Well, we headed out of Emmett and Idaho with Ron and Alice. Ron even led the way because for some reason the lights on his 5
th wheel were not working, or the brakes on his 5
th wheel. But, we headed down the road towards Bend, OR, anyway and made it just fine. Following Ron, we got better fuel mileage than we ever got before. Terry said it was because he was "drafting" off of Ron. But then, it could have something to do with the $600 he paid to have the hippo serviced while we were in Emmett!
We even stopped in Burns and had lunch and visited with Alice's cousin, Bernice, who we all grew up with. We just can't believe we are all doing this together. What a great adventure we are starting!
I was really bad in Bend at taking pictures. But, we mostly spent our time doing one of our most favorite things--being lazy. Well, that was after Terry and Ron spending three days working on Ron's
wiring from his pickup to his 5
th wheel. But, they finally got it going. Before we left Emmett, Ron and Alice spent the retirement gift card he got from his fellow Road Department employees and they got two nice recliner chairs. The biggest problem with these chairs is that after just a few minutes of sitting in them, we hear strange noises coming from two of them (and that would not be mine or Alice's) and Terry and Ron's eyes are closed!
Ron and Alice wanted some cards made up they can share with all of the new friends they will meet along the road, so we took their picture with the "Black Beauty" in front of their trailer and put it on their cards.
We had fun while we were in Bend. We went into town and found the Young's Ole Volks Home, an auto repair shop owned by a couple of guys we all went to school with in Emmett. It was fun visiting with them. We went to a Manager's meeting at the Lodge, went on walks (Ron and Alice are getting in pretty good condition--we won't be able to keep up with them soon), played cards, Terry and I rode our bikes, and we did a lot of just sitting around and letting Ron and Alice get used to being retired! This is just the beginning of a great time!
John and Gary, with Val and their granddaughter Hailey, got there and the fun began. the next morning we went to Old Town Florence to a seafood restaurant and they bought us breakfast/lunch. John couldn't believe Terry would go to a seafood restaurant and order a hamburger! Terry said it was a very good hamburger! Then we went shopping in the little shops. Val and I got a great deal on leather jackets (two for the price of one), and everyone cached in on the carmel popcorn, fudge, and ice cream.
I think the best meals we had were the ones we all cooked and shared. We had so much fun that I am sure that all of our neighbors were jealous that they were not part of us. We even had a couple of comments from them about all of the "happy noise."
Hailey had some huge marshmallows she wanted to try roasting, but none of us had any wood for the fire. The first night we didn't have a campfire, but the second night, she got ahold of her grandpa . . .
. . .and he (Gary) found some wood, although it was a little wet and smokey. I, Hailey, and Val had fun roasting the big marshmallows. We all kind of agreed that the marshmallows were a little better raw rather than roasted, but it gave us an excuse for a campfire.
The guys all went golfing, even though Terry and Ron complained a little about the 7:45 am T-time (you have to remember that they are retired), but they all made it there on time. They split off as partners, Terry and Gary--the young'uns, and Ron and John--the oldies, and played "best ball." Terry said they did actually count a couple of his and Ron's balls. John used my camera and took some great pictures. Here are Terry, Ron, and John getting ready to hit.
Terry, John, and Ron just finished a hole. The young'uns ended up winning by one stroke!
Terry is hitting this ball towards the clubhouse where they ended having breakfast after the game. There was mention the night before that the girls would join them for breakfast, but we got stood up. Apparently, no one took it seriously but me, but they were still in trouble when they got back. It was okay, though, because they made it up to me by letting me cook waffles and eggs for everyone the next morning.
This is one of the great pictures they took on the golf course--a moma dear with her two little spotted twins.
Well, the next morning came and it was time for the Beutlers to leave. We were sorry to see them go, but made plans to meet up again down the road somewhere. John is "full-timing" in his motorhome, but it is usually parked at Gary's. He is having so much fun traveling around in it that he plans to take a trip across the United States (with Vall--although Gary will probable go along, too.)
We were proud of John because he doesn't usually "do dirt." Our campground has no cement pads or paved roads, but he seemed to handle it okay. After he pulled forward a little with his motorhome, he was finally able to get satellite, so he was pretty happy.
We have met up with Gary and Val several times on the road. They have a nice 5th wheel and we have had lots of fun with them, although I am not sure how Val is going to put up with both Gary and John on a long trip like they are planning. But, she will probably have them both whipped into shape before it is over!
We had been on the coast for almost a week and hadn't seen the ocean, so we took a ride to find it. Florence is separated from the ocean by six miles of river that runs between Florence and the ocean until it dumps into the ocean. There are huge sand dunes that also separate you from the ocean. But, we persevered and found it! Alice, Terry, and I walked out on the beach for a bit, while Ron sat in the pickup, nursing a sore ankle. We hope to see much more of the ocean when we get to Newport. See you there!
Terry's brother Ron was able to get a newer pickup before he retired. He wasn't looking for a Dodge dually, but that is what he ended up with and is totally happy with it. Here is the "Hippo" alongside the "Black Beauty." Terry named it and I have yet to hear Ron call it that. It is two years newer than ours and has lots of fancy features with it, and Terry continues to remind him of it!
