Lake Oswego and Coburg, Oregon

Lake Oswego is a beautiful city (and from what we hear), its real estate is on the expensive side.  Had a great get-together with Julie, Dave and Stefen last night.  Wonderful food, a special home baked cake with apples and blackberries (from Martha Stewart's book), and a ten-year old bottle of wine which Jerry, Dave and Julie enjoyed and I tasted.  It's always good to catch up with long time friends.  It was, in fact, our first sit down dinner in someone's home since we last had dinner with Pat and Bill in Cambria in April.  What a treat!

We spent the night in their driveway, but since they still are working people and Stefan had to get to school, we left early -- at 6:45 a.m.  Got a Starbucks, got the RV washed at a truck stop (first time for a real wash in three months) and headed to Coburn where there are a number of RV dealers.  Our goal is to check out the various RV brands in this area (and there are a number of reputable ones here - Marathon, Country Coach and Monaco) because, if we really are going to go fulltime in 2010, we may just want a different "home."  We spent the day with the Marathon people and they have offered to let us stay here (with 50 amp) for 2-3 days, if we want. 

Olympia, Washington

Made a mistake in my last posting.  Said that everyone in Anacortes could see "Mount Ranier."  I was wrong -- the mountain that the people in Anacortes see is "Mount Vernon."  Why do I know this?  Because we just saw "Mount Ranier" here in Olympia, Washington.  Since we can only see Mount Ranier while we are driving past it, I did not get any decent shots of the mountain. 

Olympia is a very nice water front city.  The trees are turning colors. 

The temperature has been 72 degrees in the daytime.  A very nice stay here.

We've spent a couple of nights here in Olympia and will leave for Portland tomorrow morning.  We will be spending the evening with David and Julie, long time friends and neighbors from our days on Delgany in Playa del Rey.  

Anacortes, Washington

Drove only 78 miles today to Anacortes, Washington.  The scenery was still beautiful. 

Actually, we stopped in Bellingham and Burlington to get a number of tasks accomplished: got a new air filter for the RV from Freightliner (after going over the Top of the World Highway, we need to change the one on the RV), went to Bank of America (needed more money), shopped at Trader Joes (first time since we left in April -- now we have shrimp again, Jerry's "two-buck Chuck", first press extra virgin olive oil at $5.99 instead of the $25 in Alaska!), checked in at Camping World, tried to track down a new cell phone and MiFi that I want from Verizon but the phone is too new on the market and all three places were sold out of the MiFi (need to get to a larger city for those) and then ended the day with a visit to the mother of one of Jerry's high school friends (Bruce) who is in an assisted living facility here in Anacortes.  We just reviewed what I wrote in this paragraph.  How hectic!!!  We even had to drive with other cars on the road.  It brings home just how relaxing it was in Alaska -- we only had to enjoy the beauty there.  There is definitely a different energy in Alaska. 

Anacortes is a lovely little city situated along a bay.  One can see Mount Ranier from almost every place in the city. 

We are now staying at the Northern Lights Casino RV Park behind the Casino and we also can see Mount Ranier from here. 

Also got our DirecTv back tonight after 4 months without it!  Actually, I liked not having any TV for so much our trip in Canada and Alaska and can easily live without it -- except for Jay Leno, maybe.

Biking Along Birch Bay in Washington

An absolutely perfect day here in Blaine, Washington.  It is 75 degrees, blue skies, a slight breeze and a perfect day for biking.  We are within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean.  Took the bikes out for the afternoon to bike along Birch Bay at the edge of the Ocean.  It was low tide, and we could see the Canadian mountains across the Bay.  I particularly like it when the bike areas are paved.  Biked through the Birch Bay State Park, too, which is actually right behind the Beechwood RV Park where we are staying.

Speaking of this RV park.  It is BIG and has a pool, sauna, jacuzzi, exercise room and many other facilities.  I will go to the jacuzzi later this evening while Jerry will probably build a fire outside.  I like water and he likes fire.  Can't believe we get along!

Blaine, Washington

Well, we are back in the lower 48 -- in Blaine, Washington to be exact. It is a bitter-sweet feeling! On the one hand, we will certainly miss Alaska and British Columbia, though we intend to return again some day. But, we feel good about heading "home," that is, for as long as we have one. If there is one piece of advice we would give to anyone, it is that we highly recommend you make a trip to Alaska at some point in your life. It's natural beauty must be experienced. If you haven't seen our blog on our trip, click on the link to the right.