It's always a thrill and a little dizzying to approach the top of the mountain and look at the road snaking down the slope to my friends, Rick and Carol's, home.
Their "spring" had not yet sprung but during my visit, it was quite spring-like. This is Karma, a real mountain dog!
Each sunny afternoon, we gathered on lawn chairs down at the edge of the Columbia River with our glasses of wine and enjoyed the warm sunshine and soft breezes.
Cassie tried to mimic the country-dog ways of Karma. Unlike FooFoo Cassie, Karma is a "real dog" who accompanies Carol and Rick on long hikes and wears a doggie backpak!
Cassie is seen here trying to track a snake that Karma found. Karma grabbed it and whipped it around and flipped it and into the water. Dazed, the poor mauled snake wobbled through the water.
She thinks she saw something... shortly afterwards, the unlucky snake drowned.
We took a day trip to Lake Chelan, which was described as "Washington's Tahoe" without casinos. Most of the road leading up to this "butte" was an eroded dirt road. You can just see it in the lower middle/left of the photo.
Carol and I hiked up another hill to the Flight Take Off site of the annual hang-gliding competition. Here's Carol pretending to take flight! I volunteered to be the cowardly photographer-- crouched and clinging to the boulder while Carol was brave enough to stand up on a 1000' cliff.
We had lunch at a loft-type outdoor bistro which served the best french fries I have had in years. This is the riverfront that the bistro looked out on.
Rick and Carol and I are all Scrabble junkies. I would play every day if I had someone to play with.
Carol and Rick have developed a "matched" level of competence throughout the years. Carol was quite put out that Rick kept winning. She emailed me after I left and said she got even and blew Rick out of the water by using all 7 letters on a double word square.
Carol & I always drink wine during Scrabble whereas Rick just "sips" a spritzer; maybe that is why he won most of the games!
Note the dictionary is held together with duct tape! Is there no end to the uses of duct tape?
Before I left to continue my trip, we had a mini photo session in their garden.
We had such a fun together and these pics will remind us of our good times!
Before I left, I uploaded about 2000 mp3 music files from their extensive music collection. Now I'll have some new great music to listen to on my trip back to Florida.
Thanks, Rick & Carol (and Karma). I will always recall my wonderful visit with you in one of the most special places in the US--the Columbia River Basin. Also, I appreciate your letting me squat on your favorite chair by the window and mess it up with my SueStuff.
My birthday-June 3- dawned incredibly beautiful and cold on Loop "O" in Colter Bay Campground in Grand Teton NP! Buried under my down comforter, I was immediately shocked awake by the blast of subfreezing air on my face. I chattered "Sssself--TTttoday is your bbbbirthday and you are not waiting until 8am to sssstart the generator for heat and coffee!" So, off I drove in my deep pile robe and, yesterday's socks and fuzzy slippers to search for an appropriate place to run the genny and fire up the furnace.
I found it nearby--a deserted boat marina that would not open until 8am. Perfect! Here is morning scene out my door.
After heating up the RV to take a shower/shampoo, I set the camera's self-timer for this photo. I wanted to remember the feeling of "clean and serene". By this time, it had warmed up to ...maybe 40 degrees.
After B & B (breakfast and blow-dry) and 15 more degrees, I emerged to fully appreciate the view. I ran into a family who was out doing some early morning sightseeing. I offered to take some "family portraits" and they took some photos of me in return.
The ride out of Grand Teton was awesome, of course. Nature doesn't do eye candy much better than the Tetons. The valley had not yet "greened up".
I planned to mark my birthday by getting my own America the Beautiful Parks Pass. (Now you know how old I am... haha.) I had been using Frank's Access pass and was challenged (and not very nicely) at Bryce. The rule is the Passholder must be in the vehicle. I tried to make the Wicked Witch Ranger feel guilty-and succeeded-but did not really want to have repeated challenges/lies just to save $25 bucks everytime I entered a park. Bad JooJoo.
Well, here it is; I asked thePark Ranger to take my official pic and he seemed genuinely pleased at my enthusiasm at having my very own pass.
Next, I decided to buy myself a birthday treat--a special Yellowstone coffee mug--not a plain $9 tourista piece 'o junque--we're talking an Object d'Art here! As I stopped in the Visitor Centers and looked, I became discouraged. My vision far exceeded the quality of the China imports on display...
