Sorry it's been a couple days, folks, but we've not had a decent internet connection. I feel like the kids, playing catch-up to get back on track. In fact, that's what the two younger children spent a good part of the drive yesterday doing: writing in their journals. I'm beginning to wonder at our logic about making them write daily...hearing them whine is a bit annoying.
So Friday morning we said goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Firepit in Monterey and headed up the rest of California. We had quite
an adventure driving thru San Francisco. It took us a while to find Lombard Street, but we did conquer it...as Gilligan was in the back seat saying, "This street makes me feel uncomfortable..." My palms were a little sweaty, too, but since it was my idea to drive down it, I didn't feel that I should be complaining about how it felt like we were
going to roll sideways down the street, car topper and all.
an adventure driving thru San Francisco. It took us a while to find Lombard Street, but we did conquer it...as Gilligan was in the back seat saying, "This street makes me feel uncomfortable..." My palms were a little sweaty, too, but since it was my idea to drive down it, I didn't feel that I should be complaining about how it felt like we were
going to roll sideways down the street, car topper and all. We did accomplish the goal of seeing the "big" sights in SF: Alcatraz (no, we didn't visit, just saw), Coit Tower, Pier 39/Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate, etc. That done, it took us a bit to find the way back onto our route north, across the Golden Gate, for our exit.
Thanks to Prof Ryan for the advice about taking Route 12 through wine country a bit. It was beautiful, and although I'm sure if the kids had known that the trip took longer because of it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The drive that day so reminded us of our travels through Germany. Lake Shasta was beautiful, as was the dormant volcano it was named after. The Professor's family used to vacation on houseboats on Lake Shasta, so he was walking down memory lane while we were driving through the area.
That was a long driving day, especially with the detours through SF and wine country, but we arrived at our campsite in Center Point, Oregon, in time and with enough light to set up camp. 
We're still debating on if all that work was worth it for camping one night, especially since several of us froze most of the night in our sleeping bags (we've since purchased a new, better temperature-rated bag, since we're camping 2 nights in Yellowstone, and I don't doubt that it will be chilly there as well). We're all going to stay in the tent, as well (Skipper slept in the van, but we had to empty and rearrange before we could get the air mattress in for him). Hopefully those little changes will cut down our set-up and tear down time...We had a yummy camp dinner, a traditional campfire, and Jiffy Pop!!
We're still debating on if all that work was worth it for camping one night, especially since several of us froze most of the night in our sleeping bags (we've since purchased a new, better temperature-rated bag, since we're camping 2 nights in Yellowstone, and I don't doubt that it will be chilly there as well). We're all going to stay in the tent, as well (Skipper slept in the van, but we had to empty and rearrange before we could get the air mattress in for him). Hopefully those little changes will cut down our set-up and tear down time...We had a yummy camp dinner, a traditional campfire, and Jiffy Pop!!
It only took about an hour yesterday morning to tear down, and we headed north again, to the most north-westerly point on our trip: Dupont, Washington, to visit our friends from DC. Side note: it has been pointed out to me by the Professor that, since I've already called their son Luke Skywalker, it would be then logical to 
assume that his parents are then Anikan/Darth and Padme, right? And that 
Luke's sister would be Leah. But I've already called the folks who loaned us the car topper, Anikan and Leah. So I suppose I could call these friends Mr. and Mrs. Moose (I learned something new yesterday: they've nicknamed the C-17 {that's a plane, folks} the Moose. We even had Moose Spit beer last night). I certainly don't want to offend anyone by calling them the Moose family, especially after the flak I received for calling our Las Vegas friends the Predators (the Predator is one of those cool, unmanned aircraft that our friend Mr. Predator flies, it is certainly not any commentary on their personalities or anything. They 
are far from birds of prey in any other part of their lives!!). ANYWAY, we've so far had a lovely time with them, and they have fed us so that by the time we leave, WE might look like a family of moose (meese??) when we leave.
assume that his parents are then Anikan/Darth and Padme, right? And that 
Luke's sister would be Leah. But I've already called the folks who loaned us the car topper, Anikan and Leah. So I suppose I could call these friends Mr. and Mrs. Moose (I learned something new yesterday: they've nicknamed the C-17 {that's a plane, folks} the Moose. We even had Moose Spit beer last night). I certainly don't want to offend anyone by calling them the Moose family, especially after the flak I received for calling our Las Vegas friends the Predators (the Predator is one of those cool, unmanned aircraft that our friend Mr. Predator flies, it is certainly not any commentary on their personalities or anything. They 
are far from birds of prey in any other part of their lives!!). ANYWAY, we've so far had a lovely time with them, and they have fed us so that by the time we leave, WE might look like a family of moose (meese??) when we leave.It was actually a beautiful, sunny evening last night. After the men went to Jiffy Lube for a LONG overdue oil change for the Wessel Vessel (we think we heard it sigh), we had dinner al fresco while watching the finches in their back yard. Then the kids entertained us with a worship music concert. And to top it all off, we were warm and dry last night as we slept!!
This morning we're headed for church, then we'll have the traditional Independence Day food 
fest. I am wondering what happens if it rains in Washington on the 4th of July, as far as fireworks, since it is looking a bit more Pacific Northwest-ish today. I suppose we'll cross that bridge if we get there.
fest. I am wondering what happens if it rains in Washington on the 4th of July, as far as fireworks, since it is looking a bit more Pacific Northwest-ish today. I suppose we'll cross that bridge if we get there. Tomorrow we begin our journey back east. We'll be stopping tomorrow night in Missoula, Montana (for those Bolling folks who are following this, we've got fond memories of the years the kids were able to participate in the Missoula Children's Theatere while we lived in DC--The Frog Princess and Princess and the Pea were the shows that the kids all had parts in), then we'll be headed on to Yellowstone.
A few notes: we *think* we're over halfway on our journey now: we've travelled about 4500 miles. We're still under budget. We are sad to say that this Washington stop is our last visit with friends before we return to Ohio to get the doggie. Thank you all for traveling with us, and as always, your prayers are appreciated!
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