5C's Que Pasa

It was a quiet night in the Yakima Walmart.  As we were ready to leave at 8AM we saw this.

I feel so sorry for people who are forced to live in a vehicle in a Walmart lot.  It was very cool for them to be sitting outside eating breakfast.  As we drove away we saw someone else sitting by their vehicle panhandling.  It get worse every year.

As we drive past somewhere in the middle of nowhere I spotted diesel for $2.359.  However as the day progressed $2.69 seemed the best.  Way higher than this time last year.

Our day started down some two lanes roads.

The fog began to thicken.

I will admit to being nervous when I couldn’t see anything. Colin just kept driving.

Carmeh did not have a good morning with her food and slept tor several hours. She did pick up again by the end of the day.

We eventually came out of the fog as we were about a steep and twisty decent to the Columbia River.  Between the raindrops on windows  you can get a glimpse of the river.  We actually missed the turn off but fortunately there was a large area to turn around and get back on the correct road.

The bridge we used to crossed over the Columbia into Oregon.

We are now on I84 in Oregon looking back at the scenery in Washington. We came down all that height very quickly.

Not a great day to get out and site see but still so much to see as one drove along this scenic road.  A special bridge just for trains.

The Dalles Dam, one of two along this route.

Private house boats along the shore. Certainly not a boring drive along this 90 minute stretch.

Loved the fall colors across the river.

This is a private island on the river. Colin saw the house and I only caught the backside of it.  Their dock was to the right of the photo.

The Columbia River holds a special place in our hearts.  Many many years ago we did a re positioning cruise on Holland America from Vancouver, BC to Portland.  One of best things about the short cruise was traveling the Columbia River from Astoria to Portland and seeing all the people who live on this great river. There was always someone waving at us from the shore.

Sorry to those who feel this is too many photos.  I only have so much bandwidth while in the USA and it quicker to tell the story of our day using my photos. Let me know if you want less.

We stopped to pee the girls about 10:30AM and had to work at getting Carmeh to finish her breakfast. Now you see how tight we are when we travel.  Everything revolves around the dogs and the ramps.

The little tug boat that could. Here he is pushing two barges.

I think the sign tells a story. This is only the 6th Trump sign we have seen since the Canadian border. We have however not seen one single Hillary sign. Hmmm, what ever can this mean?  Do people not care or is Trump the one?

A lot of heavy rain during our last hour on I5.  The girls slept most of the day so we were able to just keep driving except for a very few breaks.  That put us at the Eugene Oregon Valley Centre Mall by 2:30PM.  Still a 300 mile day but a great location to spend the afternoon and evening.

Caeli in a dog bed on the drivers seat.

Carmeh sitting on my seat observing both the view and Colin setting up the Satellite dish.

The view outside our living room window. There is a walking/biking path just at the far edge of the grass.  Very difficult to tell but just to the right of the yellow tree  on the left, is yet another river to enjoy, you might see a glimpse of blue.  Suzanne, would this not be a great place to meet up?  One day I do want to see the rose gardens.

We actually drove 301.4 miles today.

Thank you for all your comments ( and emails ), I just love to get them.  For those that have questions,  I will get back to you once we have more internet.

It was an cold night plus I did not sleep well.  It will take a while to adjust to a queen bed from a king especially with two dogs cuddling in the cold of the night.

We left the our house at 8:15AM and were hooked up and on the road by 8:35.  Our first stop was only 15 minutes away as we needed to fill our propane tank.  Expensive at .739/litre but it needed to be done.  The girls were fed before we left but we needed food and stopped in Peachland to cut up some fruit and to make a coffee.  The girls also needed to do their business.

It was an overcast and very cool morning but as we drove south along Okanagan Lake we saw a bright spot in the sky. An omen of good weather ahead or so we hope.

It seemed like we got to the US border very quickly.  The Osoyoos crossing is always different.  This time they only asked how much alcohol we had, where we were heading and how long we would be in the USA.  Next we were boarded by the Agriculture Inspection Agent.  No we don’t have meat, nor fruit nor peppers or tomatoes.  Yes all our dog food is made in the USA.  He did tell us that fish is officially considered to be meat in the USA!

It was a quick crossing and we actually drove past the You Ship Store, just across the border, where we were picking up dog food and a few other items we had ordered online.  Went around the block easily enough.  Another quick stop, made sure that we had 13 cases of dog food and stowed it away and once again we were off.

