With the northbound spring migration having come upon me on Day 275 TN, I left Padre Island National Seashore and began my slow drive back to my regular summer resting grounds. I continue to move northeast through the coastal plains region of Texas, then into Arkansas for my first stop for hot water at the Quapaw Bath House in Hot Springs, Arkansas where I rested for a few days.

Next, I drove east into Tennessee, first across the Mississippi Alluvial plains and then the Mississippi Loess plains, quickly to be followed by the Interior Plateau and next the Southwest Appalachian Mountains. I did not go much further because my eastern travel ceased when I drove south the visit my friends who live south of Nashville. After leaving Tennessee, I drop down into Alabama and traversed across the tops of both Alabama and Mississippi on one of the northern most routes through an area I have never driven, that being the Transition Hills and Valleys ecoregion in both states. I even was able to add one more state high point summit to my list of ones I have summited, that being Woodall Mountain in northern Mississippi.

Leaving Mississippi, I drive north through Memphis, past Greaceland, the across the Mississippi River back into Arkansas and then into the Ouachita Mountains to drive the Talimena Scenic Byway, across into Oklahoma, the south again into Texas and finally west towards the panhandle at Palo Duro Canyon state park not to camp but for hot showers as I work at the w-mart in Amarillo to upload photos and update web pages.

Upon leaving the Top of Texas, I then drive west into the Basin and Range of New Mexico before moving north towards the Rocky Mountains, first in Colorado, then Wyoming and finally Montana.

At this point in my migration, if the weather holds true to my preferences, without turning too hot for me to sleep comfortably, I will continue in Montana to begin my summer sojourn staying for some time here in the Northern Rockies ecosystem in western Montana.

However, if it does like it has done for the past couple of years, that is, it turn miserably hot, I will then leave to drive westward, first through Northern Rockies in Idaho, then further west across Northern Rockies in Washington and finally into northern Puget Sound and the Salish Sea because here, the weather is almost always cool, especially for sleeping at night.

Finally, my summer hiatus has begun and I have arrived in the temperate rain forests of the northern Rocky Mountains.

Upon arising this morning, I see that the cloud cover is gone and the waning crescent moon is leading the sun towards the western horizon. I have not been able to see the moon for some time due to the cloud cover and then, this morning, there is no clouds what so ever. I dress in my fall blues, drive to the w-mart, walk inside to set up my computer and then go to the counter to order a hot coffee, Then, I return to sip the hot liquid while I check my com and continue pounding keys to update the web site pages.

Some time in the afternoon, I pack out and drive around town to look at the available stores when I see a hg-mart, one I usually shop in if a location becomes available. I park outside the store, walk inside and begin looking for some of the organic food I prefer but this store does not have much of my personal choices. Nevertheless, I do buy some items and then return to the jammer to drive to the location that I have been overnighting at. I watch the sunset and then climb into the rear of the jammer for the evening.

Awake, dress, drive, park, coffee, com, pound keys and I plan to continue doing so all day again.

Last Sunday, I had told several of the friends in Centerville, Tennessee that I will continue zooming to their meetings for as long as I remain in the time zone that I am currently in, that is Mountain Time Zone because it is easier for me to connect for the meeting an hour earlier like I have been doing every since I arrived in this time zone. However, when I arrive in the Pacific time zone, I will most likely begin zooming to the Oak Harbor congregation. So, here in the Montana Rocky Mountains, I remain in the Mountain time zone and will be connecting to the Centerville meeting again tonight, which will start at six this evening.

A short time before the meeting starts, I connect to the meeting and say hello to the friends for a few minutes before the meeting begins and then continue with the congregation for a few minutes after it ends. Finally, I disconnect, pack out of the cafe and drive to the d-mart to park for the night.

Awake, drive to the w-mart for coffee and sit down in my window spot to check my com and then pound keys on my computer.

Just before eight this evening, with the sun still high in the sky,, I pack out, drive across the street, park, have something to eat, watch some videos until the sun sets and then get into the horizontal to sleep.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart, go inside for coffee, com and computer. I continue here for another day, working on my web site all day, well, until the cafe closes at eight this evening. Then, I drive back across the parking lot to the hw-mart for the evening, park and climb into the rear of the jammer.

Awake, step out of the jammer to open the rear lift gate and put on my dress shirt and tie. Then, I drive back to the w-mart, park and walk inside to connect to the Centerville, Tennessee meeting. I visit with the friends for a short time, then continue with the congregation meeting.

During the talk, I receive a tap on my back and when I turn around, see a man who asks me What religion are you? to which I reply, I am one of Jehovah′s Witnesses. He extends his and I grasp it with mine, then tells me that his name is Brian, to which I tell him my name and hand him one of my cards. Brian then says goodbye and I return to the meeting. After the meeting, I stay for a short time to visit but soon pack out to the jammer, drive north on US 93, then right onto

Awake, dress in my fall blues, drive to the adjacent parking lot to park, walk inside for coffee, com and another day of computer.

At five this afternoon, I pack out and go to an o-mart to look for a bottle of camp soap. When I find that they have the eight ounce containers, I buy three bottles, not because I need the soap, but I want some new bottles, the same type of bottles that this soap is contained in. These are similar to the backpacking bottles that I have always preferred to use and have a foldable squirt lid. I will use these for the several liquids that I make use of as a regular practice. Also, I will most likely not have to buy camp soap again for a long time. Currently, I have olive oil in one, vinegar in another, hand cleaning alcohol in the third and the fourth one containing disinfectant. One of the new bottles will contain shampoo and a second one will have body soap. I have not yet decided what will go into the third new one, that is after I empty it is the camp soap.

After I leave the o-mart, I drive back to the w-mart, park in a new shady location and then open up the windows to allow the van to cool down a little. It is quite hot this afternoon and I am glad that I am in the shade in order to endure the heat. Too, it does not cool off until after the sun sets and the twilight begins to reign in the sky.

Richard, my friend who lives in Oceanside, California calls me this evening, like he had done yesterday evening to receive my help to complete the electrical

The twilight wanes until long after ten this evening when I climb into the rear of the jammer and get into the horizontal. I leave the screened window open to allow some cool air to enter and then finally fall asleep after dark.

Awake, dress in my fall blues, step out of the jammer, wet my hair and then check the water in the radiator to find it good, probably because several days ago, I replaced the radiator cap, which seems to have corrected the previous problem. I then shut the hood, close and lock the doors and walk to the w-mart for coffee, com and to begin my journal entry. Some time later, I look for my neck wallet but it comes up missing so, I first look in my computer bag and do not find it. Next, I walk out to the jammer and look in the place where it is suppose to be and it is not there. Then, I climb into the back and look further, still not finding it. Methinks, maybe I left it at the place where I purchased the camp soap and I pack out of the cafe and return to the jammer. However, before I dive to the store, I do a thorough search through the jammer and then, in the back area, down on the floorboard between the cabinet and the food storage pail, I see the black neck cord, grab it and pull it out of the hole it is in.

Just before I began looking for the neck wallet, I had received a social media post with a "Letter from God" which said in part, I am Jehovah. Today, I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. Thus, there is no need for you to lose any sleep or to stress out on any problem you have. Instead, go ahead and get some rest and wake up refreshed. So, the entire time that I was searching for the neck wallet, I knew that I will live through this crises and continue to walk after the ways of the truth. So, before I walked out to search for the neck wallet in the jammer, I went ahead and finished the letter that I was working on for the ministry.

Later, when I returned to pounding keys, I shared that "Letter from God" with a couple of my good friends. In the afternoon, I continue to enjoy the comfortable inside temperature of the cafe while I work on more of my web site updates.

Then, at seven-thirty, the cafe closes and I pack out to the jammer for the evening, it being no where as hot as the night before, which was in the middle 80s. I climb into the rear of the jammer at nine, get into the horizontal at ten and to sleep some time after.

Awake, dress, grab my computer bag, walk into the cafe to set up at a table and then go up for a cup of coffee. Today continues like many of the ones previous, which start with sipping coffee, checking com and then pounding keys on the computer. While I have been here in the Northern Rockies ecosystem, and even though I have not spent much time outdoors in the wild, I have abundantly enjoyed the expansive view from the place where I sit and pound keys.

With an elevation of over three thousand feet, I look upon the mountain ridge rising upwards in the distance to the north, a ridge covered in forests with valleys worn from time and weather. Although unseen to my eyes at this moment but still known to me from past experience, lying just before that rise of mountains in the low valley is a large freshwater lake, one that provides great joy and activities for both the locals and the tourist. Too, along the facing slopes of this mountain is a ski resort, a location unknown to me from my experiences but known to me only from my knowledge of the area maps.

Later, as the day dwindles toward twilight, I pack out of the cafe, walk to my van and set up for the evening. After watching the twilight begin and then slowly dim to gray, I climb into the rear of the jammer and prepare for the night of rest.

Awake, dress in my fall meeting blues, walk into the w-mart, set up my computer and then go up to the counter for a cup of coffee. Upon returning back to my computer, I sit down and begin my journal entry for today. Once these journal words are on the screen, I get out my ministry note pad with pen and begin on my letter writing.

I had, some many days past, talked with my brother, the one still living in Texas and found out that he had only recently received my first letter in the mail, delayed for some many weeks due to my not having the correct address. Too, the second letter I had sent had been received at my return address and Angela messaged me that the letter was at her home. It was then, when I had heard about that delivery problem that I left off working on that series of hand written pages and put the letter writing to him aside for the moment. However, now, since we last talked to one another, I have today taken up the manuscript and started the pen work to create more of the pages that I would wish to send to Barry. Thus, after I have worked with my letter writing for several hours, I then put away the journal and quill for now and return to the other work currently afoot on my life path.

When I return to the counter for a refill, I meet Sam, a barista who takes my order, a young man at twenty-five years, originally from Norfolk, Virginia, who traveled west across this continent to seek his destiny, settling first on the high Rockies in Colorado and then at the bidding of a friend moving here to the Northern Rockies in Montana. This brief acquainting at the counter, continues later with sharing until we learn more of one another to the extent of getting better know to one another. During the later exchange of friendship, I talk to him about the paradise, how it will be brought about and most importantly, what he must do to insure that he is there and a part of these wonderful promises from our God and Father.

Then, my efforts for my current work resume and despite all the other endeavors popping up throughout this day, I am able to accomplish a sizeable about of this work before I have to stop again, move to an outside location so that I can connect to the mid week meeting without interruption. It is since the cafe here closes at seven-thirty this evening and that will be before the meeting has ended that it is necessary for me to be outside. So, I leave in search of a receptacle and upon finding on the outside deck, I pack out of the cafe and set up outside under the canopy. Soon, I am connected to the Centerville, Tennessee congregation by way of zoom and attend the meeting with the friends there. Afterwards, I visit with the friends and all too soon, we say our good byes and depart.

Now, with the cafe closed and it still being bright daylight, I retire to the jammer which has been strategically parked in the afternoon shade for hours now and find it to be just right to climb into. I leave the windows open in order to allow the passage of wind through the jammer. Then, I prepare my supper and have the meal while watching new videos. Later, I turn off the electronics and get into the horizontal.

Awake, rise, dress in my fall blues, grab my computer bag and walk inside the cafe for coffee, com and computer. Looking at the view out the window when this day begins, I see clear blue sky above the dark green covered mountains. Later, several clouds waft slowly across the sky. I sit inside in the cool air while outside the temperature rises into the high 80s.

In the late afternoon, sometime after six, I pack out, start the jammer and drive south on US 93, this time only the short distance back to Kalispell, Montana and take up a parking space, the same one as only recently have been overnighting in, put up my window shades and wait out the downward descent of the sun to the horizon.

