Triple "D" (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) Summer '13

Day 26 Thursday the 25th of July

Got up at 5AM Utah time left 5 AM Arizona time. The trip has gone well a few stops for gas stretching of the  legs....Bruce was doing an awesome job on the drive.....backing up the smaller trailer was much easier than the big Laredo..... Passing many of our favorite places that we have driven by many times.


Oops this is the wrong Payson......wouldn't that be nice.....just outside of SLC.







Drove on our old Utah route went through Panguich (H.R.) and many memories!
Arizona is a beautiful place......It is good to be back on AZ soil.

Vermillion Cliffs












The Colorado River.

We see it is raining in Flagstaff...driving on Lake Mary Road we are hoping it is dry as a bone. It's only been a year since our rain CRASH!  We prefer dry!


The yellow flowers are beautiful at Mormon Lake and the sunflowers are not quite out yet.


No real rain until we got HOME SWEET HOME in Payson.

 

 

 

 Day 25 Wednesday the 24th of July

Got up early about 5 AM.  Lynn came to pick us up at about 10-ish had a great brunch at a Great place good reviews for our "Triple D" Tour at Eggs in the City in downtown Salt Lake.



On the way we saw these "Scooter Troupers".



















We came back to our camp and had a nice visit out on the picnic table took some photos.

 After Lynn left and went back to her condo, we got a call from Payson Water Company that we have a leak underneath the Sugar Shack and asked us if we wanted them to turn off the water......of course we said YES-YES-YES!  We will be booking it home in the morning, calling the plumber, getting it fixed and paying a huge bill.....uuuurg!  106,000 Gallons OH MY!






Before we went back to Lynn's, Bruce took a little Power Nap!












Had a great time watching the Pioneer 47 Celebratory Fireworks at Lynn's condo/balcony  overlooking Salt Lake City.  Gorgeous sunset from her condo!






Got to meet her two kitties Smoochie and sweet pea. It was so great to see her and spend some time together.

On the way home we drove by the Temple in bright lights.

Got home at almost 11 set the alarms so we would beat the Salt Lake City morning traffic and went to bed.

 

24 Tuesday the 23rd of July

Left camp at about 9 o'clock to go to the RV dealer ....we needed a few things tweaked on "Lancelot". Still looking like the Beverly Hillbillies with our truck all loaded up with all of our extras...I had my first catastrophe for the new rig..... I left my coffee in the microwave, OMG when we got to the dealer coffee was EVERYWHERE.......Jaxson  got rained on by the sprinklers while he was patiently waiting for the guys to finish the trailer.
Everything got done, we pulled out, filled up with gas, got a bite to eat, so we ended up leaving Boise at 1:05PM on our way to Salt Lake City. Looking forward to seeing Lynn DeBruin, we will get to see her sometime tomorrow morning!
As we passed the Logan turn off ...... we both flashed to the great memories we had there.

We made it to the KOA In Salt Lake City.

Bruce had a hankerin' for a hot dog, so we went into the local KOA's market, got hotdogs and ice. I am now sitting doing laundry at 10PM....uuurgh!
We are in Salt Lake City for their pioneer day festivities, so fireworks were going off big time tonight, late into the night!!

 Day 23 Monday the 22nd of July

Very nervous about hooking up this morning trying to get to the RV repair!
Left Site at 7:05 AM, 64° and have to make it 3 1/2 miles! We just landed safely and waiting for the repair shop to open! Counting our blessings that we actually made it here, barely! Now just awaiting the verdict on the diagnosis. Bad news over 26 hours of work, $3-$5000 to start working on the issue....

So......... we asked to look for something in trade....we traded Big-Boy Laredo for a smaller 22 foot Lance Travel Trailer #2295.  We were going to be downsizing when we got back home anyway.. so these and other life happenings just sped up the process time. RIP Big-Boy Laredo.

What a long day 7AM until 6PM before we pulled out of the RV repair/dealer with "Sir Lancelot"! Thank you Rob at Dennis-Dillon!  You can tell we have definitely downsized because, our load looks like the Beverly Hillbillies for sure.....inside and out!

When we got back to the RV park we proceeded to organize as much of our stuff to allow room to actually sleep on the bed...LOL!
What a mess!

Bruce had one margarita three beers and crashed.

