HappyTrails

How 'bout two more years of this? It's about the Congress!

I won't be posting too much until we head up the coast to the kite festival and a little fishing.  I just can't take it anymore.  The deceit being spewed out by the network media is ridiculous.  They really think we don't know what they've been up to.  All this while American families are proudly paying our taxes.  Well, at least some of us are paying taxes.

Here's a blog post with a suggested ad.  It's a bit snipey but factual.  Each opinion has backing in newspapers and on video for years.  Regulation by the way has been proposed all along the way by the current administration, Greenspan, McCain and others.  It was soundly ridiculed and beaten down by Barney Frank, Chris Dod, etal.  So who are you going to believe.  Anyway, if you can stomach one bloggers approach to an ad that would be helpful click on the link below the photo:

Link to the proposed ad here

Winter soon.....

Here on the coast the weather is changing fast.  I'm anxious to go up the coast once again before rain makes it challenging. We will be heading to Lincoln City for the kite festival.  If you're in the area you might be interested.  In addition to the kie festival there a lots of other activities.

October 13 – 14. Fall Kite Festival.         Bring your kites and join this 29th annual festival at the D River State         Wayside. Activities include (weather permitting) kite demonstrations,         kite ballet, Rokkaku battles, kite buggy, kite boarding, ducky derby,         stuffed animal drop, kids kite making and kite building workshops. Free.         800-452-2151. Lincoln City, Oregon

source:  Oregon Coast Fall Calendar, Lincoln City

Our loyal friend has gone to the "Rainbow Bridge"

Great losses and a look at optimism

I'm still getting over our loss of dear Mackenzie, our 14 year old Springer Spaniel.  He was my friend and my sidekick for more than 13 years.  Every day I wake up and think how much he filled our days with his energetic and loving nature.  In time, we will only remember the great fun we all had together in our RVing years and previously when we lived in a traditional house with a yard.  I'm gathering some of the Mackie photos showing just what a great boy he was.

So, readers of my posts know I'm no fan of ultra liberal policies for America.  I have traveled a bit and I know something about economics since it was my college and graduate school emphasis.  Let me just say that we all have a brain and everyone is buzzed up and thinking now that the election battle is fired up.
I just simply have to put up the greatest public statement I have seen this campaign season.  So here it is:

People speak their mind at a rally, (click on photo to see larger) source:

Not much else on our agenda until after a final doctor's appointment this week.  We'll be heading up the coast again for some time with friends and a possible fishing opportunity for Jack.

We said goodbye to our beloved Mackie today

I haven't been posting for a few days because we have had a sad time with our elderly Springer.  I cannot even bear to talk about the dog I rescued as a pup.  His heart was huge and he never wanted his pack (our little family) to be separated. It is with the most profound feeling of loss that I say goodbye to my Mackie today. He was my friend.

Challenges and more photos

After a visit to the vet and a few days administering anti anxiety meds to my 14 year old Springer things are a little better.  He does seem to have a number of age related issues.  The anxiety really makes his life in the motorhome difficult for him and for us.  We see some improvement as a result of the medication but he still has bursts of anxiousness that befuddle us.  We are trying to make his life more calm but it can be quite a challenge.

I'm back on my scrapbooking efforts with our first and second year travels.  Maybe someday I'll have a couple of organized, printed albums completed.  It's not a difficult job to stroll down memory lane but the creation of each page does take concentration and having an adequate amount of time, two things that are not so easy to have right now.  I used the altered photo to make this album page.

Here's a photo that was taken in very low light and really isn't so great.  Because this photo is important to me and commemorates a special time at a favorite restaurant, Waterfront Depot, in Florence, OR, so I want to record the memory.  I used a "polaroid transfer" effect on the photo and then used a roughed up frame to give the imperfect photo an aged appearance. 

(digital scrapbooking supplies used:  Whimsy Magic, Nicole Young (DSP)

I hope my fellow RVers are remembering to record their adventures.

Happy Trails!

Reminiscing again

Another look back at our New York State travels.  This  photo  is poorly composed and the lighting was all wrong but the memory is excellent.  We had a terrific day exploring  the area around  the lake.  They have a dinner boat cruise also.  If you're interested in  the  dinner cruise  go to the link I posted  yesterday.  It's was a buffet style dinner and a full bar when we took it  back when.

Patio at Esparanza Mansion, Finger Lakes, NY

Oh my, I hope we can go back here!

I've blogged recently that I'm taking an online photography class.  In the process of one of the early assignments, looking at previous photographs to analyze composition and such, I discovered this one.

  CORRECTION:  KEUKA LAKE

This is one of a few photos I took while we were in the Fingerlakes of New York State.  This wonderful
patio is overlooking Keuka Lake and I sure would like to be there right now.  This is the time of year
for a number of winery events.  Check out this web link if you are planning to visit the area.  I want to return so I can do a much better job of capturing the beauty of the place. 

Happy trails!

Fuel prices in Northern California

It has long been a known fact that the fuel prices in Northern California can be expected to be some of the highest in the nation.  Even though the barrel prices have fallen over enough weeks to result in lower prices at the pump, they are just as high as when we left several weeks ago.  Given that the economy is not as strong in the northernmost portion of California and people are known to express their views, it's surprising they aren't screaming at their elected officials.  Northern Californians seem to be sleep walking through the debate about having a "real" energy plan and producing more oil as we move as quickly as possible to make alternative options as viable and cost effective as possible.  No wonder Nancy Pelosi feels so secure in her elected slot.  It takes very little research or imagination to see that Ms. Pelosi is more interested in her self interests than in improving the situation for her fellow state residents (or the rest of the country). 

If it weren't so damaging to the future of this great country we could laugh at how ridiculous these folks are, again and again.

As for our travel schedule, we are in a holding pattern waiting to see how the month unfolds.  Our next trip will most likely be back to Oregon. 

Fuel prices in Southern Oregon

When we drove up the coast to Florence, Oregon we noticed that Reedsport had the lowest diesel prices $4.629 - as compared with 4.859 in other towns) so we planned to fuel up on our trip back($4.479) to Jacks' Dad's house.  We made a change to our plans to take care of some business in Grants Pass and as we drove down I-5 we found that the Love's Truck stop and a couple of other stations had even lower prices($4.199).  Gasoline hasn't dropped as much as the diesel prices yet and of course today the per barrel price is a bit higher so who knows what tomorrow will bring.  It certainly pays to check the internet fuel pricing sites but sometimes they are not up to date.

We're in Grants Pass and it has been quite warm so we'll be heading south soon.  We have enjoyed our time on the coast and these few days of extreme warmth and will be returning to the coast next month (budget permitting).

Safe travels and Happy Trails