Last year we stopped just past Omak at a Tribal Fuel stop and the price was great, not so this year.  First off we have to angle in to the one pump that has diesel and our back end sticks way out and then to have to pay 2.759 per gallon, not nice.  We later discovered that diesel in Washington state is anywhere from 2.68 to 2.99 so I guess we did alright.

The fall colors in the orchards were stunning. It is so difficult to get good photos while speeding down a highway.

All day long we were treated to wonderful scenery.

The photo doesn’t do the actual scene justice.

Coming into Soap Lake.

We are taking a different route this year and instead of stopping in Moses Lake for the night we were going to spend the night in Ephrata but as we got closer we discussed a change.  It was only 3PM and we didn’t want to sit in a Walmart on a very cool day and do nothing.  We knew that the next day was a 400 mile day so we decided to carry on down the road. which would make tomorrow an easier day.  So Colin drove while I scrambled with my paper maps and a few travel books to come up with plan B.   That involved a further 102 miles.

We were heading south, then west and then east. Quite the drive, including a few 2600′ mountain passes. Here we are crossing the Columbia River on I90.

We arrived in Yakima about 5:35PM, perfect timing.  Not the perfect Walmart though, not much parking for RV’s and where it was involved several semi’s.

There are many homeless living here in their vehicles. However it is a nice enough area and is well patrolled.  I needed to pick up fruit, veggies, eggs, yogurt ( great Greek stuff at a wonderful price ) and of course some wine.

A rare glimpse of the sun at the end of the day just before we arrived here in Yakima.

A long day at 337.4 miles.

Time to have a shower and hit the bed.  Tomorrow is another day with more new roads to explore.

I can’t believe that five days have flown by since my last post.  We have been going full tilt but we are almost done and ready to hit the road.   It took a bit to get the business shut down and to get paid for the jobs we completed.  At this point we have two clients who say that they will deposit their cheques into our bank.  Finger crossed.  Colin has been turning down jobs including one that came in today from our favorite winery.  That one breaks my heart.  I love being paid in wine.

I wonder if we might find this truck in our travels?

Colin came back from Winnipeg with a cold that he got from the guy in the seat behind him who coughed and sneezed the entire trip.  Fortunately he is on the mend and I thought I was getting it but it seems that I might be fine.

The girls are both 100% and have adapted to their new diet.  If anything Carmeh has much more energy then ever.  She however has been distraught with all the back and forth between the house and the RV.  She sees us packing things and then leaving.  I’m certain that each time we leave she fears that we won’t be back.  Normally we would leave the girls in the RV during our back and forth process, but the living room slide is in and there just isn’t enough room with all the ramps that need to be in place.

Just this past Tuesday I headed out to get an eyebrow and lip wax, something I do from time to time and usually before we head south.  An easy quick 15 minute stop.  Not this time.  Something went wrong, likely a combination of things.  I think the wax was extra hot and for some reason my skin had a severe reaction.  Part of the reaction was due to the facial creme I use at night to help reduce the redness of my April brown spot removal.  Well at least my face was looking good and almost back to normal.

Yes, ouch! It hurt a lot. I took Ibuprofen and applied Vaseline.  Eventually the burning stopped after 48 hours or so and now I am at the scabbing stage.  Who knows how long this is going to take to get back to normal.

Wednesday morning Colin went to get the RV to place it in front of our home.  We are allowed to park it there for three nights as long as there is room for a fire truck to get by.  Much easier to do the final loading with it right here.  Our plan is to put our two vehicles in the RV storage spot.  The golf cart stays on our driveway.  Colin was back with bad news.  Now what I thought?  The back passenger jack refused to come up.  He even dug under it and tried to pry it with a shovel.  Nada.  So we then spent about an hour calling every single mobile RV tech in town.  Our regular guy is teaching “how to be an RV tech” at the local college.  Absolutely no one could come today.  Finally one fellow called back and he could come after 2:30PM.  We were hooped.  Meanwhile I sent an email to our Mazatlan RV tech who is still here in Canada in Manitoba.  In the subject line I typed URGENT and in the body I asked him to please call Colin on his cell ASAP.  Eric called within two minutes.  Amazing.  So they decided it might be a solenoid issue and to buy one and he would fix it when we got to the Isla.  I had also called a few Camping Worlds on our route and they could not see us for a least 10 days.  Eric walked Colin thru using the slides without jacks and on how to silence the jack down alarm ( which is extremely loud and irritating ).  There is no way we could have driven with that sound.  Thank you Eric, as always, you came through for us and you are indeed the best out there.  So Colin’s next task was to get some numbers off the parts so he could pick up a new solenoid.  All I can say is that thank goodness Colin is systematic and extremely detailed.  First thing he noticed was a wire pulled out of its connection.  Turns out it was attached to the solenoid 🙄  Our theory is that the last RV tech who did the generator oil and filters change, a few weeks ago, dislodged the wire.  So we were back in business.  We finally got the RV moved about four hours later than planned.  All in the pouring rain of course.  And so the loading began.

