EPIC Road Trip-- Wrap Up!

There were quilt shop stops that I couldn't fit in to the previous five installments; we can't forget those. I will attempt to place this wrap-up post in a timeline that is logical and makes sense without appearing too disjointed. The stop at this shop, The Quilter's Corner in Sacramento, CA was on Saturday, the 13th of August. I found this shop to be well-stocked, bright and organized. The owner was highly energetic and friendly, she recommended  a wonderful local restaurant for a pizza lunch that lived up to the billing. Later on this day we learned that our daughter-in-law had been admitted to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy! I don't know that I had ever felt so far from home. We were worried about my mother-in-law before we took off, but never had even considered that one of our children would be hospitalized and in need while we were gone. She did just fine, although the appendix did rupture upon removal which, sadly, added to her recovery time. The troops were called in to help from near and far to help with the children. Certainly, for me, this was the low spot in our adventure.

This is "Grass Lake" somewhere in the Wilamette National Forest, one of the most scenic rest areas I have ever visited. There were benches situated beneath large shade trees where one could sit and gaze out on this peaceful scene. If we hadn't been on our way to another stop (Crater Lake) this day it would have been the perfect picnic location.

This is Quiltmania in Richland, WA. This small shop was literally crammed full of fabric bolts, filling every square inch of space. I helped them clear out a bit by taking some with me! A longarm machine was located right up front near the cash register, occupying the remaining floor space. This shop stays busy with their quilting service. Something that I had not seen before: Quiltmania had an alcove filled with precut extra-wide backing fabrics of every shade and hue, customers for the quilting service can choose backings right on the spot when dropping off their quilt tops. 

Also on this day, we drove for a long time between Oregon and Washington alongside these trees: planted in perfectly straight rows, perpendicular to the highway and identified as Pacific Albus. I found the sight noteworthy and looked it up after returning home as I was curious as to the purpose of this intentional forest. You can read more about it here. (Photo credit to the indicated website.)

This is Quilting Bee in Spokane we were here on the 18th of August. This was not my first visit here, it is an absolutely beautiful shop in every aspect. I was impressed to find both the Bernina longarm and the Bernina 16-needle embroidery machines being demonstrated while I was there, that was fun. This shop is a destination in and of itself. 

On the 23rd of August we traveled through Theodore Roosevelt National Park very early in the morning, we were traveling between Glendive, MT and Minneapolis, MN that day and were already homeward bound at this point. This National Park is one of our favorites for the rugged landscape, abundant wildlife and peaceful serenity (especially just after dawn).  

Passing through some areas called "Prairie Dog Towns" these energetic critters are everywhere! When we stopped to view them they alert each other with a chirping cry and scatter as they dive and disappear into their burrows. I know this is a rodent, a kin to my nemesis squirrel; I shouldn't love them but I do. Who can resist that face?

We had visited this park two years ago and one of my most vivid memories from that time were the Pronghorn and the large herds of feral horses. This time we saw only a lone horse and no Pronghorn at all, they must have been hiding. 

The Bison were not in short supply however! 

The drive home was direct and without a lot of stops from this point forward. Two overnights: Minneapolis and Indianapolis along the way before we rested our weary heads on our own pillows again. Dorothy was right: "there's no place like home".

The wrap-up stats and the low-down on traveling with a pup-- 

Miles traveled: 9, 221. Quilt shops visited: 9. Days gone: 23. National Parks explored: 8. State Parks/Memorials/Monuments visited: 9.  States traveled through: 22, countries: 2.  Pies consumed: 2. State Forests traversed: countless. 

I kept track of each days' details through a journal. Constructed years ago, this journal cover holds a composition notebook making it the perfect size for travel. There are two large "pockets" front and back where the cover slips in which accommodate the maps, brochures and literature accumulated along the way; it secures with an attached tie keeping everything contained, neat and easily accessible.  We stayed exclusively at La Quinta Inns and Suites; they are pet friendly. No, we did not camp along the way! The corporate policy of LQ is two domestic pets per room, unless prohibited by law. We never found that to be a problem and all of our room reservations were made prior to travel, we only needed to adjust on one occasion because we drove farther than anticipated and rebooked that nights stay in a different location. Sadly, dogs aren't allowed on the trails in National Parks, he was carried on occasion. However, leashed pets were welcomed in every State Park we visited. We normally managed dinner by picking up carry-out and bringing it back to our room after we checked in for the evening, that way Hannes wasn't left behind; likewise we alternated getting our breakfasts and bringing it back to the room each morning. While in the car he rode in style, securely harnessed, on his elevated platform in the back seat. 

