POST 1185; AUGUST 21, 2013; BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON

Yes, the national employment firm COMMAND CENTER, with whom I worked in DICKINSON, N.D., has come through again by putting me to work within 24 hours...this time, processing FISH.

One of about 30 part time workers reporting to BORNSTEIN Company, our first night (6:00 pm to ???) spent 4 hours "setting up" corrogated boxes into which fresh caught SALMON are to be packed.

Last night, we set up many hundreds of boxes...(it is now 6:00 am August 21)...tonight, all 30 some workers have been asked to return to physically process the salmon, packing them into the boxes we prepared last night.

Having never before having processed commercial fish (have been a sport fisherman all my life), I sincerely hope the processing is somewhat better organized than box set up of last night.

Last night's experience was an ABBOTT and COSTELLO presentation...

Led into a LARGE WAREHOUSE ROOM FILLED with dozens of palletized flat boxes and dozens more cartons filled with plastic bags.

Without ANY instructions or further explanation, the lady supervisor disappeared...to be seen 4 hours later when we were all sent home...with instructions to return tomorrow to "pack the salmon" into the boxes / bags we prepared last night.

Considered giving a blow by blow dissertation of 30 blind workers following 30 blind workers.  Decided against it, as I need the job and would get little thanks for revealing the THREE STOOGES approach to set up boxes...suffice to say, with NO on the spot leadership or guidance, the next four hours were at once comical...and sad.

During the bus ride last week, the bus was packed...many over-sized passengers squished into their seats...during one "leg", my seat companion plunked half of her posterior fully on my lap.  Sometime during that 27-hour bus ride, my KIDNEY became injured from the tight quarters...today, one week later, the kidney is still very sore

POST 1184; AUGUST 19, 2013; BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON

SAM is finally unloaded, all dirty clothing washed, folded, and put away.  Not much room in the apartment for SAM, but have used the past couple days checking out SAM's integrity---replacing many fasteners that had worked loose...also redesigning SAM's "kitchen"...the entire rear portion of SAM is reserved for "Bambi" bottles (BAMBI bottles = drinking water bottles frozen solid---just like BAMBI saw in the frozen lake), Bambi bottles kept frozen packed into IGLOO thermal zipper bags together with sandwiches and other items needing "REFRIGERATION"... The kitchen also has space for fresh fruit, yogurt, and other items needing to be kept cold.  The entire "cold" shelf is surrounded by a large thermal blanket bag...then wrapped in micro-fibre blanket.  Under SAM's push handles is another platform holds two thermo thermos bottles of 1 gallon each...filled to the brim with solid ice cubes.  As the ice melts, they are mixed with juices and / or used for drinking water.  Have discovered Bambi bottles stay frozen up to 36 hours - even in near 100 f. heat.

My left leg injury is coming along nicely, with NO pain.  It is, however, sensitive to pressure and needs more time to heal fully.

Today, Monday August 19, I have checked in with the COMMAND CENTER of Bellingham.  The COMMAND CENTER is the National organization - with offices in many USA town's and cities - which offer day to day employment.  I was employed in DICKINSON ND by the COMMAND CENTER, and can be instantly given daily work in ANY of those offices nation wide.  Have today been offered four potential "day" jobs here in Bellingham; I expect to report for work tomorrow evening to work the night shift processing FISH next to where a few short time ago, I sailed my yacht into the beautiful San Juan Islands...

Oh My, how things do change.

While walking recently, my U.S. Air Force Honorable Discharge Papers have arrived.  I will now enroll with the Veterans Administration Medical Services...needed because ALL my "Civilian" medical doctors AND AARP Supplemental medical services have DROPPED me from my civilian medical affiliations.  It is my conviction that this has happened because of my limited income (Social Security) does not produce enough $$ income for me to pay the "co-Payments" associated with MEDICARE...making me a poor risk to continue as a money-producing patient.

...one more consideration for those of us advancing age with little or no spendable income...

I.e., my need to find and hold employment.

