1996–We took two more trips in our 1957 VW van Betsy.

August 13  we traveled up the California coast, heading to Oregon and Washington for a Miller family reunion on Orcas Island in Puget Sound.  Swimming, steaks, showers, camping at Standish Hickey#5.  8/15  Reedsport, Oregon Dunes Beach Camp, Tahkenich Lake.  8/16  Slept in the VW at my sister Kathy’s,  leaving at 9 AM, enter Washington via Tillemook Air Museum at 3 PM.  Ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island, check in 4 PM Saturday, where we stayed for two days.  Back to Bothell and brother Dick’s house Monday, then to Woodinville to visit Steve’s friends Koki and Ruthie.  To Portland 8/22, to Steve’s sister Jo’s house, then a visit to my Aunt Jeanne and cousin Trinka.

In October, I flew to Baltimore to visit my Aunt Annette–we ate crabs, and visited Ladew Topiary Gardens, I took photos from which I did some drawings.Annette Longwood bw

In September, more trips to Albany dump beach, photographing and collecting rust sculptures

November 19-22, we headed out to the desert via Hiway 99, camping at Red Rocks, and then Saline Valley, where I much enjoyed the beautiful desert rain from the VW’s comfortable wood-paneled interior.

Saline-Valley-mist---betsy

After the rain  11/1996

Laurie-and-Betsy-in-the-Des

 

 

 

 

 

And then-  Palmdale for Christmas, where we bought a big white Toyota 1981 4×4 truck and camper for $2000.  It looked so huge when we got it home, we named it Orca.