Tuesday, July 23, 2013

T-18 Days and Counting

Getting everything ready for travel has been hectic. I've been trying to reduce the amount of "stuff" in the house, figure out the best loading arrangement for trailer and truck, make reservations at the sites that need them for the first few weeks, and generally get my head in travel-space.

At the same time, my business needs to be tended to (released three books in the past week for three different authors), taxes are due by the end of the month, and this week is the PNWA Writers' Conference. I'll be at the SeaTac Hilton Conference Center Thursday evening pretty much through Sunday noon. I have a table advertising the business and will present twice on Saturday. Friday night is the autograph party from 8:30-10:00 with some great speakers at dinner preceding (Deb Caletti, Bob Dugoni, Stella Cameron, and Gerry Swallow). Saturday night is the awards banquet for this year's literary competition.

I've had a slight rearrangement of my first few weeks travel plans, which just goes to show that the journey will be in control, not the destination. Here's what the schedule looks like for August.

August 10-12. Daughter and I will leave Bellevue and camp at Daroga State Park, north of Wenatchee, just off U.S. Hwy 2. It's great that DD will join me for my first several days on the road. I'm looking forward to some hikes, some grilled steaks, and some time to adjust to life in the trailer.

August 12-26. I'll be at Spring Ridge Estates, just off Hwy 2 north of Spokane. Anna Marie and Gary Chantry are the owners and have been kind enough to offer me two weeks in their amazing vacation property. DD will be with me for the first three days and then I'll put her on the train back to Seattle. Over the course of the next ten days, I intend to do some exploration of the area, do a lot of writing on my newest book, and get Mark Sawyer's next book, The Shiva Paradox, released. I'm planning a loop up through Canada and down through Idaho, at least as far a Coeur d'Alene. I might even explore into Montana along Rt. 2.

August 26. I'll be headed back to Bellevue along (GASP!) I-90 and spending the night at Wanapum State Park along the Columbia River.

August 27-30. Back in Bellevue at Vasa Park. My old college friend David from Steamboat Springs will be towing his trailer and staying there the 29-31. Unfortunately, the park didn't have space available for me on Friday night, so I'll probably boondock somewhere that night. I have to be back in Bellevue on the 28th anyway in order to have the next step in my dental repair done. It still won't be pretty, but hopefully it won't hurt as much.

August 30-31. Unknown location near Bellevue.

August 31-September 1. David and I will be trailering down to Pendleton, Oregon to stay the night at the Wildhorse resort. I'm hoping to swing through Walla Walla on the way and touch base with Phil and Katherine. Don't know yet how David is about traveling backroads or if he's an Interstate guy.

September 1-3. Planning to be back on my original routing, pulling up near Baker City, Oregon to spend a couple days with my friends Ava and Ross. I plan to stock my trailer's freezer with their good beef before I pull out on Tuesday after Labor Day.

Well, it's a little more driving than I intended to do, but I'm glad that I get to spend time with friends along the way. Now you know as much as I do!

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