At one point yesterday Carmeh came towards me wearing a SuperDog cape.

She had somehow managed to unbag the first bag which she was wearing and then dug into the second plastic bag of extra buckwheat hulls that we use in our pillows.  I was about to put them away.  What a mess.

All day yesterday and today was a blur of activity.  I had my final bath until mid April, pure bliss.  Then our pipes were blown out this afternoon.  As we can no longer run any water or use the toilet we are moving into the RV for the night.  It is going to be a cool 4C/39F.

Many people who stay here for the winter complain about the low cloud that hangs in the valley.

I find it interesting but then if I stayed here all winter it might become an issue. I’m sure that there must be sunny days.

Well the RV is calling and I must finish my to do list.

Just a reminder, that if you don’t want to miss one of my posts over the winter you can subscribe by email. That way each post will find its way to your inbox.  Check out the line under Home Page at the top right of my blog page to subscribe.  Barry, I mention this for you 😆

Soon this will be Colin and I on the Isla.  Enjoy each and every day to the fullest.

Finally a few hours ago, late afternoon, Colin caught up to and finished his photoshop.  He is now writing USB flash drives.  In between he can start doing some of  the things on his to do list.  I have been working on my list all day.  Tomorrow Colin is off to collect the final cheques so I can make a final bank deposit Tuesday and close the books till mid April.

Rather than cut the girls toenails we dremel them.

So the girls got the spa treatment today, toes and teeth.  We should do their teeth more often but……

Colin also power washed our Weber grill and pulled things out from under the house that need to travel South with us.  Meanwhile  I had gone through the girls extensive first aid kit, which involves about 7 boxes and got them ready to travel.  I also sorted out our first aid kit, even more extensive than the girls kit, which is likely larger than most folks. Being a former RN I do end up doing a lot of first aid on site and like to be properly prepared.  I also did 4 loads of wash in preparation for the trip, a few more closer to the end of the week.  Everything we do each day is a huge help.

If you start when your dog is young they will just lay back and let you do their nails with no issues at all.

Between the two of us Colin ended up taking a full car load to the RV and unloaded it.  Bye the way yesterday, we spent close to three hours at the insurance agency putting our two cars ( the Mercedes and the Lexus ) into storage for six months and taking our tow car, the HHR, out of storage as well as putting ICBC insurance on the RV for 7 months ( just in case we have a breakdown on the way back ).  All rather complicated but at least is works and only cost us $1500.00.  Sometime tomorrow I will have to go put everything away that Colin unloaded into the RV.  The RV is in the Park storage area and our plan is to bring the RV here in front of our home on Wednesday.  We are allowed to leave it here for three nights as long as there is enough room for a fire truck to pass by if needed.  So early Wednesday we will bring in the slides and move the RV here.  It is much easier to transfer my entire fridge and most of my kitchen to the RV when it is close to the house.  Of course moving our clothes over is easier also.  We aren’t able to put the living room slide out ( street side ) but we won’t need to.

Sadly the forecast is a pain in the you know where.  So despite the damp and wet we still have to get the job done.

I know that we have hours and hours yet in order to be ready but all we can do is as much as each day allows.  Somehow it all works out in the end.  I really do hope that the weather cooperates.

While Colin was away, Caeli spent a lot of time sleeping in a bed right next to my desk and as close to the font door as possible.

She also was reluctant to get up in the morning.

Carmeh never slept under the covers while Colin was gone and always at the top of the ramp so she could get down right away when he finally arrived.  Colin’s flight was delayed and when he walked in the door she was down that ramp so fast and seemed to fly into his arms.

The rest of the time she hung out close to the fire to stay warm.

Colin and his Mom went shopping in Winnipeg and bought the girls a lot of toys so it was a bit of a madhouse here late last night.

At her favorite place for dinner, the Fort Gary Hotel.  I think she looks fabulous for 102!

Colin had a great time with his Mom and they packed a lot into three days.

Today we got right into getting ready to hit the road.