Our friends, Chuck and Lorraine, who still motorhome full time came to visit us and spend some time in the area. While they were here their daughter and granddaughter flew in to spend some time with them over the Fourth of July. I was negligent in not taking any pictures while they were in town. However, we did catch up with them again by Duluth, MN and drove up the North Shore of Lake Superior one day.
Some flowers were in bloom at the time.
The middle falls of Gooseberry Falls.
Sandy, Chuck and Lorraine at Gooseberry Falls.
Split Rock Lighthouse.
Cross River was flowing heavily when we were there.
On July 28th a group of us went to Canada to fish for 4 days. Joe, Glen, Russ, Bob (Harley), Greg and I. We took Greg’s and my boats and fished Lost Lake which is in the Lac Seul chain. This is in the Sioux Lookout, Ontario area.
Glen. Russ and Greg.
Bob (Harley) and Joe.
Russ, Glen and me (Dave).
Joe, Dave, Greg, Russ, Glen and Bob.
Shortly after getting back from the fishing trip, Joe, Dale, Jeff and I started out on a 13 day motorcycle trip out west. Our first day on the road was August 7th and we rode 718 miles from home to Miles City, Montana.
Joe, Dave, Dale and Jeff.
I won’t show many pictures here, so if you are a glutton for punishment click on the link below for more pictures.
https://picasaweb.google.com/dhassel999/2013MCTRIP2?authkey=Gv1sRgCLG5vIytmJnSIg#
8-8-13 Our second day took us from Miles City, MT to Gardiner, MT via US Hwy 212 going over the Beartooth Pass.
8-9-13 Day three took us from Gardiner, MT to Idaho Falls, ID. Along the way we stopped at Mammoth Springs, Old Faithfull and the West Thumb Geyser Basin while going through Yellowstone National Park. We also passed through Teton National Park.
Now, who says you can’t be fashionable while riding a motorcycle.
8-10-13 We left Idaho Falls on day four and ended up in Darby, Mt, about 50 miles south of Missoula, MT. This ride took us by Craters of the Moon National Monument, then through Sun Valley on our way to Darby.
8-11-13 From Darby on day five we drove north to Lolo, MT and picked up US 12 west to Kooskia, ID where we turned south and headed for Ontario, OR where we stopped for the night.
8-12-13 Day six took us from Ontario to Klamath Falls, OR by way of Denio Junction, NV just so we could say we had driven our motorcycles in Nevada.
8-13-13 From Klamath Falls, on day seven we rode to the Redwood NP in northern California. I was the only one who had been there before and everyone was quite impressed with the trees in Stouts Grove in Jedediah Smith State Park. From there we rode to the coast and headed north to Brookings, OR where we spent the night.
8-14-13 Day eight found us driving up to the coast to Brandon, OR where we headed east towards Crater Lake. After Crater Lake we rode north to Oakridge, OR.
8-15-13 From Oakridge on day nine we rode on some back roads to Hood River, WA. Along the way we passed on the east side of Mt. Hood. We continued on back roads past the east side of Mt. St. Helens on our way to Renton, WA where we spent the night.
8-16-13 Day ten was a little unusual in that we stopped at a motorcycle shop in Lynnwood, WA so Dale and Jeff could take a test ride on the new Indian motorcycle. After several tries to revive the brand by others, Polaris Industries bought the name a couple years ago and just released the new models at Sturgis in August. From there we went north to pick up WA Hwy 20, but our luck was not holding out as we found the road was closed because of mud slides. So we dropped down to US 2 only to stop and get gas where we chatted with some locals who said US 2 was a terrible road on a Friday afternoon, so again we dropped further south to I-90 and rode east to Sprague, WA.
8-17-13 Leaving Sprague on day eleven we headed through Glacier NP and stopped for the night at St. Mary on the east side of the park.
8-18-13 Day 12 found us on US 2 east to pick up I-94 in Glendive, MT and headed to Dickinson, ND for our last night on the road.
8-19-13 Our Last day, thirteen, had us driving I-94 back home. The total trip was about 5,600 miles, so you can tell we did not spend much time in any one spot. But then, we were on a motorcycle to get a glimpse of the great west outdoors.
A couple days after I got back from the M/C trip we picked up our new 2013 Corvette Grand Sport. We have previously owned a new 1977 and 1980 and a used 85 in 1988. Sandy says this is our last one.
We want to say congratulations to our friends and business partner Dale and Mary on their 40th wedding anniversary. It was fun spending the day having lunch and then going on a riverboat ride on the Mississippi River.
On September 9th Sandy and I celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary.
After getting the Corvette I had to make more room in the garage at home, so I bought a Stinger auto lift and set it up in the garage..
On September 24th we had planned to make a trip to Aberdeen so I could help Sandy’s Dad put a metal roof on the old chicken coop. Just as we were getting ready to leave, Sandy went down stairs and slipped. She was hanging onto the railing and fully extended her arm when she heard a snap. It turned out she has a hairline fracture in the upper part of her humerus, and some strained muscles. After 4 hours in the emergency room we were on our way. She has her arm in a sling and has to see the orthopedic surgeon on the 22nd to start her rehabilitation. Of course she is right handed and she broke the right arm, so I get to help out with the chores.
