Here comes trouble...

Here's how this conversation is going right now... "Well Mike, we are here, I think we need to go to the left." Then Latulippe cuts in, "Pat and I think we should go to the right.."

Could someone please get these guys a navigation system that yells at them!!

Colombia River Maritime Museum; Astoria, Oregon

We went to the Colombia River Maritime Museum in Astoria.

It was a great museum.

The Columbia River is mighty!

The Columbia River Maritime Museum was founded in 1962 when Rolf Klep, a native Astorian, returned to his birthplace after retiring from a successful career as a graphic artist on the East Coast. On his return, Klep – a longtime collector of maritime artifacts – and a group of his colleagues sought to establish a museum to preserve the rich maritime heritage of the entire Columbia River region. They envisioned a museum of national distinction.

I have a lot of respect for the Coast Guard that work here. (They have to deal with tourists like us..)

Check out the two Mikes.. I think they actually thought they could teach the coast guards how to do their job.. Ha ha ha.. We let them believe they could!

Oh, and by the way, nice vest dad... I expect that back in my closet when you get back! Darn you, all these years mom had to worry about me borrowing her clothes... Now, you're borrowing my cool clothes! Ha, ha, ha!

Also we went to the the Astoria Column. It is l25 feet high and has l64 steps to the top. This sits on top of a hill overlooking Astoria and the bay. You can see the bridge as well. This bridge goes from Astoria Oregon to Long Beach Wash. the bridge is 4 miles long.

We took a Trolley on the wharf from one end to the other and learned a little history about Astoria. We loved it. You can see Mary below - she is doing the native dance, she'll teach it to the Los Compadres group when we get back!!

This is a first, An International Kite Festival

The Washington State International Kite Festival is a week-long kite celebration and competition held annually during the third week of August.

Starting on Monday and ending on Sunday this Long Beach, Washington State vacation extravaganza boasts skies ablaze with color, high flying action and choreographed movement. Washington’s Kite Festival draws famous kite fliers from all around the world, and tens of thousands awed spectators, many of which participate in the fun with their own kite flying adventures.

Aha, The Lighthouse!! - Two of them

As mentioned previously, some groups drive around in RVs seeking out weather phenomenons, this group searches for lighthouses... (and benches)

The group finally found Cape Disappointment (completed in 1856) and The North Head Lighthouse (completed in 1898).

"Before there were lighthouses on the Peninsula, ships bound for Portland and Astoria navigated their way through the high waves and shifting sandbars, focusing on fluttering white flags and notched trees along the shoreline by day and flickering signal fires by night. These methods were crude at best and, despite heroic efforts, the sea offshore of the Long Beach Peninsula became known as ‘The Graveyard of the Pacific’."

Did You Know:

Cape Disappointment is the oldest functioning lighthouse on the west coast.

In 1788, British fur trader John Meares named the area Cape Disappointment after his inability to locate the river’s mouth.

Look, there's the two Griswolds... of course sitting on a bench!

The group also visited the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, which was a real interesting museum to see. The interpretive center is located at Cape Disappointment State Park, two miles southwest of Ilwaco.

In November of 1805, the U.S. Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, reached the mouth of the mighty Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean at last. "Great joy in camp," Clark wrote in his journal,"we are in View of the Ocian, this great Pacific Octean which we been So long anxious to See."

Today the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center stands high on the cliffs of Cape Disappointment State Park, 200 feet above the pounding Pacific surf. A series of mural-sized "timeline" panels guide visitors through the westward journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition using sketches, paintings, photographs and the words of Corps members themselves. The center also features short film presentations, a gift shop and a glassed-in observation deck with fabulous views of the river, headlands and sea. Additional displays focus on local maritime and military history.

8/16/11 Dedication to the Dixon Twins.. Kelli & Nick

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...

We found this for you, Kelli! (We'll have to scrub out "y")

Nick, we're still looking for something for you! :)

Cheers!

Weekend of August 13/14, 2011 - Washington cont.

