NO DOGS ALLOWED, but bears can do whatever they like.

Our latest campground was picked for it’s location, less that 20 miles from Lassen Volcanic National Park. For the last week, I have been posting on Facebook one beautiful scenery shot after another, all featuring this beautiful snow-covered mountain in the background. That mountain is Lassen Volcanic National Park. We picked up brochures and surfed the net for all we could find out. I was checking out the trails and wondering which one I dared suggest to Kerry when he informed me that there were no dogs allowed anywhere in the Park except for the parking lot. The rationale is one I totally agree with. It is a protected area and dogs interfere with that careful balance. They are predators and leave their scent (and too many times more) behind. I agree totally in theory…. but in reality, those trails were calling my name. I also suspected Kerry of praying about it. And the campground was not really our style, a “resorty” type with lots of action and lots of people. Warm showers are pretty much always pay in this dry West, but the bathrooms also were combination locked… which is fine in the day, but the door was not lit well enough for me to see at night so I had to feel my way. The best thing about it was that they saved all the spots on the lake for tent campers. I really liked that. We had quite a few comments on our camper and our boxers there. As a lake, I found it a little ho-hum, certainly not as nice as Lake Hartwell, but I guess when you’re surrounded by as much dust as these guys are, any body of water looks pretty good. (I’m much more enamored by the creeks.) I tried to swim but there was really no place where you didn’t run into underwater brush. I’m not a big fan of underwater brush.

So back to the hikes. Because we knew dogs were only allowed certain places, we picked a rails to trails hike near our campground on Saturday. I wasn’t expecting much because the forest looked a lot the same from the road. However, I was pleasantly surprised. On this slow, flat graveled trail, the landscape changed often, mostly due to the low flora, especially the wild flowers, and the random rocks. I was reminded of those people who landscape their yard without grass using natural plants only. It’s just that I had never walked through the real thing.

And then there was Lassen. I know I’ve used the words beautiful, awesome, incredible and fantastic too much already, but I would just hang my camera out the window and snap and ended up with postcard photographs. It was the contrast of colors that was so appealing… browns and greens, blues and white. It all just meshed together in this creative blend that just blew me away every mile. And the smell of sulphur amid the snow… a pretty unusual place and fascinating for my geology loving husband…. and we did get a bit of hiking. We were able to park the dogs in a very shady spot in the visitor center and went about 15 minutes down the trail. It was so hard to stop! But I waited for Kerry at the bottom and we took a picture at the creek and then I raced back to check on the dogs. (I really noticed the altitude being quite out of breath when I got back to them. I also got to climb another mountain trail where we stopped at the biggest sulfur springs area. Kerry stayed with the dogs while I headed for the top, stopping every two minutes to take a picture. I promised myself that I would stop and turn back when the trail turned. (It came way too soon.) Dogs, or no, Kerry and I could not have done this trail together… but I’m hoping maybe one of my children will take me back someday.

Our next stop was Sugar Pines State Park at Lake Tahoe. We were introduced by signing an agreement to pay a thousand dollar fine if we left any food anywhere but in the bear proof containers, and that included our car and any icebox we had. That was okay by me and I was scrupulous about cleaning out the RV and car of any scented product… but that was when Kerry informed me that we didn’t have water or electricity. I suppose I knew that at one point because we had planned to dry camp in Colorado at the national park there, but I had forgotten… and this was our last stop before Shosha. And it is in the 90’s and no shade during the day and in the 40’s at night. More importantly than that, there are two toilets in the women’s bathroom (a toilet and a urinal in the men’s) for about 100 campers. On top of that, Lake Tahoe is well on the beaten path… a bit like Myrtle Beach or Gatlinburg. We did have a nice dip in a creek (I say we, and of course mean me and the dogs) on a dog approved path, but we gave in and called Shosha and asked her could we pretty please come a little early. She said she would love that which we are not going to question. Of course, it is the hottest week on record there, but that is where Shosha is so who cares about the weather there.

We are also thinking that we might need to wash a few clothes there. We have been living in a dust pit for a week now where washing anything, us or clothes, only lasts about 15 minutes.

So dogs allowed and bears are being left behind. Sacramento, here we come.

