Adventure 510: Home Sweet Home

Our Breakfast View

We left Challis Hot Springs after a pleasant night, two wonderful soaks, and a fabulous breakfast. It's not often I'm surprised with food, but Kathy served up some buttermilk syrup for the oat flour pancakes we enjoyed as part of a breakfast that included scramble eggs, fried potatoes, and bacon. Orange juice was served, and the coffee kept coming. We hit the road at nine-thirty hot with "barn fever". Our drive to Hamilton was bright, scenic, and easy. Just before Missoula, we decided to add two hours to our homeward trek i order to go over Lolo Pass, which would have us merge with our outbound route. Boy, what a good decision. The sky filtered the sunlight through blue skies. The mountainside, resounding with fiery orange Larch (Tamarak) trees, which flashed like broadway dancers against the dark green of the neighboring evergreens. We made it home safely including a stop in Colfax, WA for dinner at yet another Mexican restaurant. Our steak burrito was excellent: light, flavorful, and not overly smothered with cheese. In fact, there was very little cheese, just a very tasty homemade green salsa. But enough of those memories, now for the tale of the tape.

Fourteen days.
@2,800 miles.
A Heart warming Hooley visit
1 SNAFU
Prevailing Traveling Mercies
Successful Storage for FRAC-with some reservations
A fantabulous extended one night honeymoon stay at Kiva Kottage.
A memorable bike ride up Red Canyon
An uplifting meeting at Challis Hot Springs.
Planned Re-Start January, 2019.

Two weeks went by in a wink
.
Three hundred or so miles were put on the truck's mileage without FRAC tailing behind. 

The SNAFU can be blamed on my impatience until further evidence exonerates me. I blew the top off of the vacuum check valve that's part of the system to clean the waste water tanks. My theory is I didn't let the pipe drain before starting the back flow. Then the perfect storm hit. The water pressure at Crystal Hot Springs was very high. I think I had water leaving and water entering and an air space in between. Then "Pop goes the Weasel". We bought a new part, and my Bunny's nimble fingers will be charged with getting into a tight space to fix the problem.

We say prayers of thankfulness after every leg of our journey.

We backed FRAC into a very tight space. It took teamwork. We completed the task with no dents, no scratches, no cursing, and only a sleight bit of nerves about our neighbors being able to get into their rigs. Plan A: We hope they're skinny. Plan B: We hope to pick up FRAC before they want to leave. Plan C: Let the Fates decide.

We put Kiva Kottage on our bucket list the first time we saw the place.  We want an encore! For now, we're savoring the memory.

We rode 25 miles up the Red Canyon and back. Bright, crisp, blue sky day. Very little wind. Nice outing.

By far the most memorable event of the trip, even surpassing our experience at the Kiva Kottage was meeting Bailey, the front desk, Jack of all trades, person at Challis Hot Springs. She was simply delightful. In addition, we had a brief  encounter, enough to say "Hello" with the retired marine who manages the place. His name is Michael R. Williams, and he's a very good man. (See letter below)

October 28, 2018

MGySgt Michael R. Williams

5025 Hot Springs Road

Challis, ID 83226

Dear Master Gunnery Sergeant,

First of all, thank you for your service. I don’t know you well enough to call you “Gunny”. I wish I did. My wife  Judy and I spent last Friday night with you. If the purpose of this letter was to review the hot springs, I’d give five stars in every category. However, I’m not writing to review our stay; rather, I’m writing to commend you. 

As a life long baseball fan, I asked Bailey if she’d mind if we watched the World Series. She said she didn’t mind. During the game we chatted, both between innings and between her duties. She talked of coming home to Challis to “get back on her feet” because of some “trouble” and that she drove to Boise ever other week to see her kids. She also spoke of what her job at the hot springs meant to her. She said that when she came back, no one would hire her, but you said, “Tell me your story; I’ll give you a chance.” By giving her a chance you built a faithful spirit in her that is obvious. Her eyes sparkle like stars when she speaks of the “marine”.

I spent my thirty-one years of professional life teaching and coaching. Much of my career I worked with alternative kids, anti-establishment kids, broken kids, abused kids, kids hard to like. As Bailey talked, I could see pain clearly reflected in her battered eyes. With just a little nudge, I’m sure she would have told me her whole story. But I didn’t need to hear her story. I needed to let her bathe in the warmth of the faith you’ve shown in her. It made me smile to listen to the hope in her voice.  

I also noticed the plaque on your dress uniform display. It sounds like you make a habit of helping others “…You made everyone around you strive harder to be better…”. I could hear Bailey’s pledge to strive to be better in every word she said. Thanks for helping her see value in herself. In my mind, our world - a place of conflicting truths - needs more inspiration and less desperation; more acceptance and less judgment; more faith and less despair.

I don’t presume to know you, but from what I can see you are a man of honor, a man of compassion, and a man who knows how to get “more” from others. To my mind, we need more men like you.

Sincerely yours,

Tim Williams ( Your brother from a different Mother)

 Maybe our way will lead us back here.

 Selfie of the Day: Tandem Twins

 Stay safe FRAC.

 Master Gunnery Sergeant Michael R. Williams' dress uniform hangs behind the reception counter at the hot springs.

 Not to be outdone. Spokane is sporting some fall dazzle of its own. I snapped this on one of my walks on the bluff trails the day after we got home.

 I made a visit to my long time buddy, Pat's house. He lives in paradise on 69 acres between Highway 195 and the Hangman Creek. The place is cool. So is he.

 Checked on George. He's looking good, feeling good. We're praying he stays that way for a while.

 We had a Julia Child inspired roast pork dinner to celebrate many things with our friends, the Ulmen's. The partial list includes love, friendship, health, opportunity, grace, and gratitude. 

The grin on their faces comes from their trip to Hawaii. Here today. Gone tomorrow,