Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Arrived in Baltimore, MD.



April 11, 2017
Well, I am in the Portland, Oregon Airport and I already have had an eventful trip so I decided to blog so I won't forget.  It began by getting up at 5 AM and my brother-in-law took me to the bus station in Coos Bay, Or. (about 30 miles away) to meet the bus.  Last night I tried to eat something (A small salad and a 100% whole wheat English muffin) that didn't work, I it came back up and decided that I must not be able to eat yet.  I felt better today but only had 2 rice cakes and 2 crackers until about 3 PM and I had a half of Shaklee Energy bar.  I am in a restaurant in the AirPort in a booth in the back, hooked up to electricity and I will try to eat something here.  (Let's hope I don't do that again)  One of my adopted grandson's works here and I was hoping to see him but it is his day off.   Phooee!  Well maybe on my way back here.  Oh, No!, I just found out that he doesn't work here any more.  Bummer!  I called him to tell him I was here, any way.  I later got a text from him.

Let me tell you about my trip so far.  I left Coos Bay and enjoyed a wonderful scenic route to Eugene, Or., with lots of lush green trees, perfectly still lakes, with clear reflections of any snag, tree, and houses, that surrounded it, as if their were duplicates.. Moss engulfed trees hanging over the rivers and small rushing streams with white water.  Unique rustic houses and buildings of by-gone days, Crabby's Crab Shack near the ocean,  Lot's of places where artists had their art and woodworking on display in front of their dilapidated shacks.  It was cloudy but NOT RAINING in Oregon, for a change.  Wonderful ride!  I had a change of bus in Eugene and had to wait for 2 hours sitting in an old time Amtrak train station with the wooden benches, and out of the window I could see an old large Victorian house on a hill that looked like it was from the 19th century.  It was built by a Doctor and was open for tours.  While sitting on the hard benches, a passenger in front of me ask if I would watch his luggage,while he went to the restroom. When he returned he decided to stand in front of me and carry on a conversation all about the stuff that ticked him off.  He vented at some length, taking up most of the wait.  I decided not to complain about his complaining, or I would be in the same bucket.  He was from Baltimore originally.  I couldn't get a word in, to ask him any question.  My husband used to say that a person who talks a lot will always reveal themselves.  He went to the back of the bus when it came, and I sat in the front, in back of the driver, who was wonderful!
He was an older gentleman and I asked him what was on his "bucket" list, (A list of things you want to do before you, "kick the bucket").  He said he didn't really have one, that he was driving the bus, because he had lost a lot of money in the economic crash and really wanted to be full-time RVing with his wife in their 5th wheel RV and Photographing the Country.  He was a professional Photographer, and a very good one.  He showed me his website with some of his pictures, they were awesome!  He said all that before he even knew I was a "full-time RV'er.  Turned out he was a Member of the same Thousand Trails RV Resort System so we may see each other in the parks one day.  Anyway, the 3 hour trip flew by and he sounded like he was encouraged to consider it.  He ended up saying that he needed an income to pay off his bills.  I ask him, "If I could show you a way that you could reach that dream, with the income you needed, would you take a look at it?"  He said he would, we exchanged cards, we'll be in touch.  I found out his parents were in Shaklee.
Next was the Light Rail trip from the Amtrak station to the Airport.   I had to catch the train in front of the Greyhound Station.  Lot's of people hanging around who need Jesus.  I got on the train, had to change trains, then had to stand up because it was rush hour.  There was a young man, also standing, with his father reading a book and he had a paper bag from a book store.  He looked up and saw me looking at him and sort, of smiled.  I said, "I am impressed."  He looked surprised and said, "Why?"  I said because you are reading and you went to a book store, and evidently bought a book. He looked pleased and said, "Yeah, I guess you wouldn't expect it of this generation."  I made another positive, supportive comment, then I ask him, "Do you know Jesus? He looked baffeled, didn't know how to respond, finally mumbled something about not being religious.  I said, "You don't have to be religious to know Jesus, you should check Him out".  He got very uncomfortable, looking up at Dad.  I found out that he was 16 and I told him he was good looking, he grinned and I gave him my card with my blog on it, if he wanted to follow my travels.  He eagerly took it, I found out that he was from Las Vegas and we talked about where I stayed when I was there, anyway, it was a nice conversation.  There was something about him, I pray for all the people I meet. 
On to the Airport and the resturant.  My waitress was nice and pregnant, due next week, she ended up calling me Grandma Swann.  I left the restaurant and went to the counter to get ticket and pick up the wheel chair.  The "wheelchair guy" was had an accent and was very helpful and considerate and I ask him where he was from.  He said, "The Ukraine".  I started telling him about the family from the Ukraine that were Ministers at a Ukraine Church in Portland, that I had met in Palm Desert, and ask him if he went to Church.  He said yes and I said, then you know Jesus then.  He got so excited talking about Jesus and fascinated with our conversation that he took me in another direction so he could have more time with me in the wheelchair. 

