I'm in Mucca while I watch some weather thing pass through. The drive today from Burns (220 miles) isn't that long but it is one of the more desolate drives you can make. Somewhere around Burns Junction, Oregon is the most isolated spot in the lower 48. Or maybe Fields, Oregon. It's a tough call. Winnemucca exists as a travelers place. Fuel, mechanics, motels, whatever someone might need. I'm in a brand-new RV park, using my Passport America...
When Oregon medical marijuana dispensaries begin selling cannabis to anyone this coming Thursday, there will be a few important differences between Washington, Colorado, and Oregon laws. I'm expecting Oregon to start at $8-$15 a gram of typical flower, compared to $10-$20 in Washington and $15-$25 in Colorado. The difference here is that Oregon is not charging any taxes until January 1. In WA and OR, a large harvest of outdoor-grown product is...
I was planning on getting here yesterday but when I was in Pendleton my toilet broke. Once I looked at the method for repairing it, I went for a new one. The casino lot is only good for 24 hours, but I didn't have any other place to do the swap, so I spent an extra day there. Today's drive was long and tiring, so I think I'll hang for an extra day here to rest. There's another long run coming up when I leave, not a lot things happening between...
I'm always one for a night in the casino parking lot. It's free, there's a truck stop next door for fuel, and it's a great location to launch for several destinations. In this case I'm taking 395 to John Day, up in the forest. That's a scenic route, but if I make good time I might continue on to Burns. The weather is on my side....
I'm in Toppenish now, at my favorite place to stay, the Yakama Nation RV Park. Usually I'm here a little earlier in the season, so I have to tolerate the smell of ripe mint and ready-to-harvest hops, another aromatic. It can get pretty heady, especially when you add the cedar mill. The mint field next door to my rig had been harvested, so the remains are only aromatic in the mornings. It is an extremely pleasant experience to get up in the AM to...
Last fall I drove I84 in Oregon and planned on another trip this year along the Columbia, this time on the Washington side. I'm in White Salmon in a decent RV park jammed up next to the highway on one side, the train tracks on the opposite, and a bridge crossing the river. There's not a lot of workable real estate along the river, and the recreation demands are extremely high here. Fishing and hiking, and then board sailing, kite-surfing, etc. I...
I'm in Centralia, Washington, trying out a place that's nicely located for future trips. Nice place, very expensive. But that's to be expected around here. As usual, I hated the goodbye to the peninsula. I really do enjoy that place more than anywhere else, but it has the problem of miserable winters. And it has other drawbacks. I took way too many ferry trips this summer, almost all to doctors and hospitals, a few to see family and do something...
My idea was to leave tomorrow and spend 3 or so days being a tourist on the way to Yakima. But it looks like rain for the next few days, so I'll sit here and wait it out. It's no fun moving in the rain.
California started the legal marijuana thing in 1996 with the first medical marijuana law in the land. Unfortunately the state did not define the regulations for the industry. Yesterday the legislature did, 19 years later. If signed by the governor, the new laws take effect in 2018. The leaders of CA know that an initiative to completely legalize cannabis in 2016 will pass, so they thought they should have some basic stuff in place beforehand....
Usually I'm not here for this event, I'm in Nevada, so I was looking forward to sticking around to see the Wooden Boat Festival. I was impressed. It is far bigger than what you'd expect in Port Townsend (a small place), and of very high quality. Admission fee is $15 a day, but consider it's the only revenue source for the organization. The food carts were excellent and varied, but pricey. Parking, as you can imagine if you know the town, was...
When I came to in the hospital I reached for the TV remote to find some news. CNN was reporting on the first of the theatrics from Donald Trump this election season. Hence, I have a permanent association with my heart surgery and Trump. So I am enjoying his show, one of the best ideas for a reality show I've seen: "Twist Your Politician's Balls". Now, who doesn't like that idea? So I'm watching him carefully. And I'm also watching the 15 other...
My friends Dave and Kathy will be on the road this weekend, and I have to mention what they've done for me this summer. We spent a week at Point Hudson, which is always nice except smoke kept the visibility low. And, we hung out for a while at the SKP park. I had a rather large number of dinners with them, Kathy being an excellent cook and Dave good on the grill. So thanks for the dinners, guys. Then there were the rides I needed to get my heart...