Large Scale Central

Retirement Travels

Other Hobbies
#101

Yesterday, we did some scouting for our trip of 45 minutes this morning to watch the eclipse. Afterwards, we headed to McEwen to ride the Sumpter Valley Railway. Strangley interesting and easy to model. Our train was pulled by an original American Locomotive Works, Schenectady 2-8-0 and all the cars were original. Why it would be easy to model is that both sides of the track were surrounded by piles of heavy gravel tailings of the gold dredges.

If you Google Earth the area of Sumpter, Oregon, you can see the "Gold Field Tailings. Lots of river rock.

Off to get a sun burn, later.

#102

We have spent the last 3 days along the shores of the Columbia River and its Gorge. Explored Mt. Hood and all the tourism associated with it and the Gorge. Sitting next to the UP mainline into Portland and have been watching fire fighting planes pick up water to fight the Indian Creek Valley fire. Pretty interesting. Last night shared a campfire with a coach attendant of the Empire Builder, that works 6 days on, per round trip, and then 5 days off. Interesting to hear about his railroad life. Been on the Empire Builder for 7 years.

Today, we move on to Washington State, Mt. St. Helen and eventually the Puget Sound area.

#103

A fun place is the Mt. rainier railroad and logging museum. You can stay in a caboose motel in Elbe Wa. and ride a steam train to the museum. They have several engines in working and repair

Thanks Dave

#104

Well since your in Washington are you going to stop by TOC’s layout? Or Paul Burch?

The Kitsap Live Steamers are running on Saturday too…

I know of a few nice camp grounds here on the Kitsap Pennisula.

#105

And it’s not too far down to Port Orford…

Home of the…well…who knows? (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)

#106

That must be a VERY RARE picture of Richard “Dicky” Smith…If you miss visiting him, you should be ashamed of yourselves…say hello to Helen for me too, please.

#107

Fred Mills, SOG said:

That must be a VERY RARE picture of Richard “Dicky” Smith…If you miss visiting him, you should be ashamed of yourselves…say hello to Helen for me too, please.

…

Say Hello for us to … like Fred said… We use to work wth this guy in Cal… Has also has a neat long Layout to see. Noel & Jane

#108

Visits may be in our future plans and as time permits.

First, we’ve got to get this Alaska Adventure out of the way. We have a plane to catch, Tuesday, that gets us in to Alaska and then a bus and then a boat and then another bus to get back to Washington. Two weeks to see the biggest state.

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Tomorrow’s plans are to ride the Mt. Rainer Railroad and head up to “Reflection Lake”. Today was the trip from Mt. St. Helen to Mt. Rainer. Visited Mt. St. Helen, yesterday afternoon and evening. Impressive!

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Do you remember what you were doing on May 18, 1980.

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Maybe one of the bigger things that has happened in our life times.

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Funny thing, 37 years have passed and nobody has figured out how to stop it from happening again.

Didn’t even see statements about how it was "Man’s fault. Nice museum and an impressive park.

Watching the films and the pictures of when it happened, its amazing how much film technology has advanced, since 1980.

#109

Ric Golding said:

Do you remember what you were doing on May 18, 1980.

.

Maybe one of the bigger things that has happened in our life times.

.

Funny thing, 37 years have passed and nobody has figured out how to stop it from happening again.

Didn’t even see statements about how it was "Man’s fault. Nice museum and an impressive park.

Watching the films and the pictures of when it happened, its amazing how much film technology has advanced, since 1980.

…

Ric G.

We remember Mt. Sant Helen’s well.

l was a Owner Truck Oper. at that time and was leased pulling Trans Western Dbl.Trailers. ( Part of Sys. 99 )

Sure made a mess and got held up for a day or so.

Man doesn’t know the power of a volcano.

We had to… Twice replace Air Filters around 100 buck each. It was due to the Ash and muck on I-5 hwy going from Seattle WA to Ca.

#110

We passed miles of ash piled up alongside I-5 on our way down to Mt. St. Helens. That was in 2006.

#111

We were watching the news that day, May 18th, 1980, hoping that the ash cloud would blow east of us, and most of it did. We has a dusting of gray by the time it was over. At the time, we were living in Spanaway Washington.

#112

WOW! This sure is becoming an adventure. I’m envious of your time and energy! Enjoy Alaska. Going to Skagway?

#113

Ric

I remember it quiet welll we were campping north of the mtn and herd the mtn go up at about 6 am in the morning we thought if was blastting until we herd in no the radio later in the dayand live to see the dust on I 5 for months after

#114

Yesterday’s Adventure included a ride on the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad. A 6 mile ride in very modern commuter style old Milwaukee Road passenger cars pulled by a 2-8-2T engine. Nice ride and pleasant surprise at destination of a great logging equipment museum. All kinds of rod and geared steam engine, plus lots of skid loaders, bunk houses and even 7.5 inch gauge, scale models of engines. Very well preserved, stored and displayed logging equipment.

Today, we move on to Kent, Washington, prepping for Alaska trip. All is well.

#115

Glad you enjoyed it

Dave M.

#116

Well, today I am sitting in a “Lodge” owned by the Princess Cruise Lines, Fairbanks, Alaska. Feels like a hotel and looks like a hotel, but its called a lodge. No reason to argue with the marketing department.

Yesterday, we got to experience all the joys of flying. Jan and I haven’t been on a plane, since 2003. Last time was to visit our son and wife when they were stationed in Hawaii with the USMC. The joys of flying haven’t improved and really don’t expect it to be in a our future plans. But its certainly a way to travel long distances in a short amount of time. Teleporting really needs to be advanced.

Who knew, Alaska has there own time zone. Woke up about 1 am to drain the bilge and got to see the Northern Lights. Impressive! One of those things on the “bucket list”. Riverboat cruised planned for the day, operating a stern wheeler is also on the “bucket list”, but if they won’t let me dock it, what’s the point. We’ll see.

#117

Oh boy, you just reminded me of my flight home from Nome. First we had to go north to Kotzebue to fill the plane. It was foggy and it took our plane 3 tries to find the runway. The airport was built on a spit of land in the cold ocean… we had a flight attendant on her first trip… her jump seat faced all of us. Dad was in a wheel chair so we were up front.

As often as I could I’d catch her attention and smile at her, she’d relax a tad and I could feel all the passengers behind me, sigh in relief.

Some how when a flight attendant looks worried, it affects the rest.

Enjoy your flight!

John

#118

Flew into Anchorage on my way to Nam, Sept, 1970. It was about 75 out. Saw nothing but the sides of mountains as we were descending. Landed at Elmendorf Air Force Base near there on my way home in Jan 1971 to refuel. It was -20. Glad I didn’t have to get out…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

My 2 and only visits to Alaska.

#119

Wow, all kinds of steam trains, incredible scenery, an eclipse, and northern lights too – totally awesome trip!!

#120

Ken Brunt said:

" Rooster " said:

Wait… Ric’s retired?

Not really. He’s just changed jobs, from running a marina to driving a bus…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Good stuff!