Headed for New Mexico!

Spike: Hey, Mike, you lazy butt, get up! We gotta get ready.
Mike: Leave me alone- I'm taking my afternoon nap.
Spike: No, Mike! We have to get ready! We're going to New Mexico.
Mike: You mean we finally get to get out of that cupboard?
Spike: Right on, Dude! We're headed south!
Mike: Alrighty, then- let's get packed!














Spike: What the... Mike, you have a pink suitcase!
Mike: Shut up, Dude. It was on sale! And, you should talk- look at your bag... you do realize there's a weight limit, don't you?
Spike: Hey, I want to be prepared. I can't wait to use my sail!
Mike: Huh?
Spike: My sail for windsurfing... and I have my inflatable, in case I fall in the water.
Mike: Ah, Mike?
Spike: Yeah?
Mike: We're going to the desert.
Spike: Oh. Well... I'll guess I'll go re-pack.
Mike: Good idea.

Will Spike find the water he needs for windsurfing? Will Mike have to defend his masculinity after bringing the pink suitcase? Find out next time on "Tales from New Mexico" (scheduled for release January 2)

Mike and Spike, you lazy butts

Get out of the house and do something!

Party Like it's Halloween!

Chocolate Mike and Caramel Spike had a great time at the Thorsteinson Halloween party. They even had costumes, thanks to Mary's Polly Pocket wardrobe!

Mike and Spike's Oregon Odyssey

Spike: I knew this was going to be a long drive and I wanted to be reunited with CoCo Mikey so I asked if he could come along.
Mike: CoCo Mickey? It's Chocolate Mike! Besides, who's name is in the title of this blog?
Spike: What? Anyway, I wanted someone to hang out with. Someone who could keep me entertained. It does get tiring staring at Nate and Molly's faces during the whole trip.
Mike: Yeah, what's up with that. Spains, you ever think about turning us around? I mean, I know I'm already green but that riding backwards almost made me hurl.
Spike: I'm glad Mike decided to join me and reconcile things. After all he did leave me abandoned in the geocache box.
Mike: Whatever.......




Mike: Lilo, You must be Jamaican. Because you're Jamaican me crazy!
Lilo: (silence)
Mike: Baby, I'm no Fred Flintstone but I can make your Bedrock.
Lilo's starting to look disgusted
Mike: Can I see your tan lines???
Mike: Lilo, if I could rearrange the alphabet I would put U and I together.
Lilo: Oh yeah, If I could rearrange the alphabet I would put F and U together.
Spike: Ouch! Dissed by a little Hawaiian girl.
Mike: Shut up, Spike!




Mike: Finally, out of the mini-van.
Spike: This is at the Seaside Aquarium. We saw some groovy looking fish.
Mike: I almost pushed you in here.
Spike: What?
Mike: Nothing.



Spike: So this is what the ocean looks like. It was a lovely day.
Mike: I'm glad we were this far away from the waves.
Spike: I know, these spikes aren't too condusive for swimming out to rescue you.



Mike: Ah, the wreck of the Peter Iredale. Did you know that this ship has been sitting here for 101 years?
Spike: 101 years? That's nothing. We're working on what? 144 million years...give or take....



Mike: What's this? Is Nate making fun of me? I can't help it if my wire broke and I'm stuck like this.
Spike: hahahahahaha!
Mike: Shut up, Spikey! I knew I should've pushed you in at the aquarium.
Spike: Maybe you got pushed in and the starfish sucked out your sense of humor.
Mike: Do you see how easy it was for me to leave him in the box?



Spike: Here we are at Fort Stevens State Park. We enjoyed touring the old Fort.
Mike: hahahahaha!
Spike: What's so funny?
Mike: You said 'Old Fart'.
Spike: hahahahaha!




Mike: The following three pictures are of some dino buddies we ran into during the trip.
Spike: Can you see us on the stubby arms? What I'd like to know is why do all the T-Rexes get all the glory? Where's the Stegosaurus love?
Mike: Let me ask you, Spikey...which dinosaur would you rather be photographed with: a big ole badass flesh eating T-Rex or a wimpy little vegetarian stegosaur?
Spike: You do have a point.....



Spike: We told this little buddy to hang in there. Someone will take him, love him and maybe when he's older he can get his very own blog!
Mike: It was a little sad putting this little guy back in the cache. I almost shed a tear.
Spike: Why didn't you?
Mike: Because a badass T-Rex doesn't cry.



