Nk'Mip Campground, Osoyoos, BC

Escape Rally Registration

Thursday, June 5, 2014, Nk'Mip Campground, Osoyoos, BC  - 140.9 miles, 9472.3 For the Trip

A nice relaxing drive up US 97. I had to give up my non Canadian blueberries - the last time I crossed the border at Niagara Falls they were OK, but evidently California blueberries are a no-no here in the West. I should still be able to make a pie, but not two.

I got registered for the rally, picked up my "booty", a set of wine glasses, and stopped & talked with a number of people, some new, and some I've met at other rallies. I took a few photos, including a pair looking each direction in Reace & Tammy's new 5.0TA. I started making the rounds photographing trailers & attendees, but soon realized that I'm never going to be able to stick names with the photos, (there are over 100 trailers attending) so I'm leaving them blank.  Photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

While I thought I managed to skip needing "Loonies" by doing my laundry in Wenatchee, I still needed some - the showers take one Loonie to run. So, I'll probably end up with a few to toss with the Loonies & Toonies on my dresser in the bedroom at home. While I always plan to take them with me when I leave for a trip, I seem to forget & end up adding to the pile when I get home.

Dinner was a quick sandwich & chips.

Until tomorrow -

Wenatchee River County Park, Monitor, WA, Day 4

Icicle Creek, Levenworth, WA

Wednesday, June 4, 2014, Wenatchee River County Park, Monitor, WA, Day 4 - 0 miles, 9331.4 For the Trip

I drove back to Levenworth and stopped at the Forest Service Ranger Office to see if there were any near by waterfalls to photograph. They said no, but gave me a map of area trails & suggested I drive along Icicle Road and check out the Creek. I took a few photos of the creek as well as some Lupins along side the road. A very pretty drive with a number of forest service campgrounds.

After that I stopped in Levenworth to take a few photographs of the town. Lots of interesting buildings & a concert just starting in the bandstand as I arrived.

After that it was back to the campground & sitting out taking hummingbird photos. I started with the D700, but quickly switched to the D800. You can see the difference - all images at ISO 640 & f: 2.8 to get the shutter speeds high enough to freeze wings. Even at 1/8000 of a second, the wings still blur! The first image was the D700, the rest with the D800.

D700

D800

All the photos on today's LakeshoreImages Page.

Dinner was a cheeseburger. I'm heading into town to purchase the blueberries & pie stuff after posting the web page. That way I don't have to try to squeeze the trailer into the Albertson's parking lot.

Until tomorrow -

Wenatchee River County Park, Monitor, WA, Day 3

Tuesday, June 3, 2014, Wenatchee River County Park, Monitor, WA, Day 3 - 0 miles, 9331.4 For the Trip

Not a lot happening today. The Escape 5.0 that has been parked 2 sites down left this morning to spend a couple of days at the Wenatchee Confluence State Park before heading to Osoyoos for the rally next weekend. I'm staying here. I did mail Karin's birthday card. While it isn't until July 5th, mail has a way of taking far longer than the post office suggests when going to Botswana. They said 6 days; we'll see...

I also did laundry. I could have put it off for a couple of days, but that would mean trying to get & use  (and then get rid of) Loonies (the Canadian 2 dollar coin) and I wanted to avoid that. Ended up at a strange operation - they use magnetic cards to pay for the machines, but you don't buy one - they use the card & settle up when you are done. I also got a haircut. We'll see how this one holds up. Still shorter than usual, but much easier to comb.

No photographs today. Dinner was a grilled chicken sandwich, chips (I found a supply of Cape Cod Crinkle Cut chips at Albertsons) and a small salad. I don't know what is going on, but there have been fire engines going by the campground for much of the afternoon. If I was still working Red Cross Disaster Services, I'd probably be following them!

Until tomorrow -

Wenatchee River County Park, Monitor, WA, Day 2

A Barn Along US 97

Monday, June 2, 2014, Wenatchee River County Park, Monitor, WA, Day 1 - 0 miles, 9331.4 For the Trip

I decided to accomplish two things this morning - a trip to AAA for some maps (my Oregon/Washington one is worn out) and get a haircut. The first went OK, but barbers are closed on Mondays, at least the real ones, and I have had better luck with them than the "Super Cuts, etc". So that will have to wait until tomorrow. I did stop at Albertsons to see if they had a better deal on blueberries than Safeway, and they did - 18 oz for $3.99. So, that is where I'll shoot for on Thursday. I also picked up an ear of corn for dinner.

For the afternoon I drove down US 97 to see if I could find some wildflowers near Blewett Pass. No luck with the flowers, although I did find a few. I keep meeting people that tell me how great the flowers were, but it is always a few weeks before I get to the area. I did find a barn that was in a nice location a little past the WA 970 short cut to I 90 West. On the way back I went a little West on US 2 to Leavenworth & took a photo of a bridge over the Wenatchee River. More photos at toady's LakeshoreImages page.

After that it was back to the campground for some reading & a shower. Dinner was a couple of cheese brots &grilled corn on the cob.

Until tomorrow -

Wenatchee River County Park, Monitor, WA

Ohme Gardens

Sunday, June 1, 2014, Wenatchee River County Park, Monitor, WA - 85 miles, 9331.4 For the Trip

Not to bad a drive West on US 2 & south on US 97. I'm in site 47 at the Wenachee River County Park. It had been recommended by a follower of my web page, and they are right - it is a pretty park. They suggested asking for a river side site, however they were all filled. I'm in the middle of the campground in a water & electric site for $25.00 per night. While there were a couple of full hookup sites available when I arrives around 12:30, they are near US 97, and noisy. It is a popular campground - by now at 8:30, it is full.

After setting up the trailer I went to Ohme Gardens. $7.00 to get in, with lots of paths through many plantings. It wasn't quite what I expected in that I was hoping for lots of blooming flowers & it is more a natural flower & plant garden. Still, a nice way to spend a couple of hours walking along the paths, ponds & waterfalls. Photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

After that it was a quick stop at Safeway to pick up some fruit & milk. I checked, and they have blueberries at a half way decent price. If they are still the same & the quality is OK, I'll pick some up to make a pie for the pot luck next weekend. I much prefer blueberry to apple!

After that it was back to the trailer & trying to keep cool. Quite warm - I even put out the awning just to shade the refrigerator wall of the trailer. The thermometer in the propane tanks read 93°F, although it was in the sun. Still, a warm day.

Dinner was the left over half of the grilled chicken breast from yesterday, along with a small salad and the last (boo hoo) of the Cape Cod Crinkle Cut Potato Chips.

Until tomorrow -