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Creative energy at a farm implement dealer in Illinois . . .
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We saw lots of new wind power installations in the farm belt
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South Dakota visitor info centers all have these neat stylized tipis
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First time we've seen these huge fields of sunflowers . . . a nice change from wheat and corn
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The patterns in the harvested fields are pretty neat . . .
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Approaching Rapid City SD there are several signs with adjacent fire trucks . . .
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Our first views of the Badlands . . .
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We like their signs and kitsch, but not so much the place itself . . .
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Inside the Woodcarving Museum at Custer SD - a talking animated carved prospector
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Most of the carvings are caricatures - like Peter Lorre taking the notes . . .
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We had to check on the progress at the Crazy Horse Monument near Custer SD
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A star atop the Star of the West - seems appropriate
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One of the geological exhibits inside Rapid City's Journey Museum
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Cool bones - and we didn't touch
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Judy really likes Native American beadwork
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The native crafts are wonderful
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We spotted the Sioux courting flutes right off . . .
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A representation of Double Woman, reputed in Sioux legend as the source of Quillworking skills
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Quillworking is the use of porcupine quills in decorative ways, as in this moccasin
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Judy shows how one uses a side-saddle
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Al shows how one abuses a western saddle
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A statue labled "Our Lady of the Prairie" near the Hart Ranch RV Resort
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We stopped for lunch in Gillette WY - neat sign
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And this why our lunch stop took twice as long as expected . . .
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Still a little snow on those Rockies . . .
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We think it was a controlled burn - dicey during fire season
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Bob and Barb Muir - Marcia's folks - in their home in Billings MT
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We were so glad to see Marcia again, as she awaits her next call
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One of those huge copper mines near Anaconda MT
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A most curious cloud formation in Montana's big sky
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We must be westerners - these mountain scenes sure look good to us
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Montana's a big state, and the views are absolutely wonderful
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Really neat . . .
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Just past the Continental Divide in Idaho . . . .
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That's Lake Coeur d'Alene . . .
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We don't know what business this used to be, north of Spokane . . .
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Our first view of Mt Rainier - lots of snow left
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Lake Wanapum on the Columbia River - named for a tribe which was never hostile, thus never got treaty protection, and is now extinct
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The Wild Horse Monument is on a hilltop overlooking Lake Wanapum
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The Tacoma Narrows Bridge - successor to Galloping Gertie
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Our home on the right, Jan & Denny's new home behind . . .
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Some of Jan's flowers on the deck overlooking Puget Sound
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That's the view from the deck - and we never got tired of it
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The view is ever-changing as the light, water and clouds change
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Almost every room in the house gets the view . . . .
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Jan & Denny - do they look happily retired or what?
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A frequent visitor . . .
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In the morning, the fog hangs about the islands . . .
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Al & Denny checking out their 32ft motor sailer, moored at daughter Lauren's place
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Lauren helps Jan model hallowe'en costumes just arrived from daughter Lisa in France . .
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Denny's constumery is more modest . . .
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That's Starrlette Gatens focusing on the view . . .
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Jan's new kitchen
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A mini-family reunion - Judy's brother John and his Starrlette joined us for the weekend
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Jan took this - she knows how to expose for the foreground
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Denny installing an instant hot water dispenser for the kitchen sink
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Meanwhile, Jan cuts shelf paper. They've been in the house full time just over a week . . . .
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Hard to believe they call Mt Rainier the most dangerous mountain in North America
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Paul & Lauren Littleton - a good looking couple
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Their mountain at twilight
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That's Jan & Denny's grandson Nolan with his mom Lauren
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We had to make S'Mores - but only had fondue forks for the marshmallows
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Sisters showing off their Christmas shirts
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Al unsuccessfully attempting to lead Nolan astray
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Paul and Declan, the sleepy grandkid
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One of many cast iron sculptures near Raymond WA
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On the beach at the 1000 Trails Long Beach Preserve - our first view of the Pacific in 18 months
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Looks pretty much the same as when we left it
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We saw many groups of pelicans
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This aircraft was taking a break . . .
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It was a stunt kite, and the pilot knew how to fly it
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A marine sculpture marks the path back to the RV park
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Chuck Wolfe shows off his badly broken leg . . . and great attitude
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Nellie almost never stops moving . . . but she's a very loving lab
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Jan and Sophie - pay attention to one dog, somebody's gotta give the other equal treatment
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Inside the old Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran (Finnish) Church at Deep River - over a hundred years old and mostly original
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Jan looks like a natural . . .
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All the modern bi-lingual convieniences
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It's a really neat old church, and we're glad it's being preserved
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Chuck's been grilling some spectacular steaks on the porch . . .
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Later, Judy went with Chuck & Jan to the practice for the North Coast Chorale . . .
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Remember, Chuck - no weight on that leg!
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A neat mural on a building in Ilwaco WA, showing the main street circa 1924
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In Astoria, the wonderfully restored Liberty Theatre is now a performance venue
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We ate here with John and Starrlette - this historic old bar is now an upscale bistro
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Judy wanted a twilight view of Astoria from the Washington side of the Columbia River
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The daytime view is a little brighter . . . beyond the bridge is Saddle Mountain
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As we head for Portland, some of the freighters anchored at Astoria waiting for berth space up river
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There's something new in Portland since we were last here - the OHSU tramway
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Anna welcomes us to their new (to them) house . . . .
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Luciano in his favorite perch
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Senior cat Shelby isn't nearly as sociable . . .
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Ira's looking something up for us . . .
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That's Anna's sister Savannah . . . .
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We all had dinner at the Marina Fish House at Portland's River Place on the Willamette River
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Neat old Chris Craft runabout. Bob must like it . . .
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Ira & Anna . . . .
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One spectacular dessert, two forks to minimize the guilt
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Walking off the dinner . . . .
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Formal portrait. No smile, though . . .
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At Portland's Saturday Market, a statue hoping for contributions for not moving (much)
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Lots of metal sculptures - from the ridiculous . . . .
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. . . to the sublime
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Lots of people at the Saturday Market
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Our chariot approaches . . . . The MAX train is free in the downtown area
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Heading west from Eugene, construction at Poodle Creek Rd - maybe a poodle crossing? That's all, folks . . .