East Olympia 'Moochdocking Camp'
We will visit several friends pay our respects to the husband of another who passed all too suddenly this summer, and children/grandchildren as well. It also allowed me to do a little more research on my next book. 
Original Olympia Brewing Company remodel
Every time we visit we torture ourselves by driving by the old Olympia Brewing Company facility. The centerpiece of Western Washington for decades and the place my dad worked for over 30 years finally closed in 2003. The property has continually degraded over the years, but recently a group decided to remodel it...….not the large facility, but the original brewery built in 1896. The restoration is in progress. A glimmer of hope of our past for our future. Of course what visit to Tumwater would be complete without a vist to Eagan's Big Tom.
Wednesday is Smittys Day at Eagan's
Fellow THS Alumni and retired Olympia Fire Chief Larry Dibble with
his collector 'hooptie' at the recent Old Highway 99 Company Car Show
fundraiser for burn victims injured youth camp
Aunt Bonnie & Rich
Our son Joe & Gail
We also took in some Casino Therapy while in town. Barb finished $88 up and I just guarded the sports bar television. In the end I shot several hundred photos of homeless and finished of the latest chapter of my next book. As my privilege one night I prepared dinner for our hosts which this visit was Reindeer Meatloaf with Smashed Taters n Green Beans. It was a hit and lasted for 3 nights.
We headed west from Olympia to the Pacific Coast to enjoy the beach for a few days enroute south. Unfortunately when we hooked up departure morning I noticed the front hitch jack motor was a bit glitchy so when we got to the campsite I checked it out only to find the gears on the control spindle were chewed up. We couldn't unhook so we spent the first night in camp, headed back nearly 40 miles to a dealer the next day that replaced the entire electric hitch jack for us. This RV has about 80,000 miles on it so this type of malfunction isn't completely unexpected. After our Alaska run this summer, it isn't the only repair needed.
Arriving in Tillamook we set up camp 3 miles south of town at the airport campground. Nice small, 52 level gravel sites with water available, fire pit rings, picnic tables, and a central bathroom, but no electricity or dump. There is easy access to AVGAS and Jet Fuel A if your need arises. Free several years ago is now $15. Still not terrible. A great overnight location and even for 3 days such as we did. We ran off both solar and generator power. We got some geocaching in and of course the obligatory tour of the new Tillamook Dairy Factory. NOTHING beats a Marionberry Waffle Cone after a day 'caching.
On the road meals included Catfish w/fried taters, Cranberry Chicken, Cajun Gravy and Rice, Soup n Sandwiches, and Southern Shrimp Salad.
Cajun Rice, Gravy, n Beef
Barb, Mom, some fat guy
It was a good visit. Mom is doing well here at Deb's. I think the closeness of family and simplicity of life agrees with her. From here we head east and home for at least a bit. This journey is a day earlier departure and fraught with possible pitfalls. A MAJOR winter storm is forecast for the Northern Rockies forcing us to change our route south. We will see what we will see. Doctor and Vet appointments, restocking, and getting the farm ready for winter. We plan on a southern departure sometime late October.
"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered"
Nelson Mandela
WiFi courtesy of Verizon MiFi
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