Then, after the sun passes the plain which is the western horizon, I begin watching the regional convention that I have only recently downloaded, but do not get to far into the program before I choose to turn off the electronics and get into the horizontal.

Awake to a cool morning but know that this day will be another one in the 80s, so I drive to the w-mart, park in the shade, grab my computer bag and walk inside the air conditioned cafe for coffee, com and computer. My stay here in the Northern Rockies will most likely last for just a couple more days before I take up my move westward trek toward the coast. It appears that the daytime 80s are here to stay even the nights will continue to drop into the 50s through to the middle of July.

I will stay here in the Northern Rockies for a few more days or maybe a week but it looks like by the middle of July, it will be hot here, too hot for me to remain and I will then begin my westward journey to the west coast. However, whether I go by way of Oregon or directly from Idaho into Washington, I have not decided as yet.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, park, walk inside for coffee, com and computer. Then, at eight-twenty, I connect to the Centerville, Tennessee congregation for the weekend meeting which is an abbreviated one so that the friends can then watch the video for the first day of the regional convention. After the meeting, I then watch the first of two videos for this day of the convention, which is well done and very informative.

Then, in the afternoon, I return to my work on the website, continuing until after seven before packing out and moving to the space where I overnight.

Today has been overcast the entire day until about eight this evening when there is a downpour of rain which lasts for several hours. After dark, it continues to rain lightly for several hours but stops entirely during the night. One good thing that the incoming rain has done is lower the temperature considerably.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart, walk inside, set up my computer to check my com and then walk up to the counter for a cup of coffee, after which I return to my table and begin pounding keys. Today has been just one more day spent here in the Northern Rockies in Montana and it continues must like many of the previous ones with a day spent inside of the cafe where I accomplish quite a lot of my website upgrade work.

Later, I pack out of the cafe, drive to the nearby parking lot and stop for my overnight stop.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart, park, walk inside to my table, sit down and start my daily journal entry after which, I walk up to the counter to purchase a cup of hot coffee. Then, I begin sipping on the hot coffee while I resume working on my web site upgrade and continue all day until just before the cafe closes.

After leaving, I set up in the adjacent parking lot and soon get a text from Joanne who send photos of a landscaping job that she has done at the home of another sister. It is not until I see a photo that I recognize it to be the home of Angela and Andy in Oak Harbor. I send her a text to tell here that I like her landscape redo and she texts back thanks.

Awake, drive to the cafe, walk in, set up my computer to begin my journal entry for today and then go up to the counter for a cup of coffee, after which, I start part two of the of the Friday morning convention video while sipping my coffee. The first part is a Bible drama of how Jacob was a peacemaker throughout his life, setting an example for us to follow. Then, I continue with the second part of the Friday morning convention until it ends, which seems like it goes by so fast.

By nine-thirty this morning, I resume pounding keys in my work of updating my web site and stay here until the store closes at eight this evening. Then, I drive to the adjacent parking lot, park and set up my window blinds for the evening. I end up getting into the horizontal fairly early this evening.

Awake, drive to the w-mart and go inside to set up and shortly after I purchase a cup of coffee one of the baristas tell me that they are closing the cafe due to an electrical problem. I pack out, drive to another w-mart, go inside and set up. Then, at two this afternoon, this cafe closes the cafe as well but one of the baristas here tells me that I do not have to leave, that I may stay in the cafe. I am glad because the next nearest one is about fifteen miles to the north. This has caused me to feel that I should move from this area but I will wait for a time longer to see if the closures stop. Still, I believe that I am ready to begin my move westward towards the coast.

A few minutes before seven this evening, a barista tells me that the cafe will be closing at seven, so I pack out, drive back to the hw-mart where I have been parking, park the jammer, put up the window shades and climb into the back of the jammer for the night.

Awake, rise, dress in my fall blues, drive to the w-mart, park, walk inside, purchase coffee and then begin writing in my journal. I talk with a man who tells me he is from Turkey. He is here drinking coffee and so, I bring up the Bible hope of the future but he seem to be angry about everything in his life so I wish him a good day. I then sit down and resume the work on my website.

During the day, I receive a text message from one of the elders in Oak Harbor wanting to talk with me this evening. I text back and say that I am good with that but I also ask What is this about? hoping that this could be the long awaited encouragement by means of a shepherding call. David, the elder who contacted me say that it was for updating me on the current direction of the governing body as to my personal restrictions.

When the elders do call, they inform me of the new direction from the brothers, that the only time that I may be a part of the ministry is when I am accompanied with one of the elders from my home congregation. The only exception would be that I could witness to any of my family members. I respond that this direction will basically remove my participation from the preaching work and they agreed. The elder did say that after King David had sinned, even though he was a righteous man, he still experienced grief for the rest of his life. Thus, the elder was implying that I too would have to suffer grief for the rest of this system until the paradise arrived. I told him that I would comply with the new directive from the governing body.

Then, I say, Can I ask you a question? to which he said Yes. So, I go on to ask, Am I still eligible to receive a shepherding visit? to which the elder replies, Yes, absolutely.

I then say, Every year, I have been coming to Oak Harbor each summer and stay through the fall with the hope of receiving a shepherding call. Why is it that I have never received a visit nor a phone call from any of the elders in the Oak Harbor congregation, no, not even one, for over ten years?

Is it not true that Proverbs 27:23 is speaking about the responsibility of Elders in their relation with the friends when it states, "You should know well the appearance of your flock. Take good care of your sheep." Further, has not the governing body said, "Elders should do their best to develop close friendships with their brothers and sisters."

Then, I say, You though, all of the elders in Oak Harbor congregation, have done nothing to help me nor to get to know me, if fact, you do not know me at all.

The two brothers do not reply to this accusation but remain quite, so now angry with them, I say to them, Do not call me again unless you do so to for the purpose of providing me with a shepherding call. Finally, I say, good bye and hang up.

I then finish the evening waiting for it to cool off and then I climb into the back of the jammer to get into the horizontal.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart, go inside to set up and immediately begin recording in my journal the occurrences of what happened yesterday with the call from the elders in Oak Harbor. Too, I begin my journal entry for today. Then, I step up to the counter for a cup of coffee, after which I return to the computer to resume the work on my web site update.

Awake, dress, drive, park, walk inside, coffee, computer, and then at eight-twenty-five, I connect to Centerville congregation by zoom for the abbreviated Watchtower study, after which, we are released to either view the convention online with the congregation or personally by out self. I choose the latter because I have chosen to begin my move westward and pack out of the w-mart and drive west on US 2 towards Idaho. However, I stay here at the w-mart while my computer is downloading the files.

Then, at eleven this morning, I pack out of the cafe, drive north through town to US 2, turn left and drive west towards Libby, Montana where I stop to add fifty dollars of gasoline to the tank. Next, I stop at a g-mart to purchase some organic vegetables, sprouted bread, chips and guacamole. Then, I cross to the north side of the Kootenai river and drive upriver on SH 37 to near Fisher River where SH 37 crosses the Kootenai river to the southeast side and from there follows along the Kootenai on the east side of the river. However, just before SH37 crosses the Kootenai, I turn north onto FR 228, which follows the Kootenai on the west side of the river. I then continue north for a short distance and come to an Army Corp of Engineer Campground, pull in and find that camping here is free. It is early in the afternoon and there are still several sites open. So, I pull in, set up my campsite and then go to the river to fill up two buckets with water, which, I might say is quite clear. Returning to the campsite, I then wash my hair, then my body, and afterwards, my towel and all the clothes that I was wearing. After I hang up the clothes to dry, I then set up my solar panels and as the 12 volt deep cell battery charges, I begin listening to Carl Vaughan′s Haunting Memories album while I sit inside the jammer and pound keys and continue writing today&prim;s journal entry. Because it is a warm day, I leave the sliding door open and then spay my body with some Anise oil mixed in water. The album, when it finishes automatically repeats so I listen to his songs once again. He sings mostly love songs and I do enjoy his music.

The temperature here goes into the high 80s today and I fall into a stupor and then lie down and take a nap. Afterwards, I resume pounding keys until I notice that the site next to mine has a vehicle from Iowa with a young man sitting at the table. I walk over and greet him, tell him my name is Thom and he says his is Jacob. We talk for a short time and then I hand him one of my business cards. Returning to the jammer, I resume the key pounding until much later in the day when I get out my stove and begin preparing my evening meal.

Awake, rise and step outside to find it is already becoming warm, primarily because the bugs are already becoming annoying. I alternate staying inside the jammer with stepping outside to first retrieve water in my two buckets and then washing the outside of the van, which needs it. I also prepare my Daystart, a cup of coffee and a cup of hot tea and I sip on the hot drinks for some time, not finishing the tea until later in the afternoon.

At three this afternoon, it is too hot to go outside again, already in the mid 90s, so I stay inside and pound keys. After this hot day, I have decided that it is time to move from here and drive further west to my next stop, which will most likey be Sandpoint, Idaho, which at least during the middle of the day I can be inside at the w-mart to stay cool. Still, I really like this free campsite but in order to be able to stay the limit of fourteen days, it will necessitate that I arrive here much earlier in the year, possibly as early as May. Time will tell because this world is quickly wrapping up.

The sun sets below the mountain in the west and the temperature begins to cool down finally. I step outside and begin packing out for my departure tomorrow morning. I also check the fluid levels of the engine and everything is fine even the water. It appears that the radiator cap was the problem, so I had replaced it with the old one that was still good and have not had problems with the radiator fluid since. Then I climb back inside the jammer and get into the horizontal for the night.

Awake, start the jammer, pull forward and stop. Then I step out and check the campsite and find that I did not leave anything here. I then drive north on FR 288 up to the visitor center and take some photos here. Next, I drive back down to the lower river level and drive across the David Thompson Bridge to look at the other campsites. Finally, I connect to SH 37, turn south and drive towards Libby, and on the side of the road is a family of wild turkeys, so I stop, turn around and take some photos of two adults and four juveniles, which are amazingly tame and allow me to come near for the photos.

Afterwards, I cross the Kootenai river again and continue west until arriving at Libby where I cross back to the south side and turn west onto US 2. After stopping briefly for some coffee, I then continue west on US 2 along the river until I arrive at the Kootenai Falls and stop again for a short time and some photos.

Leaving the falls, I continue west on US 2, cross the Kootenai again and then the state line into Idaho at which time, I cross into the Pacific Time Zone and have to turn my clocks back one hour. In other words, when I left Montana, it was 10:30 this morning and when I entered Idaho, it was 9:30.

Continuing west on US 2, I cross the Kootenai river one more time, then drive through Bonner′s Ferry, and then south on US 2 until I arrive in Ponderay, Idaho where I pull into the w-mart, grab my computer bag and go inside for some key pounding and uploading of files. Even here, it is quite hot outside and I will see how hot it remains into the evening. At least this cafe is open until nine every day of the week. If the temperature outside has cooled off by nine, then I could possibly stay here for several days or longer. Only the temperature will tell.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, set up my computer and then walk up to the counter for a cup of coffee. Upon returning to my computer, I resume the work on my website update.

After a very long day, I finally pack out of the w-mart, drive across the street to the d-mart, park, and wait for the full moon to rise.

and climb into the rear of the jammer and get into the horizontal.

Awake notably early this morning mostly due to the sun shining in my face and long before my normal wake up and that because of my only recently moving across the time zone, but also because of my being in a very northerly latitude. Too, I an currently in the most eastern part of this new time zone which causes the sunrise to appear to be earlier. I then drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. First, I begin the journal entry for today and then I open up the 2022 district convention and watch the video of another part of the Pursue Peace symposiums.

