Utah

Well we finally started our trip to Texas and had to stop the second night on the road in Salt Lake City. This picture is of the salt lake from I-80 heading east. It is pretty spectacular! Below is a shot out of the windshield going across the lake. I think it was 35 miles or more across. I lost track.

As we approach Salt Lake I could see the mountains in the distance and tried to get a pictures while driving. Sorry this is the best I could do.

We left Salt Lake City this morning and arrived in Moab, UT about Noon. After a quick lunch we headed out to sightsee at Canyonlands National Park. It is about 12 miles from town and what a beautiful place.

We stopped at Buck Canyon first and was amazed and the wide span of canyon. This area was mined and you can see the remains of the old trails along the canyon rim.

This view is from the Grand View lookout. They have a 1 mile hike out to the canyon rim which we decided to do so the following photos are from our hike. (of course, 1 mile out is 1 mile back and we didn't take any water!!!).

The trail had some steps along the way but was mostly along the smooth rocks. It was a very nice trail.

The elevation was a little more that we were used to but it wasn't as bad as I expected. I'm sure it would have been worse if it was a steep change in elevation along the hike.

The spires below are really tall. I particularly like the lone spire in the center of the picture.

Mr Brown had to make believe he was taking a dive!! I think he was a little too close to the edge for my liking.

This is the way the trail was most of the way out and the rocks in the center are the trail markers. Of course we had to leave our little rock piled on top. Lots of people had piled rocks on top so we had to balance one of our own.

It was a very tedious job to get the rock to balance on the smaller one below it.

Terry had to balance one also.

The pictures below are from the end of the trail and it was amazing. These rocks look like they are about to tumble over.

I hope you all enjoyed the scenery and we are going to Arches National Park tomorrow for more good pictures.

Sandy

Whidbey Island

We left Anacortes on Thursday and headed to Whidbey Island across Deception Pass to visit our new friends Tom and Janice Punch. They have a few acres with pond and we just had a wonderful time visiting with them. This view is from the "bog" area on the back of their property toward the house. You can see the mh parked there. The ducks are on the pond swimming around in the foreground.

We parked next to their shed area and had a great view of the pond every morning.

The ducks from next door liked to come over each day and swim around. Janice is a prolific gardener and has lots of beautiful plants and a wonderful mulched path around the pond in the wooded area. It is just like camping in TN!!

This picture is of the Olympic mountain range across the sound. There is lots of driftwood but you can't take any with you -- it's the law!! I know my friend Cheryl would have loved to get a truckload of this stuff.

We went to the town of Langley on Saturday for sightseeing and wine tasting.

We had a beautiful sunny day and the temps were in the high 60's. Just perfect.

Tom, Janice and I are enjoying the scenery here. Terry and Tom wait on a bench while Janice and I shop. Not much shopping for me, just looking.

Above is a driftwood sculpture of salmon and I thought was very interesting. Just one of the many things to see in this seaside town.

The boys are waiting patiently here for us as we stroll around.

The girls had choice on wines to taste. It was very hard to choose.

It was a great trip to the northwest and we are definitely going to go back. You don't find friends like these everywhere you know!

Well, glad I got a chance to get these pictures out there so now my camera is ready for more adventures.

Sandy

Trip to Anacortes

We arrived in Anacortes on the 17th to visit our friend Pete and Linda Harbers (Beaver owners and rv'ers). The club they belong to has property on the water with 3 rv spots. This was our view and no one else was camping there. It was really a nice place. There is a park adjacent to this property so deer regularly visit the property.

The deer below wandered thru right next to the coach and the cats kept their eyes on him as he walked by.

Sunday there was a market and car show in downtown Anacortes and Terry in particular liked this Z06 - Atomic Orange. He also liked the license plate. They had some great cars and he got the owner of the 57 chevy to crank it up!! What a trip.

It was a beautiful car and paint job and what a sound!!

It had 450 horse power with some kind of boost to give it another 100 hp!! Wanna drag???

Next we took a drive along the island and went across Deception Pass (the only bridge to Whidbey Island which is the largest island in the San Juans). There are actually two bridges and this is just a shot of the second bridge. Yes, this is the bridge we crossed in the motorhome going to visit our friends that live on Whidbey Island, Tom and Janice Punch.

