh was, just as we had it sussed (or improvised,) one couple came along really pleased as they had just purchased the last cover and were off to pop it on….. They may well still be there. NB we haven’t actually taken it off again yet.
So from Eugene we headed to the Oregon coast which was beautiful We stopped along the coast to see the sea lions and when we stayed at an RV park in an isolated place called Netarks they watched us. We trekked through the rainforest to see the most outstanding view point however it was completely obscured by mist. It cleared fleetingly and I managed to get a snap of the coastline. ( picture)
We stayed in our first 5
Oregon Coast
fleeting glimps of coastline star resort in Newport ( not that much better than a truck stop but the neighbours are posher) see picture of a Provost RV. They make ours look like a small matchbox toy.
We then headed into Portland as Graeme’s friends were in town. They are working on the Mark Knoffler tour. So not only was it great for Graeme to catch up with them but we got 3rd row tickets for the show, which was superb. Thanks, much appreciated.
The audience were interesting; a cross between Happy days & The Simpsons came to mind.
Graeme was obviously encouraged as he purchased a guitar next day.
We have spent the last few days in Mount Rainier National Park which is truly beautiful. We stayed in a lovely site where the Deer roamed past your rig.
The guy who owned it was going mad as he kept recieving Deer hunting magazines to give to his customers!!
There are some very scary shops here,. You can find something or someway to kill any type of creature that walks this earth ( & some that may yet arrive) Assistants in the supermarkets keep trying to get me to try sample
foods which are very convienient to take hunting, shooting, fishing. I have not yet taken up a discussion with them but soon......
You can buy tiny camouflage outfits for toddlers!! I know which I would shoot ( only joking)
Anyway I digress, we took a walk to the snow line of Mount Rainier and hit the few weeks when the sub alpine flowers bloom. I thought I was in Austria and expcted Julie Andrews to appear at any moment
We are currently parked in the Yakama Nation (native indian) resort where you can stay in a teepee. Its great all mod cons, pool, hot tub, internet (hense blog), casino and vineyards. It is the first time we have extended everything in the rig, all slides & awnings and got the chairs out.
Asit is the first time we will stay anywhere for a few days we will eventually sort some things out and clean & polish the rig!!. We have given it a bit of a battering over the last few days.
We are then off to Seattle for about a week and will meet up with Graemes Uncle.
The RV is beginning to look a
maybe next?
These are the ultimate bus, about $1,250,000. Ours looked like a little toy next to it. Its all a bit Vegas though. bit more like home (a mess) but the perfect encouragement to put things away is that it all falls on the floor on sharp bends if you don’t. I am developing new skills that would enable me to be an air hostess on return ( if I liked flying , was taller and not so old) as I can now serve drinks, keep food on plates and pack overhead lockers whilst travelling.
Will write again when had more adventures and ihave internet connection.
Moi XX
Most bizarre item of week ….. back pack for dogs…. see photo ,what’s that all about?
Although early on in trip have probably seen the most unlikely Elvis…..
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julia
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Hi!
Hi - free tickets to Mark Knoffler - you jammy buggers! obviousely am not even sure who he is but anyway! The Womad festival in reading (World music and dance)was fab - full of all sorts old, young, new born, crumbly, I got called a lovely little trinket by vanessa feltz - best mates now!! Also got attacked by a (male)fairy - honestly, bloke in tutu, glitter tights etc would have been scary as had really hairy armpits and I initially thought it was a woman, so felt much better (strangely) that it was a man. He covered me in glitter - not usually a problem but he was not selective in his area of coverage!! Am still finding bits now. Drags and I are good - have just purchased an orange (yes orange) suede (so sensible) corner sofa!! Was an absolute bargain but am pleased as we managed to make a decision we both agree on at last!! You know what I mean. Anyway chaps - big love, keep sending the reports back as I love reading them, the mountain flowers were lovely - wish I could see something like that. Keep safe and lots of love. Ju xxx