September 22, 2018

September 12, 2018

 We are now at the famcamp at Gowen Field, Boise, ID.

 Last Sunday we went out for some exploring.  Our first stop was south west of Grangeville at Tolo Lake which is part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park.  This small lake was a gathering place of several bands of the Nez Perce and played a significant roll in their flight of 1877.  Back in September 1984 there was a huge Colombian Mammoth bone found in the lake.

 Our next stop was at the White Bird Battlefield, the first battlefield of the Nez Perce Flight of 1877.

 Next we took a drive down to Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.  After stopping at the visitor’s center in Riggins, ID, which is actually closed, we made a drive up over a gravel road to Cow Creek Saddle.  The Saddle is beautiful and we can just imagine how even more beautiful it would be in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom.

 Monday morning we left Grangeville on US 95 for the drive to Boise.  Almost all of the highway is two-lane so we had to pullover several times to let folks pass us.

 After clearing the gate and checking in at the Billeting Office we finally got settled in at the famcamp.  This park is really just back-in parking on cement pads right on the road but has good 50 amp power and great water pressure.

 Yesterday we took a drive over to Mountain Home AFB to check out their famcamp, the Exchange and  Commissary.  Joyce was able to get a vitamin supplement that she wanted and did some shopping for groceries.

September 16, 2018

 On Friday morning Joyce was having a lot of problems breathing. Joyce was able to make an appointment with a allergy clinic in Boise.  We parked the RV in a Walmart parking lot while we had lunch and went to the appointment.

 We finally got on the road about 3:30 and made the 120 mile drive in good time.  We got backed in one of the parking spots with 50 amp electric and then went into the lodge for a drink.  It just so happens they were having a ribeye steak supper which made a long day much better.

 The allergist recommended a chest x-ray so we got up Saturday morning and went to the hospital in Twin Falls to get that done.  After some hassles she got it done and everything was good.

 This morning we headed up highway US 93 to Challis, ID., making the 190 mile drive in good time despite the strong headwinds most of the way.  We did make a stop in Arco for fuel which was $3.38 a gallon.

 We pulled into the Round Valley RV Park about 2:30, got setup in a huge site and then went to get some groceries.  We’ll be here for four days and do some day trips for sight seeing.

September 19, 2018

 Joyce and I have been very busy sightseeing in the Sawtooth Mountains.

 On Monday we started off with a trip up to Salmon, ID.  Our first stop was at a local eatery, The Savage Grill.  Joyce had a chicken sandwich and I had one of their burgers.  All-in-all the joint is pretty good although I thought my burger was a little overdone.

 Our next stop was at the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural and Educational Center that is just a few miles north of where she was born.  The Center is dedicated to Sacajawea and her people, the Agaidika Shoshone-Bannock and her role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  If you are ever in the area this is a must stop.


 Next, we drove down Hwy 28, the Sacajawea Scenic Byway to the cutoff to the Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway.  This is a 39 mile drive on a gravel road that was a little rough in places but well worth the effort.  You will see a lot of amazing country some of which will take your breath away.

 

 After returning to Challis we had supper at the The Village Inn Motel and Restaurant.  Noting fancy here but the food was darned good.

 On Tuesday morning we had breakfast at the Tea Cup Cafe & Bakery here in Challis.  This place is a “must do” if you are traveling through the area.

 Next we made the 58 mile drive over to Stanley, ID located in the heart of the Sawtooth’s.  With twenty-twenty hindsight, we should have booked RV parking somewhere here instead of Challis.  This area is truly the essence of Idaho.

 Salmon River on the way to Stanley

On the way to Stanley

 After stopping at the visitor center to pick up some information (the center was closed but they thoughtfully leave brochures in a cabinet), we decided to go see Stanley Lake.  This beautiful lake is at 6,500 feet so the sky views are spectacular.  There are several campgrounds (one of which is reservable) in the area, one of which is being updated and more sites are being added.

 Our next stop was at Redfish Lake and is about the same elevation as Stanley Lake.  This area is much more developed that at Stanley Lake.  There is the large Forest Service campground Glacier View Campground plus two other’s that are a bit smaller.  Also there is the full-service Redfish Lake Lodge that has cabins, a dining room and a small store.  They also have a marina with watercraft rentals.  Large RV’s or trailers probably should use this area rather than the Stanley Lake campgrounds at least until they get the new sites finished there.

 There are some RV parks in the area as well.  Check these out:
    Mountain Village Resort
    Valley Creek Motel and RV Park
    Elk Mountain RV Resort

 Today we drove back over toward Stanley to the land of the Yankee Fork Historic Area.  This beautiful area of the Sawtooth’s was, for many years anyway, about gold.

 The Custer Motorway is a 46-mile follows the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River and turned out to be one the highlights of our trip to the Sawtooth’s.  Most of the Motorway is on a gravel road that is a little narrow in some places but the scenery is worth the slow going.  We would absolutely recommend doing this drive in the fall.