The next day we took a trip in Pete and Linda's 48' cruiser to Friday Harbor which is located on San Juan Island. It's about a 2 hr. boat ride from Anacortes. Along the way the guys had to stop to fish and try to catch some ling cod. The cod had a lenght limit of minimum 26" to around 40". Pete caught the first cod, but it was not big enough to keep. The next four fish were rock fish and the limit is one per person so we kept those and then headed on to Friday harbor for the night. We slept on the boat. There are three cabins and also plenty of sleeping space in the living room and helm. It is a very beautiful boat. They carry a small dingy on top so while the boys were paying for our moorage, Linda got the dingy down so we could go for a ride.

Above is a picture of one of Terry's rock fish.

Terry had to go out in the dingy too for a spin. Later that evening Pete and Terry went fishing in the dingy while Linda and I chilled!!

This is a picture of their boat "Harber lights" spelled like their name. Linda is on the back deck. We were getting ready to go for our spin before the boys got back from paying.

The next day we headed back and Terry went up top where the dingy is stored for traveling, and took this picture looking back. Then they stopped by the spot they fished the day before and of course Terry got his lure hung on the bottom and was reeling down to get some leverage to get it unhung and over the side of the boat he went head first. All Pete saw was legs and feet and then yelled "Man Overboard". Of course, then the action started and he came up out of the water bleeding and wanting us to save his new hat!!

Pete and Linda got him quickly into the boat, got him undressed, dried off with dry clothes, and hurried back to Anacortes. At this point we were only about 5 miles from shore. Of course, I was seasick so not much help and all the excitement just made me feel worst.

Then we had the trip to the hospital for stitches. First thing the doctor turned over the tray and had to start fresh.He had 5 stitches and will now have a war wound to brag about. I just know our friends are going to love this story so couldn't wait to get it posted. He really had a nice shinner for the next 4 to 5 days. Today he is getting his stitches out.

He is a pretty sight, isn't he??

I told him I was going to take credit for this shinner. I think it was a iron skillet to the head!!

Anyway he lost his glasses (again) and his phone was drowned. He can pick up his messages from my phone and he is hoping the phone will dry out enough to work again.

We'll see.

Well, until later. I have to download more pictures of our trip to Whidbey Island and hope to get that posted soon.

Linda and me going for our dingy ride!! Very fun.


Sandy

New boat

Not much to say but this is the colors and style boat. This is a 2008 FLW package so we hope to have the FLW package which gives us the added stripe in the seats. Our boat will be a 2009 but should be basically the same boat, Ranger Z520. Right now Terry has to do without a boat but I guess he can handle it since he is getting a brand new Ranger soon.

Nothing else to say but here are more pictures.

Sandy

Day Three Western Divisional

Day three was a great success. The Oregon Team was behind Idaho at the end of day #2 by 66 lbs which seemed impossible to close the gap and win. The team has a great day of fishing and actually pulled within 13 lbs. by the end of the day to take second overall. John Stuart was interviewing Terry at the end of the day and mentioned that Terry was the guy that took him fishing at the Western Divisional in Hermiston and had him use a spinning reel to catch fish. That was the first time John had caught a bass using spinning equipment.

All of the team had their team shirts on for the day three weigh in except Terry. He had to put his on at the last minute, of course.

A team picture was taken of the 13 guys from left to right, Don, Terry, Ron, Howard, Mike K., John, Kelly, Paul, Cody, Jim, Dan, and kneeling, winner Mike B., and Reno. It was a beautiful hot day and very sunny. What a change from the cold weather they had the first part of the tournament and practice.

The trophy presentation was great and each of the guys have a trohy to show as well as a winning check to share of $12,000. A great success and great teamwork from the one of the best Oregon State teams ever.

Congratulations to all the guys for the support and effort extended for the team.

Mike Baskett was the overall tournament winner and will be representing Oregon at the National tournament. Go Mike!!

Mike attended the Classic last year by winning the National tournament so we wish him all the best and for him to catch really big fish!!

The next day we left Coeur d'Alene and had to stop by Spokane Valley Marine to leave our blue boat. The picture below is of the boat, Don and Evette Hollis and Terry. The new boat will be picked up sometime this summer from the factory in Flippin, Arkansas.

Sandy