Category: Trips

SEVENTH Sense

Thought there were only five, maybe six. Right. Well in my world there is someone who has seven. Roy calls it the super must happen sense. This happens alot when we are on the road, which gift shop to give up his nap to go into, usually grabs an extra special thing. It can involve taking a differant road to see something out of the ordinary. He can’t explain it but it’s his, today no exception.

I’ve been having some issues with the elephant in the storage cupboard this year. I think it thought more room for me. First it’s been 3 weeks since my infusion so that is making an effect, I haven’t been exposed to humidity since being diagnosed, also misjudged how much of a certain pill I needed. I added one that was supposed to help a little more. Let’s say allergy meds don’t mix and that had me just very uncomfortable.

We are in Door County peninsula famous for cherries, pointing into Lake Michigan, and responsable for Niagara Falls. (I’ll explain).

We did cheese and wine tasting which because I don’t drink not alot to taste. I went into a Christmas store and walked off with nothing a little disapointed, so down the road Roy turns into wine and cheese tasting. Inside thought was ok, I said it’s up to you. I’ve never had a cheese tasting pretty good bought two seperate cheeses. On to the wine tasting, Roy was starting to choose what he wanted to taste me t-shirts. One of the few times I’ve been exceptionally pouty about my MS. Why can’t I be uncomfortable because it’s humid, not down and out miserable because allergy medicine doesn’t like an ms medicine. So the testing server gets started and after some small talk Roy telling her how he came kicking and screaming the last 400 miles to Wisconsin. I asked why split between here and Cali, answer was good for her condition. (MS, small world) I needed that seeing someone who has a positive attitude handling a disease that sometimes punches you just for giggles. I mean who names a boa constricter squeezing your chest to extreme a hug MS does. I took a lot out of our brief contact that hopefully will blossom. All because of Roy’s seventh sense.

Turn Left At The 3rd Tree

Actually it was turn right at the stake with a pink ribbon. I jump ahead though. I need to clarify I haven’t been posting animal pictures, not because I’ve been busy, it’s because I think they all moved north, or they think I’ve seen enough already. Back to the details.

We leave East Glacier about 7:30am, headed around the outside of the park, even leaving this early no animals. We drive through Kalispell into Libby and right on top of a power pole we see an eagle’s nest with an eagle hunkered down. Outside of Libby we take the time to do an Earthcache, I have to say I like learning about nature around the country.

Upon making our turn at tree number one outside of Troy (or in Roy’s story it’s really Roy and it fits him to a T) (I will rent him out cheap). We encounter Yaak River Falls unique rock and water color seeming to come out of nowhere spring must be a rush.

Heading up the road we turn at the second tree drive past a bridge with the local watering hole. Find the pink stake and third tree. Our arrival is annouced by the dog and out pops Tom, no beard but still has that twinkle in his eye. (I think he was glad to see we weren’t stalkers). Inside we head to sit down and get to chatting. Tom put on a pot of joe which was strong enough to put hair on your chest Roy said. Nancy said coffee is all Tom drinks sounds like someone I know. The cool thing to the afternoon was listening to how they came to the valley, some of his trapping stories and seeing pictures of the amazing leather and fur pieces they made. I do think Nancy learned Tom would sneak into Canada to hunt years ago, being they are four miles from the border. She mentioned that they cross country skied to have a pinic one winter. No more as now there are ground sensors and a 5,000 dollar fine if caught. The ideas and points of view about not having the trappings of computers and cell phones was refreshing. They even had a landline plus they share Roy’s idea of a cell phone add 10 dollars every few months, it just makes calls.

I also spent time staring out the window watching all the birds feeding, and one baby chipmunk stealing nuts. We got directions out of town for a scenic drive, which was all paved and drove the ridge line. Tom even said I might see a mountain lion. (I have to settle for the stuffed one in his house). It is amazing how everything in the cabin he shot or trapped and the fact it was done not for show, they use everything from the animals.

Speaking of animals the road down we see two deer and once we cross the cattle guard this is what is there, of course in the middle of the road,

Roy was trying to talk him into coming over for dinner, I mean being dinner. We also saw a couple of wild turkeys on the way to Wal-Mart so it wasn’t a total bust on animals.

I will have to say making the call and visiting with both Tom and Nancy gives me a deeper respect for people who live off the land. Well worth the side trip.

Back to Civilization

I am sitting in the Anchorage airport waiting to check in for my flight. It sucked that I haven’t been able to post any pictures due to a problem with my wifi hotspot. I tried to keep up with blogging and going through photos I took each day did not work. I might have to do an Alaska slide show each night of the rally.

I will post a day to day blog about the past ten days by Thursday at the latest. Pictures might be a little longer (4000) pictures to go through. I am caught up to the day we took the boat out of Seward AK.

A quick over view from the trip includes lots of moms and babes. Chris from our group hit the nail on the head when he said this trip is all about motherhood and being protectors of the babies. I was amazed at how close we were able to get to the wildlife. Adventures and comedy that I seemed to be in the middle of, (I might have started some.) Learning new skills and being able to put the practices to use. Yes, even some close a little to close bear encounters. This is what’s coming in my blogs.

