We decide to take one more trip while here in La Conner, so we
booked the Skagit Dinner Tour, the trip took us up the W-20 East
to Newhalem, WA about 2 hours from La Conner. Since I
can only ride a short distance we stopped at a roadside turn off
Beautiful spot (going to make this one into a jig saw too)
Arriving in Newhalem, we were told to look for the Engine No. 6
This
is the same train that carried it's workers and equipment up to the
dams in 1927 and also was used for tours of the dam, the last run
was in 1954.
We had gotten there early so had time to take
pictures of the little town.
When I booked the trip I was told to dress in layers as the area
could get cool, especially on the lake. I dressed with a 3/4
sleeve and long pants, we took along our coats and sweat shirts.
Boy if ever they were wrong. By the time we got to Newhalem it
was 102 at 11:00 AM and on the lake it reached 104. I was
baking. I wanted to take this trip to see the North Cascades
and Waterfalls. Taking a Motor Coach across the Diablo Dam
with our guide Mike
telling us all about how the Dam was built and how Seattle City
Lights is the owner. Mike is a National Park ranger and I
could not help wonder since this tour is put on by the Hydroelectric
project how he was the guide, found out they pay the National park
service some to help out. We headed to the Diablo Dam
area where we caught the boat to tour the Cascades and Waterfalls.
The Cascades are magnificent they had some snow but there were only
2 waterfalls one of which we could see from the bus and could not
take pictures and the other
as you can see not much water.
Here we are on the lake just
leaving the Diablo Dam
The water is so green like a deep turquoise, Mike explained that as
the snow melts and flows over the rocks a dust off the rock settles
into the lake but is so light it never sinks therefore the color
stays at the top.
Heading on down the lake which flows into the Skagit Bay, we are
told about the area, Monkey Island
was named because one of the engineers of the dam bought in Monkeys
to it, he would make sure people on the tours would have peanuts to
throw to them, the monkeys however did not like the cold nights so
they had to be taken off at night then returned the next day,
needless to say that did not last long as they were taken off of the
island within a year.
There
is another Island right next to this one that is called Deer Island,
it got it's name because the Mule Deer would swim to it from the
larger Island so they could have their babies without a predator
attacking their young. The Trip on the lake was about 2 hours, there
are more pictures to see on the
Washington photo page.
There are 32 Cascades in the area some still have snow, after
touring the lake all the way to the Ross Dam and back, we then
headed to the town of Diablo where there are still 40 families
living in Seattle City Lights housing. Here we had dinner in
the old school house, we served by the staff of the company
including the ranger, baked chicken, fresh green beans mashed
potatoes and wonderful gravy, those who wanted could have spaghetti,
for desert we had hand made pies apple and cherry they were
wonderful. We then headed back to the Skagit tour area to pick
up our cars. The trip would have been better had it it been
cooler and the waterfalls were running. I am glad we took the
tour but for the $100 we paid I feel we should have had a steak or a
buffet, and the weather was just way too hot to be able to enjoy
this one. Everyone on the tour was great including our bus
driver Mary Jane.
We leave tomorrow for Elma, loved this area we are in and not liking
the possible heat wave that Northern WA is having, here at La Conner
it is comfortable in the 90's as there is a breeze coming off of
Skagit Bay, but Elma does not have a bay nor many trees, and the
weather is suppose to be in the 100's by the time we arrive.
One nice thing about being full time we can always leave.
Try and stay cool until tomorrow Love Carol
July
25. 2009
Fran arrived on the 14th, the days went by so fast that she has
already left. I wish there had been more time for her to
stay.
AS MIKE NO SPEAKS.......oooooh yea
Now I was informed by the boss that her sister is coming to visit
us....well, that seems ok. Then I really got to thinking
about it..Here is one guy with two gals in one motor home...
