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RV LIFE:Wow! We really made it! We were so disappointed last year when we had to head back East prior to reaching our goal of the Pacific NW. It's the end of June and we have yet to experience hot & humid weather. I love it! People talk about how rainy it is in OR and WA. So far, it has been very pleasant. We may get rain and foggy weather in the morning, but it clears up to a beautiful sunny day by noon time. That's my kind of weather! Enough rain to keep vegetation lush and green, and no temps over 80°, so far.
We packed up in the pouring rain and left our PERFECT campsite at Armitage County Park. This is the first time in our 2 yrs of full timing, that we had to pack up in the rain. If we had waited an hour, things would have cleared up. We were both soaked and the truck was full of wet dog aroma! We got an earlier start than usual because we wanted to stop at AM Solar so they would check out Scott's Solar Power installation. AM Solar welcomed us and our dogs with coffee, tea and dog biscuits. The inspection took about 30-40 minutes. Scott passed with flying colors. And no charge for the inspection!
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BROWSING THE WWW://
AS I WAS BOUNCING FROM ONE SITE TO ANOTHER, THEN LED TO ANOTHER AND THEN SOME MORE SITES, AND 4 HOURS LATER...I FOUND A SITE FOR INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION DAYS. WHO COMES UP WITH THIS STUFF? WELL, THIS SITE, PUNCHBOWL, WILL NOT ONLY LET YOU KNOW WHAT TO CELEBRATE TODAY, BUT THE HISTORY BEHIND IT ALSO. NOTICE MY NEW WIDGET ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BLOG?
CAN YOU TELL WHAT TODAY'S CELEBRATION IS? INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY!!! "International Caps Lock Day was created in 2000 by Derek Arnold of Iowa. This holiday began as a parody. It was intended to poke fun at those individuals who unnecessarily capitalize letters, words, and phrases.The day became so popular with internet users that it is now celebrated twice a year—on June 28 and on October 22.
Hit your caps lock button and celebrate INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY!" (Info courtesy of Punchbowl
HOW SILLY, BUT IT SURE HAS PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE. I KEEP THINKING ABOUT MY FATHER. ALTHOUGH HE CAN HANDLE A COMPUTER, HE IS NOT UP ON A LOT OF THINGS TO DO WITH SOCIAL NETWORKING, ETC. BUT HE KNOWS WHAT CAPS MEANS. IT DRIVES HIM NUTS. STOP YELLING!
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FOOD:
Kale Chips: I have read over and over of people making Kale Chips. I've been fearful of eating kale, thinking it was too strong a taste. My knitting friend from NJ, Shirley served kale at lunch one time. She simply moistened the leaves and put in the microwave for about 1 minute. I guess that softens it just a touch. So I guess I like kale but have not really used it. Finally tried Kale Chips since "everyone" seems to be raving about them and they are supposedly delicious and very good for you.
I bought kale while at the Eugene Saturday Farmer's Market. I am now totally hooked on kale chips!!! There are two methods of making. One is in the oven and the other is in the microwave. I chose the microwave because we don't use our oven in the RV and didn't want to pull out the toaster oven. The nuked recipe turned out great. It is a nuisance to make, but oh so worth it, especially since I don't have to share with Scott since he can take em or leave em.
You have to cut out the center stem from the leaves...ugh.
Then coat with olive oil. I just put a little oil in a bag and threw the leaves in and rubbed until coated. Scott suggested I try olive oil cooking spray. I may try that next time.
The leaves have to be laid out in a single layer...ugh. This allows only for small batches to made at a time. Another reason to use the microwave. In the oven it takes about 15 minutes. In the microwave it takes 3.5-4 minutes.
Scott made soup on Wednesday, which was a gray rainy day. I love the flavor of the broth. The soup recipe is from a prepackaged bean & grain soup mix from Camas Country Mill, but you can substitute with split peas, lentils, etc.
Sue's Soup
1 medium onion, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
2 Tablespoons olive oil
5 cups chicken broth
1 sm. red potato, diced
1 sweet potato, diced
2 carrots
1 pkg. Sue's Soup Mix or
Split beans, oat groats, wheat berries (or steel cut oatmeal) to equal 1.5 cups
1 tsp. smoked paprika, 1 tsp. cumin, Salt & Pepper to taste 1 link kielbasa, cut into bite sized pieces
Saute onion & celery with olive oil in pot.
Add the rest of the ingredients except kielbasa to pot.
Bring to boil and simmer for 45 minutes. to 1 hr. until beans and grains are soft.
Add kielbasa the last 5 minutes of cooking time.
SIGHTS:
I have been going more and more out on my own, since Scott seems to just want to stay "at camp". On the dreary Wednesday that Scott made soup, I went out to find a hearty loaf of bread to go with the soup. This gave me a chance to explore the local area.
We are on Long Beach Peninsula in WA. The peninsula is above the red star which is where we are.
Funny how familiar places can be. Living in NJ, I was very near Long Beach Island.
Of course Long Beach in WA is a micro mini of Long Beach in NJ. Long Beach has a small area for about 5 different amusement rides as to Seaside Hts in NJ has (well had) a whole pier of rides prior to hurricane Sandy last year.
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| Before Hurricane Sandy at Seaside Hts, NJ |
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| Before Hurricane Sandy at Seaside Hts, NJ |
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| After Hurricane Sandy at Seaside Hts, NJ |
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| After Hurricane Sandy at Seaside Hts, NJ |
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| After Hurricane Sandy at Seaside Hts, NJ |
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RV PARK REVIEWS:
Oceanic RV Park, Long Beach, WA
My rating 1 out of 5
We did not stay at this "park". While walking in town, I saw this place. It was part of the public parking lot where I parked. The parking lot is paved, and the RV lot is gravel. The ONLY reason to stay here is if you want to be within walking distance of what's going on in town. I don't think it's worth it.
My rating 2 out of 5
We did not stay here either. I did a drive through. Small KOA. All sites are grass. Very close together. The main loop through the park is dirt. It was like they just drove a truck around and around the grass to make a road. I was there on a rainy day and it was all mud. An RV could easily get stuck on the curve. Upon exiting, there were VERY low branches that would definitely have been caught in the roof as the RV passes by.
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WHERE WE'RE GOING:
July 9-17, 2013 Port. Hudson RV Park, Port Townsend, WA
July 18-20, 2013 Elwha Dam RV Park, Port Angeles, WA
Tentative:
Neah Bay, WA
La Push, WA
Coeur d'Alene, ID
I think wheat berries must the the grain that had a texture like quinoa, which I really liked in this soup.
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