The strange part of a long trip

We really should let everyone know that we have not been buried in a mud slide on the Cassiar Highway, or lost in the wilds of BC for the past two months, and that we managed to get ourselves back to the lower 48.

The morning of August 2, we started our move south not really having a set plan, other than to take advantage of the trip itself and take a closer look at the Fraser River Gorge, so much of which had been submerged as we drove north during the June thaw and run off. Also we had to keep in mind that everything looks so different when traveling from north to south descending out of the foot hills of the Canadian Rockies. We discovered an entirely different gardenscape as we were now late in the wild flower season and the nights were dropping into the 40s F so trees were thinking about change.

After enjoying two days at Lazy Daze on Ten Mile Lake, (Hoover’s kind of place) we followed Highway 97 south running along the much lower, but still roaring rapids, of the Frasier River through Cache Creek, the white water Capitol of Canada. We found the very cute and woodsy Alpine Villa Resort tucked in the gorge just above Boston Bar, home of the Hells Canyon of the Fraser. We had saved the gondola ride to the canyon floor for our southward trek due to the tourist congestion and high water we encountered on the northbound journey.

Ok, I guess now it is time for a bit of a confession. I had to this point neglected to mention that since mid July, and our hike on to Exit Glacier (at the edge of the Harding Ice Field on the Kenai Peninsula) I had developed a “glitch” in my right knee and in spite of rest, a brace and lots of “vitamin I” the limp was getting more pronounced. Yes, I was in denial until the morning of August 6, when I realized two things. I would be 60 years old the next morning, and I would not be visiting Hells Canyon. Instead, we had better make a B-line for the Silverton Hospital, (one of the “nation’s top 100 hospitals”) and an orthopedist.

Christine was only a bit undone when I called from the Silver Spur RV Park, about a mile from her home, and asked her to see if she could get me in to see someone regarding my, to this point secret, knee issue. She came through and all moved smoothly so that after a round of X-Ray and MRI visits I was on the schedule for arthroscopic knee repair on Aug 16.

It should now be mentioned that the day we arrived in Silverton, Christine’s kitchen had just been torn out in preparation for the new cabinets, counters and appliances which she had ordered in June. I did feel a bit better about the mayhem which I created in that at least we brought something useful to the scene, our KITCHEN. (FYI: today is Oct 11, and the kitchen will finally be totally functional this evening as the stove is being installed as I write. It is beautiful!)

To make the long story short we are still here in Silverton, where we will be spending the majority of the winter. In the two months since the knee issue my less than stellar recovery has led to a whole new set of “friends” in my life. They are the very knowledgeable and personable doctors at Oregon Health and Science University Rheumatology Department in Portland, who have diagnosed my Rheumatoid Arthritis. Finally, within the past week, I am able to say that my progress has been stellar, and that now with a good diagnosis, and proper medication I should be rolling right along with in a few more weeks. The medical care here is very good, and we have chosen to continue my primary RA care here at OHSU so we will spend the majority of the winter in the area as things get stabilized.

Never fear, we don’t plan to let the coach stop rolling. We are headed south for what we feel is a well deserved two week hiatus to Las Vegas. Chris will fly down to join us for a few days for some much needed R and R time. Between her mother, the kitchen make over and a hellish schedule and work load this summer and fall she has earned herself lots of good time credits.

Carl, Hoover and I will return to Silverton the long way, via a few days on the Oregon Coast and then start thinking about the galleries, concerts and points of interest we have still not taken advantage of in the Portland area. Christmas will be in NM with John and Chamisa hosting so we will wend our way towards AZ/NM after the first week of Dec. (Christine has even managed to get some time off so she can fly down to join us.) We don’t know how close we can get the coach to Lyden, that will depend, of course, on the weather. Naturally John wants lots of snow, both for the mountain and the spring run off, but we will wish for a dry window for the coach or a nice room at the Inn on the Delta in Espanola.

I’ll get some more photos up soon!