Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Road-tripping


The last day of our road-trip ended with a little stress as I struggled to find a hotel late in the night. Not quite finished our shopping and wanting to take advantage of the duty free limits we were one more night on the road. Driving with the camper, I am never tempted to speed the way I do in my little Mazda zoom zoom zoom car, but when the cop with lights flashing came up in my rearview mirror,  I instinctively checked my speedometer and started to pull over. He flew by. I wasn't his prey. Something far ahead had sent him gunning. As I watched him drive away I was awarded a memory from a road-trip long ago. I'm pretty sure it was the Summer of 1979. I was the same age as the ladies are now, just going into Grade 6. Mom, Dad, my brother Miles and my sister Hilary, all heading across Canada to soak up the sites. And we did. There wasn't a museum, parliament building or Catholic Church that we didn't tour, visit or photograph. Province to province across the TransCanada Highway, experiencing what my father felt every Canadian child should - our land from sea to shining sea.
When we hit Port Elgin, New Brunswick we were starting to feel the stress of the cramped van and the long days of driving. My father did all the driving and it must have been exhausting to not get a break. My mother had just as hard a time as passenger. The stress of navigating your way across Canada weighs pretty heavy.
It was late in the night on that stretch of the highway when the RCMP officer pulled as over. I can remember Mom giving Dad heck for speeding and my dad saying he wasn't. The police officer came to the side of the car and asked my father if he knew why he was being pulled over. My father, always the gentleman, said, " I don't believe I was speeding sir." And the officer said, " I see you are from out of town. What brings you all this way? Do you have friends in town?"  Dad replied, "No we were just passing through, enjoying the sites along the way."   The officer informed Dad that the annual parade was the following day and as was the history of the parade, an out of town guest was appointed Grand Marshal and given the key to the City. We were to be the Grand Marshal Family. For my father who spent his life trying to give us moments, this must have felt like quite a coup. The ultimate Canadiana experience. It didn't get much better than this. We obviously accepted and were given a police escort into town where we were treated to a lobster dinner maritime style. The next day it was all business as we had to judge the parade after riding front and center on the Grand Marshal float ( which I believe was horse and cart?). We totally flubbed it up and ended up picking people who had never won before. I am sure the town still talks about the year those coast folk came and sent everything topsy turvy. But what a memory. As was the way of my Dad, he got to know the locals, and even had the local realtor showing him houses and had us dreaming of the maritime life.
 When we got home there was mail from Port Elgin, New Brunswick ,
A Certificate making us honorary citizens of the town and a copy of the local paper with a write up on the parade. I'm not sure what happened to that paperwork but I'm making a note to send an email off and find out if I can get a copy of that newspaper article. Canadiana.

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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Winding Down

My five mile run this morning ended on a sandy beach, roar of the ocean in my ears and sand between my toes. I couldn't wait to wake the ladies for a bit of beachcombing. I could only get Gracie up but she was a willing assistant. We found some lovely agates (she says) that she has promised to polish and transform into some type of wearable art. Rachel soon straggled down to the beach and the three of us frolicked for a bit before heading up to camp.

Not only did my early morning exercise afford me one more opportunity to fill my lungs with fresh sea air it also allowed me to splurge on the calories at breakfast. We stopped in at the Newport Cafe this morning and while Dad enjoyed a seafood scramble that was loaded with crab and scallops and shrimp, I indulged in eggs and grilled calamari. I checked first just to be sure it was calamari done the right way (one big slab of calamari, like a piece of fish) and of course it was. Very yummy!
The girls gobbled up all their French toast and we were off. Turns out that Astoria sounds a lot like Albany to members of our party who have full use of their ears ;), so we are headed back to the I5 and to Albany, Oregon to meet up with John and Vicki before shopping and stopping in Portland. Then homeward.