After the session is over, I think about how much the peace will be in the paradise and my prayer is for it to come soon as well as for me to be able to be a part of that promise. Then, I return to the upgrade work of my web site. At four-thirty this afternoon, my alarm goes off and then I connect to the Centerville Congregation mid week meeting with my zoom at. I stay until it ends and then I depart and return to my present location with it being 7 in the evening, the sun still high in the sky and some three or more hours before it becomes dark. Too, since the cafe does not close for another two hours, I decide to stay inside and work a while longer on my web site.

Awake, walk inside the d-mart and purchase two bottles of spring water and one jar of almond butter. I was hoping to find another pair of the nylon trousers that I prefer to buy but like all the stores that I have looked at for months, neither can I find my size, nor has the stock been replenished anywhere. Yes, these are critical times.

Another day here in the Northern Rockies, the day time highs are in the middle to high 80s and the night time lows have been in the middle 50s, which makes it nearly bearable for me. The unbearable part is that the temperature does not come down to below 60 degrees until about almost midnight which makes it hard for me to get to sleep. Methinks, I need a twelve volt fan to cool me in the evening. However, I then think, no, that is just another thing, I can do without it.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart, walk inside and finish studying for the meeting today. Then, at ten before eight this morning, I connect with zoom to the Centerville congregation for the weekend meeting. Afterwards, I return to my work here on the website upgrade.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, coffee, com, computer. After the warm night, I have been seriously considering leaving Idaho and making my way to Puget Sound. I am contemplating taking two days by locating a campground along the way because the drive along the Northern Tier route, that is along the Washington State Highway from Newport, Washington all the way to Oak Harbor, Washington is four hundred and twenty-five miles from where I currently am. However, I will only stop at a campground if it has a hot shower and only costs twenty dollars or less.

After another day at the d-mart pounding keys, I retire early to the d-mart so that I can get a good nights sleep in case I do choose to leave in the morning.

After a week in Ponderay, Idaho, I awake, drive to the d-mart to purchase a carton of coconut milk and then drive south on US 2 to Sandpoint, Idaho, then east on US 2 along the north side of the Pend Oreille river across the rest of Idaho. I have chosen to drive to the Washington coast because it has become much to hot here for me to stay any longer. In fact, the last few nights have not cooled off below 80 degrees until after ten each evening.

As I drive along the river, I notice that this area of the Northern Rockies holds true to the ecoregion description, that is of being a well watered region. I am so impressed of how green it actually is here, especially since this continent has been in a multi-decade prolonged drought. I continue along this river taking photos often, which shows just how widespread this green belt actually is.

Just before I cross into Washington, I cross to the south bank of the Pend Oreille and then enter Newport, Washington. Here, I stop at a ff-mart and purchase a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Then, I turn off of US 2 onto SH 20 and continue along the south bank of the Pend Oreille river within this same green belt flowing upwards along either side from the valley to the mountains.

When I arrive in Tiger, Washington, turn left past the Tiger Store ¹, leave the Pend Oreille river, begin climbing up into the mountains, stopping to look at a couple of National Forest campgrounds but do not stay as they are much too expensive. However, I do stop for a couple of photos at Crystal Falls viewpoint on the Little Pend Oreille river. It is a beautiful water fall but the forest here, being in the green belt is overgrown making it hard to get a good photograph.

After the brief stop, I continue west on SH 20, and along this route and wish to stop at at one of the State Parks for the night but I am not able to find one to my liking.

I continue from the Northern Rockies into the Basin and Range region and enter into the Columbia River basin, which is very dry and similar to the desert in most of the rest of the west half of the continent. This is the only exception to the well watered green belt that I have experienced in the Northern Rockies. Upon arriving in Tonasket, Washington, SH joins US 97 and I continue south to Okanogan where I depart from US 97 and continue west on SH 20 arriving first at Twisp, then Winthrop, and soon leave the Basin and Range region entering the Pacific Coast Region and the North Cascade ecoregion.

At this point in my journey, still not finding any place to my liking to overnight, I decide to drive all the way to Oak Harbor, the entire route of more than 450 miles from Ponderay, a journey which is to take me almost ten hours to travel. In fact, this is one of the longest days of travel for me in several years.

Continuing west on SH 20, I enter the North Cascade National park and drive by most of the viewpoints because of having stopped there many times in the past, but mostly because now, I desire to arrive in Oak Harbor before it becomes dark. I then drive through Newhalem, Rockport, Concrete and then Sedro-Woolley and soon after arrive in Burlington, Washington where I cross IH 5.

The final part of my journey today comes when I begin to see Mount Erie in the distance. Once this happens, I know two things. First, I have entered the Rain Shadow and Second, I will soon be crossing Deception Pass.

From here, I cross onto the Rock, then continue south on SH 20 past the Farm Stand and finally into Oak Harbor, where I pull into the same location that I have previously overnighted. Here, I put up my window shades, climb into the back of the jammer and rest from my extremely long journey.

As I lay here, I can not help but hear the sound of screaming sea gulls.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart and take my seat at the table by the wall. One of the baristas see me and says, Welcome back Thom. I begin pounding keys and after a while, in walks a couple of my friends from the Oak Harbor Congregation. I do not say anything because I am trying to stay incognito but one of the friends sees me and says hello. I greet them in return but ask them to please not tell anyone else.

Also, I talk with Richard and he asks me to go to his mom′s home to get the key for the five acres wooded property on Boon Road to check it. So, a little before noon, I pack out, drive to Deception Pass state park, purchase an annual park pass, and then drive to the Bowman Bay campground for a hot shower. After donning clean clothes, I then drive to the Oak Harbor House (OHH) to retrieve the key to the wooded property, drive three miles south of town and begin looking for the chained gate that Richard told me would be there. When I go to the location where he said near the north corner, I can not find the gate but see that the area has been bulldozed, so I take photos and sent them to Richard. Then I decide to drive the property line to search for the gate and find it near the south corner instead. I park, get out and find the gate to be breached with a sofa being dumped on the property. I get out my lock lubricant, lube up the two padlocks, and then am able to open both of them. Next, with the tools that I currently carry, I re-hang the chain between the two four by four posts and then install the two locks, one one each post.

It is not until seven-thirty this evening when I arrive back in town and drive to the d-mart to park. It is pleasantly cool, especially in the shade, so I find a shady location to park and await for the sun to drop below the horizon. Once the twilight begins, I move to the location at the g-mart where I normally overnight, park, put up my window shades and climb into the rear of the jammer.

The sound of screaming sea gulls is the only sound in the night.

Awake for my second day here on the Rock, drive to the w-mart, walk inside for coffee, com and computer. I continue here working on my computer until four-fifty and then zoom to the meeting in Centerville, Tennessee. I do this because I want to finish early tonight so that I may retire early.

When the meeting ends, my time is about seven, I pack out of the w-mart, drive to the g-mart and park for the night and like most all other of my visits here to the Rock, the screaming sea gulls lull me to sleep.

Awake, drive to the trash receptacle to dump my garbage, then drive to the w-mart, park and walk inside for coffee, com and computer.

The talk astir this morning among the baristas in this cafe is that today is Friday which, has absolutely no meaning, methinks, at least any more to me. Once, decades ago, I fully understood the meaning of their exclamation, but now, that expression not only has lost all meaning for me but even more important, it has lost its place entirely in my thinking. This is because the expression involves the work week, which ends on Friday allowing the workers to have two days off, normally to party.

Not only do I no longer do the 8 to 5 nor have not done that for more than a decade, but even before I officially retired, I was self employed for several decades before that during which, because of being on my own schedule, my work routine was blurred to the point of there not being a Work Week. Methinks, in the upcoming years, those expressions will become even more obscured, even to the point of being totally lost to the world.

Later, a group of four sisters come in for coffee and stop to say hello, which means that I am most likely no longer incognito. We visit for a short time and then they head back out to where ever they are headed. In the late morning, while I continue to pound keys, Richard calls to encourage me to stay at his mom′s home and for me to take showers there. Too, he tells me that any food left there is available for me to eat. He also would like me to clean up both the inside and the yard. I tell him that I am good with that and will get to work on it right away.

Leaving the w-mart, I drive to the Oak Harbor House, to use an electric string edger in the front yard because it is so overgrown. However, because it is still very hot outside, I park and wait for the sun to drop to the horizon before beginning the lawn work. Yes, I still occasionally do this type of work, but even so, the frequency of doing any such work is decreasing deliberately. I am able to cut most of the front yard before it becomes too dark to continue.

Later this evening, I return to the place where I overnight, put up my window shades, climb into the rear of the jammer and get into the horizontal. Again, there are those screaming sea gulls that never seem to be quite.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, turn on my computer and check my com and then walk up to the counter for a cup of coffee.

This becomes one more day where I stay inside away from the rising temperatures outside and do not retire to the g-mart until it once again cools down outside.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, walk in with my computer case, purchase coffee and then begin pounding keys to catch up on my journal writing.

Later, I connect to the Oak Harbor congregation for the meeting, which is an abbreviated one because we will after that watch the next part of the convention program. When the meeting is over, I then open the convention video, but do not finish watching it. Later, a brother named Richard stops by and introduces himself and we talk for a short time.

In the afternoon, I return to my website work and when the cafe closes, I drive to the g-mart for the night.

Awake, dress, drive, park, coffee, com and computer.

I work on the Earth′s Seas and Seashores index page, upgrading the page to the new format. After that is completed, I begin work on all of the photo galleries.

In the early afternoon, Andy calls me to say that today is his day off and I can come by to pick up my mail. I schedule three-thirty for my arrival, drive there at that time and we talk so as to catch up on everything. When I leave his home, I drive to Patria′s property on Boon Road to install the lag eye bolt for the chain. That does not take very long and I am back on my way to Oak Harbor, where I pull into the parking lot that I have been overnighting at, park and begin watching videos.

Awake, dress, repair the tape on my window screen, drive to the w-mart, park, grab my computer and walk inside for coffee, com and key pounding. After another day of updating web page files, I retire for the evening at the g-mart, which is just across the highway from the d-mart.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart, coffee, com, computer. This morning, I stay most of this hot day inside the w-mart working on my website upgrade.

Also, today, I receive my social security check into my bank account and it is nice to once again have a little extra money so as not to have to dip into my savings to buy necessaries. The reason it has been rough is because every year in January and July, I make a large payment for my car insurance which makes it seem that I am always short on money in those months, but especially in July when I am normally on the road migrating north. So this July, like many years before, it was necessary for me to withdraw money from my savings to make it to this payday.

Later, I go out to a Mexican Restaurant for supper but I do not see myself doing this very often here in Washington because the meal, without a drink (I just have water) or desert is over twenty dollars. Afterwards, I return to the g-mart for the evening.

Awake, drive to the Oak Harbor House and go inside to take a shower but when I see the bathroom, methinks, I can not take a shower here, but, I have to clean it first.

So, I begin early this morning cleaning the bathroom and laundry room. Too, I go back to the jammer and get out my dirty clothes so that I can do my laundry while I am working at cleaning the bathroom. Then, after more than four hours, I take photos of what I have accomplished and then send the photos to Richard in Oceanside, California. He calls back and tells me that this is what he had hoped that I would do.

I spend the hot afternoon on the couch in the living room resting from the throes in my back and legs from the work as well as from the stair climbing. Raymond from the house next door comes by to ask for Richard′s phone number and we talk for a while.

When it cools off in the early evening, I drive to the g-mart parking lot to park for the night.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer and stay here all day until the outside temperature drops into the 60s.

