Thursday, July 29, 2010

Elena's Trip Log: Days 128 - 148

Day 128 in Robson's Runabout (June 10)

Today, we rented Banana Bikes in the campground, and did that for a while, and after that, we went to the Academy of Science, a science museum. It was HUGE. It was very cool. Next, we went to meet Emily Moberg Robinson at there house. Mama and Emily chatted, and I did that and played with the kids. We were going to stay for dinner, but, we had to go get Dada, and when we got him, we went to get Japanese for dinner. Then, we went back to the RV, and went to bed at 10:00.


Day 129 in Robson's Runabout

Today, I got up at 7:30, and ran down to the petting farm to check on Patches. We were going to leave today, so I was disappointed that there were no babies yet. 10 minutes later, Shala got there, and we sat and waited together. I ran back once at 8:45 to get a bagel, but went back and ate it there. Shala kept herself busy cleaning stalls every two minutes, and I watched Patches. I like Shala. She's nice. We waited together all morning and sometime in there, Mama and the boys came down with a chair. They left after about 20 minutes. Finally, at 5 minutes before 12:00, the water broke, and I ran back to tell Mama, and ran back without her. I was the only person besides Shala to see the boy born. He was black and brown and tiny, because the babies are Miniature Nubian, because Balto is Miniature Dwarf and Patches is Nubian. I was hoping that it would be a quiet birth with no kids going "EWW!", but Jonah with his big mouth, told EVERYONE. 4 minutes after the boy came the girl. She was an unusual solid toffee color, and I think she was prettier. Shala LOVED the color since she gets to keep her. Shala finally told us the names: Sawyer for the boy, and Skyler for the girl. After all of the kids left, Shala let me hold Sawyer, who is really, really cute. I was the first and only kid to hold him. I don't remember much of anything that afternoon, except the petting farm, and dinner. And maybe a little bit of the pool.


Day 130 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we sadly left Petaluma and drove to Eureka and Trinidad. Nothing to report, except that we stopped at a pretty, but kinda' dull, campground.


Day 131 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we went to church in Eureka, and afterwards, took a three hour hike. That was pretty fun. When we got back to the RV, we ate dinner, and read, and went to bed.


Day 132 in Robson's Runabout

Today, Mama, the boys and I, went to the beach in search for Agates, a type of rock. We think we got a lot, if we know what agates look like. Afterwards, we all went on a walk in Redwood Grove, where Return of the Jedi was filmed, and for us Star Wars fans, that was pretty cool. After that, we drove a long way to Oregon's Humbug SP. We went out for dinner at a little seafood place, and for dessert got different types of pie slices. I got peanut butter pie. When we got back to the RV, we watched a movie, and went to bed.


Day 133 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we took an almost 5 hour hike up and down Mount Humbug. We had a picnic at the top. When we got back to the RV, Mama took a nap, and Dada took us out for ice cream at the best place I will ever go in my life. It served Umpqua ice cream, and now I have a new favorite... lucious Huckleberry Cheesecake. Yum! After that, we went back to the RV, and hung out until dinnertime. Then we ate, read, and went to bed.


Day 134 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we drove and drove to Champoeg State Historic Site. When we got there we ate dinner, and went for a nice little walk. Then, when we got back to the RV, we read and went to bed.


Day 135 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we took a tram into Portland, Oregon, and got ice cream. Then we went and met Dada's friend Paul Voas. We went and got dinner at a cool restaurant and then we went to Borders and got a few books for me to report on for school. Then, we took Paul to his car, said goodbye, and drove the hour to the RV, and went to bed.


Day 136 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we went to the little museum in Champoeg. Afterwards, we got ice cream for lunch, and then went to an aerial obstacle course called Tree to Tree. It had zip lines and loads of obstacles. I had a great time, but they only had one kids course that wasn't long. It was fun the first three times, but the other four weren't so hot. Mama and Dada got to do a lot of different courses. After that, we drove for 5-6 hours, and finally ended up in a parking lot next to a GIANT blimp hanger/air museum. Then we ate dinner, and read, and went to bed.


