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Moving

Due to technical ineptitude on the part of your host, I will be attempting to move Geezertalk to a new site so that I may post from my primary device, my iPad. 

Any who wish to continue to follow my follies may do so at: http://geezertalk2point0.blogspot.com/

No promises for improvement in content. 

Fair weather to all. 

Breaking News

There are places in Canada with no cell phone reception! Apparently, there are even more places with no high-speed Wi-Fi!

Saw the most incredible long structure in Williams Lake.

This was the main post around which the spiral staircase wound. 

This is the top of that same post. 

The obligatory bridge for Derek. The many steel bridges were relatively rust free and in great shape. At least to the untrained eye. 

An incredible gorge on a relatively unsilted river. 

The view down the road with the twin 40s standing guard. I need to mount an AA sight on them. 

This bridge was a pastel blue. 

Tonight we made it to Beaver Creek. We are staying at Buckshot Betty's. And the cabin even has indoor plumbing.

Over 2100 miles total so far. And this is our third night out. 

The goal is homer by late tomorrow night. 

The weather was perfect until Whitehorse.  Then a little rain.

Day One

I  picked up this homeless guy at PDX and we hit the road at 8:30am.

Only photo of today was immediately after making it through Canadian Customs. 

It says Abbotsford BC, honest. 

Anyway will get some photos tomorrow. We made it to Cache Creek, a 500 mile day. 

The plan is to make Homer in two sleeps. We'll see. If that plan works my next post will be after the 4th. 

Weather has been perfect so far. 

Back on the Road

Emptied out the condo and more than filled a U-box from UHaul. 

First stop Portland for a Timbers game and then pick up BW at the airport and get moving. 

We hope to visit Randy in Vanvouver and I figure we'll cross into Canada on the 1st of July. Last time I did this was almost exactly 25 years ago, in another life time. 

Teri and Mel and I left Denver in a UHaul in June of 1990 and it was 100°. Today I left Bend at 11:00 and it was forecasted to break 100°.

I'll be trying to,

Stay cool. 

Getting There

Almost out the door.

A little more is added each day. I plan to hit the scales before launch.

Weather is disgustingly perfect so I guess I'll have to leave. That will be after two more Timbers games.

Stay Cool, and keep dodging those tornados.

 

It Is Summer!

Went to Portland to watch the Timbers.

Finally got the cove for the rod tubes done.

I can't imagine Canadian Customs having a problem with that.  US Customs might be another story. Especially with the ammo box reel case.

Turns out there was a city wide parade going on.  Luckily, I missed the street closures but got to watch part of it.

There was a cool geezer band.

 The men were playing "Louie Louie", I assumed they knew other songs but that was all I heard.

They were some hi kicking older ladies.

These young ladies were still going strong after two hours in the sun (high 80s ).

Next day we went up to Mt Tabor Park. Much larger than I would have thought. This is looking up Hawthorne to downtown. You can just make out the newest bridge at left center. Built for pedestrian, bus and trains only, it will open this fall.

 One of the reservoirs had a chlorinating site that Louis didn't want to leave.

 Something about running water.

 This is the "thousand mile stare" he gets while eating.

On the way home I noticed that it was 87 at Government Camp and 97 in Madras and 91 in Bend. Oh joy! Summer is here.

Remembering

Apparently, memorial day was a large commercial success in Central Oregon. There were many ceremonies, none of which did I attend. 

I did spend a few hours walking along the Deschutes  river, enjoying the perfect weather. 

Many of the bike and boat rental companies were sold out.

Quite the place for your office.

This from a pedestrian bridge from the upstream portion of mirror pond.

And that is a very large Juniper growing straight out of the rock then making a 90° turn upward.

Wrapped up the day with a sausage, fried cheese, broccoli and cauliflower scramble topped with pepper and feta. 

Many times throughout the day I paused to remember my comrades who did not return from our war.

I cringe when I hear people thank veterans for preserving our freedom. I believe the last veteran to die for our freedom was in the War for Independence.

Since then we've been fighting for an ideology or commercial interest. Although freedom was definitely an issue in the Civil War, how's that been working out?

Not to diminish the sacrifices that so many vets have made a but the betrayal is hard to deny. No matter how many bumper stickers you may see with "thank a veteran for your freedom".

Memorial day is not a day to thank the living for their service. It's a day to reflect on the human cost of war.

Sorry for the rant, it happens. Some day I will talk about how we treat our veterans when they leave active duty. 

Hope you're enjoying perfect weather. Ours is going to get a little too perfect for me, mid to high 80s by the end of the week.

Lots of pollen if that makes you feel any better.

 Stay warm and dodge the tornadoes.

Discovered this city has a river through it

I'm I was looking for a place to have a beer by streamside.

While surfing for "Riverside Dining" I found the First St Rapids Park. So I thought I'd check it out.

Nice little streamside house.

Found a great path that follows the river upstream from the north end of First Street, across Olney drive, and up to Mirror Pond Dam (see photos in previous post). 

All very scenic but no beer.Just a couple of kayakers and trumpeters, swans that is.

But still no beer so on to the bar at the Riverside Inn. 

That's more like it! The river is a bit smaller down here because it's below the diversion dam that sends a large portion of the river off for irrigation.

Still a good looking trout stream.

Weather is still perfect 68°, a few clouds and no tornadoes forecasted.

Another Milestone

Finally got the caravan weaponized. 

Think I'll have any trouble convincing Canadian customs that it's not a weapon? The tubes are a perfect 40 MM. 

Now to begin perfecting the camping rig. 

Spring Fever

Back in Portland. The roses are going nuts.

They aren't nearly at peak yet.

This was one of the many gardens in the Ladd district. 

Gardening is a favorite chore of Louis'.

The dump truck needs a good washing.

And many of the plants need hand watering.

Thought I'd get in the spirit of things by going green for the Timbers game.

Nina volunteered to help.

It was very hard for her to press down the button, so grandpa helped.

Eventually, we got it done.

Ready for the game.

This must be a hereditary thing, because meanwhile in Denver.

And

Must be, as we say, "in their genes".

Shorts weather here, hope it's as perfect for you guys.

It's Warming Up

I'm The road to the top of Pilot Butte opened for the season the other day. 

The Batchlor Mountain ski area is closing as the snow melts, but I heard some of the best skiing of the year was last week. That's Mt Batchlor on the left and the Sisters on the right. 

Saw a guy fishing below the Mirror Pond dam. 

It leaks a bit and needs repairs but nobody's willing to pay for it. The water is a little cloudy right now with the spring run off. 

Helping with a move tomorrow so thought I'd reward myself tonight. 

Pure health food. 

Working on the roof rack mounted rod holders. Currently stuck on the part that houses the reels. It needs to be weatherproof, lockable and easy to access. An appealing design wouldn't hurt either. And it has to be something I can build with one hand. 

Got a new splint but still can't use the thumb. Getting a new appreciation of how the "opposable thumb" was an important factor in our evolution. 

Highs in the 70's; now, if it would just stay that way. I imagine 90 degree weather is just around the corner. At least it won't include tornados. 

Stay warm. 

If It's Spring

Why are these grandchildren so bundled up?

Answer: I haven't the foggiest. 

In parts of Portland it's snowing. 

Tree blossom snow, that is. 

Neat stump planter. 

The second round of blossoms are just getting going. 

Spencer has been the background on my phone since he had this done. 

So it's time for a fresh face. 

Sorry Spencer, Molly's next if I can get her to pose.