Missoula to Sheridan

Missoula to Sheridan

We kinda got a late start this morning... We had a hard time waking up. You see, along about 1:50am last night we were woken up with some type of alarm going off somewhere. Tina got up and looked out the room door then came back and told me it was the fire alarm. I shrugged and snuggled back under the covers while Tina through on her clothes and went to the outside door where she saw two or three Fire Trucks, Emergency Vehicles and firemen heading into the building. She quickly came back to the room and excitedly told me what she saw and said, "get out of bed and get dressed!" in her best commanding voice. I quickly (sort of) sprang out of bed, put my clothes on, tied my shoes and headed out of the room. Even though we didn't smell any smoke, it seemed the better choice to vacate. Once out of the building I asked around but no ne knew anything. So we got in the car with the dogs and cranked up the heat for about 20 minutes while watching all the comings and goings of the firemen. Eventually, I went out and asked one of the officers if we could re-enter our room. He told us it was clear. Apparently someone had a small fire on the 2nd floor which was put out quickly. No explanation beyond that. So at 2:30am we went in and went to bed for the second time. Since we only lost a little sleep we figured, "No Harm, No Foul".

Montana has immensley diverse geology

We managed to pack everything and head into town to the only Starbucks within 150 miles for breakfast ad coffee. Accordingly, by the time we got to the freeway it was almost 9 o'clock for the start of our 475 mile drive to Sheridan, WY.

Snow capped mountains were all around us

I can honestly say that we found the scenery on our drive to be extremely impressive. Everywhere we looked were snow covered mountains. In fact we seemed to be surrounded as if we were driving in some sort of bowl. With the blue sky and sun shining off the peaks it made the drive very easy. Not being a true writer it's really hard to describe what we saw but it seemed that with every bend in the highway we were shown some new impressive sight!

High Plateau Country

Leaving Butte and the Continental Divide behind, elevation 5,538 feet, we dropped down to the high plateaus where the wheat fields were being plowed and planted or the pastures full of horses or the fields filled with cattle and young calves, we were still impressed with the beauty of the landscape. This is truly a beautiful land. There's only one serious problem. They have some serious weather in the winter with waist high snow and temperatures near zero. Definitely not our cup of tea!

Cattle Country captured on Tina's iPhone

We made one stop for lunch and gas in Columbus, gave the dogs a walk, then it was back on the road. We manage to average 75mph for almost the entire drive making the trip in a little over 7 hours pulling into the Quality Inn in Sheridan a little after 4pm.

Downtown Sheridan

Inside Sanfords

We got registered and settled in our room for an hour giving the dogs dinner and taking them for a long walk. Then we locked up the room, loaded the dogs in the car and headeded into town to Sanfords Restuarant. We were surprised to find that downtown Sheridan has a thriving, bustling center along Main Street. We parked outside Sanfords and went in for dinner. This place is hard to describe so I stole the photo above because it's impossible to describe. We had a great dinner, I had a Chicken and Ham Sandwich with Jalepeno's and home fries. Delicious. Tina had a salad that would have fed a family of four! Needlerss to say we weren't able to eat everything, heh, heh!

We have been working with daughter Marni and her husband on their future plans, using email and web searches along with texting to talk about their plans. Needless to say, phones quickly go dead. So Marni suggested getting a car phone charger. Driving into town we saw a Verizon store, so on the way home we stopped in and bought one with a double plug so we can keep both phones charged!! After that it was back to our room to watch a little TV, read and head to bed for an early getup!

Lakewood to Missoula

Lakewood to Missoula

Well, just as we are leaving the Seattle area it starts to warm up, heheheh!!!

Starting to look pretty good (front of house)

We spent ten days at the house getting everything taken care of. Weeding, mowing, edging, cleaning the shed, painting a couple of rooms, replacing a broken window in the garage, bringing gravel in for the driveway, cleaning and staining the deck, putting flowers and bark in the gardens, arranging lawn and garden maintenance until the place sells. The house sits in the middle of  2+ acres of lawns and gardens surrounded by 3+ acres of trees.