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Tonight we are at Sun and Sand RV Park outside of Lincoln City Oregon on the Pacific Coast Highway. It is a jewel of a place with campsites right on the sand, killer sunsets and outlet shopping just down the road. Yes you can only hold off for so long. It is Oregon right? So no tax and great deals make for fun shopping excursions.
As soon as we got to our campsite we took the camper off and I headed into town with the ladies to shop and shop and shop.
We went to the Tangers Outlet in Lincoln City and got some pretty good bargains. I am still hoping to hit Nordstrom Rack before we head home but as far as the kids are concerned I did pretty good today.
After a quick stop for a few groceries we headed back to the campsite. The girls took their Dad down to the beach while I BBQ'd some chicken and tried a new prawn recipe. I got some chili olive oil in Lodi so I sprinkled a bit on the prawns with the usual lime zest and garlic then wrapped them in aluminum foil and stuck them on the que. Rachel came running up from the beach saying I had to come quick so I left the que for a bit and ran down just in time to catch the sun dropping out of the sky. I might have gone on and on about how stunning the Bryce Canyon. Sunset was but this Coast girl knows there is nothing more beautiful then the sun setting over the ocean! We got back to the campsite just in time for


me to pull the prawns off! They were delicious!

It is nice to be back on the coast! Grace said she felt less homesick today! I have to agree ! A bit more sea air and then time to head home.


Woke up early this am and just in from a gorgeous 5 miles into GlenEden State Park then around the Wyndham Resort. Beautiful morning. Now waking the ladies for some beach combing before heading up to Portland.- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday, August 15, 2011

Jump Off Joe Creek

Although I do love to plan, part of a vacation and especially a road-trip is best left to chance. You stumble upon great little campsites with incredibly friendly people sometimes when you arrive in the middle of the night road weary and looking for a place to settle in. Jump off Joe Creek Campground Oregon for example. Would you ever actually make this a destination? How would you ever know about a place like this? The for sale sign hangs at the end of the long road and you know they have seen better times. Yet they have planted the annuals in the window boxes, the welcoming lights are on, and the owner eagerly comes down the path to meet you when you arrive.
We left early this morning and the owner waved as we headed out. Friendly as all get out. :)
Then again today hunger struck so we asked the trusty GPS to find us a good breakfast and there it was, Steve's Breakfast & More in Springfield, Oregon. I mean the name alone should bring you in. Although Steve wasn't slinging breakfast or busting his hump like our waitress who was the only one serving in the hopping joint. What a great breakfast though. Huge blueberry pancakes, incredibly delicious sausage and perfectly cooked eggs. Hidden gems that the locals all enjoy and travelers rarely get a crack at are now a little easier to find with gps and apps like flavourtown USA etc.

As our road-trip winds down, over 5,000 more kilometers on the odometer than when we started our adventure, I am thankful that we were able to make it happen for our ladies. I am also thankful for the memories that flooded back to me over the trip. Many road-trips taken, many memories of family and many hidden gems unearthed from my memory.
Watching that waitress today in that diner reminded me of a road-trip with my mom and dad and my
Mom's family. We travelled to Oak Lake, Manitoba for their centennial. We stayed at a bed and breakfast there and the owner of the bed and breakfast also owned the towns restaurant. You can imagine that a celebration of this magnitude in a small prairie town would bring in a lot of extra income for the small businesses. The owner of the bed and breakfast and the restaurant had had a kitchen accident the week before and had been badly burnt. So my wonderful generous father offered to help out and suggested that I help out as a waitress. I was 14 years old and though I had been working at a wedding catering company since I was 12 working in a busy diner was a whole new ballgame. It was HARD work and hot and greasy and so not the way I had imagined spending my summer.
I think I only worked there a few days but at the time it felt like forever. It wasn't all bad as I got a few good tips and made some extra pocket money.
Road-trips....

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Sacramento


A busy day of touring yesterday that the girls and I capped off with a late night run/rollerblade around the resort followed by an even later night swim before tucking in for the night. It was a really nice quiet spot and we enjoyed our stay in Lodi. Didn't feel stuck at all.
Today we headed to Sacramento and tried out another DDD, Dad's Kitchen. This one was more my style with lighter fare. It had a gorgeous seating area out back that reminded me a bit of Crave on Main St. I had a really good vegetarian breakfast sandwich and their homemade sourdough was awesome. Dad enjoyed his platter of eggs with chili. The girls shared French toast and thankfully couldn't finish it so I got the honors. Topped with sliced bananas the syrup was an orange zest that with the cinnamon added just enough oomph to send it over the top.





Cream for your coffee -in a baby bottle -cute?.





There was a cute little shop next door with everything half off and a strapless dress in the window that had my name on it.
Of course it was the last one and the sales clerk made a big deal about it being no problem to get it off the mannequin so I could try in on. I should have known it would end up being too tight in the chest so I left the store empty handed and the store was left with a naked mannequin with pasties in the window. My ladies thought it was hilarious...me not so much!



