Day 81 - Island Park ID - Friday, Sept. 17, 2010

Today we gather all our courage and travel about nine miles from the cabin to Sawtell Peak, which can be seen as the highest peak in the picture above.  Barely visible is the structure atop.

The foliage we see with the Aspen colors is worth the trip!

We climb 9,869 feet, and someone is heard saying, "Slow down!"  "Watch the road!" "There's no guardrail!"  (I won't tell who the scaredy cat is --oh, well -- it could be me.)

The road becomes more narrow as we go higher, and we hope we don't meet anyone who is coming down.


There appears a truck behind us; he can't pass, and we are glad we are not getting his dust on the gravel road.


The colors in the leaves and shrubs are just so beautiful, and we stop many times to photograph the scenery and look over the edge of the road. 

 I am fascinated with the hairpin curves that seem pretty scary, and the dead wood that could tell a story.

At the top of Sawtell Mountain there are communi-cations facilities -- radar, cell phone antennae, satellite dishes, etc.  

 I feel a gust of wind as I get near the edge and step back very quickly as it tries to knock me down the hill; then I see Herb holding his hat.

The workmen are dressed warm and I hope they are well compensated for their outside working conditions.

I can see my house from here!

We don't dare let Jake and Annie out of the car, for fear that they would want to investigate the area and come to great harm.

The snow sticks are pretty tall here.

It is just as scary going down the mountain, as it was coming up.  But the closer we get to the bottom of the hill, the better we feel.  

Herb has a good eye, and spots some deer feeding in the brush about 15 feet from the side of the road.  We stop to watch them for a time, and hope the one with the big rack will come into better view for a photo op.  We also see a doe and a fawn in the group.

We decide not to get out of the car for a closer shot, as we will probably frighten them away.

I'll give you a hint where the rack is -- where the grass stops and the trees begin, left of center, just to the left of the tree with no limbs.  The doe can be seen in the clearing in the trees.

Willie of Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 80 - Island Park ID - Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010

Today I give myself a tour of La Serda, beginning with the view from above to capture some of the Autumn colors mixed with the evergreens.  

Since we were here in July, much progress in the remodeling has been made, and both the interior and exterior are looking good.  

David and Patti have left much of the log siding of pine dating to 1930, which can be seen on the front, but have made many additions, one of which is the master bedroom with a gas log fireplace.  


He shows me the faux stone that will cover the chimney.

The exterior of the new addition on the back of the cabin is 1x12 rough sawn fir, and the kitchen flooring that had to be replaced is now 1x6 circular sawn fir.  Interior walls are 1x6 lodgepole pine.


I was not there to photograph, but can use my imagination to see David spending two and a half days with two helpers removing linoleum flooring that had been laid with adhesive mastic, then three days sanding before the original floors of 1x4 pine could be finished.  


I cannot go into the cabin because the workmen are staining the floors, but am able to get a shot of the kitchen cabinets stored on the front porch. 


 The faces of these cabinets, as well as those of both baths, are made from wood they salvaged when they tore down an old building on the property.  Legend has it that it had been a privy.  Logic says that its location could not support that.    Big mystery at this point..............and David says there is now not enough wood left from it 'to make a good fire.'

This project lends itself to a separate story because of the rich history involved, so more on that later.  








Tonight is special as David pops the cork on the champagne we brought, thinking we would christen the finished cabin.  Whatever were we thinking!  Construction and remodeling do not finish early or even on time.  However, we must be a bit premature here and celebrate anyway.

The cheery flowers are for the window ledge outside where Patti keeps a fresh arrangement or planting. 


David and Patti toast each other for the happy times to come, using the champagne flutes we all carry in our motor homes.  

The next treats are for Jake and Annie, who wait patiently. 


 I wish I could read their little minds, and wonder what language they think in.  They speak in bark and nudge.  

Herb is asked to show off his new shirt that David and Patti gave him -- a picture of a Golden Retriever with the name 'Jake' at the top.  


(Some time ago when this gift came in the mail, Herb put the shirt on Jake, took a picture and sent to them with 'Jake's thanks.')  They enjoyed the joke.

The steak dinner is great and we are glad to see that La Serda is almost finished. 

Willie of Walldog, Willie and Jake

Days 78 and 79 - Missoula MT and Island Park ID - Tues. and Wed., Sept 14 and 15, 2010

We see snow on some of the mountains far in the distance, and are glad there is none where we are.  Temperatures are in the 40s overnight and 70s during the day.  

Our next evening is spent at Wally World in Missoula, but we arrive late in the afternoon and the choice spots are taken.  We learn that all RVs are welcome and there are more sites available in the northwest corner of the parking lot.  


As we continue our trip, we see beautiful rock formations and winding roads along the way.  We cross the Continental Divide several times today, climbing to elevations of from 6 to 9,000 feet. 

We encounter many long, steep grades and Herb uses the gears -- not the brakes -- when slowing.  

A whimsical sign we see advertising a motel is, "Lewis and Clark would have rather stayed here."  Probably so.

We come  upon a mountain with a cave-like hole in it and wonder if it is a cave and how far into the interior it goes.

