Yosemite to Death Valley

We were planning on making it to Bakersfield and then to Phoenix but as mentioned we toured thru Yosemite and then decided to go on to Death Valley.

Again, there was a downhill and Toyke couldn't resist. Onto his bike again. This was a little less steep but he got going up to 40 mph this time, averaging 30. I got a little more on video as the sides weren't as steep. We drove to Stove Pipe Wells and drove about 5 miles passed and noticed some sand dunes on the right but it was getting dark. We wondered what we would miss if we drove to Furnace Creek so we turned around and ended up staying at Stove Pipe Wells.

The next morning we looked around and there was the hotel with a pool, bar and restaurant and a general store across the street...that's it. The waiter was oriental so I asked him how he ended up in Stove Pipe Wells...Poor kid...he was from Korea and here on a work visa. He was doing the "exchange"thing and was working for three months. I wonder who was the "agent" who set this poor kid up to work in the middle of absolutely nowhere for 3 months...you get to see the country, meet lots of people traveling around...what a liar. Wow...I still feel for the kids.

My turn to ride my bike. I started off from SPW and headed out into the desert. It was 104 degrees and I found it very hot and dry very quickly. I rode for about 7 miles.

We took our time and drove through the valley. _____Canyon was cool. We drove through Artist Way and then down the 40 miles of dirt road through the desert. We stopped to pick up some rocks for Hayden as he collects rocks...Grandpa Toyk had to pick up a couple of them as they were too big for me...can't wait to give them to Hayden!

Once we got through Death Valley Las Vegas wasn't far away.

North to Alaska, South to ????

We decided to go south on I-5 this time and we thought we'd go to Bakersfield but we didn't quite make it there...we did make it to somewhere and then turned onto hwy 99 and ended up in Merced CA that night. We went to an Italian restuarant and talking with the waiter (I know that surprises you...us talking with strangers!!!) and he happened to mention that the waterfalls in Yosemite would be great at this time of year so...there you go, we turned left and north.

Yosemite reminded me of British Columbia, beautiful. Lots of trees and water.

We went from about to 100 degrees to about 52! In the center of the park it was pouring rain and I felt for the people who were tenting. I don't think that they are the northwest campers who bring their own blue skies. Putting up the tarp is one of the first things we do.

Coming out of the park we noticed the long down hill...Toyke got a bee in his bonnet and hopped onto his bike and went downhill for about 10 miles. I was trying to drive downhill and there was straight up on one side and straight down on the other! I tried videoing him but it was a little difficult to video and drive at the same time. I think he was going about 50 mph for part of it..it waas pretty exciting.

So, that was our trip south but we didn't quite make it to Bakerfield...

Reunited with Mommie....

There's nothing like your own Mother when you are teething and have a temperature of 102.6. Chad did great as a Dad, feeding, changing diapers, putting Lily to bed, all that stuff, it was great to see him in that roll that he's wanted for so many years. We did miss Rachel over the weekend and it was good to see her again on Tuesday morning. Poor little Lily felt sooo bad that her eyes were droopie and it was hard for her to show excitement for Rachel coming home but when you see her sleeping with her Mommie, you know, she's one happy little girl.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Here we go again. You probably wonder if we ever stay home any more...We wonder that too sometimes. We left home on the 20th of May. This is 4 days after getting back from Lake Rosevelt. This trip started out with just going to Chad and Rachels to help watch Lily while Rachel was away to a friends wedding.
As you can tell I am no longer in control. Lily has taken over. While Lily and I were waiting for Chad and Lisette who were in the Portland temple....Lily takes charge.

Lisette and Chad went thru a session at the temple and they were the only 2 people in that session. Hmmm

The next day Lilys cousin, Aunt and Uncle come for a visit also. Here Lily, Nana and Maria together on a bicycle. We had to take turns, both really liked riding in front on the bicycle because now they weren't missing any thing, they could see everything.

Aunt Meredith and Maria checking out the bicycle.

Chad and Lily sitting in their Livingroom showing GrandpaToyk and Nana the latest movie...one that we would watch many times as it is one of Lilys favorite ones....CARS

Here Maria shows her determination to be involved by getting up and checking out what everyone is doing.

While here in Salem we did lots of bicycle riding...some did more than others. To some local parks, To a Farmers Market and to more Parks. GrandpaToyk needed to be a little grumpy, but he had fun too. His bottom became sore after the first ride...It had been a while since he had been on a bicycle.

