HALLOWEEN WINDOWS !!

             Yesterday was a very busy one for us.   First,  there was alot of commotion, etc coming from the Men'S side of the Park's bath-house.   Norm came out screaming like a little girl !!  "What on earth is going on?" I asked.   "Group shower !"  he pants back.   Turns out it was Norm and three frogs !   This man is soooo funny !

       We had an appointment with a guy who fixes 'creepy' windows.  AKA...Halloween Windows !   He drove to our site about 9:30 am  in a truck pulling a smaller, nice, work trailer.  He and his helper immediately began removing all the windows of our coach on the passenger side.   We were impressed with the efficiency and the care that was taken reguarding our house.   One guy on the out side and one on the inside.   In no time at all they had removed the inside levelor blinds and valances and placed them on the clean drop cloths they brought.  OOOooooo....this is scary !  Our house looked so.....busted !   The windows were wisked into the trailer and some pounding and banging began .   Our thought was this must be some kind of secret formula that cannot be revealed to anyone !

       I decided, since the blinds were out I would use the time to clean them.   I forgot...each slat has to be cleaned ...on each side.   My back was killing me by the time I finished one and I had three 72" x 33" blinds to do.   Should never have started that project !  =(     Norm held the lawn chair down and supervised.

      A couple of hours later the windows were brought out and carefully put back in place.   Outside guy put them in the gaping holes as inside guy screwed them in .  When each one was back where it belonged outside guy put a neat little bead of silicone around each window, to keep the rain out, and inside guy had the task of putting the rubber seal around them and replacing all the blinds and valances.   They worked very well and efficiently.  We were impressed with how quickly and meticulously they did their jobs.  Whew ...

      Norm called the friend who recommended this company to us earlier in the day...no answer.    When Norm called later to tell  'friend' how pleased we were with the job...low and behold....'friend called back !  He must have thought Norm wasn't happy and wanted to wait until it was all over and done well before he answered !  HA  =)

      We can't believe the difference this makes. Check these pic's.  We knew our view and some light was obstructed..but now we almost have to wear sunglasses !  COOL......VERY COOL !

       Sooo.....one more project completed and on to the next.   I'm pushing, hard, for a new couch ! Yay !!

(Just a note:  that is Norm's kayak on top of our Jeep, outside the window,  I knew somebody would comment !)

BEND, OREGON

      After spending time with family and friends in Idaho we ventured on into Oregon.   It is approximately 320 miles from Boise to Bend and it is more than we normally like to travel but we pulled into the  CAT Service place by 4:00pm.   Monday morning Griz went in for new fluids, belts and filters.   Big smile on its front bumper when we returned !

       We are now at the Sunriver, Thousand Trail RV Park and Wednesday, tomorrow,  Griz gets it's windows de-creeped.  (The seals around the insulated glass are no longer staying in place....looks like they are 'creeping' toward the center.)   Soooo,  Mr Dave is coming to repair them.   We're hoping for....fabulous results !  

      This morning we drove to Bend.   It has a great waterfront park along the Descutes River complete with bike/ jogging trails, pic-nic areas and large manicured lawns and natural gardens.   We happened to  noticed a group exercising  in a covered gazebo and dogs playing in a dog park near-by.  Statues and creative sculptures dotted  the parks.   My favorite is this kayak sculpture.  These are Eddyline Kayaks.....just like the ones we have so we found it very fun !

     Norm and I come here almost every summer to kayak and enjoy the warmer weather.   In October, we are usually back at work, driving school bus, so we are feeling like we are playing hookey !    I keep telling him we just finished working so, now, it's our summer.   The problem is...the weather is cool.  Fall has definately arrived !   (Whole different place when it's not hot.)  

      We did get one very important thing done today.   I was finally able to get my SENIOR PARK PASS !
This enables the holder to enter any National Park, BLM area, US Forest Service or Fish & Wildlife area, free and only costs a one-time ( in your lifetime) $10.00.   Everyone who turns 62 should get one.  It's one of the few benefits us "old" folks still have to look forward to.   Rumor has it, the Government is talking about 'adjusting" this which would mean some kind of additional fee would be charged at each park, maybe 50% etc .   Anyone who already has one would be "Grandfathered" .   Soooo...go get yours !     My only complaint was....I was expecting a marching band, balloons, trumpets and maybe ice cream !!   All I got was a grumpy, heavy-set, older woman gruffly asking to see the ID of the purchaser.    Hmmmmm........just not what I envisioned !    Oh, well....Ouuuuuu....Norm said we'll celebrate with a teriyaki burger at Carl's Jr !!
YEAH !!!   Now, for a little chocolate cake !  =)

FAMILY

     Meet my Aunt, Bonnie !  She is my Dad's sister and my last remaining relative other than my own family.  

