NACHES, WA.  Wednesday the 29th.  Drove to Squaw Rock RV Park, situated beautifully on the  Naches River.  All our sites were right on the river, but the bad news was that the health dept does not allow sewer dumps at each site.  Thus we could not empty tanks while there unless one could situate one's motorhome near the central dump site.  This was unlikely, since this is an old campground with tight back-in sites and challenging roadways leading to them.  We had quite a time getting 16 rigs in there. And every two of us had to share a single water faucet with a Y adapter and a single power pedestal with one 50 amp outlet and one 30 amp outlet; thus, the first one there got 50 amp while the second one got 30 amps.  An interesting trade-off between convenience and beautiful location.

There was no Verison or wifi service, so we had to drive toward Naches to get service. We drove into Yakima to shop at one of their two Super Walmarts.  That night we had a group supper at the campground's eatery.

Thursday the 30th.  As a group we drove to Mt Rainier National Park.  It was not covered in snow as it was 4 years ago in June when we last visited.  Mt Rainier itself was covered in clouds as it was last time.  They say the west side is constantly shrouded, but we tried other sides with no success.  Apparently someone in the group got a good shot by following a trail she read about in some book we never heard about.  We even went to the official viewing site on Rt 12 and waited a long time for it to clear.  As in 2014 when we were at that place, it only allowed a peek at the peak.  I had a better chance in 2014 shooting it from Seattle Harbor.

Hazy Skies at Mt Rainier National Park

Four Years Ago I Shot Mt Rainier from Seattle Harbor

Along the way back to the campground on Rt 12 we stopped at an RV park to take photos of Tieton Lake that is fed by the Tieton River.  The water level had dropped to the point that two islands were now accessible on dry land.  We walked out to one of the islands and along the way saw footprints of various people and animals that were preserved in hardened mud.  The view from the island was wonderful, and there were signs of campers' fire rings.  Hard to say whether they got to the island by boat earlier in the season or walked there as we did.

Dried Mud Leading to Islands in Tieton Lake

Hardened Footprints in Mud

Getting Closer to Island

View Toward Lake from Island High Point

 

View Toward Second Island

View from Camping Area on Back of Island

We also stopped along Rt 12 to get shots of the river.

Sunny Spot Along Tieton River

Tieton River Along Rt 12

By the time we got back to Squaw Rock RV Park it was about 5:35 pm.  The wagonmaster informed us that we needed to hurry our supper in order to get over to the front of the campground to get a group photo by the campground sign.  The campground wanted a photo to mount on the wall of the office.  He clearly considered the tour visit a great promotional opportunity.

COEUR d'ALENE, ID.  Pronounced "CORE duh LANE".  Beautiful RV park on Blackwell Island along the Spokane River.  Upon arrival here yesterday, Monday the 27th, we almost immediately had supper at the Cedars floating restaurant.  This unique floating restaurant afforded wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and clear blur skies and white fluffy clouds.  Two days of rain there had washed away the smoke.  What a joy to see smoke-free skies again.

Cedars Floating Restaurant

Today, Tuesday the 28th, we took a morning boat ride on Coeur d'Alene Lake.  This afforded views of luxury homes and resorts, much like the tours of the harbors of Maine.

Rocky Island Views Similar to Maine

Betty Aboard Ship

My Preferred Perspective

This afternoon we worked with a mobile RV repairman to determine the cause of noise in our front AC unit.  Turns out we need a new squirrel cage fan in that unit.  I ordered one from Tiffin and had it sent to Betty's sister in Elmhurst, IL, where we can get it in a couple weeks or so.  Then we can have it installed in Vermont at the Tiffin rally in October.  Thank heavens we can get by with one unit until then, since it is cooler this far north and summer is nearing its end.  Both propane furnaces work fine.

Once that was resolved, we turned our attention to washing the motorhome.  Others were doing the same, since this RV park had the unusual distinction of allowing the use of their water for cleaning vehicles.  We found that out today.  Washing the motorhome was made easier by the 92 psi water pressure at the park.  Last night we drove into town to use a car wash to clean the Jeep.  The trip here from West Glacier was a mixture of rain and blowing dirt.  Motorhome and Jeep were coated in a thick layer of dirt.  We could hardly see out the windows of the Jeep.  Now both vehicles are clean and shiny. 

Tomorrow early we leave for the Mt Rainier area of Washington state.  We are so close to Washington state that many of the license plates here at the RV park are Washington state, since people of that state love to vacation in Idaho.

WEST GLACIER, MT.  Friday the 24th we drove to West Glacier KOA, which is clearly one of the very best KOAs in the country.  Beautiful landscaping, flowering bushes and trees, two swimming pools (one is adults only and heated), its own store and restaurant, etc.  (I continue to be amazed at the kinds of plants that flourish here in this harsh weather.)  Its acreage is huge, with areas provided for firefighters to stay in cabins while fighting the forest fires and staging areas for fire crews and equipment.  We had supper with some of Betty's friends from Salmon who now live in this area.

