Ramada Limited Spokane

My friend Diane just reminded me that I hadn't finished the story with the jade earrings. Here is a photo of the finished product. I love them. The jade is actually a very pale green color (all jade starts out white and is affected by other minerals as to the colors). The settings are silver and I am very happy with them indeed.

Here I am trying to pack for yet another trip. Everything out ready to put 1/2 back....then another 1/2 back in a day or so. The good news is that we have really no restrictions on weight (other than the standard 2-bags at 50lbs each) and neither Southwest nor Mexicana is charging for baggage. No way I'll need that baggage limitation but I still worry about having to carry the stuff around!
Spokane, Washington, United States nomadgal

Finally got the truck back, all fixed and running beautifully. Decided to get on the road, though it was already 2 pm. Headed south along Flathead Lake through green forests and valleys to I-90, then west, west, west. All uphill, what a climb, to Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, then downhill into Washington State. Spent almost two hours trying to find Riverside State Park in the city of Spokane, finally set up the camper and tried to settle down for the night.

... and to thank the veterans at the fair and finally that we should show our support by singing the “Star Spangled Banner" and with that a recorded version of America’s national anthem shook through the speakers with such tear-jerking emotion that  everyone around us (with exception to those unable to and the Priest family) stood and placed their hands on their hearts and belted along with our 'Whitney Houston” singer.  Now I think it is fair to say you cannot ...

... of just going around a ring or for a trot around a park is definitely dull.   Thoroughly and utterly recommended. Honest guys forget the beach resorts for one year and try this.

Ps – for those that do not horse ride a tip (from Judith and Jane) was to wear pantyhose (tights)  - this was for the men and ladies of the group.  To aid chaffing.  Suggestion is that you don’t buy the spandex variety and make sure they are Queen Size for men.   

... rakes for clearing the bunkers! I teamed up with Tim to form a Brits team against Rob and Steve – the Yanks- in a Ryder Cup style four-ball match. Tim and Rob played really well with Steve and I contributing on some holes with the match going down to the last green for me to hole a 6 footer to halve the hole and win the game 1 up. A fantastic game on a gem of a course.

... gmacht sond**n händ eifach kilomet**wiis em b**g nah däruf baut.

Churz vorem idunkle hämm** hööch üb**eme see en bär entdeckt wo det go fische isch. Er hät sini büüti as uf** bracht und gnüsslich v**schlunge. Eus hät ** üb**haupt nöd beachtet, sind v**muetlich zwiit weg gsi und drum hämm** eus mittel steiwurf (kei angscht, nöd diräkt uf ihn) für äs foti vo vorne bem**kbar gmacht. Nachh** isch ** abzottlet ...

... not admit to the true superiority of the Garden State.

The rest of the drive was very pretty through Idaho and into Washington State. We stopped at a rest area that had a most peculiar animal....the ground squirrel. There were dozens of them..scurrying about across the grass, and the best part is that they would walk right up to you! Adorable. Def check out the pictures and video.

We arrived at our Comfort Inn, but had a bit ...

... wet. Hmm. Reasonable, I suppose. I gently kick/push the ceiling a few more times, listening to the snow dropping on the fly and noting that the tentwalls and ceiling are soaked. Push the snowpack away from the bases of the vestibules, get out to tighten up the fly, vent the vestibules from the top for some breathing air, make sure my down bag isn't touching anything wet, and set my three watch alarms for five, six, and seven. A couple more ...

... plate back to the kitchen, where we nervously speculated about the angry confrontation that was sure to occur between our waitress and whatever poor kitchen staffer was responsible for cooking the rice. After some time had passed, a new wrap was delivered. This one featured ingredients that were considerably less reminiscent of jagged glass. However, the Thai sauce was quite spicy for the tastes of both Mel and Kia. Kia, particularly, feared that her lips would ...