Advnture 409: The Shadowy St. Joe

Mrs. Drouin's raking therapy

Three nights on the "Joe" with Ed and Deb Drouin: lounging, eating, hiking, berry picking, more lounging and more eating. Did I mention drinking. The weather was perfect, the company exquisite, and a good time was had by all. We arrived about three in the afternoon, and lucked into a prime spot in Cronrad's Crossing, which was great because there was a stage one fire restriction, which meant fires in established fire rings only. No fires allowed in rock rings. There are two other sites in lower Conrad. We found ourselves with company, but in a site that kept us removed from others. It was quite pleasant. Frac was parked on pavement that was nearly flat, and we had an expansive beach front. The surrounding trees provided shade throughout the day, although we picked huckleberries the first day, and took a hike the second. Our camp time came mostly in the form of cocktail hour before and during dinner. As is our custom, we were able to claim once again that "Life is truly good, especially today."

 Cocktail hour.

 Of course, the Wily Cager tried her tricks on me every morning.

 Mrs. Drouin had her ceremonial lighting of the lamp.

 And we ate well. This is poached egg in tomato sauce over crusty garlic bread. We suffered through huckleberry pancakes the next morning.

 The lounge.

 The view.

 The siesta.

 The camp babes.

 The artist at work.

 Mrs. Drouin serving a dinner of pork, corn salad, quinoa, and bread.

 We had to work off  last night's dinner.

 Quite a rugged and bushy trail that followed a creek.

 Extreme fire danger, though the beauty belies the concern.

 Fly fisherman heaven.

 Selfie of the day.

 Nature loving Drouins'

 My Bunny with her natural hair ornament.

 The girls.

 The cooking fire.

 Ham and bread for the chef salad.

Frac tucked neatly on the shadowy hill.

Adventure 408: Happily Home 4/11/17/End Year Three

A Pretty Happy Camper.

Exactly three months and a day, we're back home. We enjoyed traveling mercies again today as we sauntered homeward through the very beautiful wheat country of Whitman and Garfield Counties. Our adventure this year was filled with old friends, new friends, old stops, new stops, and in every instance we've gained. Our perspective has broadened, our appreciation has blossomed, our gratitude has deepened, our good fortune has been manifest, and in many ways this year's adventure has come full circle. We spent last night and this morning with Dave and Liz Ulmen, and we went our separate ways with the usual hugs and tugs. Some months ago at the beginning of this year's adventure, we met up with the Ulmen's.  They were heading home, and we were heading South. After leaving Dave and Liz today, we headed toward Dayton, WA where the Ellsworth's live during the summer. We were hoping to see them since we stored Fric and Frac at their home in Lake Havasu. Sadly, since they had just returned from Arizona the day before, they were on he way to the Tri-Cities to resupply. The best we could do is drive by their home in Dayton. We arrived home about 2 P.M. I was glad; Judy was ecstatic. We performed the usual unloading duties, and then we toured the grounds. Eventually, Judy putzed in the garden. I took the truck to the car wash, and in general we started some spring cleaning. I emptied the hot tub, we washed it, and hopefully tomorrow, it will be hot and open for my return. Dave came over around five and took us on a tour of our new bathroom, which is about 90% finished. It's quite cool, and we can't wait to move into it. So, as in all things, this adventure came to an end. In the final analysis, the tale of the tape reads like this: 6925 miles driven (Some unhooked); 525 miles ridden (All tandem); 375 miles walked/hiked. We returned to some old favorite places such as Luchenbach (Fredericksburg, TX), Stoneybrook Farm, Austin, and Big Rock Candy Mountain. We enjoyed some new adventures such as Big Bend National Park, St George Utah, Fremont Indian State Park, Park City, Utah, and Crystal Hot Springs. We continue to have a love affair with both Texas and Utah. In neither state can I share my political views safely, but as long as I stay within accepted social bounds, I can exist very well in both. In Texas, I can talk BBQ, Texas History, and Gonzaga basketball. In Utah I can talk National Parks, State Parks, and Gonzaga basketball. Both states are welcoming, and both are glad to accept our money. That's not to say I don't love Arizona, Idaho, or any other state. Each has something amazing to offer. And as much as I tease Judy for wanting to be home, I am glad to be here, happy to be safe, and grateful for the many opportunities we've had. In short, life is good, especially today. (Note: Fric and Frac signing off until further notice. Thanks for joining our adventures-we strongly suggest you go out your drive way and head for the open road. Your adventure awaits-don't wait).
.

 One set of the hugs and tugs that sent us homeward this morning.

 The Ellsworth home in Dayton, WA.

 Ooh! Let's choose a mirror and a vanity and some drawer knobs..

 Ahhh Let's hang some towel racks, toilet paper holders, and window treatments.

And even some shower power. Glass walls and a door will be nice.

Adventure 407: Wildhorse Casino and Resort, Pendleton, Oregon

Good Bye Stoneybrook.