While at the farmer Market Lily enjoyed sitting in these 2 little rockers...They fit her just perfectly.
Now this was something to see. Lisette bike has a flat so its hooked on the little trailer that Lily is in.....Now in that trailer there is already 2 Lawn chairs, Lilys diaper bag, Merediths Camera and case. and then marco sit on the rack behind Chad while he peddles. Lucky for Chad it was only (ONLY) a few blocks.

Meredith and Marco stayed until Saturday evening, then had to go home.

Nana has been caught....feeding strawberries and whip ceam to Lily.....someone will be in trouble....and its not Lily.

Project in Eastern Washington

During the middle of May Marco and I (Toyke) had a project to do. This project required that we transport all materials needed from here to a property on Lake Rosevelt. Here we are ready to go all loaded up.

The way we head out to this project takes us over the North cascades Hwy, thru Twisp, Omak,and Nespelem ending at Keller. From here we turn on to a gravel road for 18 miles, then we turn onto a dirt road and it goes on for 17 miles. The last 17 miles we did at less than 10 miles per hour.....It seemed to take forever to get to our destination. Fully loaded it took us 10 1/2 hrs to get there.

Once there we unloaded and began to layout our work. We dug holes then filled the holes 1/2 way with concrete. We did this to save ourselves a day.

Day 2 began with the setting of posts, beams and platform. SWe also built a ramp to the platform in order to get the water tank where it needed to be.

Here we are tank ready to be moved up the ramp to the platform 15' off the ground. Early the next morning we started moving the tank up the ramp. This tank weighs just under 1000 lbs and is 8' in diameter and 7.5 feet tall.

When we got the tank near the top the rope started to come off so we had to use some people power to finish getting it into place.

Now that it was in place we had to secure it, attach the water lines and bracing. Later during the day when tank placement was finished we began filling it. When completely full it would hold ose to 20,000 lbs in water weight. today we filled it to just over 3/4s full. About 17,000 lbs.

Everything cleaned up and We are ready to head home.

HOW WE FORGET THINGS

So the other day I miss placed my phone and for the life of me I could not find it. I enlisted Lisettes help and still no luck. We did however find Merediths cell phone, and so Lisette returned that to her and at the same time enlisted Meredith and Marco to help find my cell phone. We looked under the couch, between the cushions, on the desk, even on the bck deck and all with no luck. There wasn't a spot we didn't look....I even checked my pockets.
So they asked me if I had checked my pockets and I said that I had. I had checked my front pockets because thats the only place I ever put things.....I checked again and still no phone, that was until I checked my back pocket. I tried to think quick of a place I found the phone but the words came out before I could think and I said found it....in my back pocket.....I then remembered that I had put it there when I had changed into my swimsuit earlier in the day.
The story continues, because Lisette was going thru some boxes of stuff that had belonged to my mother and had found a remote for a television that they had and had lost, couldn't find until now....I wonder how many years that remote had been lost. At least 11 years that we know of..

We had to chuckle at this enlight of our recent experience with the lost cell phone.
So in the future when you loose something think of us.....Then have a good laugh.

WELCOME TO PEURTO VALLARTA, MEXICO

well everyone were in Mexico...Enjoying the Sun and time with our friends.....Jack and Liz.

We have been here a few days so pictures will not be in order.....Sorry

The other night we took a taxi into town and went to Pipis for dinner. Wehave been to this place before and liked it. Usually it is real busy...but not tonight.

They have these 3 amigos that come around to sing to couples. They are pretty good. A little loud but good. You have to remember here nothing is done for free. A person weather an adult or kid opens your car door you pay a dollar, somebody sings and you pay them 7 dollars....you eat dinner and you pay the tip for the bill, but then there is the guy who fills your glass...He needs a few dollars too (he fills my glass a lot of times if you know me)

Dinner was good, but there was way too much.


Once we left dinner it was time for a walk....had to burn a few calories

We didn't even get one block away and the Ladies saw something that they liked.....Shopping, shopping shopping. And whon is the wallet....no other than me. Lisette says that I am her wallet...she shops I pay (not a good deal for me)

So from here we walk some more and then finally hale a taxi driver....Good driver nice clean car only when we get to the hotel he say that will be 80 pesos.....that was 40 more pesos than we paid for the trip into town and he wasn't leaving until he was paid....Airconditioning not worth the extra 40 pesos

One of the typical streets in Peurto Vallarta downtown core area

This is the view we have from our room. We have a patio with a table and 4 chairs where we eat breackfast and dinners that we eat in...We don't do a whole lot of cooking because if we did that we would have to do dishes and now thats not wat you do on vacations