The Big Voice

Here at Beale AFB we have something that we have not encountered at any of the other bases -- the BIG VOICE. Anytime day or night you can hear the BIG VOICE over the entire base. Sometimes it is a male voice and sometimes it is a female voice. In the middle of the night the female voice says, "Exercise, exercise, exercise!" Now, is that not a strange time to tell us to put on our workout outfit and exercise! And, sometimes there is a long wailing sound that accompanies that call for exercise -- must be all those soldiers -- you think??? Need to check into the BIG VOICE (that's what they call it).

Exercise, exercise, exercise!

In the area are the most beautiful and huge oak trees. When they die they also make beautiful snags.

Ant Visit

We awoke to some not-so-welcomed guests - a swarm of ants. I did some research online to see if I could find some non-toxic deterrents and found talcum powder, cinnamon, chili powder and vinegar were all products ants do not like. AND WINDEX!!! We used them all. So far, they have mostly gone. Will see how many are here tomorrow.

Apparently, they walk up the hoses and electrical lines. Sure enough we found they were coming into the motorhome via the water hose. They found Lance's honey in the bottom shelf. Did not seem interested in much else.

At the crack of dawn (7 am is the crack of dawn for me) we took off south of Marysville to Auburn -- yes, can you believe it -- there is also a Newcastle in the area. Lance was going to photograph a course in Auburn. However, when we got there the clouds had come in early so we just did some exploring instead.

Saw some beautiful sculptures in the area.

One thing I wanted to see was in one of my books on things to see. In my book, "The New Roadside America," I found there were some giant statutes made of concrete in Auburn. Sure enough we found them. Two of them are Amazons. They are over 40 feet high and weight 120 tons.

Solo RV Certificate

Today I earned my Solo RVing certificate. Lance was off shooting a course and it was the day we wanted to change sites. We were not getting Direct TV in the one we were in. So I decided to do it myself. I knew how to prepare the inside, pull in the slides and put the jacks up. So, I unhooked the electricity, water and with the help of a neighbor unhooked the sewer. I put the blocks that we had under the jacks away. I put the antenna down and all the awnings in. Then I started the RV up and pulled out and BACKED it into the new site. Then I put everything back and lo and behold Direct TV worked wonderfully.

Lance called to say he was on his way and asked if I could start getting ready to move the RV. I had the pleasure of telling him it was already moved. Needless to say he was impressed and I was proud of myself.

We are loving the sun....the flowers are still in bloom here. This orange and red one was one I had never seen before.

The sun was just in the right place to take these church pictures.

STRANGE AND WONDERFUL DAY

Arrived safe and sound at Beale Air Force Base which is north of Sacramento, California. The sun is our constant companion these days -- getting in the 80s during the day and 50s at night. Further north we had 28 degrees one day!

Now to the strange and wonderful day -- let's start with the strange:

1. Our bedroom television started speaking Spanish again -- what is even stranger is we had the same problem last year around this time.

2. Our pc decided to not come up -- it just sat there on the opening screen.

3. Our outside temperature gauge did not work.

4. The card Lance had for his camera that did not work in it that did work in my new camera did not come up on the computer. I have a bunch of pictures from our day of exploring that may not be accessible!!!!

5. We got lost TWICE!

Are the Halloween goblins at work again! We decided that after midnight everything would change -- (Note: the thermometer and pc are working and we figured out the setting to change on the tv)

Now to the wonderful -- I turned 65! Got lots of calls from family and friends. Calls are always so appreciated.

This lifestyle has agreed with me. When we were in Tacoma, I made an appointment with Group Health's Diabetic Specialist - Dr. David McCulloch. He is also a professor with the University of Washington. He gave me a gift of his new book, The Diabetic Answer Book, and his inscription was delightful. He said, "Coralee, I am sooooooo impresessed with you. David McCulloch" So, I am doing well. I tell people I am 65 and proud of it. I feel good and am having the time of my life on this endless vacation.

Even the strange has its benefits -- a good laugh!!! Take care all of you.....

Mount Shasta

Well, the sun has come. Yesterday was the second day of sun.....yes....yes....yes. I think my rust is fading already.

We are spending a few days longer in Weed, California -- home of Mount Shasta. Because the weather was so beautiful Lance checked into taking Lake Shastina Golf Resort. He has been trying to get the pictures for a while so not only did he get Lake Shastina, he got Mount Shasta also. We delayed departure for a few days to get a few more course (and a few more free golf games in).

