#13-9 Coburg, OR, Repairs and Albany, OR family get togethers

We left Southern Oregon  on the 24th of June.  We had an appointment with Cummins to check the cooling system on the engine.  It was in perfect shape, so we had the air driers or something like that changed and left.  From there we went across the street to the Monaco Repair shop where we had an appointment on July 1 to see what was wrong with the water heater and the house water pump. Both have to be changed because they are worn out.  And the water heater has to be ordered from Indiana. 
Of course it is over the 4th of July weekend and the shipping from Indiana must be by camel caravan because the part didn’t come in until July 11th.  So we just made the best of it and took off north 30 miles to Albany with the RV.  Niece, Melinda, is a trustee of the 1st Methodist Church and made arrangements for us to use their parking lot for 3 days.  It is centrally located between almost all of the relatives that live in the area, so was a perfect place.
We had “happy hour” at the RV each evening, with the last day included a BBQ with 18 of us enjoying the company.  I saw relatives that I hadn’t seen in 7 years. 

Happy hour the first night, Melly, her friend Terri, Don and Mary, Carl and Jennifer and Frank and I.  Isn’t that a great view and fun front yard for our RV?

Frank and I enjoying the RV lifestyle!

Last night in Albany.  Fun BBQ with kids, grandkids (Don and Mary’s) and their kids!  A mini reunion for us.  Melly enjoyed the “drink of the night” which was my favorite Coconut Vodka and cranberry juice.  Most of us stuck with Frank’s great frozen Margarita’s.  Thank you Melly, for getting everyone together.  We had such a great time!

Here is a picture of Melly’s new love.

It is entered in the Albany Car Show.  She is really proud of it!  It is a real beauty.
On the 4th of July we drove to Corvallis and had lunch with our grandson, Hunter.  He is going to college there. 

#12-15 Bend and Medford, OR and on to Lancaster CA

We are slowly making our way back to CA, before the weather turns rainy and cold.  We stopped for one night in Bend, OR and visited with nephew Joe and Carrie Proulx.  We joined them for dinner at a cool restaurant and then Joe drove us around Bend showing us some to the projects he has worked on with his rock and sand landscaping and building business. 

Next stop was Medford, OR where we were lucky enough to be around when daughter Laurie flew up for the weekend.  Of course the girls had to go shopping.  Here is Teresa Martin, daughter Laurie and granddaughters, Marissa and Terena with Gramma Dixie.  What a fun day we had at the Mall!  Terena is off to college in Klamath Falls, while Marissa finishes her Senior Year at Cascade High School.
We also got to spend time with son, Jeff and wife Kirsten and the boys, Hunter and Austin.  Hunter is in his second year of College this Sept and Austin is a Jr in Crater High school.  We spent a couple of weeks enjoying the fall weather, nice 80 degree days and cools nights.  Then took off to Napa to visit with daughter, Renee’ and all her family.
After leaving San Francisco, (we took the ferry back to Vallejo) we headed
south to Bakersfield, where we met up with our friend Rick Post.  We had a lovely dinner with him and even played a game of Phase 10 at the RV!

The Ferry to San Francisco, arriving at the dock.

On to Lancaster to see our new great granddaughter for the first time and to spend time with our Granddaughter Rachel, her husband Allie and son Eldon. 

Great Gramma with Adele Dixie Ree Ivison.  My little namesake.  Our first meeting!  She also gets to meet Papa!
Grannie, Laurie is in Stamford, NJ working, so we all face-timed with her.  The whole family got into the act.  By looking at the i-pad you can see 4 generations of family.

Gramma Dixie, Eldon, Rachel, Adele and Grannie Laurie on the screen.  Ain’t technology great?
It is getting close to Halloween, so one Sunday while we were in Lancaster, Rachel and I and the kids went to a Pumpkin Patch.  Eldon had a great time!

		At the pumpkin Patch VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Eldon picked out a little pumpkin to take home with him, Adele stretched out and on the ride home they both slept!

A great day with the little kids. 

We left before Halloween, but Rachel sent us pictures of the kids in their costumes.  How cute are our little animals!

Awe!!!!

