Northwest Portion of our Black Poodle Tour 2009

"Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!" Yelling into his radio, volcanologist David A. Johnston uttered those words just prior to Mt. St. Helens explosion. While in Washington, we visited the site of the volcano eruption, and actually over the past two months drove along and admired most of the Cascade volcano range, set to erupt at anytime. Well, anytime can be measured in centuries vs. decades. Mt. Hood, located just outside of Portland, OR. last erupted during the mid-1700s. Mt. St. Helens is an amazing sight. A mountain that is about 40% of the height as before the eruption and largest landslide in recorded history. A Ranger pointed out a small fir tree that perhaps is the only living item to survive. He claims that snow, small size and a protective ridge allowed that seedling to live past the 1980 event.

Well prior to our visit in southern Washington, time was spent at a campground at La Conner, WA. Nestled among the woods and along the Skagit Bay, we enjoyed the small towns in this area north of Seattle. Friends, Jeff and Paula who live in Mukiteo, WA, were able to join us for a couple of days along with a ferry trip to Friday Harbor. Lunch, shopping and walking filled the day. It is said that one in five who live in the Puget Sound area own a boat. A quick glance of the harbors along a trip from Anacortes seem to confirm the survey.

After three weeks in the far northwest area, we moved down toward lower Washington and the small town of Chehalis. The campground which is just an hour north of Mt. St. Helens, also nestled in a wooded area, offered a quiet place in which to relax. Kona, however, found great fun in chasing the birds, squirrels and chipmunks into the thickets of wild berries each time we went for morning and evening walks.
From Chehalis, we crossed over into Oregon and then to the coast. At Seaside, Kona rediscovered the joy of running along a beach and going into the water to splash about. Then at Pacific City we met with Bob, a friend from our Baja trip, for a day of sightseeing along the coast. Outside of Portland we joined a group of fellow Holiday Rambler RV owners for a rally. While camped at the foot of Mt. Hood, we were able to visit the famed Barlow Road, a toll road section of the Oregon Trail. After walking across the country, in the last section the road suddenly dropped down a granite hill, where wagons needed to be lashed to trees and lowered down the 100 yard, 40% downgrade, to reach more level ground. I am amazed that of all who walked the Oregon Trail from towns in the Midwest to Oregon City, only 10% did not make the entire journey. That speaks to the fortitude of those early pioneers. On another outing we drove to the famed Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. Built in only 15 months in the late 1930s by workers from the WPA, this building fits neatly along mountain side. From here one can clearly see the glacier field which is groomed each day to allow skiing, all summer long. While at Timberline, we toured the building admiring the workmanship that makes the lodge so special.

Bend, OR became our next stop. The town offers both a wonderful downtown area with small shops, restaurants and great walking spaces. Just a few blocks away is a stunning public park along the Deschutes River. Outside of Bend is the High Desert Museum, part of which is a living homestead ranch of the 1880, with a small group of gardeners, lumber men, and hunters. As with many other such museums, it was fun to talk with the “residents” as they remained as the characters.

We moved into northern California and the tall Redwoods along the coast. Those “giants” are stunning. A thick canopy gives the feel of entering a cave of foliage. Now in the wine area near Napa, Santa Rosa, and Healdsburg we at first faced triple digit temperatures. Hey wait a moment; we escaped from our Valley of the Sun in an attempt to avoid such temps. Thankfully, the weather changed and now true fall weather has settled into the area.

The other day we drove into Santa Rosa to have a lunch at Guy Fieri’s restaurant Johnny Garlic. Guy is the spiked blond hair food chef on Food Network who travels seeking the “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Were I a food critic, the rating would be: food = 5, service = 10. Nothing special in the food area, just basic – even run of the mill – fare. However the servers and management were wonderful. Wanting to avoid a return trip back to the campground via the freeway, they took time to Google various options. We opted to drive over to the coast and Bodega Bay – the town used by Alfred Hitchcock when he filmed “The Birds.” Keeping a sharp eye for incoming fowls, we drove up California 1, as it hugs the coast offering stunning views at every turn. But soon it became time to turn toward the valley. Within 100 yards, we were driving into a dense forest, up a narrow winding one lane road. With each turn we hoped no oncoming car would be met. I regret that we did not grab the camera to document this part of the journey, but our focus was elsewhere. At sundown we finally came to the campground.

