The Long, Long Trailer Trip

[Frederick L. Simson]

Scamp 19' "5th wheel"

[Frederick L. Simson]

Oliver 17'

[Frederick L. Simson]

Open Trailer was divided into 2 parts: 1:00 to 3:00 for A loop, and 3:00 to 5:00 for B & C loops.

This is a path between A and B loops.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Bigfoot 20' (5th wheel)

[Frederick L. Simson]

Trillium 13'

[Frederick L. Simson]

Bigfoot 17' gaucho (Rear Bath)

[Frederick L. Simson]

16' Northern Lite

[Frederick L. Simson]

13' Boler

This was the prize winner for the oldest trailer.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Bigfoot 25' (Rear Queen)

After I took this picture, my camera's battery died.

[Frederick L. Simson]

So let's see, Thursday, we weighed trailers...

On Friday, July 17th, we accessed the internet at Brewed Awakenings in the morning, and went shopping in the afternoon. I relayed to Robert that for "Hors D'overes" night there were many requests for him to do the Hand Rolled Chocolate Truffles like he did last year...

Hand Rolled Truffles:

1. 3 pounds of semi-sweet chocolate morsels
2. 3 cups of heavy whipping cream

Melt the chocolate over medium low heat. When the morsels are completely melted, remove from heat and g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y stir in the cream, a teaspoon's worth at a time; stirring constantly. Once the cream is all stirred in, continue stirring. Stir some more. Keep stirring. When your arm is about to fall off, hand it to your partner (that would be me) and tell him to stir it.
Keep stirring. Take it outside so it can cool and thicken, but keep stirring! Stir some more. Don't stop stirring! It must thicken evenly and smoothly as it cools, KEEP STIRRING!

About 20 minutes before they are supposed to be served, deem them thickened enough. Realize that you don't have any wax paper in the trailer! Spoon a teaspoonful onto sheets of foil. Search the cupboards for coatings. Find Shredded Coconut, Graham Crackers, and Cinnamon. Crush the graham crackers in a bowl with a drinking glass like a mortar & pestle. Sprinkle the cracker crumbs on one sheet, the coconut on another, and the cinnamon on another. Use a rubber spatula to pry the chocolate off the foil and roll it in the coating. Place the rolled balls on plates and carry to the event only 10 minutes late!

[Frederick L. Simson]

Robert says that since I gave out the recipe, he doesn't have to make them again...

[Frederick L. Simson]

On Saturday, after the Open Trailer, we took a Blueberry salad to that evening's potluck. We had found an incredible bargain on 2 pound tubs of blueberries at the Fred Meyers in Coos Bay.

Blueberry Salad

1. 6 pounds of Fresh Blueberries
2. 1 bag (10 ounces) Pecan "Cookie Bits"
3. 2 six ounce cups of Blueberry Yogurt
4. 1 six ounce cup of Strawberry Yogurt

Combine ingredients in a large bowl and serve.

[Frederick L. Simson]

On Sunday, July 19th we packed up and left the Oregon Gathering at 7:45 AM. We made it to Robert's Brother's house in Portland by 12:30. His Sister and her husband were there with their Semi Tractor Rig. Robert's Brother and and his wife just moved into their house 2 weeks before, and the neighbors put together a block party for the day we were there... We camped in the school parking lot at the end of the block.




This Morning, Monday, July 20th, we left Portland at 7:00 AM (Pacific Time), and made it to the KOA in Mountain Home, Idaho by 7:00 PM (Mountain Time).

[Frederick L. Simson]

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
6:00 AM Why do I insist on setting that infernal alarm clock? I was up until 12:30 AM last night updating this "blog".

I turn it off, light the coffee, and roll over while it brews.

7:00 AM Robert's watch, which is set on Pacific Time (6:00 AM), sounds it's alarm. Darn. Coffee's ready and has been sitting on the stove for 45 minutes after it finished brewing. Finally get on the road by 8:20. Late.




Stop for Gas in Snowville, Utah, just across the border from Idaho. It's Noon, so we look for the Diner that had a sign out on I-84: "Mollie's". As I pull into the parking lot behind the building, I have a twinge of Deja Vu. Stepping into the building confirms it: we stopped here going the opposite direction 4 years ago during the Long, Long Trailer Trip, 2005 edition. I didn't remember that until seeing the place; we only stopped here 'cause we needed gas. We select a table as a white haired Lady hobbles over to wait on us. "I'm just back from getting my foot worked on in the hospital" she says, "Been out for 3 weeks, and my Daughter & Granddaughter been doin' it all. I had enough time away to get rusty, and I need to get back to it." as she shoos a younger woman away. We have the honor of being served by Mollie herself. I tell her we are repeat customers from California, and she perks right up. I tell her I might need retraining myself after being on vacation and traveling for 3 weeks...

When she brings the check, she autographs 2 bumper stickers for her place and gives them to us. (They're Red with White lettering and one will go with the Red stripes on the Fiber Stream nicely.)




We arrive at Rock Springs, Wyoming KOA by 5:00 PM Mountain Time. Time enough for laundry and dinner before updating on the internet.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 5:57 AM Mountain Time

All of a sudden I pop wide awake from a sound sleep. I get up and open the cupboard door to look at the clock on the Microwave. This is where I get the time posted above. <sigh> I think I have the routine down...

On the road again...




Had an incident on I-80 before Rawlins. Semi Truck Driver was apparently frustrated that I Drive 55. First he tailgates really really close to the trailer. Then he passes, and cuts back into the right lane before his second trailer cleared... Robert was driving and he had to take evasive action. All I know for sure is that it was a FedEx^® rig with dual trailers.

He was gone way ahead of us before I had the presence of mind to think about identifying it. Didn't get a license number or a vehicle ID number.
I calmed down, and tried for the next hour to notice the ID numbers on each semi rig that passed us... Was only successful about half the time; they were going so fast.

[Frederick L. Simson]

We took the I-470 bypass around Denver. I was prepared for it to be a toll road, but they don't have toll collectors anymore.
They had blocked off the cash lanes, and had a crew out dismantling the toll booths.

They photograph your license plates both front and rear as you pass by the toll booth. I guess I'll get a bill in the mail?

[Frederick L. Simson]

Since we need to make time to see The OZ Museum tomorrow, we overshot the KOA in Limon, CO and came to "The Shady Grove" in Seibert, CO. Nice little family run park.




I got to add the COLORADO sticker to my trailer!!!

[lynneh]

I relayed to Robert that for "Hors D'overes" night there were many requests for him to do the Hand Rolled Chocolate Truffles like he did last year...

Hand Rolled Truffles:

1. 3 pounds of semi-sweet chocolate morsels
2. 3 cups of heavy whipping cream

And they were AWESOME! Peter and I split two of them so we could try out the different flavors, yum!

--Lynne

[lynneh]

Robert says that since I gave out the recipe, he doesn't have to make them again...

Oh no!!!

[Nancy in Oregon]

Thank you for your great reports, Frederick! And thank Robert for the blueberry recipe. It was wonderful and I wanted the recipe. I should have known that Robert made it.

Nancy