After Three Days on the Road, Time to Park It

Over the past couple of days we crossed the state of Washington on State Route #20 – about as close to the Canadian border as possible.  We wanted to see the North Cascades National Park, but like most federal facilities, the visitors’ center was closed.

 

As planned, we crossed Interstate 5 into western Washington by mid-day on Monday.  Here is the bridge at Deception Pass which we are about to cross – from the mainland onto Whidbey Island. 

This island is much larger than we had expected.  After crossing the island, and traveling half its length, we left the island on the 3:00PM Port Townsend Ferry over to the Olympic peninsula. 

  We had the best view on the ferry.

We have parked for the next week at the Escapees co-op park at Chimacum, WA.  As we walked around the park we met another couple who volunteer with Nomads, the Fords, who own a lot here.  We have not worked with them, but we know many of the same people.  It’s a small world.

 

As we travel, we learn about regional favorites.  From Flathead Lake and west, we’ve been able to taste everything huckleberry – huckleberry cream cheesecake (VERY yummy!), coffee, syrup, ice cream (made by local Tillamook – again, yummy!), brownies, and candy.  It is wonderful! 

Now we’re hoping that we can get some good seafood, since we’re along the coast again. 

Today we’ll be going to visit Paige’s cousin, Dianne, before she leaves tomorrow for her job in the Arctic Circle.  She lives on Whitbey Island so we’re going over on the ferry to see her and have dinner somewhere. 

Today we may join the 21^st century and get satellite TV.  There is absolutely no local TV access here even thought we are not far from Seattle.  We have a technician coming out this morning to explain the options.  We’ll see….

 

Again on the Road

Saturday, we left Montana’s Flathead Valley traveling west across the Cabinet Mountains and along the Clark Fork River to Lake Pend Oreille.  We spent the night in the panhandle area of Idaho, at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, with only one other rig.  Our only neighbors were the couple who do the camp hosting. 

Sunday was chock full of Ups and Downs:

            North along the Pend Oreille River
                        West, up and over the Selkirk Mts
           Down to the Columbia River, crossing at Kettle Falls
                        West, up again over the Sherman Pass through the Kettle River Range
            Down again to Sanpoil River
                        West, and up again, over Wauconda Summit
            Down again to Okanogan River
                        Yet another “up” over Loup Loup Summit
            Down to the Methow River
Whew!

 

With all these rises and falls, I will be curious to check our fuel usage at the next fill up.  I really appreciate the diesel’s exhaust brake, but could use a few more Hp.

We stopped for the night alongside of the Methow River as we are moving toward North Cascades National Park.

 

We expect to arrive in the Seattle area by mid-afternoon tomorrow.  Then we will park it for awhile.

Time is Up

Our 3 weeks on Flathead Lake has come to an end.  We had our “Goodbye Banquet” last evening and half of our group is already gone.  One couple has gone north to Canada for some sightseeing, and another rig is going south to the hot air balloon festival in New Mexico.   Another couple has stayed here one more night, as have we, to pack up tools and do laundry.   

Today was a beautiful, sunny day.  We took the opportunity to take a couple pictures of the camp before we leave this great place. 

 

   

This afternoon we drove to the top of Blacktail Mountain to get an overview of the Flathead Valley.  In about 13 miles, we climbed about 3800 feet in altitude, and dropped about 10 degrees in temperature, but the views were terrific.  We could see the mountains across with snow topped peaks across the lake.  We hope photos do it justice.

Tomorrow we leave for the west.  Since the weather has been clearing, we plan to go into Idaho and then take the northern route, state highway 20, across Washington through North Cascades.  We expect more spectacular scenery.

Still in Montana

The forecasts mentioned in our last post were pretty accurate: mostly cool and damp.  There has been snow nearby, but it is all above 6,000 ft elevation while we are at about 3,000 feet.  It is close enough that we can see some at the tops of nearby ridges. 

Two weeks worth of work has been done, and now the tricky part starts.  The jobs we start next week have to be small enough to finish by Thursday.  We don’t want to leave a job partially finished.  One of our tasks will be to burn brush, etc., that has accumulated in piles around the camp.  We are all looking forward to that job!  We’ll at least stay warm!   

