As usual we only post about every ten days. The last ten days have been very busy with lots of sight seeing and touring. After leaving Coyote rock we stayed three days in Vancouver, Washington visiting with my high school buddy Tom Davis and his wife Ann.
We stayed at the Elks lodge about 3 miles from his house. While we were there they took us sight seeing up the Columbia River and to several beautiful waterfalls on the Oregon side and then the next day to a replica of Fort Vancouver that was a trading post for the Hudson Bay company.
Us in front of one of the many waterfalls
Tom and Ann Davis
Some of the beautiful flowers in front of Tom and Ann's house
Inside Fort

We left Vancouver on Friday and drove back to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum where the Spruce Goose aircraft built by Howard Hughes is now on display. I just had to see such a famous airplane.
Right wing of Spruce Goose
We left Saturday morning for Astoria, Oregon where winter quarters for Lewis and Clark is located. There is also a wonderful Maritime museum there so we spent Saturday and Sunday getting a history lesson.
Winter quarters where Lewis spent winter on west coast
A real 44' that worked the Mouth of the Columbia not only was she rolled over many times she was once pitched poled and survived
Trolly we rode for a dollar
Monday we drove up the Washington coast to Port Angeles, Washington where we spent a night and went to see the movie, Angels and Demons.
Tuesday we drove to Bremerton, Washington where we are now parked at an Elks lodge. We have found a great bird shop to leave the parrots while we are on the cruise ship. We have now toured down town Seattle a little bit.
Famous Fish Market where they throw fish in Seattle
We came back to the 5th wheel and our friends from LA that are going on the cruise with us were here so had dinner together and played dominos last night.

The next posting will be from the Norwegian Pearl as we sail the Inland Passage to Alaska.

Napa Valley

We left Travis Air Force on Tuesday 5th of May one week ago today after touring Wine country in Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

We only drove about 50 miles to Petaluma Coast Guard Training center. This was a beautiful little Base with a small campground and lots of Canadian geese.
Local Neighbors at Petaluma
Spent two days getting out very little as it was overcast and rainy. Left on Thursday and drove up the California coast about 150 miles and stayed at a RV Park right on a beach. It was expensive but beautiful. Had a nice walk along the beach.
Gordon on Beach Northern California
Left the next morning continuing up the coast into Redwood country. Coming off the coast drove some of the worst Highway yet encountered. As we rejoined US 101, we saw and followed signs to the Redwood tree that you can drive a car through. The girl in the gift shop said the drive through was carved in the 1930’s. It doesn’t seem to have hurt the tree that is now 2400 years old.
Truck wouldn't fit
Leaving there we continued north driving the Avenue of the Giants through the largest and oldest living things on earth. Redwood trees!
Would make a lot of Toothpicks
Stopped for three days in Smith River, California just three miles south of the Oregon border.
Smith River Campground
We had mail coming in and had to wait for it and go out for Mothers Day.
Both boys called Jayne, that just made her day. On Monday continued up the Oregon coast. Stopped in Port of Newport and went through the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
Had Hitch-hikers when we left Aquarium
A very nice Aquarium ranked in the top ten. We then went up the coast another 20 miles to a beautiful RV Park called Coyote Rock right on a river.
Coyote Rock rough life some one has to do it

After leaving Grand Junction, CO we drove all day to Ely, Nevada and stayed at an Elks Lodge. Walked over to a casino for dinner and a little blackjack. Rain turned to snow and we awoke to freezing weather.

April 25th 2009

Hurriedly getting underway we headed for California. Arrived at June Lake around 4 pm and stayed a couple of days.

June Lake with Sierras in background
Beautiful camp ground

We tried to get to Yosemite but all roads were closed until Memorial Day. So, we wound up in Sacramento at Travis Air Force Base. Here we sit trying to get over a bad cold. Hope to get in some touring at Napa Valley Wine country this 1st day of May. However, it appears rain is headed our way, so we’ll see.