Can't believe it...

I can't believe that none of the 2011 posts.. posted.. I have NO CLUE what has happened or where they went.. but it has been awhile so I guess I will go ahead and start doing this again. Or at least try...
Since the last post on here.. We have gone to Rome Italy and are now getting ready to head to Ireland for a week in March. Then in September, we head to England for our two weeks on the canal. Between trips.. we have the Coast Guard Auxiliary and I have Buoy 10 in Astoria.. (actually I am over at Cape Disappointment).
So now that I have gotten back on here.. I will try to keep it updated..
Ya'all take care!
Keri

heading south

I know.. finally.. well we finally left Spokane.. Nov.14, 2010.. We left AFTER we ate at D'Lish'es..Mels favorite spot for a burger :) It was a little foggy but could see in from of us okay. Not see for miles.. but could see okay. Once we got up by Cheney, Wa.. we were long out of the fog and enjoying overcast/sunny skies.

Heading down 395... we stop at the truck stop opposite the rest area.. closer, larger and easier to get out and into. Jaxe did her normal hunting and Mel did his normal 20 minute power nap. That is where I learned.. Mel forgot to close the valve on the water. He had left it open incase it froze while we were home.. so all the water I put on.. ran right on out ... At least it wasn't the black water tank leaking!!

We stopped in Tri-Cities to have dinner at Tony Roma's.. I had a good dinner but they sure cheapened up the ribs.. man there was hardly any meat on them. They were still good..so says Mel.. I had chicken.

Well I see why none of the blogs got posted.. lol they were still sitting on here.. waiting to be reviewed before posting.. So will post and then get on the rest of them.. sorry all..

Keri

IT'S COLD OUT!!!!

My goodness.. where.. let me say again WHERE did our summer go to? It seems like just last week it was finally starting to turn warm.. but then.. it was mid- July :-) Summer was horribly late to come.. and super fast to leave... and here we sit! We had our vacation in France.. was blessed with beautiful fall weather.. cool crisp mornings.. and warm afternoons. We had beautiful trees turning all shades of fall colors.. they turned faster when we were coming back.. but it was pretty. I am sure it is even prettier now. BUT....

We are home.. and busy getting the RV ready to head south.. and good thing too.. Like I said.. it is getting dern cold. The plan is to head into arizona.. we want to go to Lake Havasu and then I want to see my grand daughter Kaitlyn.. and then to Yuma.. Lots of great motorcycle riding, swimming and riding my bike. Oh .. and when we see Kaitlyn.. :) I want to see my son Kelley and daughter in law Tammy too!

This will be the longest trip we have taken in the RV.. so we have our fingers crossed there will be no problems. Maybe we should travel with Dana and Scott.. lol.. if it breaks down.. :) She is my connection! (If there is any RV's out there... Dana and her mom has written a great book on RVing made eazy.. from A to Z) she even gives me ideas.. No matter how long you have been RVing.. you should read this book, hopefully you can learn by HER mistakes.. and like me.. I go.. OH... NOW I UNDERSTAND! Anyway.. little plug for her book.. Hmmmm. Christmas is coming up ya know!

Anyway.. We want to stop for a few days at Lake Havasu.. go out with a member of the Coast Guard Flotilla on the lake and explore a wee bit around there. Then.. on to Kelley and Tammys and spend a few days there and then head on down to Yuma. It will be good to get settled and get into a routine.

Well.. will talk to you all later..

Take care.. Keri

Last couple nights in London..

Well getting ready to move hotels. I had made the reservation at Marriott, before we left the states and I used our points for it so we have to move there today. But that is okay. It is a nice hotel and has a view of the river and well it is one of them, where you don't need to do anything but relax hotels :)
We went back to the Italian restaurant last night. It seems the night before they gave us the wrong check.. Mel just signed it and when I noticed the mistake it was later that night. so we went back and they gave us a free meal.. I am sure though even with a free meal, they still came out ahead on the deal. But as usual it was marvelous! I had the same thing, and so did Mel. I have to find the card, in order to leave the name on here. And everything right now.. is packed up.
Yesterday we were going to go to Westminster Abby, but never made it.. I let Mel sleep all day long. I even took a nap which was nice.. it was a do nothing day :) How lazy is that!
We had been checking into going to Egypt next year.. but I think now.. it might be changed to either Venice or Germany and do the boats. I know if it is Venice.. I have to order the boat now.. they go fast in that area :) But who knows where our next big adventure will take us :)
We have so much to do when we get back.. we have to get the RV ready to leave for Arizona.. then I can FINALLY see my granddaughter Kaitlyn. I am looking forward to that! We have waited a long time for her. :) Plus I will be able to see my grand daughter Karli before we leave.. maybe I will see if I can take her for a day or a little while or something. Only problem with kids is they grow up so darn fast!
Going to stop my rambling here and will post later.
You all take care.. Keri

Oh.. rental car and creme Brule'e...and lock!