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Posted By Kathryn to irun from home at 8/14/2011 09:13:00 PM

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Saturday, August 13, 2011

Stuck in Lodi?

We made it to Lodi,California last night and I would argue with CCR that is not such a bad place to be stuck. We are at Flag Rv Resort and last night enjoyed a pool swim after a long hot days drive. We watched the sunset from the pool and although it was not the same as Bryce Canyon,the colours were spectacular and it was a nice welcome to the California Delta. There are many wineries in the area, pistachio and almond groves, corn fields and fruit trees.
I found out that the Lodi Running club meets at 6:30 am on Saturdays for their weekly run and I sooo wanted to join them...but with the camper on, me the only one wanting to go, and 7 miles between me and the meeting spot...it just wasn't meant to be. Instead I woke and ran two loops of the 2.5 mile recreation area that surrounds the RV park. No long run today. We are planning to head to Lodi this afternoon so I was thinking of running back from there once i see what the road is like.
As I write this we are driving through the California Delta bound for Fairville which is home to the JellyBelly factory. Once my little candy loving detectives became aware of this we decided an extra night here would be fruitful (is that a play on words sort of). We all love jellybellys and apparently you can purchase seconds or should I say "belly flops" here which is definitely a bonus.
We just passed through a drawbridge which was a first for the girls. We are now driving past a large field of wind turbines, huge in stature, they look so sterile against this fertile land and the cows grazing under them look so out of place. Although on the opposite field the electrical lines that have traversed these fields for decades look even more obtrusive." Greener-pastures" is a phrase that comes to mind.





















Friday, August 12, 2011


I was driving home..early Sunday morning through...


After what I can only call a stressful days drive we arrived in Bakersfield,California, the song Faraway Eyes playing in my head. We left Vegas with no destination forward. I had planned everything to this point but the road back had always been uncertain. And I'm not very good when there isn't a plan. I like a plan. I like to know where I am going and not just where I have been.
We stopped at a Denny's for breakfast in Primm Nevada home to Buffalo Bills Casino. Let's just say aghhhhhh and move on shall we.
From there we drove. And highway 15 is a truckers highway with a convoy all the way in the slow lane and every crazy California driver in the state in the fast lane. Not fun. Made driving in the rainstorm in Utah a day in the park.
With only a quick rest stop and driver change we made it to Bakersfield around dinner time. Now the stress of finding a good place to camp. There are no state or national parks on this route so we are camping at the rv sites. I have been using the rv park reviews website to find campgrounds but I hadn't researched this area.
I was thinking about when we were kids and went on roadtrips without the luxury of GPS or wifi. Right now we just plug in find a campground and then go by the name. Our first try here in Bakersfield was the Castle Rv park, and let's just say that we ended up in a rather shady part of town.
Second attempt brought us here to the Riverside Rv Park, full hook ups, green grass, beautiful clean facility with a pool, cardio room, laundry and wifi.


We are taking our time leaving


this morning but are heading for
Sacramento area today. Sun is shining. It was 38 at the peak yesterday. Hoping for a bit cooler today! Hope the sun is shining wherever you are!

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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Fence sitting poolside

I'm sort of on the fence when it comes to Vegas. It is definitely a place to party and people are generally happy and there certainly is a lot to see and do....but...
Maybe it is because of the way we travelled in via car through pristine Utah then gorgeous Arizona then Nevada, where you notice the litter starting on the roadside, the air gets thicker and it just feels so different.
Maybe it is because we just spent days reveling in nature and soaking up all that pure air and pure living and now here we are in Sin city.
Don't get me wrong. I like it enough that I will come back sans 10 year olds. And I see what all the fuss is about. Who wouldn't?
I guess a little bit of me is still standing on the edge looking down into the canyon and taking in those big breaths of clean air.
Yesterday we did a bit more shopping and the heat was killer. So we all just hit the pool until it closed at 7 then dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. The ladies loved that!





I got up early this am and got my treadmill workout in. I woke the girls after and I am typing this poolside as they enjoy their last swim at Mandalay Bay.



