Back to work

We have been home for several days and everything is going great. I wanted to give a quick shoutout (my native tongue for "kudos") to cmc.net for setting me up with a free Internet account for a few days.
They were the only company that I could find that was willing to give me a pro-rated account. The grand total for the 7 days that I used their service was supposed to be a whoppin' three dollars and change, but when I called to cancel the account, she said it was easier if we just skipped the bill and I just recommended their service to others. So, here I am. They really were easy to work with and extremely friendly.
Well, I have to get to work. I have patients that need me.

We are here

We just came into Grand Junction. We are passing the mall as I write this. The kids haven't pottied since SLC and they are going crazy.
Looks like it's back to work come tomorrow morning.

-- Sent from my Treo

Gas and go

We are still in SLC. It is 4pm, so we probably won't be home till around 10pm. We took a long time at the pet shop and even longer at Fuddruckers. We will get some gas and diapers then be on our way.

-- Sent from my Treo

Lots of dirt and grass

We are about 60 miles from SLC. We will probably try to stop into Mark's Ark, a cool exotic pet store, as we head through SLC. The kids are watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2 hours & 25 minutes).

-- Sent from my Treo

Leaving Idaho

We slept until 9am today, but it only took us about 15 minutes to get up and out the door. We were all so tired when we got in that we didn't make much of a mess.
We are set to arrive in GJ between 6-7.

-- Sent from my Treo

Back on the move

We were completely stopped in I-84 for about an hour and 45 minutes. The life flight sent 2 choppers twice to clean up the mess.
When we drove past the wreck it was hard to see if any one survived, but harder to see how they could have.

-- Sent from my Treo

Traffic Jam

We were about an hour from Twin Falls until we came to a massive traffic jam. Looks like there was a doozie of an accident up ahead and things are backed up for at least 200 yards or so. Im glad we just put a movie in for the kids.
We just saw a helicopter take off so hopefully things will be moving along soon.

-- Sent from my Treo

Where we are now

It is almost 8pm. We are headed to Twin Falls to stay the night. Currently we are on the Interstate about 35 miles from Boise.

-- Sent from my Treo

In Bend

We are stopping to eat lunch at a little hamburger place called Wendy's. I think I will have the spicy chicken sandwich combo. The kids are so tired and cranky. Only about 14 more hours to go.

-- Sent from my Treo

Here is the whole crew. Each family is sorted by a shirt color. Rachel's mom is the one in the middle. I am the fat guy in red. This picture was taken at the bottom of the stairs of our beach house.

Here is a pic of the dead stuff that is washing up on the beach. All kinds of shells and treasures, but the smell is not too great.

We went to the beach again today. There was so much to see at this one. There is some strange thing happening with the temperature of the ocean and dead crab and other sea life are washing up on the shore so we found a lot of cool shells. I could show the pictures of the various shells and fun stuff we did, but instead I am blogging this great picture of the couple that was in the car next to us when we parked.

Yesterday we spent most of the day doing beach stuff. We saw lots of starfish and sea animimimimimnininimininies. While we were playing in the water this bird floated right up to the shore and joined our group. We thought it was probably sick so we left it alone.

After we were done with the camp fire we used it to light some roman candles.

At the end of the day we (Dane and Nishan) built a fire on the beach and we rosted marshmallos.

This is a cast of the jawbone of a prehistoric shark. It is also a lot larger than the jawbone of the salmon that Paula caught.

Here are some of the jellyfish we saw at the aquarium.

Yesterday we went to the aquarium in Newport. They had sharks seals and jellyfish. It was pretty cool. Some of the Jellyfish were several feet long and there were lots of big sharks and stingrays.

Whenever you catch a salmon, or other large ocean fish, it is important that you wack them on the head with a club then use the point to hook under their gills and throw them into the chest. The large one was named Pescaro! (say Pescaro with a dramatic Antonio Banares accent) it was about 18"-2' long. I am sure that these will end up in a horror movie at some point if they haven't already.

A long day of salmon fishing

Yesterday I didn't blog anything because I spent the day out on the ocean - 12 miles from shore - and fished. Dane chartered the entire boat (Click on the link to read about the company we charted from) for the day and we had nothing but a great time.
The captain was very cool although he very convincingly told us that he hasn't quite mastered Samon fishing and that he gets sea sick everyday. We went along with his stories, but we are beginning to doubt the details of his claims.
The ocean was more still than many lakes I have been on and no one was very sea sick, although we are all still swaying when we stand still.
We were gone for nearly 8 hours and it was great. Not only did we see whales, sharks, Japanese white fish and some sort of non-social dolphin, we also took a vacation from vacation and caught some big fish.
We cooked some of the smaller ones up for dinner last night and it was amazing.
Today we are going to an aquarium with all kind of ocean stuff and bats.

Last night, before we went to bed, I took this picture as a lesson in opposite colors. The orange lighting against the blue coast was very nice.

The dock was full of Sea Lions. They are loud, big and make a sound that resembles what it might sound like of a woman in hard labor tried to do jumping jacks.

This is what Dane looks like after earning 8 hours of vacation pay while samon fishing. He lives in Wyoming, so I don't know how this compares to what he looks like after 8 hours of welding when it isn't on vacation.

And this is what it was all about. We fished for nearly 8 hours and everyone caught their limit. See that big one? It seems large, but it is only about 40 inches and less than 35 pounds - there are much larger fish in the ocean.

See the snow on the top of these rocks? It isn't the regular kind of snow it is sea gull snow! Pretty cool huh?

Rachel and Eli strolled the beach during the wind storm - later they went through a delicate 32-hour separation procedure.

