May 26, 2011 by Rae

Umi Sushi Express, Lethbridge

I’m going to let you in on one of Rae’s secrets of life: food courts offer the best bang for the buck. You can get a full meal for under ten dollars and don’t even need to tip. The more you frequent food courts, the more you’ll know which chains are better than another, and how to avoid a nutritionally-void caloriefest.

So, I’ve been out for dinner twice since I got to Lethbridge and both times I ended up at Umi Sushi Express, in the food court of the Park Place Mall.

The first time, I went with a combination dynamite and California roll platter, simply because it had just come out of the kitchen, so I knew it’d be fresh. I paid somewhere around $8, which included extra ginger. The rolls were quite simply perfect; very fresh, flavourful, and with a good combination of textures.

Tonight, I ended up at Umi because I had to go downtown to deposit the cheque for the traffic counting job. I decided to try their $8 bento special and I was impressed by the number of choices I needed to make. It comes with rice, beef or chicken teriyaki, edamame or salad, four pieces of California or dynamite or tuna or cucumber roll, and either yam tempura fries or veggie tempura. I went with rice, chicken, edamame, four pieces dynamite (tempura shrimp, masago, cucumber) roll, and yam tempura fries.

After I placed my order, there was a very long wait that reassured me that my food was going to be fresh, not just reheated. When the meal came, I was astounded by the mountain of food. I would have paid $20, plus tip, easily in a sit-down restaurant! Well, in Canada. This price wouldn’t have surprised me in the US. 🙂

Everything was delicious. I particularly appreciated that the teriyaki chicken wasn’t overly sweet. I was a bit concerned that the yam fries were drizzled with a creamy pink sauce until I took a taste and realised it was chili mayonnaise. Not very Japanese, but the key ingredient to one of my favourite rolls (spicy tuna) so I couldn’t complain!

It has been a Day, so ending it with a yummy bento box for under ten bucks was most appreciated!

May 12, 2011 by Rae

Simplicity Can Be More Complicated

We’ve come to the time of year when I start to crave iced coffee. I usually just cold brew my own since coffee shops charge a lot more for the cold variety than they do the hot. But McDonald’s is having a promotion right now for any size of cold beverage at $1, including their oh-so-delicious iced coffee.

Regardless of which McDonald’s I go to and where, the following conversation, almost verbatim, ensues every single time. This wouldn’t be worth a post if it didn’t always happen!

Me: Hi, I’d like a (size) plain iced coffee, no syrup, half the cream.

McDonalds: What kind of iced coffee?

Me: Plain. No syrup, half the cream.

McDonalds: You just want cold coffee and cream?

Me: Yes. Cold coffee and half the cream.

McDonalds: Sugar?

Me: No, thank you. Just cold coffee and half the cream.

The cashier then takes my order, still looking puzzled, and goes to the person who makes the iced coffee.

Cashier: Can you make me an iced coffee, no syrup, half the cream?

Coffee maker: No syrup, half the cream? Just cold coffee with cream?

Cashier: That’s what she wants.

Coffee maker (to me): What kind of iced coffee do you want?

Me: Plain. No syrup. Just cold coffee and half the cream.

Coffee maker: (makes my drink at last!) Sugar?

Me: No, thank you, that’s perfect!

It boggles me, really, since they have no problem with my order for hot coffee with half a cream. I think the cold coffee is seen as being a dessert more than a beverage. There’s no other way to explain it!

I’ll be making my own again soon enough, with skim milk instead of cream, and lots of cinnamon, but in the mean time, it’s fun to confound people. 😀

April 3, 2011 by Rae

Ichiban Sushi Bar, Florence, OR

I forgot to write about the Ichiban Sushi Bar in Florence when I was on the Oregon Coast and it definitely warrants a post!

This is a restaurant I would not have walked into for sushi without a recommendation since it is a combination ‘Chinese’ and Japanese establishment. But I was in the electronics department of Fred Meyer and overheard the cashier tell the couple ahead of me that they just had to try this restaurant and that only good things were being heard about it.

