Great Driving Circuit of the Western States

September into October 2001

Friday September 7, 2001

We finally left San Carlos on Wednesday for our planned, month long visit to the States.  Wednesday we drove into southern New Mexico where we found a hotel for the night.  After checking into the hotel the car decided to misbehave with a super-fast idle.  In the morning, Thursday, we found a repair shop where the problem was solved by cleaning a valve in the fuel injection system.  Because of that we got a late start in the morning.  We spent the entire day driving north in New Mexico stopping early, about an hour south of the Colorado boarder. 

Today we completed the first leg of our trip ending up at Alpine Lakes Resort near Colorado Springs where Sandy and Bill, Sirius, were completing a summer's work camper job. 

Saturday September 8, 2001

We woke up this morning to a ground covering with white fluff and more was still falling from the sky.  We had been gifted with the first snowstorm of the season.  Bill and I (luckily, as we had planned on sleeping in a tent)  had spent the night in the attic area above the office.  The area was used as a dorm in the summer to house the college students who provided the summer help for the park.  We spent most of the day indoors playing with computers and reading.  Sandy, Melanie and I did enjoy the hot tub for a while and even braved the warm pool after we super heated in the hot tub.  The snow was still on the ground but not the cement pool deck.  I did help Sandy with a few of her chores although the early snowfall put a damper on most of the work for the day.

Monday September 10, 2001

Yesterday dawned sunny but frost was on the ground.  I spent the day helping Sandy clean cabins, restrooms and pick up trash while we enjoyed each others company catching up on summer stories. 

Today is even warmer than yesterday.  It is also Sandy and Bill’s day off so we spent it goofing off.  Sandy and I went into town shopping for our contributions to the communal turkey dinner tonight, and then enjoyed putting our potluck dishes together.  The rest of the day was spent playing on computers and generally enjoying ourselves.

Thursday September 13, 2001

We are now in Bozeman Montana having left Divide late Wednesday morning.  Tuesday morning’s excitement in New York and Washington sent us to the TV where we spent much of that day.  Sandy and I did take some time off to sit in the hot tub and take Billie for several nice walks.

We drove through Colorado Thursday stopping about an hour short of the Montana boarder for the night.  Today we continued the rest of the way stopping for lunch near to Custer’s Last stand and the Little Big Horn.  US flags are being displayed everywhere.

Sunday September 16, 2001

Three days in Bozeman and we have been busy.  Yesterday we raised my dad’s large nine-element beam ham antenna so that he and I will have better communication as we travel on Lanikai.  Dad and I started on Friday afternoon to attach the many elements and check their lengths.  Ginger, Dad and I finished that part of the project Saturday late morning.  We then called for the men to come and help to raise the beam up onto the tower that dad had previously set up.  With the many hands it went much easier than any of us expected and by evening it was up and ready for use except for the coax feed line that dad was going to add today.

Today Ginger and Chris went with us to the “Gates of the Mountains”, so named by the Lewis and Clark expedition.  After a long drive we had a fascinating boat ride through the gorge on the Missouri River.  Our guide was knowledgeable in pointing out the many landmarks, including the notch where the name came from, some Indian cave paintings and a natural bridge high above the water.

Thursday September 20, 2001

We were going to be off to Oregon this morning but we elected to stay here in Bozeman through the weekend.  This week the first two days I spent mornings with my dad making use of his new antenna to make some PSK31 contacts.  The afternoons Mom and I went shopping.  I picked up some new flannel sheets for the boat and had fun gathering Christmas gifts for granddaughter Emily.  Yesterday Ginger took the day off so we sewed in the morning and in the afternoon with my mother we wrapped Christmas gifts, which we will transport to Oregon.  Bill has kept himself busy helping everyone with their computers and surfing the web for himself.  

Monday September 23, 2001

We made the break from Bozeman this morning and are now in Spokane about half way to The Dalles.

Yesterday Ginger and Chris took us into Yellowstone Park for the day.  We arrived at the West Yellowstone entrance in the late morning.  Early on our drive in the park we saw several herds of bison.  We also saw two of the major geysers, Old Faithful and Great Fountain Geyser, and many smaller spouts as well as the mud pots.  We made our turn around point the Old Faithful area about an hour before sunset.  On the way out we saw many elk and a few mule deer as they moved from their daytime places on the slopes hidden in the trees to the grassy flats along the Madison River.

Monday October 1, 2001

Another busy week has passed.  We are now in Ocean Beach, Washington visiting with sister Susie.  After spending much of the week in The Dalles we moved on to Gretchen’s Saturday morning and then continued on to Ocean Beach Sunday afternoon. 