We celebrated the weekend at a jazz music festival, where you could of course eat... (why else would we be here!) The food is just outstanding up here!

There's Clark! (Mike, enjoying the view)

Afterward the festival we drove to the end of the island where there is a wildlife refuge and a park called Leadbetter Point State Park, which is a Washington state park on the Long Beach Peninsula northwest of Oysterville, Washinton. The park is bounded by Willapa Bay to the north and east and th Pacific Ocean to the west. Oysterville was a very interesting town with a rich history, it was first settled in 1841 by John Douglas, who married a local Chinook (Native American people in the Northwest) woman. It was then established in 1854, and became a hub for oyster farming.

A sign that hangs in the historical Oysterville school tells the story about how all the county records and books were stolen on February 3, 1893. These records were stolen in order to move the county seat from Oysterville to South Bend, Wa. It has since been agreed that the seat would be moved to South Bend.

Oysterville, should definitely be a part of your destination list in the future due to all of the historical buildings - homes, school house, many built prior to 1880. The only unfortunate thing is that many of the buildings have been lost due to the sea and the elements.

Just as we returned to the motor home, Latulippe and Griswold 1 (Pat) had to go and get some clam chowder. The rest of us opted out - we stayed home and rested.

Happy Birthday to you... RV style...

It was Bonnie's birthday (from Los Compadres), so what better way to celebrate then with champagne!

Happy Birthday Bonnie!

Long Beach, Washington cont...

Ahhh, beautiful Long Beach - along the Washington/Oregon Coast line..

The group went on a long walk along the sea side looking for a light house... For all of you readers, you know just how much these folks love light houses. Arriving at the end of the walk, they realized they were on the wrong side of the peninsula.. go figure, they made a wrong turn! They made the best of it and ate at Doogers Seafood. (Remember, if you click on the words in different colors, they will connect you to the websites of these specific places.) Assuming they dined at the Warrenton, Oregon location..

One thing about Mike and Eula, they fall in love with every location they go to and want to immediately buy a home and move there.

Here is a picture of one of the houses they are looking at.. room for two.

The next day, the group headed back to the peninsula on a mission to find the light house..

Look, it's Dorothy, "They're off to see the wizard.."

Just imagine the conversation, "Which way do you think we should go Griswold?" "I'm not sure, do you think they have another Clam chowder/crab cake place down here to the left?"

Mike has found the life he wants to live.. He just loves his "quiet time".

Ahh good times with friends...and leaving Oregon

The Three Amigos!!

Mike Latulippe, Clark I, and Clark II..

We need a name for Latulippe, unfortunately the group cannot be the Three Canadians, nor the Three Mikes', maybe the Three Bench Sitters - 2nd String players (for all you soccer players)

Help me out peoples, what name should we give this group of Bench sitting/ice-cream eaters? ?

Mary Latulippe and Clark Griswold II - Mary is wearing her Gladstone t-shirt, celebrating their 100th Anniversary. They are posed in front of the river that they were staying at in Long Beach.

The road leading to Long Beach - Awesome trees..

Leaving Oregon City - hard haul

Of course Eula Faye and her boyfriend found an outlet to shop at... Eula sends pictures of flowers instead of all the loot they purchased - it is a cool picture though. Too bad the outlets in California do not have beautiful flower arrangements everywhere.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Multnomah Falls is a Must!

"A waterfall as magnificent and memorable as any in the country is located just a 30- minute drive outside of Portland. Visiting Multnomah Falls, a 611-foot-tall roaring, awe-inspiring cascade of icy water, lets you experience the power and beauty of nature up close and with ease. From the parking area off of I-84, a 5-minute walk is all that separates you from the exhilarating spray at the base of the falls.

According to Native American lore, Multnomah Falls was created to win the heart of a young princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe. Although you can see the top portion of the falls from the highway, to view both tiers you have to walk to the viewing area located in a carved-out opening in the rock face. Tilting your head up in the narrow rocky confines of the steep cliffs, you get a mind-boggling perspective on the sheer magnitude of the falls."