Rear of house, deck and hot tub

Our realtor wanted us to vacate so the interior work could be completed, carpets shampooed and a thorough cleaning done. Once everything is completed, the inside will be staged and photos taken for the sales brochure. As soon as we get everything from our realtor we'll make sure everyone has a copy. We plan to offer a $500 referral fee to anyone who sends a buyer that signs a purchase contract.

Heading for Snoqualmie Pass

After leaving Whidbey Island we drove to our youngest daughter Marni's to spend a day visiting, then it was on to Lakewood and Tina's Mom's place where we stay next door at her sister Shanda's house. We spent two days visiting then headed out this morning for the trip home to Naples. Leaving Lakewood around 8am we filled the gas tank then got on I-5 north to the Puyalup cuttoff, I-512 to Auburn where we got on I-18 to North Bend and I-90 West.

Cresting Snoqualme Pass

I-90 crosses the Cascade Mountains via Snoqualmie Pass and heads into Eastern Washington. I learned to ski at Snoqualmie Pass Ski Area when I was in the 7th grade, lo those many years ago... Hmmmm, where were we, oh yes, crossing the Pass. Traffic was light as you can see from the photo and we made great time.

Lake Cachese on the east side of the pass

Cresting the pass and heading into Eastern Washington we had a slow down for construction projects that will make this stretch of highway safer from rock slides. we were able to take this great reflection photo of Lake Cachese in the morning sunlight. Soon we were through the construction zone and headed East again.

Our first stop of the day was at the Vantage Junction just above the Columbia River on the West side. We were here several years ago to hike in the Petrified Forest and had our granddaughter Emma with us. The three of us headed out for a hike with the dogs. Halfway up the hill the dogs started sniffing at a rock that had a hole at its base When I looked at what they were interested in, it turned out to be a small rattlesnake. Needless to say we all backed ff and gave the snake his room!

Looking South from the Vantage Bridge

This time we stopped for a restroom break and a switch in drivers then it was back on the road to cross the Mighty Columbia! Then we climbed out of the Columbia Gorge to the Inland Plateau of Eastern Washington, Wheat Capital of the State.

Climbing out of the Columbia Gorge

We made a stop in Ritzville for lunch at the Ritz Restaurant. Just as we got out of the car a lady came out and said they were closed, that they had just lost power. Then, just as we were climbing back in the car, she stuck her head out the door and motioned us back in, the power had been restored. Good for us as the next closest restaurant was anther 60 miles further on. We had a nice lunch and with a switch in drivers hit the road again.

Lake Coeur D'Alene

We made our next stop in Spokane Valley for gas then it was back on I-90 and heading into Idaho. This far north the Idaho panhandle is only about 90 miles wide but crosses some absolutely beautiful country. We passed Lake Coeur D'Alene where we have stayed several times, the last being about five years ago.

Lookout Pass

Soon we were climbing the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains towards Lookout Pass and the Montana border. The pass is at 4,711 feet elevation and there was plenty of snow.

Montana Mountain Grass

We made a pit stop a little further on to give the dogs a chance to stretch their legs, heh, heh! The girls had fun romping in the snow before we were once again on the road. We arrived at ou destination just before 5pm only it turned out to be 6pm as we had moved into Mountain Time. After getting registered, the bags in and the dogs fed and settled, Tina and I went next door to the Irish Pub for dinner. After dinner we watched a little TV, uploaded pictures and wrote the blog, then it was off to bed.

Tomorrow we head for Sheridan Wyoming.

Day 2 at the Cabin

Things to do and places to be

We had a very peaceful night in our new get-a-way cabin. The dogs let us sleep in until 6:30 when Tina got up to give them a walk. It was another stunning day with blue sky's and sunshine and temperatures that promised to make it into the mid 60's.

Three of the four horses grazing in the front pasture

Once I got up and had breakfast Tina had made it back after her walk about the property taking advantage of the lighting to to snap a few early morning photo's. These are the days when it's hard to understand why anybody would move away! But tomorrow promises to be less nice with two or three days of rain and cold temperatures to follow. A subtle reminder of why we relocated to Naples.

