The Dave Mathews Band

After the 14,000 KM trip, returning home for a week to have the RV serviced and some repairs we decided to do another 1000 KM by visiting the Gorge Amphitheatre in Eastern Washington. We took a circular route initially along highway 2 in Washington State (staying two nights on the way at state parks) to Ellensburg where we met up with family members and then returning via highway 20 again staying three nights in state parks. The orchard growing area of Eastern Washington was great scenery drive through. 

Imagine camping with 10,000 people and then attending a concert in a natural Amphitheatre with 25,000 in the audience. We were doing it because Mark and cousins and their friends had being going to this three days of concerts for sixteen years. We decided just to go for one night. The following day we went with the family and friends to a nearby state park to swim in the very warm weather (about 85F).

Who are the Dave Mathews Band? Thanks to Wikipedia - the band, known as DMB was founded in 1991. They are considered a “Jam Band”. Other names - rock, jazz fusion, folk rock, funk rock, pop rock, alternative rock. I enjoyed the experience of being there and understanding the audience. Clearly members of the audience had been following DMB for at least 25 years. They were familiar with the lyrics seem very relaxed, some had flowers in their hair and were smoking joints. Mostly the age group I would say were between 25 and 50.  They came from all over the US. Our camping neighbor came from North Carolina every year for the concert. DMB clearly has a huge fan base. It was great to have been able to experience the band live surrounded by the fans who all seemed to be in a very happy relaxed and friendly mood.  The music for me did not resonate with ones usual enjoyment of classical music. The lighting effects and sound (very deep base) added to the audience being stimulated by the band. DMB has over the years contributed greatly to philanthropic causes.

A few statistics

This was a 70 day adventure with three days back in Victoria because it was cheaper to fly back from Atlanta than to buy extra health insurance. The insurance rates go up at aged 70,75 and 80.

• Total KM driven 14,008
• Total KM with Hugh (part two) 7,101
• Vancouver Island is 460 KM long (according to Wikipedia) so I drove the equivalent of seven times up Vancouver Island and back
• Fuel was 35% of costs
• Food 17%
• Ferries 3%
• Parks 23%
• Other 23% (This included repairs and replacement and return air fare from Atlanta)
• Gas price was a low of $2.50 US per US Gallon to a high of $3.25. By one calculation that I did at $3.00 US a USG it is equivalent to about $1CDN per liter.

That’s it. Thank you to those who have followed this Blog. It is very convenient to be able to look up where one has been when the memory of events may get a bit blurred!

Highlights of the trip

Here are a few highlights for me for this 70 day adventure

• Climbing Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park
• Hearing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, Salt Lake City
• Mountain biking in Moab
• The Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock Arkansas 
• Visit to Grace Land (Elvis Presley)
• Vicksburg National Military Park
• General Lee and Grant at Strand Theatre Vicksburg
• Driving the Natchez Trace Parkway
• The Tom Tom (GPS) Navigator - made navigation so easy
• Having the Honda Fit tow car to make side trips
• Both Hugh and I having bicycles 
• Charleston - Fort Sumpter and Aircraft carrier
• Savannah waterfront
• Yorktown - being able to drive around the site of the battle for the War of Independence 
• Many civil war museums - particularly Richmond, Virginia
• Biking the Richmond canal
• A military museum in Williamsburg
• Taking bikes into Washington DC
• Visiting several of the Smithsonian museums
• The new International Spy Museum in Washington DC
• The Kennedy Arts Center in Washington DC
•  Gettysburg - a very interesting drive around the site with an audio disc in the car as a guide

Were there any lowlights - a few that one should confess to.

• It was very hot - 90F for much of the time in the south
• The RV consumed a lot of gas!
• We got stuck in a ditch when trying to turn around once
• Hugh fell of his bike once on a forest trail due to a tree root or log. No injury.
• The bikes fell of the back three times and one was damaged on the third time.
• The Honda Fit’s battery ran down and needed jump starting a few times
• The Fit electric cable cable came undone and needed to be replaced
• I did not turn the key on in the fit once and the front tires became locked
• One of the lockers was damaged when I closed the slider on it.

La Conner

We decided to spend the last night at La Conner in the La Conner Marina RV Park. This would enable us to be close to the border and home. La Conner is an historic town having been first settled in 1867. It lies on the Swinomish channel which I had navigated in Polyandra about twenty years ago. It is particularly well known for the annual Tulip festival.

I had a delicious dinner, thanks to Hugh,  of scallops, halibut and a lemon tart desert plus a glass of Sauvignon Blanc!

