Seattle, WA

In my last post I failed to mention one of my blunders.  On the morning of the 28 th before leaving I started the Honda and ran it through the gears as called for and let it run, supposed to be 3 minutes. We went on down the road had the flat tire, had it worked on and then drove to Tacoma Elks.  When I started to unhook for the day, I finally noticed the engine was still running---Duh.  Fortunately  nothing was harmed.  Had I used the brakes on the car while towing it could have caused some real problems because the vacuum booster is supposed to be depleted before using the brake.  Live and learn.

Yesterday we moved to the Burien Elk's and today we took the bus into downtown Seattle.  We got quite a tour of the city stopping numerous times.    We visited Pikes Market, where they sell a little of everything, probably a hundred or more vendors.  There were lots of street musicians and other entertainers.

We went on a tour of the Seattle underground, where a portion of the city is built on  top of the old city.  It was very interesting and lasting almost 2 hours.  We got back on the bus for the 45 minute ride back to the motorhome.

Tomorrow we meet the people we plan to  travel with for the first time.

Getting there

5-28-09

We  did stay a second day in Keizer and visited  Margaret's nephew Brett and his wife Patty, we don't see them often so it was an enjoyable evening.  They just got a new Pug puppy and he is into everything including chewing my shoes, a very cute pup.

Just before we left home I received a letter from Terry Bell who worked with me in the drug unit during the 70's, I hadn't seen him in 15 or 20 years.  Since we had his address from the letter I called him after finding his number with the computer.  We were invited to their home for Pizza and drinks.  We had a good visit recalling old time and lots of old stories, he even had some old pictures.  Terry was one of the most reliable men I ever worked with and it was very good seeing him and his wife Marti after all those years.  He wanted me to say hello to his friends from back in the day,

In January of 2009 we were in Quartzite at an RV show and I brought some tire pressure monitors for the MH and the tow car, it seemed like a good idea for the trip to Alaska.  Well today it paid off, we were cruising now the road and all of a sudden the alarm on the monitor came on  indicating something was wrong.  Margare determined  that the inside  dual on the passenger side was going flat.  Fortunately we were approaching a rest stop and pulled in.  We called for a service truck and 45 minutes later they showed up.  They checked the outside of the tire and found nothing, then dismounted the tire and checked the inside which was also OK.  He finally determined it was the valve stem.  So it appears the monitors probably paid for themselves today.  

We are spending the night at the Elk's in Tacoma, WA.  They have a beautiful facility.  It has 3 levels and includes a bar, nice dance floor, a sauna, a compete workout room and a professional  pool table, swimming pool and bowling alley  We had a nice dinner .  They also have 4000 members.  The RV parking is a flat spot in the parking lot.  The only hookup I saw was electric.

We left home at 9:00 AM on 5-24-09, we made it almost 1/2 mile when Margaret remembered we had left her purse and both our passports behind.  We returned home and she found her purse but no passports, we did find the copies and fortunately we both have the passport cards, so we should be good.  After that we stopped for gas and got out of Modesto at 10:00 AM.  We drove 400 miles plus to a RV park just outside of Medford, much too far for one day, but we were on a roll. 

 This morning we got up drove to the Elk's in Keizar, OR.  I contacted my cousin Liz who lives in Salem a few miles away and had a really good dinner  and visit with her and her husband Martin.  They have a beautifful home on a hillside just above a  golf course.  

 we will  stay here another day or two.   I hope to have more of interest to report as we make our way to Alaska.

Almost ready

We are still working on getting ready to leave.  As you might expect things sometimes break at the most inopportune times.   The backup camera on the MH started going grey and losing the picture, I called the manufacturer and asked for help trouble shooting the problem.  I followed their suggestion and reported the outcome, they informed me that the Monitor was bad and would have to be replaced.  Another monitor was ordered and with much work was installed.  I tried it out only to find that it too went grey after a short time.  It seemed to me the only thing left that it could be was the camera itself.  I again talked to the Manufacturer and they agreed, I need a new camera.  

I ordered a new camera on the 11th of May and told the supplier I needed it right away because we were leaving on a 3 month trip.  Not to worry says he, it should arrive Friday, the 15th.  It was being send Priority mail.  Monday , the 18th I still didn't have a camera, a check with the supplier, he said a couple more days.Today is the 20th and still no camera.  Another contact with the supplier and I learned it was not mailed until the 18th.  Hopefully it will be here tomorrow.

As many of you know I wear hearing aids.  The right one went out last week and was sent for a expedited  repair (an additional $35).  I got it back Monday and it worked fine until Tuesday afternoon when it made a lot of static noise and then stopped working altogether, so now I have an appointment to have it checked tomorrow.  It looks like a very real possibility that we will make a 3 month trip with me saying "huh" and Margaret having to repeat herself all the time.

2 more days before we leave, hopefully the camera will arrive and the hearing aid can be fixed, and I'm hoping nothing else breaks before then.