Amazing Ride

 We left Green River campground knowing we would stay at a motel in Elko, NV instead of camping. The desert is just too hot......yes, we are spoiled with air conditioning!   

Because we knew our trip would be shorter this would give us chance to spend some time in Salt Lake City. We decided on a 90 minute bus tour. It gave is an overview of the city. Interesting history and a spectacular place.

The rest of the drive yesterday and today's was just straight through to to our destination.

I am including pictures to give you an idea of our amazing drive.

Layers of mountains

Color of mountains go from buff to red.

Our best view if the Great Salt Lake. We could see it in the distance and it went on which seemed like forever.

Morton salt factory. You can see the little girl with the umbrella in front but I didn't get my iPad camera out in time.

The Salt Flats. 

The printing is a reflection off the car somehow.

It made me think of the movie "World Fastest Indian".If you haven't seen the movie you should. Thanks Mac and Jo for introducing it to us.

Recorded,top speeds are over 600 mph.

California! Lodge pole pines.

Pioneer RV Park. Quincy, California. 

Tomorrow we head for the redwoods near Arcata, California. 

It has been two great days of enjoying the sights of our great and grand  country!

Heading Toward the Desert

Gary and I where looking forward to seeing new country once we got out of Colorado.

We passed a sign for the exit for Fruita, Colorado.  At the sametime we said,, "That is where we left our camper when we took a three day raft ride down the Colorado River. One of our favorite trips. This was in the late 80's. So we had been in this area after all.

Once we were in Utah we knew we were in new territory .

One of the views as we were traveling down the road.

Gary is relaxing. It is 97 degrees. When you sit in the shade, as Gary is doing, it is not so bad.

He has a fan on him but no visible in the picture. It will be a cool night. It will be a cool 73! Lol

Are we have fun? You betcha!

On Our Way

Started at 7:00

I am checking out to see what my"Magic Box" can let me do without an internet connection. Gary is concentrating on his driving. 

Much to my surprise I can do a lot more than what I thought I could do. Picture taking and writing in my blog was one of those surprises. I just can not publish the blog.

Right now we are at the Dakota Ridge RV Resort outside of Golden Colorado.

Our trip went will but it was pretty windy. It was my turn to drive and as I went to pass a truck its jet stream caused the camper to weave more than I wanted it to....a little unnerving. Other than that and in spite of the wind,the camper just follow us like a little puppy dog!

Gary did have to tie down the propane bottles more securely with a strap he just happened to bring along. He is so good with that kind of thing. He seems to have what we need whether he means to or not.

We have eaten , had a walk, showered and now ready to call it a day. I am looking forward to a good nites. sleep......just hope the wind calms down.

Waiting to be Packed in the Camper

Our pantry

Our cabinets 

More storage

Our chest of drawers waiting for the last things to be placed in them.

All of this is waiting to be placed in the camper tomorrow. Once we get settled in our camper at the campsite each container has its place. The "chest of drawers" will be placed on the back of our beds for easy access as well as acting as a night stand. Some of the things in the "cabinets" will be on the shelves Gary has made. The rest remains in the tubs sitting on cabinet tops to have at hand when we need whatever is in that particular tub. 

Hard to imagine looking at the pictures that anything is actually organized but it is and once placed in the camper to be used it is all is very handy.

I am eager to show you how it is all set up once we get to the campsite in Oregon.

One more day and one more night before we will finally be on the road! 👯 👯

Passports

Passports you say?

Gary and I are trying to think ahead. Who knows when we will be this close to Canada again. So just in case we decide to venture on up that way we will have our passports in hand.

I had often wondered what the process was to get one so this was an adventure to me of its self. We got the forms off the internet, filled them out and headed for WSU campus. We had an address but couldn't locate it. We asked one gentleman and he tried to be helpful but still no luck in finding where we needed to go. Finally we called and were told it was in the building with the distinctive clock tower.

WooHoo found it.....well, after we flagged down an officer to helped us get through construction.

The clock tower building was Morrison Hall. Once there everything went smoothly and quickly. There was no line and a friendly young man took our pictures and lead us through the process.

The WSU campus is another one of those surprises about Wichita after being gone from it for 15 years. It has changed quite a bit since I graduated from there. In that time it was more a commuters college where now it feels and looks more like a traditional University.

Our goal tomorrow is to get the camper all put back together and put back into the garage until we are ready to pack it. That time is coming quickly. Then we can enjoy the rest of the day and celebrate the FOURTH OF JULY.

Many Titles

Over the years I have had many titles because of what I was doing at the time. Titles such as: soda jerk and clerk.....a high schooler working at the drug store.....teacher, many years of that awesome title....Director of Children Ministry and Lector.......all with church........clinic receptionist, for Franklin Foundation Hospital. There may be more but those are the ones that come to mind.

This afternoon I was privy to receive a new one.  Laminator's Assistant. 

We are now working on the sink counter top. We only made three trips to Menards to finally figure the best way to make this. Finally Gary decided it would be best to use the board we have at home and just attach a piece of laminate on top of it. 

We painted special glue on top of the board and on the back of the laminate. After it set we placed narrow pieces of wood across the glued top of the board and place the glued side of the laminate on top of them. We were able to do this because it is the glued sides that stick together. So as Gary pressed the the laminate down the laminator assistant..me..pulled the pieces of wood out. Gary pressed and I pulled out the wood pieces down the length of the counter top until  the laminate and the top of the board were stuck together. Than Gary took a j-bar and rolled it several time over the piece to hold it glued securely. Behold a counter top!

Laminator and Laminator Assistant were successful. See below.

23 days Before Trip to Oregon

Time is getting closer for our Oregon trip. We are excited and are getting ready. Gary has already spent a week or more getting the inside of the camper more comfortable for our six weeks trip to the coast of Oregon.

We are going to the coast of Oregon to be docents at the Heceta Head lighthouse.  It is just north of Florence which is west of Eugene Oregon. It is one of the most photographed lighthouses along the Oregon coast. It is a working light house using a first order Fresnel lens. It cast a beam of light reaching 21 miles out to the Pacific Ocean.

Gary made a box for his shoes as well as a step up to his bed.

This is my step up he made. My shoes will be placed in the side cabinet. The door will be replaced.

With all the hiking, biking, and shoes for special occasions we think we need a variety and need a place to put them......well you know how I am about shoes.  Need I say more.

Note the template. Actually it is the old countertop. Since we removed the gas stove and wanted more space on the counter we decided to go with a new one using the old one to measure the placement of the sink. Besides Gary loves using his tools so why not!

As Gary always says after each job is figured out and / or completed "we are getting there". 

Just 23 more days!