He told me about how it was such a shame that so many people in America, where we are so blessed, won't acknowledge God in public, and be grateful for how he has blessed us.  He told me about how one time, on another job, there was an occasion where he asked if he could pray.  They told him that it wasn't allowed on the job.  He ask them, "You will not thank God,?  Do you not have a house, food, a car, nice things, and you do not thank God?"  They let him pray and he said that when he finished that grown men were crying.   We take so much for granted and others, like in the Communist countries, where it is forbidden to worship God, have to make great sacrifices to be a Christian.  He really appreciated Jesus. and the sacrifice He made to set us free.
We adopted each other, exchanged information and hugged, realizing, we were already related as Children of God.
I boarded the plane and was in a row by myself, had a nice fast (2hr) flight to San Diego, I should have stretched out and slept, which would have been the only sleep I would have gotten on the trip, but I was planning to sleep on the "red eye" out of San Diego.... NOT!
I changed planes and as we were boarding I noticed a lot of children and babies were boarding also.  Uh oh!  One baby sat right across from me and was a little fussy.  It was a 4 hour and 10 min. trip and about an hour into the trip my stomach didn't like my dinner, so, rejected it, I couldn't find the "special bags" they usually have available for such an occasion.  I prayed and realized I had a zip-lock gallon size, plastic bag with my crackers and rice cakes in it, I didn't have time before my dinner joined the crackers in the bag.  I was so blessed that everybody in the vicinity that could have observed me was asleep.  Then, my nose was running, face was messy and NO TISSUE!  I won't share now what I used, but God always provides and it worked perfectly.  After delivering my dinner and crackers in the bag to the Flight Attendant, I spent the next half of the flight in the bathroom, partly because it was so rough a flight that to get back to my seat would have caused some havoc, (the other part, you can imagine.) 

I Arrived in Baltimore, Maryland at 6:30 AM I got another wheelchair and a wonderful attendant.  She lived in Baltimore and this was her third day on the job.  She was a Christian and I gave her the FTHCM information so she could live stream, or now get it on youtube.com.

She gave me her information and she was adopted!

I called my Grandson, (who kept my car) after picking up the luggage, and found out that he was just leaving for the Airport (something didn't go as planned).  He was about an hour away. When he finally got there and we started to leave, he told me he hadn't gotten enough sleep and was falling asleep on the way up. SO I HAD TO DRIVE.  I hadn't slept, at that point, for 24 hours and although I had eaten very little in 4 days, I didn't feel too bad.  It was strange driving in morning rush hour traffic again and I had to drop my Grandson off at work and then drive to my friend who offered her, a nice basement apartment to me for the duration of my stay.  What a blessing!  We exchanged important information and she let me sleep.  After 28 hours with no sleep, I got 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep, then we visited for a while, I ate some chicken soup and crackers, IT STAYED DOWN!  I then went out to get keys made, shopped for stuff I needed, came back visited some more, put the stuff away, ate some more chicken soup and crackers and finished writing this blog. YIKES! I just looked at the time, it is 1:11AM.  GOOD NIGHT! oops. Good Morning!