I headed there the next day for lunch and was greeted like a celebrity. What friendly, happy people work there! The restaurant is new and the decor is fresh and clean.

The server started by telling me the specials, which included tempura rolls and ones with cream cheese. I told the server I don’t like those and he left me to peruse the the huge and extensive menu that includes several combo meals. I decided to go the more expensive à la carte route and ordered cautiously: miso soup, a tempura entrée, and tekka maki (tuna rolls).

The meal started off well with a miso soup that had a drop of soy sauce in it. The broth was very hearty, the seaweed chewy, and the tofu tender. Perfect! Same thing with the tempura, which included broccoli, yams, zucchini, and shrimp; light on the batter and the oil did not taste old. Tekka maki is such a simple roll, but it’s a good one to test how fresh the sushi is and this one was fresh, with the sweet sashimi almost melting in my mouth.

Everything was so good that when the waiter came by to ask me how I was doing I asked for a menu so I could order another roll!

I asked for something with salmon. I was then paid what I consider a compliment; the server said “I know you prefer traditional Japanese rolls [not entirely true since I like spicy tuna and California rolls], but our Oregon roll is very delicious.” At this point, I can’t recall all the ingredients, but I know it included salmon, imitation crab, a bit of mayo, and sesame seeds. I decided to try it and, oh! YUM! It’s definitely not something I would have tried on my own and I am glad I trusted the server. It was savoury and sweet, tender and chewy, basically everything that defines what makes sushi so addictive.

I would have loved to order one more thing, but I was stuffed by this point so I called for the bill. With tip and only water to drink it came to $20. A bit expensive for lunch, but reasonable for going with individual choices instead of a special.

Ichiban is located right on highway 101, on the west side of the road, just a few blocks north of the intersection with highway 126. It’s up from the road a bit and you could definitely park an RV in the lot.

March 25, 2011 by Rae

Wilsonville Camping World, Hood River, and John Day Dam

Florence to Lethbridge is barely more than one thousand kilometres. I decided to stretch the trip out into roughly 200km chunks and to find places where I could feel comfortable pulling in early and leaving late. So, I spent a lot of time researching my overnight stops, especially in Oregon. I’d settled on the Walmart in Woodburn being the best place near Salem on I-5, but was concerned by the number of people who’d been told they could stay by management and then been booted out by police in the middle of the night. I decided to check on a forum if there were better options and I was directed to the Camping World in Wilsonville, a recommendation that was seconded by Croft. The store is a bit confusing to get to (I’m glad I used their directions instead of my GPS) and there is nothing within walking distance, but it is a truly safe spot where you don’t have to feel rushed to pull out.

There were A LOT of RVs in the lot last night and as I went out for my walk to the non-existent McDonald’s I noticed that the majority of the rigs were not inhabited. I suddenly realised that I was in an RV graveyard as I began to count of the number of rigs that had been stationary long enough to get a thick growth of mould, algae, and moss. This fifth wheel next to me was particularly bad.

I also noticed a gorgeous burgundy Newmar Dutchstar with a full inch of mossy growth along the back wall. I imagine these rigs are for sale, but I’m not sure I’d want to buy a rig that has sat out in a damp climate long enough to turn green!

It was a COLD night in Wilsonville. When I got up around 8 this morning, I could see my breath and the temperature was off the thermostat, so probably about 5C! I’m going to have to start leaving the furnace on at night. I didn’t know it was that cold because my bunk was so snug; what a shock when I got up! Fortunately, it doesn’t take long for the rig to get toasty when it’s above freezing outside.

I had coffee and a light breakfast, then set off in misting rain. I knew where I was headed for the night and also that there would not be internet nearby, so I decided to schedule lunch at a McDonalds so I could check if there was anything pressing to deal with (yes) that would make it worth schlepping twenty kilometres round trip to the nearest McDonalds from my overnight spot.