  

My "WebStudy" Nutrition class ended at midnight.... I saw all of that shaking down.....then I got to go to bed too!  WHEW! what a day!

 

Day 22  Sunday the 21st of July

Packed up and left at 7:00AM on our way to Boise. Going east into the sun the second morning in a row.....UUUURGH!  Yesterday's high here was 97 and the low this morning was 50 we were freezing!!!!! LOL Today is Balloons over Bend.......we may get close enough for some photos. (NOT SO MUCH)

Got to Boise, not freezing here........97 degrees

Found out our trailer problem as soon as we unhooked....trailer was still sinking lower toward the truck bed.......welds have busted out and metal is tearing in the tongue that hooks into the Reese Hitch.







We drove out to the RV repair shop and talk to them ....we will be unhooking early in the morning in going to Dennis-Dillon's RV to get our diagnosis.  Our best guess is a replacement tongue .....

Tonight we simply await our fate. Tomorrow may be filled with Doggie Parks and eating......LOL!
When checking out the bed area we found that the trim had worked its way off.....The wall of the wardrobe pulling away and is collapsing from pressure from the unstable hitch situation. OH MY!

Day 21 Saturday the 20th of July

Left camp at about 6:20am.  Den, Jill and Ginger were still sleeping.

Jaxson was looking very sad, will miss his cousin, Ginger!








White caps, white knuckles and white clouds going east into the sun.....uuuuurgh!
Swell City was already really Rockin' and Rollin'!

Crossed at the Dalles, much safer seeming bridge.....YEAH! Well worth the few extra miles!!!!
We stopped at a rest stop on the way to Redmond...it seemed that our trailer is closer to the top of the truck bed....puzzling. all seemed to pull OK. Got to Redmond, set up, went to an RV lot looking at the R-Pod......could be downsizing. There was a Big Country RV Show right next to our RV Park. Bruce and I looked around and saw some amazing units.
Went to Tami and Dennis' for a visit and dinner.  We had a great time at their home before they took us to a "Not your Grandma's Diner" kind of place.

WOW! it was excellent and amazing! Baltazar's in Bend OR. Great seafood mexican fare with great company. It was so great to have some time with Tami and Dennis.....hope they can get to AZ sometime.

Day 20 Friday the 19th of July

Planning on a day of rest.....got up as usual and then did laundry here at the park. While in the laundry room, I did two days of the blog, because the router for their WiFi is in there.  It makes for a stronger and faster signal. Bruce and I went into Stevenson to get gas and try our 4th coffee shop.  At the gas station, Bruce helped an man to start his Dodge ram....not sure what he did, but it worked.....

"The Cabin" is by far the best coffee shop......We all sat around a bit in the afternoon until we went to this great little brewery in Stevenson called "walking man".  Bruce tried their 100+ IBU. He was surprised at how it wasn't as bitter as he was expecting.

We liked Los Reyes so much, we went back for dinner on our way to Hood River for a closing party for "the pines".  It was a really fun place. We listened and danced to Denny's friend Ted's band.

We did burn off a few calories...and we needed it after stuffing ourselves, again!  Had so much fun dancing!!!!  Dennis drove us home and we said our goodbyes, knowing we would, in our normal "M.O.", leaving at the crack of dawn. We had such a great time....can't wait to see them again!

Day 19 Thursday the 18th of July

Bruce started his day organizing some of his photos. We are on our way to sight see the area.
Windy and cold 62° at Beacon rock parka required LOL! No "parka"  no hiking to the top. It's truly an awesome basalt rock.

Got some "fab" photos of the Horsetail and Multnomah Falls.

Did a bit of relaxing while Denny was sailing. We were thinking of our next adventures with or without an RV......

When Denny got back, Ginger needed a bath after rolling in some dead fish or something....Uuuurgh!
We enjoyed another feast .....we had Tri Tip (raised on a Washington ranch) marinated and barbecued to perfection (thank you Den) and all the fixin's.....
When we got back to our trailer, we uploaded photos to FB (Check them on Bruce's FaceBook). It is hard to just pick a few from so many.....One more day here at Stevenson......:-(

 

Day 18 Wednesday the 17th of July

About 2 in the AM.....Bruce had to go out to put the awning in.....it was really blowing.
We got up late for us, about 6:30am.  Kind of lazy and will get ready to go down to watch Dennis after they call to let us know if the wind is good!
Jaxson's every AM Downward Facing Dog.......