You have to realize that when ever a guy has to go to the
bathroom....the wife is always in there....I swear that I am going
to buy a coach that has two thrones...in my wildest dreams...but hey
it is a good thought...Oh well, back to the situation at hand....Now
I have two gals and me and only one bathroom....Oh did I mention
that they both like to read books....Now I don't mean just the Sears
and Roebuck Catalog or some pamphlet or just some little
pamphlet that you get from Camping World....Heck no!!!...They are
these really thick books about sex, love and who shot who down by
the river..Nora Roberts, what is it you have against us guys.
I really haven't figured out if they go in there to do something or
that is the library..oh well, that is RV living. As it
turned out...everything worked out just hunky dory....
There is one night that I really have to tell you about.. For some
reason, I just couldn't sleep. I would lay there and just toss
and turn, so finally I got up and thought what the heck I will go
down and get gas and a cup of coffee at the Shell Station..being
that Fran is going to be leaving the next day and I am sure that I
won't have enough to get down to Seattle and back..Anyhow good
excuse...So up I get in the dark and try to find my clothes , being
as quite as possible...sure....bump into the walls, lean and almost
fall back on the bed, not to mention that I had taken everything out
of my pockets the night before and here I am in the dark feeling
around hoping to find everything and not wake anyone up. With
all the noise and cussing when I couldn't find something or even
worse, finding everything that I didn't want and then trying to put
it back and not drop in on the floor
After about a half and hour of grouping around in the dark I finally
had my pants on and where my shirt was,,,,,who knows...It wasn't on
the hook where I put it, ,,,,,bugger,,,,,sure here goes another half
an hour....not to mention my socks...oh to heck with it,,,get a new
pair, I know where the drawer...Here I open it real quite and get my
socks,,,thank goodness they don't make any noise..and close the
door...uh oh...the latch didn't catch...ok try it
again...CLUNK...yep, that works...Carol ask are you up.....Let see,
there are two people in the bedroom and she didn't make the noise,
and wonders, just who might be making the noise....takes a rocket
scientist to figure this one out....After feeling my side of the bed
and finding out that I am not there, then the door to my sock door
wakes her up, Oh yea. Guys don't
ya just love it......Honey, someone spilled somthing or dropped
something and there is only the two of you.....duh....Sure...I
know...guilty. The only problem is that you are the one that did
it...bummer. Ok, back to the
late and very dark night of getting up...All dressed and very
quietly get to the living room. Found the keys where they were
supposed to be, got my coat on and out the door I went. All
this just for a cup of coffee..Oh well.
Racing through the night, hey nobody is up so what the heck.
Got through the little town of La Conner, hey, they really turn the
lights on down there. I thought it was daylight when I went
down main street...Got to the end of town where they have one of
these circle things that you have to go around and figure out which
one of the turn outs that you want to take, and of course without
the wife to tell me which one, I take the wrong one..But, we won't
tell her anything about that..
Speed limit is 50 miles an hour and you always go at least 5 to 10
more than that, well, I was doing a just a little more than
that...I wonder what this little puppy will do on a back, straight
little road with no one around. hmmmmmm
I am just about to put my foot on the peddle and get it on the
floor, now I don't mean gentle, stomp on it..get it on...The radio
is blasting and the tires are singing against the blacktop, just
some nice gentle curves ahead. Man, what a night....
Oooops, what to I see up there at the crossroads but flashing red
and blue lights......slow this little beast down, and cool
it....Just as I do this, heck I even turned the radio down to a
small roar...there is a speed sign, that by the way I have never
seen for the last 9 weeks......35MPH....WHAT!...on a road like
this...what is this....so down I go just to see what is going
on...Sure enough, someone is getting a ticket at 3:00 in the
morning...Hey, what is wrong with this picture...Must be drunk or
something...Oh I see...You have to slow down the the little junction
in the road...well, I guess that is alright..At least I didn't get
the ticket...Off to the Shell Station for my cup of coffee...Whoop
Pee.. CHIT!
Wouldn't ya know it. There closed..What Shell Station with
coffee and stuff like that would close up at night...Yuk
Oh well, back on the road and get back to the Motorhome....hey, I
know that 35 mph place now....slow down I do, and wouldn't ya know
it. The cop is sitting right there at the cross roads just
waiting for some sucker like ME. Ha Ha....fooled
ya....Not tonight...
