A Trip Back in Time...

Since we are crazy enough to go camping on Labor Day without reservations, we headed out on Wednesday to find a place to set up camp in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.
When we headed out in the early afternoon I found my spirits soaring and myself humming the familiar, "On the road again tune".  However with each passing mile I found my 'will we find a spot anxiety' increasing .  We arrived about 3:00 in the afternoon and much to my surprise found that only a few of the spots that could not be reserved were taken.  We quickly chose a spot and registered in the Federal Campground using my Aunties Senior Discount for $5.00 per night at Fort Spokane Campground on the Columbia River.  Since my youngest daughter, husband and my 5 grandkids would be joining us, we settled in the largest spot we could find.

Soon, another camper with a vintage trailer pulled into the spot beside us.  Our two campers were the only vintage trailers in the campground for the entire 5 days. By Thursday afternoon, the campground was full for the rest of the holiday weekend.

 

After we went on a tour of our new 'neighborhood', we came back to settle down for the night and discovered that our new neighbor had brought over wood and set a fire up for us in the fire-ring.  

 Perfectly roasted marshmellows ended  the evening in our new home.

On Thursday, after rearranging our camp several times, we made a picnic lunch and set out to find Hawk Creek and check out the wildlife.

Hawk Creek is a tributary leading to the Columbia River south of Fort Spokane. Another campground is available at this sight although when we were there there was only one camper, who was pulling out.  I'm sure this changed as the more improved campgrounds filled up for the holiday weekend.


 
 
While we were at Hawk Creek we observed forrest service interns checking the netted area in the pond to measure the growth of this years Kokanee hatchlings (Salmon babies).   Soaring overhead were hawks and eagles, while blue herons and an assortment of ducks and canadian geese waded in the shallow waters and bask in the warm sunshine.

My kiddo discovered inch long baby frogs hopping on the mud near the creek.  One poor babe landed in his pocket by 'accident' and never made it to the water.

On Friday, after a great one pan breakfast of hashbrowns, ham, eggs topped with cheese, we again headed out with a picnic lunch to explore The Lake Roosevelt Federal Reserve.  We stopped at each campground and beach area along the way and after a beach picnic, decided that for this trip, we had chosen the perfect camping spot to meet out needs at Fort Spokane.   

When we returned to camp my daughter and family had arrived and had set up their tent.  After dinner, we attended a camp educational program about the early days of trappers at the Hudson Bay Company some of the first European Settlers in the area.

That is one big rattlesnake skin!

 The next day we attended a program on local snakes (by far the favorite program) of the kids.

                                                              and a program on sewing leather.

We walked among the ruins of Fort Spokane and imagined what the Fort was like through the three periods of use as a Fort, then Native American Boarding School and then finally as a Tuberculosis Sanitarium for Native Americans.

Horses were needed for fort life and travel in the early days.

Ovens smoked salmon and buffalo for long winters

After a busy weekend of exploring, kickball, swimming and fun

A turkey family bade us farewell.

In Search of the Right Realtor

I'm closing in on the date to list the house.... (I still have allowed a little wiggle room)  I want the house on the market in September.  I want the pictures of the outside to be taken with the flowers at their very best and the yard groomed to perfection.  I have been working on final touch ups although the Realtors may have  additional ideas to present my house at its best.  It is always interesting to me that the quirks we love may in fact hold other buyers at bay, and we certainly don't want that!

So the search begins for the right realtor.  I am clueless in knowing what questions to ask to determine who can best present my house.  As you know, I often learn from my mistakes and this is a major decision that protects my mayor investment.   So here I am asking my dear readers and friends to share questions they have found helpful (or ones they wished they had asked) in determining who can best represent my home and investment.  Feel free to share with any of your friends and bloggers as I can use all the help I can get!!  I want to learn from your experience!  Give me you best!

Manito Park

  
A while back I decided to see many of the local sights that I often neglect as they are always available.  Isn't it funny how it often takes a visitor to our area to point out the local sights that we have never seen or take time for?  So this summer I have been determined to see many of my favorite sights and also the sights that I keep putting off until another day.

This day I am making a tour of local parks.  So here are my finds for today.

A rose garden, full of beautiful specimens

today's favorite rose

A perennial garden 

A globe thistle

A Quail willing to pose if I just leave her babies alone

A fountain dedicated to a relative cousin - a woman before her time

Japanese Gardens

Serene setting

Beautiful waterfall

Glazier Arboretum

     

Cacti garden

a moment to reflect

  

 

A trip to a duck pond

The Formal Gardens

 

Auntie and I at Duncan Gardens

 Lunch at the Park Bench

The very best part is all of these wonderful sights and experiences are at one Park,  Manito Park in Spokane, Washington, a wonderful day for anyone. 

 

Wallowa Mountains Escape, Part 2

So begins a great day on the Mountain.  We begin our day with a ride up the Tram on Mt Howard.  Normally I'm not big on tourist attractions but this NOT TO BE MISSED trip up to the top of the world was spectacular. ($23.00 senior price)  The Tram  takes us up to the 8,150 foot elevation.   There just steps away is the Summit Grill where we had breakfast of hash browns eggs and gravy for $3.00. 

Breakfast at the top of the world

After breakfast it was time for the hiking.  There are 2 1/2 miles of trails to gain another 150 feet of elevation.  You go up and down the 150 feet rise in elevation many times as you hike around the crown of the mountain.

360 degree views from the top...       

From the mountain top, the 5 mile long Lake Wallowa seems but a puddle.

Auntie hiked some of the trails....
and was as anxious as was I to see what lay
beyond the next crest.  I hope that
I am able to explore life's vistas
at 85 years young.

