It's still birthday month, but our planned getaway to Stehekin served to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We started talking about it after we had family camp in Chelan a few years ago. Neither of us had been there before, so we made it happen. Coincidentally, when we moved into Rockwood we met a couple, Jim and Roberta Ellis, who have a "place" in Stehekin and have been regular visitors there for over thirty years. It was our good fortune that their monthly visit matched our visit. They showed us around for most of the morning on Monday and introduced us to quite a few of the locals. Their generosity was as warm and perfect as the weather. Stehekin itself is absolutely stunning. The place is home to around eighty full time residents, half of whom are related to the original homesteaders. There's no cell service, no TV, no church, no bar, and very little wifi. It takes a special kind of person to survive there. Two quick stories help define the place. As part of the tour, Jim Ellis took us to the "gas station". When Jim got to Stehekin thirty some years ago, you'd put gas in your rig, write your name in a notebook, and leave cash in the coffee can on top of the pump. A few years back some punk visitor started stealing the cash, so they had to change the system. It's sad to see, but the honor system is still alive and well in Stehekin. Second, on our way out this morning we stopped at the community garden which is tended by a man named Carl. He was sitting in the morning sun, smiling. I noticed his bare feet right away. They were darkened by the dirt. It was clear that he loved his earth, his avocation, and his garden. I dared not disturb his peace by asking for a photo. He is emblematic of the people we met while we were there. It's as clear as the dirt between Carl's toes that life in Stehekin is good, especially today.