No horses on sidewalk

We have been on the Ponderosa for the last few days. As we got closer to our really off the beaten path county park… Willow Lake… seven miles from Butte Falls, Oregon.. which boasts a library, cafe, general store and ball field…we began to feel like we were on a set for Bonanza. The road was full of open range signs and we passed guys on horses doing cowboy things, like rounding up cows and making them go somewhere else. The landscape got crispy in spite of fast flowing but shallow rivers.

And then there was our campground. This beautiful, small lake with a snow covered mountain in the background. In the swimming area, I could swim right towards this scene or could do a back and forth sideways swim with it constantly in my view. (I opted for both.) The first day the lake felt about Hartwell-like in Mayish, but it seemed a good bit cooler on the second day, probably because the outside temperature was under ninety. It was the most peaceful and quiet place we’ve ever been camping, at least, in an RV. There was almost no one there. There were a couple of Latino families at the farther end. Evidently, it is popular here for one or more families to reserve a site or two and everyone comes over for a supper party. That happened in our campground in South Beach (and also, in Emigrant Springs with an older white couple meeting their children and grandchildren… so maybe it’s an Oregon thing instead of Latino) This family was all there together as I guess visiting was not possible in such an isolated spot. I met a woman with beautiful long black hair, as thick or thicker than mine but longer trying to comb it in the bathroom. She didn’t speak any English and I discovered that I speak even less Spanish than I used to. It’s not only words in English that I can’t find in my brain anymore. I used to have at least 100 words that I could piece together in grammatically incorrect sentences, but I seem to have nothing left. For quite a while, I’ve been thinking that the pharmaceutical cure is worse than my disease. Anyway, back to my verbal path, there were very few of us, and at night it was the quietest place ever. No distant sounds of cars, no birds, no music, nothing. It was especially noticeable when I left the camper where we were running the fan to make my late night bathroom trips. It was a small lake, but there were paths, mostly for fisherman sites, around the lake that had so many beautiful places to stop and just soak in the scenery… or fish if that is your preference.

We did not make it to Crater Lake. It just didn’t seem worth the extra 200 miles of travel when all around us was so wonderful. We did make a few trips to the public library in Eagle Point for some necessary internet access. Love being out of touch but also love that the public library is there for you when you need it.

I also donated my hair while on our trip into “town”, Medford. It went to Wigs for Kids. I was wavering on giving it away, but Maura called that morning to tell us of her friend, mentor, professor and committee member who died of a really brutal form of brain cancer leaving four young children behind. None of my reasons for keeping my hair could top the opportunity to give it to a child suffering with cancer. It looks like I have had a super perm and I probably will need to cut it even shorter to keep the tammy flips away, but for now, I feel pretty light-headed.

We are traveling now to Chester, California. I must admit that I got a thrill seeing a sign for Sacramento only 299 miles away…. but Shosha is actually in Toronto right now so we have another two stops before we get there. We traveled South down Interstate 5 and then took a turn East towards Lassen National Park, although we are staying in a private campground with water and electricity and flush toilets and showers. We also just passed a sign that warned of severe drought. I can totally see how these forests can go up in smoke. We made a small, bug filled hike on the Pacific Crest Trail and there were dry fallen trees and limbs everywhere. (It smelled like a Christmas tree trail with all the cedar and spruce trees.) It was so hot and dry though that the dogs were letting me lead, not a good sign and the main reason for our walk’s brevity. Oh yeah, and we had an old man with us who is not overly found of the heat.

Not sure when I will post this as I think this may be another of those no service places, but whatever it is, it will be a place of thankfulness and rejoicing.

A month and 5000 miles on the road

We just had the best part. Nicholas’s smile is more beautiful to me than all the mountains and rivers and oceans we have experienced. I know, overload of mush, but also true. I’m glad we had so long. It took a while to get comfortable and just feel like us. Once Nicholas saw our accommodations of the last month, he decided we would be okay just hanging out in his small apartment, even if he didn’t have a dining table and sofa. And that’s when you’re really family, not in restaurants or bars or even parks. And I got lots of hugs from both. (At one point, Nicholas complained lightly that it was a little hard to breathe. :-) I just can’t express how satisfying it has been to have time with my son. Even though it was hard to leave, I just felt so good to have been there and had the time. It’s kind of like how my children are always accusing me of being morbid about the way I talk about being ready to die. I’m still totally enjoying my life and want as much as I am given. But I am also aware of how rich I have been and would try not to be greedy.

