Water is too high! Water is too fast!! No fishing in south fork of the Snake river. All float fishing has been cancelled.
Weather is definitely heating up and summer is here in Idaho. We plan to be with our friends from Pocatello on the 4th of July and then leave for North Fork on the
5th. Arriving at Waggonhammer in North Fork will bring us full circle from when we left Atlanta, Georgia, one year ago. It has been an amazing journey and we are so blessed by God.
Our friends from Texas, Rubye and Floyd are going to already be parked in Waggonhammer when we arrive. They were waiting for us last year too, but we just didn't know them yet. We will spend the rest of July with them and then "go home" to Caldwell, Idaho, and see our girls.
I almost stepped on a snake slithering across the path on my way down to the river yesterday. He did not have any rattles but...wildlife everywhere. We are watching for the long horn sheep on the mountains. The smaller creeks are opened up a few days a week for fishing so we will try that when they are opened.
Hope everyone is having a great summer wherever you are.
We plan to watch the fireworks over the Snake river here in the beautiful Swan Valley.
Don't forget to WAVE the FLAG higher than ever on the 4th!!!
Happy Trails to All
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Back in Idaho...our plans upcoming
We returned to Palisades, Idaho, yesterday, having picked up Honey from the Alpine, ID vet. Needless to say, she was happy to get out of jail! We will stay here until July 5 when we leave for North Fork, ID to meet friends for several weeks.
We have a fabulous time in Jackson Hole, WY. (See earlier post of the awesome log home, Grand Teton Mtns, etc.)
We bada** guys made this pic for the girls:
We have a fabulous time in Jackson Hole, WY. (See earlier post of the awesome log home, Grand Teton Mtns, etc.)
We bada** guys made this pic for the girls:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Jackson Hole, WY
We've been staying in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for ten days with three other couples (from Atlanta) in an awesome log home facing the Grand Teton mountain range. Moose and elk often in backyard. Girls shopping their eyes out and guys playing golf. Home to Idaho this Friday.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Back "Home" Again in Idaho
After approximately 8,000 miles, over the 9000 ft Teton Mountain pass, we spent the night again in Idaho. (The Ram never hesitated pulling Texas Molly II up the inclines.) The scenery is surreal! The first night in Idaho since December 31,2008. It feeels gooood.
Our dear new/old friends from the trail in Arizona were waiting for us and had supper ready. Karen and Fred Olds are parked just down the road from us in the beautiful Swan Valley. He is the retired blacksmith and she is the retired high school teacher, remember??? Fred is just now starting his rounds of judging at the spring/summer horse shows in Idaho. I hope we can go see one of the shows he judges. All of you who are reading this blog, I would ask that you say a prayer for Karen as she is fighting a heart problem. Actually, it is the ventricals into her heart. She now has 3 stents and is a "Young" 65 yrs. old. Fred and Karen are such a great couple and I know God intends for them to have many more wonderful times ahead. It was a cold, rainy day coming over the Tetons and Karen had delicious homemade soup, fruit slaw and blackberry ice cream ready. Fred had a nice glass of vino waiting. We talked and talked playing catch up. Karen particularly wanted to hear about Savannah as she wants to visit there so much. The blessings of our life on the trail. A serendipity kind of evening.
Texas Molly II is parked here until July 5th and "weather permitting" we are going to get in some great trout fishing with Fred on the Snake river. Right now the Snake is running full, fast and very cloudy, so the fishing is not great at this time, but will get better soon.
Larry was given for his birthday, tickets to the Boise State Broncos vs California-Davis game in the fall in the Broncos' blue field stadium. Always sold out for their games. Remember their miracle win against Oklahoma in the '07 Fiesta Bowl? Well, "Texas Molly" is in need of alot of TLC today so I better get going. Please remember specific "heart" prayers for Karen. blessings to all
PS As I finish this blog, it is SUNNY and 72 degrees outside. Maybe we have found summer!???
Here are some photos we took on the way thru the Wind River Shoshone Indian Reservation in Wyoming and into Idaho. Sacagawea, the Shoshone who lead the Lewis and Clark expedition is buried on the reservation along with her father the great Chief Washakie. Chief Washakie is the only Indian ever given a United States full military funeral. He was quite a guy and she was quite a gal. There are more statues of Sacagawea around the world than any other woman.
Wind River Indian Reservation area
Snake River in WY ... How about that for a flyfishing stream?
Snow still on the mountains in Wyoming & Idaho.
Scene from our RV site in Idaho.
