The Cosmic Muffin Rides Again

Finally her wheels started turning in a bit of a snow flurry on March 9th almost a year to the day when we started our trip north last March. Nothing new for this winter but we were itching to get started on our new adventure..... IOWA! hey it's right in the middle and with a totally bicoastal lifestyle it sounded good to me when I bought a 100 + year old church last September.
We just mosied south hoping for a stop in Bend Or. to visit friends(too much snow) and maybe Tahoe (too much snow) but did spend a few days in Redding Ca. thanks to Tom and Brenda's hopitality we not only took a day trip up to Burney to see Dick and Joannes home finished while Brenda watched Ariel... we got all the stuff that was worn out on the Muffin checked out including a leak test(very important after a winter on the Hood Canal in Wa) at their shop,Northern Trailer Supply.
We will miss our friends in Port Townsend so much but it was time to dry out the Muffin and visit family.
We have had an awesome year even tho' things don't always go as you'd hoped. Anytime we can be in the NW is a blessing and soon we will be testing new waters (fresh)
Our first day on the road from Mom and Dad's winter digs in Az was great, very little wind and blue skies. We always have and always will have that unquenchable "travelin' jones".
The cool thing about this time is we got to see the kids in San Diego and instead of "cya sometime" to mom and dad, it was see ya in a couple of weeks when you get to Iowa.
You won't believe who all is planning to visit and hopefully help with the project...!!!????
All will be revealed soon.

SMILE

Spontaneity is fun and Mom wanted more of it... so I grabbed her for a mission (Smile). Off to find grtrunning.com what ever that was.
Over dinner last night mom and dad told us about this guy they saw in Parker Az. that was running in a pod-kinda-thing.... hmmm they just thought he was another "little left of center kid"(like us) (Smirk). and that was all it took.
Online and there he was. Kid is relavent and so is "left of center".
Meet Glen.

(Bigger Smile)
I was afraid I couldn't find him but the tracking link on his website is the coolest.
Serendipity has always been a word I associate with my life. (n.) The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident. And this was one.
Mom and I spent a lovely hour or more with Glen in the only restaurant in Salome Az. He'd met his goal, and we'd met him.
So for any of you following our Journey click on the link above to get the whole story and the picture above to see more of our visit with Glen.
And when you see the route he is taking and you are in the area make an effort to stop and see him, share a meal or a story . We are all made bolder by our efforts , which become accomplishments and maybe even inspirations.
HUMONGUS SMILE.

FLY ME TO THE MOON AND LET ME DANCE AMONG THE STARS...

What else can I say... a chance to fly in Tom's awesome ultralight with Dale (his instructor and cohort-in-crime)

It's like riding a motorcyle in the air.
Hopefully I'll have more opportunities to try this(like being in control)......... oops was that my outloud voice?! Such a control freak.
The whole bunch of people out here in Brenda are so neat... the airstrip is on the west side of town... stop out there and "Get some air".

NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH FUN

Once Jesse gets out of work mode there was no stopping him.
Here he and Cindy "Ham" it up at the Hog's Breath Saloon. Good beer, food and music. We made several stops there.

Then there were the tours.
The Hemingway House was way cool.

Watching the Sunset from Mallory Square.
Followed by a stop at HBS(see earlier in the post)
But the Ghost Tour got me the best. It was really fun and Jesse seemed to enjoy the fact that it scared the be------ outa me!
Unfortunately Jesse and Cindy had to leave before us so yesterday John and I took the trolley tour(courtesy of our neighbor David,he works there)

But we missed David's tour(we were goofing in front of the webcam at the Hog's Breath, so Curry here kept us entertained while ... expanding our knowledge of all things Conch(that's like konk)

And as usual 1 thing leads to another so following the noise to Mallory Square we caught a bit of the Superboat Offshore Racing.

MOTM 2007 Barefootin

Need I say more?

On to Key West and MOTM

Finally heading to Key West and the Parrothead Convention(MOTM). We were starting a day later than planned because of the weather but the further south we got along the South Florida Coastal Range (a low hill of landfills that flows south thru eastern Floridas metropolitan areas.) the better the weather got.



I just couldn't resist this shot of a Starbucks... I wonder if corperate headquarters knows about this one?

And then we arrive. Gieger Key Marina and Smokehouse.

I'm on Island time and have everything I need right now...oohooo. A good book, Jimmy on the player, a nice glass of wine and nothing much on the dance card.
If it worked for Thompson, Buffett and Hemingway I think I can suffer thru.

And here is the Muffin and crew in our slip!

Kayuba Picnic

Once again we tried to go kayak diving near Ft Lauderdale.
This time it was with the Kayuba dive club but NOOOO after postponing the picnic and dive earlier because of weather followed by a couple weeks of 2' or lower seas, we were ready to party no matter what. And we did....in the rain.
Dick and a couple guys did the " arghghghhg" manly thing and attempted to break thru the waves but didn't dive. So we BBQ'd and visited till we all were as wet a possible. With this group a good time is guarenteed come rain or shine.
A couple nice suprises tho, I met Chris' Uncle John (Her moms brother) and Jim was there (he was in town to fix Marilyn's computer) believe it or not it is less expensive to fly him in from AZ then get some one to make a computer house call. I definitly am in the Wrong business.

TURNING EAST

One more "Have to" stop before leaving Washington.
Stopping by N.Whidbey RV Park to say hi to Barb and tearfully bye.
This was our home last year and I really miss Barb but she admits to looking forward to being able to travel again soon(but right now without her this Park would fall apart) We got our mail, propane and a lotta hugs.


