We have been rushing back toward Portland this week. Three days of over 200 miles each puts us in Florence, Oregon. Normally we like to mosey, but we have covered this leg of the trip several times. The scenery is beautiful but I guess we are anxious to get it over with and see our family and friends back home.

Last night we were camped alongside the Kalamath River just a couple miles up from the Pacific Ocean. After supper I was practicing the guitar in the bedroom when the neighbors knocked and invited us to join them around their campfire. A young man, Trent, was playing a flat top guitar also. Our styles were not perfectly matched, but we still made some good harmony together. It wasn’t long before the camp manager came up with his flat top guitar and a harmonica to join the group. We taught each other licks and took turns leading songs. Trent had an interesting finger picking style and the manager was into down and dirty blues. I would lead my segments with country-western, folk or bluegrass. We had an eclectic jam. Before we knew it, the time was 9:30 and the wood pile was gone.

Today we were threading our way among the little towns along highway 101 on the North California and Oregon coast. Judy kept hearing a “banging” noise on her side of the coach. We pulled off the highway in Coos Bay and I discovered the hatch that accesses the leveling and slider hydraulic system was swinging open. The key lock toggle had come off and was gone. There was no way to lock it closed. With some trepidation I taped the hatch closed with duct tape. That lasted for ten miles and I had to stop and do it again. After getting parked for the night at the Elks campground in Florence I created a new toggle with the hack saw and a file. I have included a couple photos to document the event. Yes, the duct tape made a gooey mess of the paint around the hatch, but it cleaned up nicely with a little isopropyl alcohol.

Notice the beautiful Rhodies in our campground. The Elks have created a rather stunning park here in Florence, Oregon. It is off the highway in a grove of trees and it is quiet. That in itself is unusual. Judy and I have determined in our travels that there are certain locations that are most suitable for RV parks. They need to have a freeway, a railroad or an industrial complex on one side of the camp; Even better if there are two of the three features available. Advertising for selling RV’s on the other hand show the coach parked on the beach just above the surf line in a secluded lagoon. The bait and the switch, right?

We are looking forward to summer in the Pacific Northwest.

Love to all,

Gary and Judy