     We left West Yellowstone on Tuesday.  It rained from the time we left and continued until today, Fri.  Tuesday evening we just happened to cross paths with our friends from Lk. Havasu.  They are returning after spending the 'summer' at their place at Longbeach, WA.   Time seemed to fly by and we ended up having breakfast together the next morning!  Finally broke away after lunch and they went East...we went West.  Having time to stop for awhile and visit friends is a real luxury for us.   In the past, we were always pressed to arrive at a given destination by a particular date and/or time.  Love being able to "stop and smell the roses" as it were !

      Boise was our next stop, all of 130 miles away.   Our exterior 50 amp plug had worked it's way loose from the cord leaving a myriad of wires exposed to the elements and Norm's fingers.  Camping World was just off the freeway so....RRRRRRR!!!! we hustled to get in brfore it closed.   They could maybe get us in the next morning so we camped out in their parking lot for the night.  Couldn't plug in so no heat except the furnace which would run almost all night.   Snuggle time !

     The plug was installed and away we go again.....found a small campground for the night.   I called my Aunt and she was so tickled to hear from us !  She didn't know we were just down the road.....I love to 'drop in' on folks !  =)   Her son, Vic, my cousin, was able to stop in briefly as well.  Again, the time just flew  and before we realized Bonnie had missed her dinner.  Hmmmmm.......gee golly.....guess we'll have to take her out.  (She's in a very nice assisted living facility here in Boise and not far from Vic's house).   Going out was a treat for her...so off we go to the GREAT WALL Restaurant.  Chinese buffet !   GAD'S !  

     This morning another trip to Camping World !  New step covers for the outside retractable steps and a new roof vent cover for our Fantastic Fan over the kitchen.  My tiotty has been ordered and now I'm on the lookout for a new couch !  :)    Griz needs some sprucin'up, inside and out. 

     Tomorrow we hit the road again heading for Bend,OR.  Our windows are "creeping" ( I hate it when they do that!) so we have an appointment to get them fixed. 

     Right now, however I am being pushed to "Get Going" !  Cabela's is about 5 miles up the road and somebody in this house thinks it would be a SUPER idea to go and "check it out !".


    

GRIZZLY GOODBYE'S !!!

      This was our last week at Grizzly RV Park and it's been a busy one !   Last week-end the park roads  (here at Grizzly)  were seal coated.   What a pain !! We had to move reservations to sites that would be done later and still keep access to their rigs.   You would have thought those of us in the Office were out to "get" our guest campers.   Men would come in and complain about how they couldn't walk the 50 ft to their rigs because of this or that.  They yelled at us, even swore, threw tantrums and threatened to drive over the seal-coat if they were blocked in !  GOOD GRIEF !!   The manager would step in and offer to refund their money but they had to leave NOW!   Since there isn't another place like this one closeby they would huff off but never would leave.   (Darn)

      At the end of each workamper couple's contracted stay the manager's have us come in and they give  their evaluation of our job performance and ask for suggestions of how to improve things.   We must have done okay because we were invited to come back next year.  Hmmmmm........?!

       Fall doesn't last long here.   Two days ago the Aspen and Cottonwood trees were all green.   Now they are a beautiful amber color and I noticed the leaves have fallen considerably.   Nightime temps are below freezing even though the days continue to be warm and sunny.   It has been absolutely wonderful all summer long.  Snow is predicted Thurs or Fri so Norm wants to get moving way before that.    It is going to be difficult to go back to Seattle and the rain if only long enough to get our medical/dental done.

       It's interesting to see the beginning of the season, last May, and now the end of it.  Many of the facilities in YNP closed right after Labor Day which surprised us.  The only campgrounds open now are Madison, Mammoth and two very primative campgrounds at the far north of the Park.   We've noticed alot of younger retiree's have been traveling since Labor Day and our park has remained busy,  and about 90% full every night.   Many of the stores in town are having sales and will be closing this week.

      We spent the day today cleaning inside and out and Griz is looking pretty sharp!  The kayaks and the bikes are on the Jeep and all looks ready to go.   I wish I could accurately express how weird it feels to know we are heading off to another adventure and not know what to expect.  We have no timetable , no adjenda and no clue what we'll find around the next turn of the road.  Exciting...Yes.... but kinda SCARY, too !

      Norm came in and asked if I wanted one last buzz into YNP.    You bet !... so off we go..  We just can't get enough of this place !