Sunday, 09 April 2017 through Monday, 17 July 2017

Although it rained hard most of the night, by the time I opened my eyes this morning, the sun was shining and the sky clear. Too, the clear sky above allows the temperature to drop into the thirties.

Rising, I first walk to the hot tub for a couple of minutes in the hot water, then dry off, put on my dark brown suit and drive into town for coffee at the w-mart, where I also do my Bible study for today′s meeting. Then, at nine-thirty am, I pack out and drive to the hall for the meeting. Afterwards, I drive back to the w-mart to see about selling my last vending machine and I am able to list it on offerup.com. Next, I return to the shop to resume working on my move and continue until the sun sets, after which I pack away the tools, cleaning supplies and finish making my bed in the blue van, which will from this point forward be called the windjammer, or jammer for short.

What is left to complete the move is to change the front tires on the two vehicles, but with that, I am going to take the new brake pads off of the 94 Aerostar and move the pads to the 89 Aerostar so I need possibly more than one day to complete that task. Also, I need to move both the cloth hanging rod and the window coverings from the 94 to the 89. Finally, there is all the boxes of vending product and supplies that are still in the 94 Aerostar but I need to sell that which I hope to do soon.

After I wrap up the the final tasks to shut down for the night, I grab a can of salmon and a quart of almond milk, climb into the jammer and have salmon and milk for my supper. Lastly, I pound keys until today′s journal entry is complete, then shut down the computer and close my eyes at nine pm.

Arise slowly, walk to the hot water, get in and soak for several minutes. Returning to the jammer, I change into my brown suit and then head into town for a cup of hot. At eight-forty, I pack out to the hall for the ministry meeting and today I work with Bob, Patrick, and Monte; Bob drives and we first drive across the island to the east side to work near Mariners Cove. We find several home but most do not even want to talk with up, a few take the invitation. After an hour there, we head back into town and work in another territory with the same results. Shortly after twelve noon, we head back to the hall and each goes his own way, I to a couple of stops before I return back to the shop.

Today, I continue to move my things from the green van into the blue jammer where I am finding a lot less room for my stuff. Methinks that I will have to lessen the load once again, simplify even more than I have in the past, even send a traveling box or two to my sister′s home to put in her attic.

At sunset, Mark, Cheryl and Harlow arrive back home and Cheryl asks me if I know about senior salad bar at the pizza place on the water edge. "No, what is that about?" She says "Senior night is an all you can eat salad bar for four dollars." I tell Cheryl, "Bye, see ya after I eat salad." I drive over to the waterside pizza place, go inside, pay four dollars and have the best salad I have had in a long time. As I leave, I say "See ya next Monday" and drive back to the Shop where I park and at nearly ten this evening, get into the back under the sleeping bag.

Up before the alarm, climb out of the jammer and walk to the hot tub. Through the thick forest, I can see the full moon near at the western horizon and watch it for a few minutes as it closes the gap. Returning to the jammer, I put on a suit, start the jammer and drive to the w-mart for coffee and an hour of key pounding before heading to the hall for the ministry meeting. I work with Bob, his wife Audrey and Denise; the area we go to is the north of the island near Deception Pass on Monkey Hill road, Troxell road and Ducken road completing the territory with the memorial invitations. After that, we return to town for a short break and do calls until we return to the hall shortly after noon.

Then, I drive to the g-mart for some vegetable for a salad for supper and then stop at the w-mart to pound keys while waiting for the memorial to begin at seven-thirty this evening. A little later, I look up and see Patty, someone that I have not seen for years, who I have have long considered to be a very good friend. When she sees me, she smiles large, walks toward me and says "Hello Thom, I want a hug." She then goes up to the counter and gets a sweet drink and returns to join me where I am sitting. Patty then begins with the words, "Thom, I am a broken woman" and continues to tell my how her multiple sclerosis has wreaked havoc on her body, emotions and mind. I listen to her tell her story of how this disease is dragging her down further and further. She also tells me of how her mother has come to Washington to live with her, who also has found that no matter what she does to try to be healthy, continues to gain weight and become less healthy.

After listening to her story, how bad she and her mother are having it, I realize that in fact, she is reaching out to me for help, so, I begin by telling her that since about 2009, I too have been trying to find a simple, reasonable approach towards good health and living well. I tell her that what I have found is that everything that we have been taught since childhood, including: (a) the food pyramid; (2) the claims of the commercial food industry to provide nutritional food; and even (3) the claims of the health industry to provide healing cures for any of the diseases that afflict us; are one and all lies perpetrated by the commercial industries not to feed, heal or help us in any way, but instead only to fill their coffers with our money.

I then tell her that I have found the real way to good health and living well, that it is firstly about what we eat. "Remember," I say to Patty, "every thing we have previously been told about good for us has been lies; that we must need learn again the real way." I read excerpts from my web site about what this real way is and say "to cure disease, the food we eat now must not contain any inflammatory foods such as sugar, dairy, and grains, all which cause chronic inflammation. (CI)

I continue, "CI prevents the body from healing itself and is the root cause for all modern disease, including auto-immune diseases, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity." Then I show her the complete list on my web site of foods causing CI.

At this point, she tells me that she now understands why she is not getting better but instead is getting worse, and then says "I need to eliminate inflammatory foods from my diet." She then picks up her sugary drink, which is topped with whip cream, walks to the garbage can and drop the drink in. I tell her that this is the first step on the path to better health and living well, that it is not an easy journey but so worth every effort it takes to learn how and then to keep walking upon this path.

"Further," I continue, "our serving the most high God of the entire universe is so much easier in a healthy body and we are so much more effective in the work we have been assigned." She agrees and then asks me if I will come and tell her mother about eliminating inflammatory foods. "Yes," I tell Patty, "I would more than love to help her get on the real way." Patty gives me a hug good bye and departs. "See you soon," I call out as she leaves the w-mart.

I then compose for my journal the meeting I had with my good friend and spiritual sister, Patty while sipping on another cup of hot tea. At six-thirty this evening, I pack out of the w-mart, drive to the Kingdom Hall, park and walk inside for the memorial of Christ′s death. All of those good friends whom I have yet to see again are here including Kathy, Don, Ralph and Francis, all who usually listen to the meeting at home due to their age or disease. Mark gives the public talk and he does a great job in explaining the many aspects of sin, death and the need for the ransom.

Afterwards, I leave the hall and drive back to the Shop to park for the evening and it begins to rain.

Awake, walk to the hot tub but it is empty for cleaning, so instead, start the jammer and drive to the w-mart for coffee and to try listing my vending machine on additional selling sites. After listing the machine and the two boxes of product, I head back to the shop and begin working on moving the front wheels and the brake pads.

However, once I see that the blue jammer front brake pads are still quite thick, I decide not to move the pads between the vehicles. I then begin moving the batteries but have to go to the ap-mart to get a new cable and once I return complete the exchange of the battery, the isolator and reinstall every thing on the blue jammer. At about six pm, I pack away the tools, clean up the blue jammer and then prepare a supper consisting of a veggy salad. After eating, I drive into town to buy some chocolate for desert.

As I am driving back to the shop, it begins to rain. Upon arriving, I plug in the extension cord, plug in my batteries to charge and pound keys for the time it takes to write today′s journal entry. Then I climb into the back and get horizontal for the evening.

I awake before the alarm, but am slow to rise and finally do when the alarm goes off. Then I dress in my winter blues, drive to the w-mart for a cup of hot and begin pounding keys. When I check my com, I find an email from Karen and John who I met a long time ago and have since lost track of. Wow, it is good to hear from them. At ten, I pack out of the w-mart and head back to the shop to continue working on my move.

At five-thirty pm, I pack out, drive to the city beach and take a cold shower. Methinks that I am the only person who comes here for a shower at this time of year, but I know that to keep clean is necessary. Then, I stop at the fish shop and have a grilled salmon, salad and lemon water. Next, I head to the hall and wait in the jammer until time for the meeting. Finally, I drive back to the shop, park and get in the back to sleep.

Up before the alarm and head for the w-mart for coffee and com. Then, at noon, I return to the shop because I have decided to go ahead and change the front brake pads because this way, I will still have my life time warranty that I received when I purchased the pads, besides, the pads are newer even though only a little thicker. While the wheels and rotors are removed, I also repack the front wheel bearings, a job that I always hate doing because it is so messy but I do anyway because I have the grease, the jammer needs repacking and to pay a shop would cost over a hundred dollars.

After I finish putting the tires back on the jammer, I put away the tools, clean up and then go to Island Cafe for a meal of salad, soup and clams. After that, I stop at the w-mart to check email and still do not have any interest in my vending machine and product. Finally, I return to the Shop, park, climb into the back and get horizontal.

Up and moving and soon arrive at the w-mart to begin pounding keys, still uploading photos to the Sunglow Gallery, now having completed the 2012 collection. At noon, I return to the Shop and work more on the project there, having moved totally into the blue jammer but now organizing and down sizing my burden, in my effort to make it work for me.

Mark lets me use his shop to rebuild my kitchen cabinet, cutting and re-sizing it to fit in the shorter jammer and with that done, now I have foot room in the front of my bed at the side sliding door. Yes, a new home for this wayfarer is beginning to take shape. At six pm, I go out for Mexican and while eating do my study for tomorrow. Afterwards, I return to the shop and climb into the sleeping birth.

Up at early dayspring, clean up, dress in my winter blues and before six this morning, I drive down from the hill where I have been overnighting into Oak Harbor and see a beautiful sunrise over the Cascade Mountains to the east. After stopping for a few photos of the sunglow, I then drive to the w-mart for coffee and com. I have now received two requests for information on the 1994 green Aerostar and send out replies that it is available for viewing beginning tomorrow.

Later this morning, I pack out of the w-mart, drive north of Oak Harbor about ten miles (less than a fifteen minute drive) to Cornet Bay which is the main saltwater access point for boaters at Deception Pass state park. Also, because Cornet Bay has moorage docks allowing boat overnighting, the park has built a shower house with two individual shower rooms (fifty cents for four minutes) and this is where I come to take a hot shower while I am here in Oak Harbor, Washington. While I am in Deception Pass state park, I prepare and enjoy my breakfast there on one of the picnic tables. At nine this morning, I pack out of the w-mart, drive to the park, get dressed in my suit and then drive to the hall for the weekend meeting.Then, shortly after nine this morning, I drive to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses for the weekend meeting, arriving before any others arrive and enjoy reading in my Bible.

