Hi 👋 We're Val & Holland Redmill … living our Life Story as silver-haired Road Gypsies in our 5th wheel RV Home~40 months married & 60,000 miles traveled across America; covered in grace every Day & trying mightily not to lose our sanctification during the bad & ugly times. I post everywhere - about everything: and if what I post can help someone else, I'm glad for the experience. But from sunrise to sunset, we live our Life for US. Trusting Elohim every step of the way.
Thanking Elohim for my ordinary Tuesday - and for the quiet blessings that often go unnoticed.
This afternoon, we drove to Woodland - to the Wal*Mart Superstore there, to see if we could find there what we can't find anywhere else: we had found it 2 years ago when up here, and it was really the last chance to find it again.
The trip to Woodland was uneventful on the freeway.
Wal*Mart Supercenter, #1486 Dike Access Rd, Woodland~WA from Toutle River RV Resort, #150 Happy Trails Rd, Castle Rock-WA; via I-5 S, 28 min (30.4 miles)
The item was nowhere in sight.
The item must have been discontinued … or there isn't enough interest in it, to stock it on the shelves; so, Holland is going to see if he can find an online supplier.
But, we didn't come back home empty-handed: except for that one thing, I was able to find everything else on the List and tuck it securely in Betsy's back seat area. Time spent in the store running items down, was quick; Holland opted to stay outside in Betsy, relaxing his knees from yesterday's shopping & listening to his big hair bands … I speed walked through the store - and again, a short workout was in play:
Bodyweight Glute Stepup~In-n-out of Betsy x4
Bodyweight Standing Abs Twist in aisles, collecting items = constant.
Hand & Finger Flex~Collecting & paying for items= constant.
Farmer's Walk carrying shopping bags to Betsy, & from Betsy to Independence.
Then, we drove under the overpass to DQ, for individual Blizzard's to enjoy under the shade of the familiar 100+ old Maple tree. We enjoyed the cool, refreshing Blizzards, with windows open and 80-degree warmth feeling good on our exposed skin (hands, arms, face).
Thanking the Ruach HaKo'desh for opening our eyes to the goodness our faithful Father threads through the little things … a warm cup of morning coffee, kind words spoken softly between us, the sunny beauty outside our windows, & the gift of another Day - to simply enjoy, together.
Tomorrow I'm planning a trail walk at Willow Grove & a Keenagers revisit. Thursday, I have a scheduled 2-hr. morning Dentist appointment. Friday, Holland has a 10 AM appointment in Centralia, for a knee injection we are both hoping will help relieve the pain. Neither of us expect perfect in our union … but a steady, gentle, companionship is most welcome.
Thanking Yeshua, as He comes alongside us; reminding us that we don't have to wait for big moments to experience blessed faithfulness - because the Holy Trinity is present in every ordinary moment of our Life.
Thankful that our hearts, in the moment, are filled with gratitude; our minds are at ease with peace, and our Day colored with pleasant & gentle joy.
Some of life’s sweetest blessings don’t come wrapped in extraordinary moments. They quietly show up in the ordinary rhythm of our days, reminding us that God’s goodness is woven into everyday life if we’ll simply slow down long enough to notice.
When we got back home - I put things away, Holland enjoyed a little siesta …
… & I stretched my lower back muscles to relieve an achy pinch:
August 23rd: We were hoping all of yesterday for a phone call telling us that Independence was ready for pickup … we went to bed disappointed and thinking there was another unforeseen snafu which would extend our motel rent :-(
However, this morning while sitting at Woodland's 'Austin Point' beachfront, watching a fleet of salmon fishermen's boats rocking with the waves, the call finally came.
So, we hurried back to town to collect a cashier's check :-)
Going after Independence.
The bridge work on I-5 in Woodland is seriously holding traffic up; and we wondered if we'd make it to Vancouver before the repair shop closed - the call came at 1:34 PM, & we finally made the Bank at 2:30 PM… a normal 10 minute drive took nearly a full hour, and that's just in Woodland, itself!
On our way to the traffic circle, Kenny Loggins came over the airwaves - and the song seemed appropriate for the danger zone we were faced with; traffic here is very tricky, there are several wrecks a day.
And, at that particular time, Kenny Loggins came over the airwaves ;-)
BOTH freeway lanes packed - as well as the frontage street to the bank.
Backtracking the frontage street to the traffic circle, on our way to the La Center backroad; back-to-back traffic.
