Escape Road Trip - Day Six

Our second day at the Lynden KOA was very pleasant. It wasn't nearly as hot as the previous afternoon, although the sky was very hazy with smoke from the nearby fires in British Columbia.

While sitting outside, enjoying our morning coffee, I glanced up and spotted this huge wasp nest! We had seen a few wasps flying around, but weren't terribly concerned. They pretty much left us alone and while wandering around the campground, I noticed a few more nests. There's probably not a lot anyone can do about them until the off-season. I sure wouldn't want to be around when they knock those things down!

This is the second lake in the campground. I never saw anyone out in the paddleboats, but I did see a few people fishing. Very peaceful.

We had a few locals recommend this ice cream place, so we decided to give it a try. Not bad, but not nearly as good as Face Rock (in Bandon).

The single scoop serving was huge, but very inexpensive. $1.50 or so.

Happy campers!

The flower baskets along the main street were enormous and very pretty.

Lynden is a cute little Dutch town, somewhat reminiscent of Solvang, CA.

The city lies in a broad valley along the winding path of the Nooksack River, which empties into nearby Bellingham Bay. The surrounding area is filled with dairy, raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry farms. Even though not founded by them, the region saw significant Dutch immigration in the early and mid 1900s, spurring the growth of dairies. Today, Lynden pays homage to some of its Dutch heritage through locations such as buildings on Front Street, where some businesses have been made-over with a Dutch theme, complete with a windmill. Along that street, you'll find the Lynden Dutch Bakery, Dutch Mother's Restaurant, and numerous local businesses. Some local supermarkets contain Dutch food sections, but Dutch is spoken by very few of the city's residents today. In the last two decades, the population has nearly doubled in size, with Dutch being more predominate than other ethnic ancestry. (Wikipedia)

These baskets were everywhere! They must love the climate.

I discovered this nice little coffee shop in a little strip mall, while getting gas for the truck. Since we were running low on coffee, I decided to buy a bag for the remainder of our trip. 

Delicious! I may just have to get online and order more.

More about Lynden.

I spent almost an hour in this delightful bookstore, perusing the shelves and stocking up on greeting cards. I wish Depoe Bay had a store like this.

Back at the campground, we were surprised with a bottle of bubbly to christen the trailer.

No name as of yet, but it's officially ours!

Cheers!


August 4, 2017
Lynden KOA, Washington

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Coming Soon!

Well, in April, but who's counting?

I have read and loved all of Lisa's books and so I am very excited to see that her latest publication will be released on April 3rd. I haven't bought a book in ages, but this is one I plan to pre-order!

Publisher's Blurb:

From neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice comes a powerful and heartbreaking exploration of regret, forgiveness, freedom, and what it means to be alive.

An accomplished concert pianist, Richard received standing ovations from audiences all over the world in awe of his rare combination of emotional resonance and flawless technique. Every finger of his hands was a finely calibrated instrument, dancing across the keys and striking each note with exacting precision. That was eight months ago.

Richard now has ALS, and his entire right arm is paralyzed. His fingers are impotent, still, devoid of possibility. The loss of his hand feels like a death, a loss of true love, a divorce—his divorce.

He knows his left arm will go next.

Three years ago, Karina removed their framed wedding picture from the living room wall and hung a mirror there instead. But she still hasn’t moved on. Karina is paralyzed by excuses and fear, stuck in an unfulfilling life as a piano teacher, afraid to pursue the path she abandoned as a young woman, blaming Richard and their failed marriage for all of it.

When Richard becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard’s muscles, voice, and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it’s too late.

As poignant and powerful as Jojo Moyes’s Me Before You, Every Note Played is a masterful exploration of redemption and what it means to find peace inside of forgiveness.

Escape Travel Trailer - Interior

I have more pictures to share from our "shakedown cruise", but I thought I'd show you some shots of the interior. This is a 19 foot Escape trailer and while it's cozy, it doesn't feel too crowded as long as we can manage to keep the clutter at bay. There are lots of storage lockers and drawer space, so I think it will suit us just fine. Until we decide to go full-time, that is!

Note all the essentials: Avocados, bourbon and wine. Oh, and a kitchen window, which was an upgrade.

The folding counter extension is great, as long as we remember to ensure that the brackets are locked in place. We broke a coffee cup and a bourbon glass (thankfully, they were empty!). The laptop survived. We added a small microwave, which we've only used to heat water for coffee. I'm sure it will eventually come in handy .

In addition to our Coleman camp stove, we have a very nice 2-burner cooktop with a fold-down cover (for additional prep space). We'll use it when it's too cold or rainy to be outside. The sink has a cover, which helps create more prep space in the galley. 

The u-shape dinette is very comfortable and provides us with an additional sleeping space, if need be. There is lots of natural light thanks to all the windows. They're tinted, but they still let in a lot of light. There is storage underneath the seats, but we'll probably only use what's accessible near the trailer door. There's a separate screen door, which is wonderful for ventilation and natural light. 

