2025 RV Roadtrip

 Here we’re, July 26th, as I write this, and we are still waiting for the motorhome to get fixed. We are currently staying at Maryann’s brother-in-law & sister-in-laws house, very grateful of them to let us stay here while we deal the motorhome.  The motorhome is currently at a local Ford service center. The initial quote we received on the repairs was $19,700 for a new engine block. It was reported on their stethoscope listing diagnosis that they heard noise coming from cylinder’s #4&5. Hence the diagnosis of a new engine block, without any further investigating of what’s going on. We told them no on the engine replace ment but wanted them to pop off the valve covers and actually look and see what the problem might be and then fix it if there is an issue. It could be as simple as a valve spring or push rod that needs replaced, but not an entire new engine block!!!! They also found the rear end sway bar was bent, so they are fixing that also.  So now it’s looking ...

 Well the latest update on the motorhome is an upper motor issue, lifters, rocker arms, valve springs or a combination of them all. Unfortunately all the necessary parts won’t all be in until tomorrow (Fri), and since they don’t work on the weekends it’s Mon morning until we can drop it off. They estimate 2-3 days of repairs. So we are not looking on getting out of here, Troutdale, until Wed or Thur, of next week, if no problems arise. I’ll keep updating if any happens. Since all this is happening we have had to cancel our two stops in the Seattle area, Gig Harbor & Bothell. We are really bummed on not going to Bothell, we were planning to meet up with our new friends, Gary & Nancy, we met on our recent completed Camino Portuguese Walk. We also were lucky enough that they had an open site here at Sandy RV Park until at least Saturday. This morning we had to move to another site, which lucky enough was directly across from our original site, so that made it easy. Hopefully t...

 It’s Mon. July 14th. Enjoying our nice cool morning w/ our freshly made espresso coffee, watching the Sandy River flow by listing to the chirping of the birds. Once in a while we can hear an Eagle in the distance squawking. Maryann saw it one morning sitting up in a tree. It’s been a nice relaxing few days, just chillin basically.  Last yr, when we were here, it was go go go. Drove up to Mount Hood Timberline Lodge, went to multiple  waterfalls, did the Portland waterfront walk around..etc.. but this time we are just taking it easy. We did take a drive up to Trout Lake, about hour & 1/2 drive. Trout Lake is a very small town, up in the mountains, that Maryann’s mother was born and grew up in. It’s kind of funny they call it Trout Lake, but there is actually no lake at all. She grew up on a small dairy farm. We think we found the area that the farm may have been at, but everything has changed so much that it’s hard to tell. But we did find a street named Wood, and tha...

 Today we made it to Troutdale OR, Sandy River RV Resort, just off Hwy 84, 20 miles East of Portland. We have a wonderful back-in spot, over looking the Sandy River with lots of shade trees. We stated the day with our coffee and a special treat, Portuguese Nata’s, Custards tarts. They are so delicious, we had them on our recent walk in Portugal. I found these at Trader Joe’s just before we left on our trip. I highly recommend trying them if you ever can find them. Once again , all packed up’s and our first stop of the day is gas for the motorhome, are you sensing a trend😂. On the road by 9:15, heading up I-5N, passing through Eugene, Corvallis, Salem & finally Portland before reach Troutdale. Drive was fairly smooth, except for stop & go traffic as we got closer to Portland. We actually took the 205 that goes around downtown Portland and connects to the 84. The RV park gives precise direction on how to get here. Google maps has you get off at the closest exit and it puts y...

Today might have not been a travel day but it was a day to search for old covered bridges. The day started like most days, up early and enjoying our morning cup of coffee, but today was a little different. We finally got to use & enjoy our new mini Nespresso coffee machine. I made us each a Cafe con Leche, which is basically a Cappuccino, but in Spain they are called Cafe con Leche. I even frothed up the milk with my new frothier wand. Glamping in style!!! We heard about a place in Canyonville for a good breakfast. When we got there the place was closed and someone popped there head out the door and informed us they are closed on Wed & Thur, bummer. So went on down the road and stopped at a place that we had passed on our way into town, called Heaven on Earth Restaurant, kind of out in the middle of know where on I-5. We both ordered omelettes, ham & cheese for me & spinach for Maryann, along with fried potato’s & a biscuit. Actually food was pretty good but a littl...