A Musing

As I walked back from the RV Park office today, I thought -- here I am in the mountains of Idaho with a bald eagle studying me from a treetop on my left, and on my right a young deer walking by as long horn sheep graze on the mountain side as the beautiful Salmon River runs rapidly past our RV park -- what's a boy from the bayous of Mississippi doing here? I never ceased to be amazed at the awesome country I never truly knew existed, not just in the magnificent west, but east, west, north and south, and continually surprized that we are here. God has been undeservedly good to my sweetheart and me. Thank you, Lord.

North Fork, Idaho @ WaggonHammer RV Park & CC

We've met some very interesting folk along our journeys and this week has been no exception. A few days ago, at the 5 pm cocktail/potluck, we met an Iraqi vet who lost a leg in Iraq, then a year ago had a heart transplant! He and his wife are bicycling 70 miles on the Lewis and Clark trail. One false leg and somebody else's heart. Unbelievable! He and she had great positive attitudes. Makes me think about mine. Attitude, that is.

Yesterday, my friend Floyd and I drove up the mountain about 35 miles to fish Panther Creek. The streams are picturesque...like in fishing magazines! We caught 17 fish, two nice size Rainbow Trout and two Cutthroat Trout. Floyd caught 10 and I caught 7. He's Baptist. Is that the reason he's a better fisherman than I? Baptists like more water?

We drove by this guy. Saw 30 sheep. Friends that same day saw a herd of 100. Yesterday we saw sheep, a badger, a bald eagle in a tree near our RV, and deer.

Sacajawea - Opening Up the Northwest Passage PLEASE READ "UNDAUNTED COURAGE" BY STEPHEN AMBROSE

As my friends who have talked to me recently will tell you, I am a huge fan of the Shoshone Indian woman Sacajawea who led the "white man" to the Northwest Passage. She did it carrying a babe in arms. Because she was carrying a baby, the others watching this entourage progressively moving into Indian territory assumed it was a friendly party. Who can deny passage for a woman with a babe in arms? I have spoken so consistently about Sacajawea that my "friends" are now calling me by that name. I will quickly assure you that I am not anywhere near the caliber of lady that she was. WALKING OVER THESE MOUNTAINS and maintaining a family at the same time, GET OVER IT - that is NOT me! I am doing well with a poweful diesel truck pulling my home away from home. It is equipped with heat and air, gas stove, lights, TV and fireplace. Also, cell phone and computer! I am really "roughing" it.

By now, all of you reading this will realize that this is Helen writing and not Larry. We have been having a wonderful time with old friends and new on the Lewis and Clark trail. Many of the past days, Larry and I have been out of range of TV, cell phone or computer OR all three. Because of this separation from the NEWS of the world, it has been quite peaceful. However, now we are back "in the know" with TV. Still having problems with cell phone reception and the wifi comes and goes.
I am taking advantage of a small window of wifi this morning to write this blog.

When you are isolated from the news of the world and all you have to take in is the absolute beauty around you, your thoughts turn more and more to God. I have to say that my prayer life has greatly improved and I spend many days thinking about the "other very busy world" and praying for all of those I know and love. I also spend many moments thanking God for my present life style that put us on the Lewis and Clark trail. I thank God for introducing us to Idaho thru my daughter and her girls.

However, two days ago, the TV came alive again with all of the wonderful news of the world. Because we had not had the news for awhile, it has sounded louder and more depressing than ever. What a mess!!! How did we get in such a mess! What in the world are our children going to do trying to live in and thru this mess!

I have never been the political member of this team. Larry has always lead the way, but I am so concerned and so fed up with the mess in our government that I have made up my mind that I have to do something to help clean up the mess! Most Moms and Grandmoms are great mess cleaner uppers!

I have been talking and talking to God about what am I suppose to be doing for Him right now at this time in my life. I think I have arrived at the answer! America is very sick and needs nursing back to health. It is very needy and needs some TLC.
America needs some strong Moms and Grandmoms to lead the way. We have to keep fighting the fight for our children and their children. We have make sure that our children know what the Consitution of our Founding Fathers says. We have to make sure that our children know what the Bible says. We have to show the children how to stand tall with the Constitution in one hand and the Bible in the other hand.

I am not sure where this is all leading me but I AM TIRED OF THE MESS! There is no clarity of speech about what is RIGHT and what is WRONG anywhere! Someone who still knows the difference between RIGHT AND WRONG FROM GOD'S WORD must speak out and share this with the children before it is lost forever.

This is all that I plan to say about this right now. I still have a lot of questions to ask God and prayers to be said for answers. All I ask right now is that you talk to God and pray for answers with me. Let us at least seek to find answers for our children's future. Pray that God raises up a leader to show the way. Sacajawea was not afraid to plunge ahead into unknown territory with babe in arms and look for solutions to finding the trail. Let us strike out with her and follow her search for a NEW passage for America. Is there a new contemporary "Sacajawea" to follow? We are running out of time and we must pray!

Helen on the trail of Sacajawea

HAPPY 4th of JULY! - IN GOD WE TRUST!

REMEMBER TO FLY THE FLAG!

REMEMBER ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR US AND THE FLAG!

REMEMBER OUR GOVERNMENT IN PRAYER TODAY!

REMEMBER TO THANK GOD FOR ALL OF OUR BLESSINGS!

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

PRAY FOR PEACE!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD CONTINUES TO LOVE AND PROTECT US!

IN GOD WE TRUST!

"www.larryhelen.blogspot.com"

Visiting Victor, ID, and Fishing Pine Creek on The Teton Pass - 8,500 ft.

Today we drove 30 miles to historic Victor, ID, had a great lunch in a local cafe and purused the shops.

Late afternoon we drove up the Teton Pass so I could flyfish one of the magnificent local streams. The Snake River is too high, too fast and too cloudy for fishing. The Department of Game/Fish opened the local creeks on July 1, so I wanted to try Pine Creek. Helen positioned herself high on the cliff overhead to take the following photos. A local Orvis guy told me the creeks would likely yield some small fish initially and that I should use ant flies which are so small it's difficult to tie the fly to your leader. I had 8-10 strikes by small fish but no catches. But it was great to get on the water again, enjoy the scenery and try to catch the elusive trout. There were maybe a dozen other flyfishers on the creek, but plenty of room for all of us.

The creek from Helen's vantage point:
Tying one of those tiny flies:
Getting in rhythm:
Looking for signs of rising fish:

Texas Molly II Gets a New "Horse" next Monday

We have been pulling "Molly II" with an '07 two door Dodge Ram 2500 6.7L diesel. It's been a great truck, but two problems arise with a two door -- can't haul grandkids with no back seat ... and things in the truck bed get wet in the rain. So, yesterday I drove to Blackfoot, ID to check on an ad I had seen for an '09 Dodge Ram 2500. While there I got a call from a friend in Pocatello, ID who suggested I call the Dodge dealer in Salmon, ID where he bought his truck. I did so. When the dealer where I was made an offer I got a call from the Salmon dealer who made me an offer I could not refuse...a new, never-been-driven '08 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel 6.7L four door Big Horn edition (with lots of extras) and offered it to me with a $18K discount! I accepted his offer, told the dealer in front of whom I was sitting that he had been outbid, thanked him, and left.

We go to North Fork, ID this Saturday to spend three weeks with Floyd and Rubye Box, friends we met at North Fork a year ago. On Monday of next week, I will drive to Salmon (15 miles from North Fork) to sign papers for the new Ram and bring it to North Fork. Now Molly II will have a new 'horse' to pull her. Here's a pic of the new Ram (can't wait to see and get it):