If I had taken the camera download cord with me on our trip, I would have included these photos with the appropriate blog entry. Or, if I had a smart phone, it would have been easier to include them. Since neither of those events occurred, we have to settle for an after-the-fact posting!
The first several photos were taken during StatueFest in downtown Reno. It's a new event and gives local artists an opportunity to display their talent. They block off several blocks in downtown Reno - these photos were taken when it first opened up (right after the rainstorms passed through). A lot of Burners display their art and vehicles - kind of a neat event. Even the artists are worth looking at.
Hope you enjoy the scenery! If you have problems using the link, please let me know.
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=818E29B8DE16F57A!10039&authkey=!AEg8H0WZcBwlUso&v=3&ithint=photo%2cJPG
Monday, May 16, 2016
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Reno, NV
Well, we knew it couldn't last. How many days of sunshine and blue skies can the Pacific Northwest take before it shows its' true color - gray! This morning we awoke to rain in Eugene and managed to drive through a light drizzle all the way to the California border. We had stopped at Costco in Eugene to get gas, but they didn't open until 7 a.m. - that'll teach us to try and get an early start. We continued on to Roseburg to their Costco and had breakfast there before pushing on.
California was a little better as far as the weather goes, although Mt Shasta was still covered at the top with clouds. Normally, we would have cut across the mountains in Eugene and come down through central Oregon; however, with the rain and low clouds, we decided that didn't make much sense. Hard to view the scenery when you're driving through fog or low clouds.
We decided on a different route to travel when we spotted a sign for a golf course and wanted to check it out. Never did find it and we didn't want to backtrack, so we took some backroads and enjoyed the scenery in Northern California. It turned out to be about the same distance as we would normally travel, and we enjoyed the different countryside. Mt Lassen was covered with clouds similar to Mt Shasta and Mt Rainier, so we didn't want to take 89 over the top.
Arrived home to blue skies and puffy white clouds and everything fine at home. Must have been a terrific wind sometime during our absence since the driveway and front lawn were covered with pine cones. At least the tree stayed upright :-).
We're home now and will be for a while, so feel free to give us a call and let us know how you're doing. Love to all.
I'll try to post some pictures later this evening if any of them turned out OK.
California was a little better as far as the weather goes, although Mt Shasta was still covered at the top with clouds. Normally, we would have cut across the mountains in Eugene and come down through central Oregon; however, with the rain and low clouds, we decided that didn't make much sense. Hard to view the scenery when you're driving through fog or low clouds.
We decided on a different route to travel when we spotted a sign for a golf course and wanted to check it out. Never did find it and we didn't want to backtrack, so we took some backroads and enjoyed the scenery in Northern California. It turned out to be about the same distance as we would normally travel, and we enjoyed the different countryside. Mt Lassen was covered with clouds similar to Mt Shasta and Mt Rainier, so we didn't want to take 89 over the top.
Arrived home to blue skies and puffy white clouds and everything fine at home. Must have been a terrific wind sometime during our absence since the driveway and front lawn were covered with pine cones. At least the tree stayed upright :-).
We're home now and will be for a while, so feel free to give us a call and let us know how you're doing. Love to all.
I'll try to post some pictures later this evening if any of them turned out OK.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Eugene, OR
Got an early start from Smokey Point this morning. After breakfast, we stopped at Costco to do some shopping for Marjorie. She has a difficult time getting around, so we were happy to do some of her errands for her. After dropping her off at Skyline, we went over to Salty's in West Seattle to have lunch with Dave and Wanda - first time we've seen them in over three years. Good dining on Puget Sound and fun watching the various ships coming and going
After lunch, we started south and experienced the terrible traffic in Seattle. It was just as bad going south as it was coming north. As I've said before, you think the people would get together and trade jobs, then there would not be the terrible commutes and traffic jams. It was even bad as we came through Portland, but it looked worse going north (luckily).
Coming south on I-5 we kept catching glimpses of Mt Rainier - it just looms up on the horizon. When it's a little hazy as it was today, you're not sure it's really there - almost as though someone painted it in the sky. A little further south we caught sight of the "topless" mountain - Mt St Helens lost about 1100 feet in the eruption back in 1980.
As you can tell from the subject, we're staying in Eugene before heading home tomorrow. Obviously, it's the home of the University of Oregon. Even the password for the internet here is "goducks". Had a nice dinner at Sam's Sports Bar next to the hotel and across the street from the University. Rather quiet for a Friday evening, but I guess they had several ball games and other athletic events going on.
Take care and we'll let you know when we arrive home on Saturday. Love to all.
After lunch, we started south and experienced the terrible traffic in Seattle. It was just as bad going south as it was coming north. As I've said before, you think the people would get together and trade jobs, then there would not be the terrible commutes and traffic jams. It was even bad as we came through Portland, but it looked worse going north (luckily).
