Northwest

After a leisurely and scenic drive to the Pacific Northwest we find ourselves anchored at the home of Charles and Daria who live just outside Seattle. Sunday we toured the city a bit hitting Pikes Market for some fresh halibut and some people watching. Later in the day we were fortunate to spend a little time on the fabled sail boat "Journey" whose owner's, John and Carol, gave us directions to "bust in" to the marina where she is docked.

Our personal journey has taken us through Phillipsburg, Mt., Missoula, Mt., Harrison, Idaho, Lake Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. While on Lake Coeur d'Alene we parked at Brian and Susan's home which sits at the shores of a tranquil bay on the south end of the lake. While it's obvious waters-sports are a big part of the lifestyle there the road biking too is endless. The Rails to Trails program has turned miles of old train track beds into incredible bike paths. The Hiawatha Trail that passes through multiple tunnels and over trestles as high as 230 feet was one of the more interesting bike paths we've seen. Quite a ride.

Our stop in Spokane was blessed by beautiful weather and a great stay with Linda and Charlie. I learned never say never (again) because we played golf and enjoyed the day greatly. Spokane is hooked into the same rails to trails bike paths as Coeur d'Alene and it parallels the Spokane River for a scenic ride.

Though enjoying our adventures and our freedom we are missing Jackson Hole and savoring the time we had there over the summer. Happy Trails to all, we'll see you soon.

Photos of the Hole

On the road again

As the autumn sun begins to cast its soft rays of light across the palette of fall colors flooding into the valley we take to the road for the second year of our journey, sojourn, sabbatical, whatever. Our summer in Jackson has been filled with friends, family and good times but also mourning for friends who were taken from us much to early in their promising lives. Questions are many, answers are few.

Knowing the people of this community, being part of the matrix that is Jackson Hole is rewarding at a level that cannot be explained, only felt within the souls who enjoy the connection. Toni and I know where we belong and look forward to returning to our home a year from now.

That said we are excited about the coming year of travel which will take us to the northwest then down the coast of California. Beyond that, who knows?

Our hosts this summer provided us with the most incredible campsites available in the valley. All those great evenings of conversation and good times will carry us through until we catch up again.

Vacationing in Jackson Hole, I must say, was a real treat.

Baby Update

A healthy, beautiful, Hailey Lee Farmer arrived yesterday at approximately 9:40 A. M. Eastern time weighing 7 lbs. 1 ounce.  

Locations

Hello all,

Just a short note to catch up a little.

I labeled this entry "Locations" as Toni is in Fayetteville, NC while I am settled in JH with the mothership.

Toni awaits the birth of our second grandchild. Traver, Toni's oldest son, and his wife Amber will welcome a daughter any moment now, probably before I finish this writing. Wow, in so many ways!

After our departure from Zion we spent time in Salt Lake City where we, of course, parked the ship in the yard of our dear and patient friends Jim and Dora. It's good to have friends. You know the danger of treating us to well is that we will return so, just a caution. We also got to catch up with another of our scattered to the wind children, Ryan, who is in her junior year at the U of U and thriving.

Most of you know that the weather in the Hole has been spectacular and I feel fortunate to be here for such a unique spring experience. Currently I am anchored just to the west of JH in one of those sites that isn't listed in the KOA or Good Sam catalogue of campgrounds. Where? Well I'll keep that a secret as the sites are limited.

The blog may be a little more neglected until we up anchor and head off for the next round of travels but with luck we will catch up in person before that day.

Happy Trails,

Zion National Park

Kolob Arch in north Zion

Zion Canyon from Angels Landing

On the way to Angels Landing and Lava Point

Artwork from the 1930's

Bridge to somewhere, Lake Mead, Zion

Bridge over the Colorado River

Lake Mead showing drought results

Next stop: Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.   The pictures above tell a story that is a bit of a paradox.  The bridge being built will allow the ever increasing population of the southwest to travel between, say, Phoenix and Las Vegas without having to slow down to cross Hoover Dam.   The question we were asking ourselves was; what will be left of Lake Mead within ten years if the growth continues?   An expected thirteen foot drop in the water level this year added to the sixty foot decline over the previous ten years is a significant loss.  It is still a huge body of water but when compared to the growth in the area the term "drop in a bucket" sounds ominous.  

Boulder City, Nevada sits just above the dam and has maintained its charm with a healthy downtown versus glitzy casinos or even a Wal-Mart.  It is an historic and quaint place originally built to provide the construction workers and families with the necessities needed while building the dam.  

The biking was the best with long well maintained bike paths that overlooked the desert scape and looped  in and out of the arroyos .  Obviously water sports are a big attraction too and one day we drove south to an access point on the Colorado River known as Willow Beach. From there we kayaked up river toward Hoover Dam.  We felt like we had the Colorado to ourselves as we paddled between  the high canyon walls without another boat in sight.   During the first part of the day we pushed against the flow of the much subdued Colorado, calmed as it exits the dam.  Late in the afternoon we turned down river and allowed the flow to carry us back to Willow Beach.  Lots of great stuff to see and do every day so Lake Mead gets four stars.

Then it was on to Zion National Park, a jewel.  The hiking and biking are great but just looking up is all one really needs to do when you visit this wonder.  One day we hiked to a place called Angels Landing where a narrow ledge skirted by 1200 foot drops delivered us to a view spot well worth the effort.  The number of people making their way along the route was amazing and the determination of some of those folks was inspiring.  Flat landers on a mission mostly undeterred by vertigo inducing drops only inches away.  Good for them.