And then I saw it! Way up high on a shelf where I couldn't reach! A beautifully-simple mug with the main wildlife of Yellowstone carved in raised relief! It was created by a local artist and I was informed that this was the only Gift Shop that carried it. I loved it immediately and spent a ridiculous amount of money, but it was a gift from Me to...Me!
At each Visitor Center, Cassie lobbied to get out of the RV even though her plumbing parts were bone dry. On one stop, I got fed up with walking her around while she sniffed God Knows What on every blade of emerging grass, so I picked her up and placed her on top of a high snow drift created when the plows cleared the parking lot. (No grass up there!)
She then proceeded to run back and forth across the length of the 8' high drift with me below on the leash, much to the amusement of folks gathering to watch.
Cassie has also discovered that snow feels great to squiggle in--and she did plenty of squiggling whenever she got the chance (which was often).
The drive into Yellowstone was partly cloudy and there was a LOT of snow on the ground. So, I was not surprised to see almost no wildlife around, because there was nothing for them to eat! But, the landscape was beautiful and I had never seen "winter" in Yellowstone.
I stopped to look for some folks who live nearby me in Saddlebag and who were reportedly "camp hosting"; however, a search of their park was fruitless and neither the ranger nor the office staff knew them. So, I parked at the campground long enough to fix myself a Birthday Brunch and coffee for my new mug.
As I was leaving the Lakes area of the park, I spotted a massive hulk in the road--solitary and huge. Thought it must be bison-- Big Deal. However, it was a Bear! And he beat feet as soon as I approached! So, all I bagged was a Bear Butt!
The new Visitor Center at Old Faithful is a beauty. While there, I inquired about a Yellowstone Foundation listing of people who had donated "In Memory Of..." someone. A woman pointed out the high-tech video marquee in an adjacent section that displayed this info. A few minutes later, she walked over to me and brought an archived Foundation booklet that had been published a year ago and asked me for the last name so we could look it up. We chatted for a few and I was touched by her kindness and caring. Sometimes, low tech is best.
Next day, I walked to the place where I had scattered Frank's ashes almost 2 years ago (red arrow). It felt peaceful there. I had a few word thoughts with Frank and told him that I didn't think I would be coming back here anytime soon. He told me to "quit my blubberin' and get my butt in gear"! That Frank could always turn a phrase...
Though I had planned to spend one more night in the northern part of the Park near Mammoth Springs, I felt it was time to leave--especially after Frank's comment about "getting my butt in gear". So, I drove all the way to Missoula, Mt --almost 300 miles--which is a LOT when you are driving in the mountains.
I remembered from a previous trip that Missoula had the prettiest Cracker Barrel setting with the softest, most fragrant grass (for Cassie to squiggle in and sniff) in the entire US and that is where we spent the night!
I made contact with my friends in Quincy WA as I realized that I was only two days drive time from them.
Unfortunately, that estimate was threatened by an unexpected event on Lookout Mountain Pass on the borders of MT and ID. It was a vehicle accident involving a tractor trailer; contents were strewn all over the narrow road. The concrete dividing barriers needed to be repositioned for a makeshift detour road. We were ALL STOP for two hours.
During that time, most cell phones were getting no signals, so strangers talked to each other..offered drinks..one guy took his bike off its hitch and rode down to the accident site to get everyone a progress report. A pregnant lady used my RV bathroom. It was quite warm so I decided it was a great time to give Cassie her bath. Here she is getting her comb-out on the front seat.
On the way, I discovered some geologic history that was fascinating about the area I was in--which is the Columbia River Basin. It was created during an Ice Age and the subsquent meltoff resulted in a falls formation that was several times bigger than Niagra Falls. This formation is called Dry Falls.
Finally, I arrive in Quincy, WA and pulled my RV's nose a couple feet into the tiny car wash. No clearance for the RV but I got 99% of the smashed road bug debris off. It is really repulsive stuff.
This is the approach to my friends Rick & Carol's home in Crescent Bar, WA (yellow arrow is their home).
I just took this a few minutes ago out on the patio. The weather is Perfect--and I am finally thawing out!
Memorial Day's weather was unpredictable and staff prepared for an "indoor" picnic of T-Bone Steaks, corn on the cob, grilled asparagas, salad and a dessert. Folks brought their own beverage so I uncorked a bottle.
The food was incredible, especially since I had saved up my appetite and was looking forward to my final social interaction with these wonderful folks who had welcomed me--an outsider--to their staff function.
