Firebaugh 50th Wedding Anniversary

Our good friends, Joyce and Morris Firebaugh, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Racine Yacht Club tonight. For many years, starting in 1979, our two families shared many biking and hiking vacations together. I created an album of photos called "50th Tour de Firebaugh". Included was a verse which I wrote for the occasion.









Good Memories

Mounting up on bikes we rambled,
Over hill and over dale.
Biking roads with bends and windings
Going deep into the vale.
Passing farms with cows a grazing,
Stopping when a pies for sale.
Cooling off in waters rushing,
Praying that our legs don't fail.

Gearing up with packs we rambled,
Over trails and mountain tops.
Hiking ever on and upward,
When it's cool and when it's not.
Passing fields of wild flowers,
Stopping often for the view.
Pitching tents near cool waters,
Sleeping soundly to renew.

Many highs and sure some lows,
We never ever came to blows.
The young ones followed as they must,
With maybe just a little fuss.
We swam, we fished, washed our hair,
Our needs so simple, food and air.
Looking back it was so sweet,
Our kids impression, we're just cheap.

In route we had some famous spills,
Going fast down winding hills.
Gravel caused one fateful crash,
Susie's side picked up road rash.
But all our kids turned out OK,
Did we help them find their way?
Good memories for a lifetime last,
With the Firebaugh's, it was a blast.
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Photos of the evening event can be viewed at

http://picasaweb.google.com/dpiele/Firebaugh50thWeddingAnniversary#

Father's Day

On Father's Day, Linda took us all out for breakfast at the Blind Faith Cafe in Evanston. We came back to the Miller home and I got treated to a swing with granddaughter Ceci.

Afterwards the Miller's decided to come out to see our camping spot at Illinois Beach State Park near Zion, Il. It's on five miles of prime Lake Michigan shoreline with miles of hiking and biking trails. We played at the beach, took a walk in the park, and had lunch served to us. Jeff and I didn't have to raise a finger. It was a relaxing Father's Day.

47th Wedding Anniversary

47th Anniversary -- June 15

It was hot in the desert, the day we were wed,
Two score and seven years past.
With little idea of the road up ahead,
We packed up and stepped on the gas.

We raised our two daughters, in the Midwest,
Two careers and a meal each day.
Now they have a nest, we're taking a rest,
Moving on in our RV to play.

We settled in Tucson, friends and new faces,
Returning home to the West.
Now looking back, over all of the places,
Our hot desert start was the best.

Bozeman, Montana

Friday, around 5 pm, we pulled off I-90 into the Walmart parking lot in Bozeman, Montana. This was our first stop at 'Camp Walmart' and we joined several other rigs parked for the night. Yep!, an Ipad app, recommended the Naked Noodle for dinner so we unhooked the tow car and drove to town. Downtown was packed with "Art Walk" walkers hopping in and out of the galleries lining Main street. It was about 50 degrees outside but I has dressed in shorts as if I was back in Tucson.



Bozeman is a small college town with a major research university - Montana State U. We entered the Naked Noodle and it felt like being on State St in Madison. Linda got in line to order off the menu on the wall and I headed for the one remaining table. No sooner than I sat down and pulled out my Ipad than this guy comes over and wants a demonstration. So of course I oblige. I always start with the NY Times app since we use it constantly to keep up with what's happening in the world. Next he wants to see how to read and listen to books, so I demo those apps. Then he asks about Pandora. "Sure, let's take a look."




Up comes Pandora with my list of radio stations that play, Patsy Cline, Nate King Cole, Billie Holiday, and Bob Dylan. He clicks on Bob Dylan and within seconds over the speaker comes, "Like a Rolling Stone." He motions to his girl friend to come hear this. "You know I met this gal on the Internet and in courting her I recited, from memory, The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, by T. S. Eliot. In response, she recited 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' by Bob Dylan. BAM! that did it, a perfect fit."



After dinner we walked around town peeking in on one of the galleries before heading back to Walmart. When we arrived, I discovered we had left the headlights on the RV on for about 3 hours. Tried to start it and couldn't get it to crank over. Luckily, Walmart sells batteries and will charge any battery for free. I took my dead battery out, put it in a grocery cart, and wheeled it to the battery center. Next morning it was charged and ready to go. I installed it and we were off.

The Real McCoys

My cousin Miles McCoy was raised in Seattle, where his family were avid sailors. As a young man, he crewed on racing boats to the Hawaiian Islands. He eventually sailed all over the world, sometimes on the sail boat his dad bought when Miles was fourteen, often sailing swank sailboats for others. If you would like to hear a great story about the New York Yacht Club, then Miles is your man. Boats have been his life.




He has lived on Orcas island for over 50 years. Forty-nine years ago he married Louellen and brought her to his small homemade abode on the water. Together they carved out a life on the island. Enlarging their home by hand, raising two children, growing their own food, cutting and splitting the wood needed for warmth, and generally living close to the earth.





