Grand Forks, North Dakota

We've been in Grand Forks for a week.  We didn't mean to stay that long, but our campground space at Grand Forks Air Force Base is so nice and quiet we just couldn't leave.  The very large spaces use to be either from an old mobile home park or old WWII housing. The base is going through a transition.  I think it will be closed at some point but for now it's changing from a KC-135 refueling/tanking  base to a UAV (Unmanned Aerial vehicle) base. 

There are dedicated walking and biking paths and a natural area that grows the grasses and plants of what use to be the prairie in this area.  Somebody has done a good job of making areas on this base that the service members can enjoy and maybe even forget that they are on a base. 

Grand Forks, ND is a small town of 50,000 and across the river, East Grand Forks, MN seems a little smaller. The Red River flooded in 1997 and they had to bulldoze many of the buildings.  They have since made a beautiful park, with a walking/biking path along the river on both sides.  There's also a wonderful State Campground right in town, just above the river on the Minnesota side.  It has large spaces, full hookups and cost $24. a night.  To read about the flood and the park, check this out.  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/red_river/index.html

We will be heading out on Sunday.  We are going to Duluth, Minnesota where Chris' mother was born.  She has always wanted to go and see Duluth after hearing the O'Brien family stories for so long.  We're not sure where we will stop for the first night, but should make it to the Duluth area by Tuesday.  We plan on driving north along Lake Superior to see the sights.  If anyone has any suggestions on where to go and what to do, please send them to us.  Thanks!

By the way, Pilot is doing much better.  He has loved being at this base.  He's been able to go off leash and is very happy with the cooler weather.  He hates hot weather as does Chris, so they are both pretty happy about being this far north. 

We'd like to hear from those of you that read this blog.  We'd like to know how our family and friends are doing and what is happening in their lives.  Keep in touch. 

Headed East! Glacier National Park

We left Whidbey a week ago.  Sorry to leave, but excited to be back on the road.  We took Hwy 20 east through the Cascades.  Pretty exciting going thru the mountains.  Alex did a great job driving.  The motorhome went up without breaking a sweat. 

It's scary sitting in the passenger seat as everything on the side of the road looks like you are going to hit it or, that you are going to fall down the side of the mountain.  After awhile Chris got use to it, but still screamed every so often. 

We arrived in Columbia Falls, ND after two days on the road.  We got up early the next morning and headed to Glacier National Park in the car.  The drive through the park is wonderful.  Chris was still screaming once in awhile as in some places they were replacing the road where it had fallen off the side of the mountain.  To say that we were driving close to the edge would be an understatement. 

Glacier is everything one would imagine.  Words won't do it justice and neither will our pictures but some of them turned out pretty good.  We did get up close to a mountain goat and her baby.  They were on the side of the road waiting for the traffic to ease.  I hope they got a chance to get away from the road.  Everyone stopped and got out of their cars to take pictures.  We didn't but I got a couple pics as we drove by them. 

We were very fortunate that it was a spectacular day at Glacier.  Click the link and choose slideshow.  I put the very best pics in this album.  There were a lot of pictures taken. I tried to be picky on what to show you.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ChrisTorrance/GlacierPark?authkey=Gv1sRgCJaUj8iF1fiRGQ#

Ebey Park, Whidbey Island

Alex and I went on a hike to Ebey Park, near Coupville on Whidbey Island.  It was a sunny, cool, but not cold day.  The beach is on the west side of Whidbey and the views were stunning.  We could see the Olympic mountains along with Mount Rainier and the Cascades with Mount Baker.  This doesn't happen often that you would have a day this clear to see everything.  Today we did.

Mr. Ebey founded the area and helped ships navigate the channel in his row boat.  He settled this area because it was a prairie and not the woodlands like most of Whidbey. 

After Ebey Park, we drove a little further south and went to Fort Casey.  The Fort was built during World War I to protect and defend the huge channel between the islands and mainland.

Click the link and choose slideshow.  Beautiful.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ChrisTorrance/EbeyAndCaseyParksWhidbey?authkey=Gv1sRgCKWl6sSjxuf1Wg#

More Whidbey Friends

Ron worked with Alex when they were both "active duty" at NAS Corpus Christi.  Alex in the Marine Corps and Ron in the Navy.  Alex liked Ron even though he was in the Navy.   Ron use to come by on Sundays with whatever fish he had caught that day.  He's the kind of guy that could catch a fish in your bathtub.  If there is a fish anywhere around, Ron will catch it.  He would clean the fish at our fish cleaning stand and then he would cook it for us!!!!  Yum  

Ron got a job flying for Alaska Airline.  This was great for him as he could live in Whidbey with his wife, Nichelle, who is a teacher in Coupville on Whidbey Island.  Not so good for us as our weekly fish supply went way down.  They since have had two beautiful children, Savannah and Cleveland. 

When we got to Whidbey, Ron came by within a few days with fresh fish for us and wood for our campground fire.  Another day we went hiking with the whole family and then a great lunch at The Rockfish Grill in Anacortes.  

