Do you remember those hand-held puzzles with the numbers 1-15? The objective was to slide the pieces around so that you ended up with all 15 numbers in the correct order - that's a little bit how we move around in the travel van. We have things down to a science. In the morning, Allison picks up her sleeping bag and mat, and moves to Laurie's bunk. Laurie gets up and gets her stuff to get ready for the day. Allison gets her stuff and we go shower at the campground. While we are gone, Scott gets up, makes coffee, and eats his breakfast. About the time Allison and Laurie are done getting ready, Scott heads off to the showers and the girls eat breakfast and finish straightening things up for the day. Laurie takes Popcorn out for her "morning constitution", Scott unplugs the van, and pretty soon we are off and running for the day! Overall, we have been getting along amazingly well! Today we decided to head on down the Washington/Oregon coast. 
(Time to filler up again! This time it's Allison's turn.) We headed over to Astoria, WA - there is a Lewis and Clark museum and fort that we took in. 
(Making moccasins out of buffalo hide) 
(One of the rooms in the replica fort) We also had the opportunity to see a flint-lock gun demonstration - it was pretty cool - something Laurie's Dad, Rudy, would have really enjoyed. 
(Here the 8th grade teacher shows off an air rife replica from the expedition)
(A demonstration firing a flintlock rife) While at the museum, we received news that Scott's mom was in the hospital. She had chest pains and was being admitted for observation. Scott's Dad told us not to worry, that Marilyn was doing well, so we headed on down the coast. 
(Near Tillimook, Oregon) However, about 4:30, we decided we really needed to head on back home. So we continued on highway 101 until we could cut over to highway 5 in Salem, OR. From there, we just needed to stay on the 5. According to the GPS we were using, we were going to get into Lodi at 4AM. Allison drove for about 3 hours, then Laurie drove and around Medford, OR we decided that we needed to call it a night. So around midnight, we drove in to Redding, CA - pulled off into a parking lot near a Ramada Inn and got some shut-eye. Scott woke up around 7 AM and headed down the road. We stopped at a rest stop around 9 AM at a rest-stop just outside of Sacramento. Popcorn was happy to get out and stretch her legs. From there, it was only about a 1 hour until we rolled into Lodi! From the time we started driving the travel van in ND, to the time we pulled into our driveway, we have put on 3814miles - and we put on 866 miles in just these last 2 DAYS! Wow! (Time for an oil change already!) We all pitched in and carried everything from the van into the house - and we started the arduous task of unpacking, putting things away, and of course doing laundry! Popcorn was happy to romp around in her own backyard, then kept a close eye on us as we made numerous trips in and out of the van! It had been an awesome trip! We saw so many interesting and beautiful places - but as Allison said,"There's no place like home." 
Before we close for this trip we need to give a couple acknowledgements. First off, "Snaps" to niece Julie for getting this blog set up for us. If it hadn't been for her, we would not have had a clue as to how to do something like this. Thanks Julie, you are awesome! Secondly, we need to give a big THANK YOU to our neighbors, Tim and Monica. They loaned us a portable GPS unit. Believe us when we say it was a godsend! We'd probably still be looking for a couple of the campsites that we stayed at! Finally, love and thanks again to my parents (Janet & Rudy). We had a blast vacationing in the travel van and we look forward to more travel van adventures. And so the Two Babes, A Dude, and A Dog are signing off for this trip. Thanks for coming along on the ride! 
(Now it's time to give the van a thorough washing after 11 days of bugs!)
(Time to filler up again! This time it's Allison's turn.) We headed over to Astoria, WA - there is a Lewis and Clark museum and fort that we took in. 
(Making moccasins out of buffalo hide) 
(One of the rooms in the replica fort) We also had the opportunity to see a flint-lock gun demonstration - it was pretty cool - something Laurie's Dad, Rudy, would have really enjoyed. 
(Here the 8th grade teacher shows off an air rife replica from the expedition)
(A demonstration firing a flintlock rife) While at the museum, we received news that Scott's mom was in the hospital. She had chest pains and was being admitted for observation. Scott's Dad told us not to worry, that Marilyn was doing well, so we headed on down the coast. 
(Near Tillimook, Oregon) However, about 4:30, we decided we really needed to head on back home. So we continued on highway 101 until we could cut over to highway 5 in Salem, OR. From there, we just needed to stay on the 5. According to the GPS we were using, we were going to get into Lodi at 4AM. Allison drove for about 3 hours, then Laurie drove and around Medford, OR we decided that we needed to call it a night. So around midnight, we drove in to Redding, CA - pulled off into a parking lot near a Ramada Inn and got some shut-eye. Scott woke up around 7 AM and headed down the road. We stopped at a rest stop around 9 AM at a rest-stop just outside of Sacramento. Popcorn was happy to get out and stretch her legs. From there, it was only about a 1 hour until we rolled into Lodi! From the time we started driving the travel van in ND, to the time we pulled into our driveway, we have put on 3814miles - and we put on 866 miles in just these last 2 DAYS! Wow! (Time for an oil change already!) We all pitched in and carried everything from the van into the house - and we started the arduous task of unpacking, putting things away, and of course doing laundry! Popcorn was happy to romp around in her own backyard, then kept a close eye on us as we made numerous trips in and out of the van! It had been an awesome trip! We saw so many interesting and beautiful places - but as Allison said,"There's no place like home." 
Before we close for this trip we need to give a couple acknowledgements. First off, "Snaps" to niece Julie for getting this blog set up for us. If it hadn't been for her, we would not have had a clue as to how to do something like this. Thanks Julie, you are awesome! Secondly, we need to give a big THANK YOU to our neighbors, Tim and Monica. They loaned us a portable GPS unit. Believe us when we say it was a godsend! We'd probably still be looking for a couple of the campsites that we stayed at! Finally, love and thanks again to my parents (Janet & Rudy). We had a blast vacationing in the travel van and we look forward to more travel van adventures. And so the Two Babes, A Dude, and A Dog are signing off for this trip. Thanks for coming along on the ride! 
(Now it's time to give the van a thorough washing after 11 days of bugs!) 
Thank you so much for taking us along on your trip. It was just so much fun and I looked forward to seeing what you were doing each day! Yep, it is nice to be home! Welcome home neighbor! Debbie
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