Photo bucket list is down to photographing a lynx, and the northern lights. As a side note being well removed from lots of people and chatter for ten days sitting in this airport is a little over stimulating.

I can’t wait to share my adventures with all

Up The Creek …….

with a motor, it was also a wide river. On Tuesday we took a ride up the Kenai and Moose rivers, you get a whole differant perspective from water, then on the shore. The river is quite high due to a late spring thaw and the recent amount of rain made it easy to motor up it, the last group had to use a push boat.

We divided into two groups, I took the early morning wanted to get it out of the way not a friend of boats. It was cloudy when we left and sprinkling on our return. I have yet to see a loon on this trip, and I still didn’t see it. What I did see was 2 Trumpeter Swans super long neck I love how they curl their necks down to get a drink. I might have a picture of it.

The water rose so fast that a pair of grebes lost their nest we were lucky to watch them rebuild a small portion of it. It also reinforced what I learned about bald eagles not only do they chase gulls, they also chase ducks. For being beautiful birds they are bullies.

I will catch up on blogging soon tomorrow we go on our bear trip to Lake Clark. I willtake lots of pictures to add to the amazing ones from this week.

One Moose

We saw 4 moose but only one would stand still for his picture. The drive down Saturday was wet and raining. I do have to say the weather gods did smile on us because I learned how to shoot a dreamy waterfall.

I would have to say that was good because we were able to settle in, get a short trip to the store to get things forgotten, and have a nice dinner outside because it stopped raining.

After dinner we decided to go scouting for animals. We saw one earlier in the day but could not stop. Driving around on the back roads Lisa our leader saw a moose with a baby but be the time we got stopped they were into the woods. Just about ready to give up on moose, we are driving by an intersection and see a moose down the side road. We were able to photograph him for awhile as he stayed there more concerned with leaves then us.

Read on to find the amazing amount of animals on Sunday.

Wow, I’m With Minnie

and Goofy, Pluto, and Mickey. Sitting on the Spirit of Disneyland II Alaska Airlines headed for my photo trip turning 50 is amazing.

I am amazed at how big SeaTac is this is the one time I’m glad I did not suck it up and walk. I do have to say the TSA lanes were insane but my wheel chair driver buzzed right through.

I called Alaska Air, I asked at check in about my 3rd bag full of meds and am told they are your meds they should be fine. Well my flight attendant said you can only have 2 bags. She let me keep it I will get a note from my doctor for the return trip. I understand her point of view, if we allowed this everyone would say the 3rd bag was medicine. Like everyone’s pet is a service animal.

It’s all good I have a window seat. I know that’s strange for someone who doesn’t like to fly. I do believe looking at the mountains and land seems to calm me.

We seem to be flying up the coast, it’s interesting to wonder how many of those mountians have never seen a human foot print. The food was amazing it was a salmon potato pancake, and yes I did have a little bit of wine. I’m going to enjoy the rest of my flight will post animals soon.

My Ain’t It Pretty Up Here

Yes, it was. Sometimes maps can steer you in the wrong direction by not giving you the whole picture. This was the case with Mount Rainier. https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm So headed out on 123 we drove past Ohanapecosh Campground, one of the campgrounds we were going to stay at, so we drove through. Spaces were way to small but there was a visitor center, must go shopping. I was having withdrawals! Inside I spoke with a real cool ranger who showed me the way we had planned on going would just skirt the park. I also said I wanted to drive through Mount St Helens https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_St._Helens and take the back way.

Well, the back way was closed due to snow (I have a picture to prove this.) More on that later. We started on our way soon we were in snow fresh snow at that, level at 4000 feet. Reflection lake was not super reflective but I caught a glimpse. Mount Rainier is the most glacierfied Mountain in the lower 48. Well worth the visit, the visitor center at Paradise was open and full of people because the snow was right there. We headed out of the park via Longmire, I was able to get some good pictures. We saw a few blue jays, one deer and an elusive fisher, not many this year. Back to Packwood via a well maintained Forest Service road.

It was late enough to not be able to drive to the main entrance of Mount St Helens so we tried the back way, got as far as the junction of 25 and 99, no view of the mountain. Something to come back for.

BRRRRRRR!!!

I have to post this and I’m sorry to my readers who are suffering through triple digits. When we were driving to our site at La Wis Wis campground in the Gifford Pinchot NF it got down to 38 chilly on June 10th.

I have to say I am glad we took a hook up spot in Pendleton, OR instead of doing free at the Wildhorse Casino. We were able to burn out the new from the heater as we are boondocking. The propane heater did keep us toasty after setting up in the rain. Today our adventure involves heading to Mount St Helen’s Volcanic Memorial and up the road as far as we can get to Mount Ranier.

I will be heading to Alaska in less then a week I’m getting excited, will be practicing today.