More bald mountains with only grasses, then we cone to an area with evergreen and deciduous changing their colors, and streams with fly fishermen -- hopefully having good luck today.

We arrive in Island Park and Sweet Caroline climbs the steep hill to the cul-de-sac above Patti and David's cabin, and parks facing Henry's Lake.  It can't get any better than this, unless it is turning around in the opposite direction to have a view of the very high hill behind us which is displaying its changing colors. 


 We hike down below to the patio of La Serda, which is the name they have chosen for their mountain home (and there is a story behind this.)  David chops wood for the fire pit, as it is beginning to be chilly.  

Sue from Arizona, who has the cabin above us in the cul-de-sac, joins us for Happy Hour as the party moves to our place.  She is honored by Jake and Annie.  Is she giving them treats?

We move inside to enjoy the soup and cornbread -- comfort food after a day of traveling -- that they have prepared for us, and Annie discovers Jake's food bowl.  Jake says it is OK -- share and share alike!  

Night falls over Henry's Lake.
It's all about friends.

Willie of Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 77 - Moses Lake WA - Monday, Sept. 13, 2010

We take our last walk for the season on Thompson Trail this morning and see the Autumn leaves beginning to line the path.  No one recognizes us from a distance, because we don't have Jake with us.  He is still at Sunnyhill and we miss him greatly.

We stop to visit with a local guy we always meet, and he tells us that 'the eagle lady' asked him excitedly one day if he had seen her picture on the post near the street where they park to access the Trail.  We now know that she did get the card we made for her with a picture of her and her black standard poodle, and the eagle we always looked for.  We are ecstatic!

We take one last look at the moulds the ship building company uses -- hull, deck, flybridge, etc. 

Then we see her!  The 'eagle lady!'  


We are really ecstatic now, and she tells us how really surprised she was to see the card waiting for her on the post.  And today we learn her name.  We will miss her.




We are in travel mode early and pick up freshly groomed Jake for the trip east and south.  We see an oversize load on the highway and try to figure out what it is.  Maybe something to do with wind farms. 

As we pass the highway sign for Fall City, we think fondly of Pat and Patti, who are heading for their reunion at Lake Powell.

We travel through beautiful mountains today, then into farmland.

We no longer have to wonder what the crops are, because there are signs on the fences all along the way that label the fields.  It is not readable in the photograph, but first we see brightly colored foil flags that alert you to the sign.  This one says, "Alfalfa."

Our stop for the day is in Moses Lake WA for a restful evening.

Willie of Walldog, Willie and Jake

Day 76 - Bremerton to Bothell to Anacortes WA - Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010

The 2010 Pacific Northwest Ranger Tug Rendevous comes to a close and we watch everyone packing up to start their journeys home.  There is much waving "Goodbye" as all depart, and "Safe Trip" because the wind and the current are not as friendly today.


As if we don't have enough pictures already, we photograph everyone we can as they turn in the harbor to leave. 

We learn that the Ranger Tug family of Kent has a show scheduled in Lake Union Harbor later in the week and today will move their boats there from Bremerton.  


Dave Livingston is traveling alone in the 27 and invites Herb and me to come aboard and travel with him to Lake Union, where we will join Bob and Nita.

What a delight!  Another chance to hear someone's stories and take pictures from the boat.  


They also have with them a 21 ft, 25 ft, and 29 ft, and three of us will cruise together today.  John Livingston has the 29 and Jeff Messmer and his son Jack have the 25.  

It is always thrilling for me to see the bridges in cities open for boats to pass through. 




















It isn't long before Dave offers the helm to Herb, and he does not protest.  These guys are having way too much fun!















As we enter the locks at lake Union, my eye is drawn to the gorgeous color on a tree as it takes on its Autumn look.  
We are directed into the lock to the second row, to be the third boat rafting on. 

Shown in the photo is a yacht named "Take Five."  More on that later.

Herb gets into the act in tying on, and I am impressed with the helpfulness of everyone you meet with a boat.  
























Lines are thrown and caught, and quickly we are secure for the change in the water level.
As we continue the trip, we approach Ballard bridge, which is beginning to close.  The 27's height allows it to pass under; however, "Take 5" will not make it and is just a few minutes shy of getting there before the bridge closes.  I wonder if there is a radio transmission involved.  

Minutes later the 27 arrives at Lake Union Harbor and I am concerned about the congestion with the huge vessels already there and docked.  There is no way we can get through here without bumping or scraping something!  Not to worry -- Dave expertly maneuvers and winds his way to his designated area, and soon we are secured to the dock.  He clowns a bit as he helps me gather my belongings to continue the trip with Nita and Bob.  

As their other boats arrive, they place them according to space available, where they will be available for prospective buyers to visit during the upcoming show. 

Once again aboard Bob and Nita's Nellie Too, Nita prepares a light lunch for the weary but happy travelers.  

Bob points out something of interest, but it is lost on me as I am amused that he lets go of the helm to use both hands in the conversation.  I try to get it on film, but he is too quick for me and returns one hand to the wheel, and makes a funny face.

He reduces his speed as he approaches kites ahead, and we thread our way through them.  They seem to be oblivious of any boats on the water.

Willie of Walldog, Willie and Jake