ATVs and Quads and RVing

I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way.

We got out Lee’s Polaris 500 Scrambler and practiced in his yard trying to maneuver it.  Actually, it’s an easy toy.  The thing is automatic and drives just like a car without power steering.  Next thing we’re going to do is find some ATV places to ride around here.  We’ll give it a good workout for him.

When we lived in Texas we rode around with them a few times.  That’s when he had two.  It’s always more fun to ride with someone than to go by yourself.

 

Check out this gorgeous helmet.  It’s definitely for the girls.  Lee found it for me at the motorcycle shop.  I didn’t say he bought it for me.  He found it and showed it to me.  Red is my favorite color and the roses just added to it.  However, when I looked at price I just about gagged …. $375!.  I knew instantly I wouldn’t be taking that one home with me.

Now on to the problem.  How does it work to take a couple of ATVs with you when heading south for the winter?  We’ve not done this.  We’ve seen others with quads but also know that riding is restricted in many places.   Maybe we’ll take two and maybe we won’t.  We just need to try to figure out where the parks are that allow the ATVs to enter and exit  attached to riding areas other than the BLM.  We’re certainly looking but still don’t know the answer yet.  If we find a place, it will most certainly change our plans for what we thought we might do this winter.  

Right now we’re trying to figure where others spend the winter with ATVs?   Hmmmm …..   There’s nothing like making travel plans more difficult.  I'm certainly good at it.

Port Townsend Arrival

Do not insult the mother alligator until after you have crossed the river.

Instead of it being a Monday like we had originally planned, we pulled out of the Kelso Elks park to head north to Whidbey Island on Tuesday.  Actually, it was a beautiful day and very little traffic was on the road.  The route traveling north on Hwy 101 around the Hood Canal can be pretty slow over the weekends with all the traffic.  Traffic or no traffic it’s still a beautiful drive as the highway hugs the water’s edge for a good portion of 45 miles.

Our plans had been to spend a couple nights at the Elks RV park in Port Townsend but with the delayed departure we were only going to be in town for the one night.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that we pulled in, set up and rested.  You could have bet that wasn’t going to happen.  It didn’t.

The Hyders were there to greet us and since it was just about lunch time we headed out for a drive through town and to find a place for lunch.

 

Port Townsend is in a fabulous location.  It sits on the edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca where it turns south into the Puget Sound.  The town is a haven for antique seekers.  Many of the buildings are Victorian in style and the streets are usually flooded with tourists especially on the weekend.  It was busy enough and it wasn’t a weekend.

We actually didn’t do a lot around town this time.  We just walked up and down a couple streets, looked around in a few shops, ate lunch and made a quick stop at Fort Warden.  We didn’t have a lot of time left in the day.  This time this trip wasn’t about spending time in Port Townsend.  We had reservations on the ferry to Whidbey Island the next day.  That’s where we were heading.

You might have guessed that we did eat lunch and then we ate again at the Elks lodge in the evening.  That’s right.  We certainly couldn’t pass up meal times.  At the Lighthouse Café  we had a great meal but we’ve had so many meals out recently I can’t even remember what we had.  Was it fish and chips?  The only thing I do remember is that I thought it was great.  I also thought the clam chowder served there was pretty delicious too.   At the lodge that evening  they were having taco night.  We were pretty happy with our taco salads too.

It sure works out great when we can order something and then find out we really like what we ordered.  If we graded this day on the food we were served and ate, it would definitely get a good grade.

Then, it was off to bed because the next day we needed to get in line for the ferry.  It was going to be a gorgeous day also.  At least that's what the weatherman said and you know they are always right!

-- August 9th

Nehalem Bay - Let's Go Crabbing

I’ve learned when you harbor bitterness that happiness will dock elsewhere.

Wednesday started early. It was especially early for Terry. He was out of bed and ready to go way before his normal hour. We were heading back to Portland. At only 75 miles it really wasn’t a long drive. Lee was scheduled for surgery at 7:30 am. Construction crews were everywhere and they start pretty early in the morning. The drive may not have been long but it sure seemed that way with all the road work.

Full cover on the boat.

Lee’s surgery didn’t go as planned.  Actually, it didn't go at all since the surgery was put off until Thursday. There had been a small plane crash and the surgeon was going to be busy stitching them up first. I did get a picture of Lee in his cast riding the little motorized cart at Wal-Mart. The problem is I took the picture with my iPhone and it was very blurry. So, I thought best not to post it.