Our dear new/old friends from the trail in Arizona were waiting for us and had supper ready. Karen and Fred Olds are parked just down the road from us in the beautiful Swan Valley. He is the retired blacksmith and she is the retired high school teacher, remember??? Fred is just now starting his rounds of judging at the spring/summer horse shows in Idaho. I hope we can go see one of the shows he judges. All of you who are reading this blog, I would ask that you say a prayer for Karen as she is fighting a heart problem. Actually, it is the ventricals into her heart. She now has 3 stents and is a "Young" 65 yrs. old. Fred and Karen are such a great couple and I know God intends for them to have many more wonderful times ahead. It was a cold, rainy day coming over the Tetons and Karen had delicious homemade soup, fruit slaw and blackberry ice cream ready. Fred had a nice glass of vino waiting. We talked and talked playing catch up. Karen particularly wanted to hear about Savannah as she wants to visit there so much. The blessings of our life on the trail. A serendipity kind of evening.
Texas Molly II is parked here until July 5th and "weather permitting" we are going to get in some great trout fishing with Fred on the Snake river. Right now the Snake is running full, fast and very cloudy, so the fishing is not great at this time, but will get better soon.
Larry was given for his birthday, tickets to the Boise State Broncos vs California-Davis game in the fall in the Broncos' blue field stadium. Always sold out for their games. Remember their miracle win against Oklahoma in the '07 Fiesta Bowl? Well, "Texas Molly" is in need of alot of TLC today so I better get going. Please remember specific "heart" prayers for Karen. blessings to all
PS As I finish this blog, it is SUNNY and 72 degrees outside. Maybe we have found summer!???
Here are some photos we took on the way thru the Wind River Shoshone Indian Reservation in Wyoming and into Idaho. Sacagawea, the Shoshone who lead the Lewis and Clark expedition is buried on the reservation along with her father the great Chief Washakie. Chief Washakie is the only Indian ever given a United States full military funeral. He was quite a guy and she was quite a gal. There are more statues of Sacagawea around the world than any other woman.
Wind River Indian Reservation area
Snake River in WY ... How about that for a flyfishing stream?
Snow still on the mountains in Wyoming & Idaho.
Scene from our RV site in Idaho.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Casper, Wyoming
Wednesday, June 10 -- We left Surgis, SD, yesterday morning and made the 306 miles to Casper, WY, by 3 pm. Beautiful weather with lots of sunshine most of the way, but started to rain as we finished setting up in our RV site in Casper. Stormy rain all night and it's probably going to rain most of today. We'll leave tomorrow.
On the way to Casper we saw not only countless heads of cattle, but many herds of antelope. Miles and miles of breathtaking scenery and miles of snow fences. Today we'll take some visits to interesting spots and add some photos tonight.
Written later today ...
We spent most of the day getting haircuts, washing clothes and hitching up Molly II before the promised rain begins again. Actually there isn't that much to see unless you drive up into the Black Mountains for what we were told presents awesome viewing. Did visit the Fort Casper museum and found it very interesting, though like a lot of other museums containg countless items from the "old days". The only photo to add is that of a rabbit that is roaming the RV park. I got within 3-4 feet of him and he (she?) just looked at me, seemingly unafraid. I have to ask someone if the bunny is a camp pet.
On the way to Casper we saw not only countless heads of cattle, but many herds of antelope. Miles and miles of breathtaking scenery and miles of snow fences. Today we'll take some visits to interesting spots and add some photos tonight.
Written later today ...
We spent most of the day getting haircuts, washing clothes and hitching up Molly II before the promised rain begins again. Actually there isn't that much to see unless you drive up into the Black Mountains for what we were told presents awesome viewing. Did visit the Fort Casper museum and found it very interesting, though like a lot of other museums containg countless items from the "old days". The only photo to add is that of a rabbit that is roaming the RV park. I got within 3-4 feet of him and he (she?) just looked at me, seemingly unafraid. I have to ask someone if the bunny is a camp pet.
Monday, June 8, 2009
A Day in Sturgis & Deadwood, SD
Monday, June 8 -- Today we visited two towns in South Dakota...Sturgis and Deadwood. Sturgis is the location of the huge, huge motorcycle gathering each August, as well as the site of Fort Meade and the US Cavalry Museum. Fort Meade was deactivated in the 1990's and is used now for officers' training. Deadwood was a sophisticated yet violent western town. It was born 133 years ago when a fabulously rich gold strike was discovered in Deadwood. Hickok, Earp, Calamity Jane and other legendary figures were there. Then we drove to the National Cemetery, the emotional highlight of my day. Here are a couple photos from our Fort Meade visit. 
Photos taken in the US Cavalry Museum.
German flag taken down from balcony in Germany by US Cavalry soldier.
Strong KKK influence in town named Belle Fourche near Ft. Meade and the border. 
In Deadwood we witnessed the murder of Wild Bill Hickok, heard about Calamity Jane, got photo of Hickok and Hickok's assassin, Jack McCall, and Calamity Jane (Helen). Then we visited the graves of Hickok and Jane.
Wild Bill's gravesite. It was first made of wood but tourists destroyed it taking small splinters. Then it was made of marble but tourists also defaced it so badly it had to be replaced with bronze and circled with a fence.
