Tuesday and Wednesday, May 26 & 27, 2015

Tuesday - We had the day off today!!  We started out slow and finally decided to drive to Spokane, WA. It is about 45 miles from here.  Our GPS (the 2nd one) is giving us problems again, with the cord.  It doesn't work well,  shuts off without our assistance! It has been a pain!  OK, we drove over there to Camping World and traded it-no problem.  We had lunch at Wendy's then returned to Hayden to Walmart.   I had to get my medicine that was not available at the end of last week and we also needed supplies. Since we had the dogs with us, I went inside and did the shopping while Steve stayed in the pickup with the puppie dogs.  Then he came in for a little while at the end to help me get some stuff he wanted and we got the stuff loaded and went back to the RV.

We had leftover chili for supper and got to bed pretty early.

Wednesday- We got up early this morning for Volunteer Orientation.  We heard from the Park Ranger, (Head Guy in Charge-Randall).  He gave us an hour long detailed overview of improvements in this park, future improvements and plans.  He explained the fee schedule.  I was quite impressed with the list of improvements, plans, projects, etc.  This park has so many things to do:  Camping,Boating, Hiking,  Moutain Bike Riding, Swimming, Fishing, ATV Riding, Horseback Riding, Gun Range, Remote Control Airplane Flying, Brig Museum,  and just enjoying nature!  Also, this fall they will have the Veteran Reunion, the Girl Scout Reunion and Cross-Country Races!  Next Errin talked and they all told us how important the volunteers and seasonal workers are to the park!  Rah! Rah! A pep talk just when we needed it, plus a review of the mission statement-  Improve the quality of life through outdoor recreation and stewardship (condensed by me).   Then we had a great potluck lunch and returned to the RV for a nap!! Even though the museum was closed, someone was here from San Francisco, whose father had been trained here, so I showed him around the museum quickly after lunch and before our nap.

When we got up we drove around the park and walked some more.  We walked down by the Sunrise Day use area and the boat dock. 

 We went downhill gradually and wandered along the gravel beach.  Then we had to go up the steep hill (2 sets of steps).  By the time I finished the first set of steps, I was out of breath and had to sit and get rejuvenated for a bit.  Then I was able to get the rest of the way up.  I keep thinking that my physical fitness is improving, but I still have a long ways to go!  By the time the day was done, I got my 10,000 steps in.  

We also drove to Athol and got gas and some throat spray for Steve.  Somehow he got a sore throat, and almost can't talk!  Too early for a summer cold. 

We had a small campfire and talked to our neighbor host, Martina for awhile this evening.  We also made S'mores.  Yum!  This made for a great day!!

The Week-End (Memorial Day Week-End) May 23 - May 25, 2015

Saturday - Dawn comes early here in northern Idaho, about 4:45 AM.  I do not see it because I am soundly sleeping!  We had a busy day at the Brig Museum today, 145 people came through and we awarded several Jr. Ranger Pins.  The children who visit can do a scavenger hunt to earn their Jr. Ranger Pin.  Most of them want to do this and do a great job!  There are some hard questions on it!

We are learning more each day about the history and the artifacts on display in the museum.

We are also learning our way around the park.  This is a premier state park in Northern Idaho and people come from all over the northwest area to visit!

After our day was finished, we went back to Bayview for supper.  We saw some pretty views of the lake!  

This area is very beautiful!  We also enjoy our site by the Brig Museum.  We are parked here and the other host is next door.  We are the only two RV's at this spot!

Sunday - This was the biggest day yet!  We were swamped today!  We had 201 visitors!  We stayed pretty busy all day and we were pooped when the day was done.  We hear lots of interesting stories from the people who visit.  They tell us about their Dads, or Grandads who were stationed here or had their training here.  It is really quite amazing.  Almost 300,000 naval recruits received training at this naval training station.  There were 6 camps and each one could hold 5,000 recruits!  There is a lot of history here!

Monday - This was another big day, we had 170 visitors.  Martina the other host relieved us for part of the day and we took a break and then I returned and helped her finish the day.  Most days after we finish at the Brig Museum, we are pooped.  So we rest awhile and have supper.  Then we drive around the park and look for wildlife.  We have seen deer and wild turkeys most every time we drive around.  We see lots of chipmunks, squirrels and ground squirrels (??? they look like prairie dogs to me).  Anyway they drive Zoey and Buster crazy!

