Day 5--Sun in Surrey

Dragged my grand-daughter to Surrey BC for obligatory family visits.  A beautiful day, as you can see by the sky as we left Vancouver over the Alex Fraser Bridge.  I really like looking at this bridge with its suspension lines.  It reminds me of Bells Bridge in Glasgow Scotland but is much larger.

Stopped at Frontier Cloth Shop in Surrey where I bought some plain cotton suit pieces that will be great background material.  What a buy! 5 m pieces for $9 canadian each.  Then visited my husband's cousin and her family.  While there went with her daughter to Fabricland.  Disappointed with Fabricland--prices in Canada approach the stratosphere ($25/m) and the choice in this store was not great.  All I bought was a remanent for the twister Halloween quilt I'm in the process of making.  Then visited two other homes...this took all day and lots of cups of tea.

On the way home stopped at the Nanak Sher Sikh Guruwara to pay our respects.  Caught my grand-daughter, Sienna, coming toward me as I took the picture.

After we got back home we decided to go out for Chinese (very tasty) and then drove and walked the UBC campus with Simer and Amar.

Days 3 and 4--Hangin' in Van

International Border
In the rain!

I picked up Sienna from UW today and we drove to Vancouver.  Weather was cloudy but warm until we got almost to the border.  Then the thunder and lightning started!  Wow, what a show, which continued until past the time we got into Vancouver.  The wait at the border was 45 minutes...what can I say, nothing you can do about it.

Too Cute

Simer and Billy holding Billy's quilt

Reached Vancouver, and I finally got to give Billy her quilt.  It is a batik Storm at Sea for which Billy picked out the border.  The back is a brushed cotton with peacock feathers.  I think it turned out nicely.

Day 4 was spent doing nothing much.   We did do some family visiting and deep water aerobics. That's it, except for Sienna doing some shopping (a pair of yoga pants from LuluLemon) and some great pizza.

Day 2---Cottage Grove to Kent

So busy last night I didn't get this posted!  Anyway, here's the day.

Left Cottage Grove this morning after filling up the car.  Could have gotten a few more miles out of the tank, but who chance it?  I now know it is 436 miles or so from home to here.  Cloudy this morning, but cleared by wiithin an hour.

First stop was at Fabric Depot off I-205 in Portland.  Acres of fabric, and Pat and I both think that this store may be bigger than Hancocks of Paducah.  The Depot also has scads of craft supplies, quilting notions, some regular fabric, some household fabric, and some yarn.  I bought some pretty fabric and the backing for a wedding quilt I'm making for Lara, my brother Jim and Randi's daughter.

I had planned to eat at a "Drive Ins, Diners and Dives" place called Arleta Library Cafe and Bakery.  Unfortunately, they had run out of food by about 1:15, when I got there.  Definitely of the "Dive" persuasion, I was disappointed, but asked them where to eat.  They said "Space Monkey Coffee" next door.  Had a really great pulled chicken sandwich on the greatest bread.  Nutty, seedy and very hearty, if I live in Portland I would find out where to buy it.  After drinking my iced latte (it is, after all, a coffee shop) I left Portland about 2:00.

I left Portland and drove to Lakewood.  To tell you the truth I don't remember much of my drive through Washington.  I know the traffic was not bad until Tacoma, but I was listening to "Hunger Games" and do remember that.  A good book, now I guess I'll have to watch the movie.

The Shibori Dragon

I stopped in Lakewood at a really great oriental shop called "The Shibori Dragon."  Check them out online...a fantastic selection of fabric, plus some yarn and beads.  Bought some really nice fabric there.

Surani and Bebeji (Mohinder Kaur Dhia)

Drove from Lakewood to Kent to visit a family friend, Ranjit Singh Dhia and his family.  Our two families have been friends for four generations, and we try to keep it going.  Surani and her daughter Sienna are at UW for orientation, and she drove down from Seattle to see Ranjit.  His mother, Bebeji, took care of Surani when she visited India in 1982, so she knew her well.  We had a great meal and a nice time looking at pictures.

