Day One - Tillamook & Newport

What an incredible start to our journey!

 

Thank you so very much to everyone who participated in our send off.  As we drove down I-5 south leaving Fife through DuPont, WA., it was so heart warming to see the way above and beyond efforts of Heroes & Angels.

 

KING 5 TV covered the entire event, and though we have not personally seen the story, we are told it was an outstanding reporting job!  Thank you, Ron, for sticking with us!  You are invited anytime!

 

Our "Godzilla Gang" stepped up, as always, for the Army side of the house.  They actually took possession of SHertz, who after being enlisted in the WA Army National Guard yesterday, was retired for permanent display to the Fort Lewis Museum.  He was placed in the TFFT "Godzilla" and escorted by the Fort Lewis Provost Marshall's office representative.  They have assured us that He is now firmly ensconced in his new home.

 

From the escort through Tacoma .. where an accident had backed up traffic pretty thoroughly, to seeing the overpasses covered with fire service personnel ... there are no words to express our gratitude and pride!  Seeing all the banners, flags and smiles pushed us forward, and will stay with us forever! 

 

We want to thank Tacoma Fire & Police ... Fife PD & the D.A.R.E. car (driver, Mike) ... Lakewood FD & PD ...Washington State Patrol ... Fort Lewis PMO ... Bates Tech Fire Service Traning ... McChord AFB Fire, Fort Lewis Fire, 506th Firefighters ...Suzanne & Seamus - the Pipers.  Please advise if I have left anyone off ... we want all honored!

 

I think we both welled up as we drove closer to Bridgeport overpass where McChord AFB firefighters represented for both military and civilian firefighters.  As the civilians waved and cheered us on, behind their IAFF banner, the military troops snapped to attention with some very well executed salutes.  THAT is what this program is about!

 

Dan harris, Director of "Journey for Freedom" came to represent, participate, and film the event.  They leave on the first run from the northwest,headed for DC over Memorial Dav ... See y'all there!  Be safe!

 

Our first stop was Tillamook, Oregon.  We met them last year as a heart stop, and promised we would make them official if they got hold of us.  We have made the offer to others, but they acted on the info ... and here we are!

 

The group at the Tillamook FD was representative of the comradery between heroes.  Fire and Law Enforcement stood shoulder to shoulder today.  We all laughed, and shared our new mascot with them.  It is always great when you can start and end the tour on a high note ... we're halfway there on that one.

 

JeeNee got her first ride in a fire rig right in Tillamook ... And talk about having a fun experience!  She was only gone for a few minutes, but she didn't get just any ol rig, she was in one of their beautiful shiny ladder trucks.  Nice ride!  It was great seeing her big smile. 

 

I remember my first ride, and she will too.  I'm happy for the smiles it gave her.  This is also the first time she's been away from her husband and kids like this and it is really tough on her, you can tell she misses them all alot!  It's tough being on the road and away from loved ones.  I see her experiencing some of the emotions that military families go through on deployments ... and her hubby is doing the really tough job keeping the home fires burning.  So JeeNee, Happy Mother's Day.  And to her family, I will do my part to get her back home, safe and sound.  I truly appreciate your sacrifice for her to make this tour, and she is doing a great job!  These photos, for the most part, are all her work.  We keep her pretty busy.  Hope you are as proud of her as we are.

 

Tillamook Fire also fed us, sadly we couldn't sit down and join them.  It was pretty much drive -thru service ... but they added real Tillamook cheese to the burgers - no complaints here!  And then after filling our tanks, they filled our tank!  These things make a huge difference in the success of this effort. 

 

In between, they were warm and hospitable, and made us feel very welcome.  This group helped remind us that all the hard work on this tour is worth it.  Their laughter and heart shown through clearly.

 

They also got us hooked up with the "Jolly Roger's"/FDNY, and we are very excited to me this group.  they shave a lot to live up to, cuz the guys in Tillamook really think they rock!  Can't wait!

 

Thank you all again.  *FYI- Gas is averaging about $3.09 for regular in this area from what we can see.

 

As we headed out of Tillamook, the scenery on the Oregon Coast was dazzling!  Back a ways, we were able to do a few quick photos at the Astoria Column, and at the end of the Seaside Promenade ... the end of the Lewis & Clark Trail.  We also pulled over for the shot of Haystack Rock .... can't pass that up!  Then there was a quick stop in Lincoln City for something special, but we'll share more about that later ... shhhh, it's a surprise.

 

It is past midnight and we are posting from our room at the Inn at Laquina Bay ... made possible by our friends at the Newport Fire Department.  Thank you so much! 

 

It was good to see Newport again.  This is our second visit to them, and just gets better each time!  They knew all about Sharen, and welcomed her with open arms.  She got to show off some of her accessories in her specially made mini-duffel (Thank you Jensen Lee!  People are already talking about this bag in a great way!)

 

We went out to the car and did some pix when they had a visitor ... a cop!!!  Hehe, you just got cited buddy!  But it appears that Ms Sharen did something questionable ... because before we knew it, she was being handcuffed.  Oh Sharen, did we learn nothing from the foibles off SHertz?  Tsk, tsk tsk.  Looks like She has some spirit in there next to the stuffing.  But in her defense, there was a corruptive influence in there, and our friendly police officer saw it ... look closely and you'll see Sharen was not the only one cuffed!

 

Sharen had some great photo ops with the kitty and the troll, and almost with the Coast Guard.  We're willing to come back for that one!

 

Well all, I want to try again to get the pix to post before I fall asleep on the keyboard, so I am going to sign off here.  My mind is so scrambled by now that my dreams will probably be peanuts and cotton balls .. oh sigh.  Butwe'll do that from a comfy bed, and we thank you all for that!

 

Tilllamook & Newport are both OFFICIAL now!  They are at the start of their shirt drive for the troops for this upcoming February.  Wonder which will have the most shirts?  Hmmm ...

 

See ya soon!

( ;

lj

 

ps ... De to an aol glitch, the pix do not always post in order.  (And right now they're realllllllllllly slow loading.)  I will get a few repesentaive pix up, and add more tomorrow,  Sorry, need to sleep!