Back in Washington state

So after 7 months on the road we find ourselves back "home"....although I hesitate to call Washington home anymore since one of the reasons we went on the trip in the first place was to find a possible new home elsewhere. Having said that, home is really wherever we find ourselves at the moment. It's funny though, I often found myself referring to this area as home whenever we would talk about getting back here.

Well anyway, May was a busy month indeed. Beginning on May 1st, we arrived at our son and daughter-in-law's home in Monument CO.

Early morning frost

They have lived in CO for going on 15 years and really love it here. Peter and Christa welcomed us for two weeks. Actually two weeks of quite variable weather. Snow, rain, hail, sun and plenty of wind distinguishes Colorado from other places we have visited. For instance, upon arriving the sun was shining brightly and just a couple of days later we were in a snowstorm on Mother's Day.

Visibility??? Maybe a quarter mile at best

May in Monument CO. Not exactly what we were expecting after months of sun in Arizona. But we were warned that things could change from day to day here in Colorado

The three mom's together on Mother's Day

Both of their kids are involved in sports. Hannah, who is ten, is on a volleyball team and Andrew, eight years, is in Little League

Hannah ready to send that serve over the net

Treats to all the players after every game

A ground ball between the fielder's legs sent Andrew to second base

I'm thinking home run!

What a joy to be around such well behaved and loving children. Christa's folks, Larry and Corrine Root also live in Monument and we had some one on one time with them too. Great people.

While in Monument I had the chance to meet with an amateur radio operator (ham) whom I've contacted many times on the air. Steve Galchutt WGØAT. Steve is an ardent outdoorsman who takes his little radio and some wire into the wilderness. He can often be found on top of a hill or mountain in the ham radio pursuit called Summit's on the Air. This is a worldwide avocation that many hams partake in. He has activated hundreds of these SOTA peaks around Colorado. He uses two goats to pack his camping gear. Thus the unusual callsign WGØAT.

Steve is great guy and like hams everywhere, we talked radios, propagation and weather.

After our time in Monument, we traveled north to Cheyenne WY to visit another amateur radio operator that I've contacted many times. Alan Brubaker KO7X lives on the prairie with 5 acres of land underfoot. He's been up to Washington a few times in the past and has paid me a couple of visits when we lived in Bothell. So it was time to return the favor and meet him on his turf. He gladly welcomed us and we spent two days parked on his property. With the loss his wife he now lives alone on the prairie with many wonderful memories of his 44 years with Elaine.

Plenty of room for us here

Paul and Alan in Alan's radio shack.

Alan no longer has aluminum on his tower. He got sick and tired of the wind destroying the yagis. Wire dipoles work fine anyway.

On our last day in Cheyenne we got together with another ham who lives nearby. Dale Putnam WC7S and his wife and son joined us at Steamboat's Steakhouse.

Judging by the smiles you can assume we had a fun time together!!

Moving on, we drove west to Rock Springs WY and for the first time took advantage of the free overnight parking allowed at Walmart stores. There were several other RV's already there. Nothing like a free night's stay to help keep costs down.

It's all the latest rage to condemn Walmart but I love the overnight rates....free!

The parking lot wasn't quite level so I needed to put down the passenger side legs so I wouldn't roll into Marilyn at night. Just sayin'.....

We left early the next morning so we could get up to Boulder WY and have time to explore around Pinedale which is just a few miles north of our RV park. Highline Trails park.

The Rockies in the background

It was pretty chilly here in late May but the background to our site was quite breathtaking. Which brings to mind the difference in weather we were experiencing. In Arizona it was warm and comfortable in shorts and t-shirts. Now we were in warm coats and hats.

Pinedale WY has a most interesting museum. In the mid 1800's this area was buzzing with the beaver pelt trade. You've probably heard the moniker "mountain men" in verse and film. Well, they were a very hearty breed of men, quite adept at survival and independent living. The museum is named, quite aptly, the Museum of  the Mountain Men.

