Spokane Sights

Being here in the Spokane area has been really fun.  They have so many neat things around here to see.


Downtown in Riverfront Park they have the worlds largest Radio Flyer wagon.  It's HUGE and children everywhere just FLOCK to it.  A 26 ton Radio Flyer with a slide handle, rated to hold 300 people.  Crazy huh?  Just looking at this thing makes me joyful, lol.  The boys absolutely love it too.


This is right next to the Radio Flyer wagon.


Another really funny thing we found in Riverfront Park was the garbage eating goat.  If you push that button on the wall just behind the goat, it turns on a vacuum.  I guess it was made years ago as usable art.  You just feed your garbage into it's mouth and it sucks it right up.  The boys are still little, so it really freaked the both of them out.  They took a wide eyed step back in panic until we convinced them the goat wouldn't eat them too.  That was even funnier than running into a garbage eating goat...

So all of that was just in Riverfront Park, but there is even more neat stuff to see out in the city.

--------------------------------------------------

This building is at 800 W. Garland Ave., Spokane, WA.

This building is at the corner of 4th Ave. West and S Cedar St. in Spokane.

Both of these buildings were Benewah Milk Bottles built in the 30's as retail outlets for the creamery.  I guess each of these buildings only cost about $3,700 to build.  Ha, can you imagine how much it would run today?

I really wanna show up and help volunteer to paint the first building.  So nostalgic, I love them both!

------------------------------------------------------------

One more thing we've finally gotten to do is eat at PF Changs.  It wasn't talk of great food that drew me in, but the fierce horse that they have standing guard at their doors.  We've seen them all over the country but have never been able to stop.  Beautiful isn't it?  I guess one of those horses  runs about $40,000 a piece!  That's a mighty stout steed isn't it??

We're really looking forward to exploring the city more and finding out what other wonderful treasures it has hiding.

Creme De La Creme of ALL Walmart Parking Lots

Yep, you heard that right.  I know, kinda weird to say about a Walmart.

After we left camp we had some appointments to hit in Spokane and decided we would be staying for a spell.  So we parked the RV at Walmart for a few days and went to scout out some real RV parks in the area.



This was by far the best temporary RV park we have EVER stayed in!  I wouldn't usually blog about it but the parking lot was big, there was a little distance from the store, and the best thing was there was a sunk-in lawn the size of a stadium right next to where we parked.  We went down onto the lawn a few times to goof off with the boys and nobody could even see us from the parking lot.  We loved it!  And even better, we didn't have to share it with anyone.


Pictures never do justice...

If your driving through the area and just need an overnight spot, this is the place.

Walmart Supercenter‎
15727 E Broadway Ave
Spokane Valley, WA 99037
(509) 922-8868

Family Camp

At the start of June we battened down the hatches and left Colorado for Washington.  We were bummed to leave our friends, after parking on their farm for so long we really got to feeling like a part of each others families.  I'm really gonna miss them.  But the positive side is that we were glad to be heading for greener views.  Colorado was really fun, and we got to see some amazing places (amazing) but it's also really brown, lol.  I am just not used to so much brown filling the landscapes...

We headed up to a family camp in Washington we had been planning for months.  It was held at Waitts Lake Camp, just outside of Spokane, Washington.  They have RV spaces and dorm rooms for families to stay in so when we decided to join in on the fun we reserved an RV spot.  The funny thing is I made a point to ask them if their RV spaces would be big enough to fit our 40' 5th wheel.  I even said it doesn't fit into all parks.  The person who took our reservations said it would be no problem at all and there was plenty of room.  Hahaha...  We're still giggling about that.

I've been practicing tiny bits of moving the 5th wheel for months here and there but you know it's not much smaller than driving a semi...  It's really scary to get behind the wheel and head for a city, or small back roads!  I'm great on long straight highways, but everything else is tense.  What if I hit the curb, or even further and take out a pole, or a person waiting on the corner?  What if the navigator takes us down the wrong road and I have to make a million point turn?  I'd rather leave it all to Marty but then what if something ever happened to him and I had to take over?  We've even had a few close calls of almost having to move the RV when he was out of town, luckily we got out of it.  Ug, so yeah I've had this doom and gloom looming over me - I need to learn how to do this.