I asked the group if anyone was a "Fugitive from Justice" before I took this pic. One never knows--WorkKamping IS an alternative lifestyle! (Kent is in the blue shirt in front.)
After dinner, I again asked the group if anyone wanted to challenge me to a game of Scrabble. Lo 'n behold, a retired attorney with a Scrabble dictionary threw down the gauntlet! "Competitive" meets "Cutthroat"-- but I ended up beating him, much to my and the onlookers' delight! It's not often you can get the upper hand with an attorney.
Departure Day was bittersweet as I had grown fond of my new friend, Kent and enjoyed our easy comaraderie and the other WorkKampers, several of whom were from Florida. Kent and I promised to stay in touch by phone, since he doesn't "do" the internet, and we are both on Verizon network!
My eastbound trek back over the Teton Pass was even nicer than the westbound one; it was like a completely different route! There were several more scenic turnouts because the eastbound trip has a greater distance UP the grade (whereas the westbound is steeper and shorter)! This pic is at the summit which is 8431 ft. And I can tell you that their air up there was very thin because I was breathless with virtually no exertion just getting this shot!
When I arrived at Jackson, I decided that NOW was the time to take my whitewater rafting trip. There were many rafting outfits in town vying for tourist dollars and, of course, you have the famous Snake River to provide the thrills! Usually the Class 2/3 rapids are what rafters can expect, but with the extra rain and snowpack meltdown, the water was running very fast! I was told about 16K cfm's though that is a meaningless amount to me.
I contacted one of the many outfitters to make the usual inquiries, including where to park the RV for the morning. They directed me to the KOA campground which, in this area, begin at $79++ for one night--for a TENT site! Unbeknownst to me, the whitewater tour company also owned the local KOA (aka Keep on Adding...). I was horrified and had never encountered such a high price for an urban campground which was...crowded and not especially attractive.
I knew that Jackson was RV unfriendly in the sense that they do not permit any RV's to be anyplace but a campground and will roust you big time if you are discovered outside your designated enclosure. This is admittedly, probably necessary as the streets are narrow and choked and there is not much space in town to park even for a small car.
After spending an hour online, I found a place that was 12 miles away in Hoback Junction right on the Snake River for $30 so I booked the rafting trip, while unknowingly insulting the tour guide office saying I refused to be ripped off by KOA.
Arrived at the Rafting company's office early to park the RV and get Cassie situated. Pigtailed my hair as I knew I would get wet. Also, I wanted to make sure I got a wetsuit that kept me warm in the 46 degree water if I should go overboard!
I wouldn't say it actually fit cuz the wetsuits are really sized for the male frame so mine was very long in the torso and legs. Not a pretty sight! Here I am with just the body suit and no jacket.
On the 30 minute bus ride to the launch site, I became friendly with my BusBoys, a family of 4 men (Dad, 2 sons and a son-in-law). Dad was from Stuart, FL about an hour away from Lake Wales.
The guys "adopted" me and here we are all suited up at the launch site. I felt very protected as they were experienced rafters. We were prepped with a fairly lengthy and detailed paddling and survival techniques by our raft guide, who appeared to be 19 years old and was wearing only surfer shorts. He was a very funny guy and added a lot of fun to the trip. He thanked us at then end and said because we spent money doing this, he didn't have a get a "real job".
I didn't get a pic of the "safety" kayaker; however, he was a gorgeous man. Like a outdoorsy Donny Osmond-beautiful. He should be featured on all their brochures.
During the trip, our guide let everyone who wanted to "rodeo" on the raft to see who could "ride the bull" the longest! Here's what happens-a passenger climbs up on the nose, grabs a rope and the rest of the passengers paddle in circles like crazy and/or shift their weight to rock the raft and try to knock the rider off into the water. Crazy fun!
After the last rapid (waaahhhh), we disembarked, re-dressed and were transported to a lovely picnic site where we had....sandwich lunches bagged by....KOA!
Here is my BusBoy gang walking from the photo studio that got a professional action shot coming out of a rapids. We bought a pack of 5 pics and each took one. I tried to make a .jpg to post here but I can't get good enough resolution. (They wanted like $80 for a .jpg as opposed to $5 for a paper photo.)
There was supposed to be a Rodeo in town but for some reason they didn't hold it, so I headed north toward the Grand Teton NP. Fair skies ahead--RAFT ON!