Living on an Island year around requires a good dose of self reliance. While he earned money by sailing boats for others, he found he needed a more reliable way to put groceries on the table, so he took an upholstery class, built his own shop out back and bought a heavy-duty sewing machine made in 1929. He became an expert upholstery maker specializing in canvas cushions for boats. Louellen also worked in this business. Documenting her many other endeavors is beyond the scope of this blog; she could and should write a book. For starters, she played the piano for the island choral society for 29 years and continues to practice and perform with a trio. She had been interested in horses from an early age, so she acquired a horse and a buggy, took classes, trained, and competed in all sorts of events. Last year she was asked to mount an exhibition of her photographs and sold a good number. You get the picture.




Both volunteered their time for various boards and events on the island. Among other things, Miles was a volunteer fireman for many years.

Next year Miles will turn 80, having outlived most of his friends on the island. He still enjoys splitting and stacking all of his wood and building three fires daily and excels at telling tales about places and people. We especially delighted in his pungent characterizations of character. Louellen keeps busy with her music and supporting many island activities. Their large vegetable garden provides lots of the groceries they need. They buy raw milk, fresh eggs, and island-raised lamb and beef, make their own bread, set traps for crabs and shrimp... Water comes from a well, black water goes into a septic tank.

Their home is built on large pilings. Inside, it is both elegant and cozy, and everything, starting with the book cases made from driftwood that was floating by, has a story. Their view of the water is 180 degrees, but they have a 360 degree take on life. Miles believes fervently that the cause of the Gulf Oil spill is "Us," including himself, because he continues to drive the VW beetle he bought more than 50 years ago.






Linda and I explored the trails in Moran State Park on the island, went sailing with Miles, and Louellen served two marvelous dinners. Our RV was parked on their property and one night we had them over for spaghetti. We spent hours catching up on family stories and even opened up some of his mother's photo albums (Don's aunt). She was the best family record keeper and always had a verse or two to share.





This was the first opportunity we have had to spend any time with Miles and Louellen. We are so happy we did. It was a 2,000 mile trip from Tucson to get here and worth every mile. They are a special couple, as warm as apple pie. They are truly the real McCoy's





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Off to Orcas, with his bride,
Built a home by the sea.
Up on stilts so not to hide,
A beautiful view you'll agree.

Working together, they built their nest
Out popped a girl and a boy.
Now they are happy to take a rest,
Hats off to the real McCoy.

Pure treasure for us, our visit with you,
Now watch the ads for a coupon.
If winter's cold, makes you blue,
Come visit us down in Tucson.

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All of the photos can be viewed at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/dpiele/OrcasIslandWithMilesAndLouellen#

Best viewed as a slide show.




















- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Visiting the old home town Vancouver, WA

We pulled into Upscale Automotive on Thursday and left the RV for some suspension upgrades. Drove the towed car over to visit and stay with brother Doug and Carol in Vancouver, WA.

Doug and I took a ride around Vancouver and the old neighborhoods and Linda and Carol took a walk along the river. Carol invited everyone over for dinner and we had a great time catching up with family and friends.



The rain finally stopped on Saturday, the day we left. It has been a very wet Spring in the NW raining straight for the last 18 days. We headed north to Orcas Island.



View pictures below best viewed as a slide show.
Click on Photos




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Summer 2010 week 1

After leaving sunny Tucson on May 28th, we've been on the road for seven days now. We took the Owens Valley route north on the eastern side of the Sierra Mountain range. That required us to go over the mountains at Ebbetts Pass.



Our little Winnebago pulling a Honda Fit made it over without much trouble. Coming down was more of a challenge to keep the speed under control.



First stop was Stockton where we enjoyed a lovely evening with Linda's sister, Edith, and her daughters Cindy and Virginia, and grandsons James and Michael. We were treated to a wonderful barbecue dinner.



The next day we stopped by to say hello to niece Elizabeth before turning north to Eugene. There we caught up with my brother, Phil, and wife, Sandra. We arrived in time to see Jack, their first grandson, and dad Bob.
It has been 4 years since we saw them - and our first look at Jack. Again we were treated to a barbecue dinner.







The next morning we took Phyllis, Linda's oldest sister, out for breakfast.

Next we turned east over the Willamette Pass to see sister Joan who lives in Camp Sherman near Sisters. We took a hike to the head of Jackson Creek and then went out for dinner. Linda and I had Razor Clams, a favorite Oregon treat. Joan is very happy to be staying in a beautiful home with some caring friends, Kevin and Laurie.



Today, we are in Portland getting new shocks and a sway bar for the RV while we visit brother, Doug and and his wife, Carol, in Vancouver for a couple of days.

This will be our first night outside the RV, while it will be in the shop.
We prefer to stay in the RV in our own beds, because that makes it easy for us to stop by and see family without being too much of a bother.

Below is a link to some photos of all this.

Best viewed as a slide show.


http://picasaweb.google.com/dpiele/Summer2010Week1#


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:SW Sagert St,Tualatin,United States