Travel from Aberdeen WA to Port Angeles, WA

Yesterday (9/4/09) was exciting, crossing the Astoria Bridge over the Columbia River. Got fussed at by my navigator van monkey, Spankie, kept telling me to stop taking pictures and keep my eye on the road. Reminds me of his two older brothers. The above picture is how my old and new van curtains look from driver's door. The shiney one is the old one. The bluesh one is the new one. I hang a reflective vest so it looks a little like a work van.

The next series of photographs were taken at Ruby Beach, WA. Fascinating place. I don't believe you can take a bad photo in that place. Weather was terrible, and I had to do a lot of log scrambling. There won't be captions on most of these. More text below though.

Another military facility. Lots of people hunkered down against the rain.

One beach had several dead squid - you can tell the size by my size 9 tennis shoe.

September 6, 2009 I stopped in the Forks at night. Learned about the movie, Twilight which, according to it's story line was filmed here. Not. I never heard of it before, but guess I need to see it now. Twilight Book series takes place in the Forks and LaPush. The movie, however, was filmed in Portland. This va says "Twilight Tours." Below, a link to my daughter-in-laws visit there.

http://rhondabailey.smugmug.com/Family/Twilight-in-Forks-and-LaPush/5228431_757gi#317580028_wXb2p

Next day (9/7) I drove to the farthest most northwest point of the US at Neah Bay on the Indian Reservation. That was really cool.

I couldn't believe that someone thought it necessary to post a sign to tell drivers there were at a Photo Op!!!

I figured it out all by myself.

Spent time with Gary and Mike and Heidi. We went to check out this van for another friend. (Gary on left, Mike on right)

Mike trying some of Gary's veggies, and Gary trying some of Mike's canned cheese and chicken crackers.

Heidi hides from the camera... so here are the three not so shy folk with their respective van monkies. Gary, Charlene and Mike.

Mike's Bo monkey, is doing something unspeakable to my hat, but if you look closely, Mike has a small sea gull doing "pay back" on his hat.

We just had a nice day visiting, beachcombing, chatting, etc.

The Monkey Gang at the Northwest Gathering of Vandwellers.




Next, will be my fifth state paddle of Washington state.

Oregon travel, continued (Sept. 1-4, 2009)

On the way north, I had an opportunity to experiment with my new RoadPro 12v stove. Here, I heated up some soup I made from ham bones, carrots, and cabbage. Boy, it's nice to have good hot food when you have been driving a lot.

September 1, 2009, I stopped in Portland, OR to have dinner with Vandweller friend, Suzanne. We had a great visit and I feel I've found another friend for life. Yahhhh! We were going to have a paddle just west of Portland, but weather didn't cooperate. After our visit, I headed north again. Stopped in Sweet Home, OR and got a new metal detector (one that will find gold). I can't wait to begin using it and hope that in my lifetime, it will pay for itself. I'd hope for more, but that might be unrealistic.

Charlene and Suzanne

SwankieWheels took Spankie for a ride on the beach.

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR.

I ran from the Rock back to this spot in the first photo. I ran! You just don't know how incredible that is. Really incredible.

Found a little known park... Les Shirley Park, and did 3 hours of beachcombing/metal detecting, had a hot meal in my van from my RoadPro Stove... found safe parking... where I spent the night. One day I'll return here to ride horses on the beach... they go right past this little park. Staying in the area a little longer.

http://www.igougo.com/attractions-reviews-b103547-Cannon_Beach-Les_Shirley_Park.htmlLes_Shirley_Park.html

My vanmonkey, Spankie, just had to misbehave.

Closeup of the tidal pools around the Haystack Rock. Covered with starfish and other sea life.

Driving north, I stopped over at Camp Rilea Military Reservation. There were a couple places along the way where I thought I could drive on the beach, and found them and did that. I did unhook the trailer and leave it in a parking lot. There in the lot was a couple with an RV that they wrecked the transmission on because they had gotten stuck out on that same beach. But it's something I always wanted to do, so I took the chance.

I met this character who was coming off the beach as I was going on and stopped to ask him if it was safe to drive out there. He followed me back out there and we chatted... I told him what I was doing - kayaking all 50-states. He also said he had always wanted to try metal detecting. Later that evening, or the next morning, I emailed him to offer him the old detector if he would met me on my way north. September 4, 2009, I met Dave on the beach at the Peter Iredale shipwreck. Neato (the shipwreck). He is an amature videographer and asked if he could interview me about my adventure for u-tube video. He did and I'll add the links later. I gave him the old metal detector and headed on to Aberdeen, WA.

