I've seen fire, and I've seen rain................

Well not exactly ala James Taylor, but we have seen wind, rain, snow, and hail!

We departed Brookings on Sunday about noon (ain’t retirement great?)and started south on 101. After a stop at the California border to stock up on some good deals for Irish whiskey, etc., we proceeded on down the road. We encountered all of the above weather at some point during the day, and the snow part was a bit nerve-wracking since it was two lane highway zigzagging through the redwoods. But as usual, Ken being the competent captain that he is saw us through it all.

Last night we stopped in Ukiah and are parked at the fairgrounds RV park, which is quite adequate. We arrived in the dark, and it is just now turning daylight, so I haven’t seen much, but there are lots of pull-through sites, and I think there is even a laundry. We haven’t decided if we will spend a day poking around Ukiah and leave tomorrow, or mosey on down the road today to Travis AFB where we will stay for a day or two to catch up on shopping and laundry.

Jeff and Bev left Saturday morning, and then we received a phone call about noon from the Ouseys. They had made their way as far as Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, but discovered they could have several days’ wait to get over the Siskiyous so decided to come our way and spend the night and drive south on 101 as we did. They are traveling with the Robinsons whom we know from other southern trips, so the four of them joined us for dinner before retiring early to be up and on the road by eight yesterday morning. We didn’t see them alongside the road, so I suspect they are well south of here…..the plan was to get as far as Williams and stay in the parking lot at Bill and Kathy’s restaurant. The restaurant has been there as long as I can remember back to the mid sixties, and they are RV friendly.

The Baltimore Kirkwoods called yesterday, and the biggest news is still Abbey. She has settled in nicely, and is making herself quite at home by chewing on most anything she can find. But since she is pretty well house-broken, I guess you have to pay some penance in some way with a new puppy.

As of Saturday, I think all the Virginia Kirkwoods were back together; Brian and the boys from their ski trip to McCall and Sheila from her Air Force Reserve stint in Arizona. We have talked to Brian briefly about the ski trip, and it sounds like it was a success. They had stored their Trooper in Boise, so with a jump start from AAA, they were on their way to McCall. Brian’s college friend, Jim, and his two daughters drove down from Seattle on the 26th and joined the guys for a few days of skiing. Good for them.

I suspect Cooper is about ready for his morning walk. Ciao