South Dakota to Iowa = grandkid time!!

We left SD for Iowa on Sunday June 19th- HAPPY FATHER's DAY!! It was sunny and no wind which made for a fast ride across I90 and then down I35 to Iowa. One of our best days over the last 30 and it was right in our backyard. Monday we spent resting and catching up with my brother and mom. Monday afternoon was spent getting furniture assembled for the local grain elevator/storage people.

Tuesday- mom and I went to visit with Madison!! She has grown so much in the last month and is now climbing stairs, making every desire known, and is just weeks away from walking. She is really fun to watch and is a real ham!! I can't wait to teach her a bunch of tricks!!

So nice to see JD and Justine!! New job for my girl and she is very happy to have made the change!! Later this week we will go to the Saturday market and art show!!

Sunday Ride

Jordan's first ride with Uncle Mike and his Dad. Bought his bike right before graduation and is learning how to ride. He is riding without a windshield which adds to the difficulty.

Today we rode to Pierre, SD where severe flooding is in process. We rode with KJ, Kenda and Jordan, had some lunch and took a bunch of pictures. There is not much to say except the town is in danger and it is not going to get any better soon.

KJ and Kenda

This was the best riding of our entire trip- sun and light wind topped off the gorgeous day.

Miller Time!!

Thursday Morning we arrive at Cousin John's. It was a cold wet ride into Rapid City, SD. Of course the minute we finished with breakfast- it started to really rain. Out came my raingear, helmet and double gloves.

Thank goodness John had his door open and we could make ourselves at home. A quick trip to a coffee shop and to a grocery store for the night's dinner supplies was in order. Mike's Chili was created and we all enjoyed a night of wine, chocolate, and family stories with Cousin Susan as well.

Friday Morning we took off and headed out East to Kennebec. We could see the rain fronts coming through the area. The clouds were heading south across I-90 and I thought for sure we would get rained on AGAIN!! Even with the clouds heading south and us riding east- there was little wind. It was a very quick (80mph) ride so I could get some work done before the Alaska crowd was in their offices. Once again- it was COLD!! Mike again made Chili to get us warmed up and last night we had a real treat!! Kenda made homemade pizza and dessert (something we have not had for months). We did not founder ourselves and just enjoyed her tasty talents.

Today- Saturday- we have enjoyed sun and a light breeze. I told Mike that we probably chased this weather all around the west and back here again. Next year we should stay in the midwest for a sunny vacation later in the summer. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Who's the boss anyway??

On Tuesday we left Green River and headed north to I-70. The weather gods were upon us- no wind and fairly warm with sun. Had a nice day's ride and no "situations" so the ride went fast and furious. The Colorado River is at an all time high...I-70 had the East Bound lanes closed as well as a couple of bridges. The entire trip was a sea of green...they have had a ton of rain. I guess my challenge was the tunnels (Eisenhower went forever) and I hate tunnels whether in a car or on a bike. Went through Denver without any traffic problems...the day was non- eventful.

Got to Cheyenne, Wyoming and decided to stay the night at the Holiday Inn. Left this morning for Hot Springs, SD. The day was cool with clouds mixed in the sun. An easy day on the bike and we could look around as there was little traffic. The land is so different- flat and green.

A trip like this can be interesting....given that we are both the oldest child, A-type personalities and high achievers...we each want to be the boss. On bikes- you can be the boss of your own wheels but you have to go where the "leader" goes. Trading off on being the leader/follower is a valuable lesson...it is not so easy to lead or to follow. You have to trust the person in front of you knows where they are going and they have to trust that you will not run into them, miss their cue or forget where they are at. Truly a process in building teamwork trust of a different sort.

Tomorrow is a visit with family then off to more family after the weekend.

Deer, Convection ovens and Dorothy

Left Kanab at about 7am. The ride was a cool 40 degrees so out came the headgear and coats again. Breakfast in East Zion and then up the road. We got to the turn off for Bryce Canyon and decided to fore go the 180 mile ride and head north through the Dixie Forest on Hwy 12. Very fun ride with lots of rock formations to see. Decided we had to have a reason to come back again....so Bryce Canyon will be in our future.

I have not addressed all the signs that indicate what you might find on or alongside the road:
elk, mule deer, mountain sheep, deer, donkeys, wild cows (indicated by a bucking bull), normal cows (indicated as a milk cow), horses, tractors and hikers. In addition you will see each of these signs about a 1/4 mile apart...so it is like a Burma Shave series of signs.