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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Kid in a Candy Store

My run this morning was completely different from
yesterday's except for the time of day. I woke early. Yes I know. My first time in Vegas and the morning after my arrival I am up before the dawn. Doesn't say much for my partying gene but we did have fun. We arrived at around 5 which was 6 to us as we had been on Utah time. Check in took awhile but our room was nice (on the 13 floor which Grace said was extremely lucky ;) ) with a pool view that made the kids go nuts over the wave pool. But alas this is Vegas, and the pool closes at 7. Seriously. 42 degrees out there and they shut her down at 7. They want your money at the tables and in the barstools.
So we decided that we would check out the strip and in the 42 heat it was hard to fully enjoy our first look at the glitz. Of course we did have two very excited 10 year olds who quickly spotted the large m&m's outside of m&m world.





Yes there really is a store entirely devoted to this delightful candy. Four floors of store. And we checked out every square-foot and the girls parted with their Benjamin that they had been saving for the excursion. But as grace said, as she hugged her newly acquired yellow peanut, this is my dream world. ;)





We toured alot of the hotels then headed back to Mandalay bay and on to the house of blues for a late dinner. After asking for a table switch we were front and center for the band and they played alot of great tunes that the girls enjoyed, sang along and even danced a bit.





Food was fine, drinks were good and the atmosphere was cool. So after that busy day (I didnt even tell u about the outlet shopping in st George Utah ) it was pretty good that I got up for my run and hit the cardio center this morning. After my run I went up to the room and woke the girls and they put on their suits and we were in the 8am lineup to the pool. We got nice loungers close to the pool and the girls and I swam for an hour and a half. Total blast! The pool is a wave pool and so fun with sandy beaches and a lazy river.











After our swim we got Dad up and went for breakfast and now to Shark reef and back to pool and m&m world to return the already broken bracelet.
Very different version of Vegas when you are with kids but I am loving watching my girls together without any entanglements. They are such good friends to each other and they really have a special bond. It is a wonderful thing!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Thanks Utah! And can I just say Wow!

This morning I woke before the sun and quietly slipped into my running gear and out the door. My iPod had died in the night so no pictures this time and I was without music which was odd for me. I wanted to run without music this morning anyway just in case I startled a rattlesnake coming out from a rock. I wanted to hear it's warning sign so I had my hearing aid in.
It's funny how cold it is in the morning. It is crisp and cold. Yet by 8 it will be 30.
There is an awesome bike path that goes all the way into the Red Canyon. I only ran a four mile this am so just to the top of the canyon and back. I was nervous to venture down on my own so I turned back at the two mile mark. The sun had been busy rising behind me and I was awarded a gorgeous run back making the big hill seem flat and the road easy. The air is thin here and a four mile felt like a ten on my body. Everything felt heavy as I heated up with the asphalt.
I'm so glad I got that run in though as we pack up today and head to Nevada. Although I didn't have the camera I will always have a picture in my mind of one of the most gorgeous running routes I have enjoyed to date.


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Monday, August 8, 2011

Grand Canyon




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Bryce Canyon Sunset







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Sunset





Grand Canyon

Today we set out at 9am - destination Grand Canyon - dNorth Rim. Our original itinerary had us bound for Flagstaff, Arizona today but we decided to change it up. With the camper already off, we booked another night here in Bryce Canyon and climbed in the truck for the Daytrip to end all daytrips. A three hour drive each way on a gorgeous curving road leading us to the Grand Canyon.
Worth every minute of the drive we enjoyed the vistas and took pictures galore. It is a sight that leaves you speechless and yet wanting to grab your kids and say wow! Can you believe this?


We had lunch in the Grand Canyon Lodge which was surprisingly inexpensive and afforded us additional time to soak in the view of the canyon. We bought a few souvenirs at the gift shop and the ladies happily checked off three state licence plates on the walk back to the car, that up until now had eluded them. A long drive back and just pulling in now with plans for a pool swim before dinner.


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Hoodoos-not voodoo- but definitely magical


I can't believe how much we crammed in to the day yesterday. It was like a camping triathlon of horseback riding, hiking, and pool frolicking plus the warm up of getting laundry done and the cool down of s'mores around the campfire....oh and the victory lap which was the sunset at Bryce Canyon.
Although the $25 entry fee for the park came as a surprise, the sunsetting over Bryce Canyon is priceless. The sandstone takes on a pinkish hue and the layers of colour across the sky are absolutely breathtaking. So far the highlight of this trip for me and I hope all my pictures turn out.
Here are some from my iPod


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Sunday, August 7, 2011

Horses,Hiking and Blue Skies

Today we were booked for a horseback ride at 9am so we were up early for showers. The cowgirls put on their newly purchased cowboy hats and kicked up their heels with their best cowgirl swagger and we headed over to the corral. That's right podnah!