Coming south on I-5 we kept catching glimpses of Mt Rainier - it just looms up on the horizon. When it's a little hazy as it was today, you're not sure it's really there - almost as though someone painted it in the sky. A little further south we caught sight of the "topless" mountain - Mt St Helens lost about 1100 feet in the eruption back in 1980.
As you can tell from the subject, we're staying in Eugene before heading home tomorrow. Obviously, it's the home of the University of Oregon. Even the password for the internet here is "goducks". Had a nice dinner at Sam's Sports Bar next to the hotel and across the street from the University. Rather quiet for a Friday evening, but I guess they had several ball games and other athletic events going on.
Take care and we'll let you know when we arrive home on Saturday. Love to all.
Family Day
Another beautiful, sunny day in the Pacific Northwest. Where's all that rain, fog and clouds that this area is famous for? Oh well, guess we'll just have to grin and bear it.
Yesterday was a good family day. We took lunch over to Butch and had a nice visit for several hours. It was neat sitting out on the patio of the home where she's staying, having lunch, and enjoying family reminiscing. Later in the day we went over to Mill Creek to have dinner with Kelly and Beth (Butch's daughters) and other members of their families. Kelly's granddaughter, Olivia (nicknamed Livi), is a very precocious child and kept us entertained. Not yet two years old, she's a real charmer, but not obnoxiously so. Again, it was good to catch up on everyone's doings. It's been two years since we've been up here. It's really different without Pete and Mary, but life goes on.
Today we plan on meeting with Marjorie and then having lunch with Dave and Wanda at the Salty Dog in West Seattle. After lunch, we're heading south before the rain returns to Seattle.
Yesterday was a good family day. We took lunch over to Butch and had a nice visit for several hours. It was neat sitting out on the patio of the home where she's staying, having lunch, and enjoying family reminiscing. Later in the day we went over to Mill Creek to have dinner with Kelly and Beth (Butch's daughters) and other members of their families. Kelly's granddaughter, Olivia (nicknamed Livi), is a very precocious child and kept us entertained. Not yet two years old, she's a real charmer, but not obnoxiously so. Again, it was good to catch up on everyone's doings. It's been two years since we've been up here. It's really different without Pete and Mary, but life goes on.
Today we plan on meeting with Marjorie and then having lunch with Dave and Wanda at the Salty Dog in West Seattle. After lunch, we're heading south before the rain returns to Seattle.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Smokey Point, WA
Started out early this morning from Sandy and encountered the rush-hour traffic leaving Oregon and heading to Washington. It looked like there was just as much traffic coming the opposite way - go figure! Beautiful weather - I'm not sure this is really the Pacific Northwest! Clear blue skies and sunshine - what's not to like? Except when we encounter all the traffic, then we remember why we left here.
We had breakfast with Marjorie at 13 Coins in Seattle and then went down to Skyline to visit with Edward. Not sure whether "visit" is the right word - he's not very alert and finds it hard to communicate - tough visit.
Afterwards, we drove up north and checked in at Smokey Point. Vi made arrangements for tomorrow to visit with Butch and then go up to Kelly's for dinner with Beth (Beth and Kelley are Butch's daughters). This evening we drove down to Everett and had dinner at Anthony's on the waterfront - great meal and watched the sun set over Puget Sound.
Back home now and just relaxing - nice quarters here at the Naval Support Center. Looks like we're only going to spend two nights up here. Friday we're going to run some errands for Marjorie and then head back down south, probably staying in southern Washington Friday night.
Weather here is so clear that you can see Mt Rainier on the horizon, the Olympics to the west and Mt Stevens to the north. It's one of those picture perfect days here! Not a cloud in the sky and nary a drop of rain. We really love all the rhododendrons - they're so colorful and in such profusion up here.
Hope you're all doing well. Have fun.
We had breakfast with Marjorie at 13 Coins in Seattle and then went down to Skyline to visit with Edward. Not sure whether "visit" is the right word - he's not very alert and finds it hard to communicate - tough visit.
Afterwards, we drove up north and checked in at Smokey Point. Vi made arrangements for tomorrow to visit with Butch and then go up to Kelly's for dinner with Beth (Beth and Kelley are Butch's daughters). This evening we drove down to Everett and had dinner at Anthony's on the waterfront - great meal and watched the sun set over Puget Sound.
Back home now and just relaxing - nice quarters here at the Naval Support Center. Looks like we're only going to spend two nights up here. Friday we're going to run some errands for Marjorie and then head back down south, probably staying in southern Washington Friday night.
Weather here is so clear that you can see Mt Rainier on the horizon, the Olympics to the west and Mt Stevens to the north. It's one of those picture perfect days here! Not a cloud in the sky and nary a drop of rain. We really love all the rhododendrons - they're so colorful and in such profusion up here.
Hope you're all doing well. Have fun.
