Gone to the West

We took our first trip of the year, it was a hard decision to leave Nellie behind but we took to the sky instead of the road. It was a good flight from St.Paul to Portland. We managed to navigate our way through the waiting and checking in,  waiting and security and waiting and boarding and flying. It went very well and saved us about 24hrs of drive time and $1200 in fuel verses $700 in airfare. The main reason for flying was just time, if we had more vacation time we would definitely drive, love seeing more of the country on the way! Nellie is definitely more comfortable to live in then most hotels we visit!

Hard to get this view of Mount Hood from the road though!

 From the East side of the mountains near Bend Oregon

Many waterfalls, this one-Sahalie Falls is between Bend and Eugene, The water is so blue from snow melting off the mountain tops! This was a very cool drive through the mountains!

 A day on the coast north of Florence, Or. another very nice drive, we could definitely spend some more time camping with Nellie out here!

 Not sure what these beaches look like in the summer but we had them almost to ourselves in March!

 My wife found Bigfoot and we got a "non blurred" picture of him!!! He was very friendly! 

 Always a big fan of the trees out here, I can't imagine what the redwoods must be like!

I rented the big Dodge truck from Alamo, everyone was giving me hard time for renting such a big vehicle but it sure was nice to drive around. It came up as the deal of the day so I figured what the heck! The snowball missed me, thanks Ben!

 My travel partner of more then 30 years now! I kind of like being with her!!!!!!

 Missing these two every day, favorite son and favorite daughter in law, it was great to spend a few days with them!

 Don't know where he gets his troublemaking ways?

 Great spot for a lunch break! North of Florence, Or.

 Much bigger drift wood from the ocean then we are used to on Lake Superior!

 I think there must have been a better view from 10' higher up!

 Cape Perpetua coast.

Great trip, the next time we see these adventurers the two will be three! Grandma and Grandpa need to figure out how to do this from 2000 miles away? We are not used to having our family so far away but happy they are having the adventure of there dreams!

Next trip is in May to Iowa, Missouri and Eureka Springs Arkansas with Nellie this time!

Time to give Nellie her yearly tuneup, New tires, new sealevel tank monitor system, check brakes and grease bearings, check all systems, wash, polish and GO!

Bye for now!

Dreaming of Streaming

The more we camp the more we want to camp and explore, this is the problem! For years my wife and I have read the blogs about the adventures of couples and families that have  made the jump from living in a brick and sticks house to a home on wheels. We have been married for almost thirty years now and like many have camped in tents and many different types of travel trailers, our favorite is Nellie the Airstream! When we pull into a campground with her she is a instant conversation starter, we've met so many great people through her.

As busy as everyone is it's always a challenge to get camping time, so we learned long ago to get it scheduled and on the calendar early or it just doesn't happen.

Now that I am in my fifties we have been thinking more of what the next ten years may look like??? I can't imagine selling the home that my wife and I built, which is on land we purchased from her parents? I would be ok with renting it out for a while so we can go explore for extended periods of time.  If we need to be working part time from the road that could be just fine, a handyman at a campground may be the ticket! Until that happens we will just keep improving Nellie and who knows what the next day will bring???

 Life is good, keep streaming! 

Making plans

It's that time of year in Wisconsin when the winter starts to get long and we dream of spring. My wife has her garden plans and seed catalogs laid out and I start thinking of being on the road.

  Since our son and daughter in law moved to Oregon a year ago we have been thinking we would take a two week expedition with the Airstream out there this spring. After mapping out the stops, miles and hours on the road along with my 3 weeks of vacation time, we decided this kind of trip will have to wait for another day with fewer time restraints. It's very hard to keep reading the blogs on all the full timing rv'ers out there, that life looks very tempting???

We will still maximize our nights in the airstream.

March-We will be flying to Oregon  for 6 days, this will save us 60 hours of driving and 5 days of vacation time and still have the same amount of time out there.

May- Our spring trip the last couple of years has been to Eureka Springs Ak. We have really enjoyed our trips there and have met many nice and interesting people.

August- Our annual church weekend camping trip to Clear Lake Wi

September-  Labor day week is still to be determined but thinking of heading for Glacier,  I have been following and reading everyones visits on Facebook and would really like to get there.

Hopefully a couple more weekend trips just for fun!

ADVENTURE AWAITS!

A New Year

The Happenings of 2015:

Thank-full to have a good job, a nice home and a fantastic family!

JANUARY- Lots of shop/project time out in the barn:

Played with the scroll saw a bit.

Repurposed bowling ally floors for our favorite daughters kitchen.

Made a little kitchen for our little Nora

Enjoyed our annual family Christmas weekend up on Lake Superior.

Always a good time hiking/snowshoeing with this bunch!

FEBRUARY- More shop time and starting to dream of spring!

New bench for our front entry.

RV show, units are big enough to have storage compartments for grandchildren!!

Snowshoeing with my love every chance we get!

MARCH-The snow is gone and time time to walk the woods and ready
                  Nellie for another year of travels!

 

Just a practice run to Iowa and back.

That is our golden retriever who has decided he can climb trees

 now to get the squirrels, the squirrels probably got a good laugh at his efforts!

APRIL- Challenging month, we had to say goodbye to wonderful lady and Mother in law!

Everyone misses her dearly!

MAY-Traveling with some of my favorite people!

Free Airstream wash in Iowa! Ledges State park.

We went to Eureka Springs, Ak. with Ellie, Nora and not very

 far from being born Helen! Fun trip!

While in Arkansas with Nellie adventuring there was a bit 

                                                    of a storm with lots of hale and wind!

That is hail not snow!

I spent the better part of the summer finding out the fun of 

dealing with a not so cooporitive insurance company. Luckily Our son was home and with the help of a family friend got the roof patched up.

Birthday #2 for our little Nora Mae!

JUNE-Nice month, the picture says it all!

Very proud Granny!

Sisters!

Hello Helen Fey! Grandchild #2! Woohoo!

JULY-Weddings in Two Harbors Mn

Congratulations Alex and Dan!

Love these two!

Granny and Nora all dressed up and trying to fill up the lake with rocks, 

it was a good day!

My dad at 86 and Helen at 1 Month

My beautiful little sister with Helen Fae, looking good Barb!

We took Dad on a tour of the new bridge being built over the 

St. Croix river, interesting project!

Happy Birthday Janell!

AUGUST- A little more airstream time!

Camping in Clear lake, Wi. with our church group!

SEPTEMBER- More time on the road, I don't know if we would ever get enough!

September brought us back to Lake Superior and Grand Marais Mn. with the Airstream.

It was am exhausting day!

OCTOBER-

Dads 87th Birthday! Nice getting together with the brothers and sisters!

Annual Family camping weekend at the cabin! Northern Wisconsin.

Bob and Clare tearing up the roads!

Fun times!

Last trip of the season back to Duluth, one of our favorite places!

Jan and I had the beach almost to ourselves, Jake had a great time

 running and playing in the water!

NOVEMBER-

Started out November with a nice birthday hike with my favorite father in law!

Building birdhouses in the shop with some church friends!

Bob and I took a little trip to Oregon!

To visit these two, we are kind of missing them!

DECEMBER- We had a very relaxing December, just got to play in the shop and visit with family                    and friends.

We've been sharing our home with Isaac, Ellie two lovely granddaughters 

for about 4 months now and couldn't be happier!

Relaxing quiet time in my workshop!

First snow storm of the season,Dec.23rd just in time for a white Christmas!

Looking forward to a fantastic 2016 and many new adventures,

along with the arrival of grandchild #3,can't wait!