Wednesday, Sep 17th - The Bed at Home

Greetings!

There's nothing quite as comforting as our bed at home after a long trip. We arrived on Monday night, spent all of yesterday cleaning up the car and Matilda, and last night watching some of the accumulated new season television shows on the DVR.

We had an absolutely wonderful trip. I could not have gotten a better reception from my cousins, nor seen more of the original settler homesites. The stories of their lives are clearer to me know, and the questions which remain are even more interesting. I cannot thank everyone enough for all that they provided to Pat and I, and I promise to work hard on strengthening the relationships which were begun.

To all of our Northern California friends who we love to be with..... we're back! (and let the election and the country get even more exciting!)

Gregory and Pat

Sunday Sep 14th - Bandon, Oregon

Greetings!

Wanting to spend some time on the Oregon coast, we chose the town of Bandon. Fortunately, our walk through the downtown area coincided with the last day of the annual cranberry festival.

Gregory

To view all of the photographs for the day, click on: Sep 14th Bandon, Oregon

Sep 13th - McMinnville, Oregon

Greetings!

Pat mentioned at lunch today that she knew we were on vacation when we had just finished two Bozo Burgers (huge) and french fries. It wasn't until we were opening up the Airstream 350 miles away when we realized she had left her purse on the seat next to her.

We called 411 with our still dying cell phone - no listing for Bozo Burger in Boardman, Oregon. It was just a miracle of memory that she remembered that the other end of Bozo Burger was Popeye's Pizza. Finding a listing for that, we called and learned they had found it. They even volunteered to send in to our home at no cost to us on Monday. So please, have a Bozo Burger in Boardman, Oregon if you find yourself near there.

Gregory

Sep 12th - Clarkson, Washington

Greetings!

We made a beeline for the Oregon coast today, stopping only briefly in Missoula to stock up on supplies and have lunch. Tonight, we're at an RV park on the backside of a Costco store in Clarkson, Washington. It's basic, but clean, and it has wi-fi, cable, and another Airstream nearby (23 foot -boy do those have storage space!).

Tomorrow, we'll drive all day to get to the Oregon coast in order to take our time on Sunday driving down it. Hopefully, we'll make the last sprint to Santa Rosa on Monday or Tuesday.

No photos today or tomorrow. But the stretch between Missoula and Clarkson was a beautiful pass and descending river valley.

Gregory

Sep 11th - Glacier Natl Park

Greetings!

With wi-fi getting harder to find, and beautiful mountains surrounding us, we're parked at the West Glacier KOA. Yesterday, we drove across the Park on the famous Rising to the Sun Road. Just as spectacular as it was 28 years ago when we first came through here. Last night, we found a good restaurant at the end of Many Glaciers Road, and had elk lasagne and eggplant parmesan. There are lots of trailers and people up here, and a very impressive hotel. This is the last week of the season, and everything is getting ready to close. Today, we'll kick back, take in a local hike, and get some laundry done.

Gregory

To view all of the photographs for the day, click on: Sep 11th Glacier Natl Park

Sep 8 Ray, North Dakota

Greetings!

We did it. If I can find an internet connection in Montana fast enough to send the pictures, I'll show off all of the great photographs I got to take of the farms of my great grandfather and his wife's brothers and sisters. But alas, no luck yet. Stay tuned. We're headed off to Glacier National Park, with the ancestral portion of the trip behind us.


I may be able to get them on Picasa before I can get them up here. To see if I do, go to: Sep 8th Ray, North Dakota

Gregory

Sep 6th - North Dakota Badlands

Greetings!

With one more stop on the Norwegian history tour, we drove west from Fargo to Medora, North Dakota. It's the entrance to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and a perfect weekend pause to get in some walking and beautiful landscapes. Not bad for the animals, with priarie dogs outnumbering everyone.

Tomorrow, we'll drive north to Ray. It's the town where my grandfather and great grandfather's families lived during the period from 1910 to 1940. My grandfather was police chief, and I hope to find some information on his tenure from the city hall and the newspaper archives. My great-grandfather owned a large farm outside of town, and I hope I can track it's location down from city records.

To view all of the photographs for the day, click on: Sep 6th North Dakota Badlands