Alpine safely parked in Simi Valley at Casa Johnson, we headed north, nose to the barn, eager to be back home. We can say that again - Home Sweet Home.
Our first day we continued straight up I5, spent a night in Williams, CA then continued the next day along Route 97 to Bend, Oregon.
Along the way, we stopped at the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden in Weed, California. Here we stretched our legs and ate our sandwiches, and walked about a little known yet fascinating garden of sculptures.
Living Memorial Sculpture Garden
The sculptures were thought-provoking, goose-bumpy interpretations of the brutal reality of war by the artist Dennis Smith, a former marine and Vietnam war veteran.
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| The Greatest Generation |
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| Those Left Behind |
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| the Why Group |
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| the Korean War veterans memorial |
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| POW MIA |
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| All Wounded Warriors |
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| The Nurses |
Poignant and uplfiting:
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| Coming Home |
And a final acknowledgement to those who served and gave their lives:
We spent a couple of nights in Bend, Oregon with Michael's sister and enjoyed our visits with Mom. I think she enjoyed them too. And thankfully when we discovered that Jeep needed a new radiator, Michael had the use of his brother-in-law's well equipped garage and tools.
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| a new radiator shipped and delivered overnight |
Pam and Gary's beautiful home faces a spectacular scene that captures several volcanic peaks. We enjoyed watching the glorious sunsets on the patio, each more amazing than the previous.
We arrived back home Tuesday, September 24th, glad to be back, happy to finish unpacking and settling in. The most exciting thing was when our Television was delivered and our Xfinity streaming service was activated.
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| our Home Sweet Home |
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| the new TV |
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| moving in, getting organized |
There were all sorts of other items on the To-Do list relating to home ownership that we took care of. We also set up appointments with new doctors and dentists. But we made time for friends and fun too.
The weather continued to be pleasant. Michael explored the forest trails a block away from home during his runs. I walked the neighborhood streets, savoring the pretty views of the Sound and the Olympics south of us. I discovered that now that I am on Medicare, I am entitled to participate in the Silver and Fit program offered by our supplemental medical insurance. One of the welcome benefits is that the Anacortes Pool and Fitness Center is a participant and offers numerous classes like Zumba, several different types of yoga, and pilates. I was in heaven with all the possibilities and Michael was happy to use the fully equipped weight room.
I returned to the line dancing group that met every Friday, and joined the group for their Annual Ferry Line Dancing Adventure on October 5th. Various line dancers from as far south as Olympia and Seattle gather for this unusual event where we line dance on a ferry in transit to Friday Harbor. In Friday Harbor we disembarked for a couple of hours to explore the town, have dinner, then return back to Anacortes, line dancing our way back again. It was a lot of fun!
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| marina in Friday Harbor |
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| our group of line dancing enthusiasts gathering for the group photo |
Our most exciting news was the arrival of our newest granddaughter on October 15th. Nadia Teresa was born in Krakow and is Klara's little sister. We will make our pilgrimage to Krakow to meet Nadia in the spring.
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| daughter Michelle with Klara and her new baby sister |
The weeks flew by quickly but we felt like we accomplished a lot. Our next big task was to host the Alpine rally in Pismo, California. It was time to head back south, pick up the Alpine and make our way to the coast to prepare for the rally.
I returned to the line dancing group that met every Friday, and joined the group for their Annual Ferry Line Dancing Adventure on October 5th. Various line dancers from as far south as Olympia and Seattle gather for this unusual event where we line dance on a ferry in transit to Friday Harbor. In Friday Harbor we disembarked for a couple of hours to explore the town, have dinner, then return back to Anacortes, line dancing our way back again. It was a lot of fun! 