We set of early on Tuesday in order for Hugh’s son Jamie to meet us at Tsawwassen Mills to take Hugh and his bike and gear into Vancouver and me to get the 2 pm ferry. We were glad to be home without any major adverse event occurring during the trip. Statistics and highlights to follow.

Two days to go

We continued to follow highway two through Montana, for a short period through Idaho then into Washington State. In North Dakota it was very obvious that there was a lot of oil drilling activity and evidence of what looked like a gas pipeline. There were many well heads that were flaring the gas. Under this area lies the Bakken oil fields. Highway two was a pleasure to drive, mostly smooth, occasional road works, very little traffic. Driving was made more pleasurable by being able to spell each other off about every hour. Through Montana there were acres of farmland growing wheat and also a lot of grass for hay. Though Idaho it was mountainous, curving and picturesque. It would be enjoyable motorcycling country. We joined Interstate 90 at Coeur d’Alene and then managed to find a campsite Klink’s Williams Lake RV. This involved a detour but it paralleled the interstate. The following morning we were in arid eastern Washington State where there was extensive grass growing and hay that you could see in huge piles covered with tarpaulins. It probably gets fed to cattle in the winter at feedlots. We had driven long days 592, 570 and then 524 KM in order to spend the last night chosen by Hugh to be La Conner. 
   

Lewis and Clark Forest camp site

There are many Lewis and Clark historical sites along this trail. The congress funded expedition of 1805 was to examine the opportunities for colonization on the west coast. It turned out that we could stop the night in the parking lot of a memorial to Theodore Roosevelt (who was instrumental in establishing the National Park system). We parked for the night and in the morning had a great view of mountains in Glacier National Park to the north.
We were at 5,216 ft at the top of Maria’s Pass which had been surveyed in 1889 for the route of the railway to the West Coast.The Great Northern railway was built in 1891. It is of interest that the Rogers Pass in Canada was discovered earlier in 1881 and the railway built in 1884.

  

The Fort Peck Dam

We decided to visit the Fort Peck Dam which Penny and I had visited seven years ago on our way to Ottawa. It is named after a Colonel Peck who was in charge of Fort Peck during the trading days. This dam was approved by Congress in 1927 but the funding did not come through until President Franklin Roosevelt enabled it as part of the New Deal. It was “shovel ready” - a huge dam on the Missouri River originally designed to prevent downstream flooding. Later Hydro Electric generation was added. The weather was damp but we did manage a short bicycle ride. There is an excellent information and museum center run by the Corps of Engineers.

The FMCA Convention in Minot

It was the Family Motor coach Association’s 100th International Convention and Expo.  

I had registered before Hugh had decided to join me because it fitted into the timetable of traveling home.  I had been to one before with Penny who said she did not want to go to another one! I was concerned as to how much Hugh might enjoy it.

It is now day three and we will leave for home to-day. Hugh has found it quite enjoyable and has had conversations with some very interesting people (common interest in History, airplanes and other issues), and has learned a lot about RVing as well as looking through some amazingly luxurious coaches. It has greatly helped that we had our bicycles to come and go as we wished and get around the vast site. (The North Dakota State Fair Grounds).



For me what has been the most interesting is to be able to attend some of the many education seminars. Examples - Rooftop air conditioner maintainance; the top ten maintainance tips every RVer should know; understand, monitor and protect your RV electrical system etc. 

I have also benefited by visiting several vendor booths and have received helpful advice on : The towing hitch (bought a new one); the satellite dish; surge protection devices; how to repair the Diamond Coating (which is on our RV) etc. 

Last evening (Thursday) was a special presentation (speech) by Captain “Sully” Sullenberger. He was the Captain of the US Airways Airbus jet that landed in the Hudson River (New York) when both the engines of the plane were knocked out by a bird strike (large birds like Canada Geese) ten years ago. 

Some people will have seen the movie “Sully”.  His speech was very professional and touched on many issues that the audience would have liked. About 30 % of the audience was ex-military. Sully had been a fighter pilot. He touched on the value of women in society (He has two daughters in graduate school), on loyalty to the American flag, on the values that  matter - caring for others, treating people equally, and making a difference for the benefit of others in the US and around the globe. A very professional (he had tele readers) and inspiring talk that would have resonated with most of the audience (older Americans and some Canadians living in mostly large motor homes). There are about 1200 Motorhome Coaches parked here on this vast site.

It is time to move on after two days heading west for home.