One day Ron called and had us meet him at a marina.  He took us on a 5 hour boat ride all around the islands, then to LaConner where we had dinner.  Unfortunately, Alex and I forgot the camera.  Really too bad as it was beautiful.  Very beautiful. 

We enjoyed seeing Ron and the family and can't wait to see them again next summer.  Thanks Ron.  Its was memorable.  Here's a pic of the whole family on our hike.

Whidbey Friends

When we were stationed in Whidbey 28 years ago, we met Carl and Georgia by renting a house from them.  We became good friends.  We've stayed in touch all these years and it was wonderful coming back and getting to see them.  They live in Oak Harbor and have a garden that surpasses all others.  See pic here of the garden and of Parker, their extra large and extra cute cat.  Below is Carl and Georgia enjoying some refreshment with himself at our campground in Anacortes. 

Let's Review

We've been on the road for a little over 3 months now.  We went hiking in Washington Park (http://www.cityofanacortes.org/Parks/WaPark/wa_park.htm)  the other day and had a talk about our new lifestyle.   

We both agreed that, so far, this lifestyle is more fun and working out better than we imagined.  At this point we wouldn't go back to having a house.  Honestly, we don't miss a thing about living in a house and we haven't thought about any of the stuff we sold and gave away.  Not one thing.  All of this really surprises us.  We didn't think it would be this easy. 

Pilot, our dog,  is another story.  He did not like it.  Not anything.  Except that he was with his people.  He is slowly coming around.  He is getting use to us pushing a button and bringing the slides and then taking off down the road.  Not thrilled, but not scared anymore.  He loves to walk around the campground and meet all the people.  He doesn't mind meeting the dogs either, but prefers people.  It's nice that many campgrounds have dog areas and some have actual fenced in dog parks.  He gets to run off leash every now and then and he's good with that. 

Our budget seems to be working out.  We don't get to buy whatever we want, but we have enough money to live and to travel.  The trade off of working and having more money, while living in a house including all that comes with that, good and bad,  just does not compare with living in our coach and traveling around the country even though we can't buy everything we might want. 

This lifestyle is not for everyone.  For us, we love it.  We're glad we took the leap.

THEY'RE BAAACCCK

And they brought more people, food, drink, campfire smoke, dogs, a monkey and a HOT TUB.  Yes, the gang from Prosser (see June entry) came to our campground to celebrate 4th of July AND 1st of July, which is Canada Day.  They stayed for 4 days and we had a great time with them.  We just can't keep up with these experienced RV partiers.  They come prepared and ready to party.  And party they do.

Rocket (retired fireman) and Kelly brought Kelly's mom, Bev, with them.  They're the Canadians.  Mikie and Cheryle talked Jackie and Rocko into coming up from the Seattle area. 
Mikie and Cheryle pulled out an inflatable hot tub and proceeded to fill it up with 250 gallons of water.   Took all night for it to heat up, but once warm enough they enjoyed jumping in once in awhile for a soak.  It has an insulated cover, filter and heater.  COOL!!!  or    HOT!!!!  

These are laid back, friendly, unpretentious people that are fun to be around.  Just right for 1st and 4th of July. 

We didn't take enough pictures, so these will have to do.  We promise that we will get better about taking more pics.  First though, we need to remember to bring the camera!!!! DUH

Pictures:     http://picasaweb.google.com/ChrisTorrance/4thJulyAnacortes?authkey=Gv1sRgCM39m_fC86uFwAE#

Reunion Cocktail Party, Honolulu, Hawaii

Det Z, VMAQ-2 Playboys. They can party. Alot.

Unfortunately, around 1992 the "politically correct police" said the sqaudron couldn't use "Playboys" as a name or use the bunny on any of their patches, airplanes and other squadron related items. The squadron was the only organization that had permission from Playboy, Inc. to use their name and bunny.

Anyway, about 20 members of Det Z, with their wives/girlfriends, got together in Waikiki. We had a blast. The pictures say it all. Click on the link and choose slideshow. You'll see what fun we had. It was fantastic seeing these people and it was as if there wasn't 20 years between parties. Thanks to Zoom, Marianne, Dan and Debbie for making it happen. We won't forget it, that's for sure.

Oh, and Hawaii was nice also. We had an ocean front room, thanks to the group rate.  It was beautiful sitting on the balcony on the 18th floor.  We didn't rent a car, so we ended up just walking around Waikiki with all the Japanese.  

We did get to the other side of the island for a squadron barbeque at Dan and Debbie's beautiful home near President Obama's vacation home.

Another night all of us went to the military hotel, The Hale Koa, for dinner. http://www.halekoa.com/index.cfm    The Hale Koa is right on the beach and a short walk from the Sheraton.  It's a wonderful benefit for military service members.

We went to Dukes for a great breakfast which was also a short walk down the beach.  Dukes has an interesting history and if you don't know who Duke was, check it out here.  http://www.dukeswaikiki.com/

Waikiki is great for a first timer to Hawaii with only a few days to stay in Hawaii, but I think we would venture out to some of the other islands if we had more time and $$$$. 

http://picasaweb.google.com/ChrisTorrance/ReunionCocktailParty?authkey=Gv1sRgCNGByvqBv8r6Kw#