April 11, 2017
Well, I am in the Portland, Oregon Airport and I already have had an eventful trip so I decided to blog so I won't forget.  It began by getting up at 5 AM and my brother-in-law took me to the bus station in Coos Bay, Or. (about 30 miles away) to meet the bus.  Last night I tried to eat something (A small salad and a 100% whole wheat English muffin) that didn't work, I it came back up and decided that I must not be able to eat yet.  I felt better today but only had 2 rice cakes and 2 crackers until about 3 PM and I had a half of Shaklee Energy bar.  I am in a restaurant in the AirPort in a booth in the back, hooked up to electricity and I will try to eat something here.  (Let's hope I don't do that again)  One of my adopted grandson's works here and I was hoping to see him but it is his day off.   Phooee!  Well maybe on my way back here.  Oh, No!, I just found out that he doesn't work here any more.  Bummer!  I called him to tell him I was here, any way.  I later got a text from him.

Let me tell you about my trip so far.  I left Coos Bay and enjoyed a wonderful scenic route to Eugene, Or., with lots of lush green trees, perfectly still lakes, with clear reflections of any snag, tree, and houses, that surrounded it, as if their were duplicates.. Moss engulfed trees hanging over the rivers and small rushing streams with white water.  Unique rustic houses and buildings of by-gone days, Crabby's Crab Shack near the ocean,  Lot's of places where artists had their art and woodworking on display in front of their dilapidated shacks.  It was cloudy but NOT RAINING in Oregon, for a change.  Wonderful ride!  I had a change of bus in Eugene and had to wait for 2 hours sitting in an old time Amtrak train station with the wooden benches, and out of the window I could see an old large Victorian house on a hill that looked like it was from the 19th century.  It was built by a Doctor and was open for tours.  While sitting on the hard benches, a passenger in front of me ask if I would watch his luggage,while he went to the restroom. When he returned he decided to stand in front of me and carry on a conversation all about the stuff that ticked him off.  He vented at some length, taking up most of the wait.  I decided not to complain about his complaining, or I would be in the same bucket.  He was from Baltimore originally.  I couldn't get a word in, to ask him any question.  My husband used to say that a person who talks a lot will always reveal themselves.  He went to the back of the bus when it came, and I sat in the front, in back of the driver, who was wonderful!
He was an older gentleman and I asked him what was on his "bucket" list, (A list of things you want to do before you, "kick the bucket").  He said he didn't really have one, that he was driving the bus, because he had lost a lot of money in the economic crash and really wanted to be full-time RVing with his wife in their 5th wheel RV and Photographing the Country.  He was a professional Photographer, and a very good one.  He showed me his website with some of his pictures, they were awesome!  He said all that before he even knew I was a "full-time RV'er.  Turned out he was a Member of the same Thousand Trails RV Resort System so we may see each other in the parks one day.  Anyway, the 3 hour trip flew by and he sounded like he was encouraged to consider it.  He ended up saying that he needed an income to pay off his bills.  I ask him, "If I could show you a way that you could reach that dream, with the income you needed, would you take a look at it?"  He said he would, we exchanged cards, we'll be in touch.  I found out his parents were in Shaklee.
Next was the Light Rail trip from the Amtrak station to the Airport.   I had to catch the train in front of the Greyhound Station.  Lot's of people hanging around who need Jesus.  I got on the train, had to change trains, then had to stand up because it was rush hour.  There was a young man, also standing, with his father reading a book and he had a paper bag from a book store.  He looked up and saw me looking at him and sort, of smiled.  I said, "I am impressed."  He looked surprised and said, "Why?"  I said because you are reading and you went to a book store, and evidently bought a book. He looked pleased and said, "Yeah, I guess you wouldn't expect it of this generation."  I made another positive, supportive comment, then I ask him, "Do you know Jesus? He looked baffeled, didn't know how to respond, finally mumbled something about not being religious.  I said, "You don't have to be religious to know Jesus, you should check Him out".  He got very uncomfortable, looking up at Dad.  I found out that he was 16 and I told him he was good looking, he grinned and I gave him my card with my blog on it, if he wanted to follow my travels.  He eagerly took it, I found out that he was from Las Vegas and we talked about where I stayed when I was there, anyway, it was a nice conversation.  There was something about him, I pray for all the people I meet. 
On to the Airport and the resturant.  My waitress was nice and pregnant, due next week, she ended up calling me Grandma Swann.  I left the restaurant and went to the counter to get ticket and pick up the wheel chair.  The "wheelchair guy" was had an accent and was very helpful and considerate and I ask him where he was from.  He said, "The Ukraine".  I started telling him about the family from the Ukraine that were Ministers at a Ukraine Church in Portland, that I had met in Palm Desert, and ask him if he went to Church.  He said yes and I said, then you know Jesus then.  He got so excited talking about Jesus and fascinated with our conversation that he took me in another direction so he could have more time with me in the wheelchair. 

