Apr – Jun 2016

Spring Fever

A 62-day adventure by Geezers in Paradise Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Share

Footprints
Photos

Trip start
April 18, 2016
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 1
Monday, April 18, 2016 at 3:26 PM
☀️ 86 °F
Altitude: 164 ft
United States Indian Creek 47.048382, -122.88158247°2’54” N 122°52’54” W
Ready or not!
April 18, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F
OK, I know we did this before ... now how do you create a new trip in FindPenguins? But ... DAGNABBIT! I DID create a trip ... but it's not showing up! Heyyyy ... that new post was supposed to be added to the NEW TRIP, but it got added to the OLD trip! And I can't THINK because I'm really feeling disorganized!! And the house isn't clean yet. And the HOUSESITTERS are coming tomorrow!! What?! What happened to my TRIP!!?!! Where's my post???!! GORRRRRRRDON ... I NEED HELP!!Read more
It's NOT showing up! Safe travels. Look forward to hearing about your new adventures.
4/18/16Reply
Here it is!!!!
4/18/16Reply
Stephanie EldringhoffI love it - panic before leaving. Have a great trip. I hope I can figure out how to keep track of you as you travel - it will require me remembering the pass work I just set up. Golly, I am in trouble already.
4/18/16Reply
4 more comments
1 like
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 8:34 AM
☀️ 57 °F
Altitude: 164 ft
United States Indian Creek 47.048321, -122.88166847°2’54” N 122°52’54” W
Departure Day
April 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
How exciting!! Six of you managed to comment on yesterday's post, and more sent emails. NOW I'm getting in the spirit. We leave today and will try to post every day.

As far as planned itinerary goes, the first place we talked about was Canada … but family plans required that we leave too early to be sure of the weather. So we changed our destination to Montana/Wyoming/South Dakota … but then we worried about maybe the weather wouldn’t cooperate there either, so we started thinking mayyyyyybe Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona …. but then, we started thinking if we’re considering the Southwest, then mayyyyyyybe we should go to Florida which is conspicuously missing on our geezer-mobile map. Gordon said he would not be surprised to find that we end up in someplace we haven't even discussed.

The general plan for the coming week is to head for Wyoming. It appears that if we are lucky, we will be moving just one jump ahead of the rain. Plans for where to spend tonight are still in flux. I suggested perhaps we just need to get a pet ladybug, toss her on a map and see which direction she goes. But what if she just flies away?

Stay tuned.Read more
Jim DykstraLet me know if you decide to swing toward the DC area. I was sorry to miss you the last time you got nearby. Enjoy your travels!!
4/19/16Reply
TravelerAt this point ANYthing is possible!!
4/19/16Reply
2 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 1:43 PM
☀️ 79 °F
Altitude: 295 ft
United States Miller Woods 47.110191, -122.57149547°6’37” N 122°34’17” W
1
On our way
April 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Housesitters arrived, check. Trailer and car packed and checked, check. Taco salad eaten, check. Picasso kissed, cuddled and photographed, check. Starbucks in console, check. I guess we're on our way. And we're headed NORTH. Must be Ellensburg tonight.Read more
Margaret NicholsNice cat, nice name!
4/20/16Reply
Annanaomi Sams Ready, set, go!
4/20/16Reply
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 4:37 PM
☀️ 79 °F
Altitude: 1,529 ft
United States Currier Creek 47.004936, -120.59414747°0’18” N 120°35’39” W
Ellensburg KOA
April 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Well, we made it.... We hope. We got a call from the fire alarm company saying that they had a fire alarm and had sent the fire department to the building. They said they would call me back and let me know if there's a problem, such as a fire. But no call yet, which I hope means good news.

The Ellensburg KOA is lovely as usual. The cherry trees are in bloom and all the plants are bright green. The Yakima River is full and moving swiftly to the Columbia River.Read more
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 11:24 AM
☀️ 73 °F
Altitude: 833 ft
United States Providence Coulee 46.663202, -118.86142246°39’48” N 118°51’41” W
Coffee at Connell
April 20, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
We needed a bathroom stop so we pulled into Connell, WA. We drove up the main drag of the city looking for a place with a bathroom and good coffee and we spotted the Flying X Coffee almost at the end of the street. There we met two local residents, one a city council member and the other the pastor of the Baptist Church (and also a real estate agent). We had a lovely conversation with them while the coffee was made. The pour over coffee at the Flying X is a specialty item, taking 15 minutes to make, but the time easily passed as we chatted.

