Saturday, July 05, 2008
Farragut to Sisters
Friday (the fourth of July) we planned to go back down to Coeur d'Alene to see their fireworks over the lake. Over breakfast Patty had the great idea to take Mom & Dad's motorhome instead of our car. Everyone thought it was a great idea, so we did it. It certainly holds all 7 of us easily, and it worked as a great home base for the day. We arrived a little after 11:00 and the city's 4th of July parade had just started. This blocked our ability to get to the parking lot we had planned on going to, but I dropped everyone off (except Dad), and they watched the parade. As soon as the parade was over, I was able to get in to the lot.
We had lunch at an internet cafe where I uploaded my blog entries and pictures for the previous week.
Later in the afternoon, we rented a wave runner for an hour. The girls complained and complained that they wanted to go tubing again instead, to the point that I almost just cancelled the whole thing, but we went ahead and went out. They all had a total blast. I rent one of these about once every 3 years, and each time I'm amazed at how fun they are, and how much they've improved. This one was a really powerful 4-stroke. It had 110 hp, and could really accelerate, but was still pretty manueverable. It also heald three people comfortably.
We went back to the motorhome to change out of our bathing suits, and then went to find a restaurant. We ended up at Brix, which didn't have a wait, and was really nice. It was one of the nicest places the girls have been to and wasn't outlandishly expensive.
We then waited on the beach for the fireworks show. I had heard they would start at 9:30, and the kids had trouble waiting until then, but unfortunately, they didn't start until 10:00. By that time Jessica had fallen asleep in my lap. I woke here up for the show, and we all enjoyed it.
We walked back to the motorhome where the girls all went to sleep for the drive back to Farragut. We got them in bed in the trailer around midnight and Patty and I got everything ready for the morning by 1:00.
We got up this morning at 5:30 for another big drive. We were off at 7:00 and said goodbye to Mom & Dad. It was fun travelling with them for much of this trip. The girls really enjoy it. :)
We drove to Sisters, OR, (450 miles) where we had planned to meet our good friends, Jim & Diane Coward and camp at the Metolius river, which I've read is spectacular. It was a long enough day, and the tanks needed emptying, so we decided to stay tonight at the Sisters KOA, which is clean and KOA-like but certainly not spectacular.
We had dinner with Diane & Jim and made plans to meet them tomorrow morning. Jim and I will try to find a campsite on the Metolius for tomorrow night while the girls walk around Sisters and shop.
We also finished our plans for the rest of the trip. The girls have been campaigning to stay with Grandpa Lombardo and Carol for a few days, so we need to drop them in Reno on "the way" home. So instead of going down I-5, we're going to take 395. We'll leave this area on Monday, stop just short of Reno, and then on Tuesday (our planned last day) drop the girls with Grandma Carol and head home.
All good things must come to an end, although it will be nice to be at home in our own bed. :)
We had lunch at an internet cafe where I uploaded my blog entries and pictures for the previous week.
Later in the afternoon, we rented a wave runner for an hour. The girls complained and complained that they wanted to go tubing again instead, to the point that I almost just cancelled the whole thing, but we went ahead and went out. They all had a total blast. I rent one of these about once every 3 years, and each time I'm amazed at how fun they are, and how much they've improved. This one was a really powerful 4-stroke. It had 110 hp, and could really accelerate, but was still pretty manueverable. It also heald three people comfortably.
We went back to the motorhome to change out of our bathing suits, and then went to find a restaurant. We ended up at Brix, which didn't have a wait, and was really nice. It was one of the nicest places the girls have been to and wasn't outlandishly expensive.
We then waited on the beach for the fireworks show. I had heard they would start at 9:30, and the kids had trouble waiting until then, but unfortunately, they didn't start until 10:00. By that time Jessica had fallen asleep in my lap. I woke here up for the show, and we all enjoyed it.
We walked back to the motorhome where the girls all went to sleep for the drive back to Farragut. We got them in bed in the trailer around midnight and Patty and I got everything ready for the morning by 1:00.
We got up this morning at 5:30 for another big drive. We were off at 7:00 and said goodbye to Mom & Dad. It was fun travelling with them for much of this trip. The girls really enjoy it. :)
We drove to Sisters, OR, (450 miles) where we had planned to meet our good friends, Jim & Diane Coward and camp at the Metolius river, which I've read is spectacular. It was a long enough day, and the tanks needed emptying, so we decided to stay tonight at the Sisters KOA, which is clean and KOA-like but certainly not spectacular.
We had dinner with Diane & Jim and made plans to meet them tomorrow morning. Jim and I will try to find a campsite on the Metolius for tomorrow night while the girls walk around Sisters and shop.
We also finished our plans for the rest of the trip. The girls have been campaigning to stay with Grandpa Lombardo and Carol for a few days, so we need to drop them in Reno on "the way" home. So instead of going down I-5, we're going to take 395. We'll leave this area on Monday, stop just short of Reno, and then on Tuesday (our planned last day) drop the girls with Grandma Carol and head home.
All good things must come to an end, although it will be nice to be at home in our own bed. :)
# posted by Craig @ 6:17 PM 