He told me about how it was such a shame that so many people in America, where we are so blessed, won't acknowledge God in public, and be grateful for how he has blessed us.  He told me about how one time, on another job, there was an occasion where he asked if he could pray.  They told him that it wasn't allowed on the job.  He ask them, "You will not thank God,?  Do you not have a house, food, a car, nice things, and you do not thank God?"  They let him pray and he said that when he finished that grown men were crying.   We take so much for granted and others, like in the Communist countries, where it is forbidden to worship God, have to make great sacrifices to be a Christian.  He really appreciated Jesus. and the sacrifice He made to set us free.
We adopted each other, exchanged information and hugged, realizing, we were already related as Children of God.
I boarded the plane and was in a row by myself, had a nice fast (2hr) flight to San Diego, I should have stretched out and slept, which would have been the only sleep I would have gotten on the trip, but I was planning to sleep on the "red eye" out of San Diego.... NOT!
I changed planes and as we were boarding I noticed a lot of children and babies were boarding also.  Uh oh!  One baby sat right across from me and was a little fussy.  It was a 4 hour and 10 min. trip and about an hour into the trip my stomach didn't like my dinner, so, rejected it, I couldn't find the "special bags" they usually have available for such an occasion.  I prayed and realized I had a zip-lock gallon size, plastic bag with my crackers and rice cakes in it, I didn't have time before my dinner joined the crackers in the bag.  I was so blessed that everybody in the vicinity that could have observed me was asleep.  Then, my nose was running, face was messy and NO TISSUE!  I won't share now what I used, but God always provides and it worked perfectly.  After delivering my dinner and crackers in the bag to the Flight Attendant, I spent the next half of the flight in the bathroom, partly because it was so rough a flight that to get back to my seat would have caused some havoc, (the other part, you can imagine.) 

I Arrived in Baltimore, Maryland at 6:30 AM I got another wheelchair and a wonderful attendant.  She lived in Baltimore and this was her third day on the job.  She was a Christian and I gave her the FTHCM information so she could live stream, or now get it on youtube.com.

She gave me her information and she was adopted!

I called my Grandson, (who kept my car) after picking up the luggage, and found out that he was just leaving for the Airport (something didn't go as planned).  He was about an hour away. When he finally got there and we started to leave, he told me he hadn't gotten enough sleep and was falling asleep on the way up. SO I HAD TO DRIVE.  I hadn't slept, at that point, for 24 hours and although I had eaten very little in 4 days, I didn't feel too bad.  It was strange driving in morning rush hour traffic again and I had to drop my Grandson off at work and then drive to my friend who offered her, a nice basement apartment to me for the duration of my stay.  What a blessing!  We exchanged important information and she let me sleep.  After 28 hours with no sleep, I got 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep, then we visited for a while, I ate some chicken soup and crackers, IT STAYED DOWN!  I then went out to get keys made, shopped for stuff I needed, came back visited some more, put the stuff away, ate some more chicken soup and crackers and finished writing this blog. YIKES! I just looked at the time, it is 1:11AM.  GOOD NIGHT! oops. Good Morning!