In The Dalles we purchased fittings at our favorite hardware store; then Bill, making use of Tedd Lovell’s great workshop, put some of them together to form our new saltwater manifold and new brass/copper dip tubes for the fresh water tanks.   When we got to Portland, we visited West Marine and filled up several more bags with treasures.  We stayed at Gretchen’s for one night.  Sunday we packed up Emily and took her with us to Susie and Joe’s place, at Ocean Beach, near the beach on the Long Beach Peninsula, Washington. 

Today we had a great time relaxing in wonderfully warm weather.  Susie and I took Emily and Alyssa for walks on the beach both in the late morning and in the late afternoon. The morning walk resulted in two wet girls as they enjoyed playing in the shallow water waves of the very cold north Pacific water. 

Wednesday October 3, 2001

We are again back in The Dalles.  Yesterday we returned to Gretchen’s place in Vancouver stopping in downtown Portland on the way to pick up charts of some important ports in Chile at Captain’s Nautical Supply.  We then took Emily out to dinner at a real restaurant and she was a super girl for us.  Gretchen arrived home from school late.  After Emily was in bed and asleep we took Gretchen out for her dinner and a nice peaceful chat.

Today we left Vancouver mid-morning just after Gretchen left for school and returned to The Dalles.  There we did what we could of the paperwork we needs to be done so that Emily will be able to visit us in Mexico.  We then returned to the Lovell’s, our favorite hang out in The Dalles.

Friday October 5, 2001

This morning Gretchen came to The Dalles and we completed step one of the paperwork so that Emily can visit us at some point in the future.  Yesterday Bill and I spent some time with a travel agent working up a plausible schedule for our late-March trip to Portland. The afternoon was spent at the Crichton’s where Bill blessed Craig’s computer and I kibitzed with Craig on his leaky roof.  Craig lucked out as the roofer arrived just before he lifted the yucky can of black goop up to temporarily stop the leaks. 

After finishing the paperwork at the courthouse this morning Bill and I said our byes to everyone and started out journey to S. California.  Tonight we are in Weed with plans to move on to Lake Tahoe and visit the Dick and Karen, the Irie folks.

Monday October 8, 2001

Saturday night we had a wonderful time playing Mexican Train with the Irie folks and talked well into the night.  Sunday morning we left, as Karen and Dick ran off to work.  We drove over the grade that Karen had recommended down into the desert; a beautiful long steep downhill with spectacular views.  Then we followed Hwy 395 south.  We spent the night in Ridgecrest.  Turning on the TV in the motel room we heard about the US bombing in Afghanistan.  The next day we continued on to San Diego, picked up our order at Downwind Marine, got Bill a new pair of glasses and went to his brother Rick’s place for the night.

Wednesday October 10, 2001

Yesterday we visited the Fleming wind vane factory, where we had purchased our wind vane steering system.  Since ours is an early model of a new design, we discussed the minor problems that we have had with it and talked about solutions to all of them.  Then we hunted around San Diego for a web machine similar to the one our Irie friends had.  We finally found one late in the afternoon and purchased it as an early Christmas gift for Bill’s mother so that she can send and receive her own e-mail.  She is quite excited about having it.  We stayed late last night at her place so that Bill could get it set up. 

Today we picked up a table and lamp that would be stable enough for the web machine.  We then spent much of the afternoon showing Betty how to send and receive e-mail with it.  We had an enjoyable last dinner out with Rick as tomorrow he gets real busy with work again.

Thursday October 11, 2001

Betty called just as we were leaving Rick’s this morning with questions.  She had played with her new machine and even tried to send out a letter but missed a step.  We stopped by to help her again before we headed to Orange County.  In Costa Mesa we picked up the last of the needed repair parts for Lanikai, or at least the last that we can think of for now.  We are staying with PJ, and since their kitchen is under remodel, we went to the Dana Point Yacht Club for dinner and a long visit.  

Monday October 15, 2001

Friday and Saturday we were in Dana Point with PJ and Loretta.  Since their house was under remodel with the kitchen totally torn out, we ate both nights at the Dana Point Yacht Club. We had Great food at a great price and besides it was a fun place to enjoy the evening. 

Sunday we returned to San Diego, stopping first to check up on Betty and her e-mail.  She is catching on to reading and replying to letters but needed a few more pointers.  We also showed her how to start a new letter using the address book, but it will take some time and more confidence before she sends mail this way.   We made her particularly happy by joining her for lunch in the dining hall.  The Star of India sailed Sunday.  After leaving Betty’s, we drove out to Shelter Island where we got a great view of the old square rigger as she returned to San Diego bay.  It was a beautiful clear day with little wind and many boats were out to enjoy her company.  We again spent the night with Bill’s brother where Bill could take advantage of Rick’s high speed internet connection while I slept. 

Today we left San Diego and drove to Tucson where it is still hot but not as uncomfortably so as it was 6 weeks ago when we passed through on our way north.  Tomorrow we will return to Mexico and see how Lanikai has faired in the boat yard.