Wahkeena Falls hike to Devil's Rest with Hardy's

We thought it would be nice spending a few hours with the Stan and Debbie Hardy and hiking 7.3 miles to Devil's Rest. What a hike it was! The day was beautiful and the trail steep with lots of green vegetation, beautiful waterfalls and we even saw Wahkeena Springs where the water was pouring out of the mountain. There was a trail a short distance from the top that took us to a spot where we could look out over Skamania Island, the Columbia River, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens. It was breathtaking. We stopped at the top and had lunch before heading back down again. The trip up took 3.5 hours and the trip down was 2 hours. We were sore afterwards, but we felt a sence of accomplishment too. Note to self: Next time you take a long hike, make sure camera batteries are charged.

May Road Trip: Part 3-De Smet South Dakota

When I was a young girl, I read all of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and loved them. It has been a dream of mine to visit all the sites of Laura Ingalls Wilder. When we found out we were making this trip, Lauren (who feels the same way as I do) and I suggested that we would like to do this. Then we found out just how far away De Smet was from Rapid City. It was a 7-hour drive! James knew how important it was to me and as a Mother's Day gift booked our 2-night stay in an authentic home from the days of Laura Ingalls Wilder. In fact, the 'Prairie House Bed and Breakfast' is the very home that Banker Ruth lived in and is mentioned in the book, 'The Long Winter'. It is a beautiful home and we were so happy to arrive at 11:40 PM. The drive was long and the roads were pitch black. There were pheasants that would run out of nowhere or fly in front of the car. We all had our eyes open, but there was nothing we could do to save them. When we arrived, each room had a jucuzzi--ok, not very authentic, but very much appreciated after the long drive--and we had a good soak before heading to bed.




After a good nights sleep, and wonderful breakfast, we headed out to see the sites. We toured the home that Pa built in 1887, we also toured the surveyors home that the Ingalls family lived in for a while. we went through school houses and visted Loftus's store which is still operating. We also visited the cemetary and saw where a lot of the family are buried. In the evening we drove out to 'The Homestead'. It was all so fascinating! I would like to (someday) visit Pepin, Wisconsin where Laura was born, Walnut creek where she spent some years growing up and I would very much like to visit Mansfield, Missouri where Laura and Almanzo spent their later years and were buried.





The next morning, after another good breakfast, we headed out into the wind and were blown westward to '1880's Town', where, amazingly enough, the wind was still blowing. 1880 Town was truly amazing! It was a replica of a town in 1880 with a bank, saloon, houses, trains, stage coaches, schools, etc. It was interesting to go through and see what a town was really like during that time period.





Of course Aaron found the Post Office! I think it is his second home. Even on vacation Aaron is needing to stop at Post offices to do business--mailing things to customers--he is never far from his cell phone either.






































From there we headed further west stopping at 'The Badlands National Park". I thought they were quite beautiful.


We made a brief stop in Newcastle, Whyoming which was James's first area on his mission. He lived at 'The Antler's Hotel' and it was fun to see that. It is under renovation at this time, but we had dinner at Donna's Cafe which was right next door. He served there such a long time ago, but he was able to remember several places. He remembered the one hundred car trains each with 100 tons of coal that passed close to where he was living (and trying to sleep!) blowing it's horn at the intersections 24 hours a day. As we left town it was raining hard.





We spent the night in Laramie Wyoming and then headed into Utah the next day. After dropping off Aaron and Lauren we headed north towards home, stopping in Bountiful to spend a couple of hours with Mary and have dinner with her. That night we stayed in Boise and arrived back in Troutdale on May 22. It was a wonderful trip and we enjoyed spending time with Aaron and Lauren.

May Road Trip: Part 2--Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse

We stopped at a service station in Wyoming that had directional signs telling which way to go for Newcastle (James's first area) and Chadron (James's last area).














We arrived in South Dakota at midnight, stopping briefly to see the Heads at night before hurrying back to our hotel and falling exhausted into bed.













The next morning we stopped at Mt. Rushmore. It was amazing to learn about how the Mountain was carved. We continued on to Crazy Horse where we learned that Mt. Rushmore could fit in just the hair of Crazy Horse.





























When James was on his mission 32 years ago, he was driven by this mountain and he said that he couldn't even tell there was much happening. Now, they have the face of Crazy Horse carved. When it is done, it will be much larger than Mt. Rushmore. The white statue in front of the mountain depicts what it will look like. They are also planning a medical center on this site. It is quite awesome to see. The family who are doing it, are not taking donations from the government, they have turned down millions. It was started in 1948 and when completed it will be 641 feet wide and 563 feet high.











