On Saturday, August 23 our destination is Lynnwood, a suburb north of Seattle where my son Brian and his wife Sharon live. There is no place on their residence to park a trailer though, so Sharon’s sister Debbie graciously offers to let me park in her driveway. (Her l-o-n-g driveway. 🙂
I’ve elected not to use the convenient ferry from Kingston to Edmonds because of the $71 it will cost for the combined length of JR and WS. Instead I use the Tacoma Narrows bridge and face the Seattle traffic….NOT pleasant, even on a Saturday.
But we make it through!
The street to Debbies house is long and narrow like a single lane driveway and she and her boys live at the end of it. However there is a good sized place to turn around, and I am able…with much guidance…to back into a section of the turn-around area. No small accomplishment…for me at least! (Ok, not that straight, but what the heck!)
I hope to be able to park WS in this area, but it has been decided that I need to be backed up to the garage, which calls for a lot of maneuvering to get into this specific spot. Once again I hand over my keys, but to Debbie this time….a female with great back up skills. Ladies, we CAN do it! I ask Debbie how she learned and she casually remarks “oh we used to have a trailer…’.
I’ll get there!
On Sunday we have a nice family BBQ (my daughter-in-laws family).
Monday we spend some time in Seattle and I order a Soy Latte from the Starbucks at Pikes Place…the first Starbucks store ever, established in 1971.
Later in the day Joy and Shiloh go to a dog park that includes a beach and they swim in Puget Sound!
This morning I take a shower! Good news! My first shower in WS, but NOT my first shower since I left Monterey, don’t worry! 🙂 I’ve been using other shower facilities up until now. The next thing I do is take an almost empty propane tank to have it refilled….another first for me. This may be the first time that tank has ever been filled, and it’s certainly the first time a tank has been filled since I owned WS. I also gas up JR while I’m out. I am able to get the tank back safe and sound, hooked up and into it’s place all by myself!
Next I rinse off the Salty Dogs. The salt doesn’t seem to bother them but the smell is starting to bother me!
Next I begin cooking. There is a favorite soup that I like to make, and this is the first time I attempt it since moving into WS. I bought a pressure cooker a couple of years back so that I’d be able to cook quickly and use less propane, and it works really well for my yummy Lentil soup. I don’t measure anything, just toss some french lentils, a little brown rice and water in the cooker and when it attains pressure let it cook for about 18 minutes. Then I use it as a regular pot with a lid, add spices to taste, carrots, onions, celery, cabbage, (because these are the veggies I have on hand) a little hot sauce and soy sauce and a can of diced tomatoes. YUMMM.
Now awaiting my son and daughter-in-law to roll down the drive any minute. I wonder if they will have some soup? 🙂
(Pictures coming)
Wandering Spirit 
you sound like one happy camper my friend!
Yes, having a good time! Love learning this stuff!
Regarding the refill of the propane tank: someone on rv.net or RVSue’s site said NOT to let the propane people swap out tanks with you…that the tank they swap with you might have been used to make meth. Keep your own good tanks and get those refilled. Then, too, they might give you a tank that’s out-of-date and another propane store will not be able to refill it. I’m sure Mike or another reader more knowledgeable about this can give you a better explanation, if needed.
You might want to check on YouTube how to back your trailer. Or, you can go to the Lazydaze site and they’ll show you the proper way to back up.
Proud of you. Have a good time. Take care.
Cat Lady
Gosh Cat Lady I swear I replied to your comment hours ago but it’s not here now…
Wanted to mention that I too heard it’s never a good idea to exchange tanks, and I didn’t do that, I just had my own tank filled.
And yes I’ve watched lots of videos about backing up and I’ve listened to the instructions, but I think I just need to keep doing it. Having the steering wheel in my hands and relating that to what is happening to the trailer… Of course some really excellent in person instruction in a non stressful environment wouldn’t hurt!
You take care too Cat Lady!
You know, a pressure cooker is a really wonderful idea. Thank you! I would not have thought of using one to be economical on propane. I think I’ll have to try that, too. Growing up, my family’s meals were frequently prepared in a pressure cooker. I’ve never used one as an adult, but it looked pretty easy.
I’m getting ready to head north myself…leaving next week. My first stop will be Eureka and then, hopefully, a campground in Redwood National Park. By the end of September I hope that I, too, will be in Seattle. It’s funny how similar our itineraries are – I planned my route so that I could park in a friend’s driveway in a suburb of Seattle called Renton.
Wishing you a happy day!
–Michael
Pressure cookers have come a long way from ‘back in the day’. 🙂 I got mine on Amazon and of course it doubles as a regular heavy duty pan, since I got a regular lid to fit it also. It comes with a steaming pan as well.
So glad you will get to hang out with the Redwoods!
I saw signs for Renton….off 405 I believe.
Hi Mickey! Miss you. Trying to be the new mbc nurse, Judy n I that is. Glad u r doing well. You look so look happy n relaxed! The kids too, salt n all! Love, Terese
Hi Terese!
I miss you too girl! All the staffing changes must be in effect now, except for Anne on vacation. Hope everyone is settling in to their new spots.
You and Judy doing MBC sounds perfect to me!
Loving this life but lots of learning and adapting for all 3 of us!