Kerry and I got to catch up with Game of Thrones which ended with that terribly violent scene, which was also guiltily so satisfying. Lydia also hooked me on Fear of the Walking Dead, which is unfortunately on HBO so it will be a while before I give in to that one, having to wait until it comes on Netflix. Nicholas and Lydia are addicted to some Pokemon kind of game cards which I’ve already forgotten but which looks pretty cool and I can see how it would be fun to play… if I had more of a functional brain.

So now we are on Interstate 5 headed for more beautiful mountains. These volcanic in nature, hopefully without the activity of Mount St. Helen which erupted and was caught so beautifully by the photographer who knew it would be his last act of life. But if it does, wow, it’s been a great life!

We stay in southern Oregon for the next few nights, close to the Crater Lake National Park, and the Lessen National Park (which is closed due to snow so we probably will have to wait on that one). We spend our next three nights in Northern California in another series of volcanic mountains before heading to four nights around Lake Tahoe which will probably be covered in tourists (like us) but hopefully be beautiful enough to overcome that. Then SHOSHA! She will be in Toronto while we are doing the mountains of Oregon and California. Otherwise, our journey there would be less winding. We are looking forward to relaxing time with Matt and her and making friends with Olive. Our dogs are ready to fall in love having discovered how much fun it is to be with cousin dogs. We plan to take all the dogs on adventures while Shosha and Matt have to work and then to fix them wonderful Kerry suppers. ( I, of course, use that we thing metaphorically. My job is the after the meal clean up.) They have been having a heat wave there though, so it may be really important to hand around water.

What a wonderful journey we have had and are looking forward to every minute we still have to go. I love this old man I am traveling with. I love how we are getting to live the dream of enjoying the never ending Saturday that has been our retirement. I’ve even decided to quit feeling guilty for having so much and just spend every minute being grateful.

Enjoying the son

Because the sun has not shown much of itself.

We have actually had a few times of sunshine, but the moist or really wet times have been more frequent. It’s just like when we were in Prince Edward Island; there’s a reason why it is so green.

Nicholas was out of town the first few days we were here so that he could take a week off. We considered it a fair trade, and we did get some time with Lydia. We met up with her and went to a dog park so the dogs could check each other out. They had one good run and then it was too hot for Luna. All of them were mostly interested in drinking water so we went back to the apartment where they were all very calm. We didn’t stay long as we still had to set up camp at South Beach State Park in Newport. The ride in was long and winding but the scenery, especially coming over the bridge, was fantastic. The dogs love the beach. Luna especially thinks it is a big sandpile created just for her. Their only time off leash at the beach was on a cool evening and I didn’t think she would ever come… which she wouldn’t, but she finally got tired and hot enough that we caught her rolling around in the wet sand… not a good thing in a small camper with two people and two dogs on a queen size bed. But we long ago abandoned old standards of cleanliness. We also managed one hike through the woods by the beach to the jetty and a walk on a fishing pier on the bay before realizing that those paths belonged exclusively to the mosquitoes. We haven’t been able to cook or spend any significant time outdoors since our second day. This place reminds me of Canada in June. Not summer and bug city. But in such a beautiful abode. Our future trips will be in the spring and fall so we’ll have to deal with the condensation in our camper because we will be running the heat inside and the outside will be equivalent to our winters. But it will be where our children are, so worth whatever inconveniences we will experience.

Our restaurant experiences have been very flavorful if limited to outdoor patios where the three dogs can accompany us. We finally found a Thai restaurant where it was a little too spicy. In South Carolina, we always have to convince them that we really do want it extra spicy and sometimes have to convince them to bring the spices out for us to supplement. Both our meals, vegetables in peanut sauce for me and green curry for Kerry left our mouths burning…We even had to ask Lydia for some of her water. But on the second eating, (helpings were extremely generous) it was too much, having soaked for a day or so. Next time, we will order just plain spicy instead of extra spicy. It was Lydia’s birthday and Nicholas was still at work. Unfortunately, he came home early and just barely missed it so was sent back for his own dish.

