OREGON~OUR NEW BED & Hudson-Parcher County Park

We had made it to Oregon; and spent the night at a Rest Area: Bleu was as good as gold, and slept the entire night through. He is 10 weeks old, now, and settling in with us.

Taking him for his morning 'duty walk', I saw some pretty yellow lilies - but I remembered Holland's warning from yesterday … and kept Bleu and me on the gravel ;-)

Stayed the night at a Rest Area, in eastern Oregon.

A wild yellow lily.

On the road again, I enjoyed the sights seen along the Oregon side of the Columbia Gorge: I normally drive the Washington side (and think that is more scenic), but the Oregon side was interesting to experience.

It's been a while since I've been that way.

I pointed out the Stonehenge & Maryhill Museum to Holland - I have been to the museum many times, but have never visited the mock Stonehenge structure; but I know where it is located.

Windmills across the river; along the WA side of the gorge.

The John Day Locks & Dam; seen along the Oregon gorge route.

JOHN DAY LOCK & Dam location.

John Day Lock & Dam; recreational.gov ariel photo.

WA State near the Maryhill Museum-WA; across the River.

Stonehenge-WA:

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryhill_Stonehenge)

Maryhill Museum-WA; across the River.

Maryhill Museum:

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryhill_Museum_of_Art)

Mt. Hood; seen from the gorge area.

I love the Gorge; I rarely see the WA side from the OR side.

We were excited to reach our destination at Jantzen Beach Mall :-)

We were happy to change out the old mattress with a new one … and an electrified base that would lift our heads up (our feet, too, when we want that).

Our goals are finally getting underway :-)

We bought the set together, but had to run across the city to the warehouse to grab the mattress base.

All the guys (from Jantzen Beach Mall, to the Warehouse) were helpful, and very friendly.

We've arrived! Purchased our bed at Mattress World; Jantzen Beach Mall-OR.

Old mattress out …

New mattress in. YAY!

We'll be sleeping in comfort tonight.

Going after the electrified frame.

The Mattress World Warehouse; Clackamas-OR.

It's happening …

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Slide-out slid out, so the guys could get to work - comfortably.

The legs were removed from the electrified base - we don't need them.

New bed installed, we started tracking down a place to set up for the night. Eventually, we will start our boondocking adventure - but right now, Holland's disability appointment (he seriously hurt his back on a construction job = early retirement) & my eye appointment (every 2 years) are throwing a kink in those plans :-(

We are praying and hoping for healings, but healing take place on Elohim's time schedule … not ours. It will happen when it happens. For the time being, we just go with the flow; trusting and believing Elohim's promises to those who are His.

Tracking down an RV Site … then, off to Wal*Mart for bedding.

GPS is programmed to route through every city in America!

Downtown Portland-OR

Hudson-Parcher RV Park in Rainier-OR. Country, & a very nice layout.

We paid for 2 nights; the 19th, we'll be in Clatskanie-OR

We liked the RV site in Rainier. It was tight getting in place, but it was a good spot in the countryside :-)

However, I do not think we will revisit it: there were only 2 sites for an RV our size, and like I said … it was tight getting in and out.

UTAH, IDAHO, & OREGON

More and more people in general have me shaking my head; and wondering how much gray matter they actually have between their ears.

I thought maybe it was a PNW thing: a heavy cloud cover means there is not much solar power to generate brain power. But, I am finding that faulty brain waves affect people everywhere :-(

Anyway …

We enjoyed our KOA stay in Salt Lake City; THAT was enjoyable.

Leaving Salt Lake City-Utah, for Twin Falls, Idaho.

Passing an Oil Refinery; Holland has worked in oil fields & was around refineries.

We just cannot get away from 'severe weather'. UGH!

We stopped at the Wal*Mart on the way out of town; and spent heavily - everything was a necessity, so that was okay.

The reason I felt the need for my own Earth happened in the parking lot: that was NOT enjoyable.

Parking lots in Brigham City are ridiculous - even without the 5th Wheel, our 4x is long & wide!

People are retarded when it comes to big rig concepts.

I don't do well with stupid people. I am annoyed easily with thoughtless actions: don't people think anymore????

I was glad to get out of the city.

Wide open spaces appeal more to me.

I prefer wide open countryside to congested city areas.

While crossing the Idaho-Utah Border, Holland asked if I was okay with driving straight through to Oregon so we'd be closer to our goal. Holland had called ahead, to secure the bed, when we were in Salt Lake City.

Was I ready? Absolutely!

We were so ready for our new bed ;-)

Going after our new bed, tomorrow morning.

And I learned, after we crossed the border and found a Rest Area to stretch our legs, let Bleu out and about, and just wind down a bit … that I was the stupid one ;-)

In my defense, I can only say that I have lived in the PNW most of my life: I haven't had as much solar brain charges as my southernly exposed husband has. LOL

Holland didn't say that I had been stupid - but I felt that after he gently lectured me on how to be aware in rattlesnake country; he wasn't being mean in his lecturing, he was just concerned about my safety and Bleu's safety.