So when we left Colorado, I did EVERYTHING this time around.  Marty was really sweet and made a check list for me to go through before we pulled out which made getting the 5th wheel packed up pretty easy.  I drove most of the way there, (we took shifts because it was a 2 day drive).  I should add that I really want to go back to Wyoming - never thought I would say that but we drove through some beautiful places there.  Stunning actually.  American Stonehenge comes to mind.  I really hate it when we have a time crunch because it seems like those places we don't have time to stop and see are always the most amazing.

Anyway we pulled into camp late only to find tight tight quarters.  I didn't even think we could get the 5th wheel in, the spaces were so. small.  Actually there was only one space we were able to fit, but it was a bit like wedging yourself into an already full sardine can.  Backing up through a twisty woodsy driveway, darn near needing a crowbar to pry ourselves into that RV space, but we did it.  I drove but had absolutely no idea how to do it, so Marty was definitely the brains of that opperation, lol.  I just shut my brain off and did as I was told.  He's so good at this stuff.  And guess what, I did a million point turn and we made it into that spot!  Success!  But I feel quite certain most folks in a 5th wheel our size wouldn't have been able to do it.  It was SO Tight getting around some of those trees.  My husband is really amazing.


This is our spot, the other RV spaces were up that dirt path.


The pictures don't show it very well, but when I see these photos it's like having a reminder that we defeated Goliath!



The camp was really fun.  We got to know several Christian families that we've become great friends with and had all sorts of fun with our kids.


One of the things we did was make masks with the boys.  They loved it.  They even got to paint them after drying.  Someone suggested making the masks closed mouth, and after several people gave a puzzled look to that suggestion the person said, "When you were little and put on a mask with an open mouth, what was the first thing you did with your tongue?"  Yup, I remember...  Haha, I am still laughing at that...  Soo we made both boys masks closed mouthed.  No soggy lips to worry about in the future with those masks thanks to someones brilliance.



They had a big water slide, obstacle course, hiking trails, campfires and songs, lots of fun activities and an awesome cook. I would love to do it again some year.

The Blue Steed

We were in Denver again in late May and I had a chance to get better pictures of the blue stallion.  I love horses, and at first glance I am always awed at this thing.  It's massive, and kinda fierce looking...  


The site of it on the horizon just commands respect doesn't it? 

32 feet tall so they say.

But then you get closer and it's just one of those weird things that makes you think "Oh My.  What. on. earth??"


There's an eye full of an anatomy lesson for one.


Then the second thing that strikes you is the glowing red eyes.  At certain angles they don't glow, but as you drive by they really come out. 

So the horses manhood showing wasn't necessary, but OK... ? 

The red evil eyes though??  Kinda doesn't make it so neat when you see those. 

But then there's one more thing about this horse that just really gives you pause to give it some distance.  Apparently during it's making while pieces of the horse were being hoisted for final assembly, the torso swung out of control and crushed the artist which sadly killed him...  His family choose to continue on with the plan of putting the horse together and out on display (and I definitely respect their decision on that).

So with all of this, the locals have dubbed the horse "Bluecifer","Satan's Steed" and/or "Blue Devil Horse."

Isn't it such a shame? 

I think it needs a make-over, something to give public opinion a fresh start and a pleasant view.  Some lovely brown eyes would do the trick nicely don't you think?  And yes, maybe even a loin cloth...

Indiana...

LJ and I just got back from visiting with my mom and our other family in Indiana.  It was a short trip over by plane while Marty and BJ stayed home and took our 5th wheel in for warranty work.  Soooo glad I got to miss trips to the repair shop!

I have to warn you right now,
before you go any further,
this is a post with absolutely no focus or direction.

I apologize as it is embarrassingly SCATTERED!

 ((blushing and thinking... "oh well."))

Anyway during a visit over to my grandpa's girlfriends house we took a tour of her yard and found this...

A place for hopscotch in the garden.  Isn't that such a cute idea??


While we were visiting my grandpa in Tell City my mom had to show me her favorite little house there.  She likes the stone.  It is pretty cute.  The owner happened to be out in her garden so we complimented the house and her green thumb, she told us this was the oldest house in Tell City.  Very neat.


The historic Tell City library, now a museum.

And now I have to apologize again.  I really try to keep my classic car and Chevy truck love off this blog, but this time I just can't help it.


We ran across this 71 Chevelle Malibu while out driving around in the back roads of Tell City.


I felt like a deer in the headlights when I saw it.  Isn't it pretty?

Then...


We also ran across this pretty little Chevy.


When I fell in love with my husband eons ago, he drove a big beefy Chevy like this one (see below for a pic of ours).  He built it from the ground up with his dad, and then did body and paint with his cousin.  I remember them spending months in the shop getting it put together.  Before the work, we took it out 4x'n - after the work we took it out on TL's (town laps).  We were young. 



We still have it back in Alaska.  It still looks beautiful until you get close and see the dents and rust. 

Anyway this style/year of Chevy always brings back good times.   

Denver, Colorado

We've been able to spend some time up in Denver recently.  Well, ok maybe not recently.  More like a month ago, lol.

It was a nice visit for our family.


One of the places we hit was the Denver Zoo.


We were just as thrilled with their decor as we were seeing the animals.




They had peacocks and all sorts of other fowl that were allowed to freely roam with the visitors.

They had more animals than I think we've seen in a zoo to date, so I'll skip all the many photos and just share our favorites...


Like a dog with his stick - we think chances must be good that he fetches, what do you think?


The elephants were very neat.  One came from a circus and did tricks.


This is who I think I spent the most time with.  While all the boys went to find a powder room, I sat down with a bag of popcorn and got this little fella to come pretty close.


We also took a tour of a former residence of the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown.  Interestingly we discovered her name was not Molly, nor did she ever go by it.  Just a name given by journalist.


Then of course I hit the streets...  Residential streets that is...


I love taking walks in historic neighborhoods.  It's one of my most favorite things to do.  And the best part is that it's always free, the dog is always welcome, and our whole family has a good time.














The Grant-Humphrey Mansion...

Horsing Around

April 23rd we were driving back home to the RV and saw a herd of horses off to the side of the road. 

We just HAD to stop.


They were all way out to pasture but as soon as we got out and called them they all came running over.


Somebody must really love these guys, they were very social.




A few of the horses kept getting rowdy with each other, having nothing but fun.  It was so interesting though, because the horse on the left kept bringing her head in for a good snuggle.  Both with me and LJ.  And what was even more amazing was every time the other horses got rowdy, she would move her whole body to block us from their frisky behavior.  She seemed to take extra care and gentleness with LJ.

This is yet another moment on the road I wish we could pack an extra animal along with us!

Royal Gorge Bridge

In mid April my husband took us out to Royal Gorge Bridge, just outside of Canyon City, Colorado.  He was really excited to see it because it holds the title of highest bridge in North America and highest suspension bridge anywhere in the world.

It was really high.  When someone drives across the bridge it creates a ripple effect in front of the car - and the whole bridge bounces and sways either from driving over it, or by the winds.  It's funny to watch people standing on it grab a hold of the side rails in panic when a car gets close.





For a small all in one price of admission you get access to the bridge, a small zoo, an aerial tram, an incline railway, a carousel, and loads of other things.  It was really worth the trip and the price.


This is the incline railway that takes you to the bottom of the gorge.  It's fun, so long as you don't think about the possibility of the brakes going out.


This was taken from the bottom looking up.  The pictures just don't do the incredibly STEEP height justice.


The petting zoo/non petting zoo had a horse, donkey's and burrows...


Buffalo...


Elk...


And bighorn sheep.

It was a fun visit and on the drive there we got to see the "World's Largest Rocking Chair" which was in Penrose, Colorado.

Excitement.