Example of Flowers Around the KOA

Hanging Flower Baskets

Our Site at West Glacier KOA

Evidence of fires and firefighting is everywhere, especially the smoke that is the thickest encountered on this trip.  The Lake McDonald area especially, where fire surrounds the north end of the lake.  Fire fighting planes land on the lake and scoop up water to dump on the fires.  The part of Going to the Sun Road nearest the lake is closed, but I think they may as well close the rest since visibility is so low.

On Saturday the 25th they took us on a red "jammer" bus tour of the park in very cold windy weather.  We even drove the part of Going to the Sun Road that remains open.  They insisted on keeping the top down most of the time.  We nearly froze, huddling under wool blankets.  Some in our group insisted on saying the sights were very good anyway.  You can judge for yourself from the photos.

Fire-fighting Planes Scoop Water from Lake McDonald

Smoke Hides Mountains Named on Plate

Near Objects Are Clear.  Beyond That The Smoke Engulfs It.

Jammer Drivers Finally Cover Roof at Glacier Park Lodge

Glacier Park Lodge Interior View from Third Floor

Glacier Park Lodge Lobby

Hogan's Pass Blanketed in Smoke

A Great Site in Less Smokey Times

A Stone Wall Hides the Smoke

Sunday the 26th.  Betty and I skipped this morning's raft ride in the cold drizzle, but the ones in the group who went predictably came back with glowing stories of the event.  We spent the time in housekeeping duties and working on photos.  It is raining now, but only a sprinkle.  The forecast is for heavier rain in coming days, which they badly need to fight these fires.

MISSOULA, MT Day 2.  I drove into town for a good haircut, and Betty worked on housework like laundry and cleaning.  On the way home, I did some grocery shopping. 

After that we drove to the Forestry Smoke Jumpers School.  This is where people learn to jump into forest fire areas to fight the fires.  It also is the place where they live during fire season and maintain their gear.  They are next to an airport where three different kinds of aircraft serve their needs to deliver personnel to the fires and to assist in fighting those fires. 

We were given a tour of the facilities and one of the aircraft.  There is also a sort of museum there, with a book store.  We could walk inside a fire lookout tower, where a ranger would live while scouring the landscape for fires.  They sew their own outfits on site, since no manufacturer would make these in such low volume.

Inside a Fire Lookout Tower

 

Locker Room Showing Custom Gear They Make

This is the Room Where They Check Out,
Repair, and Refold Parachutes for Next Time

Plane Which Delivers Smoke Jumpers to Fires 

Inside Smoke Jumper Dispatch Plane

MISSOULA, MT.  Drove from the Wagonhammer RV Park north of Salmon, ID today.  We are staying now at the Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park.  That name is a flash from the past, since I was a teenager when Yogi Bear cartoons went off the air. 

We were free to do errands, so I drove Betty to a place to have her toenails painted, then drove to the local Lincare office, where I fortunately found someone who determined the problem with my CPAP machine.  The problem was the wrong format memory chip, which no one in St Augustine could figure out.  I was using the SD card that the doctor's office gave me, which the St Augustine Lincare office thought was fine.  Soon as the correct card was inserted, the internal memory wrote the last year's data to it.  The man here printed a report for me to give to the doctor and would try to FAX a copy to the doctor's office in Jacksonville. 

NORTH FORK, ID Day 2.  Betty had a luncheon with her old church's ladies' fellowship.  She had a great time.  I spent the time alone at the motorhome processing photos in preparation for updating the blog when I got the chance.  That night we both went over to the Sundbergs' home where they had invited several of Betty's old friends to join us for supper.  It was a great time.

NORTH FORK, ID.  Made the long drive to Wagonhammer RV Park.  Along the way we disconnected the car in Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.  Soon as we got the car disconnected and drove to the first loop, it began to rain.  The wind picked up strongly and it turned cold.  As the rain continued, we gave up and reconnected the car.  I decided to take the opportunity to get a quick half hour nap, then drove on to North Fork.  The drive was rather pretty, but the haze was still present and prevented a good view of the background.  The wind picked up, making the winding mountain roads a challenge.  On a nice still, clear day it would have been great.  We finally drove into the RV park at 5 pm.

Our Site at Wagonhammer RV Park

That night we went out to eat with the Sundbergs, old friends of ours.

EDEN, ID Day 2.  On our own we drove to see Twin Falls, Shoshone Falls, and Perrine Bridge.  The bridge has the distinction of allowing people to jump off it without a permit.  Only bridge in the country to have that distinction, they say.  Usually people use parasails or parachutes.  Sometimes there are fatalities.  No one was jumping when we stopped by, but we could see the extreme drop there is from that bridge.

