Following the Lewis & Clark Trail With Friends in Salmon Idaho

Salmon, Idaho (62 degrees, chilly in the morning and late evening, blue skies)

"Of courage undaunted, possessing a firmness and perseverance of purpose"

Stephen Ambrose, Undaunted Courage

Sacajawea Center

In 1805 just about this time of year Lewis & Clark Expedition entered the area where we stayed with our friends Barry and Jann. During our visit we followed some of their trail. It was fascinating. Click here for a great map and detail about this area. 

Barry and Jann at the River of No Retur

At this time the expedition had been traveling for 15 months. As they entered the Lemhi Valley they found the Salmon River to be quite a challenge. It was here a major change was made in their expedition and they abandoned the river route after encountering the turbulent River of No Return. They climbed out of the valley and took a land route instead to the Pacific Ocean.

The turbulent River of No Return caused Lewis and Clark to change their plans

Rafter coming down the river

This was also the area where Sacajawea was reunited with her Shoshone family after being kidnapped by another tribe many years earlier. She was negotiating for horses and suddenly recognized her brother. What an emotional reunion this must have been for them. 

Storm crossing the area where Lewis and Clark traveled

We visited the Sacajawea Center in Cascade and spent a lovely morning hiking some of the trails and visiting the center

Barry and Jann

See below the picture of everyone standing over one of the springs which feeds the might Missouri River. Meriweather Lewis once wrote "McNeal had exultantly stood with a foot on each side of this little rivulet and thanked the god that he lived to bestride the might and heretofore endless Missouri" - August 1895.

We exalted too!

Jann, John, and Barry standing over the spring

Golden Eagle (taken by Barry)

We stayed in two different campgrounds while visiting this area Healds Haven RV Park and Wagonhammer RV Park). Two of the highlights were kayaking trips down the Salmon River. It is so much easier to kayak when you have two vehicles. Each trip was challenging with lots of rapids, rocks to negotiate around, a couple of spills, and one drowned camera. Luckily it was John's inexpensive one.

Our sea kayaks made this a rather chilly trip (we were "christened" with cold water often) but it's probably the best kayaking we have done to date. We saw seven golden Eagles on one trip. What a treat!!

Jann, Barry, and me

John scouting out the next rapid section

Books Cliffs

Lunch stop

Can you see the monkey face?

Left Vicki, Ray and Barry, Right John and Jann

Both campgrounds were very nice and reasonable. Our front window at Wagonhammer looked out onto the river. We sat there in the evening and had some great dinners together. One night we met up with some friends of Barry and Jann. We had a delicious dinner, lots of laughs, and had fun sharing some of our favorite travels. It was a very special night. 

Healds Have RV park down b the river. Can you see our rig?

Williams Lake

Big Horn Sheep playing on the ridge

Once again we had another great time with our friends and are already planning our next rendezvous. Thank you very much Jann amd Barry for all the  many happy memories. And to Vicki and Ray we hope our paths cross again.

So in honor of National  Dog Day here is a funny rock we saw at our campground. 

A Brief Pause For Some Technical Difficulties

Sanibel, Florida (86 degrees, blue skies, puffy clouds)

I experienced some “technical difficulties” this winter which limited my ability to blog.  Unfortunately, I suddenly needed to have a partial knee replacement due to an injury. It all started in the middle of Mohave Desert and after a few attempts at finding medical care we decided to head back to Florida to an Orthopedic doctor John had seen before. I had surgery on December 1^st and it went well.  However, it’s not a surgery for sissies and sitting with your knee bent at a computer desk is out of the question for quite awhile. 

               

We did return to J. N. Ding Darling NWR refuge and spent the winter season volunteering.  I wasn't able to volunteer initially but once my physical therapy was completed returned to working in the administrative office and John worked in the maintenance department. I also gave an Alligator/Crocodile interpretive program every Wednesday. 

Special guest at one of my programs

John using the mower out on the refuge

Once again it’s been really great to be here and the support of the other resident volunteers and some Sanibel friends during my recovery was phenomenal.  We are both so appreciative for the support and oftentimes delicious meals  I’m also nominating John for sainthood.  He took such good care of me especially through the rough patches.

Caloosa Bird Club on the Green Cay Trip

It’s great to be back birding occasionally with the Caloosa Bird Club and enjoying the beach again.  Absence certainly made our hearts grow fonder.  We've even been able to take the kayaks out a couple of times with friends. 

Hunting for fossils on the Peace River Paddle Trip

Jen enjoying the paddle trip in her new kayak

Bowman's Beach paddle trip

Patsy and Bob on the Tarpon Bay paddle trip

Alison and Arin

We always enjoy visits from our family and friends.  John's sister, Martha, was able to visit for a few weeks and my niece and her girl friend visited over spring break.  Some RV Dreamer friends that we met in Wyoming also visited for a few days too.  It has been especially wonderful having Jen (John's daughter) close by.  She moved to St. Petersburg just as we were heading out to Wyoming last spring.  

Me, Jimmy, Martha, Jen, Louie, and John

Karen and Al and their beautiful dogs

John, Martha, and Jimmy

Some of our fine feathered friends!

Great Horned Owlets

Limpkin

Tri-color having a bad hair day

Great Egret

Beautiful White Pelicans on the Wildlife Drive

Osprey looking fierce

White Ibis is full breeding plumage

John turned 60 years old in November.  I had planned a surprise celebration get away with Jen to Key West. However,  it had to be postponed until February due to my surgery.  It was a great time and we stayed in a beautiful inn near the downtown.  A high speed ferry transported us from Ft. Myers to Key West and back.  What fun!

Ferry

A mother and her new arrival 

Jen on ferry ride

Sunset Mallory Square

In addition, we celebrated in November our fourth year as full timers.  From late April until September we spent an awesome season in the Tetons and Yellowstone working for Grand Teton Association. Here is a map of our travels. In total we traveled 6,634 in the motorhome and countless miles in the Jeep exploring the area. We stayed in only 26 campgrounds this year due to extended stays in Grand Teton National Park and J.N. Ding Darling NWR.

 

This summer we are planning an exciting trip to  Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island Canada which will last almost five months.  Six other couples are joining us plus some non RVing family and friends for at least some of the time. It’s taken a lot of planning but everyone is very excited.  Be sure to check back. Icebergs, birding, kayaking, and hiking are just some of the fun activities planned…and of course lots of fresh seafood.  Yum!

We have one week left at the refuge and then we will be on the road again.  Check back soon.  I promise to post more frequently.  Happy Trails!

Rosetta Spoonbills