We went up to the house around 11am to meet our realtor, Leanne Finlay and to get an idea of what needs to be done. After a full walk through of the house we went outside and covered all the details of the exterior then waled the rest of the property to talk about a few cleanup details. All in all we spent a couple of hours with Leanne making notes and us nodding our heads and making plans for tomorrow.

Shot of Mt Rainier as we head to Southcenter Mall

Once we were done it was time to take Emma home so we headed for the Ferry to make a run to Southcenter where we would meet Marni for the transfer. Fortunately we met at Starbucks so we had a Seattle favorite and visited for a while before they headed home.

Since we were next to a Target, we made a quick stop for a few items then headed for the freeway and the trip back to the island. By this time it's 5pm, so once across we stop at PayLess in Freeland to pick up dinner fixins and head to the cabin. Six o'clock and the dogs are fed, we're out on the deck having dinner and watching the ships go by out in middle of the sound on their way to and from Seattle or Tacoma. Bulk carriers, container ships tugs with barges, pleasure boats and large fishing boats all seen in the space of an hour or so.

A bulk freighter headed for Seattle

After cleaning up and taking the dogs for a walk we pretty much call it a night. I finally figured out I could configure my phone as a personal WiFi "hotspot" so I could connect to the web and get the blogs done and photos up. Completed everything just in time to watch Cosmos then it was off to bed.

Tomorrow we'll go up to the house and make our lists, prioritize what needs to be done and start contacting the various contractors necessary to get everything done.

Stay tuned!

Whidbey Island and our three day retreat

Orchard House

Saturday morning April 12th - Up early this morning to let the kids out and give them their breakfast (Note to self at 6am - must ask Wicket why so early?)

Before I get into describing our day, a little background. As most of you know we are on a trip to get our house sold. We made it up to Lakewood after a fourteen day road trip from Naples Florida, a little over 4,200 miles (see blogs posts for details) and set up camp at Shanda's house, Tina's sisters place next door to Tina's Mom's house.

We made one trip to the Island to meet with a potential buyer that we had been working with since early January. Me and Tina, our tenants and the buyer met at China City in Freeland for lunch then headed up to the house to talk. Unfortunately we learned that the buyers had to back out of the deal when their deal fell through.

So Tina and I were back to square one and went to our back up plan. We drove back to Lakewood and started making plans for getting back to the island and starting work on the house and property. We had been in touch with several friends in Freeland and one of them mentioned a beautiful little cabin that could be available where we could stay while our tenants completed their move out. We contacted the owners and negotiated a short term stay.

The Cabin on Whidbey

So that's where we headed on Saturday morning the 12th. We got to Freeland around 11am and met our friends Jim and Anita at their place for a short visit. The owner of the cabin is a client of Jim's and since Jim was our contact, he and Anita took us over to our new home where we will be for the next four days.

We're in the middle of an orchard and surrounded by horse pastures!

It's really hard to describe our setting but I'll try. The cabin is actually one of two guest houses that sit in the middle of a 200 acre property.

Inside the cabin

Originally one of the early homesteads on the Island, this was a fully self sustaining farm where the owners only went to town once every six months for flour and a few incidentals. The original chicken coups still exist (over 10,000 chickens at one time) along with the cow barns, horse barns and pig enclosures.

Looking out to the Olympic Peninsula

The orchards that surround the cabin are apple, pear and cherry with many still producing. Beyond the orchards are horse pastures and horses. Fom the front deck of the cabin we look out over Puget sound directly at the Olympic Mountains. Truly an idyllic spot!

Almost to the beach

Once we got everything out of the car we all headed back into Freeland for lunch at the Glass Alley Cafe (excellent lunch) then it was back to the cabin to set up and take a walk to the beach. We headed down through the horse pastures with the dogs and finally made it to the west shoreline of Whidbey Island for a beach walk.

