Passing Through Oregon & Spokane, WA

Monday: Yummy! We had lunch at Tucanos, a Brazilian Barbeque restaurant in Boise, ID. They have one in Provo, so we knew we were in for a treat. We drove to La Grande, OR. Another new state.

 

 

Tuesday: 48th state! Our map is now full (except Alaska & Hawaii, and we aren’t driving to either one). The words written in blue along the top edge are the Canadian provinces we have visited. Still have British Columbia to go. We stayed in Pasco, WA. We attended the Columbia River temple. We asked a brother who walked out of the temple to take our picture. He agreed readily then introduced himself as the temple president. He then asked us if he could mention us in future talks at stake conferences. Naturally, we said he could.

 

 

Wednesday: We drove over to Clarkston WA and had dinner with our eldest daughter’s in-laws. It was a nice evening in a real house. The food was scrumptious.

 

 

 

Thursday: Traveled to Spokane, WA and attended the temple there.


 

 

 

Friday: We had a lovely day walking around Spokane. The Riverfront Park was beautiful, and the Skyride was nice. A bit pricy for a short ride, but it did give us a lovely view of the falls. We also saw most of the interesting statues they have around town.

 



 

Saturday: Watched the morning session of General Conference in the RV park then drove to friends house where we’ll spend the rest of the weekend. We met them when we were in Thailand. She made delicious spring rolls, and promised more Thai food tomorrow. It’s so nice to be reminded of our year and a half in Thailand.

 



 

Idaho and a funeral

Monday: I received a phone call that my sister-in-law, Lois McNeil, passed away last Saturday. She is a special lady. I say is, because she is still alive as a spirit in a better, pain-free place. I’ll share one example of why she is so special to me. She and my late brother, Henry, took Mom and I in when we had no place to go because Mom’s fiancé eloped with someone else the night before their planned wedding. I had just finished the 7th grade, and our house was already rented to someone else. She was always there to talk to and to help me. I could go on and on about her, but suffice it to say, she will be missed. We can’t drive down for the funeral. The only airports are tiny, and as far as I can tell, only support local flights.

We drove on to Rexburg Idaho, and visited the Teton Dam museum. If the reader isn’t old enough to remember the devastation of that dam break, do 3 minutes of research. The people feel blessed because the loss of life was minimal, only 11 people. However whole cities were wiped out, and others nearly destroyed.

The building also had a small museum. You know you’re old when items you used are considered museum pieces.

Tuesday: Attended the Rexburg temple in the morning, and walked around a nature preserve in the afternoon.

Wednesday: It only took half an hour to travel to Idaho Falls where we attend the temple and took a hike from the falls around a 3 mile loop along the Snake River. We decided that if Dan drove a long day tomorrow we could reach Boise Idaho where I could take a flight home Friday morning so I could attend Lois’ funeral.

Thursday: We arrived in Boise early enough we stopped by the Boise temple. It’s been closed for major renovations, and won’t hold the open house before the re-dedication until mid October, but we took each other’s pictures from the stake center parking lot. Below are some generic pictures of Idaho.

Friday: The flight was uneventful, for which I’m grateful. I have so many mixed feelings. It’s great to see some of my children and grandchildren, but not the reason for the visit. My granddaughter that is living in our house wouldn’t let me go. Naturally I love that. Having a bath instead of a shower was also a treat, not to mention sleeping in my own bed, and a game of Rook with three daughters.

Saturday: Three of our daughters and I drove up to Victorville early so we could spend time with our son that lives in Washington. We had ice cream cones at Baskin Robins (the pregnant one had a banana split) before the Celebration of Life for Lois in Apple Valley. Lois didn’t attend church, but she had a spiritual side. It was what she would have wanted: Just family and close friends together for pot luck dinner. We talked about Lois, and what she meant to us on a one to one, or small group basis. They released 20 doves in her honor. Before leaving, one of my nephews gave me a flower pot Mom had left at their place when we lived with them all those years before. It has a white geranium Lois planted. I wish I had taken a picture of it, but pictures weren’t a high priority for this part of my journey.

 

 

Yellowstone, Great Tetons, & Jackson WY

Monday: Old Faithful! I’ve heard about Yellowstone and Old Faithful (first picture) since I can remember. It was breathtaking to finally see it. We also hiked around Norris Geyser Basin. This park has 2/3 of the world’s geysers. We also saw Artist’s Paint pots, and Fairy Falls. And to think the whole of Yellowstone is one big volcano. I don’t want to be here when it blows! Yellowstone is one of the world’s largest volcanoes.

Tuesday: More hiking. This time we visited Roaring Mountain. You can actually hear the steam hissing out of the mountain. Also, Wraith Falls, an almost 2 mile hike for okay falls.

The most impressive thing we saw today was Mammoth Hot Springs. Not geysers like yesterday, but beautiful deposits from sulfur springs.

 

Wednesday: On our way to the Grand Tetons, we stopped by Natural Bridge. This was also about a 2 mile hike, but well worth it. On the way we saw Lewis Waterfall, and decided to stop since it was right by the highway. I love waterfalls! We’re now in Colter Bay campground for the night. Still no Internet, but our cell phones work. There’s a big fire in Idaho that spews its smoke this way. There was some in Yellowstone, but we can barely make out the outline of the Tetons.

We took a short drive to Willow Flats Overlook which has a lovely reflecting pool.

 

Thursday: Our biggest disappointment: smoke that makes the Grand Tetons mere shadows. We are making the best of it, and enjoying the beginning fall colors. They are gorgeous. We took a 4 mile hike to Taggart Lake, beautiful scenery.

 

We also visited Menors Ferry Historic District and saw a replica of the ferry and other buildings they used in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

Friday: We took a 5.2 mile hike to Hidden Falls. They really are hidden. There is a well-marked trail, but it wasn’t easy going uphill across the moraine. One reason we’re so tired is that 4 mile hike yesterday. No big hikes tomorrow.

Saturday: On our way toward Jackson, WY, we stopped at Mormon Row in the Jackson Hole area. It was settled by the saints in 1892. It was abandoned in 1937 when the area became part of the Teton National Park. Some buildings still stand, and water still runs through their irrigation ditches.

After settling in our campground, we hopped into covered wagons and attended the Bar T Five dinner show out in the wilderness. It was a fun cowboy show. Whatever they pay the fiddle player, he is way under paid. They have heat lamps on the pavilion ceiling, and provide blankets, making it comfortable as the night chill set in.