SMALL TOWN AMERICA

One of the treats we have taken advantage of on this trip is to enjoy "small town america" whenever possible.  Today we went to the parade and other festivities sponsored by the Old Settlers Association here in Ferndale, Washington.  It looked to me that just about anybody who wanted to be in the parade could be.  Partly we wanted to see our friend Sheryl with the big draft horses but we got there too late for that.  We were able to catch up with her later and snap a photo.  

It was a perfect day for a parade.

Lots of horses.

Lots of Tractors.  These were 1940 John Deer's.

This is an Olive Harvester.  It would periodically raise itself up to about twice this height.

The downtown crowd.  This is not Seafair.

We walked through the car show at the high school after the parade.

A 1930 Pheaton by Packard.

Arlyene and Sheryl.   She and her horses were pulling a wagon that was giving free rides.

I did not see any Clinton signs.  I wonder why?  Guess we are too far from Seattle.

A SURPRISE VISIT

We have made our way to Ferndale, WA where we just wrapped up a few days with friends.  It was a great time and we really enjoyed ourselves.  Today the last of them left and we were on our own.  Every time we are here I like to drive out to the home my parents built and retired to that overlooks the San Juan Islands.  They bought the property in the mid 1960's and when they did their good friends and neighbors bought the lot next to them.  One of their kids, Colin, and I were the same age.  We attended the same schools from Kindergarten through High School.  Although my parents sold their lot and moved back to Seattle, I suspected that Colin's family still owned their lot so every time we do the drive by I try to see if anyone is there.  Up to today I had no luck with that and had not been successful in contacting Colin in other ways.  We pretty much lost contact over the years and were busy with our own families and careers.  Today was different, we almost ran into each other as Colin drove out his driveway on the way to the hardware store.  We greeted each other as I blocked the road and then we went on and did the hike we had planned nearby while Colin did his errand and later we had a delightful visit with Colin and his wife Leah while we enjoyed the view and the great weather.  It was a great day for us.  Here is a composite of Colin and me with what is most likely our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, probably about 1952 or 53 and then today - 63 or so years later.

WINTHROP, WA

Yesterday's Route

Yesterday we made the trip from Sagle, ID to Winthrop, WA with our friends Larry and Linda.  The drive was uneventful however our chosen route is not one I would recommend to others driving big rigs.  Tight two lane roads following rivers in canyons with too much construction.  I was pretty tired by the time we got here to Winthrop.  Today, Saturday, we are hunkered down in the coach while under a flash flood watch because of some severe thunderstorms forming over the North Cascades, pretty much right above us.  Many campers here in the KOA have packed up and headed home and others are huddled in their tents and RV's like us.  One way or another we will head into town later for dinner and  hope for better weather tomorrow.  We are thankful for a decent internet signal here.  It's all the entertainment we've got other than a few DVD's.

Weather map looks like things are beginning to lighten up.

On the other hand it looks like we are in a good place overall.

MOUNTAINS AND CAIRNS

Yesterday we made a trip into the Cabinet Mountains in Montana to visit a grove of old growth cedars in the Ross Creek area.  It was like walking through a sanctuary in the forest.  Having been in the desert these past months it was nice to reconnect with some real trees.

A view of the Cabinet Mountains, part of the Rockies.

A real cute tree huger.  I took her home with me.

Cairns in a dry creek bed left behind by other visitors.

A close up of one of the taller cairns.

I constructed my own cairn in honor of my brother Doug.

HIKING ON SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN

We are "camping" in our friends Larry and Linda's driveway near Sandpoint, ID where we had a great 4th of July that included their son and his family here visiting for a few days.   After the 4th we decided to take a couple of days off and go up to Schweitzer Mountain, a local ski resort just outside of Sandpoint.  We stayed in the lodge there and just relaxed.  Yesterday we took a two and a half hour hike on one of the many trails available on the mountain.  Many are also winter cross country ski routes.  On our little outing we had good views back towards the resort village and down on Lake Pend Oreille.  We also managed to encounter a good sized moose on the trail.  (Apparently I should have been announcing "Hey Moose" instead of "Hey Bear".)  Bullwinkle saw us about the same time we saw him.  We stopped and stared at each other for a moment or two but we had no intention of getting closer.  Moose can be very dangerous.  After a short time he decided to exit the trail into the bush and let us pass which we did very carefully.

Looking back at the resort village.

Bullwinkle looking back over his shoulder at us just before he made his exit.
(We did not see Rocky)

One of the different views of lake Pend Oreille

The mighty Rock Woman striking a pose.