Calamity Jane's gravesite. She requested to be buried next to 'Wild Bill'.
Lastly we visited the National Cemetery. An awesome site. 13,000 gravestones of US soldiers with 41,000 bodies which includes some of their family members. Truly an emotional experience. The cemetery is eerily quiet and absolutely beautiful.
It's difficult selecting photos from 100s taken to try to depict what we saw.
Tomorrow we leave for Casper, Wyoming and home to Idaho to fish.
Photos taken in the US Cavalry Museum.
German flag taken down from balcony in Germany by US Cavalry soldier.
Strong KKK influence in town named Belle Fourche near Ft. Meade and the border. 
In Deadwood we witnessed the murder of Wild Bill Hickok, heard about Calamity Jane, got photo of Hickok and Hickok's assassin, Jack McCall, and Calamity Jane (Helen). Then we visited the graves of Hickok and Jane.
Wild Bill's gravesite. It was first made of wood but tourists destroyed it taking small splinters. Then it was made of marble but tourists also defaced it so badly it had to be replaced with bronze and circled with a fence.
Calamity Jane's gravesite. She requested to be buried next to 'Wild Bill'.
Lastly we visited the National Cemetery. An awesome site. 13,000 gravestones of US soldiers with 41,000 bodies which includes some of their family members. Truly an emotional experience. The cemetery is eerily quiet and absolutely beautiful.
It's difficult selecting photos from 100s taken to try to depict what we saw.
Tomorrow we leave for Casper, Wyoming and home to Idaho to fish.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Mt Rushmore, Berlin Wall, Rapid City, SD
Sunday, June 7 -- Today we drove 25 miles to see Mt Rushmore only to find it fogged in and invisible. We did visit the museum of the sculptor who carved Mt Rushmore and 100s of other famous sculptures of famous people, and we watched the movie of the sculping of the presidents. He did start the first Stone Mountain, GA, Robert E Lee carving, but when he had a disagreement with the SM Association, he destroyed what he had done thus far.
We then drove to downtown Rapid City to see the portion of the Berlin Wall which is located in a park near the civic center. Here are some photos of same, which produce some strong emotions.
This anti-tank deterrant was located between the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie
When I put my hand on the wall I wondered how many East German 'prisoners' had done the same, longing for freedom on the other side of the ghastly wall.
Helen's impression of this inspiring memorial of the Berlin Wall reminded her of her brother Jerry's contribution of the four sculptured charging "Horses of Freedom" gifted to the city of Berlin to stand by the destroyed Berlin Wall. These horses are huge and done in bronze. I believe the artist is a woman in Santa Fe. Jerry also donated their duplicate to stand outside of the George H. Bush Presidential Library located at Texas A & M, College Station, Texas.
It is a cold, rainy, foggy, miserable day and Helen is chopping fresh veggies for a pot of hot soup!
We then drove to downtown Rapid City to see the portion of the Berlin Wall which is located in a park near the civic center. Here are some photos of same, which produce some strong emotions.
This anti-tank deterrant was located between the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie
When I put my hand on the wall I wondered how many East German 'prisoners' had done the same, longing for freedom on the other side of the ghastly wall.
Helen's impression of this inspiring memorial of the Berlin Wall reminded her of her brother Jerry's contribution of the four sculptured charging "Horses of Freedom" gifted to the city of Berlin to stand by the destroyed Berlin Wall. These horses are huge and done in bronze. I believe the artist is a woman in Santa Fe. Jerry also donated their duplicate to stand outside of the George H. Bush Presidential Library located at Texas A & M, College Station, Texas.
It is a cold, rainy, foggy, miserable day and Helen is chopping fresh veggies for a pot of hot soup!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Sturgis, South Dakota
Saturday, June 6 -- Travelled over 300 miles today and most of it in rain. The last half hour through Rapid City and into our RV Park (Rush-No-More RV Park) in Sturgis was driven through heavy rain and hail. We are within a stone's throw from Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Black Hills Caverns and many other sites we want to see if our two days here allows. We're without cell service here. Have the net, though. Now for a good nights rest, for which we are grateful. Photos tomorrow and Monday our sight-seeing. But first a photo of our RV park with mountains fogged in. Also a lost puppy looking for his RV master. 
Friday, June 5, 2009
South Dakota - Home of the Sioux, the Corn Palace and Laura Ingalls Wilder
Beautiful day here in Mitchell, South Dakota, home of numerous Indian tribes and the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace in downtown Mitchell is truly all made of corn. The original Corn Palace was built in 1892. A local businessman named Beckwith wanted to advertise to the world that corn could be grown very successfully around Mitchell, South Dakota. He put Mitchell on the map. It is still a tradition and a big festival here every year.