He educated me on a situation I am ignorant in … and he is wise in. I appreciated that; we will be going into territories he is familiar with - deadly snake states (rattlesnake, copperhead, coral, water moccasin/cottonmouth, ect.). He has survived those territories because he was once educated, too :-)

When it comes to rattlesnakes (and all that goes with it), I am a wife 'in training' ;-)

A fragrant bush - the air was pleasantly scented; Juniper berries.

Holland gives me a warning about Bleu; that directly concerns me, too.

Another Bush Survival Learning Lesson.

I hate snakes - especially poisonous ones; Holland is a snake wrangler.

As we drove closer to Twin Falls, a storm broke out in front of us. Eventually, we were surrounded by lightening. I wanted to get a good picture of the light show, but the windshield was so filthy with bug guts (Holland is lazy about clearing the windshield - he doesn't want wear-and-tear on his windshield blades); and I said, "I would have liked to have gotten some shots of that zig-zagging lightening Holland, but the  windshield was so filthy. I wish you'd clean it more often."

Almost immediately after saying those words, a wet and wild downpour of hail cleared the windshield. Holland winked at me, and said, "Looks like you got your clean windshield, Baby." Then, he seriously said, "I'll try to do better about keeping the windshield clearer."

Husband in training: good boy ;-)

Bleu had slept through the whole thing … and didn't wake up until we reached another Rest Area; between La Grande-OR & Pendleton-OR.

We fed/walked him; and settled in for a restful night before facing Portland traffic with the dawn.

We were smack dab in the middle of the storm cell - thunder and lightening.

Hail; and a clean windshield followed.

Bleu comfortably slept through the whole thing.

Going to push as close to Portland-OR as possible before calling it a day.

We want that bed a.s.a.p.

The Snake River area; Idaho.

The Snake River, in Idaho.

A converted school bus RV.

We reached Oregon.

MAP La Grande, Oregon to Portland, Oregon; 4 hr 8 min (259.2 mi) via I-84 W

MESQUITE-NV & SALT LAKE CITY-UT

Bread - 'Baby, I'm-A Want You' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCHHHAeSBvY)

I love Nevada.

I can breathe there: my lungs don't seize up.

I like the warmth; it's hot, but it's not blistering hot. I like waking up to sunshine :-)

I love Nevada.

Nevada was agreeable with everyone; everyone was in good spirits:

Patriotic Bleu - Daddy's boy. LOL

The RV Park was atmospheric. The host was pleasant, and helpful. If we ever go through Mesquite again, we will book a spot again (when we are not boondocking).

But we had to be back in the PNW by the 18th, so, we cut this stay short.

Morning temperature; Mesquite-NV. I'm liking waking up to warmth :-)

Ready to roll …

I LIKE this billboard!

I'm not sure where we were between Nevada and Utah; but as Holland drove along, I was petting Bleu when I felt something in his fur. I thought he had a burr … but he had picked up something else, someplace between West Virginia and Nevada:

Bleu has a tick - ICK!!

We had though we were finished with the severe weather - but Cedar City, Utah proved us wrong :-(

A lighthouse in the middle of Cedar City-Utah.

Noon temperature in Cedar City-Utah.

Flood Warning; Cedar City-Utah.

Heading back to the PNW for appt's - then off to wander.

Boondocking is the goal.

We're pretty much 'peopled out' after the Oak Point Madness the Winter if 2022.

We only enjoyed  3 or 4 days of sunshine, this entire trip from Coast to Coast.

Beaver, Utah was much nicer to us … 

Afternoon temperature in Beaver-Utah.

A portable Tiny Home.

Afternoon temperature in Nephi-Utah.

Road work had traffic backed-up for MILES.

Heart shape in the clouds.

Oquirrh Mountain Range in Western Utah.

Provo, Utah moved at a manic pace.

A PERFECTLY shaped heart in this cloud formation.

I love mountains; Elohim is faithful.

We secured a site at a KOA RV Park in Salt Lake City-Utah.

Cars squished for scrap metal $$$$.

Oquirrh Mountain Range, Salt Lake City-Utah.

The Capitol City of Utah … Holland has driven this road many times when he worked in the oil fields.

Steady stream of traffic in both lanes.

The traffic in Provo was insane.

And the KOA RV Park was in the heart of Salt Lake City; for Pete's sake!

Cities and I do not get along :-(

City drivers are crazy drivers. I do not drive in cities … and I am not a good passenger in city traffic; just thinking about city traffic makes me nervous: being in the midst of crazy drivers (even as a passenger) gives my heart a workout. Holland kept saying, "It's okay Baby - I'm driving; relax." What my husband doesn't understand is that him driving does not matter: my heart will still morph into overdrive when crazy drivers are zipping in and out of traffic, doing manic frog leaps.

I always thought KOA Parks were in the country: WTH!!!

I hate city traffic.

But Holland was not rattled, and we finally arrived at our destination safely.

And ordered Supper to be delivered to our front door. My husband is a good man :-)

Our KOA RV spot; we also bought a membership across the States.

It was a tight fit: but Holland did it :-)

Elephant Ears - kitty-corner from our front door.

We ordered Chinese for delivery; Egg Foo Yung.

Even though this KOA was in the heart of a city, it was a very nice Park.