Farley Visits the Little Blackfoot River

I wanted to go camping even though our weekend plans fell apart.  So we headed out yesterday afternoon to the Little Blackfoot River just outside of Elliston, Montana, for a quick overnight.  We figured we could find a free spot to park Farley along the river and, if not, we'd hit up Kading Campground at the Blackfoot Meadows Trailhead.

We did find a spot, luckily, because Kading Campground has changed tremendously in the four or five years since we last visited.  The vast majority of the trees are gone.  There was only one tent and probably 10 campers and trailers and far, far more four-wheelers and motorcycles.  What was once a peaceful, shady campground is now an ATVers' heaven.

We hiked the 10-mile round-trip to the meadows.  It's a long hike, obviously, but not strenuous.  It took us about two hours to get to the meadow.  I was looking at the backpacking site we went to a few years ago on my very first backpacking overnight when Marc hissed at me, "Kel, come here.  It's a moose!"  I didn't believe him.  Who would expect to see a moose at 4:10 in the afternoon?  But it wasn't one moose, it was two!  A male and a female. We wandered through the meadow to get as close as we could before deciding we didn't like the staredown the male was giving us.

We headed back to camp, and I picked a handful of huckleberries along the way.  Not many were ripe yet. Dinner, a fire and a cocktail, and off to bed, and we came home this morning!

The trail passed through a thistle patch
and butterflies were everywhere.

Those two brown blobs on the right are moose!
If you click on this pic, you can see better,
but still might not know what they are.

Marc's impromptu "end table," containing
my muddled-huckleberry whiskey and Sprite.

Farley at the campsite.

Ten miles makes for one exhausted hounddog.

Farley Hits the Pac Northwest, Day 10 -- Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

This morning we headed for home with just a few hours to go.  After a stop at the Bighole Battlefield (passport stamp!), we headed into Butte for Trimbo’s Pizza, which I swear is the best in the state, and drinks at Headframe Spirits. 

Bighorn Battlefield teepee.

Teepee sky. 

Farley Hits the Pac Northwest, Day Nine -- Finding Papa

This morning we got up and headed into Ketchum.  I’d love to live there except that they have no grocery store except a trendy, expensive market.  Handy, though, because their meat section had small containers of cut-up chicken breast and cut-up veggies.  Perfect for van fajitas, and no leftovers.  

We wandered around town, marveled at the price of real estate, and then headed to the Ernest Hemingway Memorial.  We next stalked his grave.  I was reading a fiction book about his life in Paris with his first wife on this trip, and it as a bizarre coincidence that I read last night that spent his last years in, and was buried in, Ketchum.  

Apparently I have a business
in Ketchum, Idaho.

Ernest Hemingway's grave.

We also stopped at a craft fair in tiny Stanley, Idaho, and Sunbeam Hot Springs right along the road.  Somehow hot springs in 90-degree weather aren’t that satisfying.  We ended up sitting just outside the rocked-in area where the hot water mixed with the cooler river water.  We continued on up to Lost Trail ski area to spend the night.

SUP along the Salmon.  Having only tried it
on a still pond, I had to watch him through the rapids.

Last night of camping, Lookout Pass.

Farley Hits the Pac Northwest, Day Eight -- My birthday, and Boise

This morning we got up and, after six days of Facebook birthday wishes, it was FINALLY my birthday.  

Birthday gift from Marc:  A shirt to match our van.

We headed on toward Boise.  We got there in the early afternoon and picnicked by the rose gardens and went to the zoo.  Next we headed downtown for a birthday beer and some Basque food.  I’ve been told that Boise has the largest Basque population outside Iberia, or something like that.  We wandered downtown and then headed north on the Sawtooth Scenic Byway toward Ketchum and spent another night in a rest area.

Washington may have Walla Wallas,
but they're not "Onion Country."

My new friend in Butterflies in Bloom at the Boise Zoo.
Super-cool little area filled with flowers and butterlies.

Butterfly smorgasbord.

Human smorgasboard at the Basque
appetizer buffet.

Boise's capitol.

Boise rose garden as the sun set.

Farley Hits the Pac Norwest, Day Seven -- Thanks, Import Performance in Bend!

Farley started just fine this morning.  With Crater Lake not too far off the path to Bend--and a mechanic--we debated turning but decided we’d rather make sure he was OK and headed straight to town.   We hit Import Performance in the early afternoon and hung around while they diagnosed the problem:  dead oxygen sensor.  They couldn’t find the part anywhere in Bend and said we could wait to have it delivered from Portland or drive home fine, we just might not get great gas mileage.  We opted for the latter.  

