Snoqualmie Falls

Yesterday Mary and I traveled about 75 miles South from Monroe…to Yelm, Washington. Instead of going my usual way along the Interstate Highways…we elected to go the “back road” or more scenic way. We traveled Washington State Routes 203, 202, 18, 167, 512, 7 and 507. Along the way we passed Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Power Plant…part of Puget Sound Energy. At 270 feet the falls are ten stories higher than Niagara Falls.

Here are four photos you can click on to see an enlarged view…

This photo is of a picture on an information sign…

To read about the facility…click this link…

http://pse.com/inyourcommunity/king/ConstructionProjects/Pages/Snoqualmie-Falls-Hydroelectric-Project-Upgrade.aspx

We spent the night in the parking lot of the Red Wind Casino and visited with my long-time friends Larry and Jan Seaberg. Larry is an Elder of the Nisqually Indian Tribe which owns and operates the casino…

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Bear Gulch Trail

Yesterday…on our final full day at Thousand Trails Thunderbird RV Resort in Monroe,Washington…Mary and I took an afternoon walk on Bear Gulch Trail which runs along a ridge above the campground. It was a delightful day to take some photos. You may click on them to see an enlarged view…

In case you are wondering…no…we did not see any bears.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Ben Howard Rd, Monroe, WA

Mary and I are still camped at Thousand Trails Thunderbird RV Resort in Monroe, Washington. It’s located on the Ben Howard Road. Yesterday…just wandering around I took a few photos on or near the Ben Howard Road. You may click on them to see an enlarged view…

We’ll leave here tomorrow to begin our slow migration in a southerly direction.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

MONROE, WA.

Saturday, I decided to walk the town of Monroe and view the various historical buildings that managed to survive the fires and re-developments that obliterate the past.  Jim took the Bronco over to Mike Coleman’s, his mechanic/friend for an adjustment on the transmission and let me out on the street to begin my walk from the Historical Society Museum.

Names interest me and from the Museum I learned that the Post Office shared quarters with the Park Place Store, but the U.S. P.O. would not approve a name with two words. They could have asked for PARKPLACE, but, instead, submitted Monroe, after the Monroe Improvement Co.  plotting lots on the present site of town at the time. And, as they say, the rest is history.

I hadn’t walked but half a block when I discovered an antiques fair lining both sides of a side street.  In a motor home you can’t buy anything except small stuff.  What the heck,  half the fun is looking. I should have taken pictures of the entire affair, since it was very well done. By well done, I mean they really had antiques, not flea market junk.  Some unusual things caught my eye, like this turkey foot. Nearing Halloween, hmmm. I considered. While examining  deer horns and feathers and bone buttons an Indian woman identified herself as a Pomo. She collects buttons and makes Indian vests with colorful buttons and feathers.  As we talked, she offered to buy my collection as described and I gave her my card to call me in October when I return to Murphys.

I admired this bag worn by a young cow-girl named Judy. She bought it during the Evergreen Fair. Minutes later I found two similar bags for sale.

Not antique, but beautiful future antiques.

Signs, another interest of mine, as long as they are unique or humorous.

I’m not sure Edison actually said this, but I figure I’m half way there, I’ve got the junk.

I drooled over beautiful home-made lace sewn together with crude burlap in an effort  to disguise a hole in the lace. The burlap is already leaching acid onto the bottom of this gorgeous lace. It needs rescue.

And a beautifully rendered crazy quilt with home-made lace on the edges. Nice enough to frame.

Besides quilts and quilt pieces,  an unusual amount of rag rugs.

This well-worn braided wool rug is in need of rescue.

Another type of rag rug I’ve never learned to master the technique, though I tried once. Not antique. You can tell from the colors.

And this antique wool hooked rug was a beauty. The vendor had it on the street covering up a grease spot from cars. I wanted to scold her or offer to buy it. But, I have two unfinished hooked rugs of my own at home.

Hooked wool seat covers were nicely preserved.

Jim called all too soon, claiming his Bronco didn’t need anything  done to it. It had just started to rain and we headed for the Motor Home.  When I got my pictures up this morning, I realized how biased I was to women’s crafts. There was plenty at this fair for men, tools, furnishings, car stuff, wood work of all kinds. I guess I can relate to the craftsmanship of basket making, rugs, quilts and lace that bore men silly.

 

 

Thousands Of Birds Sleep In Chimney…

I’ve been coming to the Monroe, Washington area since 1980 and have never heard of this happening.

Yesterday Mary and I had lunch with my long-time friend Al and he gave us a brochure about the Monroe Swift Watch. No…it’s not a device you wear on your wrist to tell the time…but about Vaux’s Swifts…tiny birds about 4-5 inches…that flock by the thousands to spend the night in an old brick chimney at the Frank Wagner Elementary School. It occurs primarily in September as part of their southerly migration process. They start to arrive about an hour before sunset and just about sunset they all start down into the chimney.