Day 137 in Robson's Runabout

Today, Dada, the boys and I went to the blimp hanger while Mama ran. We had originally wanted to get breakfast at the cafe when it opened, but the museum was open at ate, the cafe at 11:00. so we saw the museum, and then got "breakfast". Jay and I got muffins. Dada got bad clam chowder and Isaac got a cheeseburger. After the museum, we parked our camper at a state park, and then went to the Tillamook cheese factory. We did cheese tasting, and saw the production lines and got ice cream! It was good, but doesn't touch Umpqua. When we left, we went to a great, cabin-like, cozy shop that had lots of stuff, brie, crackers, jam, Tillamook cheese, wine tasting, everything. After that, we went back to the RV, and had shrimp and cheese and brie and bread for dinner. Then the boys went to see tidal pools, and Mama and I chatted. Afterwards, we read and went to bed.


Day 138 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we went to church, and then went to the beach. The water was cold, and it was cloudy and looked like rain, but we went in the water anyway. When we got back to the RV, Mama and Dada rested. After dinner, we watched a movie and went to bed.


Day 139 in Robson's Runabout

Today, the men and I went to the tidal pools while Mama ran. After that, we drove to a Fort Clatsop National Park, where Lewis and Clark stayed. We walked around, and then kept driving. We finally got to the park we were to stay. It was really late and I was SO tired, but we went for a walk anyway. I wanted to sleep the whole walk. We were on the Olympic Peninsula in WA. After the walk, we read and went to bed.

Day 140 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we went to the Lake Quinault Lodge and ate breakfast there. I got my first batch of sweet potato pancakes there. We sat at the same table as Teddy Roosevelt! After a delicious breakfast, we went on a walk to the biggest cedar on earth. After that, we went to see a homestead. Jonah found a snail and carried him all the way to the place. I saw so many banana slugs that day, I screamed every few seconds. After that, we went to the lodge again, after having lunch at the camper and resting and me having a terrible headache and just not feeling good, and played chess, read, I felt better, Mama got some wine, and we relaxed. The boys left in the car, and Mama and I played chess for a while. I believe I won. Then we walked back 1.7 miles back to the camper and had a nice time doing it. After dinner, we read and went to bed, but I didn't sleep. My head was even worse, and, not wanting to wake anyone up, just suffered through it. Finally, after at least three hours of getting painfully dizzy every time I turned over, and getting boiling then freezing, and thinking terrible thoughts that I didn't want to think about, I tried to get to the bathroom for a pill or something, but couldn't get out of my bunk, so I called softly for Dada who woke up the second time, and he helped me get down, felt my head, said I had a fever, got me 2 Advil and a sleeping pill, and put me in Isaac's vacant bed (he and Mama were camping out on the couch). Mama came and talked to me, and then half an hour later, I fell asleep.


Day 141 in Robson's Runabout

Today, I ate breakfast, surprisingly, but still felt terrible. We drove a while, and then stopped where we could get a ferry to Victoria, Canada. The ferry just made me worse. I had some ginger, which helped a little. When we got there, we got in our car, which we had brought, and drove to our hotel. The Queen Victoria. Then, (remember, sick people usually aren't hungry) we went to a great looking Scandinavian place. I did have my fill of Cranberry juice, bread, Schnitzel, and red cabbage, and other pickings, but it wouldn't have filled me up if I hadn't been sick. Then we walked back to the hotel, the men playing punch bug. The men went to the pool, and Mama and I chatted. When they got back, we went to bed. I slept with the help of a sleeping pill.


Day 142 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we went to The Royal British Columbia Museum after Mama ran and we got breakfast. She ran by us on the opposite street! The museum was very cool. It had Indian history and a science lab, and much more. Then we went to a rooftop restaurant, which had very good pizza that I ate because I was feeling better. Then we went back to the hotel and to the pool (I went too. Mama stayed at the room). After that, we went to a little cafe to get snacks before going to Butchart Gardens. It was beautiful there. Lots of flowers all over the place. We ate dinner at the cafe, and then went back to the hotel and to bed at 9:30-10:00.


