Feb 8, 2019 - From snow to suncreen required

We arrived in hot, sweaty Lima at 3pm yesterday. Immediately peeled off the compression socks worn on the plane (thanks Amy!). Our apartment is in the historical district a beautiful area of the city displaying the wealth of the Spanish Conquest and Catholic church. There is beautiful architecture with green squares surrounding fountains and statuary to someone's greatness. We walked last night looking for a restaurant that was recommended for dinner. As those of you who know me could guess we got in our 10k steps in our quest and found the...

Feb 6, 2019 - And we are off!!!

Barb and I are off to sunny Peru for the next 3 weeks! I know, that it is hard to see why we would want to leave our lovely Pacific Northwest (see photo), but seeing another snowstorm coming in kind of clinched the deal... Now we will spend tonight and part of tomorrow flying to Mexico City and then on to Lima. Huzzah!! (or perhaps ole!!!) But for today, it is a flurry of packing, repacking, and trying to downsize the packing. I have folded my clothes in a Marie Kondo approved method, but somehow all of the other odds and ends refuse to...

Feb 3, 2019 - Volunteer Beach Cleanup Season by Ocean Blue Project is Almost Upon Us for 2019

Ocean Blue Project's Blue Beaches Program is packed full of beach cleanups this year! Join hands on July 5th 2019 in Long Beach, Washington. Last year during the National Beach Cleanup Initiative 2018, volunteers found loads of marine debris including crab pot rope, fishing nets, tires, and microplastics! This year, Ocean Blue volunteers will clean up the ocean, one beach at a time. The best time to make impact on the Long Beach Peninsula is after 4th of July celebration on the beach. Check out this link for more information the Longest...

Jan 2, 2019 - Clamming in Washington

Every year Washington State opens the razor clamming season in January for a few days. We went up to go Razor Clamming. We took up a shorter trailer (28 foot tow behind). The open beach was at Twin Harbors, near Westport. We camped in Westport at a place called American Sunset RV Park. It was a nice place, and very quiet in January. It was a bit cold outside at 36 degrees with a misty kind of rain. I went for a walk around a closed tent loop, dodging puddles, well most of them, and bird watching. Very peaceful. We went to the local store...

Dec 31, 2018 - Pre-trip to Taiwan and China

Today is the last day of 2018. We are not 2019 yet but many parts of the world is already such as China and Taiwan. It is so exiting that my trip to Taiwan and China is taking place in 2 days on Jan. 2, 2019. It is a trip in the making for the past 50 years or so. Since my childhood Taiwan has been a place of special interest to me. I had always been taught in school that it belongs to China and it is a province of China, however, it has been occupied by the Nationalist government of the Republic of China (ROC) led by Kuomingtang (KMT). In...

Nov 16, 2018 - Cle Elum Wa

* scroll down for our cell phone Due to all the California fires we have opted to go around that state this winter. We have watched the weather like a hawk over the last week and have chosen a route thru eastern Washington,eastern Oregon, Idaho and into Utah down thru Salt Lake City. This trip will take us all the way on Interstates,something we normally avoid as we love state Hwys. After almost being creamed twice in accidents in Bellingham yesterday we are somewhat jittery with other drivers. And rightly so, today as we turned off the...

Oct 29, 2018 - Where did the summer go...

It was a lovely summer, but the end of it came too soon. And I bet you are wondering what happened at the Kramer's? Well, in May we attempted to go to the Art festival at Cannon Beach in the RV. We made it as far as Montesano, and we got an engine alarm. Spike got the engine turned off and coasted us over to the side of the road. We threw a serpentine belt, so we had to be towed by in by Coach Net. They towed us back to Shelton which is only an hour from our house. And there was a diesel shop there that could repair us. So that trip was a...

Oct 29, 2018 - If it's raining, I must be in Olympia

After an excellent visit with friends in Boise, I did the last long drive back to the ranch. A few thoughts after a month on the road. The best road scenery was the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Dramatic basalt cliffs close at hand, the big river just below. Worst road scenery was downtown Cairo, Illinois. I have never seen such a rundown, dismal urban center. Dishonorable runner-up was the approach to Little Rock, Arkansas -- unbelievable number of unattractive billboards. The worst food of the trip was Cici's Pizza Buffet....

Oct 2, 2018 - 2 day of journey Lincoln Rock Wenatchee

We went to visit Ohme gardens. No dogs allowed so we went back to the campgrounds and explored it a bit. Went along the water. Learned it’s called Lincoln Rock because a ship captain sailing on the Columbia river thought the rock formation looked like Abe Lincoln. Picture of dad and Brady with the rock formation to the left between the trees. The campground is a beautiful park sanctuary in it's self. Made burgers for dinner. The camp grounds are beautiful and have lots of squirrels (which drove Brady crazy) every time we went for a walk...

Oct 1, 2018 - Leaving home. Heading out our trip

We headed out at. About noon (2 hours later then what you I was planning) we left, which doesn’t matter because we are retired. Anyway, we are at the end of our road and Donna states “I forgot ....” so we pulled over at Camp union for our first brek and she had Theresa come pick her up to get the items we forgot. We. Did get on our way to Wenatchee for Lincoln Rock State park. We go to the. Park about 4:30 I got all set up and was ready to relax. It was nice and warm about 70 degrees. *We got to Wenatchee safely. Dad’s such a good driver....

Sep 28, 2018 - The vehicle

Jacques and I are wandering around in a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. Back home, it's Mo's car. We bought it to replace a Chevrolet Tracker that started to -literally - fall apart. Mo was attracted to the 30+mpg feature. The 30+mpg is why I'm using it for my road trip. I most often drive a 2004 Ford Escape that gets less mpg but is good for hauling stuff to camps, trailhead, or the county landfill. Jacques rides in the center console. He doesn't say much, but he's quick with a comforting gesture. He agrees with me that it would be more fun to...

Sep 28, 2018 - Washington!

So, we made it back from our 10-day visit to the Big Island of Hawaii – our last day there was a whirlwind as we checked out of the resort at 11am and our flight didn’t leave until around 10pm! We flew overnight to Los Angeles and then had a 3-hour layover there before flying to Portland and then catching a shuttle back to Salem. Whew – we were awake for a loooong time because you know, it is hard to sleep sitting up on a plane! Anyway, not complaining – we made it back to Mo at Steve’s cousin Dave’s construction lot in Salem Oregon. We had...