On the Road Again

Today is our last day in Spokane. We leave this morning. Mark spent yesterday finishing some of the fix-it projects on his list. He repaired the awning that was damaged in the wind on our way across Wyoming. We now have mud flaps on the coach, a project he started earlier in the week and finished this morning. And, with Josh's help, he installed the wiring on the car so we can connect to the RV brake lights and turn signals while we're towing it. Josh showed up on his way to work to help with both those projects. (Good son! The free breakfast was secondary, of course.)

The original plan was to stay until November 11 or until the snow flies... and, well, the snow insisted on coming early.

It's been a very good stay altogether. We got in several good visits with everyone. Josh and his girlfriend, Nicole, came by last week so she could see our RV.

On Saturday, I picked up Savannah and we went to Hobby Lobby on a yarn hunting expedition for her temperature blanket. I decided (after the color choice debacle with Haylee's blanket) to let Savannah choose the colors that will be in her blanket. She came up with a surprising color combination, and the finished work is bound to be lovely. I can't wait to get started on it. It will be her 16th birthday gift - due in May. Afterward we returned to the RV to make chocolate chip cookies and play a few rounds of Dominoes. She did all the work and took home some of the fruits of her labor.

Then on Monday, Mark and I took Liz and Haylee out to breakfast. There's a cute little diner, converted from a 1930s railroad car, just around the corner from her apartment. The food was fabulous and the nostalgic atmosphere was fun. We loved our waitress. She'd been serving at that establishment for 20 years! She was full of personality and left us with a "joke of the day."

"Did you hear the one about the furniture salesman? He got got stuck in the upholstery machine. But don't worry. I understand he's completely recovered."

The afternoon was spent hanging out at Liz's apartment. Mark took a nap while the girls and I played Scrabble. Liz beat me! Shocking.

Yesterday evening we made one last trip to Liz's to say goodbye to everyone. Unfortunately we missed out on seeing Savannah. She had Halloween plans with a friend. But Leah was there in her Mad Hatter costume, waiting for her trick-or-treating chaperone and darkness to arrive. It was a short visit but a sweet one. Hugs and kisses all around, with chocolate chip cookies on the side (freshly baked by Lizzy).

I thought it would be my last visit, but apparently my subconscious had other ideas. I walked away without my phone and was forced to make an unplanned trip back to her house this morning to fetch it.

Our first stop is the Kennewick area for one night, back to that cute little park right off Hwy 395-- Agate Acres, where we stayed on our way here. Then on to Pacific City, on the coast of Oregon, to a Thousand Trails park. We expect to be there cozied up inside watching it rain for four days. Then on Monday we have a Harvest Host stop at a winery. What?! It's a free stop. And we can put out our slides. The wine is secondary, of course.

Happy November! Have a wonderful week. And try to stay warm.