Oh yes I almost forgot the excitement of the trip.. Let me back up and tell you a little in detail.. Our car rental papers said ... return to train station or airport. We were leaving from the train station, so why not.. right.. turn the car in there. It makes since right. Okay we have a garmin (gps) and we set it to find the GARE STATION.. Because after talking to one car rental place, she said the return is just past the rail station , there is a sign and leave the car there and take the keys to the office inside the rail station. Okay sounds easy enough..
Well for some reason the gps took us all through different areas.. which... was okay, had to get to the other side of the tracks anyway. So we get to the other side, drive past the rail station.. look for the sign for the car return and nothing.. Mel wants to go further and I said no.. it has to be here.. once more around.. finally I had him stop a couple blocks up (bunch of one way roads) and I got out and walked down to the station..Meantime he is trying to find something on the gps.. I knew it had to be somewhere close, but I couldn't see a sign. Well I got across the street from a sign that said PARK... and below that were like 8 little emblems of car rental places.. they were about 6 inches long and 3 inches high. No wonder I never saw them. So I walked back.. told Mel .. we park the stupid car and walk to the rail station..
Of coarse I realized sooner I had forgotten our train tickets in Messac.. because the night before we unloaded all of our stuff on the boat, so we wouldn't have to haul it down on the train that day.So we had to buy new tickets, but then we would have anyway because we would have missed our train while looking for the car rental place.. THEN.. when we got our tickets we got them going to Nantes.. we go out and sit and wait for the train when it hits us.. crap we aren't going to Nantes.. we are going to Messac.. so we run over change our tickets and have 15 minutes to get to our train.. phew.. close call.. But we arrived in Messac.. had our nice walk and survived the train ordeal!

now about the Creme Brulee.. at the market here.. SUPER U I found in the dairy isle.. a little something that Mel might like in the evenings.. we all know how he loves his snacks! Well it said "Creme Brule'e, with a' la Vanille Bourbon" Thought what the heck.. can't hurt to try.. OMG that was so good.. then I looked at the package.. 96% cream.. well just slap that on my butt! It was.. fantastic.. I even bought him another one for tonight.. not sure if I will eat mine though.. might have to.. it was good.. :)

Second to the last lock (that I have to do) I am so tired, so dripping wet, it just poured down and the wind blew.. very little on me was dry! Except parts under my rain coat. And I get up there, and this time we are heading down.. so the water flows OUT the lock, not in.. I get up and open the one side.. Mel brings the boat in.. I tie it up.. I walk over to the other end.. start opening the flood gate and Mel is yelling at me.. I look up and OH CRAP.. I had not shut the back flood gates... so water was pouring out as fast as it came in.. It doesn't do anything because I was at the level with the water.. but man.. did I feel stupid.. I was so tired and wet.. I just wanted it over with.. So I go back.. shut the back gates.. go BACK up front.. let the water out.. wait for it to level.. and open them up and off he goes.. he picks me up at the dock.. and the NEXT gate I did it all right. I think what made me so mad.. is the people who would go through the locks and leave the flood gate up.. then I had to do it.. Lets just say my neck, shoulders and arms are sore.. it isn't as easy as you might think it is.

Well today .... onto Messac.. We might leave early.. go into Rennes and do NOTHING.. watch French tv.. duh.. But I will grab a couple books and read them.

Till later.. ya all take care..

stupid post.. Navy boat in Redon France

I haven't figured out how to get all the photos into an order.. or line and well never mind.. I wanted to tell you in the town of Redon, at the marina, sits an old white boat.. on the side it says US NAVY and it was dated 1944

more photos.. even if this things posts them weird!

this is just going to be scenery along the canal.. Canal de Nantes a' Brest

there is a rock climber in this picture..



Lots of birds along the canal



really big boat for the canal.. REALLY BIG!