The song fit the mood ;-)
Kenny Loggins - 'Danger Zone' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-AQT72TLhw)
Holland was sweating bullets weaving through the dicey traffic jams, and trying to make Vancouver on time - so, I suggested we take the back road through La Center, and get on the freeway there.
It worked; we made RV Pro before closing … and towed Independence behind us when we left.
Vancouver-WA from Woodland-WA; 19 min (17.5 mi) via I-5 S
Holland checked her out before we hooked up, and pulled out; the new roof looks good.
Hooking up & ready to roll ;-)
Finding a spot to park her though, was not easy. She is looooong; and most RV Parks are booked for the Labor Day Holiday coming up. Holland tried to tap storage yards- no go, there, either: we did try with RV Storage in Ridgefield, but there was no one at the gate - and the woman on the phone was no help whatsoever. So, we drove back to Woodland, and parked Independence in a spacious parking lot kitty-corner from our motel room. There was nothing else to do. We locked Independence & Betsy up tight, and went to bed hoping they were still there in the morning - and still intact.
Tucked in for the night; Woodland-WA
August 24th: We woke early, Holland dropped Independence off at Woodland's Les Schwab … then came back to help with the packing & shifting of our things from the motel room into Betsy's cab.
This stays with us, no matter what …
Les Schwab waited until about an hour before closing shop, to get to our RV; the day was half gone, and the only RV Park we could secure a space at, was back in Castle Rock; and it was the most affordable quote we'd heard from anyone - so, that's where we went :-)
Got the brakes readjusted, & a tire replaced before we headed North …
Castle Rock-WA from Woodland-WA; 27 min (28.7 mi) via I-5 N
The Cars - 'Good Times Roll' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJwTcvO5Jbc)
We'd been set up here, before. We were fairly certain that this would be our fourth time back. We like it. It's located on the I-5 Corridor, halfway between Seattle-WA to the north, and Portland-OR, to the south.
Had a bit of a wait when we arrived; Holland joined the waiting game at the Office.
I chuckled when I saw our space marker ;-)
We were happy to get set up before sundown began. We were so sore from packing and shifting things out from the motel in Woodland, that by the time we wearily climbed the stairs and dropped our things on our home's floor, we collapsed in exhaustion - and didn't see the light of day again, until around 10 AM Sunday morning ;-)
It felt so good to be in our own home, & in our own bed, again.
However, we are planning on selling Independence … and possibly Betsy, too … and setting course for a new direction of our Road Gypsy Life.
Time will tell how it pans out in the end.
We are game for anything that will weave peace into our union - and this new direction may be just the ticket.
August 25th: We opened our eyes, stretched our aching bodies, and simultaneously declared today a "lazy day." We would rent a U-Haul trailer, come Wednesday, and collect our stuff from the storage shed in Woodland, then.
This entire week had been a crazy-train ride, and emotions on all sides … along with the hasty collection of Independence and relocation, had worn us to a frazzle: all we were setting our minds to do, was relax and recover.
So, that's what we did.
We drove into Longview around 4 PM to grab a couple days' munchies, but that was pretty much the extent of pushing our bodies into action. LOL
While in Longview, we treated ourselves to a bowl apiece of Baskins Robbins Ice Cream; after grocery shopping & before heading home. It had been awhile since Holland had been there … and I'd never been there before today, so it was an enjoyable treat ;-)
After we'd been home about 2 hours, Holland was watching a YouTube video about RVing couples, and he pulled his headphones off and motioned for me to do the same; then he said, "Baby, no matter how annoyed I get at times, you know I do love you, right? So don't take it personal when I'm in pain and get snippy."I grinned, and said, "Yes. I know." Then he said, "I'm watching this video about the couple who are RVing full time, like us; and the man says - "I've been married to this woman for 55 years and she annoys the hell out of me, but I love her anyway." Holland started laughing, his eyes dancing in my direction. Smiling at the happy wonder on his face (it seems he's finally understanding that togetherness includes the good, the bad, and the ugly moments = real love relationship), I said, "That's married life, Hon."
We grinned at each other, then went back to our personal interests.
At least we are laughing about married life, now ;-)
August 26th: We woke up this morning to a text on Holland's phone asking about Independence & Betsy (Holland listed them for sale, last night); hopefully we will have a sale before the week is out - if this guy flakes out, Elohim will send someone else.
Then we drove to Woodland, to grab some things out of storage, there (one of the things was the little electric heater - it's getting nippy!): we are paid up until September 1st.
We need to stay put for a few days while the AD runs on various Sale Sites, so Holland asked for a space rent extension - and was told we can move to Space #161 and stay put until September 4th; so, that's what we did.
