Can't believe it's the end of June!!

So much has happened!!

Some of what I wrote in the last installment just didn't pan out - we didn't meet Jane Katra in Eugene, OR because the motor home decided not to go more than 40 MPH just north of Vancouver, WA.  We spent the night in the repair shop lot just to find out that they couldn't deal with a vehicle of this size - so off to Portland we went (neat because there is no sales tax in OR).  The Ford dealer there took 4 days and close to $3300 to fix the air filter, and a bunch of other stuff - all good.  They even supplied us with a "snorkle" !  Ain't that the cat's meow!  And, there is a gluten-free bakery in Portland that makes 4 kinds of thin crust pizza every day - so, David was in heaven for the 3 days we had lunch there!!  And, it was the rose festival in Portland, so we sniffed thru sneezes and wallowed in the fabulous smells, colors, shapes....and names of the plants!

Then off we went - drove (to catch up with our plans) to Grants Pass for one night then to Eureka/Arcata, CA where the Victorian houses we think might even outdo those they copy ( in New England).  The history here is really interesting and as we spend more time learning, the more we begin to really respect the creativity, bravery and hard work done by the folks who traveled west in the mid 1800s.

We headed off to Mendocino but didn't make it on this try - instead the brakes started to burn and the transmission fluid started to leak (this very-loved motor home is 11 years old) and we spent 5 hours at the top of the 6-mile hill on Rt. 20 outside of Willits, CA waiting for a tow truck.....we were towed to Petaluma 101 miles away to a Ford dealer who can fix a Ford Triton V10 truck (upon which this motor home is built) - the 75 year old guy who showed up to do the job was amazing as were all the mechanics we met along the way.

Aside:  Years ago, I (Susan) took care of a 4-yr old boy who invented this joke:  What happens when your toe falls off?  Answer:  You call a toe truck....

We spent 3 1/2 days on the IONS campus in Petaluma (some of the most beautiful land in America) meeting with the Member Council and staff then a couple of days just wallowing in the glory of San Francisco and points just north thereof.  And.......finally.......off we went to Mendocino where we have committed to volunteer in the Ford House thru October 31st.  More about this adventure later....

I think that we might just run a contest to see who guesses correctly what we will do come October 31.
That is the date our gig in Mendo ends and the rig has to return to the Goldens in Pt. Townsend, WA.
Without a house or home, with no furniture, but with the wind at our backs and the sense of adventure in our cells whatever will we do?  We welcome suggestions and delight at your interest and send you all love and good wishes.