Voyage South to Baja 2017

Here we go again, heading south for the winter. The big change this year would be what we are driving – we decided to upgrade the motorhome, again!  We struggled with the fridge and several small but inconvenient things in the last motorhome, plus we plan on becoming fulltime RVers starting next summer, so hence the new wheels. This one is a 2013 Itasca Meridian, a ridiculous 43.5 ft in length, and 14 ft. wide with the slides out, but provides all the comforts of home, plus some! If we can figure out where we stuck things we will be OK. The first stop for the RV was to install enough solar and batteries to power the full size totally electric fridge – it’s bigger and nicer than the one back home! We are still “ cost conscious” so camping without hook-ups is preferable.

We left home October 3, 2017 later in the day since we were packed up and eager, made it to the Walmart in Red Deer! Woke up to a chilly inside temperature of 2C – on went the furnace! Went through Banff, didn’t see any animals but a pretty drive. Stopped in Revelstoke at a truck stop for the night and realized that this RV does not turn “on a dime” – had to unhook the car to get turned around.

We planned on doing some visiting on the way, first stop in Salmon Arm to see Kelly & Don, a fun couple that we met on the Baja. Don was away hunting but we had a good visit with Kelly (and had to unhook the car again to turn around as she lives darn near at the top of a mountain!)

 

view from Kelly's deck, overlooking Sicamous Lake

Kelly and I

somewhere in Banff

On to Penticton for more catching up with old friends – had to park at the Walmart as we were too big for their street – after 2 nights we spotted the sign that said overnight parking prohibited. No ticket so no worries. Spent 3 nights in the area, got to catch up with Richard & Sharon, Chuck & Linda and Robin’s sister Betty-Lou & Ron. We had an amazing Thanksgiving meal at Richard & Sharon’s, good food and great company! We make a day trip down to Oroville, WA to pick up a book that we ordered on the geology of Baja (wouldn’t ship it to Canada), beautiful drive through the vineyards & orchards. We took in the Saturday Penticton Farmers Market, got a few new ideas for ourselves as we are now market vendors in the summer.

 

near Penticton

apple orchard

Richard & Sharon, Chuck & Linda inside our RV

Keremeos fruit stands

We left Oct. 8 along the Hope-Princeton hiway, through Keremeos, lots of hills and curves plus spectacular fall colors. Crossed into the US at the Pacific crossing into Blaine, WA – took a wrong turn (were given bad directions) and had to unhook to manoeuver out of a tight spot again! Getting tired of this, also getting really good at it. Headed for Ferndale for more visiting – spent a couple nights with Randy & Wendy, we met them 5 years ago on our first Baja trip. We laughed at their dog Baby who has learned how to open the door to get both out and in! Went for lunch with Randy, Wendy, Randy & Marilyn – also met 5 years ago on the Baja (they were convinced we would never survive the Baja roads!) Again – good food, great company. Got to do our first beach combing on the trip just out Wendy’s back door!

 

Randy, Robin & Randy

Wendy, Marilyn and Karen

loving the fall colors

Not warm yet, still heading south – to Lacey, WA to Shipwreck Beads (80,000 sq. feet of beads!) Spent a “few” minutes there! As we crossed from Washington into Oregon we had to cross a 4 mile bridge with a very steep "hill" in it.

 

Shipwreck Beads!

4 mile bridge

Stayed one night at a casino east of Olympia, spent $10 on the slots, cashed out $10.05 after being up over $40. Headed to the coast and Hiway 101, the scenic route. Slower but much prettier and not so hectic. We set up camp in Nehelem Bay State park, opted for a power & water site, $29/night. Took a bit of fancy driving to squeeze into the spot but we made it. Tried our fancy self-tracking Shaw satellite dish but no luck, had to watch a DVD sitting on the couch with the fireplace on! Now this is camping!, OK it’s more like glamping!

 

Nehalem beach

our slightly squished campsite

We spent the last two days touring up and down the coast from here, stopping at all the beach access spots, picking up treasures on the beach.  It is a bit strange seeing tsunami warning signs everywhere, either entering a danger zone, leaving one or the evacuation route. From Seaside down past Tillamook we are finding agates, jasper, driftwood and some Oregon jade. It has been raining on & off, so hard you need the wipers on “fast”, but mainly at night or when we are driving. Couldn’t pass by the Tillamook cheese factory without stopping for their yummy free samples! We used our Gem Trails of Oregon book to find a hidden beach with some good collecting.

everything covered in moss

Tomorrow we are off to find some WiFi, hopefully pop into a couple antique shops and wander another beach or two before we pack up and continue on down the coast with the RV.

Life is very good and we are still Living the Dream!