New job at a new location

St George Island is our home for the next 2.5 months and is really special.  Upscale, white sand, famous beach.  No rednecks, only millionaires. The local bar is all white and yippie/yuppie/etc. I miss my redneck group.  There are a zillion million dollar plus homes over a large part of the island. Then comes the state park which is perfect/pristine/modern/perfect! Definitely not me. But it's beautiful and I do love it. We do trash and litter control. Very easy job. No cleaning bathrooms!  There is something quite lovely about sitting in the dark and hearing the gulf waves just over a small dune. 

The dunes are very small, but remind me of our dunes - much like the small dunes at Ludington state park. 

Peaceful and overwhelmingly beautiful. Completely different than Ochlochnee River State Park - which is inland. 

Looks dirty, but the dark areas are small, low growing plants. Looking toward the populated area

Our park beach. 9 miles of perfection. 

Dunes. Little, but interesting. 

Pretty little wildflower. 

Come on down for a visit!

Back home - Sopchoppy

Beautiful evening at the city park. However, the guy who took our money wasn't going to give me a receipt. I asked for one and he ripped out the carbon copy too. Guess it went into his pocket. He was so repulsive!  Big gut, cigarette hanging out of his mouth, repulsive dishonest slug. I'm not going there again for a couple of years. Totally grossed me out!

Now we're at my fav - Ocholochonee River State Park. Peaceful, quiet, warm, gentle breeze, etc. in other words - heaven. 

Dang, life is so dang good!

Ocholochonee River so next stop. 

Moving along

Two nights on the road - staying at our favorite Cracker Barrel campgrounds. Price is right and food is awesome. Tonight we had breakfast for dinner. OMG it was way good. 

Weather is sunny and perfect - except - shouldn't Alabama be warm?  It's really cold!  Snuggle with man & dog tonight. 

Life is good!

Getting ready

Leaving on Wednesday, dec 2.  Almost ready. Roof is looking just fine. Moho is getting packed up. Police are notified about our absence. Got to do something with the mail yet. Making huge meatloaf for sandwiches on the way.    Mmmmmmmmm. I'm excited to be on our way. 

Too much stupid shit!

12K for a new roof. Huge leak in the living room. Long night ahead emptying a bucket. I hope that's the only one.  Fridge ice maker was leaking - after much frogging around, Said replaced a valve and it's working fine. Now the dish washer is leaking.  That's the third thing. Is it over?  CRAP!!!!!!!!

Welcome home!

What a mess!  Way too many acorns!  Welcome to the nut house!  It's dangerous to go on the deck. They can really hurt you. 

Deck plants all survived and really look good. They're blown around, but still thriving. Don't dare go on the deck til the acorns quit falling. Even my herbs look good. 

I feel strange coming home, but good. I have that dang latent benign vertigo again. Fell off the bed in the Moho on my tailbone. Luckily all my extra padding provided wonderful protection. I'm sore, but totally functioning. I'm a fast healer. 

We're getting a new roof!  Now isn't that just the most exciting thing you've ever purchased?  Right up there with a new washer and drier!

HOT!

96 degrees driving across Nebraska. Miserable - hot and windy as HELL!  Had to use ac, which I hate. 

View from inside our Moho at our campsite west of Lincoln, Nebraska. No, I didn't go outside the Moho - way too hot for me. Really nice campground, shady and grassy. KT and I are happy- no pickers!

Blew a fuse last night - my first time. I don't know why!  Just because we had the AC, induction hot plate, 2 tvs, water heater, fridge - I turned on the microwave and poof - it all stopped. Just because we both have masters degrees doesn't mean we're smart. 

Going to try to get to Amana tomorrow. I need some beef sausage and a good steak and a prime rib and .. .  .  ...  .

The campground last night gave use two Andes mint with a note that said:  You brought your five star hotel, here are the mints for your pillows. KT got two doggie biscuits with the following:  Please keep your owner on a leash and make him clean your messes.   Pretty clever. 

Beautiful sunset

Moving along

Finished Wyoming and are in Chappell, Nebraska, tonight. I refuse to do highway 80 ever again. Few if any real mountains. Medicine Bow came closest, but was too far away. I was so hungry for trees and green. Either 90 or beautiful 70 from now on. KT and I are tired of picking up these pickers - like rose bush pickers.  He really hates going for walks. It's either pickers, picky grass, or hot cement. I think he's ready for Michigan. 

My motley traveling buddies. 