By Hood River I was famished, so I pulled into the Walmart there and was promptly greeted by someone who said “No RV parking.” I replied that I was here to shop and he left me alone. Needless to say, I had no intention of shopping there after being greeted so rudely! I left a note on my windshield that said “Here to shop, moving on soon!” and hiked up to the McDonald’s about a block away. There, I did some very quick things online and was about to head back to the rig when a couple came up to me and said… “We loved your talk at the RV Show in Abbotsford!”

I can’t go anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had a nice chat and they said they hoped I’d be speaking again and that I really need to put out another book. Surreal! They were heading south, to Palm Springs, in their RV and were disappointed to not get a glimpse of Miranda.

After Hood River, it was a leisurely drive to the John Day Lock and Dam, a US Army Corps of Engineers area near Rufus. There is no signage, but online comments say that parking is okay for up to a week. If I had a US internet connection or there was one closer, I would stay here a few nights. As it is, I may do two nights, it’s such a lovely spot! I unhooked and tucked Miranda into some parking stalls, with the toad parked in front to make sure I don’t get boxed in.

My batteries had a voltage in the high elevens this morning before I turned on the furnace, the lowest they have been first thing all week. But between the drive and the sun that came out in full force once I was parked, they got up all the way to 14, what my controller considers a full charge, for the first time in several days.

I am feeling some anxiety as I head east towards the mountains and will be going out of my way if I have to to get online each day so I can get a weather and road condition forecast. This is really not a good time of year to be going through mountains, but I’ve had several people who have been both this way and through the Alaska highway in early May tell me that I’m not heading into conditions I haven’t handled before. I have two routes through Montana plotted out and will soon have to commit to one. Since I will be in Alberta for the summer, I run the chance of being able to take the more scenic and isolated route around Glacier National Park at some point in the toad, so I will not agonize if I miss out on it yet again. I am just grateful to have had the last few weeks of exploring because the next six months are going to be about making as much money as possible. I want to go to the States for six months next year!

ghost RV…

along I-84

my rig at John Day Dam

John Day Dam

March 25, 2011 by Rae

South of Florence on the Oregon Coast

Tuesday morning, I was expecting Joan who was driving down from Salem two hours away. She hadn’t confirmed her arrival time, but I didn’t think she’d arrive before noon. So, I got up around 8:30 and went to the Starbucks where the wifi was misbehaving badly. It wasn’t a lost morning, though, since they ran out of dark roast and I got an espresso for the same price. Love when that happens. 🙂

I finally decided that the universe was telling me to get my butt back home, which I did, and there was Joan at about 9:30! She hadn’t slept a wink because yesterday she closed on the sale of her RV! I have been ‘mid-wifing’ the process since I got here but haven’t written about this in any great detail, waiting for Joan’s ‘I bought a rig!’ post.

Joan had an adventure with the security detail while she was waiting for me and I am sharing this story with her permission. She walked up to security to let them know she’s my friend so they wouldn’t question her about being parked by Miranda. This conversation ensued:

Joan: I’m here to see my friend Rae, but her car’s not here!
Security: Then she’s not home!

Bwa ha ha ha.

Neither one of us had had any breakfast (I rarely eat at Starbucks; the food is crap and overpriced) so I suggested we head over to the Dune Diner at the corner of 101 and 126, a little cafe I’d noticed on my outings.

I had some of the worst coffee of my life there, but the pancake (singular; they are HUGE in the States!) was very delicious, as was the sausage. We lingered over our meal and eventually headed out. I was driving and pointed the car south since I’d been north on Monday.