Long Beach Peninsula - Washington Coast 8/9/11

The Griswolds have arrived in the LBC... not really, who knew there were so many cities in the US called Long Beach! They have arrived at Driftwood RV Park
The Long Beach Peninsula:
A 28-mile peninsula with more sandcastle building material than you will ever know what to do with. The Long Beach Peninsula is a terrific vacation destination. There are a number of unique towns that make this Peninsula one of the favorite spots to visit in Washington. The peninsula is between 2 and 5 miles wide and is pinned between Willapa Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Towns on this peninsula include Illwaco, Seaview, Ocean Park, Nahcotta, and Oysterville and Long Beach. NWcoast.com includes accommodations for all of these destinations.

The first thing Eula Faye reminisced about was Mike Jr picking up driftwood in SLO to make his jewelry boxes.. ahh, the good ole days!

Clackamette RV Park in Oregon City & Mount Hood

Travel stops in the United States continued:
Clackamette RV Park is located at the confluence of the beautiful Willamette and Clackamas Rivers in Oregon City. RV spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not take advanced reservations. Stays are limited to 10 days.

According to the Griswolds, this park is not recommended to stay too long due to the lack of hook ups...

The Willamette River: is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is 187 miles long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States. Flowing northward between the Oregon Coast Range and the Cascade Range, the river and its tributaries form the Willamette Valley, a basin that contains two-thirds of Oregon's population, including the state capital, Salem, and the state's largest city, Portland. Portland surrounds the Willamette's mouth at the Columbia.

The group traveled to Mount Hood this weekend - did you know that Mount Hood is on the back of the 2010 Quarter?

Mount Hood photograph taken by Eula Faye

Here are some really large cherries that were growing in the orchards on the way to Mount Hood.

Aha - the group found some "Canadian Honkers" - how fitting!



The group visited The Timberline Lodge


This Lodge was constructed in the 1930's (during The Great Depression) by the Works Progress Administration which was under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's leadership. He dedicated the Lodge on September 28, 1937, and in his speech he said: "This Timberline Lodge marks a venture that was made possible by W.P.A., emergency relief work, in order that we may test the workability of recreational facilities installed by the Government itself and operated under its complete control..."

The 1980 film, The Shining, based on Stephen King's novel used aerial shots of Timberline as part of its opening scene.

8/4/11 - Traveling

The crew traveled via train to Portland City today..
There are many things to do and places to see in this beautiful city. The fore-some decided on the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum. Not sure how many of you know, but this was Mike Sr.'s first job after graduating from NC State - Forestry! Thank goodness for the "Tarheel turnaround" to his law degree, or we'd be living in the swamps of Mississippi!





While in Portland City they visited The International Portland Test Rose Garden (not the arena). Here's some historical information about how this town became the City of Roses: Historical Information

Portland has long had a love affair with roses. In 1888, Georgiana Burton Pittock, wife of publisher Henry Pittock, invited her friends and neighbors to exhibit their roses in a tent set up in her garden; thus the Portland Rose Society was established. The rose Mme. Caroline Testout was introduced by Pernet-Ducher in 1890, and Portlanders began to plant it on their curbs. By 1905 Portland had 200 miles of rose-bordered streets which helped attract visitors to the Lewis and Clark Centennial celebration. Portland came to be known as the 'City of Roses.'

Established in 1975, the Miniature Rose Garden is one of only six testing grounds for the American Rose Society (ARS) miniature rose test program. The national annual winners from both ARS and AARS associations are displayed in the middle of the garden along the center aisle. If you would like to read more, here is the link:

Sue smiles on with her beautiful roses and Griswold 1 just wonders where the heck his ice-cream is!






Of course, they found an ice-cream parlor for the "two Clarks" to indulge in!