The pastor came to Connell when the prison was expanded, working as a real estate agent for the new housing development for the 700 new staff of the prison. Unfortunately, most of the workers looked at the amenities that were available in Connell, and chose to live an hour away in the Tri-Cities area. The city council member invited us to check out the town ... it was small, but friendly, and he was sure we would just love it and should perhaps consider moving there. We would be most welcome!Read more
Annanaomi SamsMissed you again! Just an hour away in the Tri-Cities. If you get back this way, let me know. Would love to see you. Can drive to you!
4/20/16Reply
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6:29 PM
☀️ 82 °F
Altitude: 827 ft
United States Estes 46.635567, -118.63504846°38’8” N 118°38’6” W
Driving through the Palouse country side
April 20, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 6:33 PM
☀️ 79 °F
Altitude: 1,227 ft
United States Nikesa Creek 46.213142, -116.00389146°12’47” N 116°0’14” W
Kamiah KOA
April 20, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Lovely KOA here in Kamiah, ID on the Clearwater River.
Annanaomi SamsLooks lovely!
4/20/16Reply
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 9:14 AM
☀️ 64 °F
Altitude: 1,188 ft
United States Nikesa Creek 46.21072, -116.00569946°12’39” N 116°0’21” W
Heart of the MONSTER!
April 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
You mean that there are monsters in these mountains?

Or maybe just their hearts scatterred around. Covered with blood. Dead Warriors everywhere. Guess we better get going.
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 10:00 AM
☀️ 55 °F
Altitude: 4,196 ft
United States West Fork Waw’aalamnime Creek 46.54375, -114.86480746°32’37” N 114°51’53” W
Kamiah to Lolo Pass
April 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
Very scenic drive through mountains, most of the time right beside a ROARING river. Gordon had his first run in with serious bugs.
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 66 °F
Altitude: 5,210 ft
United States Lolo Pass 46.635354, -114.57822146°38’7” N 114°34’42” W
Lolo Summit
April 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Oh heck ... we were going to eat our lunch up here, but it was really snowy and there were no picnic tables to be seen, and no shade that was not in 3 feet of snow. Ate crackers and cheese in car. Scenery was still nice, though!Read more
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 5:00 PM
☀️ 70 °F
Altitude: 5,407 ft
United States Sand Creek 45.993221, -112.53051845°59’36” N 112°31’50” W
Butte MT KOA
April 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F
We're in a nice spot ... a little close to freeway noise, but beautiful views right from our trailer. We rolled in about 4:00 tired from having driven straight through with no real breaks. (Not the plan, but ... snow.)

First order of business was a car wash. Between Missoula and Butte, Gordon was commenting on all the pesky bugs dirtying up his windshield when all of a sudden we hit a massive SWARM of GROSS little green bugs with tiny green wings that made a HUGE splat all over everywhere, including on the sides of the car. It sounded like a hail storm and lasted about 30 seconds. The car was a total mess. For a while, Gordon thought the adaptive cruise control sensor was covered because we had trouble with it. Windshield wipers with cleaner only made it worse. Did I say GROSS?

Then we ate a light dinner with lots of vegetables. It MAY have included a very nutritious citrus something-or-other (lots of antioxidants) with a fluffy white topping (lots of protein). It looked like pie, but it was a vegetable. Trust me.

It is much cooler here ... a pleasant 72. We were not ready for weather in the 80's so are happy with the change. We have decided to stay here another night and spend tomorrow poking around Butte. We've been through before, but never really explored. There is also a beautiful YMCA 4 minutes from the campground which we plan to check out tomorrow as our fitness routine was very much interrupted in the week before departure.