We have only had four incidences with animals....deer x 3 and cows x 1. Mike had a real close call today. We were going up a hill behind a bunch of RVs. I was way behind and saw a deer running as fast as it could go out of the woods. Mike saw it out of the corner of his eye and started to stop but the deer was headed his way so he gunned it instead. The deer did a reverse, did a tap dance in the middle of the road, started to fall and then streaked across the highway.
No harm done to anyone and I was witness to it all!!!

Seems everywhere we go people want to talk to us. Each stop at a pullout and people are drawn to the bikes and us. We have met some really interesting folks along the way and they all want to talk about bikes and riding. The heat came up during the day, the coats came off and we got sunburned. What a difference from a week ago!! Makes you feel like you are in a convection oven- wind, the bike wind and a temp of 95 degrees.

So the ride from the Junction of 12 & 24 to Green River made you believe in a "hell's version" of the Wizard of Oz. The wind was so bad that as we rode through the canyons and hills- it would whip around us and push the bikes off to one side or the other. It was unpredictable which made it difficult to anticipate what might happen as you came around a curve. When I say push the bikes to one side or the other...literally...there is no guard rail and in many areas- it is a narrow ridge that a road has been built on. One wrong move and you would be a dead one. So with the wild winds- it was a very scary ride. BUT WAIT...it gets even better...

Mike and I had just had a discussion at one of our coffee breaks...seems that the elements (wind, rain, snow, sun) have been our enemy on this trip rather than other drivers. So with that said....

Mike and I have been following this RV for miles on a two lane road. The RV is also having issues with the wind. We start to pass- Mike goes first and I follow. Just as Mike is beside the RV- the wind picked up so much that it sucked him closer and closer to the road's edge (aka ravine entry point). The bike is angled at a 45 degrees and his leg is hanging out like he is falling...finally he passes the RV. I follow through without any incident but it was very scary to see him almost not make it around the RV. At the next pullout- we stop and gather our wits....the wind continues to build up. AND IT GETS WORSE...

Now we are in an area of "sandy canyons and hillsides"- not only is the wind doing its thing with us- the sand is picking up and pelting us. At "po-dunk" Hanksville- we stop and get gas. The wind is howling, the sand is creating huge clouds around the wide spot in the road and the visibility is getting worse. We decide to stop for a coke and to see if the wind dies down- the locals say it has been like this for two days. The table is gritty with dust from the storm. Hwy 24 is our next leg so we ask the waitress about the road. She says it is the same as we have been riding- canyons, curves and hills. Out comes the headgear, long sleeves and gloves as we decide to head out. We will ride the 55 miles to Green River, then reevaluate the situation. So off we go- the sand is so thick- it is like a snowstorm. It is pelting us, the visibility is very poor (only 3 stripes on the middle line) and the wind keeps picking the sand up. The good news- the road was not curvy or mountainous or hilly or full of canyons- it was a straight north/south road with a couple of slow curves. The wind was from the south so it was at our back. The sand was still a problem but we could deal with that as long as the opposing traffic was watching for others. I was so glad that waitress had no idea what she was talking about.

Finally we make our turn to Green River- the road is East/West...once again we are getting thrown around. Mike makes the decision to stop for the day....it has been a long lucky day for us...no use pushing it any further. We get checked in and showers are in order...the sand has made its way into every crevice on our bodies. We get cleaned up and the wind is still howling....

Zion and the Grand Canyon

This morning we left the hotel and it was about 65 degrees. Perfect temperature for riding with a light jacket on. Zion National Park was unbelievable!! The views were surreal and traffic was light so we could take our time. Lots of pictures at pulloffs and even though we took pictures- they are never like seeing it in person. It is quite amazing what you find growing out of the rocks- greens, flowers and cactus.

The ride to the Grand Canyon was about 80 miles from Zion. The North Rim is beautiful but I prefer Zion as it is much more striking. The Grand Canyon is just so big....it is hard to really appreciate what you are seeing. The Grand Canyon lodge is a nice place to have lunch. The lodge's window views are really something. We walked the narrow path out to a platform that juts out into the canyon a bit. You can get a bird's eye view from here.

On the ride back, Mike saw this gas station that no only sold gas but also sold lotto, GUNS AMMO and Beer!! Yes even in Fredonia Arizona- you can shoot em up and drink after!