Homeward

Left Crescent City and went west on the Redwood Highway - great drive - mountains and really curvy. I love mountain driving. Western Oregon on 140 was dry, sometimes curvy driving. A bit monotonous. Nevada high desert - never mind. Did a little gambling and won/lost. Spent too many nights on cement at truck stops.  The salt flats and mining were fascinating. Workers had little trailer villages and some company housing - all were not nice. I don't think gold mining is a high paying job. Lots of gold mines and other mineral mines in northern Nevada along 80. 

Three days of high desert - KT and I need some green trees and grass. We've had enough dust, dirt, rocks, dried grass, and picky dead plants. 

Problems with the towing lights. Said is learning a lot. Camping world in Salt Lake had no time for us and I don't want just anyone messing with the moho.  So Said is messing around with the system. We'll see.  Spending a lot of time on this problem and not as much time on the road. 

One day of rain the whole trip. Unfortunately, it was at San Juan County Park, the one night we were there. 

We're at Little America on 80 in Wyoming while Said frogs around with the  system

OMG. It just gets better!

REDWOODS!  Tallest trees in the world!  Staying in Jedediah Smith State/National Park. Peaceful beyond anything. Our campsite is perfect.   Trees can be almost 400 feet tall and 26 feet in diameter.  HUGE!!

The little tree in the distance has branches that look like angels wings. The Smith river, in the distance, is the only River in California to not have a dam built on it.  That amazing and surprising.  It is glasslike clear. I see fish jumping. Pretty special. 

 It's also the second cleanest.  It's clear all the way across even though it's 6-10 feet deep. 

Leaves are falling on the Moho like rain. 

Thought I lost my wallet - bathroom floor under a towel. Had already cancelled my credit cards.  Nice, uh?

Today, Sunday, we're staying in Crescent City, right on the bay/ocean. Beautiful view. Catching up with tech stuff and washing clothes. Leaving for home tomorrow. Sniff. Our colds are slowly getting better. Sure was an unpleasant/unexpected surprise. 

View from our campsite. 

Well, it got better!

Not my cold, unfortunately. Sniff-snort-sneeze-cough!

There are no words - from Florence, Oregon, to Crescent City, California.

SW view from our campsite 

NW view from our campsite. Lots of seals to the left on a spit of land.  Fun watching them cavort in the water. 

Wonderful spot. 

Oregonian coast

Ferry to Fort Townsend.  Attempted to ask a silver artist to make another fish bracelet for me. Haven't heard from her. Still hoping she'll do it. 

Stayed overnight at Little Creek Casino. Very nice campground.  Won, lost, etc. 

Stayed at Fort Stevens in a beautiful spot. The bushes and shrubs growing naturally look like stuff we pay money for.  (Sorry about ending with the preposition.)

You must do highway 101 down the Oregon coast. Lots of curves and ups and downs - I love that kind of driving. You just have to see it to understand how beautiful it is.

Pictures are not even close to reality. 

Peaceful, relaxing, night in a campsite somewhere south of Florence, Oregon. 

I love the Pacific Ocean. 

 

Anacortes Oyster Run

Forget the oysters - Said was disappointed - there weren't any. Just the biggest motorcycle gathering in the northwest!  I MEAN BIG!  More bikes than our Muskegon Bike Time. It was a serious bike thing. Not a party thing. One small beer tent with a band, the rest was acres of bikes and bikers. No party, just bikes. One day, Sunday, from 9 am to 3 pm.  Everything was gone by 5 pm. Amazing!

Bikes on Main Street. 

My dream bike. (Looks like KT's eyes when he's angry)

Our campsite at the marina. Clouds are awesome. 

Cute guy I picked up in Anacortes. Kind of a hippy kind of guy.  Love him a lot. 

Always time for flowers. Bought them at the Anecortes farmers market for $10. Pretty!

Leaving our favorite town and heading to Port Townsend by ferry, then onward to points south. Who knows where we'll end up!  Too many beautiful spots to look forward to. The San Juans just about beautifulled us out.  However, we will survive and push onward. 

Orcas Island

Campsite at Moran State Park.   Good life? Eh?  Having beef ribs over campfire tonight. 

Now that is a HUGE cedar tree. 

View from Mt Constitution/Moran State Park/Orcas Island. Mount Baker in the distance. Beautiful drive up to the top. Built by CCC guys in the old style. One lane bridges and a tall tower to climb at the top. 

Both of us weren't feeling good during the night after mixing our drinks and ice cream.  Beer, rum and coke, and tillimook mint chocolate chip ice cream just don't go together.  Ugh!

