A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-22-06....Lin & Dave's Excellent Adventure ~ Part One

Billie; Diver Dave | August 22, 2006 | Diver Dave

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~

Ahhh, Summertime. Time for camping, trips to the lakes or ocean beaches, AKA VACATION! Time to load up that evil SUV and hit the highways. Never mind the rising cost of fuel. It’s vacation time.

And what every vacation needs is careful planning – destination, road maps, points of interest, a well-tuned automobile and in our case, visits with family in our hometown. We sat down months ago and budgeted and planned our trip on Tripmaker. Four different routes were selected and the final decision on which route to take occurred as we headed down the highway. Our well-tuned vehicle just happened to be a brand new Rendezvous that was in need of a road-trip – and what a road trip it was. Two thousand plus miles, traversing California, Oregon and Washington. Come on along for the ride – there’s plenty of room.

Over the last twenty years, we’ve often traveled north to Spokane using the shortest and quickest route. North on US 99 to Sacramento, connect with I-5. In the small town of Weed, CA, we take the US 97 highway north through Central Oregon, Klamath Falls, Bend, Madras OR to the Columbia River dividing Oregon and Washington. I-84 takes us east to the cut-off for US 395 north through Umatilla, OR, Kennewick/Pasco, WA to Ritzville, WA. Our last connecting highway, I-90, delivers us to our families in Spokane.

Originally planned, our trip was to begin on Friday morning stopping over-night in Bend, OR. However, son-in-law Rich #2 (we have two sons-in-law named Rich) entered a Tough-Truck competition at the county fair driving his Chevy S-10. The competition was held Friday evening so we purchased our tickets and spent the evening at the fair. Rich managed to finish the course without any difficulty like a lot of the other drivers, but not fast enough to claim the prize.

We boarded Jack and Bailey at the kennel earlier in the day, and after the competition at the fair, a quick stop at home to load the luggage etc., we hit the road at 10:30 p.m. After the plans were changed due to the fair, my intent was to drive all night, straight through to Spokane. My, how plans change when one’s eyelids become heavy. We pulled off at a rest stop up near Willows, CA and take a short nap at 2:30 a.m. – short turns into a 3 hour nap. Semi-wide awake, the old body requires a large cup of coffee from the closest vendor – in this case, McDonald’s. Sipping the coffee while cruising along around 70 mph, we notice the sun is about to rise over the Sierras. Mrs d snaps a pic of the sunrise from the window as we near Red Bluff, CA. What a beautiful sight! - Made me think of all the sunrise graphics LadyX posted over the years here on FR’s Finest.

Topping off the fuel tank in Redding, CA, we proceed north to Weed and the 97 cut-off. Smoke and haze from area forest fires prevent a good view of Mt. Shasta, but a rock formation to the west of the highway called "The Crags" provides an interesting view. A few miles north of Weed, we make a pit stop at another rest area. Mrs d retrieved a bag of Quacker Rice Snacks from the back of the car. Now I don’t know what it is, but every seagull in the area gathered at her feet at the sound of the rustling cellophane bag. I think she managed to feed each one at least twice.

Traveling north on 97, we cross the California/Oregon border, and it’s a short drive to Klamath Falls, OR along the shores of Klamath Lake. There are marshes along the highway both at the south end of the city as well as the north. It appears to be the perfect breeding habitat for a gazillion gnats – half of which ended up on our windshield and front bumper/grill. Klamath Falls is btw where the local farm folks took on the Feds a few years ago protesting the curtailment of irrigation water for the farmers. A symbolic bucket brigade was formed. This bucket rests in front of City Hall in Klamath Falls.

Continuing our drive north, we pass the turn-off to Crater Lake. We stopped there a couple of years ago and it provides a very impressive view of another of God’s creations. There is a stretch of highway 97 that goes for at least 20 miles with nary a bend or turn in the road. The first time I drove that highway at night many years ago, I saw headlights approaching so I dimmed my lights. Five minutes later and we still have not passed each other. This route also take us through the high desert area of Oregon. Not a whole lot to write home about imho, but some folks call it home.

We finally drop down the steep hill to Biggs Junction, OR along the banks of the beautiful Columbia River, and our turn off to I-84 E. Across the massive river is the Evergreen State, but we have over 100 miles to travel before crossing the river and setting foot at "home". The scenic Columbia Gorge provides many sites to behold. The rock cliffs on either side of the river eventually turn to farm land. The river’s wide expanse and the brisk winds have brought the wind surfers out in droves gliding across the water. A few miles east and we approach John Day Dam, one of many dams on the Columbia River, providing the Northwest with electricity. Barges traverse the Columbia loaded with grain for foreign markets. Each dam has a lock system allowing the barges to pass through the two different water elevations. Fish ladders are also present for the salmon and steelhead runs. The first picture shows John Day Dam during daylight hours and the second photo was taken on our return trip at around 9 p.m. Both are taken from the Oregon side of the river.

Crossing the Columbia River at near Umatilla, OR, we spot McNary Dam off to the right. We have about 30 miles to go to reach Kennewick, WA. As we approach Kennewick, I notice some aircraft flying across the sky – east to west. Don’t know what it is just yet, but a few minutes later it passes by again at high speed. Too far away to capture it on the camera, I wait for another fly-by at a closer distance. Once more it passes, this time from west to east, no wait, there’s two of ‘em. This turns out to be their final pass and they head north climbing in altitude. Once we arrive in Kennewick, we again cross the Columbia River. Off to the west on the river’s surface I see the unmistakeable image of "rooster-tails" from Unlimited Hydroplane boats. It is then I realize that this is race weekend in the Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick and Richland). For those unfamiliar with "Thunder-boat" racing, these boats travel in excess of 150 mph on the straightaways. It is not uncommon for them to become airborne or flip when hitting choppy water. I snapped a pic of them as we crossed the bridge and the rooster-tails are barely visible. As it turns out, those aircraft I saw were from the US Air Force Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds had a "show" at Fairchild Air Force Base in/near Spokane and two of the planes came down to the Tri-Cities to make a few passes above the river and crowds lining the race course.

