Placid Lake Boulder and Beyond

Fall color

Dateline near Republic Washington:

This Moose and Mosquito adventure is winding down. ETA for home is sometime tomorrow. And once again its been a great and strange trip with all sorts of wonderful adventures along the way and did I mention the beautiful fall color?

Boulder Valley, Montana

The last internet was I don't know when - somewhere back in Canada. Since then we've been quite busy with assorted museums (yours truly sometimes refers to them as nauseaums. But hey I count myself lucky NOTHING completely devoted to cars or trucks on this trip. Yes, an entire post might be devoted to that topic but maybe another day.)


But the scenery is a living museum.

Placid Lake

Sometimes -while on the road- this curious traveler occupies the time collecting interesting -erm in my opinion- names of businesses and place names. I ask myself, why or how did that name get attached to that particular place or thing.  For example,  Trout Creek is the Huckleberry capital of the state of Montana. So then why is it  named Trout Creek? Seems to me it should be Huckleberry Town or Huckleberryberg.  Starvation Lake, Idaho does not sound like an inviting place to visit but there are resorts on it?!? The brilliant marketing award goes to: The Beyond Hope Resort...sounds like ten tons of fun.  The Darwin winner is, The Stray Bullet Cafe  and just so ya know it was granted a liquor license and now serves beer and wine. A can't miss combo booze and bullets. Street and road names are fun...Old Person Road was one the Big Fella spotted. Old Person Road -really, is he trying to tell me something?  In the descriptive department, Ant Flat Road hmmm call the exterminator, Migration Road  was in the middle of nowhere- Ok -I give- migrating animals or humans?  Ha Ha Creek is not too far from Laughing Walter Road -I am serious- these two should get together and form a comedy duo.  But the best is left for last: La Moose Lane -a nice French touch- and Mosquito Creek...ahhhh.

Not sure if I mentioned this...

Placid Lake white caps!

With the exception of the wind -at Placid Lake State Park  and a bit in Boulder- the weather has been exceptional. The wind did howl at Placid Lake. It shook the camper and yours truly will admit to being a bit nervous -please don't let the camper blow over. Placid Lake was/is a beautiful Montana State Park located a few miles from the highway and It is indeed a quiet place.  So what about that fall color? Boulder Montana was awash in yellows, golds, and bronzes. And what could be better than a Big Sky Montana sunrise or a visit to the Lockhart and headwaters of the Boulder River or a sun-downer on a fall evening?

Smith Ranch sun rise

Boulder River head waters

Fixins for a Sun-downer

Maybe the herd of elk that crossed the road just in front of the car.

Elk herd

The herd bull

Fall in Montana

One of the good things about traveling at this time of year is the lack of crowds and of course the bad thing is many places of historical interest are closed for the season. In fact most public campgrounds closed in late September and many private places are done for the season. Finding a spot to park our home away from home has been a challenge.  Last night we were the only campers at Thompson Falls State Park (MT) and it was somewhat eerie. The Big Fella thought he saw three wolves or more likely coyotes near the restroom (washroom in Canada eh?). They were gone by the time I got there but I did take my camera just in case.


Today's adventure was the Bonner County historical museum in Sandpoint and a fishery near Clark Fork Idaho. Both were worth the time although I nearly fainted when the Big Fella found the second floor of the museum. Aack!

Sun light on the larches of Sherman Pass

Tomorrow's tour will probably include a local museum and some sight seeing then home sweet home. I may or may not do a wrap up of the trip, so au revoir until the next Moose and Mosquito Tour! It's been fun.

This cow wanted the last word. Geesh.

Museums Embalming Fluid and Beer

I am back! Did you miss me? Well here goes...

Yours truly is still fascinated by the names RV manufacturers dub the big road beasts. Some of this year's examples: Trail Rider-seriously, the only trail that puppy will ride is an interstate,Titaneum-OK but next time please use spell check, Citation-as in cite your sources a real favorite for the genealogists, Solitude -looks like a rolling city and will never fit in any campground that is really-you know- in some out of the way place that may provide a bit of solitude, Land Yacht- okie dokie this one needs no snarky commentary. And for those retirees channeling their inner Hells Angel cue Easy Rider music: OUTLAW and THUNDERBOLT. Hey kids here comes granny and gramps around the bend with the OUTLAW.


More musings...