This was the last road trip for this car. Our 2000 model Mercury Marquis has served us well over the past sixteen years. We traded it in on Tuesday this week with this staggeringly high number on the odometer: we like to drive!

Yes, that is 342, 166 actual miles. All good things must come to an end. We are grateful for the service. 

Here's the odometer reading on our new car: 7.4 miles! Time for new adventures and more memories!

Thanks for riding along~

Life is Good!

EPIC Road Trip- Installment #5

~ The International Selkirk Loop, Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes Provincial Park~

We left Spokane, WA in the morning bound for Sandpoint, ID via the International Selkirk Loop. The "loop" encircles the Selkirk Mountain range. We headed north on the western side along the Pend Oreille River and happened upon the Box Canyon Dam; it has an incredibly fascinating history.

We continued on to (and through) the Canadian border where we loaded our car onto a ferry to cross the beautiful and scenic Kootenay Lake; a magnificent black bear crossed the road in front of the car on this route before we got to the ferry. We slowed to a stop and watched him continue down a driveway(!) and disappear out of sight. (Wouldn't you know it, my camera was out of reach!) The ferry crossing took approximately thirty minutes, we drove off and continued on our way around the loop and the panoramic lake.

Kootenay Lake - British Columbia, Canada

We arrived in Sandpoint, ID in the afternoon; we have been there before and loved it. As we had done two years earlier, we passed through Bonners Ferry on the way to Sandpoint and revisited the Bread Basket Bakery for Marionberry pie. This local delicacy tastes like a combination of raspberry and blueberry; it is THE BEST. And, even better, this pie was half the price of the Olallieberry pie in CA!

The next morning we left bright and early for Glacier National Park. This time we were able to pass through the park from west to east (Apgar to St. Mary) on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Two years ago this highway was closed for repairs. Our National Park "do-over" was well worth it, not only was the navigating much better but the weather was lovely and significantly improved over the cold, misty days we had in 2104; I am so happy that we returned!

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is, literally, clinging to the side of the mountain. Some passes are really tight and the drop-offs are vertical!

But... the views! This is so reminiscent of Switzerland, the only thing missing here are the cow bells ringing in the distance!

On the first day here we traveled halfway through, going as far as the Logan Pass visitor center (above).

I spotted this friend chilling on a steep bank above us as we were driving out of the park; from a distance I thought is was a huge chunk of snow. Then he turned his head!

The photographs above should give you a feel for the rugged steepness of these narrow mountain roads; they are shut down for repairs from rock slides often and closed for the winter from October through May. This highway is 50 miles in length and simply put: offers some of the most spectacular views that nature has to offer!

These iconic red tour buses are a part of Glacier's history and have been showing tourists the sights since the 1930's.

Saint Mary Lake, on the eastern side of Glacier, is serene in its majestic splendor. Sadly, we drove a few miles through an area burned out last summer; the Reynolds Creek fire was first reported in the afternoon of July 21, 2015 and spread to over 4,000 acres in a single day. While the blackened trees stand out as an ugly reminder of the devastation there is already much fresh, bright green, reforestation occurring as well as brand-new views of this lake.

Just before exiting the park and heading north to Waterton this fella stepped out in front of the car; this time I had the camera in my lap; I was granted a second chance from being unprepared two days earlier. Another successful re-do! Thanks for sharing the magnificence of your home with us, Mr. Bear. Isn't he handsome?

Remember in the second installment of this EPIC Road Trip series I mentioned a retired National Geographic photographer who mentioned three top sights to see before one dies? Well, here it is-- the third sight: Waterton Provincial Park in Alberta, just north of Glacier. That "bucket" list is now complete; however, for the record: I am feeling just fine and have no plans of checking out anytime soon.

This is Upper Waterton Lake, it was a cool and windy day. I could have stood in this very spot forever; this location on earth seemed nearly sacred to me.

This is the historic Prince of Wales Hotel, it sits at the confluence of Upper Waterton and Middle Waterton Lakes: I do believe that National Geographic photographer knew what he was talking about when he included this picturesque park on the list of must-sees!

Middle Waterton Lake: the color in these pictures is unaltered, who could improve on nature's palette?  

Leaving Waterton we encountered herds of roving free-range cattle; not a fence in sight anywhere. The long road home was about to begin after this stop on our itinerary. We traveled from here to the extremely windy city of Great Falls and on into Glendive, MT.