Back:  Gurjote, Manjit, Ranjit, Harjot, Surani, Bebeji
Front: Anaahad, Sienna

Day 1--Canada Road Trip

My trip to Canada, the second year in a row, started today.  I so enjoy road trips, the half scared feeling of anticipation as you set out.  Similar to the excitement of an upcoming weekend, or the end of school, it's not a feeling I get much anymore, being retired.

Did my usual stop in Weed for lunch...at Subway no less.  No quilt shops in sight, and the one I did stop at in Cottonwood is no more.  Too bad, I had heard that it was a good one.

 Black Butte at the base of Mt. Shasta,  and right next to I-5, is always an anticipated sight.  I also enjoy seeing Castle Crags near Dunsmuir, but have no picture.

Mt Shasta was a disappointment, as you could
 not see the top for clouds.

So, some 450 miles later, I am in Cottage Grove Oregon.  A small town, there's tons of fast food but not much else.  The place recommended to me by the motel clerk was a hamburger place called "Pink House" but I didn't want hamburgers.  After cruising the main, all of 4 minutes, I ended up at "Gateway to India."  Not the best Indian food, but in Cottage Grove!  Went to Walmart for excitement, and am now preparing to watch the Olympics.  Tired from driving...eight or so hours, as I left home at 9AM.  Worst day as far as driving is concerned...I always forget that the first 250 miles of Oregon are all mountains.  At least that's over.

Tomorrow---a great day.  The Fabric Depot in Portland and The Shibori Dragon in Lakewood WA, plus I'm going to eat at a place in Portland from "Drive Ins, Diners and Dives."  Yummmm.

Day 21---Home at Last, Home at Last, Thank God, Home at Last

Pat and I were up early this morning, time to get on the road again.  We tend to forget how high up most of Nevada is, and in Elko we were at 5000 feet...which means even in May there is frost.  We had frost on top of the car and windshield.  A little brisk out for May for us wimpy Californians.

Carlin Tunnel
SW of Elko

We were soon on the road, covering the sagebrush flats at a good clip...not much traffic on the highway, although that that there was seems to feel that the 80 in I-80 means the speed limit, not the highway designation.  We continued along the Humboldt River for miles.  This is the path of the California Trail, and although the river is alkaline, it is drinkable.   The 49's followed the river through this part of Nevada.

The largest BM we have ever seen.
Battle Mountain NV

First sight of the Sierra

A nice new (to me) by-pass around Winnemucca, then on to Lovelock and then the 40-mile Desert.  This is a part of the California Trail that goes through 40 miles of waterless desert between the Humboldt River, which end up in a sink and never makes it to the ocean, and the Truckee River, which flows out of Lake Tahoe and ends up in Pyramid Lake, also never making it to the ocean.  It would take the wagon trains 4 nights to cross this waste, and many thousands of animals, and hundreds of  people died trying.  Travel was at night to try to escape the heat of the days.  We made it through in about 35 minutes.  Thank for modern travel!

A wonderful end to the trip

We were soon in Reno, where the freeway is under construction, as usual.  Very confusing, with messed up exit numbers and fast traffic.  Thankfully my smart phone pulled us through, and we ended up where we wanted to be, the last quilt shop of our trip.  Windy Moon Quilts is a wonderful store in old Reno downtown.  Just off 4th St on Spokane St, it is a treasure and a great way to end this odyssey.  Pat's cousin Jerrie met us there, and brought her first quilt ever to show us.  A crazy quilt, it is made of mementos from her family.  It is exquisite, all hand done with much embroidery, which Jerrie did not know how to do before she started this quilt.  Good job, Jerrie!

Jerrie's crazy quilt

One patch detail

We, as usual, asked the quilt shop lady where to eat, and she said "Big Ed's Alley Inn."  An old restaurant on 4th St, we walked there and had a good meal...no pics, I was too busy talking.

We were soon on our way over the Sierras, with excellent weather and fast traffic (On 80, going 80).  Wonderful to have gone on this trip, and I will always be grateful to Pat for saying "Let's go on a road trip to Paducah,"  but also thankful to be home.  Had a great time going, coming back, and while there.

