Day 1 - Baker City, Oregon

After a full year of planning and waiting it is finally here!  We are on our way! We had a BBQ with Lisa, Dean, and the boys last night and a good night's sleep and we were all up and moving.  Loading the truck and trailer with last minute stuff.  Aris and Bertha seem to be adjusting to the jet lag pretty well after arriving from Holland late Tuesday night.  I was heading for the shower and noticed the distinct lack of hot water.  I found that the pilot light would not stay lit in the water heater.  I made a quick trip to P & C Plumbing and got a  new thermocoupler. It didn't help.  It is probably the gas valve, but I will have to work on it when we get back.  We will get hot showers tonight in the trailer.

We rolled through the POE scales and our total rig was 17,000 lbs.  Not too bad for 4 people, a dog, full water and gas tanks, and two months of provisions.

After a quick lunch at the truck stop in Ontario, we made it to Baker City just in time for a rain storm.  Molly was happy to get out of the truck and immediately found the canal and some mud and water to nullify the bath I gave her yesterday.  Bill guided me to our parking spot and we had electricity and water hooked up in no time.

We decided that we would take turns doing suppers and Cathy volunteered to be first as she already had tonight's supper planned.  Shrimp, chicken, and beef shish kabobs with rice and salad and strawberry shortcake for dessert sets a high standard for the rest of the trip.  We will see what we will do for tomorrow.

It was great to see Bill Sr. again and he entertained us with lots of stories during dinner.  He also provided our hook ups for the trailer and we might be frugal with the electricity use if it doesn't get too cold.

Our plan is to leave here at 9:00 and see how close to Canada we can get.

I have to look up a you tube video of the "North to Alaska" song to wake everybody up in the morning!