Then, I drive to a local Mexican restaurant, Estabon′s, a different one and find out that it is even higher than the one I went to earlier and they employ some deceptive tactics to trick people into paying much higher prices than are on the menu. When the bill arrives, I only then find out the extra charges for chips and salsa as well as for beans and rice, and challenge the charges but they give me some totally stupid answer. The bill was twenty two dollars, I did not leave a tip and I will never go back to that restaurant.

Leaving there, I drive back to the d-mart to park for the night, put up my window shades and climb into the rear of the jammer.

Awake, drive to the w-mart, coffee, com, computer, not especially in that order.

Awake, (this being my first overnight on the property of the OHH) dress in my summer blues, walk inside and clean up and organize the kitchen so that I can begin using it for preparing my meals. This takes about two hours, after which, I boil water for my coffee, a cup of tea and my daystart. Then, I sit down on the sofa, turn on my computer and begin my journal entry for today.

At nine this morning, I begin my study for the meeting today which will start later at ten. After the meeting, I go out front with the new string trimmer, the one that I found the charged battery for and continue with the cutting of the front. After half an hour, the battery goes zero and pull weeds before I come back inside. Then, with some photos that I have taken, I sent Richard a text with those photos and he replies that he is happy that I am working here. Next, I continue wit the inside cleaning, now in the kitchen and empty all the lower and upper cabinets on the over side. In the later afternoon, I take a shower and then come down to the living room to pound keys for a time.

It is not until the sun sets when I pack out my computer and walk back to the jammer. I then climb into the back and get into the horizontal.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk inside and set up my computer to check com and pound keys. Because it is a warm day today, I do not make a cup of hot, but begin by putting ice in a cup and drinking lots of water all day.

I do go outside and do some weed removal after which, I come back into the home, take a cold shower and tnen do another hour of work organizing a large about of bags and boxes in every closet. What I have determined is that Patria, was shipping boxes to the Philippines, containing bibles, study books, clothing, shoes, first aid items, make up for girls and many other items. She had been doing this for years and now, as I go through her home, I keep finding bag after bag of these items in every closet, filling up half of the stairway, piled up in corners in every room, and there seems to be no end to the amount of stuff everywhere in this home and in the garage. So, because I was asked to clean this home to get it ready for selling, I have decided that first, I need to move all of these bags and boxes too the garage and stack it all up there. Once every thing is out of the home, then I will be able to do a more thorough cleaning of it. So, yesterday and today, I have been moving bags and boxes to the garage.

Then, I have something to eat, after which, I watch some videos until the sunsets. Next, I walk out to the jammer and climb in the back for the night.

Awake, drive to the hc-mart for a hair cut which like every thing else, the price has sky rocketed, now over thirty dollars. Methinks, this must be the fulfillment of Revelation 6: 6 when the Black Horse was calling for extremely high prices, A measure of wheat for a penny (denarius), and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. ²

After my hair cut, I return to the Oak Harbor house, walk out front with a freshly charged battery and cut some more of the tall grass and pull more of the weeds. Next, I go inside to work some more in the kitchen organizing and cleaning. Finally, I bring my computer inside and pound on the keys for a time. Later, Joanne sends me a text to say hello and remind me that the circuit overseers visit begins tonight. I make a cup of hot chocolate and continue to pound keys.

As the day draws to an end and the sky becomes dim, I finish up with that which I am working on, then pack out to the jammer and then climb into the back to get horizontal

Methinks again, it is so noisy here at the Oak Harbor house.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk inside and go upstairs to take a shower. Then, I put the towel and my dirty clothes in the washing machine, add a few more towels and do a load of wash. Then, I carry down some of the bags that are at the tow of the stairs and put them at the back door to take to the garage later. Then, I lock up the home, walk to the jammer and drive to the nearby w-mart for a cup of coffee and also do a lot of key pounding. In the early afternoon, several of the friends walk in and greet me hello.

Then, at three this afternoon, I pack out and head for the Oak Harbor House.

Awake, walk inside, put the wash, which is mostly towels, in the dryer and will come back later to take a shower. Then, I drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer, staying here for several hours. Later, I drive back to the Oak Harbor House and resume working inside. In the afternoon, Angela calls for help with a computer problem and I work with her on it until she is able to correct the problem. I also ask her and Andy over so that I can give them some of the surplus that is here in the Oak Harbor House.

Finally, I retire to the jammer, climb into the rear, get horizontal and close my eyes.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk inside, climb the stairs and take a shower. When I finish, I grab several bags that I packed earlier and carry them downstairs to the back door. Then, I boil water for a cup of hot and sit at my computer to begin my journal entry.

Awake, walk inside to use the restroom, then back to start the jammer and drive to the dollar store for some toilet paper. Next, I drive to the harbor side w-mart, walk inside for coffee, com and computer. Then, shortly after noon, I return to the OHH to work for a couple of hours but my back is hurting too much and can not do as many as I would like to.

Later, I retire to the jammer for the night.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk inside for a cup of coffee, then check my com, next, I begin with pounding keys to update my journal for today and finally, I begin doing my study for the meeting for today. After studying, I then connect to the meeting using zoom and listen to the public talk given by the circuit overseer, then the study and after to the circuit overseer give his talk on keeping our life simple and having a good name with Jehovah by being obedient.

After the meeting, I have something to eat and then begin working on emptying the kitchen cabinets. I first make a place in the garage to put all of the dishes and then begin taking things out of the cabinets. In the late afternoon, Joanne calls and then stops by to visit. I give her a basket of cleaning items and other things, then, we go out back and pick some of the fruit. Finally, she leaves and I go back inside to continue pounding keys until late.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk inside and then upstairs for a shower and put on clean clothes. Next, I walk back down stairs and set up my computer to check com and once that is done, I make a cup of coffee. Then, Joanne calls to ask about her computer and if she should renew the warranty. I tell her that it is two years old and have not had a problem for the last year, so it would not be worth spending another two hundred dollars on it. Too, I tell her that it should last another two or three years before she has to replace it. Then she says, goodbye, talk to ya later and I go back to pounding keys.

Awake, walk inside to the house, set up my computer, walk to the kitchen to make a cup of hot and then sit down to check my com and begin pounding keys. After finishing my cup, I walk upstairs for a shower, don clean clothes and then walk back down to resume pounding keys for another day. In the late morning, Joanne and Aaron com by and we sit for a time to talk. Then, I walk with Aaron to the back of the property to pick some fruit from the orchard and after that, they pack out and head to town. I return to my computer and resume my key pounding.

Later,just after sun glow, when it becomes dark inside, I then pack out, return to the jammer and get into the horizontal for the night.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk inside with my computer bag and set up my computer. Then, I make a cup of hot and return with the cup to begin pounding keys to begin the journal entry for today. At eleven, I stop to prepare my breakfast and another cup of hot when outside I hear the peal of distant thunder clouds slowly become louder until at half past the hour, a bright flash of lighting directly overhead immediately followed by an explosion of thunder rocks the windows and makes me jump. Then, just as slowly as it rolled in, it retreats eastward for several more minutes.

In the afternoon, I stop, turn off the computer and then begin bagging up the debris on the kitchen floor so that I can put it in the garbage can tomorrow after the garbage pickup. I also put the trash and recycle bins on the curb and then come back inside to continue my work. When I take out one of the full trash bags, I young boy, holding up the foot pedal from his bike asks me, Do you have a wrench? to which I say, Yes, I do. I walk out to the jammer, pull out my tool box, get out my crescent wrench, and then sit down on one of my foot stool benches. I look at the threads on both the petal and the arm from which it came off and see that there is some thread deterioration. I get out my wire brush to clean up the threads and then install the pedal back onto the connecting arm. We talk for a time and then he rides down the sidewalk, after which I return to my work.

In the early afternoon, Patty calls and we talk for a time, during which we make plans for her to come to the OHH to pick up a basket of the excess items here at the house. Then, I return to pounding keys on my computer and my work on upgrading the Desert gallery.

Again, when the sun sets, I pack out of the OHH, walk out to the jammer, climb into the back and read two chapters in the Bible before closing my eyes for sleep.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, grab my computer bag and walk inside to set the bag down at my work station. Then, I walk upstairs for a shower, after which I put on clean clothes, and put the dirty one in with a load of wash. Next, I come down stairs to make a cup of coffee and to sit down at set up my computer.

At six this evening, Patty stops by on the way to the meeting tonight to pick up the basket of items that I have gathered for her. I carry the basket out to her car and put them in the trunk. Then I make a cup of tea for her and soon after that, she leaves for the meeting. I took go back to my computer and connect to the meeting and arrive just before it begins. After the meeting ends, I talk for a short time with some of the friends and then say good bye. Next, I call Richard and we talk for quite a while to discuss what I have been doing here at his mothers home.

Finally, we say good night as well and I then retire to the jammer for the night.

Awake, walk into the OHH, set up my computer and begin my journal entry, then I walk into the kitchen to boil water for a cup of hot, Once I have my hot drink, I then return to the computer to start another round of pounding keys.

Awake, dress, carry my computer bag inside and set it up at my table. Then, I walk into the kitchen to boil water and make a cup of hot. With cup in hand, I now sit in front of the computer and begin my day of pounding keys.

Later, I stop, step away form the computer and spend over an hour cleaning up the downstairs bathroom, Then, I return to my computer and after many hours of key pounding, I pack out to the jammer for a night of sleep.

Awake, walk inside with my computer and set it up at my table. Then, I make a pot of coffee, which we the coffee is finished percolating, I then prepare my breakfast. I cut up an onion, put it in the skillet to brown, then add a can of pink sardines and when that is all nicely brown, I pour over some eggs blended with pepper and oregano. When the meal is finished, I sit down at the computer to finish my study for the meeting today. Just before ten this morning, I join the Oak Harbor meeting on zoom for a very good study about forgiveness.

Afterwards, I resume the work on the OHH and prepare a large stack of clothing for a relief effort in an area not far north of here. After that, I return to my work on updating my website pages.

An hour after the sun sets, I begin packing out to the jammer where I will spend another comfortable night here in the rain shadow.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk inside, clean up the floor space a little and put the garbage into a trash bag. I then take the bag and put it into the garbage receptacle which now is completely full. Then, I walk up stairs to take a shower, put on clean clothes, walk back to the jammer and drive north on SH 20 following it to Mount Vernon and stop at the VA Clinic to get an appointment for a signature on the application for a disabled parking permit.

Upon arriving at the clinic, the receptionist sets up an video meeting with my doctor, and shortly after, I and talking with a nurse who is asking question and taking my information. Finally, the doctor arrives and she tells me that I do qualify for a disabled parking license plate. She says that she will send me the signed application which I should get in seven to ten days. That would be nice because one I have that signed application in hand, then I can renew my license plate for another year.

I continue the updater work on my website until it becomes dark, then pack out to the jammer for the night and climb into the rear to get horizontal. However, it is hard for me to get to sleep because the same problem it seems I always have here on this island has returned. The problem is that my sinuses become totally clogged making it hard to breath. Still, I have been almost four weeks here on the island, so this is better than many previous visits.

I finally fall asleep but when I awake to pee, it is hard again to return to sleep.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk into the house, then climb the stairs to the bathroom for a hot shower and clean clothes. I then put the towel and my dirty clothes into the wash and start the machine. Walking back downstairs, I lock the front door, return to the jammer and open the hood to check the fluid levels. Then, I drive to the w-mart, grab my computer bag and walk inside for coffee, com and computer.