Turtle River State Park in North Dakota

This was our last night before the FMCA Rally in Minot. We then had an easy drive along highway 2 of about 300 KM to Minot. What was of interest about this park was that it was originally designed and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps starting in 1934. It was part of the “New Deal” make work program created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

It was mid week and there were only about six other campers in the two large camping areas. There were excellent trails and on Wednesday morning we bicycled along a muddy trail beside the Turtle River. It was pleasantly quiet and wilderness like.

Red River State Recreational Area

This park gets the medal for having the most interesting history. In 1997 the towns of Grand Forks (in North Dakota) and East Grand Forks (in Minnesota) were flooded and a large proportion of the population were evacuated. The Red River flows north from here and passes through Winnipeg on its way to Hudson’s bay. 

Following this natural disaster the Corps of Engineers built a berm around the river with a barrier that is sealed off during the spring run-off when the river rises.  The area were we are camping was a housing subdivision. After the flood the houses were removed and a camping areas for RVs established. There was also established a Greenway bicycle path which we took advantage of for about a 10 KM bike ride. 

It was still wet with a Scottish mist drizzle but not raining like it was on Monday. When the spring run off occurs the area where we are camping floods but the barrier and flood gates that are installed prevents the town from flooding. The area acts like a giant reservoir to slow the river and may well prevent downstream flooding.    

Adventures in Itasca State Park

Of all the state parks one has visited so far this one gets a medal. It is over 32,500 acres, and includes not only the beginning of the Mississippi River but large traces of Minnesota’s remaining old-growth red and white pine forest. It was established in 1891, had a stormy history involving logging that eventually got resolved in 1922. Lake Itasca was determined to be the headwaters of the Mississippi River by Jacob V. Browser the founder of the park.  

The park had clearly many improvements made incrementally over the years. In particular there is a superb paved bike path. It is used year round and even has a separate map for the winter (cross country skiing and snowmobiling).

Unfortunately it was raining on Monday morning, however we set out, suitably geared, in light rain. We cycled to the headwater site and then down to Douglas Lodge where there was a restauraunt. By this time there was torrential rain and we were glad to stop for a bowl of soup and share a bison burger. The bike back to the RV was in heavy rain and we were glad of a hot shower. We cycled about 15 KM.

Minneapolis

We stayed at a KOA about 50 KM south of Minneapolis. Got stuck (and lost afterwards) in heavy traffic getting there because of extensive road works.

The following day we made it into the middle of Minneapolis. I had visited there in the 1980s when I did a three week course in Epidemiology at the University. Minnesota is a Blue state and one has the impression that there has been quite an investment in parks etc.

We parked on a street and did about a 10 KM bike ride around the East Lake of the Isles Parkway around “Lake of the Isles”. We were on the “Grand Rounds Scenic Byway that offers a little bit of everything: great scenery, historic sites, modern and contemporary art, outdoor recreation, and great shopping and dining, all within the heart of Minneapolis”.  A city I could visit again as long as one could decide which season to be there (cold, like Winnipeg in the winter).

Chicago and a rest day

We drove into the center of Chicago (the Interstate goes there) but tried unsuccessfully to find a parking spot so that we could explore the water front. It is strange being in the middle of a huge city after life on the road. All we could do was to take a few pictures, drive a circuit downtown in the traffic (Hugh navigating and me driving) before heading on to pass Milwaukee and Madison and find ourselves at a very nice Camp Ground (Sky High Camping Resort) near Portage Wisconsin. 

This camp ground was so pleasant - swimming pool, able to do laundry and excellent internet speed that we decided to stay an extra day. The temperature is cooler 26C in the day and 15C at night so one can site outside comfortably.

On Saturday we will be south of Minneapolis at a KOA campground, then Sunday at Itasca State Park, Park Rapids Minnesota and Monday at Red River Recreational State Park, East Grand Forks, Minnesota. From there we will be two days from the FMCA rally at Minot North Dakota. 

On the way home and some repairs

We left Gettysburg on Monday 5th (a holiday in Canada) but first were very lucky to find S&S RV Service nearby. We had sprung a leak in the exhaust (muffler). George Scott, the owner took us in right away on Monday morning. He was very knowledgable about the Workhorse Chassis (It is a 2007 vehicle) made by Chevrolet and also the Banks exhaust system that we have. Not only did they repair the exhaust (two gaskets needed) but advised on a couple of intermittent issues - instruments turn on and off unexpectedly, a leaking water pump (he said), that there had been a recall on the brakes which he thinks has been done and an ABS light that comes on intermittently. I was most impressed with his knowledge.

We were able to leave at 1.30 after having been to a Starbucks to get their high speed internet and update the Blog.

