Wandering south to California Pt 2

Stayed at a motel in Bend, Oregon.

Mount Jefferson and a Four Wheel Camper.

The Tolle Farm and Camp 7.

Jan "enjoying" life on the farm.
She did however enjoy the bacon at breakfast, courtesy of last years pigs.

Michael returns from the upper pasture where two weeks earlier he shot a seven foot long, 125 pound mountain lion that had been killing their family's sheep.

Game warden and county biologist examining Micheal's cougar.
(photo from cell phone)

Camp 8 - 43°18'16.31"N, 121°46'27.53"W
About an hour north of Crater Lake.

Driving through the forest back to the highway.

Crater Lake and a Four Wheel Camper.
The Mystery of the Missing Photographer.
For those with a more morbid sense of curiosity.

Jan had never visited the lake before ...

so we stopped by to gaze at the remarkable blue waters in Mount Mazama's caldera. Crater Lake Lodge Cam

On last photo of the lake before we depart.
Wizard Island top right.

Spotted this eagles nest on our way to Klamath Falls.

We crossed into California but were still more than 650 miles away from home.

Seems like a good photo with which to bring our journey full circle.
Mount Shasta to the south of us.

Spent five hours sleeping at a rest area along Interstate 5.
Another first in our Four Wheel Camper.

Wandering south to California Pt 1

We head south towards Moscow, Idaho via Spokane where we had lunch and did a little shopping along Division Street.

Wheat fields along the Washington/Idaho border.

FWC and railroad trestle over Benewah Lake.
All the campgrounds were full so we continued south into the night towards Moscow and as night closed in we found a campsite at:

At Seal Rock Campground we met a RV'ing couple who said that they often stayed at WalMart. So, we drove to a remote section of the parking lot and popped the top.

Morning at WalMart in Moscow, Idaho where "we saved money and lived better." (Camp 5 ?)

We woke early and continued south headed for Lewiston, Idaho.

The old auto road winding down Lewiston Hill seemed much more interesting than the modern highway as a route into town. After a fantastic breakfast in downtown Lewiston we continued on to our goal, the Snake River and Hell's Canyon.

Driving south along the Snake River into Hells Canyon, it was once called the “Grand Canyon of the Snake River.”

Driving west along Grand Ronde River.

Jan picks berries along Horse Creek Road. It was a little early in the season.

Elk cow enjoying brunch.

Elk cow and calf moving to another buffet.

A bit further up the road Jan spotted Apricot trees.
She picked a handful. They were ripe and tasty.
Purple thistles dominated the fields and roadside for the next few miles.

These two fellows were fighting over a small herd of cows when we came around a corner. They called a truce just as I began to shoot video of the battle.

Climbing out of Hells Canyon.

Reaching the high plateau near the corral at Cold Spring Cow Camp.

Our "pick up trash along the road" bag.
On this road the collection consisted of:
11 soda cans, 14 beer cans, two Styrofoam cups, one glass Snapple bottle, two glass beer bottles, one large aluminum can and one bullet riddled fire extinguisher,

View of Imnaha Canyon from the Buckhorn Lookout.
After this stop we head west to Central Oregon.

Camp 6 - 44°57'52.82"N, 118°16'17.89"W
We set up camp about 40 minutes after sunset.
Dawn west of Anthony Lakes in the Elkhorn Range.

A doe paid us an early morning visit.

A FWC and the Sumpter Valley Dredge.

Wandering around Washington Pt 2

We stopped at a rest area and admired the surrounding peaks.

This AP story explains it all.

Camp 3 - 48°21'33.52"N, 119°54'46.11"W
It was late. Campgrounds in the area were full but there were numerous forest roads. This location was more than adequate.

We visited a very cool museum in Okanogan, WA.

Chief Joseph's rifle.

Several rooms full of historical objects and interpretive displays.

This relocated log cabin built in 1879 and is furnished with contemporary items.

The 1911-12 Omak High School Basket-ball Team
Naismith invented the sport in 1891 and here it was being played in a remote section of Washington only 20 years later. Would have been something to see.

This safe is just one of hundreds of neat old items on display.

Lake Roosevelt with the Kettle Falls Bridge in background.

Camp 4 - 48°40'15.66"N, 117°25'55.48"W
In the mountains above Ione, Washington.

After four years of digging holes or piling rocks we purchased some leveling blocks. Why did we wait so long?

Driving out of the forest and down into the Pend Oreille River Valley.

We spotted these loaner PFD's hanging from a sign and remarked that it must be nice to live in a town where this is possible.

We drove north to another border crossing north of Metaline Falls, WA.

The obligatory border photo.

There was book sale going on in this old railroad car in Metaline Falls. Hundreds of books, no one around and a sign informing customers to deposit money in a box located under the sign.

We enjoyed a great breakfast at Cathy's Cafe in Metaline Falls.
After breakfast we drove west to Boundary Dam and found another free campground provided by Seattle Power. At this site campers are also provided with free firewood. Further up the road free tours are given at Gardner Cave, again courtesy of Seattle Power.
We then decided to head south towards Moscow, Idaho via Spokane where we had lunch and did a little shopping along Division Street.