The goodbyes took on a bittersweet tone with heart tugging hugs, a few wistful smiles, and an over load of soon to be favorite memories. We left the Hooleys about 9 A.M. under sunny smiles. Our hearts were warm, our spirits bright, and buoyed by our time on the farm we floated North toward Boise. We arrived at Tim and Carissa Ulmens, lunch in hand, around noon. Tim and Celia were peering out the windows like expectant applicants. Daughter Celia was intertwined into Dad Tim like a chokecherry bush melding with a willow. Nonetheless, young Celia warmed to Judy right away and left her Dad's arms willingly. her dark eyes flickered, echoed by her smile, and soon she had made a new (And fast) friend. We can hardly believe she's nine months already. The last time we saw her, she was busy kicking her way into presence inside her mother's womb. We didn't get to see mom this time, since she was coming off several night shift days. Carissa, a hard working Doctor, works the insanely difficult rotations so many in her profession work: It seems like sixty hours on, a little bit off, followed by sixty more hours. At any rate, she was sleeping. We left Boise a little before two and arrived around four at Wildhorse Casino. It's a little over two hundred miles which followed the hundred and some we drove in the morning. Thankfully, our crossing of the often treacherous Deadman's Pass proved uneventful, and dare I say it, somewhat pleasant. Traffic was light, the road was  dry, and the sun glittered off the remaining snow like a magic spell. We peered over the precipice of the long steep descent and saw an emerald valley. I merely downshifted, wiggled myself into a comfortable position, and "let 'er rip" as Loey Hooley's Dad was reported to have said. And like I often say, "It's the cheap thrills that keep a guy going. Our good friends, the Ulmen's (Grandparents of Celia [And Gus], joined us at Wildhorse around six. We haven't seen them since they sent us off for the winter. We enjoyed a nice dinner, caught up a bit, complained about our President, and planned a morning tandem ride. It was a perfect night for revolutionaries, and proved once again that life is good, especially today.

 Celia (Pronounced Sale-ya) with her Dad.

 Celia warming up to Judy.

 Celia's brother  (Kai) and sister (Bella), a couple of very protective pitbulls.

 Descending Deadman's Pass.

 And then the sun came from behind the clouds to spread the emerald valley before us.

 Fric and Frac nestled happily in site # 35.

 Dave and Liz Ulmen, our best good buddies,  who lay claim to young Celia (And Gus).

To finish dinner sharing a piece of chocolate decadence seemed only fitting.

Adventure 406: Stoneybrook Farm/ Filer, Idaho/Post C

It's our guiding truth.

After witnessing early all four seasons yesterday, we were happy to wake up to bright sunny skies. Winter's chill still set its jaw in the crisp, cold air, but the sun was as bright as Christ's promise, and maybe next week when we celebrate his victory over death, he'll bring warmth of both our hearts and the weather. In the meantime, we had a wonderful day. We celebrated Palm Sunday this morning at the Filer Mennonite church, shared a scrumptious noon meal with the Hooley's afterward, and for a treat, we all went down to experience the majesty of Shoshone Falls with the water crashing over the rocks at over 16,000 cubic feet per second. We admired the water, the canyon, savored the rainbow, and all around enjoyed each other's company, which included Gary, Loey, Andy, and Sarah Hooley; Tom and Patty Losser, and Judy and me. We joined several hundred (Enough to fill the parking lots) people who had a similar interest in witnessing Mother Nature's spectacle. The only downside occurred when I stepped on the muddy slope and landed so hard on my elbow that I may have re-injured my shoulder. I'll know more in the morning, but right now I can't lift my left arm to shoulder height, nor can I reach back to take my wallet out of my pocket. So it goes. Not to be deterred by injury, Tom Losser cooked us up some of his home grown popcorn, and we babbled the evening away in an almost unheard of way: talk, shared ideas, listening to each other, laughter, jokes, tales, experiences. No one had a head buried into a screen; no technology invaded the space; not a commercial was  witnessed; not a text was transmitted; not an e-mail was sent. It was as it was and as it must have been back in the day. I found it exhilarating. We even read and discussed an O Henry story. Imagine that, actually decoding words from a page, expressing them out loud, and discussing their meaning. In short, it was fun. And despite my own quite sore shoulder socket, I'm still her to tell you that life is good, especially today.

 Sarah, showing off her latest batch of home made Colby cheese.

 Patty and Sarah as we gathered the group for our tour of the falls.

 Andy and Archie, but Archie had to stay home.

 Gary and Tom, our tour guides, planning what to show us next.

 Though the falls are barely visible, the rainbow pointed the way.

 Sarah and Judy, just talking.

 Tom and Patty showing us the next, more spectacular view of the falls.

 Gary and Loey Hooley, who have once again made us feel welcome.

 Shoshone Falls in all its glory. That smudge in the middle is mist rising from the crashing water.

 Loey and Sarah (Mother/daughter) sharing a moment of wonder together.

 Our shadows become long memories of good times shared.

 Patty shared this 8 lb. chicken with us. Wow!

Tom, sizzling up a few batches of his gourmet popcorn.