The Ryan RV Express: 01-28FEB26

Tuesday, 03FEB, Dan takes RV to Mercedes in Lynnwood; but mechanic didn’t show up for work. Drive RV back home and get back to cleaning barn after stopping working on it last September.

Wednesday Dan hook’s up Fiesta to RV and heads back to Mercedes dealer in Lynnwood. He is towing the Toad because if Mercedes needs the RV overnight, then Dan will disconnect the Toad and leave RV at dealership. That way he can catch Edmonds ferry and drive to daughter Rebecca’s house and be there for grandson Jaxson’s wrestling match that afternoon. Jaxson is doing quite well on the Middle School “varsity” team. He has won four matches already and is team Captain (in fact he received recognition from school as athlete of the month).

In this modern cell phone age, with everything streamed live; the award was presented on the school’s website and broadcast live at 0730. But you could log on any time later and watch the tape. Unfortunately Jaxson lost his match (because IMO the ref instantly said he was pinned before he could attempt to make an escape☹ Back to the house to eat, and then everyone but Jaxson played UNO.

Thursday mid-morning Dan heads to Kingston Ferry and the drive home. Around 2PM Dan loads our two leather armchairs (both have cheap leather that has split and flaked off)) onto truck to give them away to someone in Gold Bar. Although very solid chairs; no one will take them as donations if they need any work. We have offered them for free for six months on facebook.

Friday, 06FEB, Dan mows our big front lawn for the first time of the new year (sunshine today, rain to return tomorrow). Saturday wake up to steady rain, right before lunch we head to Everett to see Mason’s soccer game. Meet Rebecca there and endure strong rain and winds throughout the game (probably worse weather to watch soccer we have experienced in past two years). Mason team wins and we head home to dry out.

Sunday (Super Bowl) not much done just stay inside out of the rain and watch Sea Hawks destroy Patriots. While eating healthy (wings, charcuterie, cheeses, chips/crackers/dips, etc). Monday rain stops. Run to Mercedes in Lynnwood. They can’t figure out what the issue with tranny is. Next option is drop transmission and disassemble (we will pass for now); take RV home.

Tuesday, 10FEB, great weather; Dan continues work on cleaning out old barn; then mows back acreage in way of septic field. Wednesday great weather; Corrie works on garden/landscaping; Dan works on indoor RV parking space and then on old barn clearing debris.

Thursday, 12FEB, another great day. Corrie works on outdoor chores. Dan finally finishes clearing all the debris that has accumulated over fifteen years in the old barn. He has sorted out everything into trash, donation, and keeping. One mistake he has made over the years is that any scrap lumber left over from our many past projects has been haphazardly thrown into one of the stalls and never touched. Now he has divided into three categories – not usable but can be burned safely in fire circle; not usable and cannot be burned; and usable and needs a new home. Last part of project was safely removing (can you say N-95 masks?) all the vermin feces, vermin nests, cobwebs, and fifteen years dust/dirt.

Friday AM (daughter Rebecca’s b-day) we catch a morning Edmonds ferry to Kingston and then on to Rebecca, Raymond and grandson’s house to celebrate. First thing we notice is a tree fort Jaxson has been building with Mason and a neighbor boy. Certainly an interesting design🙃?

That evening we all (except grandson Mason who is under the weather) head to Captain Crab restaurant for b-day dinner. Cajun style boiled seafood; very messy. Then back to the house for 3 games of UNO.

Saturday (valentines day) off to Costco to take advantage of their new early entrance hour for executive members. So NICE to get fuel, shop and out of there in less than hour😊 Then we tried Bean Hill Bakery for coffee and pastry. New business in small strip mall, highly recommended. Back to house and off to Jaxson’s indoor soccer game. Then back to their home to do various things before playing UNO.

Sunday AM, 15FEB, pack up truck and catch Kingston ferry and drive home, just in time for lunch. Good weather, so do some outdoor chores. Monday and Tuesday, cold dreary days; Dan moves scrap wood that had accumulated in RV garage over years to old barn to have all our leftover lumber in one location. Corrie works in yard.

19FEB, Thursday early morning snow flurries, but immediately melts on the ground. Snow flurries continue throughout morning to noon, but nothing stays on the ground. Corrie runs errands, Dan starts taking pictures of “stuff” in shop/RV garage to sell or donate. Friday Corrie does major shopping while Dan continues taking photos of tools no longer needed. If tool needed in future, he’ll rent. Rocket gets groomed.

Tuesday 24FEB, Corrie has girl’s day out with Jan Formisano. Dan goes to Steven Pass Ski Area. First time back on the slopes in two years. Dan was out of shape, rusty and snow was terrible. Three runs and done, back to the house. Then posts “stuff” on facebook to sell as we downsize.

Wednesday mostly errands and Dan mows front lawn for second time. Ships half his engineering books off to internet business to be resold. Several hundred dollars in books, sold for $16, and free shipping.

Thursday AM Dan catches ferry to Kingston, WA, to go to grandson Jaxson’s afternoon wrestling match. After match everyone but Jaxson goes to Skipper’s Seafood and Chowder House for dinner (only five left in the USA). Why Skippers? Because Dan was driving the grand boys around Silverdale and noted that he hadn’t seen a Skippers in decades. Mason then told parents – that the family should take OPA to Skippers, on one of Dan’s many visits. Rebecca, Raymond, and Mason were the youngest customers. Everyone else was as old as Dan🙃