We were a little early, can you say excited? so we moseyed on down to the saloon and rustled up some hot chocolate and coffee while we waited. (sorry couldn't resist)


We were driven down to the start of the trail where we were then fitted for our horses. Grace had Sandy, Rachel had Cedar, and I had Diamond. We were in a group with a family of four from Switzerland who had been in the USA for a month, renting a camper in San Francisco and traveling throughout the western states. They were as awestruck as us by the beauty of the canyon. We had a spectacular two hour ride. I used the Canon to take the pictures so I will have to post when we get home.
After the gorgeous ride through the canyon you would think it would be hard to top that scenery but....we headed back to camp to find Dad had taken the camper off. So after a nice lunch we drove down to Kodachrome Basin and went for a hike up Angel's Trail where we took some more spectacular photos.


Rachel and grace at Kodachrome Basin




It was a hot and hard hike in the blistering heat but it was all worthwhile to reach the peak and take the photos. Glorious view!

We went for a nice swim in the pool when we got back and felt very refreshed. BBQ chicken fajitas for dinner around the campfire and now we are set to drive up to Bryce Canyon where we are told nature puts on a light show in the form of a sunset that is out of this world.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

over the top

I have been worried that I won't be able to keep up my training over the holidays. The last few days I have
found it easier to not run especially after the long days of driving. This morning I woke up and quietly put on my gear laid out the night before. The campground was
quiet and the sky was blue. I ran in the direction we had come in the night before. The neighborhood of Kaysville sits among the mountains of Utah and is immaculate and pristine. I ran through a neighbourhood much like a Street
Of Dreams, gorgeous brick homes set against rich landscaping.




















Manicured lawns, backyard pools, basketball courts and huge decks, and yet you won't see a BMW or a Porsche in these driveways. They buy American here and fly their flags high. Patriotism and religion surround you in these parts.
I got a good hour run in and was able to enjoy the local landscape and take in the sunrise over Salt Lake while others slept. I love being an athlete. I did some sit ups and pushups back at camp before everybody woke up and felt completely refreshed and back on track.





















After coffee and a game of 7 up with Grace we headed out. The Blue Plate Diner was calling us for a late breakfast. Deep in the heart of Salt Lake city the diner was featured on Diners and Dives and did not disappoint. It was a funky little diner with cool local artwork on the walls, postcards hanging from clotheslines across the ceiling, licence plates hanging behind the soda bar and an ecletic assortment of chairs and tables throughout. It was a fun stop. Next stop Bryce Canyon.





a grain of salt?

On August 05 we set out from Dillon Montana (we stayed at the Best Western in Dillon where we enjoyed the luxury of decamping and the kids splashed in the pool plus the added bonus of wifi totally made my day) with Salt Lake City our next destination. We have been averaging 500 miles a day and yet are managing to "keep it real" . The ladies are excellent travel companions and get along better than others in the vehicle ;). Having their itouchs has certainly helped keep them busy when the scenery doesn't keep them occupied. As you can see they pass the time in some unique ways. I love how their exploration of backseat photography has brought together the toys of yesterday (slinky) with the technology of today (photo taken with Grace's itouch)

















We drove through Montana and back through southern Idaho. I took the wheel just before Utah and while Dad slumbered,the snoring drowning out the radio, I drove. Of course the rain came hard at this point and there was fresh paving being done for 17 miles. Probably the most brutal part of the drive to date. I white knuckled at points as the road narrowed considerably with only one lane open and me with the camper!!
But the Utah skies were blue and the outside temperature was 40 when I pulled into a rest area just before Ogden Utah. There were only two campgrounds in this area and neither was a run of the mill campground. Both were destination style rv campgrounds. One,called Lagoon, was the site of the largest amusement park in the northwest states. The other park called Cherryhill had a waterpark on site. Luckily Lagoon was full as it would have been next to impossible to say no to that one and at $40 each even though we were arriving at 6pm it would have been a major unnecessary!
We ended up at Cherryhill where they had everyone packed in like sardines but miraculously our electric site sat alone with no neighbors. The waterpark had an after 4pm rate so we donned our suits and headed over. The lazy river was refreshing after a long hot day of driving and the views of Salt Lake city below were beautiful. The ladies had a blast and it was well worth the price of admission. I had some chicken strips in the fridge that I had marinated in a teriyaki sauce and we BBQed those for dinner with grilled peppers. We sat outside playing cards marveling at how quiet the campsite was for 930 until we realized it was 1030 :( and we still had our music and lights going. Rule breakers are not very welcome in this state so off to bed.