During the past week, the camp received official notice that they will be hosting another group of Nomads next June.  Before the week was out, half of the workers signed up to come here again.  Maybe it’s because of our neighbors (both pictures taken from inside our motorhome): 

                                                                 Wild turkeys

 

                                                                        Deer

 

When we finish at the end of the coming week, our 4 rigs will be scattering in 4 directions.  It will be tough to say goodbye to everyone – it’s been a great group to work with!  We will continue west into Washington to, hopefully, catch up with one of Paige’s cousins near Seattle.

First Week is Done

Our prior post was at the end of our first working day here at Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp.  Now it is the end of our first week (4 working days plus Friday off).  We had really good weather for 3 of our 4 working days.  Only Wednesday was cool and rainy, so we did a lot indoors. But the other days saw us completing many outdoor items too numerous to list here.  Everyone in the group works hard and the new Nomads seem to be enjoying the work also.

Our day off was busy too: since we are so close to Glacier National Park, we all went sightseeing.  Mike, Dorothy, Bill and Ogie went in one car to Logan’s Pass in Glacier, Paige and Kelly went shopping just outside the park, and Bob and the camp manager’s husband, Jay, went on motorcycles through the park and out the eastern end.  Here are some views from the visitors’ center at Logan Pass on the continental divide

 

 

Tomorrow night we’re having a potluck dinner as a group with a few people from the camp joining us.  It sounds like there will be plenty of food.  We may do a bonfire and/or cards later on. 

The forecast is for good weather until Sunday and then the temps are going to be in the high 50’s for the week.  It’s not bad to work in those temps as long as there’s no rain. 

First Day is Done

The camp staff had a meeting off site on Friday, so it was better for them that we arrived on Thursday and got to review the tasks they’d like us to work on.  We then had Friday to do a little shopping and find some local things to do.  Another part of our crew arrived mid afternoon on Friday and, since this is their first project, we had a chance to meet with them and introduce them to Nomads.  The rest of our team came in on Saturday: Bill and Ogie (whom we have worked with last winter) and Kelly (another first-timer).  Something unique to this group is that all of us live full-time in our motorhomes (no one has a house to tie them down).  

We had time to get to know each other on Saturday and Sunday which was helpful, as our first day was quite busy.  We sure got a lot done in only one day.  Mainly a cabin was stripped for remodeling.

Stacks of mattresses were moved

 

Bunks were dismantled

  

Shelves were emptied

 

Interior walls were stripped to the studs

 

Mike and Dorothy also completed a small roofing project.

After we called it a day, there was time for a short nap before dinner.  The soreness of the first day aches and pains is sinking in while Paige watches Dancing with the Stars.

Back into the Mountains

Wednesday’s drive was less than 300 miles, which was a little longer than I like, but it was quite uneventful, which I do like.  We spent the night at a city park in Shelby MT, not far from Interstate 15.  It was quiet, not crowded, and inexpensive.

Thursday’s drive was shorter (just under 200 miles) but much more dramatic: from the flat plains to the Continental Divide in less than 2 hours.

     

We arrived at Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp by mid-afternoon and got set up.  It is a gorgeous setting.  The lake is the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River at almost 200 square miles, roughly 30 miles long and 16 miles wide.  The camp is about midway down the western shore, and covers nearly 27 acres. 

They have prepared a list of work that we can do over the next 3 weeks which is long enough to keep us busy.  We won’t run out of things to do.  That’s the way we like it.  We had an opportunity to meet the camp staff and take a tour.  As we write this blog in our rig, we have a view of the beautiful scenery.  We described it to Paige’s mother as the Whiteface surrounded by mountains.  As we wound down last night, we had several deer to watch.  We also found evidence of bear here yesterday. 

 By the way, there’s a house for sale on this lake you might be interested in.  We can see this house from our rig.  Take a look:  http://www.businessinsider.com/shelter-island-montana-estate-for-78-million-photos-2012-6?op=1  We’ll be staying with the motorhome for awhile!