April 09, 2015 at 11:28AM by advodna_dave

A lot of this trip coming north from the Bay Area has been pretty urban. While we snuck in a few nights of remote camping, we'd really wanted to see towns like Ashland, Bend, Hood River, Portland and Seattle so have been staying in RV parks close by. Tonight, we're at a nice campground near Olympia, WA to see some friends and then are looking forward to some remote beaches and pristine rain forest on the Olympic Peninsula. #airstream #liveriveted #airstreamwithferns #tangledfx

April 08, 2015 at 09:07PM by advodna_dave

We managed to get an appointment with an eye specialist for Gorilla who confirmed that she has primary glaucoma and will likely not regain vision in her left eye. Still, a cocktail of eye drops seemed to be reducing the pressure, so we spent the rest of the afternoon locating enough of the two drugs at local pharmacies to last us through Alaska (tho we'll have the pressure rechecked in a few weeks in Vancouver). Throughout the whole ordeal, she's happily hopped into the car when called, charmed veterinary staff at each appointment and kept everyone guessing on her age (which we don't know either since she was a rescue but estimate to be at least 11). Yup, she's a true classic, fit to run for a while yet. #airsteamwithdogs #winnebago #winnebagobrave

April 08, 2015 at 08:38AM by advodna_dave

Yesterday was not the most glampourous day on the road. Target to stock up on diapers, propane fill, pick up a box of Duplo blocks off CraigsList, Lowes to have replacement roller shades cut (blackout fabric in preparation for the Alaskan summer), a vet appt for a check of Gorilla's eye that she's been guarding and not opening fully, cancel dinner plans with friends when the appt runs long, return to the trailer and smell propane (soapy water traced the leak to a pressure release valve which hopefully was just doing its job since I'd thought it was weird that the guy had said the tank took 8.1 gallons, a full gallon more than it had ever taken before when empty), back out to the emergency vet clinic that has a device to test pressure in the eye, confirm that she has glaucoma and is starting to lose vision, remember a news story from the previous week about a proposed law to allow medical marijuana use by pets (hmmm...), wait 45 minutes at Rite Aid for $100 eye drops (and Ann's motion sickness prescription for a few upcoming ferry crossings), return home at 8:00 (thankfully to sleeping kids) and wake up every two hours through the night, not for the baby but to administer pressure-relieving eye drops. Follow up appt with an eye specialist in the morning. #airsteamwithdogs #firstworldproblems

April 06, 2015 at 08:35PM by advodna_dave

The payback for my weekend of rally racing didn't take long to begin. While @advodna_ann got a massage this afternoon, I took both girls on a walk around the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle and over to Gas Works Park, a bit of industrial history displaying machinery used to "gasify" coal from 1906 until the mid 20th century, to take in one of the best views of the city and watch the seaplanes land. The fact that Fremont Brewing just happened to be on my route back in no way diminishes the fact that we are now totally even (1 hour = 3 days). Now if I can just get Mae to keep her grubby mitts off my IPA. #Seattle #Fremont #fremontbrewing #beertravel #parenting101 #happydearhappybeer

April 06, 2015 at 04:18PM by advodna_dave

Union Lake with the Seattle skyline in the background (complete with landing sea plane). This view made me get the Trulia app out. I have my eye on a 2nd 2ba floating home with a roof deck and private dock. We can work out minor details like Airstream parking and childproof railings later. #Seattle #PNW #unionlake

April 05, 2015 at 07:42PM by advodna_dave

25 years ago, the fathers of these two young girls were founding members of "Wesleyan's original funk monster." Of course, I am referring to the band that won the Battle of Bands in 1992 to earn a spot opening up for P-Funk at Spring Fling on Foss Hill. Yeah, I'm talking about Thumpasaurus. This evening in Seattle, we got a glimpse of the future of these two great musical families. And It was bright. #isprodigytoostrongaword #wesleyan