12-10 leaving Medford, on to Coburg, Eugene, Albany and Depoe Bay, OR

On our next to the last day in the Rogue Valley we met with Debbie Levesque and her family for dinner (At a Mexican restaurant, of course).  They had all been out camping for the last week and just got back.  I can’t believe how Brianna and Micaela have grown.  Soon Brianna will be off to College.  Debbie and Patrick have done a great job in raising the girls, they are both sweethearts!

Frank, Debbie and Dixie                         Brianna and Micaela

Table Rock from the I-5 heading north from Medford at dusk

A beautiful sunset greets us as we head back to the RV and prepare to leave Rogue Valley tomorrow, heading to Coburg for some minor repairs on the Coach.
Hey, it’s a wonderful summer day, I know where I’m going, so today I drive the RV north!  Easy drive, and gives Frank a rest from the drivers seat!
We are invited to the Stauffer family picnic by niece, Melinda.  Had a great time in Albany.  After picnic we met at Don and Mary’s and then went out to Pizza before heading back to Coburg where the RV is parked.
While the guys at Monaco/Navistar worked on the RV we met up with our friends Winnie and Ferd and spent a couple of evenings with them and renewed our friendships.  Good visits.

We left Coburg/Eugene area and drove to Florence, OR on the coast.  Then took Hwy 101 north to Lincoln City.  It is a two lane road that goes right along the coast.  A beautiful drive, but very crooked.  I was happy to finally get parked at the Elks Lodge in Lincoln City.  We have parked here before, and like it because it is back away from the ocean and not so fogged in all the time.
While we were there we spent a lot of time with Linda Phillips, our good friend who visited us in Yuma last winter.  She took us to her line dancing class and I even got up and tried a few.  The wind was blowing outside and all the doors were open.  It was also foggy and damp.  I was freezing!  Everyone else was just comfortable. 

While we were in Lincoln City,  on Aug 17, our Great Granddaughter, Adele, Dixie Rea Ivison, was born in Lancaster, CA!

She weighed 9 lbs 3 oz, and was 20” long.  She was also almost two weeks late!  Kept us waiting until she was good and ready to meet the world and her anxiously awaiting family.
Linda and I hit the Outlet Mall that day.  I had so much fun buying little baby girl clothes, and everything was on sale!  Carter’s, Osh Gosh B’Gosh, and others.
Just a sample below.

		New baby girl clothes! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Big brother, Eldon got a couple of shirts!  All in all it was a great day!  Her Grannie (our daughter, Laurie) and I kept in contact during the day via phone and text as we were both out shopping!  Our little girl is going to be very well dressed!

#12-9 Pool Party at Jeff & Kirsten’s, Mark in shop, Burl Museum in Kerby–July 22 thru July 29

We arrived in the Rogue Valley to nice warm weather.  We parked at Cypress Grove RV Park the first week, then moved to Valley of the Rogue State Park.  Only one week was available at Cypress Grove.  It is a busy RV park.  But, really nice and right off the freeway between Rogue River and Central Point.  Perfect place for us.  We had lunch with Terena, our granddaughter, who worked at the Foots Creek Deli, and then went back the next night for Taco Tuesday!  She will only be working through the summer and then will be attending College in Klamath Falls.

Mexican Fiesta day at Jeff and Kirsten’s.  A nice hot day for a swim in the pool.  The gals lounged on the beach end of the swimming pool while the guys did the serving.  Most of the dishes were pre cooked, so worked out great.  Uh, I guess you can see that when it got too hot we were shaded by an umbrella.  Thanks!!
Little Tagger is waiting in the truck for Mark to finish work and take her home.  (Tagger passed away just two months after this picture was taken. RIP, you were a wonderful dog and companion!)
Hurry up, Mark and clean up the shop.  It is time to go home to Wimer and all your girls!

		Burl Gallery in Kerby, OR VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Check out this golf cart.  It’s really woodsy!  Can you imagine any golf course in the desert letting this on the course?
We had lunch with Jeff in Cave Junction at Taylor’s sausage.  A very famous meat place in the Valley.  He was on duty and got a call just as we were finishing our lunch, so he left in a hurry.  We meandered down the road toward Grants Pass, and decided to stop in the little town of Kerby and visit this Burl Gallery.  What a surprise. Lots and lots of amazing craftsmanship items, both inside the museum/gift shop and outside.  Almost everything is for sale and some are just masterpieces.  Who would have thought you could find such beauty and talent in the little town of Kerby!