Comfort Inn Cottage Grove

... of my trip, like where I'm living, the classes I'll be taking, etc. But after my orientation today I'm officially excited. I've started to get back into that old French mindset, the one that I've experienced before my other two previous trips to France. By the time I leave it will have been almost two and half years since I've been there, and while going to a completely different country with a completely different language ...

As anyone that has had the unfortunate task of traveling with me can imagine.....in order to get to our 8am flight at Regan Airport in DC, we got up at 4am and were at the airport by 6am. So the early start made for a long day, but with Florence struggling with a cold (no fever, so it's not Swine Flu), and a sore shoulder, we were ready to get home. <br><br>The flights were right on time, and we even caught the shuttle to our car with perfect ...

... to say.. I had a great time. <br><br><br>In other news..<br><br>Rob' brother Brian and his wife Sue arrived on Monday and are staying to Friday! It's great to see some family! And Mum and the boys are coming for the weekend! YAY! <br><br>I've been hard at work on my halloween costume for the party we're going to this weekend.. pictures to be posted in the future!<br><br>Today.. solo adventure.<br>

I went back up to Eugene, picked up Katie and we drove back to Idaho. On the way there we camped in the Cascades at the Metoleous River. The photos don't really show how incredible this is, at the mouth of the Metoleous the water comes out of the side of the mountain. Turn around and it's a full river.<br><br>We drove through the Craters of the Moon National Monument, also an incredible area.<br>

We left the ranch and came to Eugene OR a city I lived in back in 1988-90. I came here to participate in a few workshops and visit with good friends. This was the beginning of what I have called my ping-pong ball travels where I went between Eugene and Firth several times. This back and forth could be one of the reasons I was less motivated to ...

... 5 was easy to find and the ride was quick and pleasant although very cool to start. I told Alex we would still have to pay attention and try to resist the 'horse back to the barn' urge. 410 miles is still 410 miles. We did OK stopping every hour or so. The ride through Seattle was swift since motorcycles are allowed to ride in the car pool lanes. The clouds ...

... and a formal dinning room. The leg from Ketchikan was pleasant but still boring. Alex and I went separate ways while on the ferry(s). I gave him money and a room key. He met someone his age and they pretty much kept themselves occupied. I spent my time visiting and reading on the main observation deck. I found myself a nice seat by the window on the starbored side (right side for you lubbers). However my peace was frequently interrupted ...

... We returned to Cottage Grove to pick up a newly-washed RV (they surprised us with that!) and headed back to the coast for a night at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. This park is in the middle of the Oregon Dunes, and since it was a holiday weekend there were several thousand dune-loving ATV-riders camping out also. Each campsite seemed filled with at least 2 trucks, several ATV's, and way too many people. We moved on to get away from the crowds.

... capital in the world (La Paz), paddled a canoe on the highest lake in the world (Lake Titicaca), carried dynamite and fell down a mine shaft (not still carrying the dynamite) in a silver mine in the highest city in the world (Potosi), and stood with feet in both hemisphere near Quito. I had a tango lesson in Buenos Aires and attempted to samba at a club at 3 am in Rio at Carnival. I have mountain biked in the Andes, and down the highest volcano in the world. I have snorkeled ...

Hello again.. Had an easy ride to my friend Mick's home outside of this small town.. His five areas backs up to a pretty good size river and he pulls a few fish from it as he wants... This is very beautiful country and green, green, green... Lots of rain especially this time of the year. Mick and I hooked up when I sailed into Ocean Side marina near Key ...