I stop during the day to do some organizing inside the down stairs and then when the sun is within a hands width, I grab the string trimmer, go outside and work until the battery quits. Tben, I put the trimmer down, pick up the leaf rake and rake all of the grass trimmings off of the yard and into the adjacent field, doing so because when the field was mowed, he blew all of the cutting onto the property that belongs to the OHH; not because of spite, just because it is the grass that belong in the field and I was just putting it back where it belonged.

After finishing my two hours for the day, I return back inside to my computer and complete my journal entry for today. After that, I play a few games of solitude; yeah, I know, it is solitaire but when you have been playing by yourself for as long as I have been, it becomes solitude

Finally, I retire to the jammer and read in the Bible for a while.

Awake, walk inside with my computer bag and set up at the table. Then, I walk outside with the string trimmer and finish the north side of the yard, the one adjacent to the field. After an hour of work, I return inside to make a cup of coffee and something to eat. Next, I sit down at the table and begin pounding keys while working on my website upgrade.

Awake, walk inside, walk through, open the rear patio door, walk out to the garage and go inside to check how many standing shelves there are. When, I find out that there are more than enough to do what I want to do, I begin reorganizing the stacks and stacks of stuff in the garage, then begin to move the selves into position. Five hours later, I complete the shelf setup and stop. I then grab several plastic bags and load them up with what is left in the freezer, next, I turn off the freezer and carry the bags into the kitchen to sort through the frozen items, throwing away everything with freezer burns.

Finally, I prepare something to eat and sit down at my computer to begin writing my journal entry for today. Richard sends me a text that he will be here on 18 September 2022, one month from today, which actually extends the amount of time I had originally planned to stay here. Nevertheless, the timing is really good for me because I hope to have all the inside work done by then and possibly already begun the garage sale.

Later, I connect to the Oak Harbor meeting by way of zoom and then afterwards, I drive to the d-mart to purchase a pump-up sprayer bottle and a yard sign to advertize: Garage Sale, Coming Soon.

Upon returning to the OHH, I park in the driveway, climb into the rear of the jammer and get into the horizontal.

Awake, walk inside, boil water for a cup of coffee and two cups of tea, all of which I will use to pour over ice for several cold drinks during this morning while I pound keys on my computer. Later, David send me a text and updates me on his life struggle, Still, he seems to be in good spirits. Then, I make something to eat and continue at my computer.

At three this afternoon, I go outside to work more in the garage to get it organized, spending until after eight this evening. I then close the overhead door, walk back inside and upstairs to take a shower, which after the hot one, I take a cold one. I only began the cold showers this month when the dog days arrived on the rock, especially this week. Next, I walk back down stairs and put some white fish in the convection oven to bake and come back to my computer to pound keys while waiting. Then when it is done, I bring a plate of food to the desk and continue pounding keys while eating my supper.

Awake, walk inside and prepare some scrambled eggs with chopped vegetables and a cup of coffee. After eating, I go out the back door and into the garage, push the door opener and resume the work of sorting and organizing the unending pile of stuff. I have been clearing a path along the south wall which I will be using to put containers of items to replenish the display shelves when something id purchased. I plan to continue doing this while working to reduce the massive pile in the middle of the garage. Once that starts to happen, then I will be bringing more stuff from the house to replenish the display shelves. This process is exactly the same as I did when I was preparing the Evergreen home for sale.

Still, it will be a long road to walk, and even harder because walking for me has become tedious and painful, even my nights are increasingly harder for me to sleep because of my longer hours at work.

In the early evening, I close the overhead door, and go inside for another slice of the white fish that I found in the deep freezer. Then, I catch up on my journal writing, after which, I watch some videos and finally get horizontal in the rear of the jammer.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, carry my computer case and walk inside to set the laptop up at the table. I then go into the kitchen amd boil a pot of water for coffee and tea, both of which I have been drinking iced ever since the dog days of summer arrived upon this rock. Next, I turn on my computer and start with my Bible study for the meeting today. Then at ten this morning, I connect to the Oak Harbor meeting using zoom. After the meeting, I return to the tasks at hand.

Awake, dress, carry my computer bag inside and set up at the table, then go into the kitchen to boil water for a couple of hot drinks. When the drinks are ready, I take the cup of hot coffee and return to the computer and begin my journal entry for today. I continue inside until noon after which, I turn off the computer, walk outside and begin working on setting up the garage for the sale. I continue until about six this evening when I stop close the overhead door and go inside to prepare my supper and finish my journal entry for today.

Shortly after eight this evening, Joanne calls and we talk for about an hour, during which she tells me that she is in the pioneer school all this week. After we hang up, I continue pounding keys until I finish this journal entry.

Afterwards, I get out the collection of coins that I have been finding throughout the garage and begin counting and rolling the coins.

Then, I pack out of the house and walk out to the jammer for the night.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk inside and boil water for a cup of coffee, and then I take the cup with me as I drive to the bank. Arriving at the bank, I go in give the teller all the rolled coins and the teller gives me $114.00, after which I return to the OHH, walk inside, set up my computer and add a negative amount of $114.00 to my billing invoice. I then text Richard to tell him what I just did and he responds, Perfect.

Then at noon, I walk outside to resume the garage sale organization and continue until almost six this evening, after which I stop, close the overhead door and walk back in the house to prepare my supper, the last piece of the frozen salmon. Just as I begin eating, Joanne stops by, honks, and I go out to talk for a few minutes with her. However, not long into the talk, I tell her that I was eating supper and the I would like to finish my meal. She tells me, Sure! and I then return to the table and finish eating.

After that, I begin working on my journal entry for today and also finish it as well. Then, at about nine this evening, with is completely dark outside, I pack out, walk to the jammer and get into the rear for my nights sleep.

Awake, dress, don my shirt and shoes, grab my computer and walk inside, where I begin boiling a pot of water. The tea pot that I am using, when full, will make three cups of hot drink, so I make one of coffee and two more of tea, one of which is green, and another from a large selection of of tea available here in the OHH. During the past two weeks, I have been using the brewed tea to add to a cup of ice for me to have iced tea. Two, on most days during the summer dog days, I have even had iced coffee. Today, because the hot dog days are now through, I will be drinking the coffee hot, and now, I sit here at my computer starting today′s journal entry sipping on the hot brew.

Yesterday, I put the garage sale sign out in the front yard grass which states: Garage Sale, Begins Friday 9am, However, I expect that there will be a few people who will stop before then, probably with the intent of getting a preview prior to the opening.

Too, I have two more days to complete the set up of the display shelves, after which I still need to make signs for prices the items. There never seems to be enough time to get things done when there is a deadline. Also, after this first weekend, I will be moving my desk outside into the garage so that I will be able to work on the computer in between visits by the garage sale shoppers.

At nine, I go outside and clean up more of the front lawn. After two hours, I come back inside, walk up stairs and take a shower. Then, shortly after noon, I drive to the bank to withdraw my current VA deposit.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, walk inside to open up the house and then walk out to the garage to open the overhead door. Then, I begin the final day of preparation for the garage sale. I keep busy all morning and in the early afternoon have two visitors, first Sherry, who helps me with pricing for about an hour, and then Joanne, who stops just for short visit.

I continue the work of setup and pricing all day until the light begins to fade when I stop, close the overhead door, walk inside and climb the stairs up to the second floor to take a hot shower. Afterwards, I lock up the house, drive to a fast food store, purchase my supper and return to the OHH to park and eat my meal. Finally, I climb into the back of the jammer and soon after get into the horizontal position for the night.

Today had been the absolute longest day of work for me since I have been here since arriving at the OHH, actually, it has been the longest day of work for me since several decades ago.

Awake, dress in my summer, walk inside and put on a pot of water to boil for brewing both coffee and tea and then drink the coffee hot. Then, at about eight, I walk outside, open the garage overhead door and resume pricing items. I have been setting up whole rows of shelving that have everything on it the same price, one row with all one dollar items, a second row with two dollar items, and a third row with three dollar and higher items. This is what I worked with all day today, however, when the garage sale was over for today, I converted the two dollar row into another one dollar row and put some of the two dollar items on the third row.

I will continue like this for the rest of the weekend and then next weekend, I hope that I split the third row, now with two dollars and up into two sections. The outside section will be for one dollar items and section inside the garage will be the section for item for two dollars and up. This way, all the high dollar items will be inside each night after I close the overhead doors, leaving only shelves with items selling for one dollar each outside.

While there is still light in the sky, I restock some of the shelving, then, I close the overhead door, put the No Trespassing sign across the entrance. Next, I come inside the house and prepare the last slice of the salmon found in the freezer, but even though I did eat it, the taste was off as it too had some freezer burning. Now, all that is left of the freezer food is a few packages of what I call eel meet, even though it is actually fillets of some small fish. I will most likely fishing up eating these in the next several days. Too, there are about ten packages of frozen fruit, mostly apples and blueberry, which are from the trees and bushes on the property, which I have been making into smoothes for my noon meals. I have been blending the frozen fruit with canned coconut milk and have been adding some of my MRP mix.

When it has become very dark, outside, I shut and lock the rear door, then walk out the front door locking it behind me and finally climb into the jammer to get into the horizontal for the night.

After a tough night due to the pain from all the work, I awake this morning, drag myself out of the jammer, walk into the house, then upstairs and take a hot shower, which is one of the few luxuries I still have in my life. Then, I come downstairs, prepare a fruit smoothie with a cup of hot coffee and sit at my computer to begin my journal entry for today. When I am finished my breakfast, it is time to step outside and begin the garage sale.

Stepping out the back door at about ten before nine this morning, I walk to and open the garage side door, turn on the lighting and open the overhead door. Then, I continue putting more of the items on to the selves. Also, on the third row, I change the pricing sign and made all the outdoor shelves One Dollar shelves. However, on this row, I leave the inside shelving to be a Two dollar and up section. My desire is to eventually convert the entire garage sale to a Dollar Garage Sale, however, I know that I will always have some items that will sell for two, three, five, ten and more dollars, so, I will only have a small section with the other than one dollar items.

Then, after another eight hour day, I close the overhead door, leave the garage and walk into the house. I am totally tired and my legs are aching terribly, so instead of standing in the kitchen and making my supper, I drive to a fast food restaurant and purchase a burger and shake. Finally, I drive back to the OHH, park in the driveway and climb into the back. It is still only eight this evening but the sky is just beginning to change from blue to gray. Again, I am so very tired, so after I finish my journal entry for this day, I get into the horizontal and read some in the Bible.

This coming Tuesday will have been six full weeks that I have been on this rock and I am so ready to depart from this city, but I will discuss that more later, right now, because of all the terribly pain that I have been experiencing, I am going to take two aspirin and get into the horizontal.

Today is my fortieth day in the rain shadow, which in it self is a remarkable achievement because, I have not become terribly ill with the Jet Fuel syndrome, one, if you do not know about is one which I will explain later. I walk inside the OHH, climb up the stairs to the bathroom and take a hot shower. Afterwards, I come back down to boil water for a cup of hot and sit down at the table, set up my computer and begin writing my journal for today.

At ten this morning, I join in with the meeting, after which I walk out to the garage, open the overhead door and get ready for the third day of garage sale of this first weekend. Then, at five this evening, I take down the open sign, close the overhead door and come inside the house to finish my journal entry

Awake, dress in my summer blues, and then walk inside the OHH to go upstairs and take a hot shower, after which I put in a load of wash. Then, I walk back out the front door, get into the jammer and go to the g-mart to purchase vegetables, coconut milk, a small box of cereal and a couple other items. Next, I return to the OHH to put the groceries into the refrigerator and then leave to go to the W-mart where I update my journal and upload all of the files and photos that I have been working on for the last week. I would have updated the files from my computer using my phone mobile hotspot, but have already reached the 30 gigabyte limit on the mobile hotspot.

