Big trucks, little roads

During the summer we spend a great deal of time in the middle of nowhere.  Actually I should say away from nearly everywhere.  Getting back and forth to town requires traveling on narrow two lane roads.  Rarely are the backups too bad.  It’s all in timing.  However, this year we've been behind more than our share of logging trucks and other oversized rigs. Sometimes I wonder why some of these trucks pulling two trailers are even allowed on the roads when they can’t go around corners without being mostly in the other lane.  This two-part trailer being moved required vehicles of all kinds in the other lane to pull off the road often even in places without shoulders.  It was quite a slow adventure getting to town.  However, it sure beats having to spend the summer in town!

We have great summer neighbors.  They even feed us.  Well, not all the time but I can certainly brag about the dinner they put on last week.  They were actually the instigators for the Traeger we purchased last year.  Now that summer’s half over, I think it’s time to start seeing what I can cook up too. 

  Smoked Salmon Appetizer ….. Yum !   

The fourth of July came and went.  One good thing being here is that fireworks aren't allowed in the area.  We normally head into town for the big display.  This was probably the first year in many years we haven’t done that.  What’d we do instead?  We played cards!  What fun! 

Buck got a new 4th of July bandana for the local holiday events.

Longview has a big celebration each year around Lake Sacajawea.  The weather was gorgeous and all the vendors were out. 

In addition there was a cornhole competition.  Terry tried to buy a set-up but no such luck (Sorry, Jerry). 

The only thing we found to purchase was lunch.  Terry’s lunch was an icee.  Mine was a little different.  It was a plate of fresh, wild Pacific salmon!  Yum!

That wasn’t the only salmon I’ve had recently.  I sent Sabrina a recipe I was received on FB.  What did she and Lee do?  They cooked it for me!  YUM again!  I think I’m going to try sending them more recipes!

A huge casino was built between Portland and Longview. Naturally we’ve had to check it out a few times.  The slots are quite different, restaurants expensive, food court lacking and there is NO BUFFET.  There is a boondocking area for RVs.  The area is dusty, a good walking distance from the casino and there is no shuttle. We weren't too impressed except that I've walked out with more than I've walked in with a few times.

 

The following morning after overnighting on the lot for RVers, employees started swarming the RV parking lot with their cars.  The lot got very busy, dust was flying and a shuttle bus showed up.  It wasn't to take the RV folks to the casino.  It was to take the workers there.   It works but most Casinos we've been to have been much nicer.  However, it's new so we'll certainly try again at another time.

Our HUGE garage sale event is this weekend.  We’ll be glad to get this behind us.    Tammi’s trailer is nearly loaded with junk (er stuff).  It’s going to be a long three days organizing, selling and packing back up again.  Hopefully we’ll be able unload a bunch of odds’n ends.  At least that’s the goal!

 

I posted this on FB so thought I would post it here.  This is my color coded travel map for fall but if you know me, it’s all subject to change.  You can tell I’ve been busy planning.  The Albuquerque Balloon Festival is even coded in there.

One other thing we accomplished this week was finally stopping by the Elks and having our membership transferred to the one in Arizona we frequent the most.  We think it’s only right to support the lodge we use.

Buck after his grooming appointment.  Pretty, clean and ready to go.

Now what?   With temperatures soaring near 120f in Arizona it’s almost time to check on the motorhome again.  A task we won’t be worrying about next year.  We’ve had the rig about 9 years and it’s time to let it go.    Keep posted.

Temperature at 8 AM this morning …. it’s not quite soaring here!

‘Tis life on the road.