So I settled in Walla Walla for a couple weeks to rest and recuperate after that 2500 mile trip from Fairbanks. Visited with my kids and sister. I was able to borrow my son’s truck for a few days. Gave me a way to run around without having to use the RV. Usually, I try to find an RV park where I can use my bike. But my bike is a mess. It can be ridden but it’s getting squirrely. So having the truck was useful. Got some clothes shopping done…found a store in a nearly deserted shopping mall, the anchor store was undergoing remodeling so it was closed, that was having a 80% off sale. Scored three shirts for under $15, total.
Then I used the truck to run around Walla Walla visiting wine tasting rooms. Fun. They all seem to close at 4-5pm so I’d go around 3pm and hit 2-3 before getting a late lunch or early dinner. Did that over several days, even driving out to the Walla Walla airport where there are several more wineries. Purpose was to find what I thought would be good wines for some friends in Portland and in Fairbanks. I think I did and stashed them in the RV. I’m worried that the two I have left will be confiscated at the Canadian border. Damn rules.
During this stop over, I also needed to take advantage of the warm and sunny weather and work on my awning. It’s about 18′ long and really comes in handy when there is too much sun. The windup spring had sprung, so I needed to rewind that, and a couple minor repairs were necessary. Go here: https://chaos.goblinbox.com/?page_id=179
Using page down on your keyboard, press 12 times to get to the ‘Repairing the Awning – Again’ story.
After I got that work done, I needed to do something about the tires. So during a site seeing trip to Milton Freewater, 12 miles south of Walla Walla, I stopped in at a Les Schwab tire store and got a quote on a set of new Toyo’s. $1175 lighter, I now have nice new tires. Go here for that story: https://chaos.goblinbox.com/?page_id=175
During that time, enjoyed some company with the sister and BIL, and with my kids. We had a family BBQ at her house. Sadly, there is no parking pad for my RV. Actually, there’s less parking room at their new house then at their old one where I had to park across the street. I did find later that half a block away was a nice place to park the rig for a long visit. Next time I come to visit I could actually spend the night there…without electric but at least it would be comfortable parking. Here’s a few pictures of our family BBQ.
My sister's back yard.
Mom was a terrific gardener, and everywhere we lived as kids the yard was always filled with flower, trees, shrubs, and thousands of roses. In fact she loved roses so much, and had so many, that at my wedding we had an arch filled with mom’s roses. Teri has the same green thumb.
More roses.
BIL, Gary, hanging out.
Brother Dan and Sister Teri discuss the merits of fertilizer.
This may have been the day Gary and & I drove Dan to the airport so he could get back to work, or it was the next day. Whatever.
#1 Son, James, shows up for the shindig.
Sister Teri does her Monroe impression.
Downtown Walla Walla where we pick up #1 daughter - Mush (Michelle)
There she is, just getting off work at an Internet service provider.
Time for some family conversation.
So, we all had some good food and great conversation. Teri and the kids had lots to talk about since my kids had only hung out with their mothers side of the family…even living with their grandmother…and hadn’t been up here to visit my sister and Gary. Anyway, seems they found some common ground and vowed to visit more often, starting with the next weekend.