It might be rightly asked..."...why did you not save for your retirement...?...many are finding themselves in similar condition...as many ways to screw it up as there are screwed up old timers.

In ANY event, I have my health; I have have my functioning mind; I have a great desire to become solvent...solvent enough to keep my "home - such as it is...and I have my objective to continue - SAM AND ME - walking and blogging.

Now 4:45 pm...time for a RUM and COKE to chase my NEAOPOLITAN Ice Cream Sundae before settling down to listen to the Seattle Mariners play Oakland Athletics...

...and,how 'bout them Seattle SEAHAWKS NFL team...40 - 10 win over Denver...

Seattle is bursting with Pro Baseball / football fever...

GO HAWKS !!!

POST 1183; AUGUST 17, 2013; BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON

SAM, after two years on the road, is back in Bellingham...sitting in fact at my elbow in the apartment living room...waiting for me to decide what to do next.

We arrived in Bellingham at midnight yesterday, August 16; as we walked thru the night, a taxi pulled up, offering us a ride...one thing we have discovered about America these past 3.5 years, is that there is a sincere desire by EVERYONE to help one another.

Hundreds upon hundreds have welcomed SAM AND ME into their lives...into their homes...and as I have so often said, ..."not a bad one in the bunch".

In WIBAUX, Montana, Patricia, who has recently embraced ISLAM, took SAM AND ME under her wing, driving us to the town of GLENDIVE, Montana, where she had already arranged our passage on the bus to Bellingham.

Bus is an uncomfortable way to travel long distances.  Drivers are a bit careless about their passengers...especially ignoring the need for passengers to find and seat safely seat themselves.  I personallywas thrown around ... and have often witnessed young Mothers holding babies and LUGGAGE also thrown off their feet as the driver turns off the inside lights and indifferently drives the bus out of the parking area, across rough roadways...not even looking that everyone is safely seated...

OK, perhaps a few might be a bit more considerate.

It is bittersweet to be back in my apartment...out of stormy weather...warm dry roof overhead...

as some are suggesting...perhaps it is time to quit the walking...give the old body a rest.  Perhaps I should, but how I would miss all those still out there to be met,...to become part of our adventure.  I know what is inside the apartment; I also now know what awaits outside.  What better way to live old age than to learn more...find new friends...

My leg will soon heal.  Injury was allowed because I became careless.

I am eager to once again be on the road.  In fact, I am considerring becoming "homeless" by intent...now that would be a true experience...blogging all the way.

We shall see ...

POST 1182; AUGUST 14, 2013; WIBAUX, MONTANA

MAIN STREET WIBAUX, MONTANA

Please say HELLO to REBECCA...single MOM hotel and restaurant worker, who helped set up this ANDROID phone to process images and post to FACEBOOK.

The BNSF railroad overpass frames downtown WIBAUX, MT.

SHAMROCK Restaurant where I experienced an excellent dinner last evening.  The Shamrock is owned by the family of Patricia, whom we met

yesterday...and who is arranging a ride for SAM & ME to catch the bus this afternoon in the town of GLENDIVE, some 30 miles distant.

A local veggie garden about to ripen.

BEAVER CREEK MOTEL, where SAM AND ME have spent the night...and are now waiting for our ride to GLENDIVE

Upon arrival at the bus station, we must adjust SAM to fit her into the bus.

POST 1181; AUGUST 13, 2013; WIBAUX, MONTANA

SAM AND ME have arrived in the small village of WIBAUX, MONTANA,,,the first town inside Montana on I-94.

Before starting out this morning, the sore tendon was wrapped in ACE bandage.  Brought along waterproof boots from my recent return to BELLINGHAM, which I have worn for the past week to make certain they were wll broken in...wore those high-top boots to offer additional support to the damaged tendon.

All went well for the first 8 miles...then, a blister begai on my left heel.  I immediately returned to my NIKE walking shoes...and so did the tendon pain.

