A great group of ladies calling themselves the Widows Breakfast Club invited me to join them at Louie’s for breakfast and show a few photos of my trip. They requested about a 15 minute program. Of course, I was excited to do it, but concerned about the “15 minute” part of it. Those of you that know me are aware that I can talk for hours about my expedition. Well, as you might guess, my presentation ran about an hour and I didn’t even finish the journey. I will have to learn to limit my stories and stick to the script to stay closer to the requested timeline. Thank you ladies for inviting me and being interested in my...
He followed in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. Tuesday, Noel Oliver stopped by KHQA to share his experiences with KHQA’s Brooke...
I have selected some of the better photos that give an overall view of the entire journey. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5885388523482493249″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”190″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
First of all, I owe some words of appreciation to many of you. The first Thank You goes to my wife for her support and encouragement. She has listened to me talking about and planning this journey for a long, long time. I am sure she thought it would never really happen– that’s what I thought too for many years. She has always understood my wish to actually take this adventure and she has always understood that I wouldn’t shut up about it until I did it. She has put up with a lot from me and in reality, this is just one little quirk of mine; one of many she has learned to live with. Thank you so much to my wonderful wife Judy. The next person I need to thank is my son Adam. He too has listened to this dream for a long time. I think it was his guidance and assistance with the blogging possibilities that made me finally decide to “pull the trigger” on this journey. His expertise in that field made it a no brainer for me and his willingness to work with me every night of the trip, made it possible. Next my Thank You expressions should go to the unknown number of elementary students from around the world that at least occasionally peaked in on my blog. Their interest and curiosity about one of my favorite subjects encouraged me to keep at it and make that journal entry every night of the trip, no matter how late at night it took me and Adam to get the job done. I really hope that this adventure has stoked at...
The last leg of our journey. Although there was still some beautiful country to see, we were on the last leg of our trip and we were determined to get home. California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois in a pretty short period from Sunday to Wednesday evening. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5882028561370882113″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
Because of continuing winter weather in the extreme North, Judy and I decided to take a more southern route for home and that could include a brief visit with our family in the San Francisco area. A really great chance to see Rebecca and Clarke, and Oh Yeah, Paul and Pam too. We were able to see two Little League games with Clarke and attend a school Open House. Both of them are growing so quickly, if we don’t make an effort to see them, they will be adults and on their own before we realize it. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5879389615309947953″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
Everyone is attracted to Southern California but the North half has the beauty of the state. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5878038340646951969″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
This time my wife is with me and the trip will have a little different flavor. The first full day on the Oregon coast was very cold, windy and rainy, so we decided to take a more inland route. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5877666987472695969″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
Every minute of visiting with these guys was precious. It all flew by so quickly. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5876833784944362097″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
Judy and I flew to Tucson for a business conference for a few days. The keynote speakers were Colin Powell, Tom Daschle, and Dr. Bill Frist. General Colin Powell was the 65th Secretary of State, Former National Security Advisor and Four star General. Tom Daschle was a policy advisor and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. Bill Frist, MD is a former U.S. Senator from Tennessee and the U.S. Senate Majority Leader. The desert/mountain scenery is totally different than what we had been seeing in the Seattle area. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5874933963002021329″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
More photos of our family and scenery in Washington. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5874932804640908801″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
Judy and I ventured out on our own in the nearby countryside. Beautiful landscapes to photograph. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5873521744869623329″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
First 24 hours in Seattle area were amazing. Judy and I were able to see some of our family here and will see more tomorrow. The view from our bedroom balcony at Greg’s house is one of a kind. The snow topped Olympic Mountains just beyond the Puget Sound are pretty cool to see when you awake. Greg has a real special red 1965 Sunbeam Tiger that actually is connected to his childhood. It is a beautiful car and he is pretty proud of it, rightfully so. Judy and I took a little drive to a nearby village of Mukilteo. It is a pretty cool town with a lighthouse, great seafood, and a ferry. We wandered around the village, photographed the lighthouse and boarded the ferry for a ride over to Clinton and back. When we got back, it was time for lunch so we visited a well known walk-up seafood “joint”. We had a halibut and chips special and it was by far the very best I have ever had. In the afternoon, Greg offered to give us a tour of the area if Judy would agree to be the pilot. The photos speak for themselves. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5873186783270305857″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
For those of you still hanging around this website, here are some beach and sunset photos that I took today. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5872480434157562689″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”160″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
The Pacific was the destination assigned by President Jefferson and The Corps succeeded. So many months, and days, and miles, and troubles, and struggles and yet it is sad that it is over. That pretty well describes the feelings of Captains Lewis and Clark; and I must say it also describes my feelings. This afternoon, I am sad that it is over. I can honestly say that I have “planned” or at least dreamt about this journey since I was a young boy. Of course I didn’t know everything about their journey and I still don’t, even after this trip, but I knew enough about it that it created a deep curiosity and a yearning in me. I wanted to see at least some of the places they described and to contemplate their strengths and their drive. Now I have done just that. Numerous times, over the last 28 days, I have stood at the river bank, read a selection from their journals, looked upstream and pictured them rounding the bend headed west. I didn’t get to see any live grizzly bears and I didn’t get to the point that I had to eat anything undesirable, but I did see buffalos, an elk, a few bald eagles, a lot of ring-necked pheasants, and even a few prairie dogs. I didn’t have to “camp” in my truck even though I was prepared to do it if necessary. I did struggle a few days in the snow and several days in the rain, but I also had some beautiful sunshine that kept my spirits up. I ventured off the Lewis and Clark journey...
Cold, windy, and rainy; just as described in all their journals. The Oregon coast lived up to their descriptions in all aspects. A beautiful coast for sure, but cold and damp all day. As the one sign says, “The end of the Lewis and Clark Trail”. Seaside, OR N46.01491 W123.91120 Salt Works N45.98466 W123.93213 Ecola State Park N45.91955 W123.97405 Daily data: Beginning odometer at Comfort Inn, Astoria, OR was 31,025 miles. Ending odometer at the same place is 31,071 miles. Bought fuel at Astoria, OR. Bought 9.333 gallons @ $3.439 for a total of $32.10. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5871666593272316209″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”150″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