Up to the alarm, walk inside the w-mart for coffee and WiFi, then while sipping the hot liquid, upload many updated files to the web server.

At eight this morning, I drive to Deception Pass park for a shower and afterwards make a MRP. Then I dress for the meeting and drive to the hall, arriving early and wait in the parking lot. Afterwards, Joann and I go for lunch at a Mexican restaurant where we continue to discuss her trust and the latest changes. Finally, I go to the w-mart to work on the changes and then email copies.

By sunset, I am parked at the d-mart and it is raining.

Rise slowly, then walk into the w-mart for coffee and com. At eight this morning, I leave to go to the hall for the ministry meeting and work with Bog and Monte until noon. Then I drive to the thrift store and even though I have been praying for a dark blue suit, I find a dark gray one just the right size for only five dollars, besides, methinks the gray suit will do until I find a blue one. Next, I drive to the g-mart and buy veggies for salad and after putting them in my cooler, walk into the w-mart to charge batteries and pound keys for the rest of the day.

Rise immediately when the alarm sounds, dress and then turn the key in the ignition but nothing happens, so, I walk to the w-mart for a cup of hot. I will look at the problem later during the light of day and when it is somewhat warmer, right now, I just want to sit, sip and pound keys.

Then, at eight this morning, I walk out to the jammer, open the hood and look to see why it does not start. I get out my Aerostar repair manual, look on the troubleshooting page for engine will not start and find a list of items to check. The first thing it directs me is to check for a dead battery, so I get out my volt meter, check the voltage and find the voltage to be 15.4 volts. Then, I disconnect the battery and check the voltage again to find the meter disclosing 25.4 volts. That does not sound right so I call my friend Joe who I know is currently on a road trip to Tucson, Arizona from his home in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and when he answers, I ask him "Where are you now?" He replies, "We just past Oklahoma city. " Then, I tell him about the jammer not starting and what the volt meter showed to be the voltage of the battery and he says, "Your battery is shorted out, you need a new one." I then tell him, "Ok, I will take the battery to the auto part store and have them check it.", then tell him that I will let him know what happens.

I get out of the jammer, open the hood, get my tools out while another person gets out of his car and asks "Do you need help?" I tell him that the battery is dead, that I am going to take it out and walk to the auto parts store to get a new one. We exchange names and then Chris says, "Ok, when you get it out, I will drive you to the auto store." to which I reply, "Sure, that will make it much easier for me, thanks." We put the battery in his trunk, then head to the store and I carry it in and tell the clerk, "I need a battery and I think this one is still under warranty." The clerk checks my account, gets a new battery off the rack and then says, "yes, it is still under warranty, no charge for this one."

I carry the new battery out to the car where Chris is waiting, put it in the trunk and then climb inside. He asks, "How did that go?" to which I tell him, "I got a free battery." Chris drives me back to where the jammer is parked and I thank him again. He goes back into the w-mart while I install the new battery and when I turn the key, the jammer fires right up.

Since it is now after ten this morning, I choose to forsake the ministry today and instead pound keys in the w-mart. Then, after spending all day working on web site updates, I leave at six, drive to Island Grill for a meal and afterwards retire to the d-mart parking lot for the evening.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee, check my com and begin today′s journal entry. A little later, I pack out and drive to the a-mart to get a spare alternator for the jammer but the part needs to be transferred from another store, so I return to the w-mart for my second cup of coffee. At eight this morning, I pack out, dress for the ministry and then drive to the hall. After a very short morning in the ministry, I return to the w-mart to continue pounding keys and to wait for the a-mart store to call.

When I sit down at the table, I say hello to the couple next to me and in a short time John, Bonny and I are talking and we get to know each other. When they leave, a seat near the electrical receptacle comes open and I move there to plug in and keep pounding keys.

At eleven-thirty, I get a phone call telling me that my alternator has come in, so I drive to the a-mart, carry in the 1994 Aerostar spare alternator hoping to be able to return it. The clerk does exchange it, gives me the one that will fit the 1989 Aerostar and seventy-eight dollars which is the difference between the price of the two parts. (This is why I keep coming to this ap-mart, Autozone)

I then use the refunded money to buy new fan belts for the blue jammer. Finally, I return to the w-mart for more key pounding.

Methinks, I am so ready to leave this island because the pollen and other irritants have finally gotten to me and I am so stuffed up. One nice thing about this time of the year is all the trees are in full bloom and loaded with color, I just wish that I could enjoy it more without the sinus congestion. At six-thirty, I pack out, drive to a city park and get out to prepare a salad from the veggies I have in the cooler. I then eat while listening to some blues on the radio, after which I return to the parking lot where I have been camped out.

I awake at two-thirty this morning and because my sinuses are clogged up, can not get right back to sleep, so when the alarm goes off at five-thirty, I turn it off and sleep for another hour. Then, I rise, go into the w-mart, purchase coffee, and upload photos to the internet. Then at seven-fifty this morning, I head to the shower house at the city beach to see if the water is hot to find out that it is steaming hot. After a long twenty-five cent shower, I drive to the bank to withdraw some money for travel, then I return to the w-mart for more key pounding.

In the afternoon, I leave to pick up my my power steering belt and then go to the hw-mart and see the daughter of the restaurant owner where my last vending machine is located. She tells me that the top of one of the heads has been broken off and that I can come tomorrow morning at six am to fix it. She also tells me that the restaurant is changing that is dividing into two businesses this fall and there probably will not be room for the vending machine. I return to the w-mart and mark the sale price down and include more product in the sale. Too, I must needs pray harder so that I can sell this last hold out from my vending business. At six-thirty, I pack out, walk out to the jammer to dress for the meeting and then drive to the hall.

Rising early, I drive to the restaurant where my vending machine is placed, walk inside and replace the broken top. It is an easy fix and I use the two spare chrome lids to put on the two Eagle vending machines. Then, I leave, drive back to the w-mart and pound keys for a while. To possibly alleviate the heavy stuffiness I am feeling from my allergies, at nine this morning, I decided to ride the ferry across to the peninsula, travel to the Sol Duc Hot Springs and get into the hot water there; so I pack out and head south to the ferry arriving at nine-thirty am.

Upon driving up to the ticket booth, the cashier tells me that due to the extremely low tides, the next ferry will not leave until eleven-fifty this morning, but I tell him, that I still need to go across the sound. He then asks me if I am sixty-five years old to which I answer, "yes, actually sixty-seven now." I pay the senior vehicle fee of just less than ten dollars and drive up into line eight and park. Then, I get out and stow the recently purchased Melalueca tea in the pantry and clean up some while waiting on the next ferry. When the ferry does arrive, those with reservations load first and then the standby vehicles, of which only about eight make it on; I am the forth in line.

As we sail across the sound, I pound keys to update my journal entry. After disembarking, I drive state highway 20 west, turn right on US 101 through Sequim and Port Angeles and stop at the d-mart for some rubbing alcohol for cleaning. Then, I continue on US 101 through Port Angeles past Lake Crescent and finally come upon Sol Duc river road where I turn left and drive to the Hot Springs resort. Going inside the hot springs bath house, I check the entrance fee and find it to be $15 per person, $10 for seniors. I pay the ten dollars, go into the dressing room, change into my shorts and proceed to the hot water. I soak for a very long time, alternating with dips in the cold water pool several times, even encouraging others to take cold water baths. After about six hours of soaking, I walk out of the Sol Duc Hot Springs with a smile on my face, my head is totally clear from the sinus plague brought on by my visit to Whidbey Island.

Returning to the jammer, I dress in my winter blues and drive out of the park back to Port Angeles to park for the night at a twenty-four hour g-mart. At ten pm, I climb into the back and get horizontal.

I sleep in until my second alarm, rise, dress, drive to a f-mart for coffee and then leave Port Angeles driving east on US 101, then turn east on SH 20 towards Port Townsend and arrive at the ferry dock by eight-thirty am finding absolutely no one in the parking lot. The person in the ticket booth says that the next two ferry crossings to Keystone dock on Whidbey Island have been canceled due to low tide and the next sailing is not until half past noon. I tell her I have no where else to go and I am not going to drive around, that I will be happy waiting the four hours, besides, I need to organize my home. I pay the ten dollars for the ticket, drive up to position number one in lane eight and park the jammer. In just a short while, the Kennewic (name of ferry) arrives from Whidbey, then unloads and when I ask another passenger, he tells me that this one was able to cross before the low tide.

I get out, open the side door and resume organizing my home, starting with the vending supplies and then work on the office and cleaning box. Joann calls in the late morning to tell me that my web site is not working and I tell her that I will not be able to fix it until this afternoon when I arrive back on Whidbey Island. The four hour wait passes quite quickly but when I look up, I see that the ferry is gone. Apparently, it went back across to Whidbey to pick up more to come to the peninsula; why it did not take all those waiting here I will probably never know.

Upon it′s return and with the ferry traffic workers in place, they begin loading first those with reservations. I wait for the numerous line of boarders to see if there will be room for me to get on this boat which there is along with about fifteen more. The ferry then embarks at twelve-fifty pm to cross Puget Sound for Whidbey Island, about a thirty minute crossing. After arriving back on the rock, I drive to the w-mart to upload my journal entries. Then I drive north of town to Joann′s home to pick up the shipment of stickers for my vending machine and ask her if she will allow me to store me extra bins of vending product in her storage shed. She answers yes, but I need help clearing a space, so I ask "What about after the meeting tomorrow?" to which she replys "OK, and are you going to cook that stir fry vegetable meal you promised to make?" "Yes," I answer, "but I will have to get some vegetables."

Leaving there, I head south on SR 20 back into Oak Harbor, and drive to the Vietnamese restaurant for Pho Ga, which is chicken noodle soup with basil and bean sprouts. Then I drive to the g-mart, purchase some beets, green onions and three types of squash for the meal tomorrow. Next, I park for the evening and finish today′s journal entry before climbing into the back. It is raining this evening which started two hours ago and already, I can feel my sinuses clogging up again.