When these tasks are completed, I then return to the OHH, put my dinner in the over, set up my computer and then work for a while waiting for the food to be ready. After eating, I resume the opening more bags and suitcases to sort the items and put them on the appropriate shelves.

Then, the light of day slowly leaves the sky, becoming first gray, then dark gray and finally black, at which time I stop, close the garage doors, walk back into the OHH pack out to the jammer and get into the rear where I will spend another night on the Rock, and in this noisy city.

Awake, drive to the g-mart to purchase a package of toilet paper, then to the w-mart for coffee, com and key pounding. At ten this morning, I pack out and drive back to the OHH. Shortly afterwards, there is a knock on the front door and I hear the voice of a woman calling my name. I walk to the door, open it and see that my friend Sherry is here to help me work on the organizing of the items in the garage.

We walk out the back door of the house, into the garage and there we both work for about four hours opening bags and suit cases, and then putting what we find on the shelves. When she leaves, I close the garage doors, walk back into the house and resume working on my computer.

I tell Sherry about my plan to continue to clear from the front of the large stack of bags and suitcases in order to open up more of the garage for use in the garage sale. I tell her, Eventually, I want bring all of the shelving, currently sitting outside of the garage, into the garage with very few items remaining outside. This way, even if the rainy season begins, I can still continue with the garage sale.

Sherry leaves around three this afternoon, and I too, after closing the garage overhead door, go inside to pound keys for a while. Later, when the light leaves the day, I pack out of the OHH to my place to sleep for another night.

Awake, carry my computer inside, then go into the kitchen and first wash dishes after which I boil water for hot coffee and tea. Then I prepare my breakfast and sit down at the computer and begin today′s journal entry while I sip on the coffee and eat my cereal. Afterwards, I walk out to the garage and work for several hours, then, walk back inside to rest and watch some videos while I have my supper.

Some time later, as the light begins to leave the sky, I pack out to the jammer for the night.

Awake, walk into the OHH and walk to the back door. Then I walk into the garage, open the overhead door and begin organizing the displays. For the last two days, I have been loading my staging stations with sale items and now, today, I move these items to the shelves. I do this all day, cleaning up as I go until and persisting until about five this evening, yes, it has been a very long day of work at organizing for the nine am start tomorrow.

Throughout this day, there has been a hand full of people who have stopped to ask me if they can take a look at what I have for sale. I tell that it is not open today, and the sale does not begin until nine tomorrow morning. I then ask them to come back tomorrow.

At five, I walk inside to prepare something to eat and then sit down at the table to eat. At seven, I connect to the Oak Harbor congregation for the meeting. When the meeting is over, I pack out to the jammer and climb into the rear to get into the horizontal for the night. It has been a very long day and I am totally worn out.

After the long day yesterday, I was in a lot of pain and again, like all long work days, it was hard for me to be comfortable enough to sleep, however, the tiredness in my body overcame the soreness and I finally did sleep.

Awake, dress, walk inside and upstairs for a shower in the medium hot water. Still, to have water to take a shower in as often as I wish is truly a blessing from Jehovah, one that I have need often to thank Him for. Next, I walk back down stairs and put a pot of water on the stove to boil and when it does, I make a cup of coffee and two cups of tea. Then, I sit down at the table, set up my computer and begin pounding keys, first to update my journal.

After eating my breakfast, I walk out the rear door of the house and begin setting up for the sale which starts at nine this morning. In no time, the buyers begin to show up and if I was to state the age demographics these buyers, I would say that ninety percent are older than fifty years, possibly more and eighty percent are older than sixty. Buy like any demographics, there are always a few who are different. Later, when the gate has been put across then entrance and the overhead door closes, Gale returns at four thirty, when I had asked him, to pick up the chest of drawers that he wants to purchase. This day has been then best day for having the most things walk out the gate with the buyers, twice as much as last Friday was.

Once the chest is loaded into the the buyer′s van, I walk back into the house and begin preparing my supper and after eating, I drive to the post office to mail my second letter to my sibling Barry. Then, I return to my parking space at the OHH and retire early.

Awake, grab my computer, walk inside and then up to the second floor to take a shower. Upon coming down, I put on a pot of water to boil and when it does, I make a cup of coffee and two cups of green tea to drink iced during the day. Next, I make a bowl of oatmeal and sit down at my computer to begin my journal entry for today.

In what seems like all too fast, it is time to go out the back door, open up the overhead door and wait for the first buyers to arrive. It does not take long before they arrive and then keep coming most all day long, in what I consider about eight or nine hours to be all day. Then at four this afternoon, I remove the open sign from the front of the house, put up the gate and go inside and update my journal. Next, I pack out to the jammer and go for something to eat after which I stop at the g-mart to purchase some groceries. Sticking to my staples, I purchase coconut milk, eggs, vegetables, and sprouted grains bread.

Then, when I return to the OHH, it is still before sunset, so, I go inside to put the groceries into the refrigerator, after which, I return to the jammer and enjoy some videos before getting horizontal.

Awake early this morning, walk inside with my computer bag which I drop off at the table. Then, I walk upstairs for a shower and next, come back downstairs to update my journal entry. Once I arrive at this point, I stop, walk into the kitchen to boil water and make breakfast. Then, I sit down to eat my scrambled eggs and chopped vegetables on toast with coffee. Yum!

Afterwards, I begin my study for the meeting today and at ten join in the meeting with zoom. When the meeting is over, I walk out the back door and into the garage to work at getting the sale ready. Then at one this afternoon, the people begin arriving and do not stop until I close at five. I then go inside to prepare my supper and work on my computer for a while.

Finally, after it becomes dark, I retire to the back of the jammer and get into the horizontal.

Awake, rouse myself, walk inside to take a shower and put on a wash of my dirty clothes. After, I bring down some items from the second floor and sort through then. Then, at nine-thirty this morning, I pack out and drive to the bank first and then to the d-mart. When I arrive, I realize the the bank is closed today for the holiday that is happening today. Not being a celebrant nor a participant, I had completely forgot that there is a holiday today. So, I leave the bank, drive to the d-mart to return something I do not need and then leave there to return to the OHH and go right into the garage to begin restocking shelves.

In the mid afternoon, I stop the work in the garage and begin moving all the belongings of Margie, who is a niece of Patria, out of the garage and behind the truck that belongs to Ericka. Then, when all of it s outside, I use the camouflage tarp to cover it. Once that is done, I use the string trimmer to cut the tall weeds in the orchard and along side the house, after which, I return to the work in the garage.

After a very long day in the garage, I stop, close the overhead door and go inside to prepare my supper, which is two tuna fish sandwiches. When I am finish eating, I pack out of the OHH, drive to the g-mart for some vegetables and a box of sprouted cereal, which brand is called Ezekiel, however, I do not find it. After wards, I return to the OHH, park and retire for the night.

Awake to another long day of work at organizing the garage and stocking shelves, but first go inside to take a shower and eat breakfast. I have scrambled eggs with chopped onions, bell pepper and some of my spice mix, all on sprouted grains bread. Of course, I also have a cup of hot coffee

While eating, I think back on last night′s sleep and acknowledge that it was quite comfortable, and has been for some time, with temperatures in the mid to low fifties. The daytime temperatures have also been nice and in the mid to upper sixties and occasionally climbing into the low seventies.

Ericka texts me to ask if I will send her some photos of her truck. She has asked me to do many things (both directly and through Richard) for her and I don′t remember her once saying Please or Thank You, nor has she offered to pay me for any of the many hours of work that I have done getting her truck ready for her. So until she becomes a little more courteous, I just said No to her requests.

Sherry arrives in the mid afternoon to help with the unpacking of the suitcases and organization, which she is actually very good at and goes into the large pile reducing it down considerably.

Awake, walk inside and upstairs for a hot shower and to put on a load of wash. Next, I come downstairs to set up my computer to begin my journal entry for today and then go into the kitchen to prepare a hot drink and meal.

Wow, now it is fifty days on the Rock and in the Rain Shadow. I can not believe that I have been able to stay here this long; even so, I have been suffering with the results from breathing the jet fuel for some time. This would be several flu like symptoms, clogged sinuses, excessive ear wax clogging my hearing and runny noise.

At eight this morning, I return to the garage and resume organizing the items that were found yesterday and work on opening up the north side of the garage so that more shelves can be installed. In the late morning, Sherry drives onto the property parks and walks to the garage to help me with the work. She stays into the afternoon before she leaves and is able to accomplish quite a bit of work. When she leaves, I continue for another hour or so and then close the overhead door, come inside and to have something to eat. I sit at the table eating while watching a video and pounding keys to update my journal. The sun sets before eight tonight and I continue inside pounding.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, step outside and put the garbage and recycle bins on the curb to be emptied. Next, I go inside the OHH, walk upstairs to take a shower and put a load of wash on. After that, I come downstairs and boil water to prepare my breakfast; coffee and oatmeal. Then, I receive a text from Gordon who says it is starting to become fall-like on the mountain.

Then, at eight, I step out the back door for another day of stocking shelves and organizing the magnitude of things. The transport company arrives to take the truck away and I am glad to see it go. A little later, Sherry arrives and continues her work on going through the bags, boxes and suitcases to disperse the items into the shelves. I continue to open up new areas of the garage and set up new table tops to put bedding, towels, curtains, and other linens.

When Sherry leaves, I work for a time longer to clean all of the messy areas, sweep the floor and sort more of the boxed items onto shelves. Finally, I close the overhead door, walk inside the house to prepare my supper and get ready for the meeting. At six-fifty, I connect to the meeting and listen in.

After the meeting ends, I go upstairs and take a shower, then come back to my computer and finish my journal entry. Finally, I walk out to the jammer, reposition it to be where the Ford truck had previously been, climb into the rear and get into the horizontal for the night.

Awake, come inside to put on a pot of coffee to boil and then wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen. Next, I sit down at my computer to sip on my coffee and check my com, after which, I begin typing my morning journal entry. Then, at eight-thirty, I go outside and open the overhead garage door and get ready for the buyers. At nine, they begin arriving but slowly all day. Sherri arrives at ten minutes after nine to help and stays until about three in the afternoon before she leaves. Sherry also shows in the late morning and stays until somewhat later.

I stay by myself for the last hour or so, then pull in the Open sign, put up the gate across the entrance, pull into the garage all of the items that should not get wet and then close the overhead door. I then come inside the house to begin preparing my supper, then sit down at the table, turn on my computer and begin eating while pounding keys and recording my day′s activities.

The sales today turned out to be no where near as much as last Saturday, still, a lot more stuff left the property. I will rest up this evening to be ready for the sale tomorrow. So, at seven, I wash my dishes, pack out and retire to the jammer for the night, because I am extremely tired.

When my eyes open, it is still even, but it does not take long for the light of day to begin. Then, I see the sun rise in the east above the condominiums. I then go into the house, upstairs to take a shower, next into the kitchen to prepare breakfast; scrambled eggs with salmon, chopped onions, celery and red pepper. After it is ready I sit down at my computer to sip on coffee, eat my meal and pound keys to begin this journal entry.

After eating, I go out the front door to put out the open sign and see that Angela has arrived. When she parks her car, I invite her to walk through to the back and then open then open the garage doors, tell her about what she will be doing and then go put out the open sign. Returning to the garage, we get ready to begin selling. Some time after noon, Angela leaves and I continue taking care of the buyers until the last couple arrives at just before four this afternoon. When they leave, I take in the Open sign, close the overhead door and turn off the lights.

