on the road again 2016

[Joe S.]

Australia is a trip we have talked about. I was supposed to be stationed there in the 70's. I responded adversely to som drugs they tested on me and was released early. So I never got to see your country. An old pen pal wants me to go to tasmania to see him and his platations in Australia and New Zealand. Before sjogrens I was tempted.

Well I have a ride of two hours in the morning to see a penpal of 30 years if he still lives. Have fun down under.

[Pud]

Tasmania is a beautiful place. My partner and I did a fly drive trip 2 years ago and it is so lovely. We want to retire down there one day. Hope you have a safe drive today

[quietdynamics]

Joe and Jan... love reading about your summer road trip.
Looking forward to photos when you have time.

Still hoping one day to take a tour along eastern coast and into Nova Scotia.
Mentioned a driving tour in Italy to Dr.. he told me not to leave country yet.

So looking forward to the local musicfests.. and seeing rain on the radar for us.. yeah!!

[Carolina]

Of course I'm daydreaming about a trip to Iceland!  and with no spare cash, either.

Think of all that ice!

Hugs,  Elaine

[Joe S.]

As long as you keep posting to remind me, I will try to respond. I do not know how to post photos for you.

I do some drive by shooting for photos...arm out window and click, no frame or focus.

Yesterday, Jan drove 3 hours down to Duncan so I could see Tom. Tom is 78 and wrote a book I liked. He has written more but I have not read them all. We visited for a coupleof hours at the Dog House cafe. Tom ate 1/2 of his Ruben and took the other half homs. He had  completed in the olympics before he got polio as a bike racer. Ws have bee corresponding for over 30 years. His book that I like is "Hkw to build your own Flying Saucer"

We discussed  Brownian motion in solids, liquids, and gases as they transmit sound.

On the wayback we first stopped for a McFlurry. The forests became monotonous for her so we slept in a rest area foran hour. Then we stoppex at costco for gas and supper. They have Hawiian pizza in Canada!

We are packing today. We leave at 4am to  catcha the 7:30am ferry from duke point. We will be spending Friday Night in a tent in Index, WA. On a previous trip I purchased a tent my wife demanded hotels. I left the tent with our brand kids. Jan is afraid or tent camping as there may be bears. So friday night will  e interesting.

[irish]

Glad things are going well, Joe. You and Jan always seem to get through these trips with all the changes and little things that come up.

I am with Jan on the tent and bears thingy. Stay well and take care of each other. You sure have some interesting things going on. Irish

[Joe S.]

On Friday, I was on the sunny side of the car...a flare. Who could have predicted that? Friday and Saturday night we camped in a large back yard in Index, WA where the kids were having a church retreat. On Friday night I had an odly seasoned blue berry cobbler. I had trouble with my balance and walking. That night I had strange pastel dreams of various geometric figures. I had no pain most of Saturday and my bad eye was clearer.

I found out Jan and Mary conspired with the cook for me to try "Mary Jane". Apparently the cook mixed it heavy. I never thought it was supposed to be hulucinagenic. Yes, it did help with my sjogrens symptoms. Or maybe I just did not care.

The place had a nice fire pit. 7 big tents in the back yard was hardly a dent. Jan and I did sleep in the tent we purchased for our trip 2 years ago. A 9x10 umbrella wit a 6 foot interior height. We put our two recliners and the dog bed in. We ledt the bottom zipper open for a power cord and so Bailey could go in and out. She stayed with us most of the time but loved the freedom she had.

Sunday's drive I had the sunny side and another flare. For todays drive to "The Highway to the Sun", I will try a screen.
It was nice to spend the night in a handicap room last night.

[Carebear]

Pass the blueberry cobbler, Joe!

[Carolina]

If we don't care about the pain, then it is gone......since it's always all in our cerebral cells anyway.

And yes, big helping of cobbler for me too.

And sorry about your flare, Joe.  Not fun.

Hugs,  Elaine

[Joe S.]