Oregon City

The two Griswold rigs have arrived in Oregon City, and were able to meet up with the Latulippe Family, let's see what trouble will find them there...
A little history on Oregon City:
Oregon City is the first incorporated city west of the Rockies. Established in 1829 by Dr. John McLoughlin as a lumber mill near Willamette Falls, it was later designated as Oregon's territorial capital. Visiting its many museums and historical buildings allows you a glimpse of pioneer life in Oregon territory.

While in Oregon City - some things to do:
The Museum of Oregon City, Baker Cabin Historic Site, The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Willamette Falls, and The Stevens Crawford House.

Mount Shasta - as photographed by Eula Faye

Mount Shasta is not connected to any nearby mountain and dominates the northern California landscape. It rises abruptly and stands nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above the surrounding terrain. On a clear day, Mount Shasta can be seen from 150 miles away. The mountain has attracted the attention of poets, authors, and presidents. Mount Shasta was described by the poet Joaquin Miller, "Lonely as God, and white as a winter moon, Mount Shasta starts up sudden and solitary from the heart of the great black forests of Northern California."

The ice-cream fanatics...

Of course I get a call, and the male duo has found a place for ice-cream - not just any ice cream... Maple Walnut Ice Cream. For all of you who are unaware of how much ice-cream these two eat while together and even apart - it is an unbelievable amount!

For all of us less fortunate to have this simple pleasure today, here you go..




Ingredients:
1 cup Grade B maple syrup
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/3 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
Special equipment: an ice-cream maker

Preparation:
Boil syrup in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately high heat until reduced to 3/4 cup, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in cream, milk, and salt and bring to a boil over moderate heat.
Whisk eggs in a large bowl, then add hot cream in a slow stream, whisking. Transfer to saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened and an instant-read thermometer registers 170°F, 1 to 2 minutes (do not let boil).Pour custard through a fine sieve into a clean metal bowl, then cool, stirring occasionally. Chill, covered, until cold, at least 3 hours. Freeze custard in ice-cream maker until soft-frozen, then, with motor running, add nuts. Continue churning ice cream until frozen, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.


Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Maple-Walnut-Ice-Cream-104909#ixzz1TtiuDlwe

7/31/11 Day 3 - Along the Oregon Trail - Destination: Seven Feathers RV Resort

Oregon - Oregon's unofficial state name: The Beaver State.. and one of their unofficial slogans: "Things look different here"... Kinda like the height at gas stations... Yep, a Griswold episode has occurred... and yet only a picture can describe the incident..



... and this is how Griswold one describes the day's events, "On Sunday morning we were anxious to go because we would finally be arriving in Oregon today. Beautiful country and lots of mountains to climb. It was a scenic drive. Mount Shasta and Lake Shasta were awesome. Seven Feathers RV Resort was our destination today. We arrived early afternoon and it is beautiful here. Very cool. We are loving it. As for the Oregon unofficial slogan, Things look different here, and the "gas station photo"...
Griswold 1 did have an "oops" day or as we may have described it at the moment, "oh shit". Griswold 1 drove under a structure lower than his coach and lost a brand new mobile satelite dome."

7/30/11 Day 2 - Destination Red Bluff

This morning we adventured through the RV park, and found an almond grove next to the park.. That was all that was to do at this park.

We decided to set off, got gas, and were on the road early. We drove through "Almond Country" most of the day. We were able to see the largest cattle ranch, it was close to The Harris Ranch compound, no, no relationship..
Our destination today was Red Bluff. We arrived early afternoon and it was in the 90's and somewhat more bearable. There was some shade and we were able to swim and cool off. Considering the weather was pleasant, we cooked out and ate at the picnic table.

7/29/11 - Day One

We left the hot desert on Friday, July 29, 2011 to go through the desert to even hotter places.
Driving through Bakersfield, you could have fried an egg on the windshield, but we kept on trucking... We arrived in The City of Coalinga, plugged into the electricity - we were barely able to get the motor home to go below 80 degrees, at which point we took a cold shower and passed out!

...& They are off - Part II

Of course the two teams of Griswolds couldn't resist yet another adventure... Oh, and of course that is just what this will be - ANOTHER ADVENTURE!!