June 10th

This morning I had to work until 1:00PM, and then it was time for us to do something that we needed to do.  First the weather has been really pretty good the last few days, other than the wind it has been great.  We are hoping that come tomorrow the wind is not blowing so hard and we will head out for a ride in the dunes.  The sand really is smooth and I am looking forward to the ride.  I think we may even try taking Turbo out with us.  I hope that will not be a mistake.  We hope he likes riding with us.  Cyndy thinks taking Turbo I will not get to crazy out there.

Now back to what we wanted to do this afternoon, we have been trying to find a place that can serve a good bowl of clam chowder.  So off to Florence we went looking for a great bowl of clam chowder.  What a great drive the sun is out and the wind is still blowing!!!! 

When we got to Florence we went to Fred Meyer’s to see if they had any sockeye salmon, as always we were late.  They had closed down the fishing in Alaska and they sold the last fish about 20 minutes ago.  Oh well, they had Halibut so we got 4 pounds of it instead.  Sure miss going to Alaska and fishing for fresh Halibut, maybe next year if not for sure in 2015.  I think we are going to head up there in late May and stay through the Sockeye run in July on the Kenya River.  Its nice to dream about a trip like that and I know we will be going again very soon.

Ok, we were in Florence to find a good, no great bowl of Chowder.  So we went to our favorite place MO’s, and had a big bowl of chowder.  The only place we have found that you at least get potatoes and clams, along with a little bacon and onions in the soup and have it nice and creamy base.  It was almost as good as mine, I am going to have to break down and make a pot of chowder this next week. 

All I have left to say is hope you had a great day also!!!!

June 4th

What a day, the weather is great, suns out and no rain.  I got up this morning and took the truck in for its oil change and look over, I call it the truck doctor.  They gave me a good report and said see you in another 5000 miles.  Its good when the truck comes out without a major problem.  I think next time I will need to do the read brakes.
Here is a picture of the nice wind block we have for the trailer.

 

Not a bad wind block, the wind blows out of the north 90% of the time so we are well protected.  The bad thing or maybe the good thing we are close to work.  Also the other good thing is I have a nice big shop to park my RZR in.

We are also real close to the dunes, like 100 yards away.  It is easy to go out for a short ride after a days work or on our day off.

 

We took a drive today, it is something Cyndy & I like to do when new to and area.  SO today we went to Charleston to explore the area and see what is there.

 



 First stop is always the visitors center, Cyndy likes to go into these place and find out were the neat places are and good stores to shop in.

 

 Me I like to take pictures, I found Charlie the tuna!!!!
Next stop was heading out to Sunset Bay State Park.  It is only a couple of miles out side of Charleston.  We really like exploring the Oregon coast.  As you can see in the following pictures we found some neat spots.
Our first stops was at the end of the park called Cape Arago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The view was great from this area, next we head to Simpson Reef Lookout.  We could hear the Sea Lions barking when looking out from Cape Arago.  But when we got to the lookout they were really loud.

 

They were enjoying the nice sunny day.

Here are a couple more pictures of the rocks along the coast line.  It is amazing how much the sea and mother nature works against this shore line.  It is just beautiful what mother nature gives us to look at.

 

 I can set here all day and watch the waves role in over the rocks and break up hitting the shore line.
We also found Cape Arago Lighthouse today.

 

 

 Cape Arago Lighthouse stands 100 feet above the ocean on an inlet just off Gregory Point. Light atop 44-foot high tower illuminated in 1934. Although newest in terms of service, earlier structures were built on site in 1866 and 1908, both succumbing to weather and erosion.  We are hope to see more of the lighthouse's that are along the Oregon coast this summer. 
On our way back through Charleston we stopped to try out a Restaurants in the area, we have been trying to find one that has good fish and chips, along with a good bowl of clam chowder.  Today we tried the Sea Basket, (we rate our food from 1 to 10, 10 being real good)  the chowder was a 1, the fish was a 4 and the chips were a 6.  Food was hot, service was good.  So far we have not found any clam chowder that is as good as the one I put together, but Mo's comes close.  I like to be able to at least have clams and potatoes in every spoon full, or at least one of them.  So I guess I am going to have to make up some clam chowder in the next week so I know what is good.
Tomorrow we are going on a road trip to Roseburg for a couple of things from Costco and check out a few more places.

 

 



June 3rd

We have settled in to the routine of weekend working and weekdays off.  Today we closed up the store at 1:00 PM; know business so why spend their money on wages. 

I have wanted to try something with the paddle tires, by offsetting them a little.  After doing that Cyndy and I went for a ride.  I knew it was a little windy, but this was plan crazy.  We head down to the other shop and it was blowing in our face all the way there.   Dropped off some paper work and headed back.  It wasn’t as bad going back with the wind to our back.  The sand is really smooth which makes the ride great.  Just wish the wind would die down a little when I wanted to go riding.  Smooth sand and wind go hand in hand.

