Home Sweet Home

Hot on the Colorado River last night, but only 88 when we left at 5:30 a.m. Uneventful drive, have the trailer about 1/3 unloaded, two loads of laundry done, and I have gone to the store for tonight's supper. We hope to have Brian and Heather and Kaila for supper tomorrow night! Cary is going to visit his dad in rehab later this afternoon/early evening.

We really couldn't travel the way we do if it weren't for our wonderful neighbors--Erik, Debbie and their daughters--they get our mail! And probably keep an eye on our house too. They are amazing!

No trips planned yet, will depend on Cary's dad and maybe how often we need to get our Kaila fix!

Never a dull moment

Before we left Crescent City on Sunday morning, we met Dottie, Harlan and Jane for breakfast at the Chart Room. Good food and great company. Very nice.

This was our view at lunchtime several hours down the road. What a change in scenery, but still impressive.

Around Clear Lake we drove past many acres of charred countryside.

Just a month ago we drove past the same areas with trees! What a shame.

At the Almond Grove RV park, no wifi! They have it, but only give out a limited number of passwords and we were left out! But the lady in the office and I talked sewing. Her area was filled with projects and machines. This morning we discovered that the folks in the RV next to ours had also driven from Crescent City Sunday morning; they were staying at another park there.

Today, no pictures. A long drive, made even longer by a snafu at the Flying J in Lodi. Cary put his credit card into the slot, but the screen never lit up. He went into the station and talked to the cashier who assured him it was on. But nothing was on the screen then, either, so he moved to another pump.

Several miles down the road, we needed fuel again, but the card was rejected! Luckily we had another credit card. At this RV park, Orange Grove (hmm, I sense a theme in RV park names in central California), our card was again rejected. But the wifi works and sure enough, Cary had a fraud alert message in his email box. I called and found out the guy behind us at the first pump in Lodi (a big construction truck)got $150 worth of fuel on our card! The good news is...if it turns out to actually be true, the lady at Chase told me we would not be charged, but now we have to wait on a new card and I will have to go into all the accounts we have that I currently charge to that particular card. And, luckily, we will be home in two days and can survive on the one card!

boo hoo

As we walked to the lighthouse our last day on duty (at least for this year), foggy and cold, we felt so fortunate to be able to share this great lighthouse with so many visitors.

Bob and La Nore shared our duties--actually had it harder because they were limited by the tides as to when they could come and go. And La Nore had to make sure the cash register balanced at the end of each day--I can't even make my checkbook balance when I only write two or three checks a month! Thanks, you two, for making it so nice!

Our last Friday in CC this year

There were a few yard sales this morning, so we decided to check them out on the way to work. The hydrangeas are gorgeous in this yard. I found two 7th Cavalry patches that I had to have!

The sunlight (lots of it, yay!) was gorgeous this morning.

We took a slow drive along the shoreline.

I will miss this!

Time Flies!

The Farmers' Market on Wednesdays is a lot smaller than Saturdays, but this one featured books for sale! We bought three. And fresh green beans to go with our supper.

 Our first stop this morning was to meet our lighthouse coworkers for breakfast, then I got another haircut. I can't believe it has been a month since the last one in North Bend.

While I was getting my haircut, Cary went to take car pictures.

He thinks this is a real Cobra, not a kit car, but the guy drove off before he could talk to him!

We went to Brookings for fuel and stopped here for lunch.

This Oldsmobile, about the same vintage as the blue Chevy above, was parked at the Fred Meyer lot. I took the picture while Cary waited (white truck on the left) for his turn to have the attendant fill the tank with diesel.

It has been cloudy most of the day, sunny now that we are inland a little bit. The lady cutting my hair and both ladies at the book sale were lamenting the lack of sunshine that August has brought. I do miss blue skies!

Kaila Arrives!

I know this is our travel blog, but we are so excited to welcome our new great granddaughter into the family! Kaila Stacey Birenbaum was born August 18 at 1:05 p.m. Everyone is doing well. We are eager to get home and spoil her!

Thursday, Friday and More Fun

Thursday we were delayed awhile before we could cross for work. The water was still up too high, but we made it.

While we waited, I took a video. When I get back to Tucson next month I intend to play it over and over to remind me of how much fun we have had.

Every day we pass this wonderful burl on the way to the lighthouse.

Friday morning we drove out to see if we coudl get a better look at the St. George Reef Lighthouse. Pam and Cary are taking it in.

This building, now a private residence, was once the dormitory for the keepers at St. George Reef Lighthouse. When they were not on duty, they stayed here. I am not sure how much of this is original. The lighthouse went active in 1883 and was decomissioned in 1975.

We decided to tour the redwoods.

A tree was growing out of the roots of a fallen redwood. Amazing. Another amazing thing was all the dust on the ferns and other plants along the road. As misty as it is every day in town, I didn't expect dust.