We rest and start the day again!

Friday, May 22, 2015

This is our first official day at the museum.  Today is opening day!!  The first thing was a group of 70 school children here !  They were a good group and had good supervision.  We listened to the tour guide also!  We keep learning more things about the museum. 

We had a fairly steady stream most of the day and ended up with a total of about 100 visitors, counting the school children. 

For some reason, I think allergies, I have been tired.  So Martina volunteered to stay til close.  I took a nap with the dogs and Steve got our bikes out of the pickup.  So now we have bikes to ride in additon to walking the dogs. 

We took a drive on the other side of the park, North Road and let the dogs walk.  They have remote control flying area, horse area, group camps, and a shooting range over there.  

Then back to the RV for supper, relaxation and another walk with the dogs!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

This morning Errin (Vol. Coor.)  knocked on the door and made the dogs go crazy.  She was wanting to orient us and Martina to the museum a little more.  So we did that.  

Next, Steve got to ride the Fire Truck with Errin, from the shop to the Museum.  He even got to run the siren.  They got it backed up into place and Steve dusted it off.  It is really neat!

In the afternoon we had a nice walk with the dogs.  We returned to Hayden and exchanged my phone booster for the right one...then returned to Walmart.  I had to get my medication refills and different supplies.   We had to buy a citronella candle and some ant bait. 

We got home and had supper.

Steve's shots arrived today - ordered them Monday and they got here today!  Glad we got them!

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Today Steve was awakened by an alarm going off at 4:30 AM.  He couldn't go back to sleep - so he stayed up.  We found out later that is was the Lift Pump Alarm - something to do with the sewer.  We completed the scavenger hunt in the museum and found out where more stuff was located. 

Later we mopped the bathrooms.  By then we were tired again, especially Steve and we took naps and finished the evening with supper and TV.

Tuesday, May 18, 2015

We had our usual morning routine which includes a pretty long walk with the dogs.  The dogs have to walk at least 3 times a day or more!  We did a few things in the museum this morning, straightening, and dusting a few more places. 

Next up, was laundry in Bayview.  There was free  wifi at the laundry  that we took advantage of.  When we walked in we were greeted, Hi Mary & Steve!  It was John the camphost at Whitetail who we met on Sunday!  He remembered us, and we soon recognized him.  He showed us some of his pictures while we were doing laundry.

Next item was to return to Hayden for additional supplies and a trip to Best Buy for a phone signal booster.  We completed that and returned to Bayview to eat supper at Mario's (Mexican) restaurant and ice cream store.  He is friendly to the volunteers and we got a free appetizer and the ice cream was very good also!  We went back to the RV and unloaded stuff and collapsed!  We were pooped!

Monday, May 18, 2015 Cleaning and Package

We set the alarm this morning since we had to be up for a "work party" in the museum.  Well let me tell you folks, it was a lot more work than party!  We helped 2 other couples and the vol. coor sweep, dust, remove bugs, and straighten!  We did that til about 11:30 then had a break for lunch.  We also had to walk our dogs and try to find our mail package.  

We even drove to Athol to check at the post office for our mail - but it wasn't there.  We returned to the park and checked the outside mailbox.  Lo and behold our package and all of the park's Saturday mail was there!  Nobody had gotten the mail on Saturday.  I took the rest of the mail into the visitor center and the worker in there checked the other mailboxes. 

OK, so we checked back in at 1:30 with Errin (vol.coor/boss) and she said we were done for the day!  Whoopee, Nap Time!  That was our next move - Nap.  We rested and then got up later and walked the dogs.  We did drive around the park some more and saw 4 or 5 deer.  We knew they were here, we had seen the signs.  It was fun to see them in person! 

We are trying to get the GPS to work better and Steve almost lost it when he was trying to use it!  He got mad at it and was ready to fling it out the window until I reminded him how much it cost.  It will take us to the Visitor Center and the shop but will not return to the RV correctly---It wants to take us to the divided highway right next to the museum.  Anyway  -- it may have a short life!

Sunday, May 17, 2015 Looking Around

We took it somewhat easy today.  

Then Errin, the Volunteer Coordinator showed up and took us on a tour of the museum and the south side of the park.

  This place is huge!  Lots of campgrounds, Disc Golf, the Lake, hiking trails, mountain bike areas, a shooting range, a horse area and I don't know what else!

