Our Journey : September 2009

9/29/2009

September 29, 2009 – Sick Day

Since I am not feeling well and Andy is still not up to par, we decided we need to get to a full hook up place and relax and get better. So off we went to Elma, WA where there was a great Passport America park.

After setting up, we have spent the day relaxing and watching TV. I have finally updated the blog – on our spare computer. If anyone has sent me an email last week and I have not answered, please resend – all the others are gone!

And more Dell info. I got a call today that the video card was in and I tried to set the appointment for next Friday (9th). The technician told me that I had to have it done in 5 days. I explained the issue I had in March/April and would he please hold the part until next week. He would call me back. Well, I got a call back from someone at Dell and he told me to call them next week with a case number and they would resend the part – that is correct, the part has to go back and then it will be resent (now how cost effective is that!). I explained about the previous issue and he checked it out – came back and told me that I waited 20 days for a part (longer than I remembered but hey they at least had those records). But still didn’t change his mind. (We actually went back and forth with a couple options but no deal!!!) So I could wait 20 days for a part but they can’t wait 10 days for me – HMMMMM. (Anyone out there recommend another computer.)

I also talked with both technicians about this being the second time it has happened and both said I may need another motherboard. I said that I am shortly out of warranty – no matter, will be considered an ongoing problem – this will be interesting to see!!

So next week I call with a case number to a general 800 number (they could not even give me an extension to call) and we start ALL OVER AGAIN. (And you know when you are not feeling well, it is just all that more frustrating.)

We hope to be traveling again soon but our main goal now is to get better!

Stats:

Miles Traveled: 68 miles

Routes Traveled:

Washington: WA-503; I-5; US-12

September 28, 2009 – West Side of Mount Saint Helens

We woke early, packed a lunch and off we went. It was a little cloudy and we hoped to see everything before the rain started.

Here is the Toutle River Valley – this is where the river of mud and ash came thru on that fateful day:

This bridge was reconstructed after the blast. This area is also at the edge of the blast zone. Most of the area here is owned by Weyerhaeuser Company (logging) and they suffered massive losses. But their recovery of the forest has also helped the animal habitats recover. At this point we are 14.8 miles from the crater:

Castle Lake - created by the blast:

The mountain is in the clouds – :-((:

Coldwater Lake – also created by the blast. We were here in 1995 and what a difference! There was very little vegetation then. We had lunch then took the trail by the lake.

The high walls by the river is a combination of the mud, ash, and parts of the mountain.

The view from Loowit Point:

And the view from Johnson Ridge Observatory. When the mountain slid, all that dirt, etc. rolled down the valley and up and over this point – can you imagine:

More views from the observatory:

We spent some time in the observatory, taking in the exhibits and the movie – WOW! This happened on May 18, 1980. The first time I was here was in September of that year. I could not get near the area but was able to see some of the blast zone with the trees down and where some of the mud flow happened. Andy and I were here in 1995 and it was great to see some of the areas opening up. This time, we were able to see even more and it was good to see everything coming back.

The good thing about this blast is that scientists have and are learning how to predict when a volcano will happen – which is critical with the number of active volcano’s around the Pacific.

What a great trip!! The rain did not start until we were almost home.

I now have Andy’s cold and not feeling well – :-((( - so we will see what happens tomorrow.

September 27, 2009 – Travel to Seaquest State Park and Mount Saint Helens

Our travels today took us to Seaquest State Park which is on the west side of Mount Saint Helens. Once we set up we went to the visitor center. Here is a view of Mt. St. Helens from the center – that is Spirit Lake in front of the mountain:

They had a trail that took us around the wetlands:

Back at the motorhome, we enjoyed our site, the sun, and the campfire. Our site:

The big trees are here too.

Tomorrow we are taking the road to Johnson Ridge Observatory in Mount Saint Helens National Monument.

Stats for today:

Miles Traveled: 75 miles

Routes Traveled:

Washington: US-12; I-5; WA-503

September 26, 2009 - The Grove of the Patriarchs (And My Computer)

I woke this morning, turned on the computer, had lines all over the place, and after the intro screen – nothing!! So I went thru the diagnostics which told me it was the video card. Now I just had this card replaced in April so you know I was not a happy camper. I called Dell and was on the phone for two hours. The first technician told me it wasn’t the video card but a software issue and I would need to restore it to the original (2006!!!). I was not willing to do that since I was sure it was the video card so he put me on hold and disappeared. After 20 minutes, I called again, went thru everything AGAIN (why don’t they believe me??) and he says it is the software. I totally disagree but at this time, MAYBE, they might be right. So EVERYTHING is WIPED off my hard drive and we do a restore from 2006 (we did earlier restores and that did not work so he wanted me back to the beginning). After we do all that and do the start up again, SAME THING HAPPENS. So now, the technician feels it is the VIDEO CARD – NO S—T! And now I have a computer that is not working with a bad video card and I am back to the original software from 2006 when I first got it… All my programs and settings – GONE – because I (and the computer diagnostics which ALSO said it was the Video Card) was not believed – can you tell I am TICKED!!!

Now here is the situation with Dell. They will come and fix and they tell you it will be within 5 days. When this happened before, we were traveling and when we got to Everett, I called with the case number, etc. and had to go thru EVERYTHING again and THEN had to wait over two weeks for a part. So I told them I was in Everett and hopefully the part will be there when I get back.

Enough!

After I calmed down and had lunch, we traveled to Mount Rainier National Park and did The Grove of the Patriarchs Trail – wait until you see these trees.

This area is also part rainforest and we saw moss growing on many of the trees and bushes – not only here but in the National Forest. How about this moss:

Andy on the trail. We took pictures of each other just to show how large the trees are:

One of the rivers – in the deeper area, the water is a turquoise blue:

I am standing by the root of a downed tree:

Andy on the trail:

Look at how small I am – LOL:

Andy in front of those two Douglas firs.

This is a cedar and it is HUGH!!!

One of the downed trees. Here is where one of the branches was cut – interesting design:

It was an amazing trail!!

This is our last night here and we had our final campfire and were joined by our neighbors – what a nice time!!

September 25, 2009 – Mount Rainier

We woke to a beautiful day, packed a lunch, and took off to Mount Rainier National Park:

Our first view of the mountain – check out the blue skies – we were so blessed with the weather:

We stopped at Box Canyon and took in the sites and displays. We also ran into our neighbors, Bonnie and Ron, and we all took the nature trail walk.

This picture was taken from the bridge – the water was 180’ below us:

A view of the mountain from the trail:

The road offered us incredible views at every turn – you can see the road on the right and left sides of this picture:

A car on the road:

The larger view of the road – it is so hard to describe the vastness and the pictures do not do it justice:

We are getting closer – notice the different colors of the rocks. And, yes, those are glaciers:

Another view from the road. The fuzzy white/pink stalks in front are….fireweed!:

And the view from Reflection Lake:

We made it to Paradise!. And we met up with Bonnie and Ron, toured the visitor center, exhibits, and watched the movie. We did not do any of the hikes – Andy is still not up to par.