Except for my sinuses beginning to re-clogg, it is a very comfortable morning when I rise, even warmer than previous mornings. I dress, drive to the restaurant where my vending machine is and load it with the new stickers that I purchased; that only taking a half hour, after which I drive to the w-mart for coffee and com. At eight this morning, I drive to the city beach for a hot shower, then dress in my Sunday best and head for the weekend meeting at the hall. It is an hour until the meeting begins, so I open up the back of the jammer, get out my knife and cutting board and chop up vegetables for supper I am cooking tonight. When the friends begin arriving, I put away the food and go inside. Just before leaving, I let the brothers know that I will be leaving tomorrow but hope to be back in the fall.

Then, I drive back to the w-mart to wait for three this afternoon, when I drive to Joann′s home to unload the vending product and store it in the rafters of her storage shed. When that is all put away and the shed locked up, I get out the chopped vegetables and begin to cook my vegetable stir fry. Once the vegetables are done, I open some albacore tuna and heat it also. Then, I serve both Joann and myself, say a prayer and we eat at the outside porch table. After supper, we go inside to wash dishes and to print my pour over will. Joann has arranged for three witnesses to me her at the mailing center tomorrow at two-thirty to witness her sign her will and have it notarized. I will also go there also to have mine notarized as well. Just before leaving Joann′s place, I realize that I have left my hat at the hall and must need return their tomorrow morning by nine am, when the ministry meeting is being held to retrieve it.

Then, at seven-thirty, I pack out my cooking gear and leave to drive back into town. Arrive at the g-mart just before sunset, I park for the evening and begin organizing the jammer and now that all of the vending product has been removed, methinks, "Wow, now there is so much more room in this smaller version of the Aerostar." Too, I use the middle seat 12 volt plug to temporarily connect my inverter for charging batteries. However, I must not use this 12 volt connection for very long, especially when I am not driving down the road because it draws directly from the main starting battery. Still, I have yet to determine where I will make the final connection for the deep cell battery nor the inverter but methinks that determination will come soon enough. I already have found out that it will not be in the rear of the jammer but will most likely be located near the passenger sliding door or possibly just behind the driver′s seat.

At nine pm, I begin pounding out the words to finish today′s journal entry and by nine-thirty, I shut everything down for sleep.

Immediately at the sound of the alarm, I rise, dress and head for coffee at the w-mart. My plans are to leave the island today but as to when, I am not sure yet as there are several things yet to do in Oak Harbor before I take to the road. First, I go to the city beach for a hot shower, then to the a-mart to retrieve the part that I ordered. Next, I stop at the bank to withdraw travel money and after go to the d-mart to have my tire flat repaired, which can not be fixed so they install a new one and while it is in the tire shop, I have all four tires balanced. After they are done with the tires, I head over to the mailing center to meet Joann, Denise, Sandra and Bob who are there to sign and notarize Joann′s will at testator and witnesses. I also use the same three witnesses to have my will notarized and we walk out of the mailing center by three-fifteen pm.

I then get into the jammer and drive north on SR 20, cross the bridge over Deception Pass and continue on the state highway all the way to Mount Vernon and there take Interstate highway 5 south to Seattle where the engine dies and the jammer rolls to the side of the interstate. Methinks at first, oh no, not again, but upon looking down, I see that the fuel gauge is between one/eight of a tank and the wide red empty line and think or did I just run out of gas? I pump the gas peddle and turn the key and it fires up but is running ruff. I drive it five miles to the next exit, get off and pull into a gas station, needing to pump the peddle again to keep it going up to the gas pump. After filling the tank, I start the jammer and it roars to life, so I pull out of the station, get back on the interstate, drive to IH-90 and head east to Ellensburg. From there I take IH 82 south to cross the Columbia river and into Oregon a few minutes after nine pm. Twice during this drive, I chuckle when I tell myself, "I ran out of gas!"

Somewhere along this route, I call Joe who now is with his wife Sarah in Sedona, Arizona and will be there until they check out of the Motel Wednesday morning. I tell him that we should then go to breakfast because I will be there about then. He says, "Ok, we will see ya for breakfast Wednesday."

Then I take IH 84 east through Pendleton, Oregon and pull into Emigrant Springs state park at ten-twenty. It takes a few minutes to locate and claim a camp site, which is B-23 close to the shower house and then I plug in my electrical cord, hook up all of my batteries and finish the evening by pounding keys to complete today′s journal entry. It is after eleven when I turn of the light and computer.

Awake to the second alarm, rise, roll up my extension cord and pack it away, then I drive to the shower house for a shower, but do not remember the shower temperature from the last time I visited this campsite. When I step into the hot water I am well pleased to find it steamy hot and requiring me to add some cold water.

Once I finish, I pack away my toiletries and towel, then drive the jammer south on IH-84 to the Idaho border, then across Idaho and south into Utah until IH-84 meets IH-15 and I turn south and head towards Salt Lake City. I call Joe again and he tells me that there has been a problem developing back at the shop in Spring Hill, so they are leaving early and heading back. I tell Joe that "I will see you when I get to Tennessee." He tells me that he wants to put a third bridge in and could use my help, to which I tell him "Sure, I will help."

I continue south on IH-15, exit at Spanish Forks and take US 6 east through Price Canyon, a route that I have taken many times because it drops me off on IH 70 at the Green river. I take photos of the canyon this time while the sun is dropping and providing some golden color.

Then the sun sets, the sky turns dark and I continue east on IH 70 to the US 191 exit and stop for the night at the rest stop on the interstate highway. I park, lock up and then climb into the back with my computer to pound keys and write my journal entry. It is just after nine pm when I close my eyes.

Up just after dayspring, dress, grab my camera and photograph the sunglow.

Then I start the jammer and drive into Moab for coffee and WiFi but can not access my web server here. So, at ten, I leave Moab, drive south on US 191 to Monticello where I turn east on US 491 which turns south, enters Colorado, goes through Cortez, Colorado, then into the monuments canyon, cross the state line into New Mexico, through Shiprock, NM and finally arrive in Gallup, New Mexico where I find a w-mart that allows me to upload my journal entries to my web site.

At six pm, I pack out of the w-mart, drive south on US 491, cross over I-40 onto SH 602 south thirty miles to SH 53 and east twenty-five miles to El Morro National Monument arriving at just the perfect time for sunset photos of the sandstone promontory.

As I enter Monument road, the sun setting on the distant horizon setting is silhouetting the end of El Morro′s sandstone cliff. After many photos of Inscription Rock, I drive into the campground and park in site number 3, where the same silhouetted cliff can be seen, so I continue taking photos from the campsite, getting so many excellent photos of the rock with the backdrop of the sunglow.

The darkness encroaches quickly so, I hang my USB flashlight-lamp from the ceiling and go about organizing my home, an ongoing task which will take several more weeks before I can say "I am done, the jammer is now livable." This same exercise of organizing returns every time I change the type of home I live in, such as when I down sized from a mobile home to a mini van, or now when there is need to replace a vehicle, or even when I pick up the backpack and begin carrying it as my home full time, which could happen at any moment along the path I walk.

Methinks, that I must needs reduce the quantity of my possessions, yes, my concern should be about those items of what I am now carrying and which ones are in fact unnecessary. This will need much thought and prayer by me before I could ever down size into a back pack to carry full time again.

At nine, I turn off the computer, the light and get into the horizontal once again.

Up early, start the engine to warm up, dress in my winter blues and then drive out of the park on SR 53 where I cross the continental divide just before six fifteen and at elevation 7900 feet. Then, I continue on SR 53 to Grants where I stop briefly to buy a cup of coffee. Then, I head east on IH-40 past Sky City, which methinks, with the new casino on the interstate, now has more commercial than cultural interests and I do not stop.

This morning′s drive takes me through Albuquerque and then a long hard climb up from the Rio Grande valley when I see blue smoke trailing from the rear of the jammer and not knowing for sure where it is coming from gives me some concern. I had only yesterday talked to Joe about looking at the jammer.

I continue eastward and pull off the interstate at exit 187 to stop at a w-mart and fill up the tank; which has been getting from 19.5 to 21 miles per gallon. Soon, I am back on the interstate heading east.

Leaving New Mexico, I enter the top of Texas and continue on IH 40 to Amarillo where I exit on US 287 and head southeast to Memphis, Texas. There, I stop for a grilled chicken sandwich and when I return the drive, head east on SR 256 until arriving at US 62 and travel south at first but shortly after heads east towards Oklahoma.

Soon, I leave the top of Texas and cross into Oklahoma, which, like the land in Texas where I just came from, is mostly flat farm land. Then suddenly, there appears the remnants of a very old mountain range rising from the surrounding farm lands. I know these to be the Wichita Mountains of which most of the peaks are now worn to below 2000 feet in elevation. These mountains rise in this southwestern corner of Oklahoma, in the lands located between the Red and the Canadian rivers and traverse the area between Amarillo, Texas and Lawton, Oklahoma. The Wichita Mountains are the only mountains on this continent which run in an east-west direction and are believed to be the oldest in North America.

Continuing along US 62 through several small communities, I come to Cache, Oklahoma where I turn north on SR 115, enter the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, then left on SR 49 to Doris campground arriving just after the sun sets. I drive into the camp, locate a site near the shower and then return to the registration booth to pay five dollars for my night′s stay. Returning to campsite # 21, I set up for the night, get out the computer and complete today′s journal entry. Outside, I hear a nightjar singing, a bird that I am not familiar with. Too, there are coyotes howling at the moon and numerous other night sounds.

After sleeping in this morning, I go to the shower house for a hot shower, all the while hearing loud calls of wild turkey, bunting and even briefly some coyotes. I put on clean clothes and then leave the campsite to visit a few locations in the refuge.

I start at the environmental education center where I take a walk along Quanah Parker Lake which like many places in the refuge, has an abundance of wildlife. Next, I drive to the summit of Mount Scott, a steep climb which, when I get to the top smell hot cooling fluid, meaning the jammer engine has overheated slightly and needs the radiator to be flushed. I was here last fall but was not able to drive up to this summit due to it being foggy then. Today, it is clear with a slight haze and the view on top is phenomenal, yes, methinks it is so much better here in the spring.

Awake before the alarm, rise, dress in my fall blues and start the jammer. Then, I begin the drive into town and when coming around a curve see an elk in the road so I jam on my brakes and slide to a near stop, missing the animal by inches. Methinks, wow, was that close and it was good that I was only driving at thirty-five mph. Continuing on to Lawton, I slow down even more while in the refuge. I arrive at the w-mart by six, purchase a cup of coffee and begin pounding keys.