A fast ride back to Kanab, Utah got us into the Holiday Inn around 3:30pm. We found a car wash to take all the dirt off of the bikes. Had an early supper at a steak house and headed back to the hotel. It will be an early night...we are both tired. Tomorrow is Bryce Canyon!

Heading North

So the goal today was to get through the Hoover Dam and Zion National Park....we did not make Zion. For some reason- neither one of us got out of bed at 5am. We thought it might be cooler and less traffic through Las Vegas if we got going earlier. We finally left the Monte Carlo at about 7am but first we had to make a stop to get bolts. Mike discovered that the bolt holding his seat on was missing. He had adjusted his snap on bag bracket and did not locktite the bolt....it had vibrated out on our way to LV. Thank goodness he discovered it prior to leaving....that would have been very bad to lose your seat!!! A quick stop at Home depot and he was all set. At 7am- it was about 75 degrees...not bad but the day changed after that. Amazing that just two days ago we were complaining about being so cold....

We went to the Hoover Dam and also got to see the new "Pat Tillman" bridge that diverts all traffic. The dam is no longer used to cross the canyon. After Sept 11, I guess they decided they should really do something about that security issue. You can take your vehicle across the dam, park and walk down to viewing areas or you can take tours for $30.00/person. We elected to just park (charge $7/vehicle x 2 for us), walk the visitor's center (they charge you there too- $8/person). You can just walk the area after you park and skip the visitor center.

After the Hoover Dam we headed north on Hwy 15 and the temperature soared to 90-95 degrees. Back throught LV and tons of traffic....they drive crazy there. Both Mike and I were suffering from the heat....we are not used to such temps. The helmet and leathers made it even worse. About 3pm, Mike decided it was time for lunch and I suggested we stop for the day. He was tired and has a head cold (read grumpy). So the Holiday Inn it was for the night- we got the last room. Washington, Utah is a hot, red earthed place. No trees, no green- just sand and crazy hillside shapes.

Tomorrow we go through Zion and the Grand Canyon. Now that we are in Utah...no more required helmet. Sorry Mom....

Snow

Stored the rain gear and bought a snow shovel......Just kidding....we have now been rained or snowed on everyday since we left Rapid City.

On Thursday we left Carson City and it snowing. The temp was barely 30 degrees and needless to say- we froze (up to two knuckles) as we headed south to Las Vegas. Down hwy 50 past a variety of "bunny ranches" and then south down hwy 95. All good roads and no issues...just cold...Walker Lake was pretty but the land around all of this area is desolate- no trees, no grass- just sand and sagebrush.

Once we got to Beatty, Nevada on hwy 95- the temp started to rise. Folded up the extra sweater and headgear- we were in full sun now. Las Vegas showed itself in hot sun at 80 some degress and it was bright. Our eyes were not used to the bright sun and we were squinting even under our sunglasses. We hit the roads during the 5 o'clock rush hour traffic and we SURVIVED!! Wow- what a way to get into town....lots of cars, aggressive drivers and we did not know exactly where we were going. Only one wrong turn and we were at the Monte Carlo by 6pm. A quick shower and a seafood dinner were in order then we hit the streets to see what LV was all about. Tons of people on a Thursday night- you could hardly walk the sidewalks and it was still HOT. We did get to see the volcano erupt at the Mirage, the fountain show at the Bellagio and missed the Treasure Island boat show. We did see all shapes and sizes of people- some of which should look in the mirror prior to going out....

Today I worked for a couple of hours and then we walked outside again. Through a variety of hotels, hotel malls (the only way to cross the streets) and all the way down to the Trump Tower. There we found an odd museum that is appropriate to LV....Museum of Erotic Art...very interesting and fun. Back to the room to get cooled off and to take a nap.

We have both decided that we are not really into this LV whole thing...everyone is out to get whatever dollars are in your pocket through shows, gambling and just stuff. Tomorrow morning we will get an early start out of the city and back into the country. A tour of the Hoover Dam is on the agenda.

Speaking of people....earlier this week...we were getting gas just outside of Reno....and I see this "woman" trying to put gas in her car. She is dressed in a leopard print robe, croc shoes and has unruly hair....she is mad because she cannot get the gas pump to work. She stomps back and forth to the gas station and as she is stomping around- her butt and bosum are bouncing around like crazy....nothing was in control....and she needed it!! Mike is always saying something about women who have bouncing stuff- "two cats in a burlap bag". Anyway- I just could not help but laugh as I took a picture of her as she stood there bouncing in her Leopard print robe and croc shoes!!

