We finally made it to Washington. This morning we went to a Naval air museum that was housed in a blimp hanger. We saw a Corsair - the kind of airplane that Daddy worked on when he was in the Navy. We then drove up the Oregon Coast - breathtaking sights -and went to Fort Clatsop ---a Lewis and Clark Museum. It was excellent - especially for history lovers. As we were crossing into Washington we got our first glimps of Mount St. Helens. Tomorrow hopefully we will see Mount St. Helens and Mt. Rainier up close before we head into Seattle.

Love N and P

Today we went of a river boat cruise on the Columbia River. We saw some windsurfers and kite surfers. The boys would love to try this. We took some videos. It was so cold they had to wear wet suits.

Then we headed for the Oregon coast. Ron had seen an ad for a Flight Museum that housed the Spruce Goose. You will need to look this up. It is a huge airplane built in 1947. They build this museum just to house it. The best part was that they had a B-17 - one of the planes that Gramps was a navigator on. Today they just happened to have that airplane open so that you could go through it. So Ron got to investigate this plane. That was exciting for him.

WE are staying on the coast in Tillimook, Oregon. Tomorrow we will drive up the coat.

Love N and P

Today we left Utah and headed into Oregon where we are traveling along the Columbia River. We stopped for the night at Hood River and are staying right on the Columbia River. The moon is full and I feel like I am at the beach without the sand and humidity. We are close enough to Seattle that we can take it easy for the next 3 days and do some serious sightseeing -- historical sights -here we come. We will probably be near experts of Lewis and Clark when we get home ----of course Ron already is!

We drove south a few miles and saw Mount Hood. The sun was going down and parts of the mountain looked like it was on fire.

Love N and P

Today we drove all the way across Wyoming, across the northeast edge of Utah, and half way across the southern part of Idaho. We stopped for the night at Twin Falls, Idaho. We had a great drive --all flat interstate at 75 mph except the part through Utah. That was through the mountains. Ron had a blast going through those mountains at 75 mph. Me---I had my eyes shut!

Twin Falls is on the Snake River and over millions of years the river has cut a deep and wide canyon. The town has made a walking path along the rim of the canyon. We had a great workout on that path. There is a place on the rim of the canyon that Evil Kinevil tried to jump over the canyon on a motorcycle. Can you imagine anyone - even a nut- who would try to jump across this canyon?

Ron took about 50 pictures of this bridge across the canyon and river because it shows a parabolic curve. That is a term that only math teachers can love!!!

We are having a great time.

Love N and P

Today we traveled across Colorado. The entire way north we could see the Rocky Mountains -- the tops still covered with snow. We stopped tonight in Cheyenne, Wyoming. We ate at an old refurbished hotel in downtown Cheyenne. There was a plaza there with this boot.

Tomorrow we will head across Wyoming and through Utah.

Love N and P

We spent the night in Lubbock on Saturday night. It was a long day of driving but Papaw got to "hang out" with Buddy Holly -- at least his statue.