Our next move will be to Napa, Yosemite and then toward home.

The Black Poodle Tour Summer 2009 Part I

In the planning stages for our trek out of the Valley of the Sun, we considered a number of options. Sail to Alaska, tour Colorado, or perform a redux of last summer’s trip. We chose the later, with a variety of amendments. Our major goal is to visit some locations with cooler climates. Combine that goal, with our love of mountains and the sea and here is the trip as it emerges.

The planning of a trip always seems to engulf a great amount of energy. Months prior to departure, Barb poured over maps, information about campgrounds, BPOE Lodges, state and national parks as she sculptured the details of the odyssey. The Normandy invasion of France during WWII, could not have been more detailed,

Days were filled with cleaning, loading, rearrangement, of items within the RV, not to mention the preparation of leaving our home for four months demanded much of June. All efforts were rewarded as on Father’s day morning, we pulled away from Mesa, and headed for a first stop at the Elks Lodge in Boulder City, NV. In traveling to that town, there are two major routes that can be used. One is over the Hoover Dam, the other goes around through Searchlight NV., both are about the same distance, but the later is one that offers wide roads, married with inclines and declines. We had use the route over Hoover Dam several times, so let’s take the other one.

To the credit of the Nevada, there is much road construction. As we came down a long slope we hit some new payment. Just then Barb asked, “Don’t you need to go to the bathroom?” Well, truth be told, after two cups of coffee and three bottles of water, the response was, “Yes.”

Her sharp eye noticed a service station just ahead on the left. Slowing down, I moved into the middle turn lane, and as turning – just as I looked carefully at the oncoming gravel drive – there it was a drop of several serious inches between the new payment and the old gravel drive. Now in slow motion – the front wheels drop over the payment, followed by the sound of cabinet doors opening, items coming out and hitting upon tile flooring. Items such as; glass, china, and bottles. Bottles of wine, bottles of olive oil, bottles of balsamic vinegar mixed with packets of brown sugar and other kitchen items. OK – now the back duel wheels drop over the edge, more crash sounds come from the behind the driver. When all had settled and we had come to a stop behind the station, we looked toward the kitchen area of the coach. The floor littered with fluids, glass, and furniture. Our conversation centered on language that is beyond PG-13 rated. What a way to begin our journey!

Cleaning the coach was the order of this evening and night. We were staying at the Elks Lodge in Boulder City, NV – a great place to stay for any reason. The next morning, after several cleaning efforts on the floor, we started up I-15. The next stop was at St. Charles, UT. Last year we visited with high school classmate Barbara Carver Frey and her husband Don. So much did we enjoy the visit that this stop has become mandatory on our part. What a glorious evening of relaxing, conversation, wine and a pasta dinner that would make your grandmother proud – if she were Italian.

So to date we were 1 for 2, for good days. Our trip continued along toward Salt Lake City. We stayed at a KOA campground just blocks from downtown. There was the usual trip to Temple Square, and a tour of several of the buildings, pausing to take in the outstanding floral landscaping around all of the buildings on the square. One of the activities we enjoy so much in any new city is to drive through the neighborhoods. SLC has some spectacular older homes in the near downtown area. There is a large park, and the capitol building neighborhood. All a wonderful way to enjoy on an early summer evening.

We motored toward Montana then crossed over to Idaho at Lost Trail Pass. Here at 7,000+ ft. in elevation, Kona had his first experience with a snow bank. Romping along, he seemed to really enjoy kicking and playing in the snow, just as any child would.

From the pass, our coach moved down Hwy. 93 to Salmon. Located on the river of the same name, it is the furthest inland those wonderful fish have usually journeyed. This is also on the Lewis and Clark Expedition and quite near the birthplace of Sacagawea. We parked at the Salmon BPOE. Later that evening we went to the bar at the Elks lodge. While there several locals urged us to attend the annual “Testicle Festival” on Saturday night. How could one refuse? Held in a large meadow on a ranch, some 250 ranchers, city folk, and visitors all came together to enjoy music, dancing, food (including the afore mentioned Mountain Oysters – for those inquiring minds, it tastes like deep fried chicken livers) and even a mechanical bucking bull. One interesting meeting was back in the Elks bar. One of the cowboys was drinking Kahlua and cream – this at 4pm. Hmmmm, had we journeyed onto the set of Brokeback Mountain?

