Days 1 & 2 – The Adventure Begins

After months of planning, we finally hit the road! We left Renton on Friday under a sky filled with wildfire smoke, hoping for clearer skies ahead.

Our first stop was Ellensburg, where we spent time with our dear friend, Paula Gough. It was wonderful to see her beautiful home and catch up. Ruby was thrilled to be traveling again and, as usual, quickly found her way into Paula’s arms.

That evening we had another first—a Harvest Hosts stay at a whiskey distillery! Before settling in, we enjoyed an amazing dinner at La Santa, where the smoked brisket tacos were outstanding. Back at camp, we visited with fellow RVers and picked up some great travel tips. Jim came in with the obligatory purchase…. a bottle of HONEY!

Saturday reminded us that RV life is all about being flexible. Our next Harvest Hosts location near Spokane had to evacuate because of the wildfires, so we pivoted and found a site at Blackwell Island RV Park in Coeur d’Alene.

The smoke was even heavier there, so instead of sightseeing, we turned on the air conditioning, took naps, and enjoyed some quiet reading. The lake was full of boats and paddleboards, but the smoky air kept us indoors. We’re hoping it clears before we head to Missoula on Monday.

Jim did make one important discovery—a cherry pie at Safeway! I’d say our pie adventures are officially underway.

For now, we’re simply grateful to be on the road, praying for rain, and keeping everyone affected by the fires in our thoughts.

🚐 Miles So Far: Renton → Ellensburg → Coeur d’Alene
📍 Current Camp: Blackwell Island RV Park, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
🥃 Most Unexpected Stay: A Harvest Hosts whiskey distillery.
🌮 Best Meal: Smoked Brisket Tacos at La Santa in Ellensburg.
🥧 Pie Report: Jim found a cherry pie at Safeway, so our official Pie Quest is officially underway!
🌫️ Weather: Heavy wildfire smoke kept us indoors.
🐾 Ruby’s Mood: “I’ve visited friends, made new fans, and settled into RV life. This trip is off to a great start!”

The lake looks like it is night but this was in the middle of the day.

We have spent the past week getting Big Bertha ready for Launch day. She has now received 4 solar panels and a brand new 12 Volt refrigerator. We have not done a full solar build in that we cannot power our outlets without the 110 electric but we should be good for the occasional nights we are on the road. We had Rob the RV Guy do the work and he was excellent. He even allowed Jim to get on the roof and help him out. Jim was learning as he was helping. AND… he didn’t charge us extra for Jim’s help! Tee hee

So Friday we leave and we will go to Ellensburg to visit a friend. Then on to Idaho.

We are loaded to the gills. The paddle board is packed, the dog bed is in and everything else???? Yup… its there too.

See you from the road.

Getting Ready to Hit the Road!

We have planned, planned, and then planned some more—and now we are just two weeks away from leaving. We can hardly wait!

The route is mapped out, reservations are made, and our Fall Adventure is finally starting to feel real.

Of course, just when we thought we had everything under control, we decided to make a few last-minute upgrades to Big Bertha. We are replacing the refrigerator and adding solar panels to the roof. A mobile RV technician is scheduled to come on July 30 to complete the work.

There has definitely been a learning curve with all of this!

I, Lauri, have been studying solar power, batteries, controllers, and all the other pieces we will need to understand once everything is installed. I will admit—I am feeling a little overwhelmed. Hopefully, by the time we hit the road, I will know which buttons to push and which ones to leave alone!

Meanwhile, Jim is busy getting the truck ready. We are also beginning to lay out everything we need to pack for what will basically be a six-month adventure. Even though we will come home for the holidays, we still need to prepare for several seasons and all kinds of weather.

And then there is Ruby.

She definitely knows something is going on. She watches us scurry around, follows us into Big Bertha to “help,” and keeps a close eye on every bag and box.

Honestly, I think she only wants to make sure her treats are packed.

They will be, of course.

The countdown is officially on!

🚐 Miles Today: 0—but soon!
📍 Tonight’s Camp: Home
💦 Found Water? Not yet
🥧 Pie Rating: Still searching
🐾 Ruby’s Mood: Suspicious, but hopeful

The countdown is officially on!

Beginning in August, Big Bertha, Ruby, Jim, and Lauri will be heading out on one of our biggest adventures yet. We’ll be traveling through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and California, exploring spectacular National Parks, historical monuments, charming small towns, beautiful campgrounds, and—if you know us at all—anything near the water!

We’d love to have you come along for the ride! This blog is our way of sharing the journey with our family and friends. We’ll post photos, stories, funny moments, campground reviews, Ruby’s adventures, and maybe even where we found the best barbecue and pie along the way.

Of course, before the fun begins, there’s plenty to do!

Our “Before We Leave” Checklist

• 🏡 Get the house all buttoned up. (We’re blessed to have a missionary living here to help keep an eye on things.)
• 🌿 Get the yard care arranged.
• 🚛 Service the truck and make sure the tires are road-trip ready.
• 🚐 Clean out Big Bertha and repack her for everything from summer heat to mountain snow.
• 👕 Plan clothing for every season. We’ll be flying home for Christmas before returning to Big Bertha in California to continue the adventure.
• 🛒 Figure out what supplies and gear we still need for a trip this long.
• 🛰️ Spend some time with our trusty old Starlink system and decide if, after nearly eight years, it’s finally time for an upgrade.

Can you tell we’re excited?

Now it’s your turn! If you’ve been to any of the places we’re visiting and have a favorite restaurant, scenic drive, hidden gem, campground, hiking trail, lake, hot spring, or can’t-miss attraction, we’d love to hear about it. Some of our favorite memories have come from recommendations shared by family and friends.

Thanks for coming along with us. We can’t wait to share the journey!

🚐 Miles Today: 0 (The driveway still counts, right?)

📍 Tonight’s Camp: Home… but not for much longer!

💦 Water Found? Not yet—but we’re already dreaming of mountain lakes and ocean views.

🥧 Pie Rating: Stay tuned… our official pie hunt begins soon!

🐾 Ruby’s Mood: “I’ve supervised the packing. When do we leave?”

🌅 Favorite Moment of the Day: Looking at the calendar and realizing our adventure is almost here!