Saturday, May 16, 2015 To The Park

We got around pretty quick this morning.  We left the RV Park (Tamarack) and went to Walmart for Supplies.  Those trips for supplies are tiring!

We got to Farragut State Park and the park ranger (Nathan) showed us to our site by the Brig Museum.  We hooked up our utilities and put out our mat and tablecloth.  

Then we explored Bayview and Athol.

We checked at the visitor center for our mail.....no package.

The dogs are  so excited to be here, there are little chipmunks who make holes and the dogs are over them!!  They can't catch them, but digging and sniffing is keeping them very busy!

Wednesday & Thursday, May 13, & 14, 2015 Hanging Out in Lolo

Wednesday

We woke up to rain!  It rained all night and was still raining when we got up.  When it let up we went to Missoula for food and other supplies.  Steve wanted to put some whirlybird devices on the sewer vent pipes.

We got back and he realized he needed some caulk. We got that in Lolo, but no caulk gun, so we went back to Missoula and got a caulk gun.

During a time period of no rain, he was able to get them installed.  And of course, we walk the dogs about three times a day or more!  Otherwise, they get mad at us!

Thursday

We got up late today, because Buster got us up in the night to go outside.   What a mess.  Anyway, we didn't get much done today.  

We did take a short drive today and looked at a forest camp ground.  We looked at a few pretty houses in the country! They are very impressive!  We found one for sale that we liked - it only cost over 400,000 dollars, so we didn't buy it!

We came home and took a little rest.  Then I fixed supper and we watched TV and that about finished it up for today

.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 Travel to Lolo, MT

We got a fairly good start today.  We made sure all the lights worked, emptied the tanks and all that other jazz.  When I went into the office before I left, the owner said they need a workamper for August, 2015.  This would be a lovely place (Wagonhammer RV Park, North Fork, ID) to be in August I think.  We have enjoyed the eagle and the elk in this area.  So glad we could come here in the Spring.  We did not have a good ATT signal between the mountains, but as we got closer to Salmon, the signal was great!

Anyway we hit the road, north up US 93 over the Lemhi Pass, around 7,000 feet.  It was a winding, curving road.  

Sometimes no guard rail, so I felt lucky to have such a good driver! We also made it fine going down. The countryside was beautiful and quite a bit of snow still remains in the higher elevations.  

We continued north on 93 until we crossed the Montana line and continued to have lovely views. 

This highway is next to the Bitterroot River and Mountains.  This area is very enjoyable to drive through.

We had an uneventful arrival at the Square Dancers Campground in Lolo, MT.  We are about 10 miles south of Missoula.

There is a great path around the park to walk the dogs and see the foliage along with Lolo Creek.  This is a historic area.  Lewis and Clark traveled this way and there is a small state park called Traveler's Rest just west of Lolo.  We visited it in 2012 so did not return this visit.

Sunday & Monday May 10 & May 11, 2015

Sunday- Happy Mother's Day

We started out the day watching the Bald Eagles, two parents and two babies.  Steve took lots of pictures!  I can't take a picture of the Eagle with my iPhone - just can't zoom in. 

 We really enjoyed watching the Eagles though.

Next up:  Laundry  That took a lot of time, plus we also visited with the campground hosts in the office.

After that, we took a drive up a forest road toward Shoup.  We walked the dogs and took more pictures.  When we returned we had hamburgers and potatoes with Watergate salad. Yum!

Monday -  Fix-It Day for Steve

Steve did a lot of projects today.  He first checked the vent tube on the black tank.  He wants to get those whirlybird doodads to install.  He worked on my fold up counter.  It needed bracing. I mainly just watched and handed a few things.  I also walked the dogs. Next, he cleaned the windows of the RV, no small feat!  He had to hang up our clock again, because it fell down.  Then he wanted to check the supplemental brake on the pick-up. We also needed an air filter and new wipers.  We decided to go to town (Salmon, ID) and get these needed items.  We also had Pizza at Last Chance Pizza.  We ate outside, because the temperature was quite nice!

After returning back to the RV, Steve put on the wiper blades, and changed the air filter.  He also added power steering fluid to the pickup. 

I talked to Pam tonight and sent some messages.  We have no signal at the RV Park, just spotty wifi.

I found out my sister was in the hospital.

Finally we decided to quit for the night.  Steve was almost pooped out.