I then go inside and continue in my journal entry until about four-thirty, when I drive to the market for some more groceries. Upon returning back to the OHH, I go inside to the living room to start clearing and bagging the trash and separating the items that can be sold. Then, by nine this evening, I move all the sellable items onto the hardwood floor for moving outside later.

Afterwards, I turn off the lights, grab my computer bag, lock the doors on my way out and retire to the jammer for the night.

Awake, struggle out of the horizontal, dress in my summer blues, carry my computer bag inside and set it up. Then, I go upstairs for a shower after which I carry more stuff downstairs and put it at the rear door. Next, I go into the kitchen, put on a pot of water to boil and then begin chopping vegetable for my omelet. When the breakfast is ready, I sit down at the table to eat and continue pounding keys. Just before ten, I connect to the meeting to listen to the talk and study, after which, I begin working on bringing more items from the house to the garage and filling the shelves.

Then, at one this afternoon, I put out the Open sign and soon after the buyers begin to walk through the garage, pick up some of the items, give me their money and the leave with their new treasures. I continue until five this afternoon, then walk out to the front, take down the Open sigh and drag it back to near the recycle bin. Then, I drop the overhead doors, go into the house, pack more items and carry them into the garage to set on the floor. I will put the items on the shelves tomorrow.

At seven, I leave in the jammer and go for something to eat and when I am done with that, I return to the OHH, back into my space to park for the night, climb into the back of the jammer and get into the horizontal.

Pull myself out of the horizontal; my body aches so but I climb out of the jammer anyway. I walk inside with my computer bag which I set down at the table and then go into the kitchen to put a pot of water on the burner. Next, I begin chopping vegetables which I sauté in the skillet after which I pour my omelet mixture over the top and then let it cook on a low heat. When the food is ready, I sit down at the table to eat while I begin my journal entry. After eating, I begin work on the garage sale; first, I start packing up the items in the upstairs spare bedroom and moving it downstairs.

Once the room is empty of all bet the cedar chest, which is too heavy for me to carry downstairs, so at this point, I vacuum the carpet and take a couple of photos which I text to Richard. He replies that he is wowed. Richard is now only one week out from arriving on the Rock. Then, Curt, a brother from the local hall arrives to pick up several bags of trash to take with him on his dump run.

Then, I continue moving all the bags downstairs, then outside to the garage until I can no longer work, so I go inside and prepare a meal. Once I am finish eating, I then sit at my computer and pound keys until it becomes dark, after which, I go out to the jammer to get into the horizontal.

Wake up, drag myself out of the horizontal, dress in my summer blues, walk inside and upstairs for a shower. My daily shower, even though the water is not steamy hot is one respite to this otherwise excruciating work I have been doing for eight weeks.

Coming back downstairs, I boil water and make my cup of coffee and two cups of tea that I will use to make iced tea for the day. Then, with the coffee in hand, I begin my journal entry for this day and when I finish my first cup of hot, I boil more water for a second cup of coffee. When I am done with the second cup, I open up the garage and begin work, starting first with the remaining pile of unopened bags and suitcases. I begin on the pile and not to long into it, Sherry walks up and starts to help with the last few unopened containers. When we go through the last bag, Sherry says good bye, I thank her for her help and she gets into her vehicle and leaves.

I then go inside and carry the last wooden shelf out into the garage and set up up. I do not move anything onto this shelf but decide that I have done enough work today, clean up the garage, close and lock the garage doors, and then walk inside to begin preparing my evening meal. Later, after eating, I continue pounding keys to close up my journal entry for today. Then, I pack out to the jammer, and while still sitting in the driver′s seat I receive a call from Richard who tells me that he is getting ready for the drive north to Oak Harbor. We talk for over twenty minutes before we say goodbye.

I then climb into the rear of the van and get into the horizontal for the night.

After a really tough night of sleep with much pain and many wakeful hours, I rise early, grab my computer bag and go inside to begin pounding keys. Soon, I leave the table, walk upstairs and take a shower and put in a load of clothes to wash. Then, I return downstairs and start to prepare my breakfast, and omelet with oregano, chopped vegetables and coffee.

At eight-thirty this morning, I walk out the back door into the garage to resume organizing and continue working until nearly six this evening. I then send Angela a text asking if they are home so that I may come over to pick up the document that came in the mail, to which they said, We are here. I then get into the jammer and begin my drive to their home south of Oak Harbor, stopping on the way at a ff-mart for my supper. When I arrive, I do not stay long because I am all beat up from the work.

However, I do pick up the letter in which is my signed application for a handicapped license plate. In just about two weeks, I will reach the anniversary of my seventy-second year of life here on the mountain, which is, I suppose, quite a long time before I made application for this provision.

Leaving their home, I drive north back into Oak Harbor, the to the OHH and back into my parking space, but because I am so weary, I choose to climb into the back to get horizontal despite the fact that there is still the light of day in the sky.

Another tough night for me, now nearing two months here working at the Oak Harbor House. I climb out of bed, drag myself up the front stairs into the house and sit down at the table to start today′s journal entry. Next, I go upstairs for a shower. Next, I boil water to make coffee and sit down at the table to work on my journal. Then, at eight, I walk out the back door and return to the work at hand. First, I clear the floor in the back of the garage where we opened and sorted the bags and suitcases yesterday. I also restack the clothing along the back wall and move some shelves in front of the stacks of clothing. Then, I sweep the floor and sit down to decide how I am going to reorganize the shelves once I bring them into the garage. By the time I have the garage ready, it is late morning.

I continue to make good headway throughout the morning and all afternoon day, emptying the shelves that are outside, moving them into the garage to set up and then moving the stuff inside to load back on to the shelving. I am getting close to having all the shelving in place and most of the stuff shelved when Sherry arrives to help.

I give her a couple of things to do and when she finishes them she asks if she can work on the linens, which I tell her, Please do. She gets to work and it does not take her long to change a huge pile into sorted sheets, towels and curtain. Meanwhile, I sweep and bag all of the debris outside the garage from the driveway and I am just about finished bagging the fifth bag when Sherry tells me she has to go and get ready for the meeting tonight. I thank her again, say good bye and then I go inside for hot shower. Too, I put on a load of wash, come downstairs and update my journal entry. After that, I pack out and go to get something to eat.

Upon returning to the OHH, I park in the driveway and soon after zoom connect to the Oak Harbor meeting. By the time the meeting is over, I am already in the horizontal and soon am asleep.

Awake, climb out of the jammer, walk into the OHH and put on water to boil. Soon, I have a cup of hot in my hand and sip on it while I pound keys. Yesterday, Sherry told me that she would be here this morning, so I await for her to arrive so we can both go in and resume setting up for the garage sale at nine this morning.

Shortly afterwards, Sherry shows up to help me with the sale, but the sky turns dark and it begins to rain lightly, so I carry in all the coats that I had put out earlier. We continue all morning with only a few buyers and the income is quiet low for a Friday. In the early afternoon, when is continues slow, Sherry leaves and I continue by myself until four in the afternoon. Amazing, when I count the total sales, it comes to one hundred and eighty dollars, bad for a Friday, but still not too bad.

Joanne arrives about a half hour before I close and buys a few items, and after I close, I ride with her to find a restaurant to have supper. We stop at a Thai restaurant and order a vegetable roll, then a mail meal of vegetables with rice and ice water. Afterwards, she drives my by the water front and then back to the OHH

I go back inside the house to write in my journal, and also put a whole chicken into the convection over to cook, which I hope to eat during the new couple of days.

Awake and again have to struggle to get out of the jammer and up the stairs into the OHH. Yes, repeatedly, I have said this is the last time I will be taking on any work, even before this job. However, after I finish here and begin my winter migration to the low coastal lands in Texas, and after about two months have flown by, when I will be recovered and free again from these pangs and throes of aches and pains, will I remember them at the next bequest to forgo the luxury of being free of work and the accompanied pain? Only time will tell.

At eight, I go out the back door, open the garage doors and go through the garage and tidy up a little. Then, shortly after nine, the buyers begin to arrive. I continue open until about 3 this afternoon and because there are few buyers this late, I decide to close early. After that, I go into the kitchen, open the front door and right after that, three people come by. One is a woman who says that she has in-laws who are from the Philippines and asks if I have any furniture from there left. I tell her that I still have the chinaware hutch and she says that she is interested but needs to talk to her other partner.

Then, I continue with my evening meal, a chicken that I roast in the convection oven. Next, I debone the parts and boil the bones to get a broth and the leftover scraps of meat. Finally, I chop up some vegetables and put them in the broth to boil. When it is done cooking, I have a couple of bowls of the soup.

After I eat, I then begin work on the inside of the living room to pack out all the trash and recyclables and take a lot of the sellable out to the garage for me to put on the shelves tomorrow morning. I continue to work until the even arrives, after which, I catch up on my journal writing. Finally, I lock up the garage and the house, then go out to the jammer for the evening.

Morning arrives ever so slowly and yes, that was another in the series of long nights, all of which have been not physically long but instead sleep deprived because of being stoved up from the work. I reposition the jammer to open the walkway for buyers and also plug in my battery charger. Next, I walk inside, then upstairs and take a hot shower and finally come down stairs to boil water for a cup of hot and a cup of daystart. While eating, I begin my journal entry and then text Richard to ask where he is on his long drive north here from southern California. (However, it is not until about five pm when he responds, tells me that he needed to stay for the meeting but is on the way.)

After eating, I go outside into the garage and resume the work in the garage. At ten this morning, I connect to the meeting with the zoom app and continue work while listening to the talk and study. When the meeting is over, I work a little more and begin getting ready for the sale by putting the open sign out on the street and walking back to the garage.

I stay in the garage for the afternoon and continue with the sale until 5 pm, after which I take the Open sign down, put up the Closed barricade across the driveway and go inside to rest and prepare a meal. After eating, I retire to the jammer and get into the horizontal, however, like many nights before, it is a struggle to get to a stay asleep.

At one in the morning, I get out of the jammer to go inside to take a hot shower, as usually doing so helps me to sleep. When I return to the horizontal in the jammer, I am able to fall asleep and then sleep good until my phone alarm goes off at seven am,

Awake, climb up into the drivers seat to start the jammer to charge batteries and warm up the van interior. I then call Richard to see where he is and he says he is near Sacramento, California and that he expects to be here in 18 hours of driving time. Questioning him, he replies that he will drive for about 14 hours today and expects to be here tomorrow morning. I tell him that I will concentrate on clearing the house of all the remaining stuff. We then bid each other Until Later, and since the jammer is still running, I drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer.

At the cafe, I call the VA in Mount Vernon to ask about a discrepancy on the Handicap License Plate application and am told that the doctor will call me back shortly. I wait in the cafe until nine-thirty this morning and then pack out to return to the OHH to resume the work at hand. The main task today is to clean the remaining items of the kitchen, that being the refrigerator and stove, pulling each out of their holes and cleaning the outside, the hole and finally the inside of each appliance. This take ma most all of the day, during which Joanne arrives at about four this afternoon because we had planned to go to Alphy′s Pizza parlor for the all you can eat salad bar. Before we leave, I call the restaurant to make sure they are open but find out they are closed until the end of the month, so, Joanne pack out and heads home.

A short time after that, Patty arrives to pick up her two throw rugs that I told her she could have and we talk for a while longer. While she is still here, I finish the work in the kitchen and next begin making a pot of soup with beets, zucchini, spices and rice noodles. Then, Patty leaves and I begin eating my meal while I pound keys on the computer.

Finally, at eight-thirty, I pack out to the jammer, climb into the rear and get into the horizontal to read my Bible.