We upgraded to the 6.0 cubic foot refrigerator. Plenty of space with a large freezer up above. The wardrobe/closet has a mirror, which you see reflecting the stove and monitor panel (for the holding tank levels and battery strength indicator). Below the drawer is a 12,000 BTU furnace and a carbon monoxide/smoke detector.

I added an extension rod in the wet bath so we have a place to hang our toiletry bags. We plan to use the campground showers as much as possible and only use this shower set up when absolutely necessary. It's not very big!

There's a fairly large medicine cabinet (with the mirror) that I hope is watertight. Also, a power vent.

True queen-size bed (8" coil spring plush mattress) with windows on three sides. Very comfortable, but not easy to make up or climb out of (if you're on the far side). There are three LED lights and two LED captain's reading lights. The lockers above the bed are very spacious and held all of our clothes for the week. The side windows open and provide plenty of fresh air. One of the windows is an emergency exit window. 

We added extra 12V/USB outlets near the bed and kitchen so we can charge our phones, Nook and iPad. There is lots of storage under the bed, which we can access from both inside (two doors) and outside (one basement door). 

The pull-down blinds provide privacy and help keep the trailer cooler when there isn't any shade.

In addition to the Maxxfan (not in view), we have a small skylight/hatch. 

I'm not in love with the upholstery, but I can live with it (and our old, ugly green comforter) for a while. I'll just add some fun throw pillows to make it feel more homey. 

A fun dishtowel or two doesn't hurt, either.

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Looking Back - Leaving the Land

Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.

Leaving the Land by Douglas Unger
Fiction
1995 University of Nebraska Press
Finished in March 1997
Rating: 1/5 (Poor)

Publisher's Blurb:

The reputation of Leaving the Land has grown steadily since its first publication in 1984. It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the Robert F. Kennedy Award and was an ALA Notable book in 1984.

Not much of a description, and I no longer own the book, so here is some praise from the author's website:

Douglas Unger writes with great power and compassion about a unique, virtually undiscovered landscape in American literature. Leaving the Land is an authentic and deeply moving drama of people trying to hold on and go on. It’s a remarkable novel and one that will leave an indelible impression. —Raymond Carver 

This is the story of a remarkable survivor, the daughter of a turkey farmer, whose shattering, romantic entanglements are always doomed by her larger obsession: to hold on to the unlovable land which sapped her parents’ blood. Leaving the Land is, as well, the story of the disintegration of a town and its unforgettable inhabitants, and of the son who is the unwilling inheritor of his family’s lost dream. All of this is distilled with enormous grace and passion, humor and economy, and marks the most impressive debut of a young novelist. —John Irving

Douglas Unger understands why the pure products of America go crazy, or to prayer, and details the heartbroke comedy of their journey in South Dakota. Sherwood Anderson, Faulkner, Wright Morris…Leaving the Land continues their tradition, and leaks rough authenticity and humor from every wound. —William Kittredge 

Leaving the Land resembles the best work of Zola, Norris and Dreiser. Like it, this novel rises out of the knowledge of a vast process which is measured and made significant by the characters forming and formed by it. Almost everything they do has in Unger’s book apocalyptic force. —Richard Stern

Eloquent… At its best, this fine first novel courts comparison with Willa Cather’s classic and epic account of homesteading on the Western prairies, O Pioneers!. In language as luminous and rhythmic as the opening of The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence. —The New York Times Book Review 

An affecting family story… A lot of true grit sifts through his pages… Unger obviously writes about what he knows: the coarse prairie soil called gumbo, the papery texture of clapboard in the last stages of dry rot, the astonishing stupidity of turkeys… Unger also understands what writers like Eudora Welty have learned, that the trick is to write what you don’t know about what you know. He intuits a generous range of emotions and draws stark credibility from the toppled rage of defeated men and lonely women. —Time

Accomplished… unsentimental… very moving… Unger's portrait of Marge… is sharp, affectionate and darkly funny… A fine work of personal and national history about a critical part of our national character thatπs become an artifact. —Newsday

My Original Notes (1997):

I didn't like this book at all. The author doesn't seem as polished as Willa Cather, Theresa Jordan, or even, Hope Williams Sykes. Depressing themes throughout the book without any redeeming qualities. I didn't connect with any of the characters. Didn't really want to finish the book, but I did. A couple of funny parts, but very few.

My Current Thoughts:

I read this for my Great Plains Lit. class and would have quit early on if it weren't an assigned reading. After 20 years, I have zero recollection of the novel.

Escape Road Trip - Day Five

Our first night in the trailer was peaceful and very comfortable. It had been extremely hot during the afternoon and early evening, but we opened up all the windows and ran the Maxxfan all night. It actually got a little chilly. I'll take that over being too hot any day!

The campground has quite a bit of green space. This little park is situated near the office and pool.

The sites on this side of the lake were still relatively empty, but by Friday they were completely full.

Lots of beautiful, tall trees providing plenty of shade.

