A very long day with little hiccups along the way.

We pulled out from The Cedars RV Resort in Ferndale, WA at 8:30 Sunday morning.  It was a cool 46F, cloudy and quite windy.

 

Just south of Bellingham it became foggy and a little rainy.  We had to make 2 stupid little quick stops - one because the leveling boards were in the box of the truck and bouncing and also because while driving the door for the battery compartment came open while we were driving. 

 

We took the 405 around Seattle and traffic was really quite good.   We decided instead of stopping for the night in Kelso, WA – we would just stop for fuel, lunch and a few groceries.  We did notice one of the trailer tires was low so we had to try a couple of gas stations before we found one with a working air hose and then we were back on the highway about an hour later.  We decided to stay on I-5 through Portland and traffic was just fine. 

We first noticed snow on the fields around Springfield but there wasn’t much and the roads were dry.  We decided that since all was good we would push on and head for Seven Feathers. 
 

We arrived at 5:45 and went straight to fill up with fuel before heading to the RV Park.   At Registration we were welcomed with hot cider and fresh coffee.  After a quick check-in we were escorted to our site – which is an end unit right beside the showers and laundry room.  After hooking up the RV and dropping the landing legs – we opened up the slides and put the furnace on to warm things up.  It was a chilly 46F so we turned on the electric fireplace and turned on a heater in the bedroom.  We used the courtesy phone to call for the free shuttle that took us to the Casino for a wonderful buffet dinner ($30 for 2). 

We headed back to the RV for some R & R and since the WIFI was down we turned on the TV for a bit and were in bed by 10:30.

Total miles for Sunday: 475

 With no internet hookup tonight - this will have to be uploaded sometime Monday.  By for now.

 

A busy day getting ready to roll.

Lou arrived home at 8:00am and after loading the truck and locking up the house, we were out the door around 8:30.  We crossed the border at the 176 St. 'truck crossing' through the Nexus lane within 5 minutes.  The regular line-ups were at least 60 minutes as they were lined up back to the Truck Scales.  We love Nexus!

 

At the RV we unloaded the truck and I set about putting clothes away and organizing things for the trip.  Lou was outside puttering with the annoying leaks from the water hoses.  After he fixed one - he found another then another.  It looks like he will be replacing more of those pressure clamps put on by the manufacturer.  He went to the RV supply store and bought some replacement 1/2" hose and new clamps to fix things up.  Fingers crossed.   

 

After a while we took a break and opened our Christmas parcels from Muriel that arrived yesterday.  With the usual yummy homemade treats of Christmas Cake, Chocolate covered pretzel sticks, chocolate cherries etc. there was a snuggly pair of knitted slippers for me.  A very special gift this year was an old fashion Santa.  He has a lovely red velvet coat trimmed with fur.  The fur is from Lou's Mom's fur coat.  Muriel had met a lady in September at the craft fair who made them and couldn't resist.  The face and hands are porcelain and it is the most beautiful keepsake.  Look for yourself - isn't it lovely?

 

We headed out to the Post Office to mail Muriel's Christmas parcel and dropped into Haggen's for a few last minute groceries.  Back at the RV we kicked back for a relaxing afternoon and will soon have dinner and then watch the Canucks as they do battle with the Boston Bruins.  

 

 

De-Winterizing the Rig

Lou went down to the RV this morning to take it out of storage, put it on a site to hook up the water, electric and opened the slides.   The first thing he wanted to check was the water leak at the outside shower that was leaking before we winterized it.  He had replaced the piece of water hose and the cheap clamps that came from the manufacturer while it was in storage and wanted to check it with water pressure going to it.  He said all he needed to do was tighten the new clamps a little and everything was good - no drips!

 

Tomorrow morning he will pick me up at home and we will head back down with the cat and get everything put away and ready for travel.  The weather has warmed up above the freezing levels but now we are just getting our regular winter rain, rain and more rain.

 

Fingers still crossed for warmer temperatures on the I-5 through Oregon and California.

 

 

Getting ready to hit the road.

Well - we have been cleared from the doctor to travel south this winter.  We are planning on heading down to the RV in Ferndale on Saturday morning and then hitting the road on Sunday.  I can't believe how much 'stuff' we need to pack to take with us.  With cold weather here and much warmer down south - we need quite a few different clothes.  Today I will be going through each room at home to see if there is anything I have forgotten to take and Lou will be outside moving the motorbike into the garage and checking tire pressures etc. on the truck. 

 

The highway through Oregon and into California has received quite a bit of snow and has had lots of icy patches the last few days so we are watching the weather which says it should warm up by Sunday.  Fingers Crossed!

We are both sick.

Well - nothing like being away in the RV and you are both hacking and feeling like crap.  Add to that a little 4 year old and Oh My - fun times.  We did manage to go out for a drive yesterday and stop by a great burger joint for lunch.  We don't get Carl's Jr. up in Canada so it's was nice to stop in somewhere different.

 

Today, we are staying home and trying not to kill ourselves coughing.  It was going to be a laundry day but - that may also have to wait.  Thank God we have lots of kids movies etc. to keep Jade entertained.  I think I will be taking an afternoon nap with her today.

Photos

Jade - occupied with the IPAD while traveling.

Arriving at the RV Park in Portland, Oregon.

 

All set up for the next week.

 

Enjoying lunch outside.

Finally - on the road again.

Yesterday we hooked up the RV in our home park in Ferndale, WA and hit the road for the first time this year.  We have our 4 year old grand-daughter Jade with us on this little 1 week trip and  since I am suffering from a nasty summer cold I'm hoping things improve soon.

 

We left at 8:45 in the morning and headed straight down the I-5 for Portland, Oregon.  We had quite a few small rain showers as we went but it was still warm out.  Jade was hooked up with her IPAD which kept her busy watching movies etc.  We took the 405 around Seattle but the traffic was still very heavy.  We stopped just before noon at the Maytown Rest Area which is a little south of Olympia for lunch and a potty break.  After about 30 minutes we were back on the road and the sun was shining.  We pulled into the Columbia River RV Park http://www.columbiariverrv.com/ around 2pm and were totally set up on a lovely cement pad site by 2:30.  We took the afternoon to relax and went out for a little drive to find a Fred Meyer as Jade needed some new sandals and more underwear.  Back home for a nice lite dinner of BarBQ chicken and salad and crawled into bed around 10pm.

 

Today started quite cloudy but within a short time the sun came out and it's is warming up nicely.  We plan to do a little exploring around the city today and maybe find a park with a playground.  Will hopefully get some photos while we are out and about.