The last photo is the front of the car AFTER the car wash! The windshield was better, but only because Gordon helped with the wipers between passes.Read more
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Friday, April 22, 2016 at 1:00 PM
☀️ 66 °F
Altitude: 5,417 ft
United States Blacktail Creek 45.992493, -112.53579745°59’33” N 112°32’9” W
Drive through Butte
April 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Butte is a cute town on the side of the the richest hill in the world. Lots of copper, silver, and other metals have been mined here since the late 19th century. The mining continues to this day in one of the largest open pit mines in the world. Originally, the mines were deep mines with a mine head. The mine heads still dominate the sky line of Butte. Much of the landscape has been beautifully restored.Read more
1 like
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Friday, April 22, 2016 at 4:18 PM
☀️ 68 °F
Altitude: 5,410 ft
United States Blacktail Creek 45.994247, -112.53385945°59’39” N 112°32’2” W
Butte Visitor Center
April 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
Great exhibit for fly fishing lures. There were lots and lots of flies and the people who tied them.
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Friday, April 22, 2016 at 4:26 PM
☀️ 68 °F
Altitude: 5,404 ft
United States Sand Creek 45.993177, -112.53048945°59’35” N 112°31’50” W
Activity report
April 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
We got the the YMCA this morning! Gordon got to run 3 miles and move some weights around. Heather got to look at the equipment and feel that showing counted as a work out. (Heyyyyyy ... pay no attention. Gordon is angling to have me do all the posts. He is WAY to entertaining to deprive you all, but just take things with a grain of salt, ok?)

We also took a short walk by the KOA and visitor center. The City of Butte is creating a beautiful network of walking/cycling paths through the town, restoring a lot of natural habitat while they are at it. There are paths up on the hill where the mines are and down on the flats next to the creek.Read more
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 9:19 AM
☁️ 50 °F
Altitude: 4,347 ft
United States 01N04W04ABBA01 Well 45.877434, -112.10108945°52’39” N 112°6’4” W
Weather coming in
April 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
We're on our way to Jackson hoping not to get snowed on til we get there. Plan to hole up and enjoy the weather. Oh and MAYbe a few of those excellent bakeries they have there.
1 like
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 10:54 AM
⛅ 48 °F
Altitude: 4,944 ft
United States Rocky Mountain Antler Museum 45.348995, -111.7289245°20’56” N 111°43’44” W
Ennis MT
April 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
We meant for it to just be a coffee stop, but it was LUNCH time so that cinnamon roll we split ended up being our noon meal. It allowed us to feel virtuous.

Ennis is a cute little town, emphasis on little. But fun to walk around in, making the day seem shorter.Read more
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 11:00 AM
⛅ 45 °F
Altitude: 5,886 ft
United States 11S01E14BABD01 Well 44.878255, -111.56890944°52’42” N 111°34’8” W
MOOSE!
April 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
So far this has been a banner trip for wildlife. Normally we are lucky if we see a DUCK! We have seen baby ducks, deer, elk and many, many Canadian geese. We have seen several snowy white herons the size of COWS!!

Between Missoula and Butte, we almost ran over (or were run over by) the most remarkable looking Coyote I've ever seen. He streaked across the freeway right in front of us, bushy tail, floppy ears and molting winter coat flying wildly behind him.

Then today, we had the exact same experience with a Moose. I have pined to see a moose since I saw my first in the wild at about age 8. This was the first since then, and he/she was running across the road right in front of us. Pretty small and no antlers, so it was young or a female. But what she lacked in size, she made up for with speed and grace as she raced across just in time to miss us. Beautiful.

Unfortunately, wildlife moves faster than we can put camera to our eyes. Gordon is now talking about getting a dash-cam. At least it would have caught the coyote and moose, and we'd be in good shape if any large meteors crashed to earth in our field of view.Read more
Annanaomi SamsDefinitely! A dash cam for meteors!
4/29/16Reply
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 12:11 PM
🌧 41 °F
Altitude: 6,558 ft
United States Timber Creek 44.677422, -111.42092944°40’39” N 111°25’15” W
Crossing the Continental divide
April 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 41 °F
No comment necessary I think.
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 1:19 PM
🌧 45 °F
Altitude: 5,243 ft
United States Ashton 44.07155, -111.44978244°4’18” N 111°26’59” W
Chocolate Moose Royale
April 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
Embroidery, floral arrangements, assorted jewelry and art, specialty chocolate and coffee drinks, homemade treats, and thank goodness, plain hot tea. It took 15 minutes to get, but there was plenty to divert the eyes. Oh, I forgot ... farm fresh eggs, now in the fridge in the back.