Yes, the beach can be lonely, but I have a new friend - I have named him Wilson. Pretty creative eh?

Beth poses in the "fort" that she and Nishan built.

Beth all dressed up to shield herself from the sand - the temperature wasn't that cold, but the wind was very strong.

Some days you are just lucky and dinner washes right up onto the beach! Yum Yum!!!

Nishan and the kids went out as the weather warmed up to build a fort.

The wind was heavy today and the temperature was a little chilly so the kids built sand castles in the sand that had blown into the driveway.

Rachel slept for over 3 hours today while I washed dishes, made lunch and babysat the kids. I am sure she will argue that it was only a 30 minute nap and I kept letting the kids wake her up. I will let you decide who was right based on what you know of each of us.

Where are we?

We are staying at a beach house in Waldport. To get a glance of the place where we are go to here.

A good day to fish

Since it was such a lovely day on the shore, Dane decided to take grab his line and pole and go fishing. I am not sure if he caught anything, but at least he got away from the crowded house for an hour or so.

Here is Mama running to the beach to play with the kids. I think each kid has gone through every change of clothes and this is only day 2 at the beach.

This isn't the full pan shot, but you get the idea. This is the shot of the view from the little house we have rented on the beach. There are about 15 people staying in this house and we have another one a little further down the road that everyone else is staying in.

I don't know if this will work - but it is supposed to be a video of Jake. Read the "Ode to Jake" post below for more info.

This is our convoy parked at the little state park where none of the adults peed. Or did we???

Here are the kids in Bever City, OR where we had to change the battery. They ate lunch while we worried about the car.

Ode to Jake

I am sure the beach will be nice and the sea food will be tasty and fresh, but the rest of the trip just won't be the same without Jake, the English Bulldog.
Jake is my wife's cousin's dog. Perhaps there is no more noble breed on the earth.
I have sent a picture of Jake to the textamerica moblog link in a former post below.
I hope to post a short video clip of Jake a little later so that all can experience the splendor and grace that is Jake the bulldog.

-- Sent from my Treo

On the road--again.

Ok. It is Sunday morning and we are on our way to the beach.
We are running a little behind because Julie and Paula were flirting with the pumpper dudes at the gas station.
We are using walkie talkies to communicate in the convoy.
Our handle is "Chia Pet". Theirs is "Flo-be".

-- Sent from my Treo

Crossing the Markam

Ok Now we are in the tunnel. This is going too fast to keep up with.

-- Sent from my Treo

40 miles

I don't know if anyone is actually reading this, but it is keeping me busy. I have to hand it to Sprint. I think I may have had 4-6 hours without coverage total all the way from Grand Junction. I just put Rachel's ABBA CD, I don't care much for it but it keeps her from complaining about her bladder. 33 Miles to go - we just passed a sign.

-- Sent from my Treo

Gerting closer

I have posted a picture at adamx.textamerica.com. We are now 60 miles from Portland.

-- Sent from my Treo

115 miles from Portland

We just stopped at a little state park to pee. The old man at the ranger station said he would only let us in for free if only the kids used the restrooms.
Did any adults use the facilities? That is a secret I will take to the grave.
We just passed the dam.

-- Sent from my Treo

My email address

Coverage has been very good almost the whole trip. If anyone needs anything, feel free to email the caravan at acochran@yourpcpartner.com
10-4

-- Sent from my Treo

Almost to Pendleton

We were slowed down by about an hour because Rachel's battery needed replaced (turns out the noise this morning was a conflict between a dying battery and the alternator, not the flux capasitor).
We got the battery after we ate sandwitches in some town that starts with a 'B' and ends with City.
We would be making better time if Dane wasn't stopping to pee at every exit. Must be all the beer/Yoohoo cocktails.

-- Sent from my Treo

At the border

We just crossed into Oregon and set our watches back. Only one pee break since the last post.

--
Sent from my Treo

On the road.

We finally are on the road to Oregon. It is about 9:05am. Already we have seen 2 Dairies.
Paula and Dane met up with us in Twin Falls. They didn't get in 'till late because Paula hit a little tiny precious adorable baby deer. No damage to the car but there wan't much left of the deer - I have heard the word "juice" used a few times to describe the situation.
Rachel's van was making a noise this morning but Dane said to keep driving and see if it goes away. Sure enough, it did - I think it was just the flux capasitor.

More Later.

-- Sent from my Treo

Here we are getting ready to hit the road with a quick free breakfast at the Days Inn in Jarome (Twin Falls) Idaho.

I took this with my Treo at about 6:30am. Under this blanket, Joel, Beth and Allen try to keep warm away from the A/C.

Here I am making this blog on my Laptop while Eli jumps up and down on my back. Rachel just stood there taking pictures and didn't offer any help - I guess she learned that from me.

Here are the kids looking down at the SLC temple from the top of the Church office building.

Joel and Beth in front of a big fountain on Temple Square in SLC.

Here are the kids watching a movie on Thursday night.

Our Trip to Oregon Begins

We are two days into your trip to oregon. The kids have been great. We left yesterday at about 3:30pm and spent a long day driving to SLC. The kids watched movies the whole time using a very cool laptop harness that we bought on the web.
Today we spend the morning in SLC looking at church sites. We also visited the top of the Church office building (24 stories). We left SLC at 1:45 and made very good time. We got into Twin Falls at 4:30pm. Since we made such good time we decided to kill a few hours at the mall, Best Buy, and Michaels. Rachel hasn't had Crazy Bread from Little Caesar's in years so we fed that craving for dinner while we half-watched Lara Croft in Tomb Raider on TV.