We limped into Wibaux...where I have taken a room in the BEAVER CREEK MOTEL...an interesting design building in that it is a "split level"; i.e., one floor below ground level with 7 steps to get "down"...and one floor above ground level with 14 steps to get "up"...apparently, clients with walkers or wheel chairs are not of interst.

In any event, we are on the lower level, having arrived about noon time.  I have rested all day...now being 3:30 pm, with no apparent additional damage to the tendon.

Nevertheless, the strain is still with me.  Have been tentatively been offered a ride to the next town of GLENDIVE, MONTANA, from where the bus for Bellingham can be  found.

Am now considering leaving SAM in Wibaux for my return in the Spring of 2014, when Winter allows SAM AND ME to complete our 5th trek across America.

Have not yet discovered how to link images from GOOGLE - where this blog is created - to FACEBOOK...apologize to my FACEBOOK readers.  My VERIZON "mentor", SINCERELY - yes, that is his name - has coa hed me, but somewhere, I have dropped a stitch and must go back to square one...remember my childhood when learning to knit...one cannot be a good knitter if one is not a good "ripper".

For now, will try to uplodad a few new images into the GOOGLE version:

ARRIVING IN WIBAUX

Please say HELLO to ROBERTA AMSLER...Owner of AMSLER CONVENIENCE STORE in Wibaux, Montana.

WELCOME TO WIBAUX, MONTANA.

Please say HELLO to PATRICIA ANDERSON...Front Desk Clerk at the BEAVER  CREEK MOTEL,  WIBAUX, MONTANA.

1.  

POST 1180; AUGUST 12, 2013; BEACH, NORTH DAKOTA

Slowly, am gaining on the images of the new DROID...Above images include LINDA, who gifted us the MEDORA motel.

The rest are random - lucky to grab any - ...the tall round one in SEATTLE...the balance along I-94.

We arrived in BEACH, ND after an 8-hour struggle in high heat...and return of the tendo pain.  It is not yet intense pain, but may yet take me out of our walk.

GLENDIVE, MONTANA is 38 miles from Beach. Will try to reach Glendive, where we can catch the Bus back to BELLINGHAM.

Better to cut short our walk than incur a lasting injury.

We shall see !

POST 1179; AUGUST 11, 2013; MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA

Taking it easy today, SAM AND ME arrived in the vacation town of MEDORA, N.D. without difficulty.

Am having some difficulty managing the CAMERA of the new DROID, but hope to work that out soon.  Images upload to GOOGLE,but not (yet) to FACEBOOK.

We have a BLUETOOTH Keyboard, which makes typing easier for my fat fingers, but takes a bit of learning to use it properly.

MEDORA is situated in a small valley surrounded be cliffs...and is also the Southern Entrance for the THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK...a spectacular "Canyon" of "Painted Hills" to rival...if not surpass other National Parks in pure beauty.  The Park is VERY LARGE...taking many hours to drive through it.  YTherefore, I cannot begin to walk it.  Last year, I did drive SPIA (motor home) into a portion of the park, including many ophotographs in that blog (about May 01, 2012)

Arriving this afternoon, I walked into the parking lot of the first Motel.  A lady walked up to me...May I help ??...Looking for the office to find a room for ththe interim, must be very careful not to re-injure something again.ight, as I am pooped from walking many hours...

this led to a short conversation...Come with me, says She.  I follow her to the office, where Linda ....... hands the Reservations Clerk her Credit Card...as the Clerk hands a key to me...

Linda has just gifted to me a $150.00 room...me, a total stranger.  Linda says she and her hubby are traveling to GLACIER NATIONAL PARD in early September...the same time SAM AND ME should be arriving in EAST GLACIER...so likely, we will meet once again.

I photographed Linda, but cannot now find the image to upload it...one of my Camera problems yet to be worked out.

It is now 7:00 pm.  Look forward to a good night sleep as we will attempt to walk and roll tomorrow to the small village of BEACH, N.D., about 25 miles distant.

It will take at least one more week before my body is back to full strength.  In the meantime must be careful to avoid more injury.