July 31

Caught the 7:55 ferry to Bainbridge Island. It took 20 minutes then drove to Port Angeles which took about 2 hrs. My cousin Jimmy Ramsey (Howard and Merrill's son) and his wife Ann Marie met us at a little cafe for breakfast and across the street he had some of his paintings on display and for sale. I think he is a really good artist.
 
Then we left for the ferry and started across. It took 90 minutes (18 miles to Canada) and was heavy fog all the way. Chris and I sat up top outside. It was chilly but I had my Uggs and a big coat. It was so much fun.

Just when we got back to land the fog just lifted and the temperature rose about 10 degrees. Victoria is absolutely beautiful.

As soon as we departed we drove out of the ferry area and pulled in to a parking spot for Chris to put the address for Bear Mountain Resort into the GPS and a big ole tour bus pulled in front of us and scraped our car with his tires. The driver got out and ran back to see the damage but there was really none just some tire marks that will buff out. Chris got out of the car to talk to him and his hearing aid fell out. He had flipped it out to talk on the phone to Bear Mountain to get the address, so he says everything is ok to the bus driver..off he goes and off we go. One block down Chris says.."My hearing aid!"..pulls over and goes running back to see if he can find it in the street when he got out to talk to the bus driver. He comes back with it but it had been run over by a car!! But he has his spare ones..the butter bean ones..so we are back in business. So 10 minutes after arriving in Canada we "got runned over by a damned ole bus" and got a hearing aid "runned over". But if that's the worst that happens to us on this trip it's ok. We drove through downtown which is gorgeous and out to Bear Mountain which is also a beautiful place. We went into town to a little pizza place came back settled in and getting ready for another big day tomorrow.

July 30

We arrived in beautiful Seattle checked in and went straight to Pike's Market down on the water. This lovely girl sold Chris a hat.  She saw Moncheechee in my purse and knew immediately what it was!  She was a good sport to model with him for our trek across the USA. 

 It was just about 3 blocks from theWestin but it was uphill going..at least downhill going back. Such a neat place..they had everything. We ate right across the street from all the hoopla and just watched the people and listened to the guys singing on the street corner. It was great.

There's Chris wearing the hat she sold him!

Went back to the hotel and rested up to...what else but...go eat at Salty's across the bay and had a beautiful view of downtown Seattle which is an extremely cool city.

Molly met us at the Westin and drove us to Salty's and delivered us back. We have to get up early tomorrow to catch the ferry so it's nite nite.

July 29

We left Grants Pass around 7:30 and drove through Oregon to Portland. It was beautiful mountains..green..and at least we were on the interstate finally.

Made it to 4 pts in Portland and we went straight to a great fish restaurant on the water and ate and drank wine. Came back to the hotel where Chris took a nap and I did laundry. A couple of hours later we went downtown to their riverwalk and it was very nice. We sat outside at a little table..it's 70 degrees here..had some snacks and a drink and made it back to the hotel around 9:30.

 Off to Seattle tomorrow. (They have slot machines in C stores and in bars and restaurants that are owned by the state lottery..weird. And also it's against the law to pump your own gas in Oregon..they have to do it for you, and don't try to do it yourself. And they don't take credit cards for gas..just debit cards or cash. I won't be moving to Oregon. They are very proud of it so they can keep it all to themselves).

July 28

Decided not to stay another night in Eureka since drive to Portland would be so long. So of course we ate the gourmet breakfast before we started out for Grants Pass. We went through the Redwood National Forest and took our time..it was just beautiful..like dinosaurs could be just around the corner.

Arrived at Grants Pass about 2:30 and checked in to a Best Western. At least we are back in civilization..phones..internet. We went for a little drive to check out the town of about 30,000. They have a beautiful river running through the town and a great park. Very pretty. Went to a little bar next door to the hotel...had a drink and I played a slot machine. They have them everywhere! 

Back to the hotel...rest up and off we go to Portland tomorrow. So far this has just been awesome.

July 27

Another great breakfast at Joshua Grindle..muffins..fritatie..baked peaches. Then sadly had to leave beautiful Mendicino for Eureka.

 On the way to Eureka we went on the detour through the Avenue of the Giants. Giant redwoods!! Enormous! We stopped along the way and had a picnic and a bottle of wine. I might have had more than Chris..he was driving after all.

The Carter House is a reproduction of an old victorian house right on the bay.

The drive was some of the most beautiful yet. We went to do our laundry first then went to dinner at Restaurant 301 right across the street from where we were staying. The best meal yet...and they had a 300 page wine list..but they corked one of our bottles for us and it was all delicious. Then for a little stroll and to bed.

July 26

Started the morning off with stuffed french toast with berries and apple turkey sausage. So Good! They packed us a picnic lunch with everything you could want and we added a bottle of our wine and off we went.

First to the Arena Point light house. Quite a drive and 137 steps to the top. Thought I would die..but worth it for the view.

Then came back the other way and went to the Botanical Gardens and had our lunch in the Cliff House, a glassed in house in the Gardens that overlooks the ocean. Breathtaking!

Back to Joshua Grindle for a nap. Then out to the headlands overlooking the sea where we took some clam chowder that was great but we weren't that hungry so we fed it to the seagulls.

 Then we checked out the cemetery and back to bed.

July 25

Went to early Mass then to Crepevine downtown for breakfast. Downtown area is beautiful.

 
Then left San Rafael for Mendicino. The drive was beautiful through the Alexander Valley. We passed about 30 wineries and stopped about 5. Made it it Mendicino which is like something out of the movies. So lovely right by the ocean. A little town of about 1000. No phone service no tv no internet. We went to check out the town and found a big tent up with a band playing so we joined the fun. Everyone was dancing like Elaine Bennis so we decided why not. It was a blast. Then off to bed. Joshua Grindle is the B & B where we are staying...just the best you could ask for.

July 24

Left Pebble Beach around 9 and drove through San Francisco...should have gone around to Oakland but we wanted to go across the Golden Gate Bridge instead of the Bay Bridge.

It took us two hours to go down 19th Street so we could cross the Golden Gate Bridge.  By the time we got there, I snapped this picture and was like "yeah, yeah, the Golden Gate Bridge - keep going!"


We stopped in Sausalito to have lunch at the Spinnaker right on the water with a great view of the Ferry coming in. Sausalito is as pretty as Carmel only prettier if you can believe that. Checked into the 4 pts in San Rafael...did laundry...went to bed after riding around and looking at the town. Very pretty town. Saw the Mission of San Rafael the Archangel...we'll go to Mass there tomorrow.

July 23

Cindy and Molly and I went in a golf cart while the guys played golf. Wow the course is so beautiful. Molly took lots of pictures then we turned the cart in after the first nine and we went into Carmel. What a wonderful town. We had lunch at a little sidewalk cafe..I thought I was in France or someplace in Europe. Went to dinner with everyone after we sat out and watched the bagpiper come up over the hills. Beautiful. Back to the Lodge and to bed. Have to leave this beautiful place tomorrow for San Rafael.

July 22

Drove to Hearst Castle and did the tour.

 Really something else..really unbelievable. Then went on the coast highway (1) to Carmel. Just beautiful.





Arrived at the Lodge at Pebble Beach around 4..met up with Cindy and Lee and the kids. Had a wonderful dinner and back to our room that overlooks the 18th green. Had to light the fire it is really chilly and just enjoy the view...simply incredible. We are so blessed.

July 21

Left Vegas at 6:30 and it was already 90 degrees! Made it to Bakersfield around noon. We went to the laundrymat and got our clothes washed then went to In-N-Out Burger.


We came back to the 4 pts (which is very nice and pretty) and went to the pool all afternoon. It was great. Early to bed and going to Pebble Beach tomorrow.

July 20

Another day in Vegas. We went to see Jersey Boys and we loved it. It was at the Venetian so we got to go down there and see Venice. We stopped at Bill's Gambling Casino and Salon across the street from Balley's. I'll just say Coach Ables would have loved it. On to Bakersfield tomorrow.

July 19

Made it to Vegas...it was 109 degrees when we went across the Hoover Dam and 113 when we checked in. Paris is a great place to stay. We ate at Le Provencal and it was faaaabulous. I gambled..Chris karaoked.

July 18

Left Ruidoso around 8:00 and stopped at the Petrified Forest National Park. Quite impressive but no Grand Canyon. Holbrook is a nice little town. We went to eat at an EYEtalian joint that was supposed to be "number one" in Holbrook. It was surprisingly good!! To bed early another long drive tomorrow.

July 17

No rain today...but no workers either. Went to Elena's for chili rellenos and mass at 6:00.

Start tomorrow for Holbrook, Arizona.

July 16

It rained again today. The crew is hard at work so things should be ok. It's another beautiful day in Ruidoso.

July 15

It rained hard today in Ruidoso.  The workers are trying to get the upstairs finished enough so we don't flood! I won $40.00 at the casino. Yeah!!!!!!

July 14

Today we left Odessa after Chris's meeting and drove to Ruidoso.

Stopped at Buddy's in Andrews for steak fingers. Got to Ruidoso in time to see them put the new framing on the upstairs. Very impressive and exciting. The river is flowing and the banks are finally - since the flood - getting grass on them again.

Yeah!!!!!!

July 13

Today we are leaving San Antonio for Odessa. Will spend the night at Mike Dunagan's house, Chris will go to a meeting tomorrow and then we are on to Ruidoso.