The drive south from Florence is more inland, making me very glad that I went north on Monday. We got to Coos Bay, where there is a Walmart, and Joan had mentioned wanting to stop in a Walmart if we passed one, so that’s where we spent the rest of the morning. The sun was shining and I just knew that this utterly ridiculous start to the day was going to bookend an extraordinary adventure. I figured that looking at curtains and sheets with Joan was karmic payback for subjecting Donna to that in Omak in the fall! 🙂

My GPS has been acting up and took us south of Coos Bay from the Walmart, but the detour on Seven Devils Road was worth it. It was a scenic, twisty route with no businesses whatsoever that was a ton of fun in my zippy subcompact. It actually reminded me a lot of being on the back roads of Dawson City!

Joan had mentioned possibly doing a dune buggy ride, so we decided to pull into Sandland Adventures just south of Florence to find out if and when there were tours and then schedule lunch around the answer. There were two options; rides in the small dune buggies for $25 per person, or on the giant one for $12 a person. Neither one of us was too sure about doing the little one so we tentatively booked a seat on the bigger one, with the understanding that the tour would only be a go if two more people showed up. We decided that if no one else showed up, we’d take a chance and do the little buggy.

We had less than a half hour to kill, so we agreed to have an early supper (or linner, as I like to call it) and forget lunch. We both had enough of a snack to tide us over. We went down the highway a bit to a state park so that I could get an idea of what the dunes look like. I was amused to find people sitting in the sun on the beach of a lake. Kids were actually wading in the shallow water!

We went back to Sandlands and tons of people had showed up so the ride on the big dune buggy was a go. I’ve never been on a sand dune of any importance and ‘riding in a dune buggy’ has been on my bucket list, but doing the little kind really wasn’t important. As it turns out, I’m glad I started with the big one; it was plenty thrilling!

I can’t even describe what it felt like to ride out into that landscape, to emerge from deciduous forest into an arid playground. There were tons of people out on the dunes in ATVs and dune buggies enjoying the gorgeous weather and performing all manner of stunts.

The half hour ride felt like an eternity in the best way possible. Our guide gave us a fantastic ride, the highlights of which were when he took us down nearly 90 degree face cliffs! I can honestly say that the last time I had a rush like this was in the summer of 2002 when I went white water rafting for the first time and went over a 16 foot waterfall! Oh, this didn’t have the jolt of that, by far, but you still get that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach when you go over the edge, especially the first time when you don’t know what to expect.

Near the end of the tour, we stopped and had a chance to walk on the dunes for a bit. Joan got a picture of me and I have to laugh; I am SO not dressed for hiking around the dunes and look completely out of place!

This was a half hour that will be seared into my memory. It is the kind of half hour that reminds me why I have chosen to live this life. Thank you so, so, so much to Joan for initiating me to the Oregon dunes. I don’t think I would have thought to do the tour on my own. Doing it with a friend made it even more memorable.

It was coming on to five when the tour was done, so we headed back to the casino to have dinner at the buffet. It was steak and shrimp night. I don’t eat steak, but there were plenty of other offerings, like shrimp linguine, mustard salmon, and BBQ chicken so it was still worth my eating there. I really ate more than I should have, but I hadn’t had lunch! I gave my steak ticket to four guys sitting at the table next to me. I happened to cross paths with them later and they admitted that even split four ways, the extra steak was a bit much for them, but thank you!!!

Dinner came with $4 in free slot play. After Joan and I made our goodbyes, I decided to head up to play the slots. I actually enjoy playing slots and have played an average of $5 a night since I got here, not counting my $10 in free play. $5 to $10 a day is my limit on the penny slots; I can usually stretch that into a good half hour to forty-five minutes of fun. I don’t play slots every time I can (I’d have been broke doing that in Dawson!), but since I’ve been dry camping here I felt that $5 to $10 a day was more than fair for my spot.

By then, I knew which machine I liked, so I went straight to it. I had to put $1 of my own money into the machine to get my $4 in play. Within a minute and a half, I’d won $20. A minute after that, I won another $20! I played down my $4 in free slot, got my balance back up, and cashed out at $42.20! A perfect end to a perfect day with a wonderful friend!