HEY! TUCK!

HUH?

Fun day - for a while

Spent the day exploring the island. Way too many huge, beautiful homes overlooking breathtaking island views. Drives along the shoreline were great. Stopped and observed orcas at several places. Great lunch at home with smoked salmon, crackers, cream cheese, and local wine. 

All went well til our dinner at a renowned Netherland chef's pizza joint. Two 12 inch pizzas and 4 beers came to $68!!!!  We need to be careful - we don't have that kind of money to waste on pizza and beer.  There went my great salmon meal at a great restaurant!  DANG!

Nirvana - perhaps my way of life

San Juan County Park is just a piece of heaven. We could only stay one night cuz the campground was full. Had the premo spot - site 15. Primitive camping, no phone/internet/etc, but who needed it. It was pooring rain - who cares - it was still breathtaking. Makes me cry it's so awesome. Vancouver island to the west and the Olympic mountains visible to the south. 

Vancouver island in the distance. Watched a variety of salty ships go by. Container ships to HUGE cruise boats. 

Raining outside. Time for smoked salmon, creamed cheese, crackers, and garlic stuffed olives and rum and coke.  Mmmmmmm!

Black fox, size of a large cat, followed kt and I on our walk. He's a pet to the campers - obviously, they feed him. I NEVER feed wild critters!  So dangerous for them. 

Tonight we're at the fairgrounds in Friday harbor. Close to all the tourist junk and trash stores. We have power, water, wifi, 35 channels on TV, plus Saids satalite stuff.  Lots of places to visit tomorrow. 

View from our campsite, facing southwest.  Pretty dang nice. 

Another - life is good kind of day. 

Making plans

Making plans over the campfire. We'll see just how close we end up following them. 

Sunday, ferry to Friday harbor and San Juan island county park - watching orcas swim past everyday and eating French pastries. Then orcas Island and Moran state park for two nights. Said wants to be back for the Oyster Run in anecortes on the 27th. Lots of oysters and motorcycles. Have no idea where we'll stay!  

We've just fallen back in love with antecortes. Beautiful place to live. Beautiful place to spend a week. Found a little out of the way bakery/restaurant/store that has the best bread I've ever eaten. Garlic herb monkey bread. You just grab a chunk and eat it. Was awesome dipped in my potato soup. 

Next we'll take a ferry to port Townsend and do the western part of the Olympic peninsula. Rain forests and slugs, here we come. After that, Oregon and on to the redwoods.   I am in heaven!  Please let it never end. 

King Tucker is being the best dog ever. Enjoying everything. However, the charcoal he ate out of the fire pit left him feeling poorly. Pooped black twice. Had a very dirty, charcoal smeared face - should have taken a picture of his clown face. Silly boy.  Feels better today. 

Anacortes - coolville

View from Washington park. 

View from one side of mt Erie. 

Enjoyed our drive on 90 through the mountains and enjoyed spectacular views of the Columbia River. It is imposing. 

We arrived at our semi destination, Anacortes, WA. Its changed so much in the last 35 years. Very upscale - or, I'm really downscale. Lots of beautiful hillside homes, immaculately manicured lawns, still a lot of maritime activities like big ship repair and a zillion yachts. Missing is my favorite French restaurant and a French Bakery. However, they have some small businesses that try to fill their niche. Of course, the Safeway is quite upscale and interesting. They don't have a walmart, but the do have chain gas stations and Ace hardware. Wonder how the kept walmart 21 miles away and Whitehall can't. Bigger money? 

Spent today exploring the area, Mt Erie and another high place and the waterfront. 

Staying in Washington Park to regroup. Tall trees and very little sun getting through, rainforest.  I love it. Smells so good and the salt water is just a stones throw away.  We three are happy.  Well, Said would like to chop a few trees down to get his satalite TV, but he's making the best of it. 

KT our mountain dog. 

Oops! Lost a day!

Said catching our dinner!

Janey eating the trout Said caught. 

Somehow I lost a day - can't remember where we spent a night. It's Saturday and I thought it was Friday. The joys of relaxed traveling.  Does it really matter what day it is - or what time it is?

38 degrees this am!  Brrrrrr!  However, were toasty in our little Coco Moho. We're staying inside - we're not in a hurry. 

FOUND MY LOST DAY!  Forgot we spent a day and night in Amana. Visited old memories. It was fun. Bought some stuff at the meat market.  Mmmmmm!