At about eleven, a car group of four walk into the coffee shop and I recognize them as witnesses right away. I walk up to the group now waiting in line and ask "Do you know any of the great crowd?" The brother hesitates for a long time and I say, "It is not a trick question, I am one of Jehovah′s Witnesses also." Another of the brothers greets me and asks where I am from. After I tell him Washington, I ask, "The kingdom hall, is it on Elm Street?" and when he says "Yes", I ask, "and the meeting tomorrow, is it at ten am?" to which he also says yes. We exchange names, he telling me his is Apollo and says, "I will see you tomorrow at the hall."

I go back to my key pounding and finish updating the appendix displaying the camping locations and then upload all the pages to the web. When the sun drops to within two hands, I pack out and drive to the d-mart that I saw this morning driving into town. Upon arriving, I prepare a salad and eat while I study for the meeting tomorrow. It is about nine-thirty when I finally shut down all my electronics and get horizontal.

I awake early again this morning but rise slowly, then put on my cool weather blues, start the jammer and drive back to the w-mart for a cup of coffee. Then at nine this morning, I pack out to the jammer, change into my brown suit and drive to the hall which is less than a mile away. When I walk into the hall, several of the friends here begin greeting me and have conversations with a few. Then, I tell a brother who I am speaking with, "I think I know that sister, what is her name?" and he tells me that her name is Bonnie. I excuse myself and then speaking loud enough for the sister to hear me, say, "Have you ever lived in Oak Harbor?" She looks up from what she is doing, gazes at me for a couple of moments and says "Is that Thom?" When I say yes, she walks over to me and gives me a hug and then we catch up on the past five or more years since she left Washington.

After the meeting, I stop by a burger place named What, which brand of burger I have not had since last year, two in November when I was here in Lawton and two in December while in Texas. I do so enjoy a burger from the place called What but get them only a hand full of times a year. Then, I drive to the w-mart, plug in and check com. Later, Joe calls ant tells me that he is in Kansas near Fort Dodge and I don′t think they will be getting back to Tennessee for several more day, so there is no need for me to hurry there either. Instead, I will spend more time just camping.

The sun drops to the horizon again so I pack out and head for a place to sleep for the night.

Awake before dayspring, dress and drive to the w-mart for coffee, to continue pounding keys and uploading information and campsite pages to my web site.

At six-thirty pm, I pack out and drive to the campground. It is so much less crowded than it was during the weekend. I take space 21, park, set up and cook my Repast. When it is done, I set it inside and walk down a short trail to dump my trash and fill my water bottle to wash dishes with. I see another person camping and call out a greeting. She greets me back, tells me her name is Sue and asks me where I am from, so I approach while telling her New Orleans and that my name is Thom and ask Sue where she is from. When she tells me South Carolina, I immediately ask her what she is doing here. She begins to tell me how she is traveling across the country, camping and wants to go to the northwest states, maybe even British Columbia. I then reply, I have been doing the same thing for eight years.

We talk for a little bit longer and I see on Sue′s map that she is highlighting her route and I tell her that I do the same thing. I then show her some of the campgrounds on her route that I have found.

Then I bid her good night and head back to my site to eat supper. Soon after, I shut down and get into the horizontal.

Up late this morning, clean up, then walk to the faucet for more water and see Sue there talking with another man. I greet them both and the man tells me his name is Mike from Norman, Oklahoma. When Sue leaves, Mike and I begin to share our stories and soon we have become acquainted with one another. Noticing that Mike has a towel in hand, I tell him that I need to take a shower also and will see him at the shower house.

After we have done with the showers, we continue our discussion and soon, I have explained to him the healthy path which will lead to getting off the cholesterol lowering pharmaceuticals.

Later, his wife Dot and son Brian show up and he excitedly shares with them the newly learned information about grape seed extract. When they head back to their camp, I pack out, leave the Wichita Mountains wildlife refuge and drive thru Cache, then Lawton, and on through eastern Oklahoma.

The GPS takes me east first on SR 7, up a short distance on US 81, then east on SR 29 to US 177 north to Stratford, east again on SR 19 to Ada, then east on SR 1, through McAllister all the way to Talihina where I continue SR 1 up onto the Talimena Drive towards Arkansas.

Upon climbing up to the ridge, I see the smoke coming out the rear, like what happened climbing out of Albuquerque up from the Rio Grande river on Day 526 TB.

However, this time I stop and check fluids to find it is not the engine oil that is low, but instead the transmission which fluid is not even showing at all on the dip stick. So, I will need to purchase transmission fluid soon, but first I must get off of this scenic drive and into a town where the fluid is available.

I do stop at one scenic vista and have last nights leftovers with a can of tuna for a meal while enjoying the view and after eating, continue east.

I make across the state line into Arkansas and soon arrive at Queen Wilhelmena state park at five-thirty pm, check in for the evening, park the jammer and walk to the shower house for a shower with only medium hot water. Then, I return to the jammer and catch up on my journal writing.

Tomorrow, in search for fluid, I will drive down off the Talimena and along the valley route the rest of the way to Mena, Arkansas. Hopefully, the transmission will not quit on me, and if I am able to fix the problem with fluid, I will endeavor to stay on a flat route, which means driving the interstate highways, or at least on highways across flat land the rest of the way to Tennessee.

I sleep in this morning, resting while I can and then after taking another shower, I check the transmission dip stick only to find it totally dry.

With no other choice, I begin driving, first out of the park, then downhill on SR 272, east on US 270 the south on US 71 to Mena where I drive to town and into the first place that has transmission fluid.

During the entire trip from the state park to the store, about ten miles, the transmission continues to slip, so by holding the accelerator down only lightly, I am able to keep the speed at about thirty-five mph without the transmission slipping to much.

When I do finally pull into the ap-mart, I walk inside, buy two quarts of fluid and then proceed to slowly pour the fluid down the filer tube, checking often to see if it would register on the dip stick. As I am pouring the fluid, Matt from the store comes out and I tell him about my travels and online journal. It is not until I have added three quarts does the fluid rise enough to cover both holes on the stick indicating that there is enough fluid in the transmission.

Wow, it was really low and from this determined that the transmission has a leak somewhere, hoping that it is something simple like the pan gasket. I decide not to correct this until I make it to Spring Hill, Tennessee, but instead just keep a close check on the level the rest of the way there.

Before I leave the ap-mart, I buy one more quart of transmission fluid. Methinks, this is a no-brainer life lesson for me, when you buy a car, always keep a close check on all the fluids, just in case it has a leak such as this jammer does.

Leaving Mena, the transmission doing good now, not slipping at all, I drive east on SR 88 to Pencil Bluff where I meet up with US 270 and continue east through Mount Ida and just below Lake Ouachita and then cross the Ouachita river. Soon after, I turn north on Blacksnake road a route that takes me into a back entrance to the very western edge of Hot Springs national park. This entrance also becomes very steep and winding back and forth all over the mountain. All the while, the transmission keeps up and does not slip once.

Again, with a chuckle, methinks, the transmission just has a leak.

Blacksnake road goes over the mountain and down the other side where it turns into Whittington Avenue, drives right past the alligator farm and then I stop at the Whittington Spring to fill up all of my empty water bottles. Next, I drive into town, turn right on Central Avenue and park at the free parking garage that the city provides. Then I gather my swimsuit, some business cards and head into the Quapaw Bath house where I pay the twenty-two dollars for a towel and a locker key, walk into the dressing room and after putting on my suit, walk into the pool room and get into the hot spring water.

Here I soak in the 104 degrees water for fifteen minutes, get out and take a cold shower and then get back in the hot water for another fifteen minutes, and repeat with another cold shower, doing this same process over and over until I have been in the pool room for three and a half hours.

The reason I do this is to remove toxins from my body, which toxins are released because the hot water opens the skin pours to releasing them. Then, when you take a cold shower, the pours close and then the blood, carrying more toxins, is pumped back through the veins where it deposits the toxins at the pours to wait for the next opportunity to escape the body. This is not the exact science but it happens generally something like this and is called hydrotherapy.

At four pm, I have returned to the jammer and begin driving out of downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas and head to the w-mart to check my com and upload journal entries to the web site.

Then at six, I pack out, walk out to the jammer, change into my meeting clothes and drive to the hall for the mid-week meeting. It seems funny, but a couple of brothers ask me if I have been here before and tell me that they remember seeing me here. Afterwards, I drive to the d-mart for the evening and see lightning in the sky as I drive into to parking lot.

After a warm night which cools off sometime in the early morning and becomes more comfortable I rise in the predawn, drive to the w-mart for coffee, to check com and upload my journal entry. Then, at seven, I get a refill of hot water in my cup, pack out an continue my ongoing eastward drive. Leaving the w-mart, I travel first north on Central avenue (SH 7) to the US 270 loop, turn east, drive to where it connects to US 70 and take this highway to interstate highway 30 on which I turn northeast to Little Rock where I take the IH 440 loop east and then continue east on IH 40. I make one stop for gasoline in Forest City and also check the transmission fluid level finding it still up to level.

Then, returning to the IH 40 east, soon after cross the Mississippi river at Memphis, stay on the 40 through the city and continue in a general northeasterly direction, passing Bucksnort, Tennessee at the Duck river and soon after that, take interstate highway 840 loop to avoid driving in Nashville, first south and then east until I reach IH65, turn south and drive about six miles to exit 53, which is the Saturn parkway. Turning west on the parkway, I stop first at a g-mart for some salad vegetables, then drive to the shop to see if Mark is home. I see both of his cats sitting in the windows, but he is out. So, I put a note on his door telling him that I will be in Spring Hill at the w-mart, then drive there.

At eight-fifty this evening, I retire to the d-mart, make and eat a salad, and clean up and get ready for sleep.

Awake to see a slight glow of light on the horizon, rise, dress and then drive to the w-mart for a cup of hot. At eight, I call Mark who says he will leave a door open for me to access the Stagecoach Auto Repair auxiliary shop and work on the jammer.

Then, at nine, I walk in the back door and immediately see that the floor needs to be swept, so I change into my work blues and get right to work. By ten this morning, I have the entire garage floor swept and then work at racking the jammer on the lift, which takes me just over a half hour because it is slightly different than the green Aerostar.

