June 17, 2026
In addition to our route to Omaha following a portion of the Transcontinental railroad, we will also be generally following the routes of the emigrant pioneers used including Oregon, Mormon and California Trails (except in the opposite direction). These trails were the same trail westward from Omaha but the Mormon trail diverged from the Oregon Trail at Fr. Bridger (between Salt Lake and Rock Springs) and the California Traild in Soda Springs, ID. Our first site is known at The Archway in...
June 16, 2026
Our day began with a two hour drive to the Scotts Bluff National Monument. The bluff served as an important landmark on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails. Over 250,000 westward emigrants passed by Scotts Bluff between 1843 and 1869. It was the second-most referred to landmark on the emigrant trails in pioneer journals and diaries. In the 1930s, a road was developed to the top of Bluff. Matt drove to the top while I walked the 1.6 mile Saddle Rock trail which gains 435’ of elevation...
June 15, 2026
Our day began with a triple-2 breakfast at the Chicago Pizza included with our stay at the Holiday Inn - two eggs, 2 pieces of bacon or sausage and 2 pancakes or pieces of toast. After that was a quick stop at Walmart for some provisioning (but for the Walmart app listing what aisle to find something we would have been wandering around for hours) we continued our journey that began in Salt Lake along the Union Pacific section of the Transcontinental Railroad. The Transcontinental Railroad was...
June 14, 2026
We left bright and early at 6:30 with a lot of ground to cover in our first day. I had purchased an Italian made Wingamm 18’ long mini-RV to complete the balance of the Trip Across America that we suspended heading west from Milwaukee on August 31, 2012. We put completion on hold when Timi and I bought the first of three yachts and backtracked over the next dozen years by sea from Chicago to Miami, then Pacific Northwest then Southern California. The RV is new to the US so I ordered it sight...
September 02, 2018
Length of Trip: 12 days Nautical Miles Traveled: 320 Hours of Cruising: 21 hours Longest Cruising Day: 5 hours, 75 NM, Port Townsend, WA - Ladysmith, BC Pleasant Surprise: Port Townsend, WA; Escape House in Seattle, WA Biggest Disappointment: Ladysmith, BC Favorite Destination: Seattle, WA Favorite Activity: Cruising in spa on Gran Finale (Timi’s choice) Favorite Meal: Pink Door, Seattle, WA
September 01, 2018
Today we faced the longest voyage of the cruise, a 75 nm run to Ladysmith, BC. Our first destination, however, was a stop at the Van Isle Marina outside Victoria, BC for customs and to pick up some fuel. Ladysmith is a fairly small town up the hill for the marina, so without a lot else to do it provided us an opportunity to break out the tender and cruise through the lovely bay/cove housing the marina. Taking 6 people 35 miles an hour in our little 10’ inflatable jet tender entertained all...
August 31, 2018
Our next planned destination, Port Townsend, WA, was the one marina for the whole season which would not take reservations until the morning of our arrival. I didn’t think that would be a problem since we are fairly late in the season but it also didn’t occur to me that it was Labor Day weekend. Fortunately my concerns proved unwarranted as they were able to take us when I called first thing in the morning and we arrived early enough to walk to lunch at the Fountain Cafe. There we found a...
August 28, 2018
The weather was nice enough that we were again able to cruise up top for the 60 nm from La Conner to Seattle, WA. I had reserved a prime slip at the Bell Harbor Marina right downtown and just a few blocks away from Pike’s Market. Thus not surprisingly the Market was our first destination for the day where we ate lunch at Etta’s just outside the entry. Right after lunch Janette and Pete needed to depart for the airport. While Timi, Nancy and John planned to spend the afternoon shopping, I...
August 27, 2018
The weather was lovely for our 40 nm cruise to La Conner, WA. The trip involved transmitting the scenic Deception Pass spanned by a dramatic suspension bridge. The currents can be up to 12 knots through this area so we were careful to time our arrival at slack tide. Our timing was perfect, however the slack current also translated into low tide at the Swinomish Channel that leads to La Conner which resulted in some anxious moments where at times there was barely a foot or two of depth below the...
August 25, 2018
Our day began with a hike around nearby Killarney Lake which again included my father and Gus followed by a farewell brunch on the Gran Finale. From there it was nearly a 60 no run to Roche Harbor, WA where our first responsibility was to clear customs into the US. We got in just in time to explore the small town before dinner. Nancy’s neck was still bothering her so she and John took a 20 min cab to the urgent care at Friday Harbor to have things checked out while we had dinner at McMillans...