Kerry and I have been binge watching Game of Thrones with Lydia and Nicholas as we did not have HBO before we left or obviously on the road, and they did not seem to mind a second viewing. Without spoilers, we just discovered the reason for Hodor’s speech. It was very moving. We probably won’t finish before we have to leave but it has been nice to share the experience with our beloveds.

There are boxers everywhere. This state park is definitely a two dog park, and we have run into many hikers carrying dog food and dogs as they walk the coast. That is true dog love. One our next door campers had a chocolate lab and a beautiful white and fawn boxer. There was also three boxers at the dog park on our second visit. However, Luna got two exuberant, and Kapu joined her in barking so that the owner got understandably worried and we had to leave. There have also been other boxers and part boxers here at the campground; and more larger dogs in general than you see in campgrounds we have been in.

Our best meal was the one fixed for us by Nicholas and Lydia’s friends, Michael Anne and Luke. Not only was it delicious, it had all the presentation and expensive wine to match. Michael Ann was worried about serving the red wine in a white wine glass, but I assured her that those subtleties were wasted on us. You have to spend a lot of time drinking really good wines to know the difference, and that would just be another glass to wash in my opinion. There was halibut with dungeness crab and crab legs on top of the halibut and the best scallops I’ve ever had. There were great vegetables, too, including asparagus, but I didn’t want to get too full to miss the dessert which included fresh blueberries and strawberries. What a wonderful treat, and from two people who have taken Nicholas and Lydia under their wing and been such good friends when we are so far away. They are older and actually have a son almost Nicholas’s age, but I love that that has not been a barrier to their friendship. I certainly treasure the people my children have introduced to me and cherish the time with them. I also think that Nicholas and Lydia are so wonderful in their own right that they have given as much as they have received.

Nicholas and Lydia  had a camping type wedding today. You know nothing really goes as planned when camping.  Lydia told me when we arrived that they wanted to get “legally” married while we were here. In deciding on a date that Nicholas might remember, today is the 16th and exactly six months after his birthday. Unfortunately, neither researched marriage laws in Oregon. It seemed that you couldn’t just go to the courthouse and do it. It varies from county to county and there is a 3 day waiting period. The waiting period could be solved with ten bucks but you had to find a clerk available to perform the service, which is not just any time. Anyway, they came down today to Newport (a different county from Corvallis) to get the license and planned to have the ceremony tomorrow. When they went there, the clerk said he could do it today…. the date was more important than our clothes or the white hand corsage that was in Corvallis so we left the dogs in a shaded car at the library and did it today. Kerry and I got to sign as witnesses, which was the whole point of doing it while we were here. It was a sweet little ceremony with a lot of laughter (beginning with the sappy hearts and love sign that they stood under) and continued when they had to figure out which left or right hand to be holding. Nicholas and Lydia had really already committed to one another so this was kind of a formality, but one they knew we would like to be present for. (They had decided to spend what money they had on a house instead of a wedding.) The three kisses at the end was my personal favorite part. I love Lydia and am happy to bring her in to my extended family in an official capacity. They are both good people.

So, this part of my trip is about enjoying my son. Soon we will be at part 2, enjoying my daughter.

It’s not the green

In my conversation with the woman in Utah, she told me Oregon was the most beautiful state. I need the green. But it is not the green that makes it so beautiful, although that is certainly a part and I’ve seen such a little part of Oregon, it is the water.  It’s the Columbia River; it’s the other rivers and creeks; it’s the Pacific Ocean. A land-locked state such as Utah, no matter how beautiful, cannot compete with a coastal state that also boasts such mountains.

We have actually seen only a small piece of the ocean at Newport. Tomorrow is our day to explore the tide pools and visit the lighthouses. The beach here is behind a mountainous looking but level path. It is so green and shaded and then you arrive on a large sand dune that has a path through cold sand to a flat beach. Kanu, and especially Luna, thought they were in heaven. On our first trip, they remained on leash but still managed a frolic in the heavy sand. The second trip was more isolated and they enjoyed several sprints off leash. Luna could only be recovered when she completely collapsed in a wet spot near the surf. She does not come when called, but has a limited endurance.