Once I get the rack set, I raise the jammer up about six feet, begin inspecting the underside and immediately find where the transmission has been leaking. It is not the gasket which I had thought but the fluid is coming from directly behind the engine, meaning that the leak is either the transmission front seal, the torque converter seal, or both.

While I wait to talk with Joe about this leak, I will accomplish some other necessary maintenance and repairs. I drain the coolant fluids and then add a chemical cleaner and rust remover. While the system is drained, I replace the temperature sender but do not replace the thermostat yet; I will replace it tomorrow when I do the final flush. Once the cooling system is back together, I begin draining the oil and soon have a new filter installed and new oil in the engine. The old oil was really dirty and from the date on the filter, it has been four years since it was last changed. However, since the last driver, a grandmother died in 2013, no one had been driving this Aerostar with any regularity and it has had less than five thousand miles during that time.

I continue to inspect the jammer and then I hear some one outside say "Well, if it isn′s Thom Buras." I look up and see my good friend, Joe walking into the garage. After we say a greeting to each other, I say, "Well, here is the new jammer" to which he replies, "It really is much shorter." I then show him where the transmission has been leaking and he agrees that it is probably the front seal. I ask him what I can do with this problem and he asks me how much fluid did you have to put in on the drive here. I tell him that I had to add four quarts, that the drive was about twenty-five hundred miles. He then states, "About one quart every six hundred miles." Then, he tells me that he has a business friend that rebuilds transmissions and says "I will ask him what kind of deal he will give me."

Joe then walks over to the shop to take care of some business and I return to the work that I am doing. I find where the oil pressure sender is located, squeeze and twist the connector, then start the engine and look at the oil pressure gauge, which now is reading at about fifty percent, much higher than it had before I tweaked the connection. This could very well be the reason the gauge has been reading so low. I put the old oil into the oil containers and clean up the small amount that I spilled during the oil change. Starting the engine, I check for leaks around the filter and drain plug but find none, then I use a socket wrench to remove the oil plug in the differential, stick my little finger into the hole but feel no oil. This tells me that I should pull of the inspection place, clean out the case, install a new gasket and the fill the differential with new oil, something that I can do on one of the upcoming day.

The Joe comes back to the axillary shop to tell me that he just talked to his business fiend and that if Joe pulls the transmission, the friend will replace all the seal and any clutches and bands that need to be replaced, and put a twelve month, twelve thousand mile warranty on it for six hundred. Joe then said to me that he told his friend, "When can I bring it over." I told Joe, "I agree!" Joe said that we can bring it over Monday, right after Bruce (Joe′s employee at Stagecoach Auto Repair) takes the transmission out. I thank Joe for his help, then he leave for the bank and other stops while I put the tools away, clean up the area, lower the jammer off of the rack and take a shower.

Next, I get in the jammer, drive out of the shop, lock the door and drive to town for supper at Don′s Mexican restaurant. After eating, I drive to the d-mart, park for the evening and complete today′s journal entry.

When the alarm sounds, I get right up, drive to the w-mart for coffee and com.

Then at seven-thirty this morning, I pack out of the w-mart, drive to the shop to work on the jammer and begin setting up for pressure washing the underside but find that there is no gasoline in the shop, so I decide to put off the pressure washing until after I do a parts run latter this morning.

Meanwhile, the neighbor, Wayne, tells me there is a poker run here this morning. After asking, he explains that a group of so called hot cars drive to different locations to receive cards for their poker hand. At the end of the run, the best poker hand wins a prize. There is an entrance fee and profits go to a charity.

Instead, I lube all the grease fitting, change the oil and then install new alternator and power steering belts. After the poker run leaves, I go for parts and gasoline. Upon returning, I flush the cooling system and then begin pressure washing the underside of the jammer. Then I pressure wash the shop floor, spraying all the debris out to the drive and then spay the drive way and clean up all the debris. Finally, I install the new bushings I purchased for the steering rack.

At six pm, I put away all my tools, pack up the jammer, take a shower and get ready to drive to the d-mart for the evening. Then I hear Mark arrive home and go in to say hello, after which I head to town.

After the alarm goes off I close my eyes for just a moment and wow, suddenly, it is almost seven o′clock. I put on my fall blues, walk into the d-mart to purchase a sun shade and windshield wipers. Then, I drive to the w-mart for coffee, to check my com and to upload my journal.

At noon, I pack out, put on my suit and head for the meeting at the hall. When I enter, several people greet me, calling me brother Buras and it gives me a good feeling that some of the friends remember my name. I wish I could remember some of theirs.

Afterwards, I go to the ap-mart and buy the two front shocks, then head for the shop to install them but can not take the bottom bolts off because the speed nuts have broken from the bracket. I return to the ap-mart to buy a package of the nuts and return to finish the installation of the second shock. I also install the two tie-rod ends that I had purchased while in Oak Harbor. The tie-rod ends were much easier than I had expected.

The next part will be the rear shocks, then the windshield wiper motor, both of which I have ordered from the ap-mart. Also, I have ordered a gasket for the differential because I want to take off the inspection plate, drain and glean the gears and install a new gasket and new fluid.

After I complete the two front shocks, I leave the shop, drive to the d-mart and park for the evening; it is after ten pm.

Up quickly upon hearing the alarm, dress, drive to the w-mart and purchase a cup of coffee. I am only here for an hour because I must need have the jammer racked and raised before eight this morning for Bruce when he arrives to remove the transmission.

So, at seven this morning, I pack out of the w-mart and drive to the shop. Since first working on this jammer, the many times that I have racked and raised the jammer here has brought the time down from my first time which took more than thirty minutes to just less than five minutes today.

At eight, Bruce, pushing his tool box walks into the axillary shop and places his tool box next to the front of the jammer. As he begins checking the rack supports, I greet him good morning to which he replies in kind. Then he raises the jammer, walks up to the underside of the transmission and gets right to work.

I take up a position in my living room, which is an area in the garage where I rolled out a piece of carpet and set three chairs on the edges of the carpet facing inward. I have been taking my breaks here, eating meals and now, use this location as a place to watch the transmission being pulled out of the jammer.

Yesterday, I had cleared a rolling table and tell Bruce that he can use it to put all the parts and he starts by putting several nuts on it. I am totally amazed because Bruce had the transmission out of the jammer and supported on a transmission stand in just over thirty minutes and then he goes back to the main shop.

I walk over to the shop office where Sarah is doing her paper work and ask if she has seen Joe. "He is at the house." I then call Joe and tell him that he transmission is out and he tells me that he will be there in a few minutes. Returning to the auxiliary shop, I begin cleaning and painting the support and brackets that were removed to take out transmission. A short time later, Joe arrives and I help him lift the transmission off of the stand onto the bed of his truck. Then, we both get into his truck and head to the transmission shop in Columbia.

Once the transmission has been delivered, we return to Spring Hill and stop first at the ap-mart where I purchase the two rear shocks, some differential oil and gasket maker. Next, we drive through a ff-mart, buy tacos and head back to the shop. After I eat, I begin installing the rear shocks, which old ones come out so much easier that those shocks on the green Aerostar. In fact, I had both new shocks installed in less than and hour. Next, I remove the cover from the differential, drain the oil and then wipe it dry. Joe is still in the main shop and had previously said he would show me how to make a gasket with the sealant. I walk over and tell him that the rear end is ready for him and he comes right over, applies the gasket sealant and closes up the differential.

Next, I begin unloading one of the cabinets from the jammer to change it from a horizontal cabinet to a upright one. I use the lid to make a shelf, screw the inverter to the underside of the top shelf, drill a hose for the lead wire and then put it into the jammer. Once I finish my down size, the upright cabinet will serve as my desk for working on my personal journal, the next episode and the website.

As for now, it is still cluttered in the jammer and needing much more dispensation of my possessions.

It is not until after eleven this evening when I get everything back into the jammer and put my bed back together. Finally, I walk to the shower and lather up for the clean effect; after that, I get into the horizontal.

Upon rising I get out my stove, carry it and my cups and set up in my living room. Then, I prepare both coffee and tea; and while sitting in the living room sip on the coffee. When I am finished with my coffee, I examine the window in the rear lift door and see that I must first set up a stick to hold the lift door so that I can remove the two hydraulic lift shocks so that I can then remove the plastic window cover. The cover is held in with only screws and comes off easy, only one of the corners has previously been cracked and needs to be repaired. Next, I remove the eight 9 mm nuts that hold the window secure, and then use a screwdriver to separate the window from the lift door which is being held with butyl glue. Working from underneath, I work completely around the window, insert wood dowels to hold the glass away from the door and also disconnect the two defroster connections. Then I lower the lift door, grab the glass and move it to a table that I had previously cleaned to use as a work station. Cleaning the glass and the door of all the old butyl from both involves nearly five hours of my time.

I do stop twice during the morning, once for a MRP, and later for a cup of day start. Then, in the afternoon, I begin cutting, painting and taping a sun shade to the inside of the glass, so that it will block out all the light even when I overnight in a parking lot. The next task is to spread the urethane glue around the inside of the glass and I also use my finger to spread some of the glue on the edge of the window for a better seal. Once the window is all glued up, I lift it and drop it into its place on the outside of the rear door. Immediately, I lift the door, and from underneath, screw the 9 mm nuts onto the bolts but do not tighten them yet. Next, I prop the stick under the door to hold it open because I need to put some weight on the top edge of the window to press it tight against the door. There are three wood rounds that I find nearby and set these on the glass after which, I look at the time and see that it is nearly six pm. Wow, this day went by fast. In the late afternoon, I call Joe and he tells me that he has not heard anything from the transmission shop.

A short time later, Mark and his son Tyler arrive home from work and Mark comes outside to sit in my living room and we talk for a time. He tells me that he has some fiberglass resin that I can use on the broken plastic window cover, walks over to the large work bench to retrieve it and sets it down by my tools. Then, he goes back into his bedroom, (the shop office) while I cut the fiberglass cloth and then mix the resin and hardener together. After I finish the plastic repair, I wash up, grab my vegetables from the refrigerator and make a salad. I walk into the office and join Mark and Tyler to eat supper. Finally, I go back into the shop, clean up, take a shower and finish my day making my journal entry. It is after nine-thirty when I get into the horizontal.

Methinks it is having light at the flip of a switch is the reason I have been ignoring my wake up alarm, together with being inside of the shop where the lighting is subdued. I rise late, make a cup of coffee and then, on my new office table, catch up on my journal writing.

