Re-entry into craziness! Seattle

Our re-entry back to the 'real' world has been mostly uneventful.  Besides being very overwhelmed with the incredible amount of traffic - everywhere, and the high cost of food that makes my head spin, we seem to be doing ok.

The first order of business, was to check out the trailer- Eagles Nest- to make sure it was ok after leaving it in a storage lot for the time we were gone.   We left it there with a slight bit of fear to what we'd come back to.  Arriving in Seattle with 19 degree temps, that lasted for the week we were here, left us with a frozen, full holding tank.  We couldn't get the thing to drain, even with some external heat applied to thaw it out.  We had to leave and hope for the best.  It's all ok now,  but we did have to apply copious amounts of chemicals, a short ride on the bumpiest road we could find, and ultimately got things opened up by piercing the 'black hose' with a snake and roto- rooting it.  Voila!.. it worked and we didn't even have to put on hazmat suits or change our clothes!  Successful project in mine or anyone's book!

The second order of business was to find a spot to park the trailer for a week, as our site in Puyallup was totally booked for a week for a large group.   Since it's high season, a beautiful summer, and everyone has decided to go camping, our choices were slim and almost none.   I was able to find one night in place A, two nights in B and 4 nights somewhere else.  However, when we were on the way to place A, we liked the drive and the location, and ultimately the park, we pleaded and begged just a bit and we now have a spot here for the week!

The third and final order of business was to look into downsizing the fifth wheel to a smaller class C or Class A and getting a small tow car.   The day after we returned, after finding Eagles Nest in good shape, we set out to search.  We found a perfect tow car, with a good price for the miles.  Then we stopped into an RV sales lot in Fife and found the perfect 25' Class A.  We spent several hours and then went home to sleep on it.  Actually, we headed back to our trailer to take photos to put on Craigslist, and after a several hour discussion, opted to keep what we already had.  The new rig and car would have meant that we'd have to go back to work really soon, and we really like our current set up.  Besides the fact that we really haven't done any 'camping' in it, like we have planned for August and Sept.  We just did the I-5 drive to get to Seattle quickly.

So, we're now camped out at the Riverbed Campground in the Nisqually Delta.  It's a short walk to the Nisqually river, has huge campsites complete with picnic table and fire pit, laundry and a shower. Our site is surrounded by large firs and maples and is shaded most of the day.   We are totally enjoying this spot and will most definitely come back.

A really cool beetle found on my short morning walk.

The big bonus, and really the impetus for this location is the Nisqually Delta Bird and Wildlife refuge located about 6 minutes from here.  Tom was out at daybreak this morning.  We've only enjoyed the refuge in freezing cold temps in the winter time. I did a short walk in it the other day and it's quite green, and brushy compared to the barren winter months!

This 12" turtle was having trouble swimming through the thick lily pads!

I haven't gotten back into the hard drive with all the trip photos on it, as I've been doing a bit of nesting with the trailer.  We arrived with all of our personal items, and some from the store that we wanted to keep and a few other things that just needed to be either with us or just in Seattle.   I've been going through organizing and familiarizing myself with what I have and where it's located!

We are adjusting to not having any schedule, although I find that I need to have some guidelines for my day.  A bit of cleanup for the good of the group, a project or  task that needs to be done, and then play or what ever play thing we feel like doing!

My office this evening with my spice bundles.

Before we left Africa, I purchased some local spices. I'm sitting out side the trailer, enjoying the warm, but cooling evening and late daylight researching recipes on the campgrounds free wifi, what to do with these spices: Potjiekos, Butter chicken, Chakalakd Spice, Peri Peri, Bootie Mix and a couple of others. Tomorrow's task is to go through my pantry to inventory and purge.  Then there might be some serious cooking going on in the next few days.

I plan on doing a once a week, catch-up posting on Wednesdays, so stay tuned.