Cell phone activity increases as we drive the final 150 miles to Spokane. Mrs.d’s dad, brother and sis are calling – "where are you, now?" Plans are made to all meet at Red Robin for dinner. Ten miles from Spokane and the red "low fuel" light comes on. Guess we pushed it a little bit too close. Fuel stop at the top of the hill near the city limits and we’re good for final approach. Side note: The cashier at this Shell station had the look of Veteran so I inquired if he was indeed a vet. Sure enough - USAF career vet. I thanked him for his service to our country and then he told me the owner of the station is an active duty AF Colonel who at that moment was enroute to Iraqi Freedom Operations. Made me feel good knowing that the station’s profits were going to such a deserving individual. Enjoyed the trip so far? I can assure you it didn’t take you as long to get here as it did me and Mrs d. More to come with adventures at "home" and the return trip with a stop at Bandon, Oregon to visit a well-known FReeper. Unfasten your seatbelts and choose an item from the Red Robin menu.

To be continued tomorrow....... hope to see you!

07-01-06 ~ Hall of Fame #16

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-21-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

[Billie]

And then Diver Dave's going to take us on a trip up
north to Washington and Oregon. Come join us!

[Billie]

Hi, Dave - wanted to get this posted tonight because I thought you might still be around for a while.

I'm sleepy and need to say goodnight. Will be back in a few hours!

[Diver Dave]

Looks great, Billie. Especially like how you used the park bench in the Pledge. Thank you.

[jwfiv]

A fine thread and great travelogue!

Thank you, DD and Miss Billie ... ))

Anxiously awaiting the next chapter.

Makes me wanna jump in the car and go someplace.

[jwfiv]

Those five babes have gotta me my new favorite Hostesses graphic.

There's a reason I move so slow while trying to figure out how to drive this dern thing ... always appreciate the rear view ... )

[snugs]

What a fun thread and a great opportunity for a English gal like me to learn more about your vast country.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, all - just getting ready to go out the door to work. TTYL.

[MEG33]

How adorable this graphic is!
I love enjoying DD's and Lin's vacation vicariously..and your presentation is terrific!

[The Mayor]

August 22, 2006

Laundry Love

LISTEN TO ODB RADIO: Real | MP3 | WMA

READ: 1 John 3:10-24

Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. —1 John 3:18

When James Cates was a university student, he worked the night shift as a houseparent in a residential treatment center. One of his responsibilities was the sometimes overwhelming task of doing the laundry for 23 teenage boys.

The laundering process was hard on the clothes, so when a troubled young resident named Jake was given a new shirt from his mother, James offered to wash it separately. Soon other boys began asking him to include a favorite article of clothing in his “special” load. It was a small act of kindness, but it meant a lot to the boys.

Twenty years later, after establishing a successful practice as a therapist, teaching at a university, and being published in scholarly journals, Cates wrote: “With time to look back and reflect, no client I have ever known and no service I have ever performed means more to me than Jake and his shirt, and those special loads of clothes.”

A simple act of caring is a powerful expression of God’s compassion in our troubled world. The apostle John wrote, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Is there some “washing” you can do today? —David C. McCasland

When your heart’s with compassion filled,
And you God’s Word would heed,
Why not in love give help to one
Who has a special need?  —Hess

A little kindness can make a big difference.

Bible in One Year: Bible in One Year:   Psalms 110-112; 1 Corinthians 5

[The Mayor]

What an Excellent adventure!

[stopem]

Sounds like a great trip, have fun, looking forward to the next installment. California is beautiful!

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning
Billie, Your thread came out beautiful! Diver, you had a wonderful vacation. Reading and seeing pictures makes me want to plan a vacation. :)

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning Billie and Dave.

Great presentation Billie.

Dave I enjoyed your trip to Spokane and I am looking forward to the second part.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning GBUSA!{{HUGS}}

[DollyCali]

Wow!!!!!! Dave, THOROUGHLY enjoyed part one of the vacation (too bad couldn't take pooches.. boarding = bummer). I am looking forward to tonight when I can read again & more fully digest (with a map) all of your commentary & map pinpoints

What great pix & what a great writer you are.. and SOOOOOO very lucky to have Ms. Billie with her NORMAL

outstanding

presentation.

Billie love the vignetting of pix, the colors etc.. Now, of course I have a curiosity about the butterflies (wish I had that side border when I did my butterfly thread). See you both later!

[DollyCali]

yea, we do look good, don't we? hahahaha.. I had that pix in my files to use "sometime" in future.. Billie had a great adaptation here..

[luvie]

Great adventure, Dave! Thanks for letting us come along!

Thanks,Billie, for helping him to get packed! :D

[luvie]

Good morning, Rus! How are things heating up in Western NY politics?

Thanks for our beautiful lesson from God's Word!

[luvie]

Hi. Bye.

See y'all tonight. Gotta go.

I tried to post a picture of us, but Fotki is screwy this morning! :(

(((hugs)))