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July 5-10 |
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We got here to Bruce and Patty's Saturday evening...just in time to watch three bears in their front pasture while we sat on their porch and ate some elk stew (oh, so good!)!!!!!! Yes, three wild bears!!!!!!! Now that was exciting....
Bruce and Patty are wonderful
people, and we are having a great time with them. We went to church in Idaho
this morning, and then some of their friends and neighbors came over afterwards
and we jammed a bit, and then taught a little dancing!!!! It just amazes me
that everywhere we go, we are so blessed to meet so many special people...they
are just everywhere!!!!
July 7, Today we went for a hike up to American Falls. It took us seven hours to do the 11+ miles, including some time just watching and admiring the awesome power of the waterfall. It is incredible that rushing water can make such a big sound! Bruce is an excellent trail guide, sharing useful information, pointing out different animal tracks, and patiently teaching the names of trees and birds and plants. The entire hike was just gorgeous, the soft, needle-carpeted trail wound it's way through giant hemlock, red cedar and white pine trees that were hundreds of years old and ferns and wildflowers lined the path. The huckleberries were coming on, and Sarah, Anna, Jesse and Patty managed to find a few ripe ones to sample. Sarah says they taste like extremely tart blueberries...maybe they weren't quite ripe! We got up about five this morning so that we could be there early, but that was hard since I figured out that we are averaging between 5 and 6 hours of sleep a night since we left home ~ we are just having too much fun to want to go to sleep!!! Tera and Bruce saw a bear on the road to the trail head and we saw some deer...but we had to settle for some bear tracks and moose droppings on the trail to tell us that we were so close!!!! They were probably hiding out watching us and laughing to each other, "Look at those humans getting excited about a paw print in the mud!" Now we are home at Bruce and Patty's, pampering sore backs and blistered feet, and thankful for a pleasant day to enjoy our Father's glorious creation. I felt more relaxed on this walk than I have for a long time, just walking and looking and thinking about whatever I wanted to....which was not thinking about going home!!!!
July 11, 2003 Tuesday Scott, Mom, Tera and I went to Chattaroy, Washington where Mom's dad was born and did some genealogy research...grave digging Caleb called it! We did find Mom's grandmother's grave and the grandfather's, too! That was exciting and a bit puzzling since he was supposed to have run off and left everyone and then disappeared forever. So we had some questions answered and new questions pop up. Endless genealogies....but it is very interesting!!! Everyone else stayed at Bruce and Patty's and did some target practicing with Bruce ~ and napped. Wednesday was one of those beautiful days that will always stand out in our memories as a perfect day. We left the house a little before six and headed north and east to Priest Lake, Idaho. After a short hike through the forest ~ with no path to follow, mind you ~ we found ourselves on a secluded little beach that felt like it was miles away from anything.
Bruce met us with his fishing boat and there we stayed all day long taking turns fishing on the boat and hiking, napping, reading, swimming (the water wasn't quite as cold as Chelan!) and huckleberrying. Is that really a word? Anyway, you get the picture...now that is living!!!! We found lots of ripe huckleberries, and no, they aren't that tart when they are actually ripe!! The fishing was good, and everyone caught at least one mackinaw. Most were about 5 pounds, but the record for the day was a bee-u-tiful 8 pounder...what a feeling!!! I also got the prize for the most unusual catch of the day, a mask and snorkel!!! Yippee!!!!!!!! At day's end we were tired and a bit sunburned, but the day was very pleasant indeed.
We were sad to leave the Rutherfords Thursday...we will miss Bruce and Patty ~ and the bears!!!
But that morning we headed for Deer Park and did some grocery shopping and laundry. There is this interesting music store right across the street from the laundry mat and we had a wonderful time meeting and visiting with the owner of the store. He has written some beautiful songs and was kind enough to play a couple for us...another special person to remember from this trip! |
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