Finally get back to the coach...and as my hand hits the doorknob I
get to thinking....Fran is in a strange place, sleeping on the
couch, the door opens real slow not to make noise, and this black,
dark figure starts to enter the coach. hmmmmm, does she sleep
with a base ball bat, a sharp object, or just a load schreak.
Well, just to
break all your bubbles....if she woke up. She played possum.
or possible heard me leave. Any how I just stumbled in the bedroom
and being that it was probably around 4 in the morning I was really
tired by now...Hit the bed and went to dream land.
Isn't this
retirement just peachy
Yep
Mike
Mike was a
peach in taking us everywhere we wanted to go, first it was La
Conner, where we said we would only be about 1 hour, of course we
had to stop into the shops to see everything and maybe do a little
buying. The Courtyard Gallery is so wonderful we ended up spending
about 1/2 an hour there, it has wonderful sculptures, and artistic
jewelry, glassware and too many other wonderful items, I suggest if
you ever get to La Conner you have to stop and browse,
Town of La Conner
Courtyard Gallery
The Wood Merchant has handmade art from local wood artist
The Woodpecker to the left looks real, in fact just
the other day one flew behind our RV at the Thousand
Trails Park. We spent about another 1/2 hour there,
then we decided to call Mike's cell to tell him we would be
about another hour, he answered Mike's taxi service, so we
knew we were ok as he was having coffee. With that we
decided time for him to have lunch so we took off to the PUB
where we Fran had the Clam strips and I had the Tempura
Fish. They were delicious, from there we did a
little more walking around
The next day we decided to take it easy, so
stayed around the RV where Fran could look around and just relax.
That was Thursday, on Friday we went to Friday Harbor, taking the
ferry from Anacortes to the Island, all of us love taking the
ferries they are relaxing and comfortable to ride. We took the
car so we can see more of the island, Fran had said there was a
sculpture Garden so off we went.
All of the grounds have
sculpture that are made by Local Artists.
We then drove back to the
port, which by the way, was only about 1/2 hour, the
island is real small and I imagine you could go around
the whole thing in a matter of an hour. We decided
to eat at a restaurant that Mike and I had eaten at a
couple of years before, since the food was good then and
you could set out looking at the port watching the boats
come and go.
Of course what is exploring with out
shopping
We
went to the Souvenir Store across from the Restaurant and we found some wonderful jackets
that as Mike said had better be wind proof and they were,
not only were they a jacket, but you could take the sleeves
off and the hood and have a vest, also they were revisable,
and the best was the price each were $49.95 because Fran and
I were buying 3 we got them for $45. each, the owner was
wonderful she had this dog who just laid in front of the
counter and never moved, as you can see in the picture, I
had to bring the dog to the front so you could see how great
he was in having his picture taken.
We then headed
for the Ferry, but first had to find some ice cream after
all it was a very hot day, around 80
Wow the time is flying, we decided to show Fran Birch Bay where
we had thought of staying, the drive was nice and cool plus you got
to travel through the mountain area, Blain where Birch Bay is about
1 hour away, we got there and since it was time to stop for lunch we
parked at the Beach House right in front of the bay,
The
food was not that great but the view made up for it after eating we
walked across to the bay here we are the tide was still out, by the
time we left the area the tide had come all the way to where we are
standing having Mike take the picture.
Gee one more day and Fran leaves, Fran wants to go back to La
Conner to have those Clam Strips she fell in love with. We
tell Mike to go get a cup of coffee at the PUP and we will meet him
since there was a couple of shops we had not been into yet. OK
you guessed it, it took us another 2 hours to get to the PUP and
Mike was wonderful to wait, he had the view of the boats and his
coffee. We had found a shop Caravan Gallery, which had wonderful jewelry and
the prices where great, it took me a great deal of time to decide
what I wanted. Fran knew as soon as she saw the ring it was for her.
