Stanwood

This afternoon we made the short drive up to Stanwood, about ten miles or so north. The reason for the trip was for Debbie to pick up a "Goody Bag" she had won at the quilt store we visited a while back. While we were there we stopped at the QFC grocery store. I went with Debbie to help.

What? You're done all ready?

I never knew grocery stores had comfortable chairs, fireplace and newspapers. I need to help Debbie more often.

On the way back Debbie noticed a Christian Camp which had put up an unbelievable array of Christmas lights on most of the trees and a mural painted in lights. I took a panoramic picture of it, but it doesn't give it justice.

A mural of lights

Rain was forcast for today and we did have a couple of sprinkles this morning but it's just been overcast for the day.

Back to Port Susan

We made another pass through town this morning after breakfast and checking out of Howard Johnson's. Yesterday downtown was a zoo. No parking closer the two or three blocks. Today you could park anywhere.

On the way home we went by Lake Wenatchee. The lake has a ring of cabins around it. Cabins of the half million to million type. Very large and a majority very new.

Lake Wenatchee

Debbie in Tres Hermanos

We arrived back in Marysville around 2pm and ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Ty welcome us back with open paws. He did a good job of watching the motorhome. No damage.

Leavenworth

We are in Leavenworth Washington and decided to spend the night at a Howard Johnson in town. It was about a two hour drive from Port Susan in sunny weather. The temperature was in the high 30s to low 40s. We went over Stevens pass and saw about six inches of snow at the edge of the roadway.

We explored downtown and there are certainly a lot of shops here. In fact there are so many we are going to visit the rest of them tomorrow.

One of Several Blocks Downtown

We arrived just after noon and found a Bavarian restaurant right away and both had some kind of brauten.

View out the front window of the Baren Haus where we had lunch

I doesn't get any better than this. Third floor room with a view, a fire in the fire place, football on the TV. Behind me is a dinning table, desk, and six foot counter. This is my first attempt at a panoramic picture and was made from four separate exposures.

Our Room

Our Cat

Ty stayed home to take care of the our motorhome.

Next Exciting Trip

We enjoyed Pike's Market so much we started thinking about looking for other near by adventures. I found an America Biway that travels from Everett, through the grandeur of the Cascade Mountains, over Stevens Pass to Wenatchee. We are going to follow the Biway maybe as far as Leavenworth which would be about a two hour drive. Leavenworth is a Bavarian style village with restaurants, shops and other tourist attractions. Right now we have planned to leave Sunday morning. Sunday's forcast is for sun and 60 degrees.

Pike Market

Today we went down to Seattle to check out Pike's Market. Downtown Seattle driving is like driving in SF only I was lost most of the time. Well I guess it is like driving in SF after all. After driving past the Market's parking entrance three or four times, actually I'm not really sure how many times because I may not have seen it on a couple of passes, I was finally able to get into the entrance and get parked.

We keep running into these pigs........

And quilt shops!

The market reminded me of the old Swans Market in downtown Oakland, CA. that my mom use to shop at occasionally. It took up a city block, a big building housing numerous merchant stalls. Pike's Market is vary similar only it's lay out is long and narrow.

Beautiful produce

And fresh fish. Note the size of the 'Tails' at the lower left

After walking up and down the market we walked down to Pioneer Square and went on the Underground City tour. The water front area was raised about thirty feet leaving the ground floors of the building underground. The second floors became the new street level.

The crazy part is the city raised the streets by building retaining walls thirty feet high along the curbs and left the sidewalk along with the storefronts at there original level. Ladders were installed at the ends of the blocks to climb up to the new street level. There apparently were numerous accidents as people and horses fell off the street and down to the sidewalk before the sidewalks were raised. At least that was what our tour guide related to us.


After the tour we found a unique pub and had lunch. We had what they called an Irish Boxty, a potato pancake filled with steak, onions, mushrooms and other stuff and covered with gravy. Yum!

We both did well walking today but stairs started to slow us down as well as up hills, which there are a lot of in Seattle. It wasn't until we got back to the rig that we started to notice sore knees and hips. Guess we need to walk the cat more often.

Itasca Repair Update

Just talked to Dave at Roy Robinson RV to check on the parts schedule. He said they have received all the part except the doors. They are scheduled to arrive at the factory the first week of Nov. and then they will ship to Robinson RV who will receive them the second week.
Sooo.... it looks like the earliest we will be out out of here is toward the end of November. I may have some snow pictures to post but I hope not! Dave said he has us penciled in on his schedule so there will not be any delay when the parts arrive.

Yesterday we went up to Smokey Point and had lunch at the new Red Robin. It was really good but $10 hamburgers won't be in our lunch plans very often. Especially when right down the street is the Roadhouse which has specials every day for $6.99. The specials include pot roast, ribs, steak and all our meal there have been excellent.

Tomorrow we are planning a trip into Seattle to Pikes Market. Rained off and on yesterday but today is sunny and tomorrow is predicted to be sunny and warmer up to 59 degrees!