We are resting here along the Salmon River for a couple of days, prior to our journey to Hungry Horse and a month in Montana. More anon. Enjoy!

Our days here in Montana

“Where grand landscapes reside alongside small town hospitality. A place where awesome natural experiences frame intimate, unforgettable moments.” So says the Montana state tourism website, and so say I. Last summer Barb and I came to this area nestled between Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake and the Idaho border. We fell in love with the small towns, the festivals, the live theatre and of course Glacier National Park. So as we planned this summer’s journey, there was no question that a return visit was needed.

Hungry Horse is a small town of perhaps around 1,000 full time residents, and offers an assortment of campgrounds and motels. Just a few miles away is Hungry Horse Dam. Constructed in the mid-1950s it is the 10^th highest dam in the country, and creates a wonderful lake with miles of wooded shoreline.

Our stay here at Mountain Meadow RV Park has been wonderful. Tucked among the trees, each spot is separated by trees, and natural green areas. During some days we have taken trips in to neighboring towns. Whitefish offers skiing during the winter months [last winter the town had over 100 inches of snow]. Of particular note, for Kona there is a great dog park, for Thom there is the Alpine Theatre Project a professional theatre company where we watched the Tony Award winning The 25^th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee, and for Barb the town offers interesting neighborhoods of early 20^th century homes.

Another small town is Bigfork, located along the shore of Flathead Lake – the largest fresh water lake this side of the Mississippi river. Bigfork is filled with artists and their shops. There are small restaurants, wine bars and everywhere you look there are outsized hanging flower baskets. Several photos taken in the town are included in the slide show. Among those photos is one of the only bear Barb has seen on this journey – always a goal on these treks.

A third town is Kalispell. While it also offers some great neighborhoods for cruising, there is one late 19^th century mansion filled with period décor. Also an 1880s courthouse sitting in the middle of highway in the downtown area. Beside some parks, one major attraction of the city is family of big box stores including the Costco for northwest MT. It is good to have a mix of big city shopping convenience along with the big outdoors.

During a couple of the days, we took trips to Glacier National Park. Not only famous for the glaciers, but also the Going to the Sun Highway. This two lane road clings to the side of mountains as it leads the driver up through Logan Pass over the Continental Divide. At any point, the vistas are outstanding. Sharp peaks, valleys, high meadows all mixed with melting snow and sunny skies. At one point you pass by the remains left by a major avalanche from this last winter. While the road is intact, to both sides of the highway you see the great damage as snow just plowed through trees and brush as if nothing was there. Heavy cement barricades just picked up and moved down the mountain side. The raw power of nature is amazing.

We have also enjoyed our visits with Don and Sara Schultz, friends we met on the Baja trip of last year. There were here in our campground for much of the time we were here. They have since moved on up the Canadian Rockies before return to the states and spending a month in Yellowstone National Park.

Along with the scenery, and relaxing a major point for Barb was getting our DirecTV activated. Now we can track all of the intrigue associated with Days of Our Lives. Will Chloe survive, shall Daniel be able to convince Bo that he is not the killer, can Sami ever find true happiness? What to do, what to do? Confession time: for over 35 years, I (we) have watched this one soap opera. Some read comics, trashy novels or watch reality TV for escapism in today’s world. We watch DOOL and enjoy. Having the ability to watch the show during the east coast feed, or 3 hours later on the west coast feed, or at evening time on SoapNet – such flexibility in our daily life’s schedule is pure joy.

We just returned from a specialty meat shop in Columbia Falls, where they make the best and perhaps widest variety of sausages. Fifty dollars later, our freezer is full of sausages a variety stripes - German, Polish, and Italian with a medley of spices. This should last us until we get to the west coast, where fish and clam chowder will demand our attention.

Tomorrow Kona goes in for a styling, and then we pack up all the items we have brought out during these past 30 days. Saturday will see us moving west.

Enjoy the photos.

Oh, yes – in response to a request that was prompted by our last chat. You may remember we attended a “Testicle Festival” while in Salmon, ID. A reader asks, “What did they (the testicles) taste like?” The best comparison is to image fried chicken livers, just ones that have not been too firmly fried. If one likes fried chicken livers – well you know the taste of “mountain oysters.” With a little Cajun seasoning, and a cold beer the meal is complete.

Best to all,

Thom & Barb