USA April 2010

Photo of the Olympic Peninsula.

Housesitting on Bainbridge Island Washington 20 April - 8 June! Susan has no television and internet is dialup so I will be spending time at the library with my computer and checking out the DVD film collection. But, the tv in my van does work since I have a built in antenna and can get over twenty stations! I have joined two walking groups: the Striders walk mornings on Monday and Wednesday and Friday and another guy Ron walks on Tuesdays. I have also joined the gym so working out every day also....good to catch up on getting fit!

Friday 30 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Strider walk at Fort Ward then workout at the gym....am really bummed because someone at the gym stole my reading glasses! I usually lay them on a table where everyone leaves their keys and when I returned to fetch my glasses one half hour later, they were gone....so off shopping for specs at local RiteAid cos I can see nothing. I was hoping that these last pair would last me until I arrived in Juneau in June to get my eyes checked and to get a new pair.

Thursday 29 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Early morning workout at the gym then yoga class. I cannot believe these petrol prices. I did fill up yesterday at 2.799 then today it is now up at 2.899. Chevron usually has the highest price but it was down to 2.799 yesterday and today it is 3.099????

Wednesday 28 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Morning Strider walk on Forest to Sky trail through the Grand Forest on the west side of the island near Battle Point Park. I finally decided to wash my van cos the sun was shining a bit but about halfway through, it just poured down rain and I got soaked....not the same worries as when I washed my van in AZ and worried about the sun baking on the soap before I washed it off!

Tuesday 27 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
After heaps of heavy rainfall all night, the sun came out this morning for our beach walk along the northern part of Bainbridge Island. Stopped at the library for their monthly Book Sale and to catch up on the internet.

Monday 26 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Strider walk around Fletcher Bay then workout at the gym then free food tasting at Central Market then library for internet. In one week, the price of petrol has gone from $2.99 per gallon, to $2.97, to $2.95, to $2.91, and now at $2.83, and now $2.79? Booked my travel for June from Port Angeles to Victoria via ferry, overland on Vancouver Island to Port Hardy, ferry to Prince Rupert then ferry to Juneau, arriving midnite 17 June.

Sunday 25 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
The sun is out again so workout at the gym then Eco Tour of the green places on Bainbridge Island.

Saturday 24 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Workout at the gym then Farmers Market in both Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island.

Friday 23 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Great morning walk with the Striders. These folks really do walk fast but today I joined Bonnie and Joanne to have a wonderful chat and explore of the neighborhoods. Bonnie and her husband did visit me in Juneau last year off one of the cruise ships. Then to the library for internet and the gym for a workout and Central Market for free food tasting.

Thursday 22 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Happy Earth Day!
Joined the gym in Poulsbo and worked out before getting some groceries at Central Market. Poulsbo is over the Agate Bridge to the north of me and the town of Winslow on Bainbridge Island is to the south, each about six miles away.

Wednesday 21 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Bainbridge Strider walk around Eagle Harbor then to the library for internet.

Tuesday 20 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Joined another group of walkers for about four mile morning hike along Blakely and Eagle Harbors then coffee at the New Rose Cafe. Drove Susan to the ferry for her travels to Nantucket....she first stops in Seattle to join her monthly book club before heading to the airport. I attended a presentation at the library by Richard LeMieux of his book Breakfast at Sally's.

Monday 19 April (Bainbridge Island WA)
Joined the Bainbridge Striders (about 20 folk) for morning walkabout through the downtown Winslow area then coffee and chat at the Town and Country market. Bainbridge is a bedroom community for Seattle (35 minute ferry ride) and it has worked hard to curb development and retain its rural character. The island covers almost 28 square miles with a population of just over 20,000.

Sunday 18 April (Sequim to Bainbridge Island WA)
Driving to Susan's in Bainbridge Island to start living in a home for the next several weeks! I have already connected with the two walking groups that I had joined when I stayed here in September 2008. One is the Striders that walks Monday and Wednesday and Friday and the other walks on Tuesday mornings.....also some great programs this week at the Kitsap Library!

Saturday 17 April (Sequim WA)
A bit overcast today with threat of rain but still had great three hour walk! I had planned to visit a woman Sallie who was my roommate in San Francisco many years ago because she had invited me to her home in Chimacum but then at the very last minute, she changed her mind....a bit disconcerting so now trying to decide where to stay!

Friday 16 April (Sequim WA)
Looks like another decent day for a hike!

Thursday 15 April (Port Townsend to Sequim WA)
Happy Tax Day!
Susan is off to visit friends in eastern Washington so up early and on the road. First stop at North Beach for morning brekkie and enjoy the water and the birds....then Starbucks for free coffee if you bring your own mug and to do internet! Short drive to Discovery Bay to stay with Ardyth who is sister to my friend Jan. Ardyth owns two lots, one which has a park model in which she lives and the other that is empty waiting for her to purchase an RV...so I will park there for the night. We had a wonderful afternoon walk along the Sequim Olympic Discovery Trail.

Wednesday 14 April (Sequim to Port Townsend WA)
Visiting with friend Susan from Juneau who just bought a house in Port Townsend. She gave me a tour of Port Townsend then stopped at Uptown Pub which is owned by a woman Laura that I knew in Juneau many years ago.