Photo by Dave Roche.

Stayed at Camp Rilea the night of September 3, 2009. A large elk herd walked right past my van.

Astoria, OR, across the river from WA.

Later that day, I crossed into Washington state from OR. Headed north to kiss a baby. Can't wait.

Spankie, supervising the crossing of the Columbia River into Washington State.

This bridge about scared it out of me. Took my breath away.

I spend the rainy days in Aberdeen making new curtains for my van. I had a shiny material that showed up in the sun. It was green. I replaced it with a black/or dark blue? bedspread fabric that was white on the other side. The while would reflect more light in the back of the van, making it easier to see things at night. But the black isn't as noticeable from the outside looking in.

Found WalMarts in Aberdeen. Saw a woman climbing up on top of an RV... I stopped to see if she needed help. She said they had leaks... and WalMart sold her this stuff to paint on the roof. I noticed inside the RV a large man who appeared to be in a wheelchair and a bunch of kids. I felt sorry for them. She declined my help. I heard others in the parking lot complaining of leaks. I was thankful to be dry and warm in my cozy van.

Four states down, 46 to go. Washington is next.

Fourth State Paddled – Oregon (Aug. 31, 2009)

Early in July 2009 I was wrapping things up in Monterey and waiting on a dual receiver for my trailer hitch, which would allow me to have the bike mounted between the van and the trailer. I saw one in a parking lot at Subway’s and asked the guy about it. He said they cost about $20 and I could order one online. So, I’d been waiting for the receiver to come. The friend I had been staying with in Monterey, CA lives about four blocks from the Aquarium and I began setting things out on the corner… and stuff was just disappearing, sometimes before I could walk back to the house. Good, I’m glad someone wants my stuff. Left Monterey the middle of July. Then as posted in my last blog, I visit Tahoe again for dental work, paddled NV while there and finally got on the road middle of August.

Since I had paddled CA many times now (Monterey Bay (many), Morro Bay (3), Spooners Cove (1), Elkhorne Slough (4), Tahoe West Shore (1)- was maiden voyage for my new kayak), then paddled AZ, it is confusing on which state is 3rd. But by August 22, I was heading north once again. As mentioned in my last blog, I stayed at Beale Air Force Base FamCamp. While there I mended clothes, made bug net for my bunk, kayaked Gold Lake, organized the van... slept, rested, watched t.v., made soup, and got 40 misquito bites.

I was waiting for medications to arrive in the mail and finally left Beale AFB northward to Astoria, OR. It was very hot, so found some shade and waited for the cooler night air to drive. I feared the heat would cause another tire blowout. Oregon... here I come. (Was going to kayak Clear Lake, CA but I was already too far north so will do it next time I’m in CA.) I wrestled with the Laptop being up front with me… and didn’t have it secured and it feel off and bent my air card. A friend suggested I save myself some heartache and buy a short USB extension cable-plug the dongle into that and then plug the extension into the laptop. That’s what I did, and luckily, though bent, it still works.

On August 27, 2009 I stopped for gas in Yreka, CA. A neat looking gypsy wagon pulled in and I just had to go take a picture. Grabbed the camera... then ran over to it and met Suzanne Verdal. She gave me her email address so I could send her the photos I took, but did not tell me – she was THE Suzanne in a songwriters song “Suzanne” “she fed me tea and oranges.” I had never heard the song by Lenard Cohen. Never heard of Cohen.. So cool to meet her and I hope to ran into her again. Vandweller friend, Katie, says it was her mom's favorite song.

August 29 - had a good nite's sleep without skeeters and the next day, I hiked over the biggest sand dune I have ever seen, beachcombed for a hour or so... jogged along the beach (yes I can run now), hiked back over the dune and didn’t even break a sweat. A few years ago, I would not have thought such a thing was possible. Then I drove north along Rt 101.

Drove out on the South Jetty Road (well worth the trip) and watched the Harbor Seals inside the jetty. At night I was I'm riding my bike around the campground, just to stretch my legs.

