Made a trip into Gorst about 0900 to stop by this place that can install the electrical connection for the tent trailer. The guy that actually does the installs was off cause “he worked last Saturday.” so I came on home (with a quick stop by Safeway for milk). Was back home by 1000 hrs.

So, since we want to use it this weekend, I set up  the tent trailer. Been cleaning it and rearranging the insides. Flushed the water tank. Tightened up a few things. Wiped everything down (dusty!). Letting it air out. I’m about half tempted to take everything out of it tomorrow and just put back in what we might use. Probably make the thing a 100 pounds lighter!

And I found out you don’t want to be sitting inside the tent trailer (like I was) when there is a downpour of rain. It’s loud! Nearest I can come to a comparison is: Start your shower then sit in the bottom of the shower with the water hitting your head. Now put one of those LARGE steel/chrome mixing bowls on your head. That’s what it sounds like in the tent trailer in a downpour.

Yeah, I should have finished off the MILA; but I really have only an hour or two of cleaning and it’s done. Probably won’t get a chance to do it tomorrow (electrical & gotta go fix a friends computer) so probably Wednesday.

Been looking online for camping spots/parks near Bozeman, Mt. How do you choose? I need no more than 30 Amp electrical and water hookups somewhere near the bathrooms. So I’ve been reading the reviews and just looking around. I need SWMBO’s help with this. Gotta make a reservation real soon though or all the spaces will be gone. As it is we’ll leave here early (early!) and arrive there rather late. I really don’t look forward to setting this thing up in the dark. I could. I just don’t look forward to it.

But, so far, even the most expensive camp spot I’ve found is still much cheaper than the same amount of time in a motel.

Well, we be home safe and sound. Time to relax until bedtime. Which will come at just about the right time tonight.

Got SWMBO up early and at 0900 we headed out for a “Day Trip.” Belfair to Sequim to Port Angeles to Forks (where it was really twinkly) to Aberdeen To Shelton To Belfair. About 9 hours and 320+ miles. Walked on the beach and got to stand up and eat while looking out over the ocean. It was cool! Best part was being with my Schweetie though.

So, I’m tired and going to bed. Already uploaded the pics to Flickr.

From our trip. Not that there was a whole lot to get rested up from.
Tuesday, SWMBO cleared her schedule and we got up early and was out of the house by 0900 on our way to Mt. St. Helen’s. Way cool! Day Trip Day Trip Day Trip!
We got to the turn off I-5 to Mt. St. Helen’s about 1100 but spent so much time stopping at every view point on the way to take pictures that we didn’t get to the Johnston Ridge Observatory until 1300 or so.

We hit the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor’s Center and took a lot of pictures. Then we stopped by some bridge view point and took a lot of pictures. Then we stopped at the Mt. St. Helen’s Forest Learning Center and took a lot of pictures. (All the exhibits were closed though or we’d have spent more time there.) A few miles further and we stopped at another view point and took a lot of pictures. About a mile farther on we stopped at another view point and took a lot of pictures. Saw an awful of of “ash” piles and downed trees and such. Neat.
Then we finally got to the Johnston Ridge Observatory.
Spent 3 hours or so walking around, up and down, and just taking in the mountain. It captures your attention and doesn’t let go! Looking up into the Caldera and seeing steam rising is way cool! The observatory is only 6 miles from the center of the caldera.

The Observatory is way cool also with lots of exhibits to read and things to see. (But you’d expect that!)

But, we shoulda packed a lunch. About 1500 we started getting really hungry. The “food trailer” in the parking lot didn’t take debit cards so we took off for home; with the plan to stop on the way back for something to eat.
We shoulda packed a lunch. Stopped at the Hoffstadt Bluff’s Visitor’s Center café and paid WAY too much for a meal. $12 for a buffalo burger. $10 for a regular burger. Both weren’t worth it. The buns were larger than everything else put together!

But I did get some video of the site-seeing helicopter taking off and landing. That was cool! They charge a lot for that ride tho: $219 PER PERSON for the two of us. Only $169 if we could get another person to go along. (I think it’s $100 each for four to go.) Sure, I’d love to take a ride but I think I’d have to win the lotto first. And I really wouldn’t want to go without SWMBO; if possible.
Got home about 1830 and had my usual Wednesday Evening Mason County Amateur Radio Club Chat Net at 1930. Crashed early since I was kind of tired from all that driving. We went about 380 miles (or so). Hardly any real traffic problems at all.
It was a great trip with Great company! I really enjoy getting out and about with SWMBO.
Pretty much back to routine now.
My Gallery has been going TU so I downloaded another one and have spent a couple of hours setting it up and getting our pictures back up. For some reason the Gallery won’t generate the thumbnails or resize EVERY picture in my Mt. St. Helen’s pictures album. Still working on that. Otherwise I like this new program.
Wx is warm and getting warmer for the Belfair Bites this Saturday. Woo Hoo!