Of course…once Mary head about this…we just had to go and see this event. So…along with about 50 other observers…here are some of the photos that I took. You can click on them to see them in a larger view…

Finally here’s a 26 second video of the birds heading into the chimney…

If the video does not work…click this link…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4BHqRxL1Y8

It was kind of a fun thing to watch happening. Not something you see every day.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Today We Begin Our…

slow migration in a southerly direction after spending the Summer in Washington. We arrived just prior to Memorial Day Weekend and have spent the last 3.5 months for the most part bouncing between three different Thousand Trails RV Resorts North of Seattle. In the below Google Earth view site #1 is in Monroe,,,site #2 is in La Connor and site#3 is Bow, Washington.

Today we are departing site #3 and heading for a one week stay at site #1.

After that time we’ll continue slowly drifting South and arrive at Mary’s home in central California around the middle of October. I will stay there until just after Thanksgiving and then depart for Southern California and Arizona. Mary will stay at home with her family and then fly South to join me in early January. Our travel plans for 2012…tentatively…are to spend the better part of the year in New Mexico.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://stores.lulu.com/panamaorbust

Here’s Where We’ve Been…

for the last three days and nights while we waited for the repairs to my Ford Bronco II transmission to be accomplished by my friend/mechanic Mike…here in Monroe, Washington.Mike did the work at his home only a couple of miles from here. This place belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and has about six RV parking spots in a park-like setting along a small river. It’s been a very nice, peaceful and enjoyable stay only a short walking distance from the small downtown.

But the work is now completed and so this morning we’ll depart for Thousand Trails RV Resort in La Connor, Washington for a brief four-day stay. The weather lately has been just delightful…70-75 degrees…sunny with a few scattered clouds and a very pleasant gentle breeze. The Weather Wimp…as my life-partner Mary calls me…has been a very happy camper! 

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust

The Repairs Are In Progress…

We are currently in Monroe, Washington where my friend/mechanic Mike is currently in the middle of accomplishing repairs to my Ford Bronco II. He removed the transmission yesterday and at about 2:30 PM he picked me up and we went to the auto parts store where I sprung for almost $200 in parts and supplies.

In this first photo you see my grease-covered transmission…

In this second photo is the transfer case and drive shaft…

In this third photo is the general repair area…

And finally Mike is beginning the de-greasing of the transmission exterior…

Today he will re-assemble everything and hopefully tomorrow morning Mary and I will once again be on the road again.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust

We Visit The Eagles In Monroe, Washington.

Yesterday Mary and I drove the motorhome the about 60 miles south  from Bow to Monroe, Washington. We’re back for a three night stay while my friend/mechanic Mike pulls the transmission from my Ford Bronco II to replace a leaky seal. While the transmission is out…I’m going to have him replace all the transmission seals as well as the engine rear main seal. Mike’s place is only about two miles from this site…but there’s no room to park the motorhome…so we’re park at the Eagles #2327 RV parking area. It’s located along a small river about one mile away from the Eagles Club itself in downtown Monroe. We’re expecting the work to take two days. Mike said his nephew will be helping him. I told him that I would also be available if he needed me.

It was pretty, peaceful and quiet…and only $10.00 a night for electricity and water. Normally we would stay at Thousand Trails while in this area but the park only has 97 sites and it’s booked solid through the Labor Day weekend. So this becomes a really convenient place to stay while the work is accomplished on the Bronco. Mary and I spent one night here about six weeks ago.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust

It’s Been A Busy 58 Days…

since Mary left me to return to CA for two high school graduations, a family reunion and general business associated with her home and rental units. This time apart was part of our agreement when we got together approaching three years ago. She has left me several times…but this has been our longest separation since we’ve been together. I’ll meet her in Burlington this evening when she’ll arrive via the shuttle service from SeaTac Airport.

In the time she’s been gone…I’ve stayed plenty busy. I’m an ex-engineer and tend to do a lot of research before I undertake a project or commit to major financial expenditures. Here are some of the things that have kept me busy since Mary has been away…

Despite his working a 60 hour work-week at his place of employment in Monroe…I got my friend and cracker-jack mechanic Mike to put in 12 hours of preventative maintenance on my Ford Bronco II. I was his assistant and gofer. In this photo he is replacing brake pads and hoses as well as greasing the front wheel bearings…

Through friends of Mike I managed to meet a professional body man who put in 12 hours cleaning up the Bronco II very nicely…

I combined and upgraded Mary and my memberships in Thousand Trails RV Resorts into an elite Membership…

Upgraded our motorhome modem and router to Verizon 4G speed…

Bought a new Sony Digital camera…

Bought a new Sony Vaio computer…

Replaced a defective rear view camera on the motorhome…

And got video-interviewed by RVTravel.com…

So…I’ve not been bored while Mary was away. All of these above activities will hopefully contribute to a lot of many more enjoyable days and miles on the road!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2011
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://lulu.com/panamaorbust