We then headed to the river for a picnic, then to 10 Barrel Brewing and Bend’s version of Alive @ Five.  We spent the night in Eastern Oregon at a rest area.

A healthy amount of beer in the taster at 10 Barrel.

Farley Hits the Pac Northwest, Day Six -- Breakdown!

Today I called first thing to find out about crabbing.  When I found out it was best at high tide, which was six hours away, we decided to bag that idea and head toward Crater Lake.  

Myrtle Point, Oregon,
where I was born!

Along the way we saw a wayside (aka rest area) with a covered bridge.  We stopped and found the mother lode of ripe blackberries.  I had only a small container, but picked as many as that and my stomach could hold.  Our next stop was a fish hatchery.   And then a picnic and quick dip in the Umpqua River.  

Covered bridge.

I'm a freak for any kind of berries.

And there were lots to be had.

We ended up early evening at Diamond Lake, not too far from Crater Lake.  We hadn’t driven that many miles but it seemed like we’d spent a lot of time in the van and I was ready to be done for the day.  The first campground we stopped in had the meanest mosquitoes ever.  We decided to move on.  Farley was a little finicky about starting, which had also happened atop Mt. Rainer under similar circumstances:  hot, running a long time, lots of climbing, and tried to restart just minutes after stopping.  He did start and we continued on, and the check engine light came on shortly thereafter.  We debated driving on to Bend so we could be at a mechanic’s first thing but decided to hang out for the night and hope Farley started quickly in the morning (it had started just fine after our hike in Mt. Rainier).

Camping at Diamond Lake.

How a man camps:  Whiskey, ginger, and John Grisham.

Farley Hits the Pac Northwest, Day Five -- More Oregon Coast

Today’s plan was to head south to Charleston to go crabbing.  I’d read about it in the orthopedist’s office the day we left.  Unfortunately, our plans were derailed.

Along the way we stopped to see the resident elk herd in Reedsport.  If you live in a state with elk, or have been to Yellowstone, I wouldn’t recommend wasting your time.   They were very far away—at least when we were there—and not that impressive.  We also stopped at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area visitors’ center (passport stamp!).  Then took the John Dellenback Dunes Trail to the dunes. 

Oregon dunes from the Dellenback Trail.

Our next stop was Clausen’s Oysters.  A little out of the way, but worth it, as Marc got a whole pint of “cuts” (which the woman said were oysters that were cut during shucking) for less than $7.  We headed into North Bend and stopped at their visitors’ center but it was closed.  Getting back out onto the street, Marc noticed a rhythmic sound coming from under the van.  We stopped to check the tires but they all seemed fine.  We headed on to Safeway to get some lemon and hot sauce to go with the oysters.  As soon as Marc got out, he heard a hissing from the front tire.  FLAT!   He quickly found a Les Schwab only two miles away and we headed there.  They got us in without too much wait and fixed the tire at no charge! 

Clausen's Oysters operation, North Bend, Oregon.

By the time we got to Charleston, we were too late to do any crabbing, so we just headed to an oceanfront park to eat dinner.  We then decided to camp near Charleston to try crabbing the next day.  The state campground was horrifying with RVs packed one upon another.  Driving up the coast, we found a parking lot that didn’t say “Day Use Only,” as many did.  So we decided to “stealth camp,” which is where you leave the top down and try to not be obvious that you’re sleeping inside.

Scenic view of "stealth camping."

Less scenic view of "stealth camping.  Marc thinks
it was a sewage treatment plant.

Farley Hits the Pac Northwest, Day Four -- The Oregon Coast

This morning we headed toward the Oregon Coast to see my parents in Florence.   We hung out for a few hours catching up, then went north to Yachats for dinner.  The restaurant advertised fresh halibut and chips as one of their specials.  I was dubious about the “fresh” part.  Then a truck pulled up pulling a trailer full of big, flat fish.  A man got out and started hauling them one-by-one over his shoulder toward the kitchen.  I asked the waitress and she said they were the halibut for the special. I was convinced and ordered it, as did Marc and my dad.  My mom’s joke of the day:  “We came to Yachats just for the halibut.”

On our way back, we stopped at the tidepools.  It was low tide and we were able to find lots of mussels and anenomes but not much more up close.  In the deeper channels, we saw plenty of starfish clinging to the walls as the waves pounded in and out.  We also visited Old Town Florence, which feels like a New England fishing village.

Poor man's version of Sea Lion Caves,
just outside their gates.

Tidepool brimming with anenomes.

Yachats lighthouse.

