Betty’s friend from Intel. Aug 4th, 2007

This is Betty’s friend from Intel, Nancy, her husband James, and the kids Megan and Nick. We spent a nice afternoon and dinner at their new home in Hillsboro. Betty and Nancy worked together for several years prior to Betty retiring.

They also met us for seafood night at Spirit Mt Casino when we were staying there in their RV lot. We all picked black berries on the casino property. The berries have since turned into a cobbler (now gone), and 5 or 6 containers of freezer jam that will come home to Arizona this fall.

July 29th 2007, Noisiest night so far

Camping World, Troutdale, OR (under construction!)

We arrived at camping world just before they closed and were told, sure no problem, park in our lot, lots of room and we will take you in first thing in the morning for your service (new slide out topper measurement & generator service). All went well till about 4am. Huge very bright lights turned on creating daylight right next to us and a cement truck pulled in with huge rocks tumbling in the drum “right next to us”. Add to that, 6 more trucks were lined up to dump their cement. No more sleep for us and decided we better move before we got hit. Note the white pickup and the 4 orange marker cones? We were parked between the two when the first truck pulled in about 6 feet from our bedroom window. Very loud!

How do we haul the Harley?

A few of our friends have asked how it is that we take the Harley and the Jeep at the same time. The Harley (2006 Heritage Softail Classic) rides on a hydraulic lift that has been welded to the back of the coach. (www.hydralift-usa.com) The Jeep Liberty hooks on under the motorcycle with a tow bar that goes into a receiver on the lift.

Questions about the Jeep, it is a 2004 Liberty Limited.

We just spent a day at Mac Welding in McMinnville having the lift removed and raised 4" so it doesn't drag as easily. One very nice spot we visited recently had a sharp slope that caused us to gouge up the blacktop a little. So now hopefully we will be welcome back without damaging their blacktop.

July 28-29 2007 Rufus, Oregon

Here we are at the Giles French Campground, Dufus, OR., just below the John Day Dam on the Columbia River.


This is a Corp of Engineers park. Camping is free with no hookups. We are parked about 10 feet from the Columbia River on the Oregon side. This is the state line for Oregon and Washington. The whole time we were here the wind blew, nonstop. The area just to the east of us is also known as wind surfing capital of the world. Note the trees that seem to only grow in the direction of the wind. The drive from here to Troutdale, Oregon was the worst wind we have driven in since we bought the coach 4 yrs ago. Sometimes head on and worse sometimes from the side. Never want to do that again!
One picture shows the river traffic in the gorge, barge traffic headed for the locks on the dam, and train traffic on the Washington side of the river. Another picture shows us parked alongside the river with the John Day Dam behind us. Another of the pictures is of a Indian fishing pier. The local Indians come down to the river at night and set out their nets in the river, returning the next night to pull in their catch. We are told the Indians are the only ones that are allowed to fish this way.

July 25, 2007 Cheney, Washington

Ponderosa Falls RV Park just outside Spokane in the little town of Cheney.

Someone told us this was a crummy park but we found it very nice, green, level with lots of open areas. We did find that one small row in the back was mostly dirt and not level. While in Spokane shopping we got caught in a traffic jam due to a fuel truck catching fire.

Picture of our rig through the trees. Nice park, nice people. We took part in club house games 2 evenings. Very friendly folks here.

July 18, 2007 Butte, Montana & Wind

Visit to Butte Montana and a drive up to look over the city from high on the hill in old Butte near the copper mine shafts. The old Dumas House of prostitution was in operation from 1890 to 1982. We talked to a security guard that was a retired city police officer. He said the girls of the Dumas gave $1 from each “visitor” to the local police department so they would look the other way.

Also pictures of one of the mines, and Copper King Mansion.

The last shot of the motor home is an example of why you shouldn’t park in a Walmart lot, put your awning out and leave for a day of sightseeing and “hope” no wind kicks up.

July 14, 2007 Medora, North Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This buffalo stood on the road as we came around the corner. Betty took the picture and tried another as he passed by about 3 feet from her window. She thought the picture didn’t take but…. Several others were seen on the 36 mile scenic drive through this National Park in North Dakota’s Bad Lands.