I'll end this installment at The Enchanted Room in Glendive; of course, another state another quilt shop! I found this shop to be a lovely one: a refurbished old home containing oodles of notions, patterns, books and fabrics all artfully displayed and beautifully organized with a cheerful sales staff. The next installment of our EPIC adventure will be the final one. It will include Theodore Roosevelt National Park and a wrap-up of odds and ends that I couldn't fit into the previous posts as well as tips and tricks that we have discovered for traveling with a fur-baby (thanks to SueSS for this idea in the comment section of a previous post)! One more Snapple fun-fact as a reward for riding along this far: "A group of geese on the ground is a gaggle, a group of geese in the air is a skein."

Life is Good!

EPIC Road Trip- Installment #4

~Lassen Volcanic National Park, Crater Lake, 

Oregon Dunes Recreational Area
and Multnomah Falls~

For those of you who've been following this adventure you already know that we saw some pretty country in our travels... but, oh!, there's so much more!  As we headed north in California toward Redding we took a side trip east to Lassen Volcanic National Park near the town of Mineral. The weather was perfect and the scenery spectacular! My goal for this post is to include many photographs and minimal text, allowing the pictures to communicate the full beauty. Come on along and feast your eyes, Lassen is a GEM!

Just when I thought our sight-seeing couldn't possibly get any better I was disproved the very next day!  We spent the night in Redding, CA and were bound for Eugene, OR the next day, via Crater Lake National Park. See what you think:

Crater Lake might just be one of the prettiest places I have ever seen. It's the deepest lake in the United States at 1,943 ft. and holds the cleanest, clearest water in the world.

Yes, the water really is THAT blue!

On June 12, 1853, 21 year-old prospector John Wesley Hillman and others "discovered" the lake while searching for a gold mine. 

"I knew when I gazed upon Crater Lake that even though the west was filled with 

undiscovered wonders, Crater Lake would hold its own."- John Wesley Hillman

Native Americans were undoubtedly the first to gaze upon the breathtaking beauty of this high mountain lake.  The ancestors of local tribes witnessed the dramatic events that led to its creation. European settlers moved west seeking their fortunes.  During the late 1800s the lake was discovered several times and given a new name with each "discovery". In 1869 an exploring party named it Crater Lake.  Although its existence is no longer a surprise, each person enjoys their own discovery upon seeing Crater Lake for the first time. 

We left Eugene, OR bright and early the next morning and headed up the Oregon coast to Newport.

A gas station attendant* recommended a stop to us along the way: the "Sugar Shack" in Reedsport for a homemade donut. This is downtown Reedsport, just look at those glorious flowers! The enormous blooming "orbs" are actually hanging baskets! The donut was all that too- and more. Soon we arrived at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The dunes here run from Reedsport up the coast to Florence. 

It was cool; 58 degrees, misty and very windy. We did learn that this is a typical summer days weather at the beach in Oregon. No bikini-clad sunbathers on beach towels here!

This quilt shop in Florence,Wenz-Daze, was a cute one, albeit a bit run down. The staff was friendly and helpful; yes, I found some treasures here too!

I bought nothing at the Quilter's Cove in Newport. This shop was well-stocked and neat, but this shopper is sad to report that when a shop's staff ignore customers in favor of their own conversations with each other while eating their own carry-out meals they do little to generate business for themselves. Driving further up the coast the next morning to an equally cool and misty Cannon Beach we headed east in the direction of Portland and the Columbia River Gorge.

Hannes received enough attention (ear scratches and head petting) from admiring tourists here to last a lifetime!

Multomah Falls as seen from the parking lot; this was a very busy place. The height of the falls at the summit is approximately 620 ft.

One more stop, back in Portland, before spending the night in Vancouver, WA; at Fabric Depot. What can I say about Fabric Depot-- Oh. My. Goodness!! The store is huge, a fabric super store; the selection is vast, the staff is warm, friendly, helpful and engaging. The size of my shopping bag in the photo is directly proportional to the shopping experience I had there! This store has a large on-line presence too, if you haven't checked them out already you should, they probably have exactly what you're looking for and even things you didn't know you needed!

This was my first glimpse of the store when I entered the front door: if I lived in Portland I would be broke for certain. 

At the checkout I was among friends, one in particular-- Bonnie Hunter!

Snapple fun fact: "President Warren G. Harding once lost White House china in a poker game."

And yet another bit of trivia:* Gas station attendants are required in Oregon-- one cannot pump their own gas in this state. Live and learn.

Life is Good!

Next installment: The International Selkirk Loop, Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes