Days 1-5: Traveling to US/Canada border...

These shots are abit out of sequence... the first several shots are in WA (Birch Bay SP) near the Canadian border; the rig is (nearly) wrapped around and thru the trees --- it took awhile to get into this spot, BUT, no one (and nothing) got hurt -- what a beautiful site. Birch Bay is a gateway to the ocean; we encountered a survey crew digging for shell fish of all types (clams, mostly) -- they use the results to set season and license limits for harvesting within the limits of the population.

This shot shows Fannie driving, as we're heading north to our first stop, at Corning, CA -- the olive capital; we arrived too late (Saturday afternoon) to shop, and needed to attend church the next morning (anyway), so we parked at the Flying J for the night (shouda went to the Indian casino a couple miles down the road, as their big sign advertised "overnight parking for RV's'... The preceding shot is Fannie at the Oregon (Valley of the Rogue River SP), our Sunday layover.

Here, we stopped at Federal Way, WA (visiting Rick Palmer, who disappeared before this shot of Patricia and Denise -- Patricia in the passenger seat).

Here you see the shots at Birch Bay --- looks gloomy, but the weather was still quite nice, not rainy yet (until later, once we get into BC --- it's raining now, it's Tues, in middle of BC).

We're in a nice spot at Smithers, BC --- high-speed Wi-Fi -- and a head-on view of the Twin Falls Glacier... picture follows. (Yeah, I know -- I skipped forward past our visit to Williams Lake and the 2-hour visit with the Canadian Customs Agents on the border; we're convinced they just wanted to check out the rig, as we draw alot of attention with this combo-unit!)

Will add some more, as I get the pics uploaded -- AND learn how to use this more efficiently.

We will head to Prince Rupert, today; a day earlier than planned -- due to (a) the Ksan totem pole exhibits were trucked to higher ground a couple weeks ago (because of heavy rains and mudslides), and (b) we want to get past the mudslide area, which just re-opened after a week of closure,,, and it's got alternating one-lane traffic with delays,,, so, we're anxious to be at the ferry. Should have Wi-Fi again, in Prince Rupert, so can get this better organized, there.

p.s. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANET! Hope you got our card, by now (mailed from Lynden, WA).

June 5 -- Day N-minus-4

We both got busy with work-related issues during summer of 2006 (Karen closing down a quilt shop, Don working in Seattle and helping Mikey & Shauna move to PHX),,, so, one more year delay lead to now. We both got new RV's this year, 4-season rigs, so we will no longer be constrained to full-hookups when the temps become extreme!

Three days to lift-off; we're just about finished resolving all the major issues -- minor ones will be left by the side of the road!

My DMV drive-test got post-poned (again) when the examiner saw we had what looks like a big-rig tractor she said I needed to pass a written test on air brakes, just like the CDL people. BUT, actually, it's legal description is a house-car because of the irreversible modifications to it -- so, it is NOT a commercial vehicle of any type; so, when I went back into the office to ask about the air brake test, the boss of examiners asked to see the vehicle and upon seeing it and the registration, he advised me I *do* qualify for non-commercial class A test, without taking the written air brake test --- Hurray! Net result was, he found an examiner to administer the "pre-trip inspection" test; the drive test had to be rescheduled, so am set to take it on Wed (tomorrow).... this is the last big hurdle to "getting outta Dodge". On the GOOD news front, I passed the pre-trip test and Fannie passed the written & vision exams --- so, we both have "permit" paperwork to tow the heavy trailer (like a learner's permit), good for one year.

Packing the new rig is well under way; this part we've done many times, BUT this time we gotta remember all the NEW places we've put our things -- and HOPE to remember the essentials of cold-weather layering, since we learned last w/e that British Columbia is having a heat-wave, they're getting up to 32 Celsius (that's like 95 F). ALSO, there are BIG bugs up in AK this time of year --- we've been warned!

THIS IS A TEST... JUST TO SEE IF ALL THIS WORKS.