Sailing away in Nevada

Let's see- Monday night we stayed a free night at the Redding, CA Holiday Inn...thanks to points.

Tuesday morning we headed for Carson City, Nevada but today we are taking straighter roads with a few curves. It is cold and by the time we leave at 830- it is RAINING AGAIN!! So out comes the rain gear, double up the gloves and head out.

Here I must digress.....so this is the way it goes when getting geared up....
Put on chaps, then jacket and zip it up, then helmet....wait...screwed up...take off helmet and put on scarf over ears, then put on helmet....darn it....take off helmet, take off scarf and put in ear plugs....put on scarf, put on helmet and strap it down....oh MAN....unzip jacket and put on leather face/neck collar and tuck under jacket neck, zip jacket....oh BALLS!!...unzip jacket and TUCK helmet strap into jacket (it is too long and flies around underway)....OK- whew....put on liners, slip hands into gloves and get on bike....SCREWED UP AGAIN....have to unlock the bike...take off gloves, unzip pocket and dig around for keys...SUCCESS!! unlock bike, take liners of out gloves (cannot put hands in them with the liners), put liners on hands, put gloves on hands....start BIKE...but wait....now I have to go to the bathroom....darn the coffee!! When using raingear- it gets even more convoluted...more layers, velcro and zippers. Now I am ready for a nap....and another cup of coffee.

We head for 80 miles to Susanville- easy riding curves and passing lanes. Over the top of the hills we go....it is getting colder and we are over 5000 feet elevation. Now lots of snow in the woods but the roads are clear and dry. Our fingers are only two knuckles frozen today so it is a good day for a ride!! HA!

Just when we start into Susanville- the winds pick up and the temp is at least 50. I have a phone meeting so we stop in a local diner and take up residence. I talk for an hour, warm up the knuckles and we have lunch. Then we leave- SAILING down the road with the wind coming from all directions at us. You can feel the bike slow down due to the wind and then the shift and the bike wants to go into the other lane or the ditch- depending on the gust's direction. We work hard at this ride and the wind blows harder. In the distance we can see a dry lake bed kick up sand and dirt. Luckily we do not have to drive through that area. I see a corridor of trees up ahead and think "great- the wind will not be there"- BOY was I wrong. The trees funneled the wind through the open area and it was worse than ever. The struggle for control was on and I was going to win on this one. Mike and I come up behind a series of RV's/ trailers....not a good place to be. Who knows what will fly off of those things in this wind? We have a passing lane and race past them at about 80 mph. The wind keeps on....finally we arrive Reno. Have a Starbucks break and regroup...then off to Carson City for the night. The wind continues and is still blowing like crazy out there. The locals are sick of the weather here too....it is cold and windy- 50 degrees and what seems like 50 mph. The wind chill continues...

A two day stay in Carson City is needed so we can rest up. Today (Wednesday) we have toured the State of Nevada museums, walked the Capitol grounds, lunched and rode the town a bit.

The wind still blows......but WAIT!!! We walk out of the hotel to go to supper at Red's Old 395 Restaurant...the wind has died down- the trees are standing upright.....and THEN we look to our right.....a huge storm is coming down the hillside into Carson City. Oh well....what the Hell...another day of rain BUT oh no!!! It was sleet combined with rain. We rode to the restaurant, watched the sun come out and came home in the cloudy with "some sun" skies.

Tomorrow- Las Vegas...heard it was warm there???

Dirt road = muddy bikes

Left Grant's Pass at 830 am. Breakfast at Elmers was hearty....that was a good thing. We were in search of the Redwood Forest and headed down hwy 199. Soon Mike pulled off to pull on more headgear- it was cold and nippy. For some reason we just cannot find any sun. We pull into the Redwood National and State visitor center....the people were helpful in telling us where to go see the BIG redwoods. Just go back a couple of miles and across a bridge and down a dirt road. Mike says "I don't think this is such a good idea" but I am determined to see the redwoods off the pavement.

Off we go, back a couple of miles, across the bridge and on the dirt road. The dirt road has potholes the size of craters (translated= broken wheels/bodies possible) but we traverse around them slowly. Oh- I forgot- this is a single lane road and we are the only ones on it at this point. We see some huge trees, take pictures and keep going. This 10 mile road eventually ends up in Cresent City. Now we have other cars on the road with us- we let them go around us and then they are coming towards us. When someone tells me that a road is "single lane"- I assumed that meant one way as well. Ok so I was wrong in that assumption.

