Trip to Ocean Mansion

Over this weekend 10/30/15 to 11/1/1 Jean and I went to her beach house for a little R&R which was good since I was recuperating from my two hernia operations. 

I am now sitting in her mansion.  It is 6700 square feet with so many rooms and bedrooms I can't find my way around without a map.  It tires me out just walking from my bedroom to the kitchen.  My bedroom is down stairs and the kitchen is way up a flight and a half of stairs, but just to get to the stairs I have to walk about a hundred feet.  I wish you could see it. .  It's in Gearhart, Oregon just a few miles from Seaside.  It is a bit rainy today and may be tomorrow, but this place is so big and so much to see that I sure won’t be bored.  I can see the ocean from here, even the TV works so what’s not to like. 

The last time I was here was around 10 years ago.  Some of you may not know, but I was the Realtor who sold this place to my very special friends.  They bought just the land, but had to build a house on it right away, so they built one of the best ones around in this gated community.  I’m very lucky to have such wonderful friends.  Unfortunately, my friend, Jean’s husband Sig died a few years ago.  We all miss him a lot and it seems like when we go to the beach house he seems to be still there.

Today before we got here Jean stopped at the Nike store where she bought $1500 of shoes.  Talk about a shopping spree.  She buys them about once a month when Nike has a big shoe sale then gives them to the poor children all over the world.  She does not get any funding for what she does; it just makes her happy to help others; like me.

A couple our age who plays tennis with Jean, Bill and Barbara, joined us for the weekend.  They were wonderful.  I really liked them.  The three of them went out to the tennis court here on this property and played for about 3 hours.  I stayed here and played on my computer since I don't know which end of the racket to hold.  We all had a good time here. 

Below are some pictures I took with my new tablet that came out pretty poor, very fuzzy.  I really don’t know much about this tablet so I hope I can do better next time.  Maybe you can get some idea of what the inside of the house looks like.

This first picture is the front of the house as if you couldn’t tell.

Below is my friend Sig

Sig who is 6'8" in his very large kitchen, notice how tall the ceiling is compared to Sig

This is just the guest bedroom

Game room with the full sized pool table as the center piece

A poor picture of the wine closet

Upstairs Den

Here's Jean, I caught her putting on her makeup

The pictures don't give any justice to the house, but it's my lousy picture taking, not the huge beautiful house.  I'll try better later.

I hope you enjoyed my little trip.  I know you didn't enjoy it as much as I have being here; sorry about that.  

Silverwood Lake Trip

Silverwood Lake Trip

On Friday, September 9, 2011 the High Desert Brothers of the Third Wheel (BTW) held their annual picnic at Silverwood Lake, California.  I got my tent trailer all wired  up for lights, hooked it up and headed out to join them.  I had not met any of them before so when I got there I introduced myself and immediately I was treated like family.  Two of them came right up and helped me set up my tent and introduced me to the rest of the group.  Because I had to work late on my trike getting everything ready and was waiting for Robert, our director, to get his trike fixed I didn’t get up to the lake until 7:00 p.m.  Robert never did get to go so I was the only one from our chapter. That evening I met each member and really enjoyed sharing riding experiences and other stories with them. 

The next morning Rusty, the camp cook, rustled us up some good grub.  He is a great cook.  We then went on a long trike trip with eight trikes and 13 members.  We went up to Big Bear Lake.  There, we found a good restaurant called "The Cowboy Express" and had lunch and then headed back.  It was a very nice run.  That night Russ BBQed a bunch of meat.  We ate like kings and queens.  We had great music, conversations and dancing.  The best dancer was their 11 year old mascot named Taylor Oatman.  She sure can dance and is one of the smartest 11 year olds I’ve ever known.  What a cutie.  She even helped me by pumping up my air bed with the foot pump all by herself.  She thought it was fun.  Silly girl. 

Here are some of the pictures of that weekend. 

This is a picture of Taylor next to her grandma's trike that they rode up on.

This is my trike and tent trailer all set up.

Silverwood Lake

Below are pictures of some of the trikes that were with me on the run

The following pictures are from a ride going around the lake area

Then all too soon the long ride home.  I hated to leave

It’s great to have another group of people I can now call my family.  I really felt welcome by the High Desert Trikers.  Thanks guys.  Above is my trike and tent trailer all ready to head back home.

RIDE TO SAUVIE ISLAND, OREGON

I have been riding my new Harley trying to get used to it since I have not been on a two wheeler for about 6 years now since I got my trike.  It is taking a little time to acquaint myself to all the new controls and fancy electronics they have on them now.  When I get a little more money I will be adapting it more to my body and not some 6 foot plus person they build them for.  I’m doing alright with it. 

I took a very nice ride to a place called Sauvie Island which is a pretty big island just a few miles from our house.  It has fantastic beaches were many families were swimming and frolicking; all in all, a very nice day.  Here are a few pictures of the island.

My Harley the day I bought it

Sauvie Island Bridge

Sauvie Island Beach and Columbia Slough which flows back into the Columbia River

Sauvie Island Beach Up River

Sauvie Island Beach Down River

Sauvie Island Marina

Marina Down Stream

I hope you liked the pictures.  There's not a whole lot more to tell about the ride escept that it was a great day and as you can see a beautiful sky.