-http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/recreation/tripplanning/oregondunes/

Fourth State Paddled - Oregon
August 31, 2009 - I kayaked Siltcoos Lake, OR. I paddled out into the lake and saw an island. That's when I decided I needed some kind of goal for each paddle... so I kayaked all around the island. Way kewl! It was really wonderful to be on a rather pristine shoreline, though there were houses on the island, all with boat docks and solar. But I never saw any people and most of the houses are for sale. Research of the lake indicates that the lake may be dead. I talked to all the fishermen I saw and they all said they weren’t catching anything. Most have been fishing the lake for 50 years… and said it had never been this bad. I noticed the water where I put in at the campground, looked soapy.

Well, anyway, 46 states left to go.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=43.879,-124.1083&ll=43.879,-124.1083&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

In Florence OR I found this wonderful little Laundromat, which had a shower in it. The place was the cleanest it could be. The owner had worked for the Park Service for years and knew the value and importance of offering showers. Even free towels to us. Boy, did it feel good.

On September 1st, I planned to stop in Portland, OR to have dinner with a friend (Vandweller Dr. Suzanne). We had a great visit and I feel I’ve found another friend for life. Yay. We were going to try for a paddle just west of Portland, but weather didn’t cooperate. Next morning, I headed back to coast... and up Rt. 101. (to be continued)

Third State Paddled - NV (July 2009)

In July 2009, I had dental surgery in Truckee, CA with a follow-up in two weeks. Having to wait around that long, I decided to circumnavigate Lake Tahoe and explore and hopefully paddle. So, I headed out, taking my time to stop around North Tahoe... where I could. Not too many places that have "Public" access. I think there is something really wrong when "rich" people possess most of the Lake Tahoe shoreline... and where the public is allowed, they have to pay to park, pay to launch a boat, pay to pee. Must be my 1/32nd Indian blood boiling up inside me. It was a stormy rainy day... and as I approached Carson City, rainbows.

North shore of Lake Tahoe.

Needed a new tire for the trailer, the new one I bought in Monterey, blew out three days later as I approached Sacramento... my first day after leaving Monterey. Really messed things up. I was riding on the rim... and never even felt anything... and also dragging the rear right corner of the trailer. Air temp was 92 F (who knows what the pavment temp was)... and no one NO ONE stopped to help an ol' silver-headed woman. Took me 2 hrs to change that danged tire... and came close to heat stroke... nausea, headache, etc. Made it to Donner Pass where I slept for the night.

My new tire???? Never felt a thing???

Was so rung out, all I could do was sit in the van for a hour before I could drive again. Made it to Donner Pass where I slept for the night.

Next, got to my friends' home in Tahoma and had a good long rest. Their place is a small slice of heaven... and the dog... what a dog he is... Hoss Dog.

After the dental work, I headed out to drive around Lake Tahoe... first to Carson City, NV to find a tire(s). Gas in Tahoe was $3.19 and it was 50 cents less in Carson City. Rainbow as I approached Carson City, NV.

Arriving in Carson City, it had a wonderful rainbow over it. Neat.

Carson City. Boy, do I like that town, in spite of the fact that the first 3 nites I was sick and sticking close to WalMart. Then I decided to get to the Forest Service office and get maps. Then i went up Kings Canyon.... and after transversing 5 or 6 very deep ditches (trailer not in tow)... I made it to a lovely level area under large pine trees. No noise. No traffic. No one all nite but me. Just me. Just me and SwankieWheels. I got out, walked around, returned to the van, found something to eat and slept.

Kings Cayon camping area.

The next morning I cleaned up maybe 100 lbs or more of glass, metal cans, nails, bullet casings and other junk. A Ranger hauled out my first bag and gave me a new heavy duty bag. I spent about four hours filling the bag 1/2 up... and then couldn't lift it off the ground... so left it for the Rangers to collect. I was told this is a favorite party place for teens... and they leave all this junk. Someone should teach them better.

Back to Carson City the next day.... and after three days of eating very little, was having a protein fit... so hit KFC... and wolfed down 3 drumsticks. Then toured the town some more, found the Aquatic Center, found things I'd like to return to explore in debth (museums and such)... took care of errands. The next morning I headed to the Aquatic Center and swam 1/4 mile, first swim in about six months. Felt great. Wonderful locker rooms with privacy stalls and all.

Carson City Aquatic Center

After my swim, I shopped for tires... and got run around to 3 different Les Schabb stores before I got everything I wanted. Decided on Radials instead of the thin little tires the guy in Monterey sold me. Requested LTs instead of STs but they didn't have any. Was told I could use the old wheel (the one I drove on for... who knows how far, see pix above)... but for $44 I felt it worth the peace of mind to know the tire would be well-seated on the rim.