Sandy, OR (2)
Thought you might like a little history on Sandy (no, not you Sandy Stames :-)). It is the western gateway to Mt Hood and we passed by the Mt Hood ski area on our way down yesterday. Last evening we had dinner at the Tollgate Inn. It had an interesting story which I wanted to share:
http://visittollgate.com/history/
Today, it's on to Washington - it'll be easier for us to cross the Columbia than for the early settlers (and they didn't have a Costco to refuel at).
http://visittollgate.com/history/
Today, it's on to Washington - it'll be easier for us to cross the Columbia than for the early settlers (and they didn't have a Costco to refuel at).
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Sandy, OR
We left early this morning to head north through California to Oregon. Kind of neat - we hadn't been north of Reno for a while and we were amazed at how much water was in the "dry" lake beds. Probably won't last long, but it's nice to see water on what are usually alkali flats. As we climbed out of Susanville, we had a beautiful view of the valley with snow-covered mountains in the distance.
You normally think of California as being crowded and very metropolitan; however, going north you are traversing high desert and wide open spaces. Even saw some cowboys on horseback rounding up cattle. Lots of wildlife, deer, buzzards, ground squirrels and hawks. One hawk had lunch in his talons and was flying back to the nest - good for the baby hawks, not so much for the rodent. We have had so much rain this year, everything is green. Some of the hills look like they are covered with green velvet. Going north, Mt Shasta appears on the horizon - snow-covered and majestic. Even though it's miles away, it's still impressive.
The road north to Tule Lake, CA is almost straight as an arrow and goes through mostly ranch land and forest service land. Tule Lake is the home of the Honkers (guess that's better than the Muckers) because of the geese which make their annual migration through this area. It was also one of the sites where they moved people of Japanese descent at the start of WWII. The area is now euphemistically called a World War II Relocation Site - guess that's more politically correct than concentration camps, which is what they essentially were. Interesting history behind the relocation - removed Japanese people from the west coast, but also provided cheap labor for the agricultural interests in northern Oregon.
Saw a sign on Lost River - how lost can it be if they have a sign identifying it - just saying. Going further north through Klamath Falls, we passed along Klamath Lake which is almost twenty miles long. Beautiful scenes of the mountains, including Crater Lake and Mount McLoughlin. As we passed further north, we caught sight of Mt Jefferson (10K) and Mt Hood (11K). We had originally planned on staying in Redmond, OR and playing golf, but decided to continue on and make Wednesday's trip a lot shorter. The main reason for our trip was to visit relatives in the Seattle area and it didn't make much sense to cut that time short. Dropped down in the Deschutes River gorge and then back up past Mt Hood - no skiing there this late in the year.
Ended up in Sandy, OR (town of about 9K people). Should be an easy drive tomorrow across the Columbia River, through Vancouver, WA and on up to Seattle. We'll pick Marjorie up, go to lunch and then visit with Edward.
We'll keep you posted.
You normally think of California as being crowded and very metropolitan; however, going north you are traversing high desert and wide open spaces. Even saw some cowboys on horseback rounding up cattle. Lots of wildlife, deer, buzzards, ground squirrels and hawks. One hawk had lunch in his talons and was flying back to the nest - good for the baby hawks, not so much for the rodent. We have had so much rain this year, everything is green. Some of the hills look like they are covered with green velvet. Going north, Mt Shasta appears on the horizon - snow-covered and majestic. Even though it's miles away, it's still impressive.
The road north to Tule Lake, CA is almost straight as an arrow and goes through mostly ranch land and forest service land. Tule Lake is the home of the Honkers (guess that's better than the Muckers) because of the geese which make their annual migration through this area. It was also one of the sites where they moved people of Japanese descent at the start of WWII. The area is now euphemistically called a World War II Relocation Site - guess that's more politically correct than concentration camps, which is what they essentially were. Interesting history behind the relocation - removed Japanese people from the west coast, but also provided cheap labor for the agricultural interests in northern Oregon.
Saw a sign on Lost River - how lost can it be if they have a sign identifying it - just saying. Going further north through Klamath Falls, we passed along Klamath Lake which is almost twenty miles long. Beautiful scenes of the mountains, including Crater Lake and Mount McLoughlin. As we passed further north, we caught sight of Mt Jefferson (10K) and Mt Hood (11K). We had originally planned on staying in Redmond, OR and playing golf, but decided to continue on and make Wednesday's trip a lot shorter. The main reason for our trip was to visit relatives in the Seattle area and it didn't make much sense to cut that time short. Dropped down in the Deschutes River gorge and then back up past Mt Hood - no skiing there this late in the year.
Ended up in Sandy, OR (town of about 9K people). Should be an easy drive tomorrow across the Columbia River, through Vancouver, WA and on up to Seattle. We'll pick Marjorie up, go to lunch and then visit with Edward.
We'll keep you posted.
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