The mountain is very bare -- must have been a slow year for rain.

A few more barns along the way.

Heading South

We headed south looking for sun. It rained on the way, then it sunshined, then it rained, then it sunshined -- like it was trying to tell us both rain and sunshine is good. We've decided that there are less bugs on our windshield when it rains -- so it is either no bugs with rain or bugs with sun!

Here we are going through Portland.

As we arrived in Harrisburg, Oregon, (a little north of Eugene) the sun seemed to break through.

Well there was one rose that welcomed us even if the sun was hesitant.

The last of the repairs have been made to our motorhome. While we were in Harrisburg we got the tire monitoring system fixed. It is real cool. We can now find out the temperature and pressure on any tire on the motorhome and HHR at any time. When we were in Tacoma we finally got the large awning fixed after following the part around for eight months, or more correctly, it followed us around!

A Trip to Enumclaw

On Wednesday I went up to Joyce Eaton's to play cards and dominos with the "girls" -- Joyce, Barb, Lynda and Viv. We had a good visit and great fun. Learned some new games and I know who to call when I forget how!!

On the way I went through Buckley. Saw the old church that was up the road from our grandparents home. Had to get a picture of that. It is the St. Aloysius Catholic Church and now has a huge new area across the street. Things do change.

The only reason I could recognize my grandparents home was it still had an old cherry tree next to it. To the left of the cherry tree is lawn where they always had a huge garden. Behind it where more garden and all kinds of cherry, pear, and apple trees used to be is a huge garage that houses motorcycles, rvs and cars. The house itself looks about the same yet it seemed so much smaller than I remember.

Then I went down the street and this is the house were I took piano lessons for a couple of years.

Arrived in Enumclaw in a picture taking mode -- This is Mount Peak. I remember riding my bike out there and climbing up to the lookout. It was real cool.

I could not go up to Joyce's without taking a picture of their famous barn. And, her collection of birdhouses.

Visiting Family and Friends

Coming home is always a whirlwind trying to see family and friends. Coralee went to dinner and a movie with sisters Kay (left) and Teri (right).

Lance and Coralee visited Jason and Danielle in their lovely new home. Here are the grandkids -- Delaney, Carson and Parker. They grow at least a foot every time we see them.

We also went to see Wanda, Lance's step-mom. This is a picture of the door. Lance's dad was into glass and has some beautiful works.

My eye is always out for churches. This church is in Fort Lewis and it is where Lance's graduation for his master was held. The church on the right is the Federal Way Lutheran church

we were married in.

Back Home

We enjoyed our trip over Snoqualmie. The weather was sunny and the roads were dry. The fall color was spectacular.

The Tacoma Dome welcomed us home. We are staying at the Fort Lewis FamCamp. It is located on American Lake and among the northwest's green trees. We love the price of military FamCamps. This one was $15 a night.

Northern Exposure

This sign says that the Brick is not only famous for being in Northern Exposure in its 1990 - 1995 series it is also the oldest operating saloon in the State of Washington. It was built in 1889 with brick manufactured in Roslyn. The bar was shipped from England around Cape Horn. The longevity of the chairs and tables is owed to Sears & Roebuck.

The picture on the right is of a tough along the bar and has running water in it. We believe it is in lieu of the usual spitoon.

This fellow is part of the Roslyn Militia!!! and one of the Brick's bartender and waiter.

Ruth Ann's grocery store and KBHR radio station are still there.

We bought the t-shirts from the Brick and one of the many tourists we visited with took our pictures.

In Roslyn was the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. It is one of the most beautiful churches I have seen.

On the way back to Cle Elm we noticed a very unusual sight -- like I have said you never know what you will see along the road. There were approximately 20 wheel barrels stacked on top of each other beside this tree.

"Windy" was the Word

On trip from Spokane to Cle Elum can only be described as "WINDY". Between Moses Lake and Vantage was the worst. The wind whistled loudly around the motorhome and pulled a running light out of the socket and a cover on the big awning strut. No permanent damage but I was hanging on to that steering wheel for dear life it was blowing that huge vehicle around so much.

We were hoping to see the wild horses above Vantage and was not disappointed. Then over the Columbia River.

Arrived in Cle Elum and stayed at a new RV Park - Whipering Pines. It was a great park. Decided to head over to Roslyn and have dinner at the famous Brick from Northern Exposure days. One the way we saw two cool churches.

This one is the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

It had a beautiful, round stained glass window.

The lovely green church had no sign to tell us what kind of church it is.