Leaving Carson Valley, horses, cattle, haying operations. My kind of stuff.

So, hauled my two new tires (wrapped tightly in plastic bags) and new wheel back to Tahoe... over the old Kingsbury Grade road (an historic marker notes the spot). While earlier called the Georgetown Trail and Dagget Pass Trail, it became known as Kingsbury Grade in honor of one of the builders of an 1860 wagon road that crossed the Sierra range here. A mile farther is modern-day Kingsbury Grade. Once I got to Lake Tahoe, I headed north looking for a place to camp, and things where full up or too expensive, so I went on to Cave Rock on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe for another paddle... in Nevada, my 3rd state. Had to pay $12 to park and launch my kayak.

Cave Rock, NV

Water was very choppy... and even speed boats were getting out. It's a lot of work to unload and load my kayak... so when I do, I want to have a long leisurely paddle... and this was anything but that. All I could think was.... "It's a good thing I learned to kayak in the Ocean!" I said that to a guy I watched dive off a speed boat, swim to shore to go get their boat trailer and back it down to the ramp. He replied, "You got that right."

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

Drove on around the southern end of Lake Tahoe, past Emerald Bay and on to my friends' place in Tahoma. Next day had two different dentist appointments, one with my friend Elle's boss... to fill a back tooth, repair the edge of my bridge, and fix a cracked tooth. Right after that appointment, drove back to Truckee to see my surgeon and he said things looked really good. Both these dentist told me... I might still need to have root canals of two of those teeth. Will it ever end?
Spent the rest of the day getting my two new tires on... changed them myself, and now after three tire changes in as many weeks, I think I could do it in 15 minutes, blindfolded. Also had to repair the lights/wiring of the fixtures on the wheel cover and replace the right running light. And also had to pound the corner back in place... and pull the wheel cover straighter.

Had a last supper with my friends that night and headed out the next morning.

Elle's daughter and her Hoss-Dog seeing me off from Tahoma, CA.

Smoke from Fire, taken from AFB FAMCAMP.

http://www.theunion.com/article/20090815/WEBUPDATE/908149989/1008/NONE&parentprofile=1053

The plan is to stay at Beale Air Force Base the FAMCAMP for a week or even two, just shaking it down some more, and settling in to my new home-on-wheels. I just haven't been able to do that with a "home base." I must say, the FAMCAMP is really nice. Last night as I was biking to the Lounge and the Laundry room, there was a large plume of smoke on the horizon to the north. Turned out it was... a fire north of Dobbins, CA.

Now, just relaxing and realizing... I'm home... here or anywhere. All I own is right here. Strange. Today, fixed my bed and am repacking my bed area. Tomorrow I'll do some sewing.. making nets for the doors and adjusting my bed bug net. It was 100 F inside the tent this afternoon and 90 F inside the van. The heat finally made me feel very tired and I took the computer and retreated to the air conditioned Lounge... ate lunch and am about to make my dinner in here. Watching t.v.

Looking forward to the next leg of my journey... heading north.

New journal with map of my travels

Follow along with the map.... http://mytripjournal.com/swankiewheels

My 50-state kayaking and camping adventure.

Starting in June 2009 I began a 50-state adventure with the idea of kayaking/camping in all 50-states. My van is now outfitted with a mobile computer lab and solar panel, t.v. antenna, and kayak rack. It has all the comforts of home. I needed a new goal in life... one bigger than myself... and this tour is what I came up with. I will be updating the map below... for those of you who wish to track my travels.

First Paddle... I became a volunteer for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary... learned to kayak here in the Monterey Bay and love it. So, that makes California my first state. More photos will be posts and can also be found on my Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2009592&id=1573053507 .

Second Paddle... I made a "shake-down" trip to AZ and TX... to get my van ready, install Solar, etc. Stopped in AZ to visit a friend from High School and also to kayak with another friend at Watson Lake in Prescott, AZ. See photos on my Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2009592&id=1573053507&saved

Departing Monterey Bay first week of July 2009, to begin working on states 3-50. Last two will be Alaska and Hawaii. I'll drive to Alaska. I'll fly to Hawaii and rent a kayak... that will be the last state. Then maybe I'll settle down.... ahhhh NOT! People ask how long my adventure will last... and I just reply "Don't know!" "Don't care!" "However long it takes."

I hope people will follow along with me in the adventure.