Travel Inn, Elma, WA to Tall Chief, Fall City, WA

Monday, we were glad the rain had stopped. It was moving day. We packed up and headed north on I5 for our 119 mile drive to Elma, WA.

We got off I5 and onto Hwy 12 West for a short time and arrived at the Travel Inn in Elma at about 1:00 PM. I didn't check on the park's arrival time, like I usually do and found out that the check in time wasn't till 2:00 PM. We sat on a little bench, in the glorious sunshine, till an office worker showed up. We didn't wait too long, and soon were setting up in space 15.

This was the first park we stayed in after hitting the road full time back on Sept 5, 2013.

We were only spending 1 night here, but we got all set up, did a couple loads of laundry, and sat outside and did a little reading.

Weather was perfect. BTW, I am reading a book I picked up at the Goodwill store. It is a travel book about various driving tours in the Northeast. We hope to do some of that next October, during the Fall colors time.

Tuesday morning, bright and early, we headed out the 105 mile move to Fall City, WA. We pulled out right at 9:00 AM. This worked out perfectly. The traffic wasn't bad at all. You have to watch the times you travel on I5 when going through Olympia, Joint Base Lewis McCord, and Tacoma. We hit them at just the right times. We skirted Seattle on I-405 and onto I-90 to Issaquah, and to the Tall Chief RV Resort.

This is a RPI park and nice and secluded. The RPI price is only $11.00 a day.
Our site, number 73.

The plan is to do 6 nights here. Our son Tim, and his wife Shannon just live down the road in Bothell, and we can't wait to see them and our grandson Roman. And while we were away, during Donna's leg break, Ryker was born. Now after about 5 months, we get to meet him too.
We headed to their house at 4 PM. Traffic sucked, but the visit didn't.

Ryker is such a sweetie. Donna couldn't put him down.

Rome was 'crazy' happy to see us. Him and I caught up 'real' fast.

We had a nice dinner that Shannon made, and we visited the rest of the evening.
Tim looks kinda happy... don' you think?

They just sold their house after being listed for just 1 day, and I will be helping Tim fix a few things before the buyer's inspection this Thursday. Then in a couple of weeks, we will help them move.

Tomorrow, we 'play' some more.

Vancouver, WA - Family Time

We all went to Pita Pit for lunch. This is a first time there for Donna and I. I had a Philly Cheesesteak pita thingy. It was good.

After a good visit with our youngest daughter, Kim, she left to drive back to Pasco. She works at Amazon and had to be back to work Friday. We will see more of her while in Washington.

Our oldest daughter, Candy, took Friday off from her work at a hospital in Portland, to spend some time with us.

Candy took Donna to get a mani-pedi. This was a late birthday present from her birthday last month. They had a great time.

While they were doing some girlie stuff, I drove down south on I-5 to a Camping World in Wilsonville. It was time to do something about our banged up Dish Network satellite dish.

It has fallen over one too many times and was in sad shape. The LNB was taped to hold it together and the arm joint had broken, so I used string to hold the arm up to the correct orientation. It was getting kinda tricky to get it set up and working correctly.

I took the plunge and bought a Tailgater. This automatically finds the satellites and locks in on them.

Works pretty slick. Set up will be a little easier now.

Heading back to Vancouver, I took a detour through Portland to the Willamette National Cemetery.

My Uncle Dale was buried there and I wanted to visit and take a few photos for the genealogy section of my web site (www.thefergs.com).

I hadn't seen my Aunt Ruth & Uncle Dale for many, many years and I had planned on going to a family reunion back in Sept of 2012. I had to cancel because I broke my back. He passed Nov of 2012. I did get to visit my Aunt Ruth and some cousins on our trip south and again on the trip back north to WA.

The Willamette National Cemetery is huge and very well cared for. I stopped at a Gravesite Locator terminal and looked him up and even printed out a map. After getting lost a few times, I finally located him.

Dale was a Marine and served in WWII in the South Pacific. He served with my Dad. My son Tim was also a Marine. I was in the Army.

After the war, they came back to the states and married sisters. How cool is that.

He has been very active with USMC groups and activities. Like they say - "Once a Marine, always a Marine". This rang true with him.

He is buried between an Army guy and a Navy guy.

Rest In Peace Uncle Dale.... OOh Rah!

Later that evening we had dinner at Candy's house. Her friend Mike came over and we had a delicious Salmon dinner.

Saturday, Candy drove us around Portland. We drove by a place called VooDoo Donuts. It looked interesting, but they were too busy, so we passed and went to Lloyd Center.

It is a very, very large shopping mall.

We walked our legs off and did a lot of looking. They have an indoor ice skating rink on the lower level. I used to play hockey as a kid (about a hundred years ago) and was tempted.

Maybe some day....

Donna picked up a cute little pet bed for our cat, Rumble Bunny. Candy bought some jewelry. And we also picked up some Cinnabons for later.

That evening, Candy and Mike came to our RV and Donna made a big pot of chili. Candy made a salad and corn muffins. A yummy dinner.

And a Cinnabon for dessert.

Good times!

Seaside, OR and on to Vancouver, WA

Tuesday, Apr 1, we explored the area around Seaside. As we left the park, there were a couple of goofy looking RVs that were asking for their picture to be taken.  First is a cute little A frame mini pod.

And the other a pop up hard shell travel trailer.

There are sure all types and shape RVs out there.

A dozen miles north, we visited Fort Stevens State Park. First on the list was to see the old sea wreck of the Peter Iredale, a large sailing ship that ran aground back in 1906. Just a skelton now.

Pretty cool.

One of the most photographed sites along the Oregon coast.

Here is a good shot.

The sea has really eaten her up.

That's me out there.

Then we stopped by the Russell Battery, an old defensive cannon site used to protect the US in service 1904 to 1944.

The big guns are gone now, but they did their job all those years.

The guns must have been huge.

The bunkers look like dungeons now.

Then to the site of old Fort Stevens. The Fort is pretty much gone now, but there is a museum there. Lots of history in this area.

Then on to Fort Clatsop at the Lewis & Clark National Historic Park.

Built by Lewis & Clark's expedition to winter in 1806 - 1808.

Donna getting our Passport book stamped.

We watched the movie, toured the museum, and headed for the Fort.

Sacajawea.

Back to Seaside, I walked along the Promenade, which is kinda like the boardwalk on the east coast. Then along Broadway, which is lined with all kinds of touristy shops.

At the end of Broadway, is the Turn-around, and a statue of Lewis & Clark.

Wednesday, we moved northward again. we drove through Astoria, and along Hwy 30 to Longview, WA. The to I5 and South into Vancouver, WA. A 110 mile move.

We pulled into the Vancouver Elks Lodge and paid our $15.00 a day for our nice 30 amp and water hookups.

We stayed here last September.

Our daughter Kim drove down from Pasco, WA and we got to visit with her and Candy, our eldest daughter who lives here in Vancouver.

We will be here for 5 days.