New space = #161, until September 4th; Castle Rock-WA
Pretty purple Fall hued leaves.
We have Plans in the works, but all of that depends on how Elohim directs our footsteps ;-)
Living in Woodland for a few months is actually an answer to prayer … I like Woodland, and off-n-on thought it would be kinda nice to live here; Elohim answered that musing of mine, by putting Holland in my life - and arranging for me to live in Woodland; I'm grateful.
BUT
We want our road gypsy home back.
The first week of motel living was fun. It was a new experience for me, and Holland was liking the open room environment. The Insurance representative had called, and we were assured he was "on it".
The second week wasn't bad either; but communication between RV PRO in Vancouver, us in Woodland, and Joel on the east Coast had come to a dead halt with the approaching holiday - phone calls and texts were blatantly ignored, so we were not being informed about progress in Vancouver. He had driven up there twice during this week, and couldn't get information out of anyone: the Office girl was no help, either. Holland was not happy.
The prospect of this week's stay is wearing thin - we are paying a hefty rental fee with a limited income (all other motels are steeply out of our budget): so, last night, Holland decided to drive to Vancouver this morning to fetch Independence … and take it where someone may actually get busy settling accounts & working on repairs issues(he had already spoken to two other RV Shops, this weekend, that were willing to help), so we can get back to living in our home again.
Hopefully down South. He is not keen on PNW winters spent in an RV - and I agree, having lived through several winters in another 5th Wheel RV from 1995 to 2001 with my first husband and granddaughter, during her infancy through 6th year. I don't mind the RV life … but I, like my new husband, do not like the body aches or constant chill of PNW winters.
We need the road damage to (and our towing concerns about) Independence to be satisfactorily addressed so we can get on getting on, instead of living in expensive and clueless limbo.
Neither one of us are good at waiting - and neither one of us like being jerked around.
I am 100% behind Holland concerning this issue.
Vancouver-WA from Woodland-WA; 19 min (17.5 mi) via I-5 S
When we arrived at our destination point to hook up … the battery was dead. Holland hunted someone down to jazz the battery back up so we could hook up and haul away. While waiting, he received a call for Joel saying RV PRO had sent him memos with repairs costs that included roof and pin box work. Holland said, "How can they possibly give repairs quotes when they haven't even removed the nose to inspect the pin box! I'm standing right here looking at my RV, and the nose is still intact - it hasn't been inspected, at all. They've had our home for three weeks and all we've gotten was motel room fees. If the roof and pin box aren't scheduled to be repaired, I can't safely tow my RV: these are my main concerns."Joel said the motel fees could be reimbursed, and he'd get back with RV PRO as soon as both men hung up their phones; letting Holland know something one way or the other, by the end of this week.
3 weeks of sitting & waiting; we planned to kidnap it, but the battery was run dead.
As we were leaving Vancouver, Holland received a phone call from RV PRO, assuring Hollandthat the roof and pin box would "most assuredly be taken care of, as requested"; and telling Holland "the nose would be removed this week, inspected, and a notation sent off; I'm gonna call Joel right now."Holland then said, "Fine. I'll drive up towards the end of this week to see how things are progressing."
Holland was establishing a four week deadline. And I'm in agreement: this needs to get underway and wrapped up.
Hopefully a fire was kindled under RV PRO's butts, and things will start moving along.
When we got back to Woodland, the outside temperature was hot, so we let the day cool some, before Holland suggested a drive.
We took a drive around the backside of Woodland; Holland has fished the river here, and passed through jetting between jobs … and I had visited a Tulip Farm & a Lilac Garden solo lobo, a few years back; as well as passing through the backroads on my solo lobo drives to my Messianic Fellowship in Vancouver - and had done Winter Bazaars here for decades: but neither of us had ever actually explored Woodland, before today. Our individual ventures here were always with a specific destination in mind, and we never deviated from those destinations.
Today we broadened our recent explorations: and Holland gave me another peek into his Life :-)
Holland had spent a lot of past fishing hours here … and he shared this place (as well as the fishing stories) with me today.
Deep waters - 50 ft deep shoreline; 90 ft deep by the pylons.
Green Mountain in the distance - for decades I spent a lot of time driving backroads, up there.
Heat Wave on 'til tomorrow evening.
Back at the motel again, I dug into the food cache and tried something new:
Something new; it sounds interesting; soba noodles, beef bits, cabbage, cilantro … a definite repeat ;-)
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