The wind was something else. Up to 30 mph.....Dennis was so great....it was an amazing scene with dozens of windsurfers and kites.....the river was creating some amazing waves and swells. They sail at Swell City....Jill and Bruce took some great photos!

Diner of the day was in Bingen, WA...Los Reyes Mexican Food. We sat on their outside patio and everyone had a great meal.  Denny had the biggest tostada that I have ever seen, it filled the whole plate and he ate the whole thing!
I went into town to catch up on the blog with the town's wifi....at an Ice Cream place.....the ice cream may have been good but the coffee was not so much!
Had a relaxing evening outside at Den and Jill's.  Went home pretty early, 7:30ish ......Ben came to visit and talk about nutrition....then later he and Lisa came over and we caught up from a couple of years ago.....great to see them!

Day 17 Tuesday the 16th of July our 36th anniversary

On our way to mount hood, Dennis and Bruce had another stop for an ice cream.....probably one of the best drive- ins so far......LOL!

Then OMG, just outside of Hood River Dennis threw a shoe.....his left rear tire literally came off.  It bounced and rolled across the road and up a hill....There was a perfectly placed pull out "devine"....

Bruce an Dennis retrieved the tire and tried to find as many lugs as possible, but we didn't find enough....Bruce and I went back into Hood River and got new lugs.....after they went on, Dennis, Jill and Ginger went back to go to the tire place to check everything out.







Bruce, Jaxson and I are going on to Mt. Hood........

Mt. Hood was awesome and the "Shining" lodge was incredible got really cold, so we opted out of the "mile sky ride".....Remember the hallway with the little girls......SCAREY!











Back at camp we had a hamburger feast at Den and Jill's stuffed again! Denny is learning that there should be some good wind tomorrow.  HIP-HIP-HOORAY!

Day 16 Monday the 15th of July

Got up about 5 something .....it was a gorgeous morning!

After walks and checking out the rental cabins.












The four of us went to Hood River for an awesome breakfast at Bettie's .......wow the most awesome crab and avocado omelette.  Quite, an original "diner".

We got back and met up with Ben, one of Bruce's classmates from high school. The guys and the puppies went down to the cove to play.

We tried to get an RV space in Bend, OR not a one in town....a huge bike race and Balloons over Bend on Sunday....so, we are staying in Redmond on Saturday night, meeting up with Tami and Dennis. Can't wait it see them.

 

 

 

Day 15 Sunday the 14th of July

Not a very good start.....flat on the trailer 5:45 am.  Bruce is changing it an we will try to find a Big "O" Tire nearby. YEAH! Kennewick, WA has one that is open on Sunday. WHOOHOO!

Leaving camp at 7:10am stopped again to recheck air pressure and gas up 7:45am and on the road!!!
Got to Kennewick and the shop guys were really nice.  They fixed our tire, we had picked up a nail.....UUUUUURRRGGGG!

Got to Skamania Coves.....so gorgeous. What views right out your window of the Columbia River Gorge.

Ginger and Jaxson (puppy cousins) played at the "Big Cove" off leash and had a great time.  Dennis went down to Stevenson to get some wind surfing in, but came back mad at the irregular wind.  When Den got back we had an awesome dinner outside.....and visit till way after Bruce's bedtime, 10:30pm.....whew!

Day 14 Saturday the 13th of July

Our 1 year anniversary of our miracle survival of the "hydroplaning-roll over".  So glad and blessed to be here and able to "road trip." 

Left Reed Point @ 5:30AM a beautiful day about 52 degrees as we pulled out. 87 when we pulled in. Can't wait to stay at Blackwell RV on Lake Coeur d'Alene.Past a beautiful field of yellow! Julie and I love photos taken with us in yellow flowers.....!

We saw antelope outside of Butte and an eagle at Garrison, Montana along the Little Blackfoot River.




Coeur d'Alene is wow gorgeous. Got to the RV park about 11:30AM....pet walk, pet beach and pet run.....Bruce and I need the run after we stuffed ourselves at our "one year since the roll over" dinner.

This place is not your Grandpa's "diner, drive- in or dive".  The Cedars.......floating restaurant .......incredibly awesome out on the patio floating on the lake....way cool!  A seaplane landed just in front of us on the lake, but I couldn't get my camera it fast enough.  Tomorrow, off to the Gorge....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 13 Friday the 12th of July

Left the park at 6:30am and 69 degrees from Hill City, SD
Had a great travel day...saw the battlefield of Custer's Last Stand.