Day 143 in Robson's Runabout

Today, I felt almost perfect. We got breakfast at the same place we had gotten Isaac's the day before. Then, Mama, the boys and I went on a Whale Watch! We saw tons of Orca Whales, and seals, cormorants, and islands. I didn't like our driver because every time a whale got close, he backed us up. The rule is "no approaching the whales" which we weren't! On the other hand, the littler boats got a yard away from a whale that came up to them! After the watch, we went to a tea place that I wanted to go to. I got a full tea service with scones, biscuits, crumpets, tea, mini quiche, lemon tart, and a few others. Then Mama went to the miniatures museum, and the men and I went to a playground and petting zoo. Then we went and met and ate dinner with the Shastma's, who Dada knew. Their guinea pig had babies, and I got to hold one. They all reminded my of Patches. Hummm. We ate pizza with them too. We had lots of fun, but we had to cut it short because we had to go get on the ferry. When we got back to the USA, we got to the camper and drove for a while and then stopped at a Walmart to sleep.

Day 144 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we moved out of the Walmart and moved into Bainbridge SP, near Seattle. We made a GIANT hopscotch of 200 squares. I did most of it. Mama and the boys helped a lot though. After that, we went to a restaurant. The clams were really good. Afterwards, we went to a viking fair. Next we went to a bakery and got dessert and breakfast there. Then we went back to the RV, read, and went to bed.


Day 145 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we took a ferry over to Seattle and then went to church after going to a used bookstore 30 minutes before church. Mama and Dada met up with Lyman and Carolyn White, who they knew from White Lake Camp. After church, they took us to lunch at a pizza place. It had great pizza. Mr. White gave us a tour of the city, showing us the bridge troll, and a great view of the city and Bainbridge. When he dropped us off at a row of shops, we took the longer way to the ferry and saw the GUM WALL!!! I've read about it, but never seen it. Jonah asked to take a piece off for himself. When we got to the ferry, we got on, and then got off when we got there, got to the car, and drove to the RV, and ate, read, and went to bed.


Day 146 in Robson's Runabout

Today, we ferried the RV over to Snohomish, where we got the trailer wheels fixed while we went to dinner. It was Happy Hour, so we got lots of appetizers. For dessert, I got Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. It was delicious. Then we went back to the RV and drove to a small RV park and took a walk. The boys ran ahead of us and hid behind a shed, but we saw them hide there and we went down a hill, and they couldn't see us. They finally gave up, came out and saw us. When we got back to the RV, we read and went to bed.


Day 147 in Robson's Runabout

Today we drove through the Cascades and ended up in Winthrop,WA. which was a cute little Western town. The drive had lots of steep mountains with glaciers on them. We found a campground and we had neighbors who had six dogs! I got to walk their pug around the campground and see everything there. His name was Otis and he was pretty cute. We had dinner at a picnic table then took a walk to the pond and river. We found an abandoned baby duck swimming around. He was pretty small, probably the runt of the litter. He was afraid of the other mother duck and larger ducklings because she chased him away every time he got near. It looked like he was running on the water. Maybe he was. After that we went back to the RV, read and went to bed.


Day 148 in Robson's Runabout

Today we walked around Winthrop and ate lunch in a saloon. The town was preserved as an older western town. ( Raised wooden sidewalks, false storefronts, old signs) After having lunch we played in a playground and drove a few hours to Leavenworth. When we got there, we found a state forest which made Dada very happy and we decided to stay for four nights over the Fourth of July weekend since it was so pretty and parking would be difficult elsewhere. We were near the Icicle River in a gorge so the mountains were so high around us. We took a walk after dinner. After the walk we went back to the camper, read and went to bed.

Show 'em how it's done Dad!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Putt Putt w Papa

We headed off for some fun w my dad now that we're in Pittsburgh.
After five and a half months of almost constant togetherness I am so thankful to say I really love being with my family.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Wonderful Wheelers!

Elena with Whiskers Wheeler.
Sadly, no pictures wth Kelly and Bob but Dave will post some kiddo
shots I'm sure. Thanks to a really special family for a lovely
overnight. Would love to host them sometime.

After five and a half months...