A couple of years were skipped during the Great Depression when this area virtually turned into a dust bowl. They had what they called "black blizzard" dust storms for ten years. And, there was no Corn Palace during the war years of 1942, 1943, and 1944 because all of the corn was being shipped to feed our fighting troops. The tradition was resumed in 1945.
There have been hundreds of stars of stage, screen and music perform at the Corn Palace. John Philip Sousa was the first. Would you believe that President Obama spoke at the Corn Palace during his campaign! Mitchell also is the home of George McGovern.
The Discovery Pioneer Museum here in Mitchell holds many Indian and pioneer artifacts. There are absolutely beautiful indian bead work clothes on display for men, women and children. They have some of the most colorful and intricate needle work I have ever seen. All of this incredible work is done on deer leather. There is so much to read about the Indians - fascinating and sad.
We visited the original Beckwith home which had been moved to the museum site and I was impressed at how much it looked like my own grandparents home in northern Michigan. The furniture, old wood stove in the kitchen and the piano were the same as my grandparents. The yard around the house looked like my grandfather's garden. The orange poppies were in bloom and the dark red peonies are ready to pop open in the next few days. The peonies will be a gorgeous splash of color all around the big porch of the khaki colored gingerbread house which is painted with dark red accents. This is the original color of the house. The one room school house moved to the museum reminded me totally of the one I attended when I spent a winter with my grandparents in northern Michigan. I attended first grade in just such a school. Just a few years ago! ugh!
Mitchell, South Dakota, is 85 miles south of the Little House on the Prairie home. I purchased two books about Laura Ingalls Wilder, one is her biography and the other one is entitled "Old Town in the Green Groves" (Laura Ingalls Wilder's Lost Little House Years). It is written about the period of Laura's life when she was 8 - 10 years old before she had started writing her Little House series. We won't try to get up to see her home but all of it is fully documented here in the museum.
At last I may have gotten out my summer clothes for good. It still gets chilly in the evenings and we do not have the a/c on but I can put on a sweatshirt or jacket for the evening. On to Sturgis, motorcycle rally country and Hill City, South Dakota, the Santa Fe of the Black Hills. Vaya Con Dios!
See photos below.
Made entirely of corn!!!
Here's our new Dream Catcher hanging in the window above our laptop.
Finally, congratulations and happy re-wedding day to the young couple in Virginia renewing their vows tomorrow. "The Bells Are Ringing for Me and My Gal!"
My one day in summer clothes!
A couple of years were skipped during the Great Depression when this area virtually turned into a dust bowl. They had what they called "black blizzard" dust storms for ten years. And, there was no Corn Palace during the war years of 1942, 1943, and 1944 because all of the corn was being shipped to feed our fighting troops. The tradition was resumed in 1945.
There have been hundreds of stars of stage, screen and music perform at the Corn Palace. John Philip Sousa was the first. Would you believe that President Obama spoke at the Corn Palace during his campaign! Mitchell also is the home of George McGovern.
The Discovery Pioneer Museum here in Mitchell holds many Indian and pioneer artifacts. There are absolutely beautiful indian bead work clothes on display for men, women and children. They have some of the most colorful and intricate needle work I have ever seen. All of this incredible work is done on deer leather. There is so much to read about the Indians - fascinating and sad.
We visited the original Beckwith home which had been moved to the museum site and I was impressed at how much it looked like my own grandparents home in northern Michigan. The furniture, old wood stove in the kitchen and the piano were the same as my grandparents. The yard around the house looked like my grandfather's garden. The orange poppies were in bloom and the dark red peonies are ready to pop open in the next few days. The peonies will be a gorgeous splash of color all around the big porch of the khaki colored gingerbread house which is painted with dark red accents. This is the original color of the house. The one room school house moved to the museum reminded me totally of the one I attended when I spent a winter with my grandparents in northern Michigan. I attended first grade in just such a school. Just a few years ago! ugh!
Mitchell, South Dakota, is 85 miles south of the Little House on the Prairie home. I purchased two books about Laura Ingalls Wilder, one is her biography and the other one is entitled "Old Town in the Green Groves" (Laura Ingalls Wilder's Lost Little House Years). It is written about the period of Laura's life when she was 8 - 10 years old before she had started writing her Little House series. We won't try to get up to see her home but all of it is fully documented here in the museum.
At last I may have gotten out my summer clothes for good. It still gets chilly in the evenings and we do not have the a/c on but I can put on a sweatshirt or jacket for the evening. On to Sturgis, motorcycle rally country and Hill City, South Dakota, the Santa Fe of the Black Hills. Vaya Con Dios!
See photos below.
Made entirely of corn!!!
Here's our new Dream Catcher hanging in the window above our laptop.
Finally, congratulations and happy re-wedding day to the young couple in Virginia renewing their vows tomorrow. "The Bells Are Ringing for Me and My Gal!"
My one day in summer clothes!
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