Found a friendly, cute, small, Mom and Pop RV park in Reed Point.
We did our laundry and took a little walk downtown with Jaxson and then went down to the Yellowstone River. 

The 50th annual Yellowstone river boat float is this weekend.....the RV parks that we called were full...glad we found this one, we got the last space.

We have our place for tomorrow in Coeur d'Alene right on the lake. Then the next week we will be with Dennis and Jill on the banks of the Columbia River.

 

Day 12 - Thursday July the 11th

Left the park at 6:30am. It was a beautiful drive down to Loveland on our way to Mt. Rushmore.
We saw on the news, the mudslides that we just missed in Manitou Springs....WOW people were swept away....Bears and mudslide near misses, too crazy.

°Got to the KOA Park at 1:00pm                                 °Went to Crazy Horse at 2:00pm

°Rushmore at 4:15pm
At Rushmore we took some good and not so good photos....evening is not the best...all the Presidents have their 5:00 shadow......lol! Here is one of Geo, his profile in the sun.


Our diner for today was the Ponderosa Pub and restaurant.  Here is the kicker, no alcohol to ANYONE without a picture ID....a South Dakota State Law...poor Brucie, NO ID, NO FAT TIRE :-(         Food was good, though.
Bruce and I walked back to camp and planned for tomorrow....got a thunder storm with some big winds and rain.

 

 Day -11 Wednesday - July 10th

Left camp in Colorado Springs at 7:30 AM on the road to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park.  We watched a couple of gliders practice landing at the Air Force Academy airstrip, drove by Mile High Stadium and then the Denver Nuggets Arena.  Denver has become a huge place.
                                        Got to Estes Park at 11:30.


Hooked everything up at our RV Spot Elk Meadows RV....and left for the Rockies. It was so awesome, we went up the one way dirt road, Jaxson, too!

It was incredible...lots of photo ops...then at the top, we saw the"buggy" at the Alpine Visitor Center... We will get our stamp at the bottom of the mountain.












Gwen gave us this report: sounds like we left Manitou just before the flash flood warnings for today...mud etc. after the fire damage :-(
WOW we were just there yesterday.

   

 

Day 10 Tuesday - July 9th

Got up early to go on the cog, we booked the 8:00 train.
Oh WOW! So fun....Bruce and I only took about 300 photos.  Saw marmots and big horn sheep above the treeline in the tundra.....LOVE TO SEE WILDLIFE!   Check out Bruce's collection of photos on FaceBook......Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/bruce.branstrom



After checking in back at camp, we went walking in downtown Manitou Springs taking photos of all the great buildings on our way to "The Loop".



Gwen and Uncle Marty suggested the Loop as the best in town.  (Thanks Uncle Marty and Gwen, the food was excellent) As you can see Bruce is overwhelmed with the bottomless chips and salsa.



When we got back to camp, we met some great ladies from Texas who travel together all over the country and have a great time I think their group is called "Sisters on the Fly".

Before dinner we took a walk through old Colorado City, good thing all the stores were closed....HUMMMM..... but it was fun window shopping and walking around the old downtown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 9 Monday - July the 8th

We left camp at about 7:30! Got gas! On our way to Uncle Marty's and the Pikes Peak Clog Train
Got reservations ahead at the Goldfield RV and the Clog Train, can't wait to get there....
Mule deer were our first real wildlife definitely larger than a ground hog (have seen tons of these)

Welcoming us to their home!

Had an awesome visit with Gwen and Uncle Marty. They are the greatest.......we must keep in touch much more that we have......LOVE THEM!
Here are some pics of our visit!

Uncle Marty with BLUE EYES! Gwen and Me

Gwen.....love her and their two awesome KITTIES!

Bruce and Uncle Marty laughing and telling good stories!

After we got back to the park I wrote a long message on FB....until after 11:30PM, so gotta go!

 

Day 8 - Sunday - July 7th    "On the road again......road trippin'"

Left camp at 8AM...

Stopped at McD's UUURRRGGGH! not exactly a specialty "as seen on TV" spot!


Got to our RV Park in Durango, really cool place in the trees and right next to the free trolley into town. The Durango-Silverton train runs right past the park!