Tuesday 13 April 2010 (Sequim WA)
Not pouring down rain yet but not sunny either....but it is warmer.....planning to explore Dungeness Spit on Strait of Juan de Fuca, a seven mile long natural sand spit which is the longest in the nation. Stopped at Les Schwab in Sequim to see if they might have an extra matching hubcap for my van....and they did....yea!!!

Monday 12 April 2010 (Elma to Sequim WA 116 miles)
The rains have returned! Drove the backroad (Cloquallum Highway) from Elma to Shelton then stopped at Safeway to stock up. Visited the Les Schwab to see if they might have a hubcap that matches the one that went missing because of the work that Les Schwab Hood River performed, but no. Continued on route 101 north with visits to the state parks enroute and a stop at Hama Hama to buy fresh oysters. I had considered overnighting at Dosewallips State Park but it is right on the highway and it was pouring down rain....so continued on to Sequim which is known for its dry sunny days and found a campground at half the price of the state parks and with all the amenities not found at the state park.

Sunday 11 April 2010 (Raymond to Elma WA 44 miles)
Another not too wet day! Visited Lake Sylvia State Park in Montesano then on to Elma for the eve. Walked around town where most of the shops were closed on Sunday except for the antique shop and variety store...your basic small town with no box store.

Saturday 10 April 2010 (Winlock to Raymond WA 69 miles)
The sun is finally shining! Wonderful breakfast with Judy and Rod then short drive day to Raymond near the Washington coast on the Willapa River. Stopped at Rainbow Falls State Park which was really flooded during the storm of December 2007 and still recovering....the bridge that provided access over the Chehalis River is still gone with alternate access via side roads across a one way bridge.

Friday 9 April 2010 (Parkdale OR to Winlock WA 144 miles)
Awoke this morning to a bit of noise outside that actually sounded like helicopters....found that the heater fans are on for the fruit trees due to the low temps and frost on the ground. First stop at Les Schwab in Hood River for free brake check....brakes are fine although not such a free thing.....they had not installed one of the hubcaps securely and found it missing when I arrived at Trader Joe's in Vancouver WA! Now on my way to visit Judy and Rod in Winlock WA.

Thursday 8 April 2010 (Parkdale OR)
It is snowing this morning in Oregon! Bob and I drove to Hood River to take Pennie's mum Beth to have her nails done.

Wednesday 7 April 2010 (Stevenson WA to Parkdale OR 140 miles)
The sun is finally shining! Headed east on route 14 where there was short delay due to construction of road and railroad tracks....the rocks from the hill have fallen so it is taking a long time to reconstruct this area between milepost 54 and 64.....wonderful small tunnels to go through. Stopped at various parks and the museum at MaryHill. Overnight with Pennie and Bob with whom I worked at IBM in Juneau.

Tuesday 6 April 2010 (Vancouver to Stevenson WA 86 miles)
Great visit with Chuck and Nancy then morning drive to Frenchmans Bar and Vancouver Lake Park which are part of the Shillapoo Wildlife Recreation Area....heaps of birds and the sun even came out for a bit. Walked downtown Vancouver WA and visited Fort Vancouver and watched the short film....interesting history here. Beautiful drive along route 14 with several stops enroute at various parks and also at Bonneville Dam visitor center and viewed film on history of dam. Overnight at Andy's in Stevenson WA on the Columbia River.....great Mexican food at Joe's el rio!

Monday 5 April 2010 (McMinnville OR to Vancouver WA 74 miles)
Rain, rain and more rain.....I am getting tired of all this wet! Stopped in McMinnville to visit the Hotel Oregon, part of the family of McMenamins hotels and pubs. Then to Newberg Jiffy Lube for oil change for the van and then back to Wilsonville where I saw Gail just as she was leaving the campground. I am now visiting with friends in Vancouver WA just north of Portland. Chuck worked for IBM when I was working for both Firemans Fund and IBM in San Francisco in the 1970's.

Sunday 4 April 2010 (Wilsonville to McMinnville OR 34 miles)
Happy Easter! Gail and Denny and I are having brunch at Wankers! I will drive to McMinnville tonight to visit with Kevin, someone that I knew in high school in Virginia many years ago....after 35 years of living in Fairbanks Alaska, he and his wife have moved to Oregon.

Saturday 3 April 2010 (Wilsonville OR)
Still raining here! Morning for food shopping at Safeway, Trader Joes and Whole Foods. Gail arrived this afternoon so had great chat catching up on stuff.

Friday 2 April 2010 (Forest Grove to Wilsonville OR 66 miles)
It is snowing in the Pacific Northwest! Nasty driving but did stop to suss out the Champoeg State Park...too many folks due to the Easter break happening now for WA students. So drove onto Wilsonville to camp at Pheasant Ridge RV Park where they have cable tv and internet!

Thursday 1 April 2010 (Manzanita to Forest Grove OR 96 miles)
Happy April Fools!
Rain early this morning but now the sun is out...supposed to be a sunny day...but mostly overcast with more rain! I am now using internet at McDonalds in Seaside on my way east towards Portland. Visited with RJ and Juanita...I worked with RJ in Australia....instead of telecom stuff he is now into grapes! They have a beautiful winery Plum Hill in Gaston. We walked around the property and then great Mexican dinner in Forest Grove, home of Pacific University.