the great northwest

Washington state has welcomed us with cool temps ( now coming around nicely ) and warm people. We went to a shindig called "Pig in the Park" in Spokane, held in a riverfront park and full of craft & food vendors, also live music. It was a fun day. Upon leaving that area, we again encountered those fierce westerly winds that make you feel like a trout trying to swim up-stream. And all that while climbing steadily, but a beautiful drive. We did get a flat trailer tire and also had our gas bottle cover somewhat disintegrate along the way. I'm gonna try to piece it back together til we can locate a replacement. (thanks to duct tape & screws maybe) We keep saying "It's all part of the adventure" and have soldiered on.

We stayed at a great park in the mountains east of Seattle for a few days, then headed for Everett. An old friend, Bev Trauger & her husband Dave, welcomed us to the area and we had a great stay & visit. Dave is retired from Boeing, while Bev 's still with them. We toured the grounds on one day, and the actual factory on the following. Man, do they take care of their people! Every amenity imagined, and a few more you couldn't. If I thought they'd take an old codger like me, my app. would be in like lightning. Anyway, the factory was absolutely amaz-ing. They've built a new tour center & gallery, with great displays like engines and other related components. And the tour itself was phenominal, seeing those big planes being built. The latest, the 787, is really neat and quite the bargain! (172 M as opposed to the 747 @303M) I almost took out the ole' VISA card. Can you picture ToJo Airlines? (and those of you who know me might imagine the quality & attire of the stews....) However, Joannie brought me back to reality in a hurry.

We're now camped near a town called Elma, and rode out to the coast yesterday. Between the mountains & the coast, beauty is all around us. More to come later.....