MADDOGS

This morning's sunrise on Rifle Lake. Needless to say, Jude--the MADDOG of all time--took a road that wasn't on the map, and The Crew ended up here. But it was so beautiful that we forgave her. Windy, twisty roads all the way into Seattle.

Seattle freeways and skyline as we took the exit to Holly's place. There's even more clouds tonight and they are dark. Maybe we'll get a touch of rain tonight.

So Jude has this pinched nerve thing going on in her left leg. She spent most of the day on Holly's bed watching movies, while Holly & her roommates cleaned out the basement, hauled off trash, moved bricks, and cleaned the yard. What a way to get out of a little work!

View of the Snake River as The Crew crossed over into Oregon.

The Crew took a turnoff that lead to a view of Deadman Pass, just south of Pendleton, Oregon. The road went from paved two-lane, to paved one-lane, to gravel one-lane, to dirt one-lane, to pot-holed no-lane. But this was the view we were rewarded with.

From the deep ruts in the dirt, it was obvious no one had been here since the last rain (whenever that was), so Jude took the opportunity to take an outdoor bath, which consists of standing in a plastic washpan so she won't get muddy, pouring water, sudsing up, pouring water to rinse off and air drying. Nice change from a sponge bath of suds and wipe.

This is the road. Notice where it dead-ends in a cliff. The Nomad has decided in his next life, he wants to be a 4x4 van with a grill, winch, and 4 extra gas cans on back.

The lesson they taught Renae and Jude: You can't out-stubborn your mom!

Cousin Spud and MADDOG with the first geocache of the day. We took a girlie motorcycle freak and a sand dollar and left a "You're Loved" button and a crystal.

Spud Cousin's geocachine ass!



Success! We found a micro cache at Idaho Falls.

Cousin Craig from Texas (the land of no-snow).

Aunt Karma, Moms, Cousin Craig & Jude.

Uncle Steve was also there, but was too busy gambling to come outside for a pic. Aunt Nola and Cousin Renae came later, but the casino security (see 1st pic) said cameras weren't allowed inside, so these are the pics you get.

Fort Hall Indian Casino doesn't serve liquor, but they do allow smoking. The casino is kind of like a big warehouse, instead of a fancy-pancy palace. Only Indians are allowed to work there and the profits go to the tribe. Shoshone & Bannock.

This is our GQ look in front of the DI Thrift Store. "Love your suit Napoleon."

King's, the store where Summer works.

Another Napoleon fan--John from Colorado. Get a load of Kip. Good he found La-fawn-duh, the woman of his dreams.

Megan from Colorado.

Jude could use some "Pedro Protection" too.

Where Napoleon goes to school.

Pedro's house.

Get a load of the "pins" standing in front of Pop N Pins.

Pic taken by other Napoleon fans from Florida. (Maybe Terry & Louise ought to rethink their positions.)

Anyone for a game of volleyball?

In front of the kung fu master's house.

The meadow where Kip & La-fawn-duh exchanged vows.

"I love technology!"

Summer's house. Anyone for a little breast enhancement?

The grand finale -- Napoleon's home.

Dinner ala Napoleon: salad & tater tots. Notice the eggs for the lemonade, and the chapstick--just in case.

Surprise gifts from Pedro. What can they be? Hmmmmm.............

Jude got official rocks from Pedro's driveway.

Got my rocks at Pedro's.

Moms got this nifty little bit of hormone hair--"Homegrown by Pedro--wear with pride."

The MADDOGS took a day off (we think it was Monday) and spent the day at Bear Lake (partly in Utah & partly in Idaho). We drove right onto the beach, a hundred feet from the lake. Jude went swimming while the rest of us sunned ourselves. Jude was brave wading out to her waist, then she turned chicken and it took her half an hour to get the rest of her wet. Since this wasn't the ocean, she didn't have to worry about being eaten by a shark -- but look out, something else was in the water!
The Bear Lake Monster. We have heard horrible stories about this monster, but today we discovered they are all true. Thankfully, Jude escaped unscathed, so we will be able to continue our MADDOG road trip.

This was our night camp at Wells, Nevada at the Flying J. We woke to 2 (count 'em two) cop cars. A Nevada Highway Patrol & a sheriff's (?) car. They were having breakfast in the restaurant while we were cooking ours in the Nomad. Later they (the cops) gave us a tip on a 2-lane road so we could exit Hwy. 80 at Oasis. Which turned out to be an abandoned gas station. Their advice was good and so was our day.