The RV on the right is my dad and stepmom's Airstream Land Yacht motorhome. Very roomy, but I'm not quite ready to drive something that large!

I like that our awning doesn't have the extended arm supports. Those are too easy to walk into, if one weren't paying attention to where one might be walking...

Pretty cute!

Another shot of the lake. It was very peaceful as people were just beginning to wake up and start cooking their breakfasts.

The ducks were awake and busy.

The day flew by very quickly. Grocery shopping, walks around the campground and more organizing inside the trailer. Time for a cocktail!

Pretty content just relaxing in the shade before starting dinner.

This is an awesome little propane grill! Thanks, Amy!

The makings for chicken tacos. Mmmm.

Livin' the dream. All he needs is a beer and his fishing pole.

I love all these trees, which remind me of Sequoia and the Redwood National Forest. The smoky sunset is due to the fires in British Columbia. 


August 3, 2017
Lynden KOA, Washington

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Escape Road Trip - Day Three & Four

Tuesday, August 1st - We took the ferry from Kingston over to Edmonds and headed for the Canadian border. To say we were excited is quite an understatement! We were also a little bit nervous. After all these months of planning, would the trailer be everything that we envisioned? Would we have all the essential "stuff" to camp for the next five nights? Did we have all our paperwork, cashier's check, passports, etc. for the actual purchase? Ok, maybe Rod wasn't nervous, but I was. Not only have I never backed up a trailer, I've never even pulled one!

I'm not sure why this shows such a long passage, but it's really only about 30 minutes from terminal to terminal.  It was a pretty crossing, although a bit hazy, and Mount Rainier was hiding.

We stopped for lunch at Coconut Kenny's in Bellingham and I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a mediocre sandwich shop, but my Boogie Board sandwich was delicious! The Hawaiian bread they bake fresh every day is to die for. Next time, we'll have to try their pizza!

Not too much of a line. We may have waited 10 or 15 minutes total.

We were bringing in the limit of allowed alcohol (2 bottles of wine per person), we weren't carrying any firearms, and we had our passports and yet, I was still nervous. These guys never smile and don't take off their sunglasses. I was actually surprised that the Canadian guard was more hardcore than his U.S. counterpart. I was driving, so I had to answer all his questions. I can't remember what he asked, but the subject of bear spray came up. I wasn't sure what we had since Rod had purchased it, so I had to look. I felt like saying, "I'm reaching down for the spray now." I didn't want him to think I was reaching for a gun! We also had to explain why we visiting Canada and how long we would be staying. He wanted to know how we were planning to pay for the trailer. Guess he wanted to know if we had a bunch of cash on us. I was glad when he waved us on.

After checking into our hotel, we decided to drive by the factory and take a little peek. We didn't stick around since our orientation appointment wasn't until the next morning. 

Wednesday, August 2nd - After a long day, we are finally proud owners of a 19 foot Escape Trailer! And, more importantly, I drove it from Sumas, Washington (where the Escape folks transferred ownership to us, so we wouldn't have to take it through customs) to our K.O.A. campsite in Lynden, Washington. All of 18 miles. Thankfully, our site was a pull-thru and not one I had to back into. Baby steps.

We had a very thorough two-hour orientation with the folks at Escape and after making our final payment, we headed back to the border crossing. All went well going back into the U.S. (phew!) and we met the delivery driver with the trailer in Sumas. I backed the truck up to the hitch without any trouble and we were on our way! It was very hot (96 degrees) and smoky (from the fires in British Columbia) and that beer tasted really good. 

Two out of three are Canadians.

2 propane tanks in front. Electric trailer jack. Rock guard over the dinette window. Side windows are in the dinette and bedroom.

Another bedroom window at the back. Small window by the door is over the kitchen sink. Rod is hooking up the water and has a pressure regulator to attach to the hose.

There's a receiver on the back of the bumper for a bike rack, which we'll eventually get. Nice to have bikes to ride for fun, as well as scout out areas for boondocking before actually pulling the trailer down an unknown road.

This K.O.A. is so pretty. Lots of trees and a couple of nice lakes for fishing or paddleboats. The ducks and geese seemed to enjoy the cool water. There's also a miniature golf course, a pool, a playground and a sand volleyball court. We arrived on a Wednesday and it was surprisingly peaceful, in spite of all the small children and dogs. It really only began to get noisy on Friday afternoon when the weekend crowd started to show up. We could put up with that for a night since we knew we were leaving in the morning, but we agreed we wouldn't want to make a habit of camping at a K.O.A. on a weekend.

Our site with full hookups for three nights. The back window is where the bed is. We didn't really need the awning, since we were in the shade, but we wanted to test it out. It has a wind sensor and retracts when it gets too windy.

You didn't really think he was retired, did you? Maybe from his 9-5 job, but he's picked up some freelance work and had a deadline. At least he doesn't have to wear a suit and tie anymore!

August 1-2, 2017
Kingston, Washington to Chilliwack, British Columbia to Lynden, Washington

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