The Phoenix One Journals      Stories from the dawn of RoadTrip America

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We began the week at Detail Express in Auburn, Washington, where the Phoenix One got a wash, wax and facial from the best in the business. She emerged looking at least a year younger!

Heading toward the Olympic Peninsula, we stopped overnight in the charming resort town of Gig Harbor. We paused to chat with John and Kelly Padgett and ended up visiting them at American Sign Studio, where they make beautiful redwood signs that are true works of art.

On our way up the east side of the Olympic Peninsula, we stopped in Port Ludlow to visit Robert Moss, retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain, Puget Sound Pilot, master mariner, professional engineer, and ...bagpipe player!

In Sequim, on the Olympic Peninsula, the Phoenix One spent a few days under the care of Eric Davis and John Wilson at Eric's RV Performance Center, which meant we stayed there, too. This gave us the pleasure of meeting Lorelle and Brent VanFossen, professional nature photographers and writers who are embarking on an eighteen-month transcontinental journey. The Phoenix received some front end attention at Evergreen Collision Center in Port Angeles and had a scar dating back to a New Mexico snowstorm removed at the same time.

While we were in Port Angeles, we enjoyed the hospitality of Norma and Bob Wiggins, whom we'd met two years before in Wallace, Idaho. We also met Larry and Carol Rosenblum and were interviewed by Dennis Bragg of Northland Cable for the evening news.

Highlights in the eating department were The Three Crabs at Dungeness where we enjoyed a seafood feast with John Wilson, and Bonny's Bakery in Port Angeles, where we found not only excellent bread, coffee and pastries, but also a nostalgic GIZMO.

Next week, we'll be moseying back toward Seattle, and our longer-term plans include reporting from the Calgary Stampede in July. Getting there is all the fun, of course, and we hope you'll be joining us!