Welcome Home...State 16 or 1, whatever

This part of the blog is done, but I intend to post occasionally with kwilty things, like shows, classes, or quilts I have finished.  Check back occasionally,  and thanks for looking.

Day 20---California Here We Come (Right Back Where We Started From)

Got up bright and early to go east, back to Dinosaur National Monument.  I was so impressed by Pat's senior pass to National Parks that I bought one for myself.  What a deal, only $10 for a lifetime pass to federally run parks, monuments, forests, etc.

A real fossil, not a reproduction

Careful there, Pat

We were very impressed by the Visitor Center, but were totally amazed by the Fossil Bone Quarry.  They have literally enclosed a side of one hill in a building.  This is new this year, and very nicely done.  The side of the hill is a "log jam" of fossil bones.  One hundred twenty five species have been identified, and Pat and I couldn't help but wonder how many more are still undiscovered.  You are encouraged to put your hand on real 149 million year old fossils, as you see Pat doing.

Blue Mountain

Split Mountain, with the
Green River at its base

 We headed out on a car tour of a small part of the 325 sq mi Monument.  This picture is of Blue Mountain, which we saw when we entered Utah yesterday.  Much of the scenery is due to erosion by the Yampa River, which we saw yesterday, and the Green River, the major tributary of the Colorado.  Split Mountain, which is actually older than the Green River, is visible because of erosion of the Green River, which starts in Wyoming.

Here we are at the level of the Green River, looking at the pink banded cliff of mud and sandstone.  It is called the Morrison Formation and is important because many fossils have been found in its layers in the park.  It was laid down 149 million years ago by a large river that existed in this area then, and in which the dinosaur carcasses accumulated, to be covered by sand and mud and eventually fossilized.

The Monument is filled with petroglyphs made by the Fremont People about 1000 years ago.  They used sharp rocks to chip out figures from dark natural stain on the rocks.  Many shapes are visible, like lizards, big horn sheep and people.  No one knows the purpose of these and their meaning is unknown. 

Flowers growing near Josie's spring

The end of the tour is at a homestead of Josie Bassett, built by her in 1935.  A real legend in the area, she raised all of her food herself, raised cattle, and generally lived the life of a 19th century rancher in the 20th century.  A natural spring waters the area, box canyons were used as corrals, and no electricity was available.  Her log cabin is very spacious, with four rooms and nice large windows.

The end of a box canyon used as a corral

In 1964, Josie died at 89 after breaking her hip.  

Looking back the way we came. we can understand
why Josie Bassett wanted to live here.  What a view!

Leaving the civilization that is Vernal UT behind us, we set out to at least get to Salt Lake City.  We are on a high plateau, most of the time at 6000 feet or better, with some passes at 8000 feet.  You forget you are so high until you get out of the car and realize it is only 60 degrees.  Finally came off the plateau through a very long canyon into Heber Valley.  Houses and people everywhere, this after three hours of lonely road, often with no other cars in sight for miles.

Serious yummmmm!

Looking for a place to eat, we saw a bar-b-que place called Dickey's in Heber City.  We were good yesterday, and hadn't had bbq yet, and it was late, and we were hungry, 'nuf said.  Wow, what wonderful bbq.  Had ribs, which fell off the bone, cole slaw, fried onions pieces, and a roll.  We were told that Dickey's is a national chain and is in California...Pat has a new favorite bbq place in Roseville now.  Seriously good, google it to find a place near you.

Heber Valley is just over the (large) hill from the Winter Olympic site in Parker City, which is just up the road from Salt Lake City.  We were very soon in SLC, coming onto it suddenly, very similar to how fast Denver appears.  SLC appears suddenly as you drive along a very twisty canyon.  We were soon out, also, as the road surface was much better than Denver or St Louis.  We sped along Great Salt Lake, and were soon passing the Bonneville Salt Flats.

On I-80 heading toward the
Wasatch Mountains

At least in Utah you can see
where you're going

Mary Ann and the Flats

The sign welcoming us to Nevada was very welcome. As much as we love quilting and love travel, our own beds are calling us.  What is it about sitting in a car for eight hours that totally exhausts you?  Pat declared that she could make it to Elko, and so it was.  By the way, she now uses cruise control like a champ.