We made it to Kalispell today. The window screen helped. I put a towel over my legs and that helped also. I took one aleve and one 222 as we left Spokane. I will take more tomorrow as we drive the Highway to the Sun. I hope to get some great pics.

Wednesday will be the long drive day. The route changes in our trip are related to hotel availability. If we were not on a timeline, it might be easier. I do not remember who said it but planning 3 hours of drive time per day looks to work best with my sjogrens and the sun. A motorhome may be better for us to travel in with Sjogrens.

Jan is missing my 10 and 14 hour drive days.we have missed the fires so far with our side trips.

The USA is so beautiful.  When we are locked to one place we often forget about that. I have driven through a lot of our states and there is always something to see. I have the eastern sea board and a few southern states plus Hawaii and Alaska to see. I have driven from Winnipeg to Campbell River in Canada. I have a few more places in North America. The trip we were planning to Europe we gave to our youngest daughter. I do not think I am currently up for that. Maybe later I can.

Doing a trip like this requireshelp and planning for us. I hope others may be able to try doing it.

[Joe S.]

Incase you have not guessed, I had a flair every driving day on the way home. I had trouble figuring out why. The first day I guessed it was because I was not the driver so I had more sun. The next time I realized that my jeans did not provide sun protection. The third time I used a blanket over my legs to block the sun whivh helped but I still had trouble after the drives. My spf50 shirt did a good job. I burned my hands on the second and third day of travel. They are healing now.

I think on my next trip I want more sun protection.

the days were long but I enjoyed them for the most part. It you get a chance to travel, take it. Prepare well for your trip. My challenges came from not preparing properly. I will try to do better on my next trip.

[quietdynamics]

Yes, I am with you on occasions of sun-flare.
With addition of latest medication I am sunsensative. Oddly only in certain areas (top of right shoulder, something like deep blisters.. not the usual upper layer of skin. )

Did you ever put the film on the car windows?

3 hours of driving is my limit. I want to stop look around in a town, listen to accents, taste regional fare. DH can drive till he drops.

[Carolina]

Dear Joe, I'm so in awe of your road trip!  I am truly past the ability (willingness?) to undertake such a major road trip.

And yet....the urge is there.  One son (and grandchildren) live near us in Raleigh, and one in Paris (no road trip to Paris!).

I would like to drive to Iowa to visit my husband's older brother and his wife, who both turned 90 this year.  It would be a three day trip.  Stopping the second day to visit my husbands classmates, class of 57 in his hometown.

I think it would be fairly easy...my husband has excellent health and loves to drive.  We would stay in motels and I am the only one who has mobility issues.

First I have to see what the result of aspiration of my synovial cyst turns out to be.  If the pain issue is resolved, even for a few months, I would like to make the trip.

Otherwise I will be unable to stand or walk for any time.  However, that isn't always necessary, and I have my beloved handicapped tag.

And YOU are planning for your next trip!  That's the spirit I love.

Regards, Elaine

[Joe S.]

I made use of my handicap tag. There were times we could not park close the Jan would drop me off. Most stores had electric carts. There were times my walker would have been nice. I currently use just one cane.

Most hotels had a cart for our luggage. We packed a bag that had just our night things. Handicap rooms were easier to negotiate. We prefer king bed for Jan and my recliner in the room. You get very tired on the road. I used to cover 600+ miles per day. Jan complained about 300+ per day as being too few. The lesser millage allowed us more time tofind a place for supper. It also allowed for side trips.

Often lunch was fast food at a gas stop, gas stops were Costco and Flying J. Our expenses averaged about a $1/mile. That was food, hotel, gas, and misc. I did not gain or loose weight on the trip.

I had recorded the mile marker of all rest areas, flying J gas stops, costco, and la Quinta. Gas is often cheaper at costco. Good Sams gets a discount at Flying J. La Quinta allows dogs without extra fees and provides breakfast. Some even have wine or beer and supper.

we would often make our hotel reservations at noon. While the lists were about 6 pages, they made the trip easier. As they are on the computer prep for the next trip is easier.

most people who RV will reserve their campsites a year in advance.