All my girls posed for a portrait on the beach

We spent an hour or so on the beach looking for shells (Tina), carvable driftwood (me) and Emma basically just enjoying being out and about. Then it was back to the cabin for paw and boot washing! After dinner (lunch leftovers) we took the dogs for a long walk around the property, a little exploring, then watched the sun set and moon rise making it a pretty complete day!

Container ship at dusk with the Olympic Mountains in the background

Tomorrow we will go up to the house and meet our realtor to get started on our list of things to do to get the place ready for sale.

To see all our photos go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Interlude and Birthday

Interlude and Birthday

April 9, 1947

It all started 67 years ago in a small Windsor hospital, in a room with white walls, and surrounded by unimaginable pressure pushing in from all sides. Suddenly I was blinded by a bright light at the end of a tunnel... wait!! I can't go now, I haven't even started yet! Okay, rewind. Strange sounds, bright lights large objects moving all around me then being swaddled and jostled around before getting my first taste of ambrosia. Yes, that's definitely how I remember it! Heheheh!!

Rewind...

Here it is 67 years later and I still see bright lights at the end of a tunnel, for example...

View from the balcony looking the length of the fourth floor of the American Car Museum

Well I've never been accused of having an original imagination, but this was a corker for opening a birthday narrative!

As many of you know we are in Lakewood WA at Tina's Mom's home waiting to go up to Whidbey Island where we have a house. We've been renting it for the past three years to a wonderful couple, who are artists and own a gallery in Greenbank about ten miles north of Freeland. They are moving out on the 15th and we will be starting the process of getting the place ready to sell. We had been working with an Oregon couple who approached us in January to negotiate a private sale. Unfortunately the deal to sell their property in Eugene OR fell through and they weren't able to complete our deal. Oh well, as my Dad always told me, "It is what it is, deal with it!"

Entrance to the museum

So here it is April 9th, my birthday, and Tina and I are going to the Le May Auto Museum also known as the American Car Museum with daughter Lori and granddaughter Emma. We arrived around 1pm and parked in the upper lot. As you can see from the above photo we brought our Florida blue sky with us but left the warm weather home. This is Jeans and Jacket temperatures, mid to upper 50's!

Add caption

Inside the entrance was a collection of vintage motorcycles including a 1911 Pierce Arrow, a Sears, a 1909 Harley Davidson and a Flying Merkel. It felt like we were in the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley NC. What a great way to start our tour. I bought my first bike in 1964, a Honda CB160 which I modified and raced as part of the Burien Honda Team. We had a circuit starting with races at Seattle International Raceway then up to Westwood Raceway (outside Vancouver CA) and down to Portland International Raceway just outside Portland OR. In later years I did Desert Racing in the hills north of Los Angeles. Great times!

Posing with my Sweetheart!

We had lunch in the cafe above the fourth floor of the museum then started our walkabout. The Museum has three levels below the main or entrance floor. There was no particular organization with cars from all eras mixed in together on each floor. For example, before we got to where we stand in the photo above, we passed a huge assortment of Volkswagons. From a 1942 VW Beetle that looked like it just came off the assembly line to Vans, Karmen Ghia's and race cars.

1947 Tucker

Beyond us were cars ranging from a 1911 Buick Runabout to a 1947 Tucker. But hat's not surprising as this is not a permanent collection, but a composite of Le May family cars and others on loan from other families and corporate owners.

Granddaughter Emma and Daughter Lori

We worked our way through all four floors taking pictures as we went. Surprisingly there were very few newer than about 1972 with an exception being a 2012 Lexus Hybrid supercar in the Electric Car display. Unfortunately my camera battery died before we got there but it was amazing to see early electric cars with "tillers" for steering next to the Lexus.

International Harvester Farm Truck

We spent about three hours in the Museum and could have stayed longer, but being the "old guy", my back was telling me it was time to leave. We had a great afternoon and visiting the museum made up for missing the one in Paso Robles CA on the way up the coast.

As we move to getting the Freeland home sold we'll keep everyone informed.

To see all our other photos from the museum go to our albums at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski

Ciao for now!


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