Awake, walk inside and then upstairs for a hot shower, after which I walk back out the jammer, start the engine and let it idle while I call Richard to talk with him for a few minutes. He tells me that he stopped last night in Roseburg, Oregon, which I know is about 450 miles and will take him about eight hours, but more if there is traffic.

I then drive to the license office to purchase my new license plates and get the placard but not the plates because they will be mailed to me. After that, I drive back to the OHH to finish the clean up inside the house.

Later, in the late afternoon, Richard walks into the front door and I show him the house. We talk for a time, after which, he takes me out for supper and pays for the meal. He has always been very generous when it comes to buying meals. Afterwards, we return to the OHH and retire to our separate births.

Awake early, walk inside and begin making coffee for myself and tea for Richard. Then, we both go to work to accomplish separate tasks until about eight this morning when Richard leaves to buy boards for the construction of the wooden top frame of the trailer and when he returns, he begins to apply a sealer to the wood while I go inside to begin preparations for out breakfast.

I make my typical meal which includes a skillet of ample eggs, chopped vegetables and toast. Of course, the meal includes coffee for me and hot cocoa for Richard. We both sit down in the living room and enjoy the food. Afterwards, we both work together to build the frame during which, I acquire several splinters lodged into my hands.

When the trailer is completed, we begin to load it with bags and other items for the dump, which when the tarp is put in place the day is close to ending, so we stop for the evening and go out for something to eat. After returning from out meal, we sit in the living room and sip on a cup of tea while Richards writes out a schedule for the events that will occur beginning tomorrow morning.

Finally, after a very long day, one which Richard and I have accomplished a multitude of tasks, we call it a day and retire to out births.

Awake, walk inside to boil water for coffee and tea, then I help Richard prepare for the last tasks before he leaves for the Coupeville dump station.

Richard drives the load and empties it at the dump station. When he returns, we then load the trailer with a donation for the WAIF thrift store, which he then takes it there. After that, he returns for a second load that goes to the thrift store and upon returning, we begin to load the tailer for a second load that will go to the dump and when the tarp is stretched over the trailer, we both climb into his mom′s truck and head for the dump in Coupleville to dump this load.

When we are leaving, Richard says, Lets play a game and begins, The person who guesses furthest from the weight of the load has to buy supper tonight. I say it will be 401 pounds and Richard says 375 pounds. When we arrive at the scale, the attendant says that it is 430 pounds. We then drive through downtown looking for a place to eat and stop an Indian restaurant and Richards pays. I tell myself that I will pay tomorrow night.

It is a very nice meal and the host, cook and other family members come to greet us and are very nice. Then, we return back to the OHH to rest up for a short time before we retire to our births.

Awake, walk inside the OHH and Richard greets me with a desire to sleep for a couple more hours because he stayed up sorting through his mom′s room. I tell him that I am good with that, walk upstairs for a shower, and then back out the front door to the jammer. I then drive to the w-mart for com, coffer and computer to catch up on two days that I have not made any journal entries.

As I sit inside the cafe, the light outside slowly begins to illume to show the heavily clouded sky and like yesterday, it should burn off by noon leaving a clear sky; that being the marine cover that infiltrates the coastal northwest areas. Then, at seven-thirty, I leave to open up the garage and begin getting the sale ready for the buyers.

Then Richard comes out and begins to work on several tasks while I get the sale ready and open at nine. Richard continue all day doing tasks including climbing up onto the roof to clean it. I continue do the sale all day and then at nearly five pm, the last buyers leave and Richard and I go out to eat. After eating, we first stop at the g-mart for some desert cookies and return to the OHH to have our desert and talk about our journey steps here on this Rock called Whidbey Island in northern Puget Sound. We even talk about building a house in the paradise for a short time.

Then, Raymond from next door comes with his truck to get the chinaware hutch and take it to his garage. All three of us muscle the hutch one piece at a time through the downstairs, out the front door and directly across into the bed of his truck. Raymond and Richard then go to the house next door to off load the first piece into his garage while I wait sipping tea and pounding keys until they return for the second piece. After it is in the truck, they drive it to Raymond′s house and deposit the top piece of the hutch into his garage. Finally, Richard returns and says, Wow, glad to see that gone!

By now, it is eight pm and I am really tired, so I tell Richard good night, walk out to the jammer, climb in through the side door and soon after get into the horizontal.

Rise slowly this morning, go inside, climb the stairs to the second floor to take a hot shower and then back down into the kitchen to boil a pot of water for coffee. Richard rises and says that he will try to get the roof finished today.

Last evening, when we were packing the trailer for a dump run for this morning, I told Richard I wanted to change the garage sale schedule to have the Free Sale today from 9 am until noon, and then be closed Sunday. This will allow us to pack out everything remaining, so that we can have time to pack the trailer for his drive back to California. He agreed to my suggestion and said that it would probably work better doing it that way. Then, this morning, after I make a Free Sign, I go outside to the garage to begin pulling out the display tables and begin setting up. Richard then leaves for the dump to unload the trailer.

I continue with the free sale until noon at which time, I begin bagging all the remaining stuff. When Richard returns, we then load the trailer for another dump run and he goes back while I keep bagging stuff and emptying the shelves of all items. Several of the friends stop by to pick up items they have requested and by four pm, I have just about finished reloading the trailer for another dump run. Then, Richard and I head to the dump to empty the trailer again, after which we go to the local Thai restaurant for supper, when we both find to be very good in taste, proportion and quality. We agree that this is the best food in town and will return here again.

Finally, we return to the OHH and I resume the load of the trailer with bags of stuff and other items that are to be discarded, continuing until it becomes too dark to see and do any more work. Richard, during this time has been working on the roof and comes close to finishing, but when it becomes dark, he comes down to continue work on sorting through the stuff in his mom′s room.

After a really long day, I retire to the jammer, climb into the rear, get into the horizontal and struggle with the continuing throes in my legs and back.

Awake, upstairs for a shower, next back down for coffee, and then out the back door to begin another long day of final cleanup and loading the trailer for Richard′s drive south. First, we load the trailer for the final dump run and Richard drive there to dump the load. When he returns, he goes up on the roof for a time to finish the cleaning he has been doing while I begin packing both his truck and the trailer with all the stuff he is returning to California with.

My energy level is quickly depleted but I persist all day and twice, I bump objects which scrap away some of my skin. I tell Richard that I am so tired that I have begun to hurt myself after which, I purposefully begin to take my time so at not to injure myself any more.

It is after eight pm when I retire to the jammer, climb into the rear and get into the horizontal. Richard continues to sort through the last few bags of stuff that I had carried down from his mom&prime room earlier today. During the night, at what I found out later was at about 2 am, he left the island and began his journey south back to southern California.

This has been a very long and extremely exhausting nine weeks for me and which I am determined not to repeat again. Still, time will tell for my desire to actually retire.

Awake, walk into the OHH, climb the stairs and take a shower. When I come back down, I see that Richard had gone through all the last bags that I had carried down from his mom′s room yesterday. I then drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. A little later, I call Richard and he tells me that he was able to drive to the Maytown rest stop at exit 93 on IH 5 about twelve miles south of Olympia, which is one that I have stopped at many times when I travel south on the IH 5.

Once I have had my second cup of hot, I then pack out of the w-mart, return to the OHH and resume the final clean up and repairs of the property. Too, several of the friends stop by today to pick up the shelving that I had told them I would save for then and other items that during the sale was being used to display the sale items. The day continue with me doing some repairs, such as filling nail holes in the walls with spackling, replacing the kitchen faucet and water lines.

Then, at six this evening, I prepare a pot of vegetable soup and just as I am done with the cooking, Patty knocks on the front door and I let her come in. Too, I share a bowl of my soup with her and we talk for a short time before I let her know that I must get back to my work of cleaning. I tell her good bye and then I continue with the work at hand until

Awake, walk inside for a hot shower and then back to the jammer to drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. Wow, I am back to my regular routine of not getting up too early and going to the cafe for coffee. A little later, I return to the OHH and continue the cleanup and repairs that Richard asked me to do, who, by now is leaving his overnight stop in Eugene, Oregon and making his last long haul towards his home in southern California.

Myself, I leave the cafe, drive back to the OHH and resume the list of repairs and cleaning that are still remaining. After finishing the sweeping inside, I take the remaining debris and put it in the box by the garage. Then, I continue filling the nail holes all in the walls.

In the afternoon, I go outside to work on the front deck garden and gravel walk where I pull the remaining weeds, chop up the garden dirt and remove the rose bush. After that, I turn the sprinkler on to water the grass and flowers. Joanne stops by to pick up the metal trellises and we talk for a short time during which she suggests that the deck be pressure washed. Finally, I return back inside and prepare my evening meal of Fettuccine with garlic sauce, chopped vegetables and cheese.

After eating my supper, I wash the dishes, retire to the jammer and get into the horizontal for the night. The work today was not in any way overbearing like the many weeks of eight to fourteen hours days. Still, I am in quite a bit of pain when I lie here trying to achieve sleet.

Awake early so that I can have access to the parking space near the front of the w-mart, drive there, park, walk inside for coffee, com and computer. I update my journal to include the next part of Quire Eleven, Chapter Fourteen, then begin working on my journal entry for today and finally upload all of these files to the internet.

Upon leaving the cafe, I drive to the bank to make a deposit, then to the d-mart for two bags of bark mulch and two planted flowers and finally back to the OHH house to work on the list of things Richard has given me to do. The first thing I do is to plant the flowers in one of the front deck garden and cover the two gardens with the mulch. I then go upstairs to take a shower and wash all the dirt from planting and spreading the mulch.

Next, I go into the kitchen to prepare something to eat for this morning using up the last of some of the vegetables to make an egg omelet with cheese. While I am eating, Richard calls to tell me that he had a real estate friend drive by to estimate the home, and she said she saw someone in the front yard working on the garden. Richard told her that the person was his friend Thom who is at the house working on it. It is still just a little before noon and Richard also tells me that he is less than two hours from his home.

Later, Richard calls me to ask me to do some concrete grinding on the driveway near the overhead door and I tell him, No, that is too much work and I am trying to recuperate from the previous ten weeks. He then asks me to go look at the tool and the tool bit to see if I can do it and I tell him that I will look at it. However, I know that this kind of work requires more than I either can or want to do. I then retire to the jammer for the night to the jammer.

Another brisk morning here on Whidbey Island and I arise, walk into the OHH to use the restroom. Then, I drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer to resume working on my lighthouse gallery. Sherry stops by to see how the work is going at the OHH and we talk for a short time before she leaves to go to a cleaning job.

I continue working on the Lighthouse gallery to bring it up to date and then I upload the files to the internet, after which I then leave out of the cafe and return too the OHH.

Before he left during the night Sunday, Richard wrote out a list of tasks that he wanted for me to accomplish. Thus, when I arrive back at the house, I continue working on this list and cross off another item that I have completed while I am still here on the Rock awaiting my license plates. Too, I have reduced the amount of hours that I am working each day so that my body may begin to recuperate from the weeks of long hours and hard work that I have put it through for the ten weeks of my being here.

After finishing the spackling on the walk, I next need to look in the garage for some of the wall paint to do some touch up painting, but that will come tomorrow.

Thus, now that I have only to wait for the plates for the jammer, I will endeavor to complete these few remaining tasks as soon as possible so that I will then be able to retire to those tasks necessary to do in and about the jammer, such as an oil change, even installing the spark plugs that I purchased some time back. Yes, I need to leave off the work on the Oak Harbor House and begin working on my personal home.

Later in the day, I retire to the jammer, listen in on the local meeting with zoom and afterwards, get into the horizontal to rest for the night.