I am so grateful to say that I love being with these awesome people!!!!
Deryl from iPhone.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Bike by Jesse James

Apparently Jesse crafted this bike especially for Airstream after he
and wife Sandra Bullock purchased some Airstreams. One of the guys
fired it up for us but I didn't have my helmet so Deryl wouldn't let
me take it out.

Tour of Airstream

Stopped by Jackson Center, Ohio to take a tour of the Airstream plant.
Got special treatment from my college-buddy-turned-president Bob
Wheeler. Even got some tshirts and a coffee mug to remember our visit.
Staying w Bob and his family tonight since our RV is getting some
stuff fixed up.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Quilt Gardens Tour

All throughout the Amish area... Painted quilt patterns on walls and
flower gardens. Lovely idea.

Spinning

Lovely.

Sunset in Shipshewana, IN

Took a short walk after dinner as a thunder storm was brewing.

Dinner at the Essenhaus

Family style eating of good wholesome traditional country food. Choice
of 24 kinds of pie for dessert!

Dutch country Indiana

This was a garden behind an Amish-Mennonite museum that we went thru
in Middlebury, IN.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Rockin'

After a hearty meal and stroll through gardens...
What better to do at 8 pm and 90 degrees?

Mama and Elena rock!!!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Dinner w the Falks

Met up w Peter and his folks at their home outside Burlington, IN. Had
a nice visit including feeding their twenty chickens, seeing Peter's
wood shop and catching fireflies.

Huckleberry and Sawyer

We walked thru Hannibal, MO the other day which Sam Clemens (Mark
Twain) used as his setting for his famous book.

My reflection in Lincoln's mirror

Lincoln's home in Springfield, IL

Took a tour of his home and old neighborhood.

Blueberry pie? Jam? Kuchen?

Elena and Deryl picked like crazy women in 95 degree sun in a
beautiful mid Indiana field. 8 pounds later... Elena is fixated on
Barbaras Blueberry kuchen recipe so we are now in process of cleaning
and freezing. In the meantime, pancakes, smoothies, muffins

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The American Expansion

This is One baked potato blessed with a half pound of butter.
Fun fact: the state of Wyoming boasts equal amounts human and pronghorn population. 500,000.

Where's the fire boys??

This 1897 fire engine looks brand new and probably still works. The
nice thing about going to museums in small towns is that they let you
touch stuff! I also got to listen to an Edison Victrolla play an old
slate record.

Sheaffer Pen safe

Sheaffer Pens used to be based in Fort Madison. The historical museum
here had some beautiful old pens from the late 1900's and this big old
safe.

BNSF going by

This was one of six or seven freight trains that went by in the 90
minutes that we stopped at the town of Fort Madison.

For those of you, like me, who have always puzzled over how Burlington
(BN) Vermont could be connected to Santa Fe (SF) New Mexico, I have
discovered the answer: There are towns by these names along the
Mississippi.

Fort Madison, Iowa

This is a rebuilt version of the original which only lasted five years
from 1808 to 1813. Was set up to protect a trading post w the Indians
in the area but couldn't be supported cause it was so remote.

Big Steamy

For the train fans out there. The town of Fort Madison used to have a
trainyard w 20 lines due to its bridge over the Miss River. It is
still a major thoroughfare for transport via rail w over 80 freight
trains passing by per day. None of them stop here anymore.

A nice spot for lunch

Parked for a break along the Mississippi in the town of Fort Madison.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Star Trek museum

Not much to look at and it was closed.

A proud moment!!

Officially the most campy thing I've ever done.

Live long and prosper.

Birthplace of James T Kirk

According to Star Trek lore, Kirk will be born here in Riverside, IA
in the year 2228. We just had to stop by!!

For serious fans, Trek Fest is held here at the end of June every
year. Too bad we missed it.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Big bucket dump

After a daycare group left we kinda had the place to ourselves.

Fear conquered, bravery prevails!

The first words out of isaac's mouth when he saw the water slides here
were, "I am NOT going down those Dada. No way!". He stomped away and I
think expected me to force him to or have some sort of argument. After
about 20 minutes and several successful runs by Elena and he was ready
to do it.