While searching to dispossess more of my possessions in my latest down size, I start a pile of things on the carpet which I will no long continue to carry. If I can not find a new owner, then these things will go into the garbage.

In the process, I remove the cabinets on the passenger side, then pull off the inside trim panel around the rear window exposing the 9 mm nuts only to find that all are very loose. So, I decide rather than pulling the window to reseal it, I will first try tightening the nuts. After that, I reinstall the trim panel over the window and then return the cabinets to their places.

As I am finishing, I get a call from Joe who tells me that the transmission is ready for pickup. He then says he still has a couple of errands and that he will be there in an hour or so. I tell him "No problem, I am not going anywhere, at least until the transmission is reinstalled."

I return to the reorganizing of the jammer and after an hour, I walk over to the shower and get into the water. When I get out, Joe is here and I ride with him to the ar-mart in Columbia, load the transmission in the back of Joe′s pickup and pay Mark, the owner, five hundred and seventeen dollars. Then Joe drives back to the auxiliary shop and we off load the transmission. He tells me that Bruce will be in first thing in the morning to put it back in. Then he asks me, "What else are we doing to the van, just the alignment?" to which I reply, "Yes, the alignment and the air conditioner."

When Joe then heads for home, I go inside the shop and using engine degreaser, to try to clean as much of the grease off the outside of the transmission as I can. When Stagecoach closes down, I get out the pressure wash and clean the transmission, floor and driveway. Then I set the jammer to make my supper, chop up most all of my remaining veggies, and then sit down at my computer table and pound keys while I eat.

When I finish my meal, I look at the clock and the clock says "Nine-thirty!" Wow, where did the day go. Finally, I shut down for the evening and get horizontal by ten.

However, it is long after midnight before it is cool enough for me to sleep.

I am awaken by a banging on the shop door, rise, open the door to see Bruce and tell him that I will be out in two minutes. After putting on my summer blues and sandals, I open the overhead door, look for Bruce but he has gone back to the main shop.

Then, I get out my stove and make a cup of coffee for now and a cup of tea for later. By eight am, Bruce returns and begins work on the transmission while I sit in my living room and check my com on my phone.

At nine this morning, Bruce has the engine running and is checking the fluid level in the transmission. Next, he raises the jammer on the lift to check for leaks and although there is not one drop of red fluid on the concrete, there is a small pool of green liquid under the radiator. Bruce looks to see where the leak is coming from and says, "Your radiator is leaking." Then, he goes for a test drive, returns and says, "There you go!", packs out and rolls his tool box back to the main shop.

I thank him and then call Joe to tell him the diagnostics. He says "If you purchase the radiator, I will have Bruce install it." He also tells me to pick up a air conditioning converter kit and he will service the ac unit this afternoon.

I leave the shop and drive to the ap-mart, find the converter kit and buy it with some vacuum lines, then order the radiator and a new ignition key tumbler. The store clerk who has been helping me through this entire week, whose name is Cotton tells me that the radiator will be here at five this afternoon, but the key will not arrive until tomorrow. I reply to him the same that I have each time, "That is no problem, I am here until I am done." Then I drive to the d-mart of buy some 15 amp fuses but that is the only one they do not have and methinks, "that is ok, I will pick some up at the next d-mart another day."

Next, I drive back to the shop and watch Joe vacuum the ac system and then fill it with the R-134 freon. It starts immediately blowing cold air and I tell him that I never really had cold air for very long in the green Aerostar, that I hope this one last for a while. Then I drive back into town to get the radiator from the ap-mart. After that, I dress in my new gray suit, drive to the hall and go inside for the meeting. I see several of the friends who I remember their names. Soon, I am driving back to the shop and park outside hoping it will be cooler than it was last night.

Horizontal by eleven pm.

Up to the daylight shining into the jammer which makes me realize one of the reasons I have been sleeping late the last three mornings, parking in the shop does not allow the daylight to reach me sleeping in the jammer. I rise, open the overhead door to the auxiliary shop, walk in to the living room and set up my stove to make a cup of hot for now and tea for later.

At eight-thirty, Bruce walks in to ask for the keys to the jammer, drives it into the main shop and begins removing the old radiator to install the new one. He also puts the jammer on the alignment rack to check the wheel alignment. Meanwhile, I spend the morning creating life events on my face book page.

In the early afternoon, I go on a test run for the transmission, drive north towards Nashville and stop at a hg-mart to purchase a couple of items for my pantry. Then, I return to the main shop to meet Joe who is doing repairs for two brothers. Then at six, every one heads to the house and I walk back into the auxiliary shop, grab my vegetable from the fridge to cup up for a salad. Once my meal is complete, I join Mark and Tyler who are sitting in their home and just playing on the game controller.

After I finish my meal, I leave to drive to the d-mart to spend the evening. It is a really hot evening and I must leave soon.

Awake after the sunrise, actually, it is the sun aglow in the jammer that wakes me. Another hot night but I was so tired that I was able to get to sleep right away. After dressing, I drive to the w-mart for coffee and com but only stay until eight when I pack out, dress in ministry clothes and drive to the hall. I had during the mid week meeting made arrangements with John, a friend from when I first came to the area in 1985. I was visiting the Franklin congregation then and John and his brother came to work with me ask helpers. Our paths have since crossed several times through the years.

In the ministry, I work with John, Ron and Janice who are all in the Thompson Station congregation. Afterwards, I work with John, Everett, Mark and a couple others to do the lawn maintenance. Right after we put away the riding mowers, I get into the jammer and drive north on US 31 to IH 840, then east to the next exit, Carter Pike highway where I get off and drive into the Burwood community center for the Thompson Station congregation 1950′s theme gathering.

There are over fifty at this meal, dance and general fun time and I get to know several of the friends a little better.

Then at six-thirty this evening, I walk out to the jammer, start the engine and point it in the direction of the northwest, which direction I will be driving for the next several days until I arrive in Aurora, Colorado for the regional convention there.

I take IH 840 east to IH 40 and then further east to Jackson, Tennessee where at eight this evening, I pull off the road and park for the evening in a d-mart parking lot. I go inside, buy some ice cream and return to the jammer to eat my desert and complete my journal entry for the day. Then at nine pm, I shut down the computer and close my eyes.

Up early today and get out of the jammer to stretch. Then, I drive across the street to the w-mart for coffee, com and to upload my journal entry. At seven-thirty, I drive back to the d-mart to have my front tires balanced. Then, at nine this morning, I head to the hall here in Jackson for the weekend meeting. Many of the friends approach and give me a greeting.

Afterwards, I leave the hall, then Jackson on US 412 northeast to Dyersburg where I stop to have my front tires balanced. However, the poor quality of work and lack of customer service is going to get this d-mart a zero star review on goggle guides. Then I take IH 155 west across the Mississippi river into the boot heal of Missouri, continue west on US 412 until I arrive in Kennett where I turn north on SR 25 to SR 53 and continue northeast to Poplar Bluffs where I stop and buy two burritos. Then I take US 60 west and drive first to Van Buren intending on stopping at Big Springs campsite but find both the campground and the entire town closed due the the floods about two weeks ago.

So, after looking at my map and checking the GPS, I decide to drive to a d-mart in Springfield, Missouri and in the morning stop at the w-mart. Then, I drive the rest day arriving at the parking lot of the d-mart less than and hour before the sun sets. I walk inside to buy some grapes and return to park the jammer on the perimeter neat the other RV′s. The sun sets at eight-fourteen and due to being really tired, I get in the sack by eight-thirty this evening.

Awake after suntouch, rise, dress and leave out of Springfield directly. I continue driving on US 60 west until it turns into IH 44 and continue until Halltown, Missouri where I get off and follow the old historic Route 66 west. This route take me over some ancient bridges and past an old gas station from that era. I can only remember as far back to when the price of ethyl gasoline was 17.9 cents a gallon.

I finally arrive in Joplin, Missouri where I stop at a bank to deposit a check, then on to a g-mart, go inside to a coffee bar to use the WiFi but can not get online with my computer. So I just check my email on my phone and do not stay very long.

Leaving Joplin, still on Route 66, I soon cross into Kansas, which only has 13.2 miles of the route in this state. The first stop is for gas in Galena, Kansas at the corner of Front street and Main street at a gas station called Cars on the Route.

Next, I stop at one of the small towns called Riverton, Kansas at the local Old Riverton Store, sit down at a table on the front porch and talk with Gary. He tells me that this store has been open since 1925, which would be ninety-two years. After having some of the free radishes, I pack out and drive west through the entire Route 66 in Kansas.

Then, I back track through Baxter Springs, leave the 66 and drive north to Columbus, take US 160 west through Independence, Burden, Winfield, Wellington to Harper where it the dark storm clouds from the south have moved in front of me and it begins to rain. Then, I turn north on SR 14, leave the clouds behind and arrive in Kingman on US 400 where I turn west and continue on the 400 through Ford, and then pull in to Dodge, but never see Chevy, Kansas.

After driving through the old front street area, I head north to the d-mart, pull into the parking lot and find a space for the evening. I can see lightning high in the sky to the east were I came from earlier today. It is ten pm before I get horizontal.

I awake from a very comfortable sleep due to the much cooler temperature, start the engine and drive west on US 50 for about fifty miles, then park in a d-mart parking lot and go inside to the w-mart where I work on my journal and web page for several hours.

At two pm, I pack out and head for Denver, continuing on US 50 and crossing the Arkansas river several more times. I had not caught on to the fact that the route I have taken since before Dodge City has been the old Santa Fe route and when I left Dodge on US 50, I began what is called the mountain route, which route includes Old Bent′s Fort on the north bank of the Arkansas river.

I continue west on US 50 until it reaches Pueblo, Colorado and turn north on IH 25, through Colorado Springs and then get of the 25 at exit 196 to Arapaho Road, taking it east to Smoky Hill road, turn left and immediately I see the g-mart where I overnighted last year during the convention. I pull in to the parking lot and find a cozy spot, shut down the engine, complete today′s journal entry and then climb into the back to get horizontal, all just before nine pm.

I walk inside, connect to the WiFi, and begin pounding keys. I spend the day working on A Wayƒarer′s Sustenance, going over the pages one at a time and updating the information.