Monday, April 10, 2017

Off to Maryland tomorrow



April 10, 2017
Off to Maryland tomorrow.  I will start my day at 5 AM, leave on a 5 hour bus trip with a 2 hour layover, arrive in Portland at 2:20PM, go to the airport, wait until 7:40PM.  Hopefully I will get to visit with a Grandson I adopted 4 years ago, while in Portland Airport, (he works there).  Then fly to San Diego, change planes and fly the red eye to Baltimore, MD., arriving Wednesday morning.  I have my pillow.  Hopefully I can sleep.
I have experienced a "bug", (vomiting and diarrhea) yesterday, and today, just diarrhea hopefully it will move on out and be gone by tomorrow, it has left me a little weak.  I haven't been able to eat much.  I feel good otherwise, am taking more probiotics, etc.. to help with the fight.  I have been "holed" up in the RV for two days, so I wouldn't expose others. 
I am trusting God with this.  All of my tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable, so if it doesn't work, He's got a better plan.  Thank you for your prayers.  So far I am led to go.  I did reserve a wheel chair for the flights.
I am assuming that you won't want to hear about my trip to Maryland so unless something worth writing about happens, I probably won't blog until I get back.  Tell me what you think.  Otherwise, it will be the 3 or 4th of May when I return.
I may let you know how I made out on the trip there, just so you know I made it safe.  I am looking forward to seeing my Family and some of my adopted Family and my Shaklee Family in Maryland. 

Friday, April 7, 2017

Oregon My Oregon, Finally Here!



April 7, 2017
Too much life to write a blog!  I will have to outline again so you get the gist of what is happening, and I will try to fill in the blanks later.  My last blog said I was on the way to Oregon and yes, I MADE IT TO OREGON after attempting since before Thanksgiving.  The weather was beautiful for the drive and now IT IS POURING RAIN AND WINDY.  I am parked at my Sister and Brother-in-law's house in Myrtle Point, Oregon (the town where I went to High School)  I found out why I had to stay in Southern California for the winter.  I would have had a very hard time getting here for all of the road closures and bad weather which caused them.
God always knows best.  Instead of dealing with all of that, I was enjoying the pool! WOOPEE!  OK here goes the outline:
April 3, 2017
·        Left Catati, CA in the Napa Valley, vine country. driving Rt. 101
·        Beautiful drive, small farms, large vineyards, rolling green hills.  All the hills are green in California, with all the rain they had.  I have never seen green hills in California before, they are usually brown and dry.  They were beautiful!
·        Almost immediately after, came the mountains and the Redwoods.
·        Avenue of the Giants, Drive through tree (I didn't, too small, I'm too big), Tree House (gift shop in a tree), Confusion Hill, Trees of Mystery (Big statue of Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox)
·        Lots of road construction due to road slides and cave-ins, some down to one lane with a flagger directing traffic, some temporary solar powered traffic lights. Stopped in Eureka, CA, went to Staples, Subway, Gas station (paid $3.07 for gas (cheapest)
·        Looked for a campground, GPS took me down a dead end road, with a small area to turn around.  Just before I backed into a swamp, god's angel appeared as another RV'er, and stopped me and helped me turn around (he was lost too).  Praise the Lord!
·        After driving 238 miles, I stayed the night in Emerald Forrest Camp grounds, Trinidad, CA in the beautiful Redwoods, one mile from the Pacific Ocean. (Hadn't seen the ocean yet). A huge Redwood stump next to me that you could walk into and would hold about 15-20 people inside. (drove
·        Left Trinidad, continued North.  More one-lane roads under construction.  Twice while stopped, I was able to go to the bathroom, (thank god there was one on board!). SAW THE PACIFIC OCEAN!  Got lots of pictures as I was driving, they turned out well.
·        Beautiful Ocean, crossed into Oregon, stopped for lunch, overlooking the ocean.
·        Continued up the coast.  I thought I might have left the emergency break on, so I pulled the leaver (I thought), it was the hood release! I drove several miles and finally noticed the hood was flapping. (Can't see it from the drivers seat). I stopped on the side of the road and secured it.
·        Weather is perfect for driving, cloudy but no rain.
·        Arrived in Myrtle Point, Oregon, where my Sister lives, at 3:30 PM on her 82nd birthday!  They both look good and it was good to see them. I had to pick up my brother-in-law at the Auto Repair shop, where he left his antique truck to be fixed.  My Sister can't drive but  is better, and healing well after her accident. I drove her to a pot-luck meeting. (She can't drive with her arm healing).  She got lots of love for her Birthday and her dining room table was full.  She is such a giver and is very much appreciated.  When we returned, we all went to bed early, they had a house guest, a friend that has helped them a lot.  I didn't hook up the RV.
April 6, 2017
·        Had a good night's sleep.  Backed the RV in position and hooked up to their electricity and water.  Started washing clothes, met my Sister at another meeting and took her to lunch, then to therapy.  While she was there, I went across the street to visit a friend that is trying to sell everything and move back to Vermont, where her family is.  It was good to see her. 
·        We came home, I finished washing clothes, found some clothes I had left here, which I need now with the climate change.  We opened Christmas and Birthday presents.  I got lots of goodies, a wonderful book (about an 85 yr old driving and RV on a Christmas Joy Ride from Chicago to Phoenix, AZ after she sold her house), Jewlery, articles, slippers, a microwave taco warmer, lots of stuff I needed.  They are so thoughtful.
·         My brother-in-law had to pick up his truck from the shop, so we took him to the shop and went to the Library to get 10 books for my Sister to read.  She loves to read.  They are very busy for 80 year olds, and  are still nearly as active as they always were.