Mike: This place was off the hook! Lots of female dinos.
Spike: Yes, we just wanted to kick it with the chickies but the Spains had to get on the road. That gal Brontesaur was sure giving me the 'come hither' look too.
Mike: We tried to roar that we wanted these ladies to all come with us but then Nate and Molly said that two dinosauers were enough.
Spike: Cripes!



Mike: It's the Seaside Beer Wolf!
Spike: Mmmmm....a beer sounds good. Where are the beer pictures of us?
Mike: I think they're coming up.




Spike: Oh, please don't tell me that this is caught on film.
Mike: Dude, this is hilarious!
Spike: Dude, this is embarassing!
Mike: So anyway, all these seagulls are just sitting complacently along the beach so Nate and Molly thought it'd be a great idea to get a shot of us with the birds.
Spike: Oh God here it comes....
Mike: Out of nowhere this seagull flies in mistaking Spike for a bread crumb! hahahahaha! He spit you out though as soon as he tasted you.



Mike: It startled Molly too. Look at the bright side, Spikey, you're still here with us.
Spike: Take me to a happy place.



Mike: Spike is rinsing off his bottom after getting the s#!t scared out of him.
Spike: Shut up, Coco!
Mike: We're in front of Haystack Rock. It was sure cold, windy and rainy that day.



Spike: I had fun here at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
Mike: It was quite informational.
Spike: This was the last stop on the trip. Sad really. I did have a good time with you Mike.
Mike: Riiiiiight.





Mike: This is what I'm talking about!
Spike: This is what makes taking a vacation with Mike tolerable.
Mike: What I want to know is, what the hell is the Hamm's doing ruining such an otherwise beautiful picture.



Spike: When was this picture taken and where was I????
Mike: You were whining about how tired you were from the long drive so I think you're in Molly's pocket.
Spike: That sucks!
Mike: It was good too. Brew from the Full Sail Brewing Company. Hey, there we are!



Spike: Yeah, we had to have our picture taken outside of the brewery. Apparently, they have laws against dinosauers in the building or something like that....afraid we'll drink their vats dry.
Mike: Well, we would.
Spike: Damn straight!



Spike: Starbucks.
Mike: 'Nuff said.



Mike: No, they got this on film.
Spike: Now it's your turn to be shamefaced.
Mike: groan

Mike: So there's only one question left to be asked...
Mike and Spike: Where are we off to next?!?

Chocolate Mike's Big Sky Adventure

We did not want to rest on our laurels of Grand Marshall of the Parade. Chocolate Mike understood our drive to reach that lofty goal of First Prize in the Parade. Our competition was stiff. It included a John Deere Horse, Shriners in bathtubs and on ATV's, and the local bank's Sponge Bob float throwing out candy and beads. Victory for descendants of Joe Dixon - First Place in the Miscellaneous Category, which pretty much sums up the family. Part of our allure might have been the media coverage. A Missoula relative called up the local Missoula press and asked if it was a slow news weekend - lucky for us, yes. Two, count them two, news articles on our family reunion and Dixon Melon Days. Check out http://web.mac.com/npleach/Dixon_Reunion_2007/Dixon_Melon_Days.html for the paparazzi coverage on our family web site.

Chocolate Mike's Big Sky Adventure

On Saturday, August 25, the glorious culumination of our family reunion - Dixon Melon Day. Mom and Aunt Poo had scouted this world-class event last year. The day's events include a parade, fun run/walk, food and craft booths, live enertainment, farmer Olympics, little buckaroo rodeo and the best melons in western Montana. When we contacted the organizer of the parade we found ourselves the honorary Grand Marshalls. We had a banner made, "Celebrating Dixon Descendants of Joseph Dixon," for the pick-up truck to carry all the kids in and matching t-shirts with Joe Dixon on them. Chocolate Mike piled in the truck with the kids and helped throw out candy to the crowds.

Chocolate Mike's Big Sky Adventure

On Friday we all journeyed west of Missoula to Quinn's Hot Springs Resort in Paradise, Montana. This was the closest place to Dixon to accomodate our big crew. We enjoyed two big group dinners here and partook of the hot springs. There were several pools next to each other, each with different temperatures; the water was not treated in any way and drained every other evening. Chocolate Mike is seen here enjoying a refreshing dip and the playground.

Chocolate Mike's Big Sky Adventure

Who knew Montana had such amazing quilt stores? Leaving Holland Lake we drove through Seeley Lake and of course had to stop at Deer Country Quilt Shop. Chocolate Mike was loving the fabric choices. I bought an adorable souvenier panel from Seeley Lake - Chocolate Mike approved.

Chocolate Mike's Big Sky Adventure

Chocolate Mike did make some new friends on the trip.