This is a long day of pounding keys and the barista comments to me how long I have been here; I tell her what I am doing and give her one of my business cards. At ten this evening, I pack out to the jammer and, eat and the retire to the back area.

After sleeping in this morning, I rise and go in for a cup of hot, check my com and then begin pounding keys on this my second full day off.

In the early afternoon, Gordon calls to say he is leaving Grandby, Colorado and heading here. I ask him how long it takes to drive and he says "Just over two hours." Then I tell him that I will see him later.

A short time after five he calls again and says that he is in the parking lot and will be in shortly. I make room for him at my table, he sits down and we talk for a long time. After we eat dinner, we both head out to our vehicles for the night.

Sun shining in through the cracks wake me, I dress, walk inside for a cup of hot and to check com. I see a couple in line wearing convention badges, approach, greet them, and find out they are from Kansas. At seven this morning, I pack out, return to the jammer, dress for the meeting and drive to the assembly hall for the first day of the convention.

While waiting in line to enter the hall, I met Ron who says that he would love a cup coffee, to which I reply, "I will make you a cup." We walk out to the jammer, I get out the stove, pot and water and in a short time he is sipping on his cup of hot. While we are waiting for the water to boil, he tells me about his business that he is presenting to the TV series, Shark tank. I tell him that I do not watch TV but I have heard about that show. I tell him that it is a good idea and hope the show funds his business.

I ask him to take my photo; I am wearing my dark brown suit. Then we go in and sit together to enjoy the program.

Wow!

Afterwards, I head back to the w-mart, go inside and have a large glass of water and blueberry scone while I pound keys. Gordon comes in to eat supper and work on his tablet. At eight-thirty, we both retire to our sleeping births.

Awake, dress in my fall blues, drive a little closer to the w-mart and then go inside for a cup of hot. Soon after, I pack out to the jammer, put on my suit, drive to the assembly hall and park. Then, I go and wait at the front door until it opens. When the door opens, I walk in and find a place to sit, put my books on the arm and then sit down for the second day of the convention.

Double Wow!

After wards, I pack out to the jammer, drive to the w-mart and go inside to pound keys for a couple hours. Shortly after the sun sets, I retire to the jammer for the evening.

Up early but still after the sun rise, I walk into the d-mart to buy some instant coffee sticks for the next time I offer to make somebody some coffee, return and pack it away. Then, I grab my computer and go inside to pound keys to begin today′s journal entry while I sip on a cup of hot.

Today is the third and final day of the convention and methinks that it has gone really fast, but I hope to return to attend this convention again on a later weekend.

When the last song is sung and last prayer is said, I say good bye to Ron and Gordon telling both that I hope to see them again soon. Then, I walk out to the jammer, take off my suit coat and drive to the w-mart where I change into my fall blues. Then, I go inside to buy water and some vegetables. After packing the groceries away, I head out on the highway and drive the interstate passage through Denver and when I make it through the city traffic, but sill on IH 25 north, I pull off the highway, drive to a w-mart hoping to get online and upload my web pages, but something is not cooperating.

At seven-thirty pm, I leave and head north on IH 25 towards Wyoming and after the sun sets, stop at a d-mart with a w-mart in the parking lot. I go into the w-mart to upload my journal entries and everything works great. Then I park in the overnight area of the d-mart and climb into the back.

Up after the sun, move to the w-mart, go inside for coffee and superior WiFi. This is why I like coming to this named store, the signal is very strong. Their coffee is strong as well but I am striving to limit myself to one cup of coffee or less a day.

I work on my Quill Strokes in the Appendix, trying to get each section as least started. I have a MRP for my morning meal but the rest of the day eat from the food counter in the w-mart. When the sun drops to the horizon, I retire to the jammer and sleep.

Up after the sun rises again today and follow the same routine as yesterday. Gordon calls and says that he might be coming to stay the night at the d-mart here in Timnath. I tell him that I will be at the w-mart most all day long but will move to the truck parking area of the d-mart tonight.

At three this afternoon, I pack out to the d-mart, go inside to buy two avocados and a cucumber, then have my hair cut. After that, I walk back outside to the jammer, open the rear lift gate and hear some one speaking to me. When I turn around, see that it is Gordon pulling in to a parking space for the evening. We sit under the jammer tail gate in the shade and talk. Later, we retire to our own births and I call it a day. I get into the back of the jammer and resume the horizontal.

After getting dressed, I drive to the w-mart, walk in and purchase a cup of coffee. Then I sit down, turn on the computer and check my com. In only a short time, I pack out and leave Timnath, heading north on IH 25, enter Wyoming and stop at the visitor center. And I might say that this is one of the nicest visitor center that I have ever stopped at.

The receptionist there asks which way I am going and when I tell her she suggests taking the Snowy Range highway, SR 130 out of Laramie instead of the IH80 west route. She assures me that it is open because she drove it last weekend.

Heading west, I soon arrive at SR 130 (Snowy Range Road) and take it towards Medicine Bow Mountains. It does not take long to arrive in Centennial, Wyoming where I stop and check the jammer fluids before I begin the steep haul up onto the mountain. After finding the fluids all topped off, I continue upwards, at times only pulling forty miles per hour.

Then the terrain changes from hardwood to evergreen, the ground snow appears, I feel the cold air coming in through the window and finally the jammer pulls onto Snowy Range Pass at elevation 10,847 feet; and that without a hitch.

I stop and park the jammer to allow it to rest while I walk out to the overlook for the view. The air here is clear, cold, fresh and feels good when I breath it in which makes me reminisce about my recent quill strokes recording the research I have recently done concerning the need for fresh air.

Wanting to continue to the hot springs in Saratoga, Wyoming, I do not spend too much time at the pass and begin the drive down the west side of Medicine Bow Mountain. Immediately, I notice that the west side has much more snow and stop several times for photos.

Continuing west on SR 130, I arrive in Saratoga, Wyoming, located on the North Platte river, turn east on Walnut Avenue and follow it to the hot springs. The Saratoga Hot Springs is open to the public and is free. The hot springs is next to a swimming pool and except for seniors, charge an entrance fee to swim. I take clean clothes with me because after I soak in the hot water, I use the adjacent facility to take a hot shower.

Next, I go into town to Lollipops restaurant to use the WiFi to acquire the address of the hall in Rawlins where there is a meetings tonight and while there have a bowl of chipotle black bean soup. I then leave Saratoga, drive across the Platte river and the north on SR 130 to IH 80 were I continue west to Rawlings stopping at the hall. Later, a brother and his wife stop by the hall, greet me, and let me know that there is no meeting because this weekend, their congregation is going to the convention. Leaving Rawlins, I continue west on IH 80, cross into the continental divide basis, cross the basis and then cross the continental divide onto the west side of the continent.

Arriving in Rock Springs just before sunset, I drive to the w-mart and see a rainbow to the east and then go inside and check my com. However, the coffee shop soon after closes so I pack out to the jammer. Another young man also is returning to his car and greets me. A conversation ensues and I find out that he is a wayfarer also, only not a Bible toting one. However, in our conversation, he makes several comments that indicates to me that I should try to witness to him. When I do begin speaking about the paradise hope for the future, he warms right up to the subject.

After showing great interest in what I have been telling him about then need to study the Bible, I make the comment "Now I know why God directed my here to this parking lot." He smiled and then four hours later, we give each other a good bye, he departs, and I drive to the d-mart parking lot for the evening.

After staying up long past midnight, I rise late, make a MRP and then drive back to the w-mart to some of the morning on my quill strokes. Before the morning is over, I pack out and begin my drive to Yellowstone.

From Rock Springs, I head north on US 191 through Pineville where I gas up and then continue. I stop in Jackson to check the schedule at the hall but the English congregation had their meeting on Tuesday evening. I do stop at the g-mart to buy a head of romaine lettuce and three tomatoes because I do not think I will leave Yellowstone until Saturday night when I hope to drive to Bozeman, Montana for a weekend meeting. At six pm, I enter Great Teton NP, continue up to Yellowstone and drive around the west side of the grand loop and arrive at Old Faithful In just before sunset.

I walk inside an see that Martha is playing the piano, walk up to her and greet her, then I stop at the coffee bar and purchase a Yellowstone biscotti. After that, I retire to the jammer and climb into the back.

Up at the alarm, rise and walk in to the cafe for coffee. Then, I set up my computer at the same desk that I have used in past visits, only someone has changed the desk to one without a light. The wall plug is still here so I attach my cord and begin pounding keys. There are several things, by the way of key pounding that I desire to accomplish during my stay here. Too, I would like to be at a geyser each sunset with hope of being able to take photos of a geyser bow.

I continue to work all day, only going out to the jammer once at about one in the afternoon to retrieve something to eat. At seven, I check the sky and see that it is clear which is the first condition for a rainbow, coming back in, I stop to see when then next geyser will be, finding the next show to be at two minutes after eight. Then I walk back to the office, pack out my computer and head to the jammer where I put the computer away, grab my camera and then check the battery only to find it needing a charge. So, I put that battery in the place to be charged and grab a fresh one.

Finally, I lock up the jammer and head to the geyser viewing deck and see that we are goes with the next two conditions for a geyser bow. The wind is blowing out of the south and perpendicular from the direction of the sun and the sun is about one hand above the raised horizon but still less than twenty-two degrees. So, together with the clear sky, all that is needed now is a good geyser blow with plenty of spray. I take a place and begin waiting with the crowd, most likely a hundred in number.

It goes off at eight-ten, reaches only a hundred feet with a duration of just lest than two minutes, with no where near enough spray for a rainbow to show. While the crowd pulls away from the viewing deck, I stick around to watch if Bee Hive goes off, which it doesn′s, so while the sun drops to the horizon, I walk back to the jammer, get out my veggies and begin making a salad. In short work, I am sitting in the jammer, eating my salad and pounding keys composing today′s journal entry. It is nine-thirty when I shut the computer off, there is still daylight on the horizon. As I lie here, methinks how beautiful the earth is in this location and yearn for that day when the Kingdom comes and the whole earth becomes as beautiful as it is here.

Up at the second alarm because I was not able to sleep until well after ten pm last night. After dressing, I walk to the shower room and get into the hot water, then purchase a cup of coffee and take up my position at my desk and sip on the hot liquid while pounding keys. When I return for a refill, I purchase a Yellowstone biscotti, which are baked right here in the Old Faithful Inn kitchen.