We left the Is. and headed east on Hwy 20 another untraveled road by the Muffin and crew... get used to more pictures like this as it will be my view for many miles.

I know I'll miss the mountains alot (it doesn't get much flatter than Florida!)We spent the first night at a WallyWorld in Okanagon Wa.
Yep we are in travel mode. Someday we'll take a slow ride again.

EasternWashington looks alot like_____. (You fill in the blank.)
And then we were in Coeur d'Alene Id. to visit long time friends from Tahoe.
yes is does seem like we cluster sometimes.

John and Joe at he and Dolly's cabin in Heyburn SP.

And here is where we stayed for the night infront of Howard and Joanie's new home in Id. Now she said she would send me a picture of all of us (I was being camera challenged again).
And then we were off.
A windy ride thru southern Montana and Wyoming.
We boondocked for the night knowing that we would rest in Sturgis

Lucky for us the Rally was over and only a few stragglers were left. Like this little toy hauller.
Hopefully tomorrow the wind will die down but we are skirting a doozy of a storm.
Next stop Ry and Steph's in Minnesota.

My Version of the Path to Florida From California

The house is done and the Muffin is packed but Ron and Mike think "just one more time and I may catch that elusive trout... NOT! they had to admit they have never fished so much and caught so little.

They called it quits. But what the heck...Look at the one that got away!

And with a fishing buddy like this at least it was a lotta fun!

Now we are on the road and this will be my view for a few thousand miles.

This is the Columbia River heading west.

We stopped in Bend to see Sabrina and Dave , a quick hi and CYA and we had to be on our way.

We also lucked out and got to have a quick visit with great friends and fellow RVer's Jim and Chris there for an FMCA rally where the were giving seminars on a variety of computing subjects.

Suprise Diane and Andy were also in the area so it was another first when we were all in the same place at the same time.... WAY COOL

Then it was a 1 day drive(in our time not every RVer's day) and we were in Port Townsend Wa(another former home and favorite place)

We parked in front of Tim's and while John and Tim played golf and worked on his garage I visited Aunt Betty and checked out the Uptown Sat. market

And visited Jeannie(cohort in crime, former employer and just "Too much fun!."

While John Is Away...Lynne Will Play

Although John and I work , play and live in an 8 by 30 ft. Rv we sometimes get the time to visit friends and family on our own. Like me last Feb meeting my grandson in Minnesota , John went to meet his grandaughter this weekend.
I dropped him off at the airport and took that time to hunt down friends I hadn't see in in quite a few years.
I started with Melbergs' a really cool family that I lived across the street from for many years.

Ken still cooks a mean breakfast.

And Marcus and Mike definitley aren't the small guys that used to play with Ryan and warn me when the bears were walking up my driveway. Robin (mom)is still putting up with them and I can't wait to go back and spend more time catching up.

I even touched base with a friend that I first skydived with, worked with for many years backstage at Harrahs' and is just what you consider a "Keeper".

Someone that no matter the miles or time you just pick up where you left off.
Believe it or not Jazz and I thought that the other might have died it had been so long! Whew! That is a scarey thought.

So This Is What a Trout Looks Like

Well not your everyday Rainbow trout. I guess Michael thought I should see what we are trying to catch. There are a couple regular trout mixed in with all these albino (and one blue... even more rare) trout.
The hatchery is located next to Baum Lake not far from the job site.


We keep trying but Hell,

If I'm having this much fun and haven't even caught one yet I can't wait till I finally land one!!


Of course in the meatime I have caught almost every type of bush and tree in the area. So when I have lost enough flies there is always Geocaching!

Luckily there is always one nearby... here's Oz with the find of the day.

Northern Trailer Sales

50 years in business is something to celebrate and this weekend we stayed at Tom and Brenda's to celebrate with them( and a few hundred of their friends)
Friday the boys at the shop fixed our fridge(the Dometic recall issue) and Saturday we PARTIED!

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah We Finally Met Diane and Andy

Here's the scoop. We live in RV's , we have mutual friends, we have checked each other out over the last several years on our blogs but today Diane and Andy took the time to stop by the jobsite and see what we are up too.
Way cool...


We visited for a couple hours and John and I agree spending more time with them playing would definitely be great fun.... and with as slow as they tour there is a chance we will see them later in our travels this summer.
One more thing... Thanks Jim and Chris for introducing us to 2 of your really nice friends.

Let the Fun Begin !!!! ??!!1

We just arrived at the site of Dick and JoAnn's new home. This is why we came back to the west coast for a few months.

And this is the view from our front door. They have been making improvements on the property for a few years(well and well house, septic, last summer a 3 car garage shop) and this year along with us we will frame and close the main house in for the winter. Day to day pictures will be posted on Have Tools Will Travel and in Photo Albums link. Wish us luck, we love building homes and traveling so we should be on our way again in a couple months.

Back and Mom and Dad's

We arrived in Quartzsite a few days ago and have been catching up on hugs , cleaning and life in general. We didn't have much of a visit when we passed thru on our way to Florida last January and now it seems like Mom and Dad are about the only ones around. They will be heading out on an adventure in July but until then Dad is creating "critters" for Mom to paint and then it's summerizing the place.

We did catch up with friends Chris and Lou the night before we left and had a great dinner. Of course we'll be seeing everyone later in Burney where we are building a home with some friends. Chris and Lou live near there and Mom and Dad are beginning there "excellent adventure " with a stop by the job to make sure its going well.

Some things never change!!!!