Pacific NW Travels

[SwampDonkey]

Huntz here, no corn syrup.  8)  ;D

Looks like some good eaten there and lots of good times on your journey. 

[terrifictimbersllc]

Not seein any grits but trusting you're having a great time anyway.   

[Brucer]

More food ...



A little update on the menu: fresh Coho salmon done on the grill, Greek salad with all the ingredients from our garden (except the olives), marjoram potatoes with locally grown organic potatoes and marjoram from our garden. The garlic toast got a little overdone (nothing to do with Pat & Barb chatting away in the kitchen while it was under the grill ;)).

[WDH]

The salmon looks tasty. 

[Gadrock]

Do you pronounce that "sam-mon" or say "sal-mon"?

Something about being country, as I can leave the country but the "country" stays in me.

David G


carry on

[Brucer]

There's no "L" in salmon :D :D.

[SwampDonkey]

Just a back bone. ;D

[Brucer]

Since they are on vacation, not producing a travelogue, here's an update on their travels.

Barb & I are especially lucky that we live only 5 minutes off the route Pat & Lynn were taking into the US. They arrived early yesterday afternoon and we had a wonderful visit. Barb persuaded them to stay for dinner (Lynn didn't want to impose, Barb announced the menu, decision made :D :D) and we did some more visiting. They spent the night here and headed off for the border just after 8:00 AM.

But did it really happen? Or did I just post a picture of some food and make up the rest? No pictures, it didn't happen, isn't that the rule?



Lynn took the mandatory group picture, because he figured out how to use the timer on his camera before Barb figured hers out. (Well, he got it figured out on the second try anyway :D.) Actually, Barb, Pat, and I voted against the group picture but Lynn over-ruled us with the "Forestry Forum Veto". You'll have to wait until he posts it to see that shot. So will I. (I wonder if there's a reason no one let me see it :-\).

I confess, we talked about some of you behind your backs (if you were facing South) but nothing bad was said about anyone :D. Warning to David, though. I think Lynn has figured out a way to get your goat ;D.

[Brucer]

Here's some travel trivia.

When Lynn phoned to say they were on their way, they were waiting for the ferry at Shelter Bay south of Revelstoke.  Originally the inland ferries were part of the Ministry of Highways; they crossed waterways where building a bridge would be too expensive. Because they were part of the highway system, the ferries were free. The inland ferry service has since been privatized but it is subsidized by the government and is still free to travelers.

[ashes]

I would love to meet you magicman when you are in the Redwood region if you get this. I'm in Rio Dell CA and in close proximity to the Redwood Parks.

[sawguy21]

Not seein any grits but trusting you're having a great time anyway.   

Grits are virtually unknown here, Denny's restaurants offer them but they are likely instant and pretty much tasteless. Lynn, you traveled through some spectacular scenery  in south east BC. Looking forward to your pictures.

[Bill Gaiche]

Ashes, came thru your area this week down 101. Beautiful country. bg

[ashes]

Bill, I hope you enjoyed your time. It is a beautiful part of the world here. I am fortunate to have landed a job in such a great place. Its rough country for woods work, but I love it.

[backwoods sawyer]

We were headed north on I-5 getting the boy kid some drive time on his permit and to pick up a lost set of mill keys. We were about to Eugene when I got a suprize call from Magicman. He was south of us 90 miles in Roseburg and headed on to the redwoods.
So we missed out on conecting :( :(

[Magicman]

Just a quick update while I have WiFi.  We are at Donner Pass and still in Calif.  Sadly we have missed seeing several FF members and as backwoods sawyer just said, I should have called him from Eugene and we  could have met at an interstate exit somewhere.  :(  I called @captain_crunch several times, but no answer.  The time of day has prohibited seeing several FF Friends.  Since we are traveling "by the seat of our pants" without any specific destination or schedule, we also turned South a couple of times and missed seeing folks.

I have (too) many pictures but the laptop is not indexing them (they are all jumbled up) so it is going to take some time to find and upload some of them.