We had lunch in Keystone at the Ruby House and saloon, it had a very authentic Old Old West atmosphere. We chose to eat Buffalo Melts and Keylime Pie. Yum!










James wanted to stop at Wall Drug. Seems everyone needs to stop here! James said that Wall Drug was even advertised on the double decker buses in London. I don't know how he knows all these things! James says, "Engineers need to keep up on these things." At any rate, we stopped at Wall Drug where we had the most horrible soda we have every tasted and bought a 'cowgirl' dress and white moccasins for granddaughter 'Ella' when she arrives.








After visiting Wall Drug, we continued our eastward journey across the state. South Dakota is a very large state!

May Road Trip: Part 1--Utah, Colorado

James and I decided to take a road trip to South Dakota to see James's old stomping grounds where he served his mission 32 years ago. I had never seen Mt. Rushmore (except at 40,000 feet while flying overhead on our way to Pittsburgh) and I had heard a lot about Crazy Horse and was really wanting to see it. Our trip began on Wednesday, May 14th; we were leaving a day late due to car repairs and so we got a late start due to needing to pick up the Golf, but by 0845 we were on our way. The Golf is a Diesel and we don't need to make many stops; so by the time we arrived in Boise, we were starving. In an amazing coincidence, Kris and Brent were in Boise for State pole vault jumps with Alex (6 ft!) and they had 30 minutes to spare and scouted out a restaurant, just off the freeway and we met them there, ate quickly and went our separate ways.






Kristine and Kathleen














James got a kick out of all of us using our cell phones at the same time. We were walking out of the restaurant and Brent was on the phone with a client in Mexico, Kris was talking to Alex who was at the competition in Boise, Idaho and I was on the phone with Matt in Gresham, OR. It was a fast visit, but fun.





We arrived in Orem at 10 PM and after eating, and getting packages mailed off for Aaron's business, we dropped into bed at 11:40 PM. The next morning, Josh and Kaija joined us for 40 minutes and we had breakfast together. It was good to see them.

After Breakfast we drove through Spanish Fork and across to Grand Junction. The rock and cliff formations were magnificient, and the Colorado River has spectacular rapids We drove up to the 10,600 foot level at Vail and through the Eisenhower tunnell at 11,000+ feet.
































We spent the next two days with Kurt and Pam in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside of Denver and had a wonderful time visiting with them. They have been in Colorado for several years, however we had never been to see them. We enjoyed visiting with them in their beautiful home and seeing Tiffany, Paul and their family.

That evening after dinner we visited the Denver. Inside the temple, Pam said 'hello' to a friend of hers; I could not believe my eyes! I said, "Jolynn?" She looked at me confused until I told her that I was her roommate at Rick's College 30 years ago. We shared a room, she slept on the lower bunk and I slept on the upper bunk. We got along so well and even sent Christmas letters back and forth for several years until she was lost in one of her moves. It was so good to see her!








Denver Temple


Aaron and Lauren

Pam, Kurt, James and Kathleen








Saturday, after a good nights sleep, we drove up past Manitou Springs, and rode the Cog Trail up Pike's Peak. We started at the 6500 foot level and climbed to 14,100 feet. The view was beautiful and the company superb. The only hitch was at the top when several of us got altitude sickness. We were grateful that the train left 40 minutes later and even more grateful when we had journeyed down 2,000 feet and felt much better.

Cog Train Depot

Kurt and Pam

Pam, Lauren and Kathleen, James, Kurt and Aaron on Cog Train

















View out window, headed up to Pike's Peak.
























At the top of Pike's Peak--14,100 feet.

























Manitou Springs and The Cliff House; James, Kathleen, Pam and Kurt outside the Cliff House and all of us plus Aaron and Lauren having lunch together. The food was good and and for dessert we had chocolate burnt creme. Mmm...























Sunday, we attended church with Kurt and Pam, listened to Kurt as he gave a very good lesson in Gospel Doctrine, and after another meal with Kurt, Pam and family we headed north to South Dakota.

Sunset over Wyoming

Mother's Day Weekend

We drove up to Seattle for Mother's Day Weekend. We wanted to visit with Mom who just returned from her mission (Salt Lake City) the previous weekend. We found her working hard to get her house back into order and the yard in shape. There is a reason why we call her the white tornado. We gave Mom a gardening kit--and it took her--and all of us, a lot of time trying to figure it out.













Mom fixed breakfast and the warning came too late for James about the pepper shaker lid not screwing on right.








It is hard to believe that Dad has been gone for 24 years on May 11. James's mother has been gone for almost 9 years.


















We also spent some time with James's brother Karl and took him out to lunch at Chinooks under the Ballard bridge in Seattle.