Perrine Bridge Over Snake River

The falls are both part of hydroelectric projects now.  In the West, wherever there is water, there is the quest to harness it for electrical power.  Twin falls is unique in that it splits into two falls, or at least it did, during the month of April when the snow melt is at its peak.  After that it was only one falls.  Now that it is part of hydroelectric production, the small falls is blocked off to focus the water flow into the stronger falls.  And that falls during the summer is not strong enough to produce electricity and fall over the cliff as well.  So they shut the falls off at night to produce power and allow the water to fall for tourists to see during the day.

History of Twin Falls

What Remains of Twin Falls

Shoshone Falls is much larger and no one said anything about having to shut off the falls at night to produce electricity.  It is situated in a beautiful city park, Shoshone Park.

Shoshone Park

Shoshone Falls

EDEN, ID.  Today we drove the rather long drive from Jackson, WY to Eden, ID.  Many motorhomes were arriving here at once, including our caravan of 16.  Made for a rather hectic scramble to get all these vehicles situated within a somewhat tight arrangement.  These are supposed to be pull-through sites, but one must unhitch his car in order to pull it around to the front of the motorhome in order for everything to set up properly.  We had a pear tree full of small pears so close on one side that when we opened the door of our motorhome, the limbs swung pears inside.  We eventually got situated away from the tree and had another tree's limbs trimmed to accommodate us.  All is OK now.  We spent some relaxing time in the pool, which is warmed by hot springs water.  But it was not all that hot, yet was relaxing.  We returned to our home away from home for showers and supper.

Anderson Camp RV Park

JACKSON, WY Day 3. Betty and I went to Teton Village to take the tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain.  It rises 4,139 feet in 12 minutes to 10,450 feet in altitude and holds as many as 100 people, but our rides had fewer than half that.  This is a newer tram than the one I rode 45 years ago.  Back then I was foolish enough to begin running along the path at the top of the range, causing me to sit gasping for air for 15-20 minutes.  Again we were disappointed by the hazy view, both on the rides up and down, as well as from the peak.

Tram Coming Down to Take Us Up the Mountain

Tram on Opposite Cables Passing Our Tram

Hazy View Down Mountain

We drove back to the RV park to join the others for a raft trip along the Snake River.  It was a very slow and calm ride.

After the raft trip we drove the see the Chapel of the Transfiguration.  Both of us had seen it before; I, 45 years ago, and Betty more recently.  A very beautiful and tasteful chapel in a wonderful location, though the haze again spoiled the view.

Chapel of the Transfiguration Set in the Sagebrush

Frontal View of Chapel

On Either Side There Is Outdoor Seating

This View Was About As Good As It Got in the Haze

What a View from the Inside

If Only That Haze Would Go Away

JACKSON, WY Day 2.  We now have both Verison coverage and WIFI.

Went to Ace Hardware to get parts to fix the damaged air hose fitting that connects the motorhome and the jeep braking systems.  Very helpful man showed us the standard size parts for air hoses and noted that the fittings on our hose were proprietary in size.  So we had to adapt our hose fitting to standard sized fixtures in order to repair the hose.  We got the necessary parts, and when I got back to the RV park I threaded them together with teflon tape in between.  I also cut sections of nylon cord to fasten onto the ends of the hose next to the fittings to tie to the jeep on one end and the motorhome on the other so that if the fittings come loose again, they will not drop down to drag on the road and get ruined like the last one.

Then went to Albertsons to do some grocery shopping.

After that we got dressed for another dinner show, this time something more formal at the Jackson Hole Playhouse.  It was an interesting supper, where the waiters and waitresses would break out in song together while serving the tables, then resume their table waiting duties.  Without missing a beat.  That was more impressive than the following show.

One of the Waitresses/Actors

Inside Eatery/Bar Area of Playhouse

Between the dinner and the show we had 1 1/2 hours or so to kill, so we walked around the town of Jackson.  There was the obligatory "shootout" enactment in the center of town, which many western towns feel inclined to perform, some much better done than others.  The one in Jackson was quite inept and crude.  I could stand about 10 seconds of it, then walked the streets to see what else there was to see.  There were the elk antler arches that graced the entrances to the center park and a few little mini-parks.  Very much was devoted to tourism, however, so it was not much different than other tourist towns.  The Starbucks in the center of town opened up on each side to other stores, so that one could walk right in from shopping next door.  In general it was a long wait for the show to start.

Antler Arch in Downtown Jackson, WY

The show was The Ballad of Cat Ballou.  I had seen the movie years ago, but this was a stage reenactment that was rather long and drawn out.  The waiters and waitresses were some of the actors in this stage show.  The music was well enough done, but too long.  Then an intermission where we were to get up and go out to the lobby to buy more food and drink.

The playhouse began as a livery stable and was converted a few times to become its current venue.  It is quite worn out, with duct tape on the leather seats, etc.  And the seats were small and cramped.  Thus, it was a mixed bag.  Nice enough show, but I was glad to walk out of there when it finally ended.  The actors were apparently college kids working for the summer in off-Broadway.