Tahoe tomorrow.

[Ljohnsaw]

MM,

I hope you took the old highway 40 and did the scenic route!  Quite a view from above Donner Lake.  You were within a few miles of my cabin property!  Where are you going in Tahoe?

[Left Coast Chris]

You must have came through Redding and Anderson today or yesterday!   We are just three or four min off of the freeway by the river.   Wish we could have connected.   You caught the cooler days just after the rain thankfully.  The valley is supposed to be heating up again in a few days.    Watch out for the one armed bandits in Tahoe.   

[Magicman]

Watch out for the one armed bandits in Tahoe.

No danger of the "Bandits" getting to me.  We bought a shirt in K Mart and a box of Raisin Bran in Safeway.   :D

We have now headed East on Hwy. 50, and are stopping in Fallon for the night.  I am gonna try to figure out how to get the pictures on the SD card to index on the PC.

Tahoe holds a special memory for us because our oldest Daughter made the 100 mile bicycle ride in ~2007 for the Lymphoma Foundation.  She had to raise over $1000 to be able to participate and we were there to watch her ride and cross that 100 mile finish line. 

[Magicman]

I created a new file on the laptop and indexed the pictures.  ;D



 
Our visit with @hardtailjohn began with an introduction to the Clydesdales. 


 
I do not remember the names, but that black guy was HUGE.
Next we made a tour of John's shop and saw the carriages and sleds that he and Kate are restoring.


 
Here is the circle mill that he has and is setting the foundation for.
Next we had an enjoyable lunch, moved cattle from one pasture to another, and then it was time to harness the Clydesdales for a ride.


 
John and Kate harness the second horse while Pat holds the other.


 
All hitched up and John works the kinks out before we climb on.


 
Kate drives the team as we take off.


 
Later John allowed me to take the reins.


 
Pat and I showing off John's two beautiful horses, Daisy & Lilly.  (but maybe spelled with an "ie")


 
Later John threw some HUGE steaks on the grill.

Our thanks to John, Kate, and John's Mom for their hospitality.  They were wonderful hosts and provided memories that we will always carry with us.   ;)


I edited a bit and added the videos.  The first is of Pat and me leading the two Clydesdale horses to the wagon.
http://youtu.be/Yl04wUmygA8


And the second is of me with the reins driving the Clydesdale team.
http://youtu.be/7gpzngjmTC8

Thanks again to John and Kate.   

[Jeff]

That big black horse reminds me of Harley!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

WHAT A STEAK!!!! 

[hardtailjohn]

His name is Butch....and he weighs in at about 2300# right now...he's down a couple hundred from his prime.  Lynn did a great job of driving...in fact the girls worked better for him than they did for me!
Lynn and Pat, the pleasure was ours!!  We always have fun having wonderful people visit, and you two sure fit that bill!! We hope to see you again!
Poston, those steaks came from one of my wife's "favorite" steers.... she says they taste better every time she thinks about fixing the fences he tore down!

[Magicman]

When we left hardtailjohn's place we entered Alberta, Canada.  We drove to Banff and spent the night before heading North.


 
We saw several "overpasses" for elk migration.


 
Pat and I at Lake Louise.


 
The Columbia Icefields.


 
One of many waterfalls that we have seen.


 
A mountaintop sticking through a cloud.


 
An upside down picture.


 
We found Pat's Street in Jasper. 


 
We found Poston's Mom, two Brothers, and his baby Sister grazing along the roadside.
 

[sawguy21]

 :D :D I know that road well.

[Magicman]

After visiting with Paul_H and Carla in Revelstoke, we turned South toward Rossland for a visit with @Brucer and Barb. 


 
On the way we had to take a ride on a ferry.


 
Two Forestry Forum Friends meet.


 
Barb prepared a wonderful meal that Bruce described above and here is the group picture.


 
Barb gave us a jar of Raspberry and Huckleberry jam that we began enjoying the very next morning.

Thank you Bruce and Barb for your wonderful hospitality.  Our visit with you was very nice but much too short.