The road finally ended in its purpose, hugging my beloved little boy blue… who is neither little nor blue but so precious to me. It has been a long two years, and it is in our plan to return twice a year in the future. My wreck, epilepsy, surgery and need to empty the house postponed this trip for way too long. It is also such a blessing to see him with Lydia. We celebrated her birthday today because she is such a special person in our lives and in all life, although she doesn’t see that as well as we do. I am very glad that she fell in love with my son and he with her.

We have had some great Thai food. I think it is my favorite ethnic food and the place we ate at today made it as spicy as we like it and still be so flavorful. A strange place called Woodman that serves Thai and American and is supposed to have the best burger around. I will not be finding out. Who would order hamburger when there is curry?

There is a reason Prince Edward Island and Oregon is so green. It’s called rain. It rains a lot here, especially on the coast. I am glad that we are not in a tent. We actually put up a tent but it is now soaking wet and has been taken down. They also have Canadian sized mosquitos on the coast. We are not the only ones in long pants and long sleeves. Anyone is shorts or t-shirts are so covered in deet that you can smell them coming from quite a distance. I prefer physical to chemical deterrent. That’s okay because I cam prepared with long pants and shirts. We will, and have, encountered hot weather, but those clothes are lightweight and don’t take up much space, and shorts can be worn at least a week before they need washing… and I mostly wear swimming suits underneath just to be ready in case a body of water shows up.

We are here for two weeks so feel like we are really settled for the moment. They have self-wash pet washes here that we will definitely be taking advantage of. It’s a pet tub that is like a car wash where you can change from shampoo to rinse to conditioner to take the dog out and disinfect it. It’s ten bucks and probably a deal. A pet store will charge you fifty bucks. The hose is free but the mosquitos, like i said, are huge and hungry.

I’m trying to get used to it being ME on the west coast and I’m the one who is three hours earlier. I’ve spent so much time thinking the other way. Kerry keeps me straight though whenever I ask him what time it is in Chicago or Greenville. He is so patient and hardly ever rolls his eyes.
We are planning a Game of Thrones marathon one day this week. Nicholas has HBO and we have not seen any of this season. Being on the road with limited access to internet has helped us stay in the dark, but it should be nice to watch it as fans together. Nicholas is taking the whole week off next week so we will have more time together than I had even hoped for. I am one very thankful mama.

We are on the beaten path

This may be the only state park I’ve ever been to where the highway traffic is so loud that you can hardly hear each other speak. Well, Kerry can hardly hear me speak anyway so I try to not even attempt it here. Emigrant Springs State Park was named for the spring where the emigrants on the Oregon Trail found water after so much desert. It took me the whole day after we camped to find any evidence of it. It is a boardwalk that covers more of a muddy place than a spring, but there is definitely a puddle or two there caused, I presume, by an underground spring.

It is hot here. 103 today. With no humidity. Still HOT. I worried about the dogs as we took the “river walk” in Pendleton, Oregon, home of the Pendleton Mills that makes the great blankets. The River Walk had no access to the river that we could find. It was a asphalt path separated from the river by distance and large rocks. We were deceived by the couple with two labs and some children frolicking in the river. How they got there we never found out. We went maybe a quarter of a mile before deciding that we needed to return to the car, even after giving the dogs water several times and me soaking their bandanas and their feet with water. Fortunately though, we had parked near the public library and were able to post our blogs. Actually, Kerry tried and then I went back and did it. It’s not hard, it’s just that I have been doing it because of limited time on WiFi. I sat with the dogs and continually gave them water in our somewhat shady parking lot. Kerry turned on the AC.

Driving into Oregon was another lesson in how wonderfully diverse our land is. The high desert was something we had not yet seen and we climbed all day. Our mpg that day was the worst ever… still never as bad as the Durango in Canada. Rest areas are few and far between and a must visit. At one there was only a small, dry side of the road for the dogs to poop, and there was so much poop there that the dogs could not drink for smelling, even though they were so thirsty. I finally took them back to the camper and they drank there.

We decided to leave Idaho with the bed down since my back was not at it’s best and we thought it was going to be a 400+ driving day anyway. It wasn’t. I got my mileage from Google but I must have put something wrong in. It seems that our drive across Oregon will be our long day. Anyway, we got here earlier than expected, and there was much less than we hoped here. After a short hike in the extreme heat, Kerry declared this was ridiculous. So we returned to the camper and napped in the AC.