More than just potatoes

Had a gorgeous day of driving which took us from Washington through northern Idaho and ended in Dillon Montana. Spectacular scenery throughout the journey. Coeur d'alene is absolutely gorgeous and as home to an Ironman Triathlon :))) I can see this as an awesome destination event for someone planning to really test their mettle.

We passed through Idaho and entered
Montana...say it with me m
mon tan a. We pulled into Missoula set the Gps to find us a park and it did. Right on the Clark Fork River
I made a late lunch while we watched the locals tube down the river.
. We then found a post office and mailed some postcards.
So far we have held off on clothes or gift shopping but Montana is tax free and I just couldn't resist the cowboy hats for the girls.


They remind me of one I used to have which I think I got on a roadtrip across Canada when I was little. A lot of this trip reminds me of that one actually. I have a lot of pictures to post just have to figure out how to post more than one.

Lazy daze....cont.

Day 2 was a nice and easy day with just a short drive. I started the girls off right with a perfect on the go camping breakfast in the form of a fried egg and bacon sandwich and then we headed out on the road.  I had booked a campsite in Spokane but we were unsure if we would stay there given that we had made it farther than we expected the day before.   Finding the booked campsite was not that easy even with the gps.  If you ever stay at riverside state park be warned that there are two different campgrounds that are not very close together.  When we finally arrived at our campsite it was well past lunchtime and we were all famished.  Our campsite was at 9 miles recreation site which is right on the lake.  The sites are very close together but you are steps from the water so with temperatures in the high 20's who is complaining.  We decided it would be a good idea to just have a lake day and that is just what we did.  A very good decision.  Too hot to run and the trails weren't optimal for running alone so I opted for a lake swim instead.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

lazy daze

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We had a really great day for our first day of the roadtrip. I seriously did not look at my watch all day. I read Harry Potter to the girls when I wasn't at the wheel and before you knew it we were in Osoyoos. We stopped there and parked on the jetty at Haynes Point and had a refreshing swim. We then crossed the border at Oroville where the camper search was a small inconvenience given the fact that had we crossed in Blaine we would have endured at least an hour wait before submitting to same.
After a fun shop in Oroville: red
vines and giant
jawbreakers
for the ladies, chocolate for mom and cheap beer for Dad we drove on. We stopped at Grand Coolee Dam and I made a nice pasta salad and we barbecued steaks at the picnic table with the roar of the dam filling the air. Truly amazing to see and to have as
your backdrop while dining. A marmot came to say hello while we were eating, startling us as he came up from the bank of the dam
under the chain link fence. What's for dinner? he seemed to say. It was cute and the girls were quite excited at their first spotting of the little varmint.
After dinner we pushed off in search of a campsite as this was an unhooked night of our journey. Dad went to pull into the kings cross rv park but I forced us on and wouldn't u know it but a state park just ahead in spring canyon awaited us around the bend. At the top of the canyon over looking beautiful Lake Roosevelt, $10 got us a spot for the night.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

breakfast special

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cowboys get it

sorry everyone but the ability to blog became next to impossible given that the clearest signal came in the dead of night or 4
km up the road. I did manage my long run on Sunday and survived injury free..that is if you don't count the massive mosquito bite on my ankle that was threatening to cause problems until I benedryl Ed up. Seems better
today and I managed a smaller run yesterday.
The kids had a fantastic time at the lake and we are now on our way to the states. We packed up early and after huge thanks to our host we headed off on our adventure.
We planned to stop in Cache Creek for breakfast but after a short drive we realized that we had lost one of the camper hooks from the chains so we needed to stop in Merritt at the Canadian Tire.
I was dying for a coffee and the kids were getting hungry as we approached Merritt and signs directed us to a great place for breakfast "the hitchin post". We don't eat breakfast out that often as I make a mean waffle :)) but when we do the kids like the fluff i.e. kids menus at ihop or jiffywiffy waffle house ...so they weren't too excited when we stopped but it looked clean and just busy enough.
Well imagine ordering what you think are boring old hotcakes and bacon and getting this....and to top it off they make mean mushroom cheddar omelets...stop in there next time you are in Merritt! Blaze
a trail!