Went down town on the trolley and found a great spot for pizza "fired-up"...had a great time!

 Got back to camp after meeting some nice people on the trolley from all over the country.  Love meeting people as we travel.

 

Day 7 - Saturday   July 6th  "Parade day!"

Before we decorated the cars for the parade, I couln't resist walking over and taking this photo over at the Ropin' Championships:











We had tons of fun decorating the cars .....Kent and Carrie called and are coming over from Cottonwood to join us in the parade.  YEAH! So great to see them!  Wow the parade was three times bigger than last year, and some real floats.  We got sprayed, bubbled and slug bugged.
So fun!!

After the parade, Bruce and I went to Flag to do laundry and see Ms. Macchi one more time before the long journey.....It rained and hailed big time in Flag and was raining when we got back to camp. The group took Melissa on her first dune buggy ride. They had a great time and got rained on, too! As if we were back in Jr. High.....boys talked outside and the ladies inside....then....as in true "Jones" fashion there was an awesome spread for dinner, steaks and all the trimmin's.  Stuffed again!
Bruce and I got to visit a bit more with Melissa....so glad she came and we got to meet her!

 

Day 6 - Friday  July 5th

Helicopter for the injured.

It really rained a nice shower in the AM .... Julie, Jaxson an I hiked 2 miles (come to find out later in the afternoon there was a mama bear and her cubs right off the same trail that we were on) WHEW! The bad news was the horses on the trail got spooked, 8 injured, 2 critical one a 12 year old little girl....horrible!





Bruce, Stanley and I went on a short bike ride and Julie watched a good Diane Keaton movie. We were awaiting the arrival of Chris and Melissa ...When Chris and Melissa got here we had lasagne and a huge spread...Julie and I got to use our.....ovens at a high altitude.  Woohoo! What a great meal!.....When Chris' air mattress acted like a "sink hole."  Chris and Melissa moved into the Bounder.  Really enjoyed the time with
Melissa and Chris!

 

Day 5 - Thursday 4th of July

Julie,  Jaxson and I took out on a 2 mile walk.  After we got back.....Jaxson let Julie and I continue with stretching and Pilates without him........He only does Downward Facing Dog and then he is good to go for the rest of the day!
After lunch we all went buggy riding. For a couple of hours to scout trails.

Thumbs up! Shy....

Bruce, Julie and Stanley had burritos. I had a "sarape" with our home grown chiles on an Alfonso's tortilla and of course cheese.....yummy!

We have a "Caddy Shack" ground hog digging up under Stan and Julie's motor home. So far Jaxson just keeps his eye on him every day......Stanley keeps covering up his holes, but he keeps on popping up where ever he wants..... No fireworks here at Mormon Lake because of fire restrictions :-(
Great day, even though!

 

Day 4 - Wednesday - July the 3rd

Julie got to feeling a little better and we all went to Flag to fix the door at Pura Vida, visit Macchi and shop for some last minute items and......
Hit our first Triple "D".....our very own "Guy Fieri/As Seen on TV Tour" has begun!
Brandy's restaurant and Bakery a great hole in the strip mall.....out in East Flag.

Bruce and Stan were working on keeping up with the Jacobs.......

Day 3 - Tuesday - July the 2nd

Girls walked 2 miles and then we all went to Ashurst and Marshall lakes.

Ashurst Lake

 Marshall Lake?

One of the Lowell Observatories

Julie wasn't feeling well so she crashed, pretty much the entire rest of the day and into the night.
Flagstaff got 2" of rain and we got quite a bit here at our campsite, too!
Boys enjoyed the water from the sky and from the bottle.......
70 Degrees and gorgeous!

 

Day 2- Monday - July the 1st

Boys went on a buggy ride.
Girls paced out a two mile walk and did Pilates.

 

Day 1 - Sunday - June 30th

Left Payson about 9AM

Branstrom

Jones

                       

Checked into Mormon Lake RV Park and got settled in.

 

Buggy-Bounder-Laredo

Jaxson is settled in, too!

June 27th - 29th "PRE-THREE"

Celebrating Stanley's retirement:  Stanley and Julie came up early to Payson to cool off before taking off for Mormon Lake.  We all continued last minute prepping our RV's for the "Triple D"! 

Photos as we get ready to take off!