On our trip out to find firewood (which later we discovered the camp host sold for five bucks for two cubic feet) we ran into this tiny store that was more of a  restaurant. They “opened” for us, but when we told them we were only looking for firewood, she pointed us down a forest road a couple of miles away where we could pick up all we needed. On the way out, we ran into a man who wanted to converse with us, probably because of our accents. Once we discussed a range of topics, I gently let him know when he suggested that we move on to politics (his were already made abundantly clear) that we probably didn’t want to do that as we were probably some of those flaming liberals he was complaining about. He was taken aback. I guess because of our accent, people assume. I think a lot of people assume you agree with them if you are polite. It was interesting though and we eventually got to that forest road for firewood. That was definitely off the beaten path.

The next morning we went to the cultural center museum of the Tuh Must slick - can’t actually spell it but that was the pronunciation guide cultural museum telling the tribal viewpoint of the “taming” of the wild west. It was interesting that they began with Darwin and the evolution of plants and animals to their conditions in order to survive. There was a definite message there as the displays took you through their evolving ways of life before the white man and after the white man. They were not the same. But they were still there, showing their strength in adapting to what had always been their land. I found their legends and myths interesting. Coyote said many of the same things as Jesus and Buddha and Muhammad about treating others with kindness. I think there are just some things that are true in whatever culture. Things that were meant to be by the Creator of life.

We were also able to get fresh produce there, sweet onions, fresh asparagus and cherries. With those kind of ingredients Kerry was able to make a fine rendition of his flatbread pizza. It felt like home. And any time we can get fresh fruit is good.

We returned to another nap in the AC, something we probably need to set as a precedence when living in hot conditions. It really cools down here at night. By the time we were planning supper it was cool enough for me to walk the dogs. We went to the horse camp and I think this may be a great horse place when it’s not so hot. No chill water to explore today, but we will be in much cooler weather when we hit the Oregon Coast anyway.

Luna is telling me that she is still hungry so I need to get my priorities straight. She has told me this twice already tonight. :-)

We need a kayak!

We have been so many cool places that are perfect for a kayak. We already thought about getting one for the bay, and that is a great place, too. But the roof rack we got for the camper is really not conducive to putting anything on it but a kayak or a canoe. We thought that was a mistake because of how unlikely we were to carry a kayak on our trips. Not so!. Eagle River in Gypsum, Colorado was the first to call our name, a class one river section in such a beautiful place and running right by the great campground we stayed at there, River Dance RV. It had heated floors in the bathrooms and showers and all were one person private. Anyway, I kinda wanted a kayak there. And then there was Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho. They call it the Niagara of the West, but I think it was more beautiful for being smaller and having so many different falls instead of one huge one. No, I’m not going over the falls, but underneath you could kayak on smooth waters going up to the falls for a view like no other. And then, low and behold, you could kayak to the famous bridge in Twin Falls, where the side to side view is just too amazing to describe. I definitely think a kayak is in order, especially since we paid for a rack that is otherwise  not useful.

As you can tell, we spent our extra day in Three Islands Crossing State Park going to Twin Falls. It was definitely worth the trip as Kerry’s pictures will later attest to. The park itself was located on the Snake River which is still a beautiful sight in spite of having been dammed for irrigation, and also another great place for kayaking, which it would not have been without the dams. The campground was fantastic. Lots of room between sites and each one with shade from old trees and with a picnic table and fire pit. The showers and restrooms were centrally located in a circle of sites. Unfortunately, ours was on the long end of the circle. The bathrooms and showers were decent and we did not have to pay for hot water. I remember that you did not want to run out of quarters in a pay for hot water shower like we found in many of the places we stayed on our trip West with Steve. There was a path that meandered down the snake river between the two campground areas and by a day use part of the park that also included the coolest little cabins with beds and ac and a little porch with a great porch swing. There was only one family there so we went to one far away and spent a leisurely conversation on the swing. No pets were allowed in the cabins, but I think you could leave them leashed or in a cage on the outside porch. There was also an education center about the Oregon Trail and a small hike related to that, but it was not dog friendly so we didn’t do that this trip. I think it may definitely be a stop on future trips to our beloveds. We have just had such a wonderful trip. I am continually humbled and grateful for the opportunity.  There was also a recreational trail through the city which was quite an interesting place in itself. Cute little bars and restaurants, which we didn’t check out (as we are trying to be as cheap as we can on this trip and that’s not the necessity that gas is), and all kind of murals related to Oregon Trail and the West in general.