The road is getting muddy- we slip around a bit and the challenge in on....keep the bike on the road and not in the deep ravine. Mike is ahead of me. I come around a corner and see him stopped. His bike is down and a car is headed at him buts gets stopped. I attempt to stop but the mud is too slick....the bike stops just short of hitting Mike. I think I have it made but then the bike slips and falls down on its side. Now we have a car stopped in the middle of the road, Mike's bike is laid down, mine is on its side. The mud is about 2" deep and we are trying to get the bikes back up. Mike has his up and standing. I need help getting mine up. The car just sits there....and now we have a line of cars backed up behind us as well. Oh- did I mention the DEEP ravine on one side??? OK-bikes are up....we get our wits about us- no damage- everyone is OK. The drops were controlled so no injury to anyone. Mike takes off....I leave some space so I can come up behind him. The ruts are deep and getting through the mud is difficult- we slip all over the place. Now I am scared that I will not control the bike and end up in the ravine....who cares about those damn trees!!! This was not such a great idea....Mike is way ahead and telling cars to slow down. The mud gets much worse- now we have hills to deal with...Mike slips up the hill and waits for me. I have the bike in gear but cannot get going without sliding...finally I make it up the hill. I rest a bit, get my composure and go again. For every hill there is a downside which poses different issues- gravity and mud do not mix well. Traffic is unforgiving and passes us on blind curves- remember it is two way traffic on a single lane road with pullouts. Finally the road appears to dry up a bit, I silently rejoice only to see the mud starts up again.....AT LAST..... the road changes and we are in Cresent City.

We pull into a parking lot and determine that a car wash is badly needed. Our boots and the bikes are muddy. We find a carwash, park the bikes and go have some lunch. The bikes must cool off before washing them. A quick lunch of soup and salad and then a wash job gets things back to normal. Mike is not mad and we are happy with our ability to get out of a bad situation.

We go to the "Trees of Mystery", see Paul Bunyan and his Ox- Blue. We walk through all the trees (just off the pavement)We ride the gondola up to the top of the hillside and see the view. Wow- this was so much easier than the morning's ride through the mud and muck. Like every other day...it starts to rain lightly. We forego the raingear in hopes that it will stop. It does stop a few miles down the road.

Goal for the afternoon- Redding, CA....4pm we take off- first the Coast hwy 101 and then we get on hwy 299. Curvy, twisted and hilly....another challenge for us but on the tail end of the day it makes for a long ride. The road has alot of edges and breaks so it is important to see the road for what it is....broken. It takes us 3 hrs to go 150 miles.....alot of steep switchbacks at low speeds guarantee that we make it to the Holiday Inn. It is a beautiful drive with the Trinity river on one side and rocky hillside on the other. Traffic is light and the pullouts frequent so we can ride our own speed without being pushed.

7pm we pull into the Holiday Inn...hungry and beat. It was the longest 150 miles we have ridden and boy are we ready for some dinner and a bed!! Tomorrow will be better and hopefully it will be warm and WILL NOT rain. Heading east towards Nevada to see the Grand Canyon.

The new definition of Insanity

Ok so today we left the sun and warmth of Bend Oregon at 830 am for Crater Lake. on hwy 97. Thirty minutes into the ride we were in 30 degree temps and it was not getting any warmer. We stopped to slap our hands together and get other gloves out. Stomped around a bit as our toes were cold too...next stop will be for gas. It was still sunny but very cold with light cover of snow on the ground. Stopped into Chemult for gas...the attendent gave us free coffee so we stood around in their HEATED building chatting them up. The big find for the day was white liner gloves for $1.29 each. Without those- we never would have survived.

We continued on 97 then onto 138 then hwy 230....now we know we are really crazy!! We turn the corner and we see SNOWMACHINES and all the campers affiliated with it!! We are crazy to be here but what choices do we have? We want to see Crater Lake and the only way to get there is on these wheels. At this point the snow is only about 5' deep on either side of the road....we continue up the mountain.