Soon after midday passes, I pack out and begin my drive to Bozeman, Montana so that I will be able to attend the weekend meeting of my brothers there. Arrive about three in the afternoon, I go directly to the w-mart which has great WiFi service, get right on and upload all my files the the web.

Awake and rise at the first alarm, dress, drive to be closer to the d-mart and then go inside to replenish the waning ice and veggies in my cooler. I also stop at the blood pressure machine and find my bp to be 117/73, which as the machine reports is great. Then, I pack away the ice and veggies, drive to the w-mart to finish my study for today. At nine, I pack out, dress, drive to the hall and wait. Another couple from New Mexico arrives and asks if there is a meeting to which I answer "I don′s know." Then, two Spanish brothers arrive for their ministry meeting and tell that the English are away at the convention.

I pack out, and head back to Yellowstone and soon, I am at my desk pounding keys.

In the afternoon, a thundershower rolls through, replete with five count lightning. At six-thirty pm, with the rain pummeling Old Faithful, I return to the jammer to prepare my supper. After eating a can of salmon and some veggies, I pound keys for a short time before going to sleep.

Up to the alarm, go inside for coffee and set up my office to continue my key pounding. Today, I am in the Mountain Passage, The Earth, starting with the Canyons Gallery, begin by creating the Canyon pages and then add some of my photos to the pages. While here in Yellowstone, I hope to do the same with all the other Earth Galleries.

I retire to the jammer, prepare and eat a salad, put up my curtains, get into the back to read the Bible and then turn over to sleep.

Rising at first bell, I walk into the lobby and set up my computer, then walk to the shower room for a hot shower after which I go downstairs to the cafe for coffee, and walk back up to the office to pound keys

With my legs aching, at five pm I pack out, walk to the jammer and begin cleaning house. Then, I make a MRP after which I sweep the concrete at the doorways. Just before seven pm, I see people taking their seats on the OF geyser viewing deck, so I close up the jammer, grab my camera, walk to the deck and take a seat.

When I arrive at the seating area, I ask one man if the space next to him is open and he answers yes. I take a seat and greet him by telling him my name. His wife on the opposite side says I am Amy and this is Doug. I find out that they are vacationing from Ohio and go on to tell them that I am not here for photos of the geyser which is a wonder. Instead, I am here for photos of the wonder of wonders, and he replies I have no clue as to what that is. So, I tell him that I am here for the geyserbow.

While waiting, I tell them that I am a full time RV′er and he says that they have just retired and want to RV also and asks if I have any information about traveling in an RV. I tell him Yes, plenty and it is all free on my web site. He then ask for my web address.

Then, I tell them how I have lost one hundred pounds, and that loosing weight is all about what food you eat and what food you avoid. Growing up, we have been taught lies by the commercial companies, for example the food pyramid is a total lie created to help the wheat growers and bread backers. I go on to mention that bread is one of the foods that is inflammatory and should be avoided.

The geyser burps several times as is very common for it to do, then begins to erupt. I here someone say "There′s the rainbow." I look more intensely and see a very faded one and begin taking photos as quickly as I can hoping for a good one.

Then, Amy and Doug walk with me to the jammer to see my RV and for me to give them my card. Then they leave and head to their car while I begin preparing a cup of daystart. Soon, the sun sets, I climb into the back and after reading in the Bible, close my eyes and sleep.

I awake, dress and then walk to the second floor of the lobby to set up my office, after which, I head to the cafe for a cup of hot. Next, I return to the desk and begin pounding keys to create more photo pages in the Canyons Gallery and Caves Gallery, adding photos as I go. My hope is to have most if not all of the Earth Galleries added to the website before leaving Yellowstone.

I continue after my normal evening respite because Martha, who plays cello and piano is exceptionally deft, playing many song that are much recognizable for me. Too, as the crowds depart the lobby for their births, many of the remaining patrons climb to the second floor, walk to the right corner and take up a chair to sip on their favorite drink and listen to the lively tunes.

Some time after nine pm, when Martha is between sets, I excuse myself telling her that it is hours past my bedtime, pack out and head to the jammer. There, I have a can of sardines and walnuts for supper, read a chapter and then close my eyes.

Another day with the routine developed during the week that I have been here, that of pounding keys to create pages for my Earth galleries. I will continue for yet another couple of days doing likewise.

It has been a grand day of pounding keys and listening to the live music, first violin music by Tara, then piano and cello by Martha, both of which are really good musicians. I get a lot of work done on the photo galleries. At nine-thirty pm, I pack out and head for my my birth.

I have been watching this moon for several day, during which it has looked very much like full each night. I go to my office space and pound keys and outside it begins to rain, hard at times and I do not even go out at sunset knowing there will not be a rainbow.

I continue at my office until ten pm which is not like my usual routine as normally on most nights I am in the horizontal long before ten. However, I have been enjoying Martha playing the piano and cello here in the lobby of the inn so much that I do not leave until after she finishes.

She plays until ten on most nights and shortly after ten tonight, I pack out and head to my birth, get horizontal and close my eyes.

Again, I sleep until the second bell, rise, dress and walk up to the second floor to set up my office. Next, I go for a cup of hot and then return to begin my last day of pounding keys during this visit. During a long day , I am able to finish the Geological Wonders Gallery by seven pm but stay to listen to the music for a little longer.

Even though Martha has been playing exceptionally since six pm, I pack out and head for the jammer. After loading my gear, I start the engine and begin driving out of the park towards Bozeman, Montanna, a drive of about two hour, arriving at the d-mart shortly after ten pm. I climb into the back and get horizontal immediately.

Up at the second bell and drive to the w-mart to upload files to the web server. Then, at nine am, I pack out to the jammer where I change into my suit and then drive to the hall for the weekend meeting.

Afterwards, I go to the o-mart to look at backpacks because I have found that my Kelty pack weighs over six pound and have heard that there are new packs weighting less than two pounds. I do not find one that I like so I leave the store, drive across the street to the w-mart and pound keys until it closes. Leaving the w-mart, I drive the mile to the d-mart, set up for the evening and get horizontal.

Up early, make a MRP in the parking lot and then drive to the w-mart for a cup of hot and another day of pounding keys.

Just before suntouch, I pack out drive to the d-mart and set up for the evening. Then I make a salad and sit inside reading while eating my supper. After cleaning up the dishes, I get horizontal.

Rise at the first bell, dress in my winter blues and drive to the w-mart to begin pounding keys while waiting for this rain to cease. At six pm, I pack out and dress for the meeting and then drive to the hall for the seven-thirty meeting. Wow, are the friends nice here, many coming up to me to meet me.

Afterwards, I drive to the d-mart and climb into the back. it is still raining.

Awake late this morning and glad to see that the rain has stopped, still, I think I will stay one more day here in the city to work on uploading photos to my Mountain Gallery and creating pages for the numerous families of mammals that I currently have photos of.

At nine pm, I pack out drive to the d-mart and park for the night..

Up early after a short nights sleep, or at least it seemed that way because as soon as I fell asleep, I open my eyes and it is morning. Last night, when I was driving a different to the d-mart, I saw a second w-mart and this morning, I drive there and upon walking inside find it much better, (at least with many more receptacles and tables) than the one I have been frequenting the last several days.

I take a table with a view of the jammer, purchase a cup of hot and go to work pounding keys. By three-thirty, I have completed most all the animals with hooves and begin uploading the files to the web server and by four-thirty, I have uploaded all the files.

I look up satisfied with the accomplishments of today′s work, gaze out the window to the north and see snow covered mountains. Methinks, "This is June and there is still snow?" Suddenly, I realize where I am and tell myself, "You are in Montana, the elevation in Bozeman is just under five thousand feet, and it is not summer but still spring, at least for another five more days on the 20^th of the month.

At five-thirty, I pack out of the w-mart and head to the l-mart that I saw last night but when I arrive, the place is packed with dirty clothes so I leave and go for Mexican food instead. After eating, I drive to the d-mart, read until I am tired and then get horizontal.

I arise at the first bell, drive to the w-mart for a cup of hot and then head west out of Bozeman on SR 84, cross the Madison River and turn left in Norris, Montana on US 287. I drive south on the US highway following the Madison but on a higher level plateau until I see the river palisades and then the highway drops to river level. Soon, I arrive at SH 87 and turn right, drive over the continental divide at Raynolds Pass into Idaho and follow the state highway south to connect with US 20. Next, I take US 20 south to Idaho Falls where I stop at an e-mart to purchase a USB WiFi adapter to use with my computer.

After getting the adapter, I drive to the local w-mart to try it out an it works better than I had expected. During the drive down into Idaho, I tried Dad′s ring on my little finger and find that it fits me now, probably because I have loss so much weight.

From Idaho Falls, I head east on US 26 to Alpine, Wyoming and then south on US 89, then south on a couple state highways to connect to US 30. This takes me east to IH 80 and I drive east on the 80 to Rock Springs, Wyoming and stop at the d-mart just off the interstate. The last time I was at this d-mart was on Day 554 TB or actually, it was the night before. I try my new nano WiFi Adapter in the parking lot across the street from the w-mart and it sees the signal but it is too far away to connect. Much better than my internal one that only can see the signal when I am inside of a w-mart. It is about nine-thirty when I shut down and get horizontal.

Up early after sleeping good, dress, drive across the street to the w-mart for coffee but only stay long enough to drink one cup. Then I pack out, start the jammer, drive to IH 80 and head west. In a couple of hours, I have driven through the Continental Divide Basin and arrive at the exit for Saratoga. I drive the short distance to the hot springs but do not get in the pool but instead take a hot shower in the dressing room. I put on clean clothes, head back out to the jammer and continue south on SR 130, cross into Colorado on SR 125 and continue south through Walton, then Rand and finally climb up to Willow Creek Pass.

On the down side, as I drive along Willow Creek, I keep an eye searching for any moose that might be browsing in the water on the green bottom growth. At about ten miles above the junction with US 40, just above Cabin Creek road, I see a juvenile standing in the water with his head under the water surface, but I pass up the spot and have to drive about a half mile downstream before finding a spot to turn around. When I return back to where I spotted him there is another woman taking photos and he is still knee deep in the creek. I park, grab my camera and begin taking photos. Soon others stop to take photos but nearly nothing stops this yearling from getting his fill of the tender green water plants. His being a yearling tells me that he could have been the calf that was nursing last summer during my first visit here.