The nice thing about Good Sam Campgrounds is their convenience to the highway. The bad thing is the noise of the highway as some are located just off an exit ramp or next to railroad tracks with trains going by all night, or on a major road through a small town -which was the case in Cranbrook BC. It is not camping. After the quiet of our Kootenay Lake spot, this location assaulted the senses. But tonight's site is down right delux for a Good Sam Camp Ground, although it is at the Fairmont Hotsprings Resort and as I always say why stay in an actual resort hotel -next door- when you can camp at the 9 star rated RV Park.

Back to the trip...

What it tarnation have we been up to?  A walking tour of Nelson and a trip to the historical museum- finally a decent small town museum- nearly filled one day. The breweries did not offer tours or tastes. Ah nuts!  But there was one more item - a lovely drive to Kaslo where the old paddle wheeler Moyie is on exhibit. The Moyie plied the waters of Kootenay Lake with passengers and cargo from 1898 to 1957. Restoration is an ongoing and expensive process and done with love and care.

Moyie

We bid a fond farewell to Kootenay Lake and crossed it via the ferry Osprey.  The lake is long and narrow -fjord like- and reminded me of Desolation Sound.

Channel Marker Kootenay Lake-a bit blurry

There were stops along the way -of course- another whimsical what-not conglomeration of stuff. This one in Creston. Any museum that has a tire recap machine is a must see for Moose and Mosquito Tours. How often does one get such an opportunity.

Tire Recap Machine

 And a hand made suit of armor is a real draw for your two intrepid travelers. Truly a highlight of the tour. The Big Fella has a nose for these things.

YES!

But the Columbia Brewery- Kokanee- which is now owned by Anhauser Busch was in close proximity to the above museum and seemed the right antidote. Of course we took the tour and at the end enjoyed a free taste. Actually, we were both offered a pint but chose to split it.  One of the oddest road side attractions is the Glass House. The castle like home is made of empty 16 ounce embalming fluid bottles and was built by a funeral director. Uh huh, we skipped the tour but stopped long enough to snap a couple of photos.

Glass House

This brings me to Cranbrook and the noisy Good Sam C.G.-in fact there was a reason to be there. It would not be a Moose and Mosquito adventure without a railroad museum and it was found in Cranbrook -The Canadian Museum of Rail Travel. It is a collection of vintage, authentic restored Canadian Pacific R.R. passenger trains. The interiors were elegant mahogany walls with inlaid designs. After the rail museum was Fort Steele- an outpost of the NW Mounted Police in fact it was the first one West of the Rockies. I kept busy snapping a few interesting shots.

Remains of the Blacksmith building in Fort Steele

Three hours later we were on the road in search of some hot springs. Fairmont Hotsprings would be the place and shortly after doing the laundry we indulged. The Canadian leg of the journey is about to end. We head for Montana tomorrow.

Except for issues with the refrigerator which are complicated and boring, the trip is going well. The Selkirk loop is but a memory but beautiful and now the Rocky Mountains tower near the camp ground. The Fall colors are outstanding and the Miller Times always refreshing!

Too Be Continued...

Sullivan Lake

While the rain patters on the tin roof and the Big Fella snores, yours truly will attempt to complete what was started last night -the internet IS marginally better here in Balfour, BC. Tonight Moose and Mosquito are set-up by the shores of Kootenay Lake  -and it is lovely even in the rain.

We survived the Grotto -cluster of big rocks and a cave- and the stench of skunk and continued the drive up the Pend Orielle until the turn off to Sullivan Lake. Gabe  suggested this route and it did not disappoint -spectacular scenery. Also he emphasized a stop at the old Mill Pond with an interpretive trail and artifacts from the early 20th century. It was supposed to be just beyond Sullivan Lake. After two attempts we found the Mill Pond. The first stop -a closed forest service campground which claimed to be the Mill Pond and warned of both grizzly and black bear frequenting the area. Gulp. Undaunted we walked what seemed like miles down to what was indeed a closed US Forest Service campground. Yours truly kept a running banter going to ward off any bears lurking in the area. No Mill Pond with artifacts here. I happened to mention that based on the map, the Mill Pond was right off the road and -ahem- that was the case. It was an interesting exhibit and collection of stuff.  A dam was built to provide power for both industrial and residential uses in Ione which at that time was named Cement. The Mill Pond was not really a Mill Pond but a small lake formed after the creek was dammed. The dam and a few other things remain. And I am not sure why it is called a Mill Pond -there was no mill.