Tomorrow we are going to play around a little after I get the trucks oil change done.  Got to keep up on maintains thing.  We are going to do a little exploring around the area.  Just one more thing, Cyndy likes where we are parked, will take pictures and show you tomorrow.  We have a great wind block out of the north!!!

May 30th

I found the camera, and low and behold even found some pictures that I have been wanting to post.  The first is of Dennis and me sitting by the shop talking about what we are going to be doing next.

 As you can see Turbo is even getting into this resting period, before we take on the next major project.  Don't want to rush into anything.

Morgan is enjoying her food, hurry up mom I am staving.  She just can't wait tell that next bit!!!
We enjoyed our time with our grand kids while we were home.

Papa giving his little girl a kiss, what a ham.  These two just make you smile when there eyes light up when they see us. 
We have been here in the dunes now for a week and I have a few pictures of when our daughter and her family was here last weekend.  We finally got out with them on the last day they were here.

Look out Jared, Ty is coming over the hill.  He really likes these bowls.

Here we are following Janice and Jared, the rest are some where in front of us.
These boys sometimes take us places Cyndy wished we didn't go.

I think I can make it, know problem with the new tires.  Got to like the paddle tires!!!

Ok, we are not following this time. 

We had a great time out riding with the kids.  It was nice to see our young grandson doing so well on his bike.  Keep up the great job Jared.  We are looking forward to when they come back for another long weekend. 
We are going to enjoy some nice weather the next few days as the sun is going to be showing its self.

May 27th

Today has been a great day, when you can walk up to a total stranger that has serviced in the military and say Thank-You for keeping our freedom.  I know I feel good when I can make a service man or woman smile by doing this.  Not only by just doing it on this special day, but try doing it every time you see a service personal.  Freedom is earned, it’s not a given.  We must also remember all of our past fallen service personal, stop for a minute and give them a moment of silent’s they gave us freedom of speech for their life!!

   We are thankful to be full timers and see a lot of this great country.  Sometimes we have to put things on hold but we are planning to hit the road again very soon.  We are currently near Coos Bay, OR, and will be here all summer.  Hope to get some good pictures of the coast and travel a little bit around this area exploring.  Yes, we are still working for Steve’s ATV Rental, and we are helping open another new store here at Box Car at the Oregon Dunes.  If you are planning to be in the area look us up, might be able to get you a tour of the dunes!!!!!

May 21st

It is hard to believe, we are getting ready to move.  Cyndy has been busy sewing panels for Denny’s train room.  She has also been busy getting the rig ready for its move to Coos Bay.  I have gotten the trailer waxed, water heater flushed.

This is what happens to an anode rod for the water heater after 7 months in the desert.  This is the worst I have ever had.  I will keep a better eye on it next year.  Cleaned the bays out and put everything back in place.  Had to see what was in there and move things around.  Did move a couple of things into storage, the next place it goes is the garbage or to the kids.  Also got the tool boxes in the truck cleaned out also, must have been in a real cleaning mood.  I think that is about all the cleaning I am going to do!!!!

Tomorrow we take the trailer in to have the wheel bearings re-packed and the trailer will be ready for another year of traveling.  Then we bring it back to Dennis & Rose’s to load the RZR and rest of the stuff we need.  Then on Thursday it is off to our summer home of just outside of Coos Bay, OR.  SO if you are planning to drive 101 north or south let us know and we will try and make time to visit a little.  We will be working part time for Steve’s ATV Rental running a store at the south end of the dunes this year.  This is the first year of its opening so we get to work all the bugs out of it.  Should be fun!  Then we have the wide open dunes just 100 yard from where we are staying.  By the way there is a RV park right next to our store here!!!

May 13th

We have been home for just about 2 weeks and today it finally happened, it has been since February that we have been in rain.  Almost forgot what it sounded like on top of the coach.  At first I thought it was a heard of birds but then looked outside and the ground was wet.  Looked for a sprinkler, but did not see one so it must be the sky is falling in big rain drops.  Here in Spanaway they really need the rain, everything is dry and the wet weather is needed.

I have got the RZR just about ready for the san d dunes, all I have left is to mount the sand paddle tires on their rims.  I have to do that when we get down to Coos Bay.  Started waxing the trailer still has 3 sides to do.  Hope I can get it done by the time we leave next week.  The truck will be ready after I get to Les Schwab and have the rear shock fixed, need a new mount and it will be in on Friday.

Cyndy had a fair Mom’s day; she did get to see both kids and grand kids.  But she seem to have come down with a bug of some kind, anyway today she is doing a lot better.  We have just over a week left then it is off to Coos Bay for the summer.  I am looking forward to it and Cyndy is kind of looking forward to it.  As a Nana, a lot of you can relate to this, she misses the grand kids!!!!  Ok, it is time to get back to wax on wax off!!!!!!!