April 7, 2017
·        Woke up during the night and the electricity was off so I truned on the propane for heat.  Temperature in in the 40s at night, warmer during the day but all last night, (after I came into the RV), it poured down rain and was windy all night.  I was rocked to sleep and rain on the roof is great.  We are on a hill, don't know what all the rain will do to an already soaked Oregon.
·        My Brother-in-Law had forgotten about me being hooked up, and shut off the breaker switch in the house before he went to bed.  I have electric again!
·        My Shaklee orders came and a heater, I had ordered which I needed as my other heater just died.  I also noticed that the last time I dumped with my sewer hose, it had sprung a leak on top, so I knew I would have to replace it for the next time I dumped.  Guess what?  I had ordered a new hose and it had arrived here before I got here, so I am all set!  I had forgotten I had ordered it.
·        This afternoon I took my Sister to get her hair cut and when we got back, I realized I needed to do a lot of organizing and packing for my trip next Tuesday.  I have to see when the bus leaves for Eugene, from Coos Bay so I can catch the train to Portland to catch the red eye out of Portland Airport to go to Maryland for 3 weeks.  When I return, I will have more time to catch up with my Sister and maybe they can do some traveling
          with me.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Oregon , here I come!




April 4, 2017
Napa Valley, Northern California.
Finally on my way to Oregon!  (I think) I was not able to blog before because I did not charge my computer, and I was not connected to electricity and did not want to run the generator.  Quite an eventful trip so far but I can't elaborate now because I want to get on the road to be at my Sister's for her birthday tomorrow.  It is about and 8 hour drive from here.  I will outline the happenings and when I get a minute, I will elaborate.
Saturday, April 1
·        Stopped at 99 cent store and Sam's Club on the way to Menifee
·        Met friends in Menifee
·        Judy did a surprise for my Sister
·        Heard from Grandson Joseph
Sunday April 2
·        Saw live stream of our Church service 6:30 AM
·        Left Menifee 10 AM
·        GPS detoured me some.
·        Beautiful drive through the fruitful valley.
·        Stopped for night in a truck stop inLost Hills, CA. with RV company, Larry and Tony
·        Larry helped with bed
Monday, April 3
·        Stopped at Shaklee home office in Pleasanton, met Jim.
·        All my hang-up clothes fell down off the hanging place.
·        Traffic in Oakland, crossed Oakland Bridge, $5 toll (had $10)
·        Contacted Ken and Elaine Wolff in Petaluma, CA
·        Had Chaney "Zoom" call and dinner with them in my RV.
·        Saw two wild Turkeys
·        Spent night on the street in a town.
·         On my way to Oregon.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

April already? Month # 6, on the road



April 1, 2017

April already?  Wow I am so blessed to be flourishing!  Today I go to Menifee, CA (about and hour & 15 minutes away).  "My plan" is to stay a couple of days, then head toward Oregon.
Yesterday, I washed 1 load of clothes and met Lady Janie who is full time by herself, working from her RV as a personal assistant, 70 years old, looks 50 and has only been RVing since October.  We hit it off and went to the pool later and found out we were both raised using an outhouse!  She wants to write a book too.  Three of my Grandchildren were in the hot tub and I introduced Lady Janie as "Aunt Janie" to them.  They are all coming over to say good bye today.