Whirlwind of travel and emotions and.....success!

Left Moses Lake earlier this morning, after a hideous night's sleep...for Tony, which means, for Jackie too. He forgot the cord to his CPAP which caused him to toss and turn all night. Again, Jackie suffers by being woken up every time he turns and flops, and when all covers disappear. Campground had a $3.00 breakfast which we gobbled, then hit the road.

Set our sights on Missoula, but didn't expect to get there. We felt so good about traveling today that we just...kept...driving. We agree that our mistake was not stopping two hours earlier, as we got crankier as the day wore on. Then the bickering over where to camp starts. Let me explain: Tony thinks that motels/hotels should still cost $40.00 a night. Ergo, since we belong to RPI/America's Choice, a space should be available day or night, whenever and wherever we decide to stop, for $10.00 a night.

Toward the end of the afternoon I start to look in our 16 guidebooks for the best fit for us, i.e., cheapest - any discount available, including Masonic, 4H, Guv'mint, Ferry Lovers, AAA, AA, Double D, Good Sam's, and of course - AARP. It also needs a pool, showers and bathrooms, with shaded tree lined streets, a masseuse and a master to perform our RV feng shui (miss you Tsha-Tsha!) - for $10.00 a night. We discuss where to stop endlessly until I get pissed and throw the books down and pout. We must learn to PLAN ahead, in order to get RESERVATIONS, at an ACCEPTABLE park. We overshot all the parks near Missoula, and ended up at Beavertail Hill S.P. outside of Clinton. This is the town, I'm sure you've heard of, that holds several annual Testicle Festivals. One is occurring now! Sandberg has dared me to eat scramble bulls balls for breakfast tomorrow and prove it to her with a pic. Nice try, but i don't do dares, particularly when I'm very familiar with bulls balls, the preparation of them and how to eat them, due to an explanation from the Market's Loback's Meats butcher years ago. Why eat balls when there's real meat out there???

But I digress. The S.P., which should meet our cheapness criteria, not only doesn't have ANY of the aforementioned discounts we feel due us, but it was $28.00! Holy Shitzkies! The place with the pool in Missoula was $37.95. And Beavertail should be renamed "Mosquitotail." God almighty I am eaten up. It does have power, but you walk to the water and the sticking pit toilets. So here we sit in a fairly pretty place near a river. Then the train whistles by. Never fails for us, we find a train anywhere.

Our really serious concerns, however, have been about our little black traveling companion, Roku, or, as we call him, Kitty-Boy. He has been petrified and traumatized by this journey, hiding in weird spots (underneath and inside the toilet!) and not eating or drinking. We were pretty sure we were vet bound tomorrow, as he was lethargic and was probably getting dehydrated. So, while Tony went to get some vittles in Clinton (no, no testicles!), I laid down on the floor while he maintained his favorite hidey-hole under a chair. I soaked Q-Tips in water and tried to get some in his mouth - not alot of luck. I then just used them to soak his little pads and the tops of his feet, which he licked off. Good start, I thought.

After dinner I decided to really eff his mind up, and put his harness on. Tony then carried him to me at the picnic table. We fooled around until he was comfortable getting on the ground. Once he rolled around in it and meowed alot,and even got up on the axle, he jumped back in the RV happy as could be! He drank, he ate, he ordered a whiskey. He's still having a hard time adjusting to this small space, but we may be on the upswing. I'll post pics tomorrow.

For now, it's still happy trails.....

Moses, moses..

No prob getting here,rig runs like a top. Can't take on water 'cause the valves are busted. Had a fab skettie dinner. Getting ready to jump in the lake, now that the little pee monsters are home for dinner. It is flipping HOT! And...we...love it.

I've been having little moments of panic, like I inevitably got whenever I went to Camp Lutherland as a kid. That awful feeling of not being where you should be, not being in your place. Always made me a little sick to my stomach...what if I don't have fun? What if noone talks to me? What if I look foolish? Only now it's...what if a tire blows? What if Tony croaks? What if Roku runs of? What if we hate this!?

I worry too much.

At last, on the road...to infinity and beyond!

OK. Both Ton-Ton and I had a very restless sleep last night. Tossing and turning, twitching, thinking too much, worrying. Still not over the anxiety and some sadness at leaving our little place; I think that ease will come with miles under our belts. Finally loaded the kitchen sink, Roku and stopped for diesel.

Very, very low tide caused us more concern as we load Blue on the ferry...scraaaape. Excellent job by WSF crew, by the way. So here we are on the boat, yowling cat low to the floor, completely freaked out. Poor little kitty-boy, his world has been turned upside down. He's staying snug under a chair while driving.

On to....maybe Moses Lake today.

Almost........

Blue back today from the mechanic, Tony drives up with "Cholo" blaring. Glad the speakers work again! Spent all day busting ass in the hot RV - figures today would be hotty hot hot - cleaning it from back to front. Tony was very successful fixing a few things that have been causing problems. Loaded a few items, but really need it turned around in the driveway to load easier.

Maybe tomorrow by noon, we'll be heading to Cheney.......

Sunday Night, Monday's Leave-Taking is Off...Boo Hoo!

After taking in Blue to the mechanic, many items were found to be defective. So....delayed travel to this Friday, we think. Lots of bucks, but boy will we be safer. Have adjusted our schedule to skip Bend, OR - sorry Joey and JT - and Canada. Yay!

That being said, we're lucky enough to have more time to spend with Holli-bug. She's overnight tonight and we've had a blast making bracelets, eating a good dinner and running through the sprinkler.

We are ready to go!

We leave Monday....???or do we???

I think we're leaving Monday, but word on our street is that we have some repairs/maintenance to do on Blue. Took her into the repair shop today and Tony got the call that there are several items to fix. He's going in tomorrow morning to check out the undercarriage and discuss.

I, on the other hand, am spending the day in Seattle getting his car detailed. Will probably fool around the Market, pick up some spices, check out the flowers. Maybe have a little coffee with my WSF friends. Back to Kitsap to make BBQ with the Hunter's, et al.

Saturday is farmer's market to return the pop bottles, Annie and James's reception and dinner at Anthony's with Teresa and Brian.

Sunday is fill the RV day, if it's ready. Clothes, food, make the bed, new pillows, get Roku ready. Lots of details to take care of.