We also found a shop that had handmade tops painted that
were so beautifully done, we had to see them all. If you ever
get to La Conner plan on at least 3 days to go, as you will
want to look at all stopping along the way for meals, make sure
you go after 11 AM as that is when the shops open and most are
closed on Mon. The parking is hard to get so I suggest you go
before 10 AM and go to the Calico Cupboard which makes healthy
muffins, breads etc. Park on the street this way you can walk
to all of the shops on the main shopping area.
I am missing
her as I write this as I think there might have been a shop or two
we did not go into. We had a great time and it was so good to
see her, she is fun, loving and a wonderful friend to be around,
even if she is my sister. Love ya Fran.
We leave on
Wed. but before we do we are taking a supper cruise on the North
Cascades. It is about 70 miles to the River Gorge and the
North Cascades wilderness. we will be on the boat looking at
waterfalls in the Diablo Lake. Will have pictures for you to
see.
Until then have a great day and summer.
Love Carol
July
05. 2009
We are back in La Conner, we arrived a day earlier then we planned.
Mike and I came over here on the 7th to see what sites might be
available on the 9th, when we saw that 268 was leaving on the 8th we
changed our reservations and came on in.
You have to
understand Thousand Trails does not allow specific sites to be held
nor do they give you a site when you enter the park, you have to
find one you like for yourself and rig, if there is a site you want
and someone is in it, you put your name on the list, come to the
gate every morning by 10 AM and see if you get the site. We
loved 268 as it was by the water we could get internet through
Verizon and phone is you went behind the rig but no TV and the site
had full hookups. The view and site are worth it. Now
most of you know Mike sleeps till 11 AM and when I suggested we try
to get here at the park by 10 AM he said we will try but not to hold
my breath as he just know someone would take it. I got here at
9:54 AM (Mike was about 10 min. behind me). Asked for the site and
was told 5 people where ahead of me on the list, so I waited to see
who got it, no one showed except one gentleman who wanted a
different site, and so the site become ours.
I wanted
to jump with joy, it is the best as you can walk to the beach
climbing over lots of logs, but you can set right by the rig watch
the sunsets, and the water it is so great, and after living in
Benson, AZ and Tucson for over 60 years you want to see water!!!
See what I mean by the sunsets. Fran will be here on the 14th,
we plan on doing a lot so if the web site is not updated, I know you
will understand. Hope all are enjoying the good life and
having a great summer. Love Carol
July
05. 2009
Pam & Ralph read our web site and found that we
were going to Anacortes for the fireworks, they are staying on
Fidalgo Bay in Anacortes, and invited us to come see them from their
RV park. This also gave us a chance to see Cookie ( the puppy we
gave them 2 years ago). What a treat we were right on the waterfront
and had a spectacular view and of course had wonderful company to
see the fireworks with. I could not have asked for a better
time.
Refinery at night
Fireworks being set off at the
docks of Anacortes
July
03. 2009
Finally got to Seattle via ferry to Bainbridge
Island from Edmonds. As a lot of you know I make personal
cards for RV'ers to exchange, will Pat & Sam Passamonte had run out
of theirs, and they saw that we were in in Mt. Vernon which is not
far from their now home of Bainbridge.
I loved the
idea of delivering them since we were close & not only getting to
see Pat again but also an adventure to a new area. It
turned out to be a wonderful day weather wise and travel. We
headed to Edmonds which is about 1 hour from Bow, then onto the
ferry Walla Walla.
We
took the car so that we could drive and see some of the area.
After a 30 min. ride we then drove from Kingston to Bainbridge.
You can get to Bainbridge from Tacoma via car and no ferry, I have
to admit I loved the ferry. It is huge and comfortable,
we
had decided to take the 11:35 one but got to Edmonds at 10:45 only
to boarded immediately on the ferry which gave us lots of time to
site see. We meet Pat and Sam at the marina and had lunch,
After visiting Pat's home and what
a lovely home it is, they have bought a place in Poulsbo
which is next to Bainbridge Island, the mobile park they
have bought into shows the pride of ownership, and the home
Pat has is just right for retirement. They have
enough room to move around in and a big enough yard to
have a vegetable garden. I would love to have
found something like this if we were ready to settle
somewhere. We then headed back on the ferry but
this time we took it to Seattle. I had always
wanted to stop and see Seattle but had not had the
chance.