I learned from the bathroom bulletin board that we have only ourselves to blame for all the increased violence and crime today. We took down all the phone booths and now Superman has no place to change.Read more
1 like
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 1:30 PM
🌧 43 °F
Altitude: 6,119 ft
United States Middle Leigh Creek 43.806438, -111.12494743°48’23” N 111°7’30” W
West face of the Tetons
April 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 43 °F
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 2:43 PM
⛅ 39 °F
Altitude: 8,422 ft
United States Teton Pass 43.497358, -110.95547943°29’50” N 110°57’20” W
Pass above Jackson
April 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 39 °F
Quite a lot of snow over this 8422 foot pass, including recent dusting in the trees.
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 5:00 PM
⛅ 46 °F
Altitude: 5,948 ft
United States Horse Creek 43.340931, -110.72414443°20’27” N 110°43’27” W
Jackson Hole KOA
April 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
Nice KOA 12 miles south of Jackson, right next to the snake river.

Our greeter has been working at KOAs for 19 years. He and his wife live in a bus. When they first retired, he spent 5 years fixing up the bus all by himself while at various campgrounds, mostly in the desert.

We enjoyed a dinner of Chicken Pot Pie down the road from the KOA. Oh... almost forgot, a pint of locally brewed lager.

We are now snug as bugs in our trailer, drinking tea and listening to a light drizzle on the roof.Read more
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 11:33 AM
⛅ 41 °F
Altitude: 6,115 ft
United States Leeks Canyon 43.464367, -110.79445643°27’52” N 110°47’40” W
Supplies, food and lunch
April 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 41 °F
Stocked up and had lunch at the local better than Whole Foods grocery store.
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 3:00 PM
⛅ 45 °F
Altitude: 6,243 ft
United States Jackson 43.479492, -110.76107843°28’46” N 110°45’40” W
1
Gathering wool
April 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
We spent some time wandering around Jackson today. Visited a gallery which had wonderful Navaho jewelry, traditional and contemporary, and some gorgeous pots. I found out that the beautiful stone in the Navaho bracelet that Gordon bought me last year in Arizona is gaspeite. It looks like a sea green turquoise.

Bonnie, skip the rest of this post.

We also had fun trying on just about everything in the Overland store which had a huge variety of leather and sheepskin goods, including a lot of hats. We should have taken some photos. My favorite hat was mink and it looked REALLY GOOD on me, but was a little out of my price range. The funniest hat was the gray fox which looked like a fright wig, the most frightening feature of which was that you couldn't tell where the hat left off and my hair began.

When we found out the store supplies ALL of the coats for the Longmire TV show, we REALLY wanted to each get a coat. Alas, we did not want to spend the money even though we really wouldn't mind looking like Walt and Vic (but not Ferg and there was no guarantee that there wouldn't be a mishap in this direction).

In the end, we MAY have walked out with a small sheep-skin rug for the very cold, wintery floor of our trailer. It came with a pet brush so we can keep it nicely groomed. (If it purrs, it's outta here.) But now we don't want to put it on the floor where it might get dirty. It is on our bed, and my worry is that we will fight over who gets to cuddle with it and will have to go back and get another. And that would be ridiculous. Right?Read more
Annanaomi Sams Ha! Ha! Looks cozy.
4/25/16Reply
0 likes
Spring Fever Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 4:09 PM
⛅ 45 °F
Altitude: 6,181 ft
United States Moose Wilson Road 43.51733, -110.84149243°31’2” N 110°50’29” W
MEESE!
April 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
These poor guys are really MOULTING! You can imagine how wild that moose flying across the road in front of us looked. They are still really really cool to look at.
0 likes