In the forested part of the mountain there were many uprooted dead trees.  The root systems were lateral with no roots running deep thus allowing the trees to be uprooted by the wind.  They lay with roots upright like driftwood sprawled on a ocean beach.


 









Even mid-August flowers were found the the top of the mountain.
Butterflies fluttered from flower to flower basking in the summer sun.

Time for a rest with Chippie

View from the Tram

Horse Pack Camp

A friendly reminder at horse Camp

 A smokey Forest Fire from Central Washington provided a spectacular Sunset to end our journey.

till next time.....

Escape to the Wallowa Mountains, Part 1

Life can is stressful and it is a time for a much needed escape.  Its not exactly like traveling when full timing since timetables dictate the agenda.  But it was a needed reprieve from the stresses of living with a child with challenging behaviors and getting a house ready for sale. 

The Wallowa Mountains in North Eastern Oregon are a mere 213 miles from Spokane where I have lived most of my life, yet a place that I have never been.  It is a place rich with Native American and pioneer history waiting to be explored.

 So my Auntie and I set out for a four day adventure.  The first half of our journey winds easily through the farmland of the Washington Palouse.  Is is a wonderful scenic drive through rolling hills ripe  for harvest.

Amber Waves of Grain

The road down the grade into Lewiston, Idaho and beyond was my first trip pulling my little Lolita up and down (and around hairturns) on mountain grades.  My Ford Explorer and Lolita handled the journey superbly.

Up, Up, Up, Down Down Down,  with no shoulders or guard rails!

 This was repeated over and over again.  Sometimes I just plain scared myself!  I scared Auntie too!  We rolled along sometimes at 20 miles per hour.  So the 213 miles took us six hours.  MapQuest you really ought to check that out.  Once again you lead me a stray!

Joseph Canyon

As a firm believer in stopping at historical markers we did find some along the way.  Can you imagine leading a band of Native Peoples or a wagon train of pioneers through this rugged country?  It is thought that Chief Joseph was born in a cave during the winter below this spot.
  




  After the up, up, up, and down, down, down,  many times we see our first view of the Wallowa Mountains. It is mid August and snow and glaciers are still visible on the mountain peaks.


 

I have made it my mission to learn life lessons by doing them wrong first. Then, I am sure to remember the lesson from the 'mistake' when I finally get it right.  When heading out on this impulsive trek, I neglected to  check what might be going on in Joseph, Oregon.  Well that turned out to be a wonderful learning opportunity.  We were joined in Joseph, Oregon by 20,000 other visitors to the Annual Bronze Blues and Brews Concert.  Lesson Learned....

So of course, finding a place to park Lolita became a bit of a problem.  Finally we pulled in to a little motel/RV park ran by a character of a man.  Auntie and I met a couple who took us to find the owner who found us a spot and even parked Lolita.  We had a grand time laughing and drinking coffee.
 

     

   






Views of Wallowa Lake

Lots of tame dear.
Momma wasn't happy though with the stare down.

Stayed tuned for more Wallowa Mountains travels....... tomorrow. 
                                         zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Oh, the Trailers I have Seen

Yet another confession.  As I age I like trailers that are shall we say, vintage.    I am also particularly drawn to these quirky little homes.  I have seen many campers that seen to match their owners personalities to a tee.  They are certainly memorable and will bring you a smile every time you look think of them.  As I remember all the sweet littler campers I have seen, my Lolita seems pretty tame.
Shall I get my creative juices flowing?


Maybe you would like something quirky...




I found this cutie pie for sale....
Oh I would love a harem of these cutie pies!

How about this cute little firecracker?

This one belongs to a Northwest Sister on the Fly







This one comes with fresh eggs....

Another Northwest Sister......
Cute as a itty bitty egg!






Maybe you would want a business on the go...

What will you have breakfast or dessert?

Do you have a gypsy spirit?

This belongs to my friend, Sharon
This is a back door sweetie too!





Do you love your fur friend?

Remember if you want to trick out your trailer, drive carefully.
These trailers get a lot of attention driving down the road.

I admit it..... I'm in a major FUNK!

I've been working on getting my house and yard and life in order.  But I will admit it, it is a half hearted effort.   I am in a major funk!!  

This year with so much rain the yard has become a jungle and it alone is a full time job.  The garden has gone to pot.   And there is the house..... and the animals.....  and the decisions.
                                                         Calgon  take me away!

 It is not that I am regretting my decision to down size and full time.  I am excited to move to the next phase of my life.   But realistically, I find myself beginning to grieve the loss of my present life.   I have been a mom and foster parent for all of my adult life.  Here I am, in my sixties and I am wanting to do some exploring, visiting, and just plain wanting to redefine myself for this latter part of my life.  Even if I weren't going to move to full time traveling, I would need to downsize from where I live now.  The work, the house,  the property,  the animals.... it is just too much for me to keep up with.

Is it selfish of me to want it all????  The reality is I can't afford it all.
I have to make a choice.


So I've decided to full-time for a while and see where that leads me.  I may find I need to have a home base, only time will tell.   There are lots of ways folks have made life work for them once they are open to the idea of change.  And I have 2 daughters and my Auntie here in Spokane, which has for the most of my life been home.   I also have a daughter and her family in Connecticut. I also have so many places to see and experience that it is hard to know where I will hang my hat.

I have read many blogs that talked of the relief as  you let go of things and move towards the future.  Did everyone skip over the hard parts?  Or were they to hard to write about?  Or did  you just think no one would want to know the nitty gritty details?   And then there are all the decisions!  Geezs... these are the times I would love to push of some of these decisions for someone else to make. 



Ok Ok . One foot in front of another.... Tomorrow is another day.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  Today.

Here's  To
           My Future:

            

       

Ok Kids.....  How did you get through the tough times?

                          I need some encouragement here......