Took this picture to the right while waiting on the
docks for the ferry.
First site for me was Mt. Rainer, doesn't it look like
it is just floating in the sky? WOW how majestic is that
Next was the shoreline of Seattle
We had planned to stop in Seattle but we arrived around
5 PM and the traffic was horrible, so we decided to hit
home we will come back soon and explore, for what we did
see of the downtown it looked so inviting with lots of
places to explore.
We will be
leaving for La Conner on the 9th, and my sister will be
here on the 14th for 9 days, planning on going to Sidney, Canada
and of course showing her La Conner. Have a great 4th and
watch those fire works. We hope to go to Anacortes for the
water show.
Until next time hope all
are enjoying there summer. Love Carol
Beautiful spot (going to make this one into a jig saw too)
This
is the same train that carried it's workers and equipment up to the
dams in 1927 and also was used for tours of the dam, the last run
was in 1954. 
When I booked the trip I was told to dress in layers as the area
could get cool, especially on the lake. I dressed with a 3/4
sleeve and long pants, we took along our coats and sweat shirts.
Boy if ever they were wrong. By the time we got to Newhalem it
was 102 at 11:00 AM and on the lake it reached 104. I was
baking. I wanted to take this trip to see the North Cascades
and Waterfalls. Taking a Motor Coach across the Diablo Dam
with our guide Mike
telling us all about how the Dam was built and how Seattle City
Lights is the owner. Mike is a National Park ranger and I
could not help wonder since this tour is put on by the Hydroelectric
project how he was the guide, found out they pay the National park
service some to help out. We headed to the Diablo Dam
area where we caught the boat to tour the Cascades and Waterfalls.
The Cascades are magnificent they had some snow but there were only
2 waterfalls one of which we could see from the bus and could not
take pictures and the other
as you can see not much water.
was named because one of the engineers of the dam bought in Monkeys
to it, he would make sure people on the tours would have peanuts to
throw to them, the monkeys however did not like the cold nights so
they had to be taken off at night then returned the next day,
needless to say that did not last long as they were taken off of the
island within a year.
There
is another Island right next to this one that is called Deer Island,
it got it's name because the Mule Deer would swim to it from the
larger Island so they could have their babies without a predator
attacking their young. The Trip on the lake was about 2 hours, there
are more pictures to see on the
Washington photo page.
There are 32 Cascades in the area some still have snow, after
touring the lake all the way to the Ross Dam and back, we then
headed to the town of Diablo where there are still 40 families
living in Seattle City Lights housing. Here we had dinner in
the old school house, we served by the staff of the company
including the ranger, baked chicken, fresh green beans mashed
potatoes and wonderful gravy, those who wanted could have spaghetti,
for desert we had hand made pies apple and cherry they were
wonderful. We then headed back to the Skagit tour area to pick
up our cars. The trip would have been better had it it been
cooler and the waterfalls were running. I am glad we took the
tour but for the $100 we paid I feel we should have had a steak or a
buffet, and the weather was just way too hot to be able to enjoy
this one. Everyone on the tour was great including our bus
driver Mary Jane.
The
food was not that great but the view made up for it after eating we
walked across to the bay here we are the tide was still out, by the
time we left the area the tide had come all the way to where we are
standing having Mike take the picture. 
See what I mean by the sunsets. 
We
took the car so that we could drive and see some of the area.
After a 30 min. ride we then drove from Kingston to Bainbridge.
You can get to Bainbridge from Tacoma via car and no ferry, I have
to admit I loved the ferry. It is huge and comfortable,
we
had decided to take the 11:35 one but got to Edmonds at 10:45 only
to boarded immediately on the ferry which gave us lots of time to
site see. We meet Pat and Sam at the marina and had lunch,