It looks as if we will not be going south for the winter. We have not received notice that our 2014 chassis for the motorhome is in yet, and it will take at least 4 months to build the unit. So even if we got notice tomorrow it would be the middle of March before we could pick it up. Guess I had better put gas in the snow blower.
I guess that’s all for now.
Dave and Sandy
6-15-13 thru 6-19-13
After leaving Crescent City we headed to southern Oregon and proceeded east. When we reached Lakeview, OR we headed north on US 395. Along the highway was the Abert Rim on our right which went on for miles and miles. I sometimes wonder what explorers and settlers thought when they came to the edge of this plateau and gazed at this massive valley.
This is Abert Lake and Sandy could not resist taking a picture of the fluffy clouds reflecting on the water.
On Sunday, 6-16, we left Ontario, OR. for Idaho Falls, the long way, via Missoula, MT.
This is the Salmon River Canyon in Idaho along US 95.
For 60 years after construction was completed in 1915, White Bird Grade was part of Idaho’s only north-south highway. Many tortuous curves and switchbacks—which, if placed together, made 37 complete circles—let the old road climb 2900 feet in 14 miles of switchbacks. This grade was replaced in 1975. The photo below shows the old highway while we drove on the new one.
Once we got to US 12 we headed northeast for about 80 miles along the Lochsa River.
We tried to drive US 12 through Idaho last summer, but the smoke from wildfires stopped us. As you can see the skies were clear on this trip.
There were several of these foot and ATV bridges to get to the southeast side of the river.
We spotted several groups of rafters and kayakers using the river.
Sandy says we need to come back at the end of July, I think I will stay home. But we do know someone who has been there. Hey Gil and Nancy, do---- they really taste like chicken?
Because we took the long way around we didn’t get into Idaho Falls, ID until 9:00 PM. The next morning, 6-17, we took the short drive (100 miles) to Jackson, WY to visit our friends, Ron and Jane, who are camped at the Gros Ventre Campground. It turned out some other friends, John and Linda from Larkspur, CO where also there so we had a nice visit with everyone. Sorry everyone for not getting a picture.
The flowers were in full bloom at the 8,000 foot elevation by Teton Pass.
This is the first view you get of the Tetons from the west side on HWY 22 coming into Jackson. This is how I first saw the Tetons in 2002 driving our 64 Chevelle home from Albany, Oregon. It’s amazing to see the two jagged peaks jutting up behind the “hills”.
The Teton Pass is at an elevation of 8,431 feet.
And you get a good perspective of why they call it Jackson Hole from up there.
Here are the Tetons as the look from the east side.
As we left the Tetons on 6-18, we stopped at the west entrance to get this shot of the sign with the Tetons in the background.
After spending the night near Rapid City, SD we drove the last stretch home getting in around 7:00 PM on 6-19.
It was nice to be home. Even though we had a great time on this trip we sure missed the motorhome after staying 17 nights in motels and eating in restaurants.
Having visited 5 National Parks that we had never been to before, we were surprised about which one we liked best on this trip. We have rated them as follows:
1) Sequoia National Park with all the magnificent trees.
2) Kings Canyon for the same reason.
3) The Redwood State and National Parks around Crescent City.
4) Lassen Volcanic National Park.
5) Yosemite National Park. Now this surprised us as to where we placed it with all the hype we had heard about it. Although Yosemite was beautiful and special, you just can’t see those awesome trees any other place.
Now we know that this would not be the order that a lot of people would rate THESE great parks, but that is what makes us all different in our taste and views.
Until next time,
Dave and Sandy
6-14-13
On our second day in Crescent City we rode over to the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. While in the Visitors Center there was a display of about 8 different pine cones. Here I am holding the Sugar Pine cone on the left, the Giant Sequoia cone in the middle(which you can barely see) and a Redwood cone on the right.
Here are some facts on the Sequoia and Redwood trees. Note the weight difference between the trees. Even though the Redwood is taller by 75 feet it’s the diameter that gives the Sequoia a huge difference.
The two green trees on either side of the grey building were planted at the same time. The Redwood is on the left and the Sequoia is on the right. The Redwood grows much faster than the Sequoia, but then the Sequoia prefers the higher elevation and dryer climate away from the coast.
From the visitors center we went to the Stout Memorial Grove. Along the way you have to pass through this short covered bridge and drive along the Smith River.
To us, the Stout Memorial Grove is the best redwood viewing of all the redwood forest we’ve been through.
OK, Joe, Dale and Jeff, (these are the guys with whom I’m coming back out here on an August motorcycle trip) you need to start exercising you neck muscles by tucking your chin to your chest, then slowly raise your head to look at the sky. Do ten repetitions a day, as this will allow you to look to the top of these tall trees without falling over backwards.
Here Sandy is standing by some gnarly burls that grow around some of the redwoods.
It’s not unusual to see jumbled stacks of fallen trees. It can be dangerous walking in the redwood forest in extremely high windy conditions.
Hurry up Sandy, I can’t hold it up much longer.
This is for our friend Jane. In June/July of 2007 we, traveled with Jane and Ron on Hwy 101 from Crescent City, CA through Oregon to the top of Washington. Along the way we stopped at every lighthouse. For some reason Jane missed this one on her itinerary.
Until next time,
Dave and Sandy.