Previous crabs we got that we had to throw back since they were too small.  Hopefully, they are bigger this year and we'll be able to keep them.

We were also anxious to see the new full cover on the boat. It had been ordered while we were in Sequim. This was our first look at the finished product. We’re getting anxious to give the boat a try. We’ll be moving down the coast towards Nehalem Bay shortly and plan to have that boat filled with crab. At least that’s what we hope.

One of our "keepers" from last year.

The Electric Quilt software I ordered for designing quilts had arrived. I really get excited about new software so was pretty stoked to pick this up. I’ll probably have more fun figuring out the software than actually making the quilt. I find that designing is the hardest part.  It's amazing how many hours I can stare at a piece of fabric hoping for an idea. I think that’s because I want to consolidate everything into one busy quilt --- photos on fabric, embroidery and applique.  I have lots of ideas but thank goodness they are just ideas.  Our little motorhome isn’t big enough to store all the quilts that I imagine I'm going to make.  I'd have to give them away and who wants a virtual quilt? !!

Cute fabric I found but what am I going to do with it ??

While there we picked up a new wireless HP printer from Staples and visited the DSW Shoe Store. My shoes were getting pretty thin on the bottom. They needed to be replaced and I figured DSW was a good place to do it. I ended up with two pairs. Then, we made a quick stop at WINCO, of course, before we got on the road back to the coast.

Construction workers had gone home for the day on our return trip so it was a lot faster going back to the coast than heading inland.  Thank goodness!

In a few more days we'll be making another trip back to pick up the boat, our crab nets and fishing poles. Then, we'll be able to say Let's Go Crabbing.   The park we'll be at has a huge pot for cooking all the crabs we catch in the bay.   Hopefully, the next pictures I post of crab will be with us sitting at our picnic table and eating them.   We just need the weather to cooperate a bit now.  A cold front with a few showers seems to be looming in the near future.

Oregon Coast and Gifts For Friends

How things look on the outside of us depends on how things are on the inside of us.

The coast can be so beautiful during every season.  Sometimes the waves are crashing down and other times they just gently flow to the shore.  Sometimes the ocean appears gray under threatening clouds.  Other times it’s a bright blue as it reflects a gorgeous sunny day.  In just the few days we’ve been at the coast, we’ve seen it both ways.

We took a little drive down the coast on Thursday.  We didn’t go far.  It was a little cloudy in the morning but by afternoon the skies were just about as blue as they can get.  It was a gorgeous day.

Driving on Hwy 101 there are many places to pull off and just enjoy the view or even walk along the beach.

This is Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, a very popular spot.  We definitely have no plans whatsoever about being here over the 4th of July.  It will be packed.

The Pacific from a viewpoint along Hwy 101.

The beach is a great place to plant yourself for a while and enjoy the sounds of the waves while dangling your toes in the water.

Jetty Fishery offers boats for rent at Nehalem Bay.  It’s a great place to throw in those crab pots and fishing lines.  We’ve spent many hours crabbing in this location.  There are several quaint beach towns close to the Fishery that we enjoy.  Nehalem is small and on the Nehalem River and Bay as is Wheeler.  Rockaway Beach is the town to be if you are looking for a place to spend some time on a gorgeous beach.  However, again, we have no plans of being there over the 4th of July.

Little town of Nehalem

Now, I bet you’re wondering what in the world we are posting a photo of goats for.  Actually, we’re sending these goats to Lee just in case he finds another RV park where he’s required to mow just like the other one he was at.  The goats will take care of that for him.  He’ll have  more time for Bejeweled  (is that the right one?) !  It’s our gift to Lee.

And, now what are these fries all about?  These fries are for Sandie.  I know how much she loves French fries.  I've seen her eat them in Arizona.  We had the most fantastic fries in Seaside the other day.   Being the friend that I am, these fries are being sent to her in Montana so we can share.  It’s just another gift we’re sending today.  Enjoy, Sandie. We did.

Happy 4th of July everyone.  There is a great fireworks show on the beach at Seaside.  Thousands of folks will gather on the beach to view it. Since it doesn't start getting dark until after 10:00 PM around here,  the display probably won't start until at least then.  If you're going, I would suggest you save your spot on the beach early. If we had a window view, we'd love to see the show.  However, we won't be fighting anyone for a spot on the beach and most especially, a place to park.  Have a great evening.


God Bless America!