Congrats to Izey!

Rain day alternative

We were supposed to spend our day today at an amusement park in Des
Moines but the weather forecast called for thunder and lightning all
day. So after breaking the bad news and drying a few eyes we set to
work on Deryls iPhone to find an indoor waterpark. Voilà! 100 miles
east and we're gettin' wet baby... Cudos to Apple for a great product.

Ford ahead

We drive thru this ford yesterday in the minivan but there's too much
water today after heavy rains.

Wet kids are happy kids

The river is swollen and a bit brown from last nights deluge but it
felt good and no one got swept away.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Let me clarify...

"Bridges of Madison County" by Robert Waller (?) novel and movie
starring Clint Eastwood as photographer doing a piece on bridges,
Robert and Meryl Streep as unfulfilled farm wife in mid Iowa. This,
and Hogback bridge in yesterdays post, are in Madison County, Iowa.

Roseman Bridge

Dave and kids love covered bridges which is why they opted to stay in
the van to see this one.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Madison County Fair

I think we were the only out of state license plate there. Very nice,
very authentic country fair.

Fresh squeezed lemonade!

It's HOT!!!

Topped 97 degrees in Winterset, Iowa today which is where the Pamella
State Park is that we are staying at for 3 nights. $5 water guns from
Walmart were a welcome surprise to all.

Monopoly all day

The boys got Monopoly for Elena for her birthday and today was the
first time we had to play. We started at breakfast and they are still
going at dinner.

We took a break for a couple of hours to visit the Madison County
Fair. They are all becoming very shrewd negotiators...

Monument to Lincoln

This statue sits at the highest point on Route 80 which is right near
the highest point of the old Lincoln Highway.

It's all downhill from here!!

Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway stretched from NYC to San Francisco and was the
first transcontinental road in the US. Apparently it was named for
Lincoln cause he saw that having such a road would be a natural next
step to the railroads cross crossing. The road wasn't completed until
1930's I believe. It was eventually changed to Route 30 which still
exists but 30 was largely obsoletes by Route 80.

You can still find Lincoln Highway markers along Route 30 in Wyoming
and Nebraska and other parts.

I'm no Clint Eastwood

But this came out nicely despite the high sun.

Hogback Bridge, Iowa

Friday, July 16, 2010

The artist and his subjects

The day before this photo (taken in Whitney Museum of Western Art)
Jonah had depicted these exact subjects in the mixed mediums of magic
marker and spilled juice.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Visit w the Hemphills

Had a nice visit w Bob & Cheryl Hemphill in Laramie WY. Dinner at the
park included egg salad sandwiches, chips and other good picnic stuff
like bocce ball and some wiffle bat practice. Kids ran themselves
ragged at the playground then we went back to their house for ice cream.

Celtic music in Laramie WY

Stopped in Laramie for the night to visit w friends. Had our dinner in
a park which had a duo singing Celtic music.

Another inscription

This one from 1853.

It took the pioneers about six months to travel the 2000 mile trail.
The trail was so heavily used that you can still see a depression
where it was and can see wagon wheel ruts in some places.

July 4, 1850 carving

I'm sure this wasn't the first inscription on this rock as the
petroglyphs are much older, but this is the inscription which prompted
the name Independence Rock.

Carvings

In this one little spot you can see dates of 1852, 1862,1933, and what
I am betting is 1977.

Carving at Independence Rock WY

Independence Rock

We drove to see this great historic site in the middle of Wyoming.
This rocky outcropping marked the half way point between Missouri and
the west coast on the Oregon Trail.

On July 4, 1850 a bunch of pioneers hiked up to the top and carved
their names into the rock surfaces. Hundreds and maybe thousands if
pioneers and later tourists and travellers have followed suit. The
rock surfaces are literally full of carvings but most are illegible
due to weathering and lichen growth. Still we managed to find a bunch
of very clear carvings at the top where wind keeps stuff from growing
and there is some especially hard surfaces.

Isaac must be growing up

Found him quietly reading a Star Wars chapter book. He's been totally
into it all day. I think this is the first extended time I've noticed
him so engaged.

Fossil photo