Old dam

S

Mill Pond

The museums on this Moose and Mosquito Tour have been a bit of a bust.  Either closed for the year, or only opened on weekends, or disorganized conglomerations that bear a strong resemblance to what we all may have in our basements or garages,so far they are not very inspiring and a source of disappointment for the Big Fella.  The exception is the historical museum in Chelan. It was quite good. There are several hydroelectric dams - Box Canyon Dam, Boundary Dam,( Seattle City Light facility which generates 40% of the electricity for City Light), Brillant Dam (brillant name!) and others that will go unmentioned. Tours are conducted in the summer, of course (maybe we should schedule the next camping adventure in early September?!?). But views of the structures can be seen via road side pull outs or driving up and down narrow roads, then hiking down to a cantalevered platform clinging to a cliff.  Fun stuff.

Trestle over Box Canyon Dam

Boundary Dam

Remnants of a fresh water system

 

Fun fact: The Pend Oreille River flows north. The art walk in Castlegar BC was more entertaining than the historical museum. There is a large community of Dukobhors in Castlegar.

Wild life update!  We are in moose country but so far zippo moose but several wild turkeys, bald eagle, a very small black bear, and a beaver.

Tomorrow -weather permitting- we head back to Nelson for a walking tour which will no doubt include a museum and a couple of breweries.  Well, maybe only one brewery.

Beaver

Wine and Cheese and Larches and Lovely Drives

Larches in their fall glory on Sherman Pass

No Moose and Mosquito tour would be complete without the official disclaimer. Now here this, all grammar conventions and adherence to proper punctuation are hereby declared kaput.  Frequent parenthetical digressions are the norm and sometimes but not always occur between dashes. Sister Mary Davidica -my eighth grade teacher- would be appalled. Nuff said.

On Sunday we opted to skip the Mahogany and Merlot Sunday chapel which by the way was held in the beer garden. The dogs of Chelan were left behind because the wineries beckoned. Yours truly  happily indulged -even though it was before noon- but the Big Fella declined. He did however, enjoy a few cheeses offered at the Lake Chelan Winery. So, two tasting rooms (8 wines) later we were back on the road with one new bottle of wine and three different cheeses . Hmm -he does have his priorities.

The drive from Chelan to our currant location was warm and full of fall color particularly the Larches -which were stunning.  The Big Fella obliged my pleas to pull over so that that I might ooh and ahh and snap a picture or two. Charred vegetation from recent fires was sadly evident but many homes were clearly defended and saved by fire fighters -structures standing unscathed amid charred fields.

Presently, we find ourselves in Ione, Washington at the Cedar RV Park.  Ione is just north of Tiger and just south of Metaline Falls on State Route 31. It is clean and quiet here (painfully slow internet) with a gregarious host/owner named Gabe who offered many ideas for scenic drives and historic attractions. After a breakfast of pancakes and sausages we were off and running. At Gabe's suggestion we drove the scenic circle south on State Rte. 31 which becomes State Rte. 20 to Le Clerc Rd and back north up the other side of the river.  The first stop was the Tiger General Store/Historical Museum which was...closed for the season due to a lack of volunteers.The only thing left of the old town is the general store -which also served as the post office- but several kiosks outside provided plenty of information to get an idea of what life was like before the small town ceased to exist. Next up the Pend Oreille Historical Museum in Newport. It was a lovely Fall drive along the Pend Oreille River and we were lucky to find the Museum but it was...closed. Nuts. Peering through the windows one could see interesting artifacts but alas we would not be able to get in.

uh oh

Did someone say lunch? Le Clerc Rd. was easy enough to find for the trip back to Ione but the quest for a picnic spot was on. A handy parking lot that overlooked a herd of bison fit the bill. Our stomachs satisfied and moods greatly improved, the scenic drive continued to the Grotto - an odd rock formation along the side of the road.  The Big Fella asked, "so this is it, are we going up there?" Yours truly responded, "we are here and as you say we may never be here again." No interpretive walk or explanation of its geologic or historic significance was provided. But an over active imagination  might conjure up some strange ritual  -a kegger perhaps?   So,we hiked up to the grotto -aka cave- despite the malodorous smell of skunk wafting in the air and the ominous thought of what we may find.