Chocolate Mike's Big Sky Adventure

Chocolate Mike did take time to appreciate the beautiful scenery at Holland Lake Lodge east of Missoula. The family has a long history at the place and it was fun to be back. Canoe rides, rope swinging, hikes, swimming (brrrrr), and lots of catching up. The smoke from the forest fires came and went regularly but we were lucky most of the time.

Chocolate Mike's Big Sky Adventure

Then there was the drinking. Chocolate Mike and his new barfly friend, Jennings, kept whooping it up. What kind of dinosaur leads a 2-year old astray?

Chocolate Mike's Big Sky Adventure

Maybe it was too many relatives. Maybe it was the long car trip. But Chocolate Mike's behavior deteriorated and he had to watched constantly. Gambling his savings away!

Chocolate Mike's Big Sky Adventure

On Wednesday, August 22nd, Chocolate Mike kindly agreed to accompany us on our family trip to Montana. My Mom and aunt organized a family reunion and gathered relatives from Washington, Idaho, and the East Coast. We started off at the Silvernale lake place. On Wednesday, we all left for Montana. Chocolate Mike rode in the Durango with Casey Silvernale and Jennings and Grace Shook. Of course, the trip must be broken up with a stop at the world famous Lincoln's 10,000 Silver Dollar Bar. I have found childhood memories of stopping at this class attraction. We did some shopping at Montana's largest gift shop. Photo opportunity with Chocolate Mike at Montana's largest collection of silver dollars.

Girl Scouts Away

On Wednesday, August 15, Chocolate Mike helped drop off Chapin and Grace at Girl Scout Camp on Lake Coeur d'Alene. The Shooks Cobalt 200 delivered the girls in style. They stayed for 3 nights at Mermaid Camp and had a blast. The Moms and little kids retired to the Shooks cabin on the lake and tried not to miss them too much. No fun was had at all without them.

Caramel Spike's Heat Stroke

Poor Caramel Spike. He hasn't moved from our dashboard since the Canada trip a month and a half ago. At least I hope he's still there and hasn't melted into a pile of latex between Lilo and Stitch - our other dashboard mojo.

I'll make a better effort to include ole Spikey on other outings besides road trips.

Montana-bound Mike

That's right- Mike is heading for Montana! He gets to go with Mary Silvernale Shook and her family. We're hoping to hear from him by September 1. Have a good trip, Mike!

More of Chocolate Mike's Minnesota Marvels

Well, I can't be upstaged by ol' Spikey, so I will post some of my "world's largest" monuments. Here is the World's Largest Buffalo in Jamestown, ND.














And, we can't forget the World's Largest Cow in New Salem, ND. By the way, the cow and a gas station are the only things in this town. Seriously, I couldn't even find a residential area!


Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to see the World's Largest Walleye (Baudette, MN). Maybe next year!












This isn't in the "World's Largest" category, but it can easily be the "World's Most Secluded Church." The Penturen church is located in Beltrami State Forest, near Roosevelt, MN. We drove for about an hour on gravel and logging roads to get here. There was a geocache in the area; we found it right away, but some of us were a little nervous about getting lost in the thick woods, because there were no trails.

This church was an old settlers' church in the 1920's. It's was restored and is kind of neat! You can see more pictures of it on Anita's website.

Introducing........CARAMEL SPIKE

Hello Everybody! Let me introduce myself. I am Caramel Spike. I was spawned from the same geocache box that my so-called "dino buddy" Chocolate Mike came from. He just happened to get out first. Since Chocolate Mike or "CoCo Mickey" - as I like to call him - was galavanting around Minnesota I had the pleasure of going international with the Spain family to Canada. Here I am on the dashboard waiting out some road construction on the prairie.


Use your imagination here.


Medicine Hat, Alberta - Stretching my legs at the World's Largest TeePee.


We sat in an old sod house in Tompkins. That's old school housing if you ask me.


Like my counterpart, I too enjoy a good brew, eh?


Molly's brother, Bryan, married Lisa Baumgartner last November and they celebrated their wedding reception in Montmarte, Saskatchewan. I spent some time touring the Baumgartner farm.


Here is Frank Slide, Alberta. It was an impressive sight and one that photos don't do justice.


You gotta love road trips and the attractions that come with them. This is the World's Largest Truck in Sparwood, BC. There is a magnetic micro -cache on it somewhere but we never found it.

Unfortunately we passed many dinosaur museums but were pretty much on a forced march through putting on 1400+ miles in only 5 days so we couldn't stop at every place. I'm happy to see that CoCo was able to spend time with the rellies.

I can't wait to see where my next adventure will take me.