By the time we get to Crater Lake- the snow is at least 15' high on either side of the road. We are cold and very INSANE so we continue on. Amidst avalanche warning signs we slowly crawl up the road. We know the visitor's center has soup, sandwiches and hopefully hot chocolate. We pay our $5/person and enter the park with at least 20 other cars. Up the hill through wet curvy roads covered with red gravel (slick) and potential ice....we finally arrive only to sit on the road waiting behind a motor home. 30 Minutes later amidst snow flurries we find out that an ASIAN TOUR BUS was missing a few of their TOURISTS and was blocking the parking lot. It was funny to watch the tour guide running around like a crazy person (join us- we are certified) with his yellow flag looking for his lost people. The park is socked in with snow- 591 inches so far this year- so those ASIANS could not have gone far.

Finally we arrive, park the bikes (we are the only crazies in the lot) and enter the visitor center only to find that we have entered "Pakistan". I swear every Indian, Pakistani or Indonesian was at Crater Lake today. We were in the minority with our white faces and heavy jackets. Anyway...

We did NOT SEE CRATER LAKE...it was not viewable due to low clouds and SNOW. We did see lots of tall trees, a postcard with a great picture of the lake and deep snow up to the second story of the lodge. We will have to come back on a SUMMER day since winter just won't release its grip this year. Sort of reminds me of trying to see Mt McKinley- sometimes impossible.

We did learn alot about riding on snow, ice and sleet...again. Today Mike finally said- "Boy I wish I would have brought my smart wool long johns"....I have been waiting for him to say this. When I was packing for this trip...he told me I would never need that wool sweater and long johns I have been wearing EVERYDAY since leaving South Dakota. He did not want me to pack it around the country...now he knows...I know how to pack!!

We head for Grant's Pass and cross the Rogue River Bridge...it is still raining on us and we are still very cold. Holiday Inn has hot showers and laundry...we are very dirty from all the road spray. I have a new appreciation for all motorcycle riders....we are all crazy.

Tomorrow- the Redwood forest...hopefully the weather will be better???

Just a quick note

Yesterday while we were waiting to get into our room at the Best Western, we decided to find the HD Dealership. Three people gave us directions- only one was correct. Finally we arrived at the tucked away building. for those who do not know this- the HD dealers are a great place to warm up, have a decent bathroom break, get a cup of coffee or water. We found my front axle nut covers (more bling) for my bike and a warm set of gloves for Mike. I will now wear the borrowed ones from Cousin John (too tight for Mike). As we were checking out- the guys asked us where we were from- Trapper Creek, AK....they gave us free T-Shirts and sent us on our way!!

What an ending to a cold rainy, snowy day!

Today- we just looked out the window- clouds and looks like Snow....I will keep you posted later!!

Friends, Preparations & Road Trip to Goldendale, WA

We have been very busy over the last week visiting our old friends and family. Mike and I had dinner with Dennis and Vicky Derks and newly college graduate- Bailey. A trip to Chuck Hook's leather shop was completed so I could get a belt adjusted and to obtain laces. Coffee each day like the "good old days" and discussions about the world's issues were in order. A trip to Nordstrom's Anniversary sale, the nordstrom rack and a visit to our friends at the Jewelry Source made our wallets thinner.

Since we were leaving on Friday- Casey and Star decided to ride with us part of the way. We made our travel plans one night after dinner and Lola was showing her disgust with our idea of leaving her at home for the weekend. What a character!! Casey and Star's neighbors (Danny and Linda) were invited to ride with us to Goldendale, WA. There is a WWI Memorial that has been there since 1929 and is the very first USA War Memorial.

The trip to Goldendale started at 0830 hrs on Friday Morning. It was a cool morning- about 45 degree. We geared up, got ready to go and then took a look at the skies....it looked like rain. So out came all the rain gear....15 minutes later- we were all covered in rain repellent coats/pants and boots.....all of us except Danny and Casey. We took the backroads to I-90 so we could "go over the mountain". Breakfast at North Bend was the goal and hopefully no rain. A quick stop at a gas station for Danny to get "rain geared up" made the rest of us appreciate that we had already done that. Getting all of that stuff on is like trying to stuff sausage.

We did get breakfast and we did not avoid the rain. There is nothing like entering the I90 freeway with Walmart trucks throwing water all over you. Luckily that was just a short span and we exited off to get breakfast.

Yakima was the stop for a late lunch at "world famous" Miner's- (I had never heard of this original burger joint). Huge burgers and salads greeted us as we sat outside in the sun. What a difference a few hours made - now we had sun and no wind.