No quilt shops today, but tomorrow we're meeting Pat's cousin, Jerrie in Reno and going to a quilt shop there ;-)

State 15

Day 19---Rockin' Rockies, but not a quilt day

Perhaps a glacier at one time?

Just out of Denver

We left Golden bright and early this morning, heading west of I-70.  Mountainous, but nothing special until we come over a rise and saw this ahead of us.  Wow!  Turning off I-70 onto US 40, the old trans-continental road, we were soon in some spectacular country, with no traffic.  We soon discovered why.

Perhaps a truck deterrent?

James Peak Wilderness

The scenery was unbelievable.  Miles and miles of mountain road with snow still on the side.  We soon came into the Frasier Valley, and the town of Fraser (Yes, they are spelled differently.)

Frasier Valley

Fraser has the distinction of being the town with the lowest average temperature in the lower 48.  The average temperature is 32.5 deg, with an average growing season of 4 to 7 days.  What can you grow in 4 to 7 days?

A shallow cold Colorado River

We passed through Byers Canyon, a narrow place with only room for the road, the Frasier River and the railroad, a track on which the California Zepher runs.  Entering the next valley, the river became the Colorado.  It is a small stream here, with many points for fishing access, as it is shallow and used by a good number of fly fishermen.  Thought Surani and Rob would be interested in seeing the Colorado so small.

Byers Canyon

Probably 300' high

There are many interesting geologic formations, but Pat and I especially liked this one.  We were probably at 8000 ft altitude at this point, so this is high in the Rockies.  Looking backward at this point, it is hard to believe that we came through that range of mountains.

What we came through

Today was our day for seeing wildlife.  In the

picture on the right is a herd of prong horn 

antelope just off the road.  We also saw a 

coyote, who crossed right in front of us, 

and prairie dogs along the road.

Look closely!

On the left coast now.

We crossed the continental divide at Rabbit Ears Pass, so named because the mountain near it had two chunks of rock that stick up like (tah-dah) rabbit ears.  It was actually not too cold here, although there was snow on the ground, as you can see.  Just past this spot was a little meadow with interesting colors of vegetation among the melting snow.

Near Rabbit Ear Pass

Steep descents soon faced us...the sign next to this stretch warned that there was a steep grade for the next seven miles, with a runaway truck ramp three miles down the road.  Very similar to coming out of the Sierra, including the twisty turny road like the one on Hwy 20 going into Nevada City...except we were going into Steamboat Springs.

A ski jump just
down the street

Steamboat Springs is a very nice small town of about 9000.  It is also a world class ski area.  The downtown is filled with small shops, old stores, very fou-fou (code for pricey).  Pat and I had a good time looking around:  we went into several shops, including "Sew Steamboat" and a very nice (for Pat) candy store.  Notice in the picture to the bottom right that the flowering plums are in bloom.

Pat heading for candy!

Too early to eat, we were soon on our way again through the Yampa Valley.  Very high, some what dry, lots of cattle pasture.  We drove to Craig CO, where my phone told me there was a quilt shop.  Perfect!  we'd look at the shop and then ask where to eat.  The shop is called "Quilters Quest" and is a small shop, but with a good selection of fabrics and a very friendly owner.  She recommended we eat at a restaurant named "Carelli's," so we did.  Both Pat and I had salads, a healthy eating day.  In case you're ever in Craig, we would recommend it...they do a great pizza too, we're told.  

Left, Carelli's chicken salad (Mary Ann)
Right, spinach with walnuts (Pat)

 We left Craig and headed, we hoped, to Dinosaur National Monument.  No motel worth staying at in Dinosaur CO, crossed the state line to Jensen and realized it was too late to go the the visitor center of the Monument today.  No motels in Jensen, so we drove about 15 min west to Vernal UT where we are  spending the night.  We will drive back to the Monument tomorrow morning.

State No. 15, Utah
Blue Mountain range in background

Looking at Dinosaur National Monument