More later.

Barry & Joyce

September 9, 2018

August 15, 2018

 We have had some really smokey skies here at Smith Rock for the past few days.  The weather folks are telling us that it’s all coming from fires down in California and Idaho.

 On Monday we found out that Glacier National Park has closed the west entrance due to a major fire.  This is especially bad new for us since that was our destination in September.  As you may recall this same thing happened to us last year so we are very disappointed.  We’ll keep an eye on the situation in Glacier and hope the fire fighter’s get everything under control.

August 22, 2018

 Still very smokey in Central Oregon and there appears no relief in sight in the near future.  It’s really getting hard to catch your breath and our eyes are burning a lot.

 On Monday we drove over to Oakridge to spend some time with the Glaspey’s.  Jim and I loaded up his new toy, a Polaris Razor and headed up the hill to Huckleberry Flats to do some riding.  We had a great time driving around the roads and I have to say that thing is cool!

 

 We only have nine days left here at Smith Rock then we will start our travels to Texas.  The west side of Glacier National Park is closed for a major fire as of today so we’re not sure if we can make it up there.  We are still planning on getting up to Rick and Patty Stills’ home in Rathdrum, ID on September 10th for right now but as always our plan’s are written Jello.

August 27, 2018

 Things had pretty quite around Smith Rock for the past few days but that all changed yesterday afternoon.  There was a young man free-climbing near Phoenix Buttress and Southern Tip climbing area, an area that is not normally climbed.  He fell off the rock and fell over 150 feet, sustaining life-threatening injuries.  The life flight helicopter flew him to St. Charles hospital and then to Portland where he is in critical condition.  Not a good day.  https://www.ktvz.com/news/man-badly-hurt-in-smith-rock-fall-rescue-underway/786696654

August 29, 2018

 Moving day.  This morning we hooked up the CRV and after going into Redmond for propane, we headed up US 97 north to begin our fall migration to Texas.  The drive up to I-84 wasn’t too bad even though it is the beginning of a 3-day weekend.  Traffic really picked up when we turned west on I-84 but we made pretty good time and arrived at Memaloose State Park on the Columbia River Gorge.  We’re only spending two days then up to Hermiston for a couple of days.

September 3, 2018

 Had a very nice stay at Mamaloose.  Yesterday we took a drive up into the hills to Trout Lake, WA.  This little town is known for it’s Huckleberry picking opportunities when they are in season.  However, the “lake” was completely dry this time of the year.

 We did stop in town and checked out the local flea market then had lunch at The Station Cafe which we found to be just OK.  The joint was packed and there was only one person cooking.  To say she was slow is an under statement since she was cooking one….order….at….a….time.  We waited forty minutes for our sandwiches.

Mount Adams, Washingtom

 We left Memaloose about 10 AM and after a stop at Fred Myers in The Dalles for some fuel, we headed east on _84 then a short distance up I-82 to the Pioneer RV Park in Hermiston, OR.   We have been to this park several times and since it’s Passport America affiliated we only had to pay $20.  We plan to be here just one night then head on up to Rathdrum, ID.

September 5, 2018

 Yesterday we left Hermiston and headed up to Rick and Patty’s B&B and RV Park in Rathdrum, ID.  We started running into smoke in the Tri-Cities area and it progressively got worse the closer we got to Spokane.  It started getting a tad better as we got into Idaho but the air quality is still in the moderate range.

September 8, 2018

 Thursday I took Joyce to an urgent care clinic where they gave her a nebulizer treatment that really helped her breathing.  The doctor wrote a prescription for a home nebulizer along with the medication.  We were able to get that filled at Fred Myers but had to pay for the machine which we will submit to Tricare and try to get reimbursed

 Thursday evening we all went out to celebrate Patty’s birthday.  She had picked out a new club in downtown Coeur d’Alene that was having a grand opening and had a “dueling pianos” show.  The food was alright but the entertainment was outstanding.

 Yesterday morning we decided to get out of Dodge and try to get Joyce out of some of the very bad smoke in the Rathdrum area.  After a stop for some fuel and to dump our holding tanks, we headed south on US 95 headed to the Hillview RV Park in Clarkston, WA.  The drive down wasn’t too bad but we did run into a lot of road construction.  Today we are going further south to Grangeville, ID where the air quality is forecasted to be much better.

 We left Clarkston about 11:00 Am this morning, got on US 95 south and arrived at the Bear Den RV Park in Grangeville, ID about 1:30 PM.  God, these under a 100 mile days are killing us.

 The smoke is in this area but not as bad as it was up north.  However, Joyce is still staying in the RV as much as possible and we’re hoping when we get to Boise the air quality will be better. 

Barry & Joyce