Month: August 2009

 We left Boise and planned to travel to see Yellowstone National Park.  Michael has never been there and I was looking forward to sharing with him some of the amazing wildlife as well as the incredible geological aspects of our 1st National Park. We  traveled east across the beautiful state of Idaho enjoying a vast array of scenic areas.   The river system in Idaho is amazing and we saw numerous rafters out enjoying what seemed to us an extended rafting season.   On Bruce’s recommendation we stopped at a lovely Hot Springs next to the road outside of  Sunbeam ID and enjoyed a soak before lunch.   We pressed on and were intrigued by the incredible diversity of ecosystems.  We traveled through the  jagged and beautiful Sawtooth Mountains and enjoyed the desolate yet striking scenery of the Lava Cones rising over the sage covered prairie in the Craters of the Moon National Park.   We stopped for the evening outside of Yellowstone’s west entrance in the Targhee National Forest.   We were lucky enough to get a camp spot next to the River where we were priviledged to enjoy the company of Squirrels, Great Blue Herons, Kingfishers, Cormerants, Osprey, Bald Eagles, and numerous trout boiling the waters of the Buffalo River.   We relaxed around the campfire before bed and enjoyed a lovely walk in the morning .   We even found a  beaver dam and lodge not far from camp.   We considered staying an extra day but we wanted to press on to see Yellowstone.

We left the Pacific NW and headed south.  The plan for today is to get as far as Hood River OR.  Mike is an old windsurfer and Hood River is supposed to be a Primo Windsurf spot in the U.S.  We battled our way south and got to experience a bit of rush hour around Seattle as we did not leave the ferry from Anacortes till after 1:00pm.  We arrived in Hood River as the sun was setting but did not find a camp spot till after dark.  We enjoyed a walk around the town in the morning but the wind was not accomodating due to the recent heat wave that has encompassed the entire Pacific NW.   No wind, No windsurfers.  Mike did get to peruse a couple of surf shops and check out the latest gear.  Not much has changed other than shorter wider boards and of course having to share the water with the newest sport kite boarding or kite surfing.  I’d like to try that someday.   I know…..be careful what you wish for! 

We continued over to Boise and had a great visit with Christy, Bruce, Hannah & Matt.   We enjoyed meeting Hannah’s Guinea Pigs, playing with Rosie, their dog, watching Bruce maintaining his beautiful yard, and bike riding to the local golf course to hit a buckets of balls  with Matt & Christy . (I think he has a new found respect for what it takes to get a ball out of a sand trap.   Those guys on TV make it look so easy!)   Matthew had a birthday while we were there.  He turned 10.  Double Digits….a really big step.  Matt and Hannah were preparing to leave for 4H camp so we donated a couple of flashlights for their trip.   It was hard saying goodbye, as we drove away we discovered  Spongebob in our top bunk.  I’m certain it was his intention to accompany us back to the sea as he had overheard our plan to go sailing in the Caribbean.  As much as he would have enjoyed being returned to the ocean life we are destined for,  we drove him back to Hannah so he would not miss out on 4H camp.     Bruce met us in the driveway and Spongbob was returned albiet reluctantly back to his Inland Home.