Farley Hits the Pac Northwest, Day 3 -- Downtown Seattle

Today was pretty much a rest day for Farley.  We met my Aunt Karen and Uncle Dick for breakfast.  They spend their winters in Phoenix and were kind and generous enough to drive to Tucson to be our “eyes” and check out Farley before we bought him.  We offered to pay for their gas and meals but once all was said and done, they refused our money.  They instead asked us to take them out the next time we were in the same place at the same time.  They’re in Seattle for the summer so we gladly repaid them with breakfast.

We spent the rest of the day in Seattle.  Dick had told us you could take the light rail from Tukwila to downtown for just $5.50 round trip.  What a convenient way to avoid the traffic and parking!  I love independent newsweeklies, so I’d picked up both the Stranger and the Seattle Weekly the day before.  I read them on the way up and discovered that today was Dragon Fest in the International  District, with a $2 Food Walk in which the Asian restaurants offered small samples of their menu items  We got off the train at that stop and shared several samples and wandered through the vendor area.

Dragon Fest dancers.

We then headed toward the waterfront, passing the Klondike National Historic Park along the way.  I love tours given by National Park rangers, and there was one 10 minutes away, so we looked at the displays (and got a passport stamp!) and then joined a man from Thailand and a woman from Argentina for the tour.  We wandered around Pioneer Square and learned about Seattle and gold rush history.  The tour guide gave us coupons for discounted food and drinks in the area, so we headed to the J & M Café for a beer.   We then took the train back to Tukwila and joined Marc’s parents at an Asian buffet for dinner.

Am I worth my weight in gold?

Smith Tower in Downtown
Seattle celebrates its 100th anniversary
this year.

Farley Hits the Pac Northwest, Day 2

For starters, my apologies to the man who sauntered by our van at 6:45 a.m. and had to see me in my t-shirt and underwear. I just knew that was going to happen. NOTE:  Over dinner tonight, Marc asked his mom to make us a set of curtains for the front window.

Also this morning, one of the kind veterans giving out coffee at the rest area caught me on my way to the bathroom and asked how I liked my Eurovan. We got to talking because he has one, too, and it turns out he grew up in Helena, less than a mile from where we live. Such a small world.

Our route took us to central Washington, where we stopped at the scenic overlook of the Columbia River in Vantage. All day long I sang the "Roll on, Columbia" song that I learned in grade school in my head. Now you can, too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ZffI6by3A

Roll on, Columbia, roll on.

Central Washington selfie.

Wind turbines near Vantage,
Washington.

We spent the majority of our day at Mt. Rainier. We drove to Sunrise and went for a five-mile hike to Frozen Lake and the Mt. Fremont fire lookout.

Passport stamp!

Mt. Rainier from Sunrise.

Frozen Lake.

Carpet of mountain flowers.

Mt. Fremont fire lookout,
our destination.

A freaky gust of wind came up and blew
Marc's hat 30 feet up into the scree.

Valley view from the firetower.

Requisite pic of Marc from behind.

Mountain goat along the trail.

On the way from there to Marc's parents, we drove through Enumclaw, Washington. Saw a road sign and learned it is the hometown of NASCAR's Kasey Kahne. These pix are for my brother, who loves him.

One of maybe five "celebrities" on Enumclaw's
walk of fame.

And probably the only one
with his own street.

Farley Hits the Pac Northwest, Day 1

Yesterday we left Helena for a 10-day loop to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The plan is to visit Mt. Rainier, Marc's parents in Washington, mine on the Oregon Coast, my aunt and uncle who helped us by checking out Farley in Arizona for us, as well as Crater Lake, Bend, and Boise.

Our first day was pretty non-eventful, except for dinner in Coeur d'Alene with Andy, Marc's best friend from high school and the best man in our wedding.  If you get a chance to eat at Satay there, do not pass it up.

We then hit the road again to get a little farther along. Marc asked me to find out what the regulations are about parking overnight in a Washington rest area. I found a website that answered the question, "Is it safe to sleep at a roadside rest stop?" as follows: "There have been legitimate reports of robberies, and solicitations by sex-trade workers." We decided to chance it. What a coincidence that I found this poster in the ladies' room, sponsored by Seattle Against Slavery.

Sure, there probably aren't a lot of
48-year-old women sold into sex slavery,
but you never know.

My only real concern was that we do have curtains in the back and sides, but none in the front window. So hopefully I wouldn't throw off the quilt and have some early-rising driver saunter by to see me in my underwear.

Funny shit Marc says:   Your shoes are peachy Keene's.