Day Trip

Today we went up to La Conner to visit the:

La Conner Quit Museum located in the Gaches Mansion

There are three stories in this old mansion, each one full of quilts . The mansion was furnished with period furnishings including the wood burning stove. It was as interesting as the quilts on display. This is one of only twelve quilt museums in the United States. Some of us found the gift shop very interesting also.

Note the photographic expertise in this difficult back lighting situation!

La Conner turned out to be a tourist town like Cannon Beach in OR. Lots of shops and artists.

Debbie on her way down the street

Debbie on her way back (an hour later). No parcels yet!

La Conner's located on bay waters edge a short distance across from Swinomish island. This forms a waterway similar to a river. The town had preserved numerous public access points to the water and boat docks. Restaurants and shops fill the shore line in between. A bridge called 'The Rainbow Bridge' by the locals crosses over to the island on the south end.

Rainbow Bridge from one of the public access points

On the way out of town Debbie wanted to stop at the Berry Farm we had passed on the way in. She wanted an ice cream cone and it sounded good to me also so we stopped for one. This turned out to be one of the best stops I've made. See the bottom photo below for the reason.

The Berry Farm

Gooseberry Pie!

Yes! I couldn't believe my eyes. I have never seen a gooseberry pie anywhere except home, made by my Mom, the best, or by Debbie, second best. Needless to say I bought it. From now on Debbie gets no argument when she wants to stop at one of these goofy spots on the roadside! Yes it was delicious!

Kayla

Emily's older sister Kayla, our first grandchild, is just finishing her baseball season. Check out her professional batting form.

Our youngest granddaughter, Emily starts soccer again next week back in Wake Forrest, North Carolina. Here she modeling her new sweatshirt. If we ever get out of Port Susan we will be on our way back to see her play.


Ty likes to chase squirrels up trees and that is one of the reasons he is on a leash.


Ty also like to help Debbie with her knitting.


Debbie doesn't let Ty help and he gets bored.


Tonight we went to a restaurant called the Road House, a bar with a couple of pool tables and some tables. We had their Sunday special, Pot Roast, for $6.99. It was really good served with mashed potatoes, gravy and carrots. We added a salad for an additional dollar.

The Rock

Debbie, Ty and I took a walk back to "the rock" and I took a picture or two. As you can see it's a big rock that's hard to see.

This is a view approaching the rock

Past the rock looking back

Ty checking to see if this is the right street

The weather is off and on beautiful. Here is a picture of our site today. You can see it sunny today. It seem to be rain one day, cloudy the next and the sunny for a day or two.

The dark green doors are my new ones

New House for the Kids

Brad and Blake on Moving Day

Stacy and Blake moved from their apartment in Pleasant Hill to a small house in
Alameda. They both love the area and say their commutes are shorter. Stacy is a teacher in Lafayette and Blake does something internet related down in Redwood City. Stacy sent some pictures of the new house.

The New House

The Living Room

The Dining Room

Horizon update: Dave just called and advised the had the parts schedule and most of the parts will be here on Oct 17th but one is not scheduled to arrive until the 30th. Dave said he is going to call the factory tomorrow and verify this last date as it appears wrong to him. Here's hoping.

GMAC is Super Again

This morning at five minutes to eight Erica arrived at the front gate. She looked at the damage and said she would expedite the claim. I didn't expect too much after hearing that before and now it's a week later. Well about two hours later Dave from Robinson called to let me know he had the approval to proceed from GMAC. He was ordering the parts today and by Wednesday we should know the factory schedule for shipping the parts. I can't say enough about Erica getting the job done so quickly. Thanks Erica. About thirty minutes later Scott from GMAC called to tell us he got approval for the per diem that he was us sure about initially. That will give us $100 per day for five days. We probably won't need it as Robinson's said they could pull the motorhome out at night and we could sleep in it. But that still leaves the days to kill so we might decide to move into a motel.

Had a little sprinkle here this morning and it's warmed up to 67 degrees. Right now it's overcast and the forecast is for heavy rain on the way.

GMAC Insurance Delay

Now it's not such good customer service from GMAC. Scott called today to advise the claims department wanted a local adjuster to inspect the damage as the photos did not show the damage clear enough. Erica is coming out to Port Susan Thursday morning.

The insurance company need to approve the repair. Then Robinson can order the parts. Then the factory will schedule the door fabrication and let Robinson know the schedule. Then Robinson will let us know when the parts are scheduled to arrive. After parts arrive Robinson will need about a week to complete the repairs. Then we will head back to the SF bay area.

Other wise the weather has been great. Sunny and in the upper 60's. Ty is into a routine now with the rest of us. He thinks he has to go for a walk in the morning and evening. We walk around our road which is a horseshoe shape. He hunts the whole way and has upset an untold number of squirrels who bark at him from above in the trees. So far I have caught him about six feet up the tree each time he decides to climb!

Not right now. Check back with me later.