We are heading west now and need to be in Minot North Dakota for Wednesday 14th August and the Family Motor Coach Association rally.  I have shown Hugh the Frommer book on RVing which outlines more than twelve different types of people/personalities that go RVing!

These are Garbo Gourmets (those who like to live the comfortable life style on the go), Sportsmen, Weekenders, Families on vacation, Ecotourists, The ultimate shoppers, Relatives, Retirees and Empty Nesters, Pet lovers, Travelers with disabilities, Special events attendees, Snowbirds and Full-Timers. We will potentially meet them all at this rally.

We found Rocky Gap State Park at Flintstone, Maryland for Monday night. Another state park with nicely spaced sites, good washrooms, electrical hookup (for the air conditioning) and on Tuesday morning we did about a 7 KM bike ride on a very challenging (roots and rocks) path around Lake Habeeb adjacent to the park.

Now we are at a Good Sam camp ground - Wolfe’s Campground at Zanesville, Ohio.

Gettysburg Battlefield Tour

Following an excellent 22 minute film about the Gettysburg battle we then saw the circularama dramatized version of the battle. 

Then we went on the Gettysburg Battlefield Tour in which with a CD you are driven to the different sites of the three day battle. 

Gettysburg was the turning point of the American Civil War. General Lee had taken the Army of North Virginia into Union territory (Pennsylvania) hoping to surround Washington but eventually on the third day a frontal attack on the Meade’s Union Army they were beaten back and retreated. 

There were 70,000 men in the Confederate Army and 93,000 in Mead’s Union Army. Total casualties in the three days were 23,000 for the Union Army and as many as 28,000 for the Confederate Army.

What I found interesting about visiting this National Historic site is that it was within a few years of the end of the Civil War - which ended in 1865 - that survivors on both sides came to visit the site. Over the years 1300  memorials have been put up particularly from the individual states who were involved.  The audio tour was excellent and well paced.

Gettysburg Campground

We found Gettysburg Campground and checked in for two nights. It was very close to the Gettysburg National Military Park. The first evening we were surprised they had a concert on starring an Elvis Presley impersonator.  He sang several Elvis popular songs and was very good. The pictures are not so good.

Bicycling around the National Mall

It was so easy to bicycle to visit the front of the White House, the Memorial to WWII and the Lincoln  Memorial.  After this we spent about 45 minutes in the National Museum of American History. It has sections on “The Price of Freedom”, “The American Presidency”, “American Democracy” and “American Enterprise”.   Some of the Civil War stories and about American Democracy we are beginning to see repeated in different museums we have visited.  After this we had had enough and put our bikes back on the Metro and drove them back to Bull Run Regional Park on the Honda Fit.

Washington Day Two

We decided, after our morning bike ride, to go into Washington again but this time to take the bicycles. Hugh headed off to the National Gallery of Art and I to the International Spy Museum. Having recently read Ben McIntyre’s “The spy and the traitor” about the KGB colonel recruited by the British (Oleg Gordievsky) I was interested to visit this new museum.

Following this we had lunch and bicycled around the National Mall.

The International Spy Museum had a great collection of the type of spy tools we have seen in James Bond Movies and stories of the many known spies from different countries. It even included a video of Stella Rimmington the MI5 chief who went on to write books when she retired.

This is an Enigma machine which was decoded by the British at Bletchley Park by Alan Turing and his team.

The Kennedy Center

I had wanted to visit the Kennedy Center because I had heard Leonard Bernstein's Mass in Barcelona.  An amazing piece of music that was composed for the opening of the Kennedy Center in 1971. Of interest is that the music is based on the Catholic Mass.  The Kennedy’s were Catholics but Leonard Bernstein was Jewish. Anyhow via the Metro and a free shuttle we arrived in time for a “Happy Hour” followed by a free (daily) 6 pm concert. It was music from Mali by a band called BKO. It was crowded and the band got the audience clapping and dancing.

We had a dinner in the excellent cafeteria and then went and saw the Disney Broadway show “Aladdin” in the Opera House (holds 2,314 audience). It was a slick and enjoyable musical theatre production with a spectacular flying carpet. The audience seemed to know it well so I guess it is based on a Disney movie.

The Kennedy Center was designed by Edward Durrell Stone. It cost almost $78 Million to build. Many countries made donations. There is a theatre which seats 1,164 people. There is a concert hall that seats 2,441 people. A musician we met said they were going to perform Bernstein’s mass again in 2021 for the 50th anniversary. On the roof is a terrace where the “Happy Hour” occurred and there was quite a crowd.