Smith River

I took three pictures of this giant redwood and stitched them together--I didn't know it would turn out to look so skinny!

Saturday morning is cool and damp, coldest day so far. We did go to a few yard sales and the Farmers' Market. I got two texts (that I finally figured out how to read) from Heather, and I guess the baby is still not here. We can hardly wait!

Visitors

Our friends, Susan and Pam both happened to come visit us on the same day. Susan lives in North Bend, is traveling south to the horse races in Ferndale and the ranch where Seabiscuit was raised in Willets. Pam flew to Portland from Kansas, drove down along 101 taking in some tourist things along the way. We gave them a tour of the lighthouse (Susan's second visit), then we went for seafood at the Chart Room. Great visit! More today with Pam.

Odds and Ends

From the kitchen window at the lighthouse

How it looked when we left work on Tuesday

I was impressed with this exercise machine with the built-in fan. You can tell I get impressed easily!

We are expecting a friend from North Bend today on her way to Eureka and Ferndale, as well a friend from Kansas who is driving down from Bandon this morning. Fun!

Just pictures pretty much

After lunch we took a drive to take in some scenery--no work today--found two yard sales too.

I took this about 1:00 p.m.

This guy was going spearfishing!

These speckled guys (there were 5 or 6 of them) were enjoying all the kids and the snacks.

I was able to catch the light going on. The tide was out, but we still had the day off. Tomorrow our hours are 2-4 p.m., quite different than any other year we have worked.

Another Great Day!

I took this picture yesterday as we left work. It was one of the cooler mornings, but warmed up nicely.

Saturday morning means yard sales. These folks had lots of yard art and Cary found some things he needed!

I didn't have a lot of hope for this sale, but...

Cary found this snap-on tool and die set for a real bargain!

I love the Saturday farmers' market here too. Fresh veggies and Cary's favorite stop--the bakery items!

He is slicing up the cranberry hazelnut loaf (I think I will make French toast in the morning); he also got a saurkraut loaf and one with jalapenos and cheddar cheese.

I sauteed some squash and beans for lunch, very yummy.

Right now I am so pleased to be in the trailer doing the blog--it must be the right combination of everything for wifi to work here this afternoon! Although, walking to the office and back is always good exercise.

The sun is out so we are going to take our books outside and read.

Prescription Hassles

I always do whatever I can to make sure that I have all my medications either ordered in advance or that we are in a town with a Walgreens when I need something that can't be refilled in advance.

Two days ago I went to pick up a prescription for my migraine meds and was told it was filled July 18 and it was too soon to pick it up again. I knew I hadn't refilled it--I think I was in North Bend at the time--but it didn't dawn on me till that night that it must have been on auto refill and had probably been refilled in Tucson.

I went back to Walgreens and finally got someone to understand what I was saying. First the young man called the Tucson store and asked if there was something on the shelf for me (after 3 weeks, yeah, right)...nothing was, of course. Then he called the insurance company. No luck there. Finally he looked deeper into the computer system, and yes, it was filled in Tucson! A pharmacist had to make the adjustment on the computer and I was able to come back today and pick up my four pills! Good thing I didn't let any of that give me a migraine.

Okay, I have vented. It was a chilly, cloudy, typical day. Great groups at the lighthouse and we are going out for Mexican food tonight. And I don't have to worry about another prescription for...hmm...a week!

August 8 and 9

We were pleasantly surprised to wake up to sunshine and blue skies. I started the day in a sweater, but ended up buying a t shirt at the lighthouse gift shop before I could finish giving tours because it got so warm!

Because it was so nice out I went around the park, getting a little more exercise and taking a few pictures.

The hydrangeas are gorgeous!

It seemed like a perfect occasion to take our coffee and sandwiches back to the beach by the lighthouse for supper. We enjoyed watching the kids play and these folks collecting rocks. Cary decided to give it a try too.

I am pleased with this picture. First I took Cary sitting and enjoying the view, then had him come stand where I was, and I went back to sit down in the other chair while he clicked the picture. It was perfect for the photostitch program!

Today the skies and temperatures were back to normal, cloudy and cool. After work we had lunch and went to the gym we joined here for the month. It is not very exciting, but it does add a little variety to our exercise routine (running up and down stairs, walking from the parking lot to the lighthouse and back, leading tours...). You see Cary on his favorite bike, reading a history book on the founding fathers.

Pictures, as promised

Three of the summer residents have August birthdays so we had a pizza and ice cream picnic. I suspect they don't need too many excuses to eat (do any of us?).

Another look

We can occasionally see St. George Reef Lighthouse from the Battery Point Lighthouse. If you squint you can see it under the R of the word Reef. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George_Reef_Light

We actually had electricians show up to work on the light today so there were no tours of the tower, and occasional banging was heard.