Mountain woman Marilyn

Paul next to his great, great, great fourth cousin removed. Really!

These men spent the fall and spring trapping and preserving beaver pelts for the popular hats of the day. Men in London and New York were demanding quality hats made of beaver skins.

Close by is Fremont Lake which is actually misnamed

On the lake shore is a wonderful lodge which has nine very nicely appointed cabins. Lakeside Lodge is a privately owned property. The owner was really enjoyable to talk to and he made us feel welcome even though we were just visiting.

Our next destination was Twin Falls Idaho and on the way we stopped for lunch at American Falls dam. This is a lake created by an earthen dam blocking the Snake River. The reservoir provides water for the farms in this area and electricity.

Looking northwest at American Falls lake. The lake is so long that the horizon is all water just like the ocean

We finally arrived in Twin Falls late afternoon to another Walmart. Twin Falls is noted for the spectacular Shoshone Falls known also as the "Niagara Falls" of the west. It was a sunny and warm day so we spent the afternoon at the falls and also looked at the famous Perrine Bridge.

Next day our destination was La Grande OR and since we were passing through Baker City OR we stopped by Joe Rudi's ham radio contest station. Joe is a former pro baseball player who has made his home here since retiring in 1982. His station consists of three 150 foot towers with assorted antennas and a separate radio "shack" dedicated to the sport of radio contesting.

No wonder NK7U is loud!

I think he was asking what Marilyn thought of his idea for an eight element Moxon. Hams will get that joke. sorry.

Joe Rudi. One of the friendliest guys I've ever met

I had e-mailed Joe earlier and asked if we could stop by. He was more than happy to show us around and is quite proud of his station. He put up all the towers and antennas himself with help from some local folks. Thank you Joe for a terrific eyeball!

In La Grande we stayed the night at Eagle's Hot Lake RV park. It is nestled next to the hills with a gorgeous view of the surrounding area.

Finally it was time to make the last move of our journey. After a long day of driving we landed where we started; at our daughter and son-in-law's home in Shoreline WA. What a trip it has been. Filled with sights, sounds and emotions. Meeting so many nice folks along the way and experiencing a sense of freedom from stress and deadlines. We still don't know where we'll end up. There are many places in the desert southwest that have both good and bad points to consider. We know one thing though. Whereever we settle down, it will be a place that God has designed just for us.
Thanks for reading along with us. Our next journey will start in August 2014 and I'll be blogging on that trip also.
Blessings to all
Paul and Marilyn Beringer

Monument, Colorado

We departed the Durango area on Tuesday April 29th and headed for Monument Colorado. The photo above was taken as we approached Wolf Creek pass on highway 160. Although it had snowed just the previous day, luckily for us the road was dry. It was a long eight mile up hill climb but the truck easily pulled the hills. The views were spectacular with lots of snow on the hills surrounding the pass.

Our son Michael suggested that we visit Bishop Castle. We'd never heard of it so a quick lookup on Google gave us the scoop. Jim Bishop hand built this amazing castle over the past 45 years. It is still a work in progress.

The castle is located in the San Isabel National forest on the Greenhorn Hwy.

To say this is a monumental work would be to shortchange Jim Bishop's effort. How on earth he managed to get the stones and cement up that high is beyond me. He is still working on the castle.

We had told Peter that we wouldn't be arriving until late April so we arranged to stay at Pike's Peak RV Park in Manitou Springs. Unlike many of the RV parks we've stayed at, this is a privately owned park. The owners keep it clean and tidy and it has many 4-5 star reviews. While there we had a few visitors.

 We finally rolled in to Peter and Crista's place on April 30th in Monument. They own a very nice place with a view of the hills to the east and Pike's Peak to the southwest.



 

 

 

So we're here until the 15th visiting and reconnecting with their two children Hannah and Andrew. We've been to two Little League games and a girls volleyball game so far.