Our first stop yesterday was at the Hagerman Fossil Beds. Well actually, it was at the visitor center which had great touchables for kids. They also offer a Junior Ranger program for anyone between the ages of 3 and 100. So we didn’t even need grandchild or niece or nephew. However, we didn’t participate as the timing was wrong. Then we went to a walk only bridge over the snake river to a small marina for motor boats. There were two ski jets that kinda ruined the scenery and olfactory ambience but they didn’t stay long moving on to elsewhere. I looked at all the signs and none said no swimming and it was so inviting there close to the bridge. I wasn’t exactly prepared. I was wearing a swim top for a bra, but as no one was around, I let my underwear be my bottoms. It was deliciously chill and it was all Kerry could do to keep Luna from following me. Just as I was enjoying myself, I realized that I had left my fitbit on. I returned to the dock and got out, congratulating myself on not having a boat with people drive up anyway. Even though my husband and daughter have taken showers with their fitbit, mine bit the dust after its plunge into the cool waters of Snake River. I had already lost the use of my phone. After all night on the charge, it had one percent, and that soon left. I tried it on several different chargers but none worked. It’s been with me for almost 3 years and I know that makes it ancient by today’s standards but I loved my phone, and I hate learning new technology. We passed right by a Verizon on our way back to the highway from Twin Falls so I guess it was destiny that I replace mine. I got the SE which is as close to the one I had as I could get. My old case even fit it… and I have a lifetime warranty on my protection cover… if I can just get it off and remember where I am supposed to mail it.

We are now headed through Idaho almost to the Oregon border. I hope there is a welcome center where we can get a map. We missed getting Idaho and Colorado. I really like having a physical map. It helps to see the whole picture when deciding where to go. Once I know where I am going I am google maps all the way. It knows things a map doesn’t.

I am now in the state with my son and have a map. Life is good.

A day of rest in East Canyon Utah - June 1, 2016

I can't help but think of my parents this day that long ago two teenagers promised to love each other forever, and did. It was not a marriage made in heaven. They were so different and had many heated discussions. I used to think that was a bad thing. I didn't realize how it meant they were still communicating and wanted the other to know their feelings and thoughts, even when they disagreed. My mama was a very popular girl with the boys, even at 15, when they met. My daddy spent a fearful and lonely year and a half in Japan and they wrote the sweetest letters to each other. They married when he returned. It meant a lot to him that she was so faithful to him. She never knew the faithfulness he showed her when she was fading away with Alzheimer's, but she never lost the glow in her eyes when he came into the room. Their marriage was a rare gift to them and to us. I hope that my children see the same in their parents. We've had hard times like anyone else, but Kerry is still my best friend; and to travel with him as we are is an unmerited but appreciated gift.

This place is so peaceful. The sun is bright but there is a pretty constant breeze that gives it a tranquility and respite from the heat. The sounds of birds mix with prairie dogs, cows and sheep. It is strange to look down at this beautiful lake surrounded by mountains and hear the bleating of sheep and the lowing of cattle. I have been able to sit quietly for long periods of time, something Kerry is quite grateful for. When we stopped for gas and ice at Grumps, the hopping place in town, or as Kerry said, the only hop in town, I told the pregnant woman there that I thought Utah might be the most beautiful state in the country... and she said she thought Oregon beat it. I admitted that I had not seen Oregon yet, but that I was on my way. I told her it was the variety of mountains that had struck me so. She said she needed more green and that it could get muddy in the summer. I deferred to her greater knowledge.

Not much to write about in the event realm, but what a place to be boring. I hope to put some "history" pictures in as soon as I have enough internet time to move them to the computer.

p.s.  No mountain lions but Kerry saw an eagle sweeping low over the prairie dog holes this morning. I think prairie dogs may be like rabbits, best as food. I forgot to mention the tame but living in the campground white rabbit at our last campground. It was kinda surreal. It just hung out on the grounds with no fear in spite of the presence of many dogs. And it was also huge, about the size of a bobcat. Maybe that's why it was unafraid.