Further south we went to Goldendale....the War Memorial was calling. We wanted to get there before sundown. Curvy roads and wind farms created this wierd eerie feeling. The winds were unbelievable and the wind mills are so close to the road that the blade's shadows are cast on the road as they rotated. The War Memorial is just off the Columbia River and is a recreation of Stonehenge as it was perceived to be prior to its demise.

Our evening was spent at the Ponderosa Motel. The challenge of the day was finding a place to eat that had real food (no bar food and open). Finally we found a place at 830 pm. They were glad to have us and we were glad to have found the Sodbusters restaurant. Saturday we would all go our own ways- Danny and Linda were heading back to Marysville while the kids were going on their own adventure.

Saturday we woke to cool sun and light winds. 40 degrees required more layers and headgear. Heading down highway 97- we headed for Crater Lake. Little did we know that the weather had other things in mind for us. Just 22 miles north of Bend, Oregon- we stopped at the weigh station. I had to go to the bathroom (thank goodness for all that "Alaska wilderness training". The skies looked like rain so once again we geared up with all the rain coats/pants. Just a couple of miles down the road and we were hit with small hail, sleet, snow and rain. This was a major problem- my windshield was quickly covered with solid white. I could not see anything!! Mike was in front of me and I could see his glowing tail light so I just kept going... 55 mph. I did not want to get run over by the traffic behind me. I just sat straight up and peeked over the top of my windshield every little bit to make sure I was still avoiding deep standing water. Obviously we made it through that weather situation. Mike was saying "good job". I think he now knows he is married to a really tough one. Three miles of that crap and we were out of it and back into rain- YES!! Rain feels much better than sleet. Bend, Oregon looked so good and the Olive Garden was our haven while the weather continued outside. We found a hotel and are staying the night. Hopefully tomorrow will be better weather.

Scrub-a-dub-dub

Bikes washed- check

Laundry done- check

Korean scrub- check

Spa day for me!! If you ever have a chance to have an authentic Korean Scrub- go for it and don't be shy!! A full description is in order so you can fully appreciate the process....

Arrive at spa one hour prior to your scrub. Pay $160.00, get locker key and take your towel/robe. Take off shoes (no shoes allowed inside) and put into assigned cubby (which corresponds to locker key). Find locker and take off ALL clothes, jewelry and makeup. Lock all items in assigned locker. Wrap towel or robe around yourself. Take shower and wash hair. All of this is done around other similarly naked women.

Next enter the "tub room" to soak for 50 minutes prior to your scrub. In this room are four large soaking tubs with a variety of temperatures ranging from 60 degrees with a water fall to 90 degrees, 97 degrees and 104 degrees. A mugwort trough is available for bowls of mugwort to be poured over your body between the different tubs. Each tub will hold about 10-15 people at one time. A wet and dry sauna are also available to encourage the body to sweat.

My soak is enlightening.....I appreciate my somewhat "lean" body compared to those around me. I also appreciate the tattoos (peacock feathers around a torso and flowers around a breast) that I would never see otherwise as well as a breast cancer survivor's scars (what a brave woman). Regardless of body type (michellin woman, sumo lady and skinny girl) they are all there for the same purpose- to get a scrub.

The Korean gal calls your number and invites you to her table. She tells you to lay face down onto that vinyl covered table. A quick spritz of water and soap, she starts scrubbing with a "Scotchbright" type of scrubber. Starting at my feet she works her way up my one leg, backside, back up to my head, arms and then back down the other side. That is step one- scrub and rinse with a bowl of warm water. Step two- scrub all those places again and rinse. Step three- scrub and rinse. By now the floor is covered with dead remnants of skin.

Then turn to your side and three scrubs/rinse on your left side then the same for your right....then face up- another three passes of scrubs and rinses. You cannot be shy as you are not the only one laying stark naked on a vinyl covered table. Ten tables all in a row with a variey of sizes/body types getting scrubbed....what an experience and the best is yet to come...

So after all of that- a moisturizing process is in order. First olive oil is rubbed into your skin from head to toe and feels like a massage, then warm milk to poured and rubbed onto your body and finally honey is rubbed in. Cucumber paste is applied to your face then warm towels are laid on your body and you fall into a deep sleep. Your Korean scrub girl wakes you and you go about your day with new skin. After a scrub your skin feels like a new baby's skin- smooth, soft and nice. I only wish we had one of these facilities in Alaska....it would be a quarterly visit to get rid of all of this old skin!!