Looking out of the Grotto

Did I mention how slow the internet is here in Ione? I swear it may be dial up! While waiting for pictures to load, several chores were accomplished as well as changing into my pjs. It is late and cold -the long underwear has been deployed- and I am tired.  This post will be published tonight with a follow up once we are in Canada which with any luck will be tomorrow.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Did you say Chris Craft or Hydros

What can I say except that today was Mahogany and Merlot all day. With an emphasis on speed and mahogany there was something for just about anyone including yours truly. Mac and Jack was the preferred beverage -why am I not surprised.  From vintage unlimited hydroplanes, to kneelers (very fast old race boats), to mahogany runabouts and cruisers and the 1930's classic cars on display, how could one not have a good time. Yours truly opted to leave while the memory was still nice. But The Big Fella is still out enjoying every second of the experience. In the interest of full disclosure, it was pretty darn neat seeing the old Miss Bardahl, Miss Thriftway, and Miss U.S. in the water kicking up rooster tails. It reminded me of the time when our TV blew out the day of the SeaFair Race.  As soon as Mass ended, my Dad was out the door down to Sears for a new one and missed maybe one or two heats. Ah yes, those were the days.

But the real fun was watching the limiteds speed around the course like rockets. The kneelers were so loud that all the wax dislodged from my ears and was last seen... Drivers of those things must be deaf or losing their hearing.

Kneeler Boat

very loud kneeler engine

The wind picked up just in time for the classic mahogany boat parade. Watching them cue-up was-shall we say-amusing.  Chris Crafts were well represented, and there were a couple of Century Resorters (think the garage boat), Hackers, and believe it or not a Dodge Cruiser. Yup Dodge made a beautiful wood cruising boat.

Garwood

The car show was actually ok. Not a single gawd awful orange or pepto-bismol pink 60's chevy was displayed. The latest model may have been a 50's Cadillac convertible painted the most beautiful red.  All-in-all, it was a good day.  And then there are dogs....

Lakeshore RV Park is now full and is also full of dogs. In all the years we have camped and places we've been never have we encountered this many dogs. They are everywhere and while yesterday they seemed mostly well behaved, um no that's not the case today.  And people do ya really need 5 dogs and why were they all off leash in the city park next to the campground? The squirrels are having a field day teasing all these pooches.  Rant over...I promise...I do like dogs...it's their owners I don't understand.

Yours truly planned a great meal to inaugurate this trip - barbequed steak, spuds, big green salad- but alas charcoal barbeques are not allowed and of course that's what we have. The fire danger remains very high and local authorities wisely banned charcoal grilling but propane grills are A-OK. What a great opportunity to get a portable propane grill...or so I thought. Certainly those lovely mouth-watering steaks would tempt The Big Fella. I shoulda known, The Big Fella said Nah, what else do we have to eat?  Sigh, yes the steaks will keep for a few days and yes there is plenty else.  A fabulous Miller Time made up for the lack of beef. One cannot go wrong with brie, smoked salmon, and gin.

And speaking of Miller Time, it is here. Cheers!

Moose and Mosquito rides the wild west

Snapping fast as we were driving

The high flying adventures and misadventures of a couple of retired boomers lookin' for a good martini and a decent bottle of red wine and a bit of Fall color have officially commenced. Yes indeedy it is time for another Moose and Mosquito Tour. Join us while we explore some nooks and crannies of North Eastern WA,the Selkirk Loop, and a wee bit of Montana just for giggles. Strap yourself in the first post starts now...

Dateline: 2 October 2015 don't look now but we are off in a cloud of dust and...

No we did not buy a Porsche but it is such a lovely yellow and OK on with the post! The trip began with the usual Batie packing parade and was followed by a lovely Fall drive over Stevens Pass and our first campsite at Lakeshore Camping and RV Park.

Fall Color Stevens Pass

Taken from a moving vehicle

Sitting on some prime real estate by the shores of Lake Chelan, this campground is owned by the City of Chelan and is RV paradise. The lawn around us is very green but comes with a warning -"Night watering occurs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday caution is advised for open RV's in case of wind drift or malfunctioning equipment." Okay forewarned is forearmed.  Did I mention it also maybe dog paradise? We may be one of the only "campers" without a four-legged friend.  Several folks have more than one canine -the neighbors across from us have four. They seem mostly well mannered except when the resident squirrels do a bit of taunting. There are big and small, old and young and like their owners are all manner,shape, and size.

You maybe asking yourself why is Moose and Mosquito Tours spending three full days at Lake Chelan when there is so much wilderness to explore? What else could it be but the Mahogany and Merlot Vintage Boat Show. Trust me, there is far more Mahogany than Merlot here and a classic car show thrown in to boot. Be still my beating heart. This event was made for the big fella, so I conceded and (ahem) there are a few wineries around that may need my attention.  Boats and car pictures tomorrow and there will be plenty including a couple of old hydros.