Elk Trip pictures (I hope)

The Elk Trip

Well the mystery is solved - the "Spot" got lost.  That is why we were having trouble tracking them and it appeared that they were in the same spot for 3 days.  Dick got the Elk he wanted - he got to hear the elk bugle so the trip was a huge success and everything that he wanted.  He shot his elk at 450 yards - hit it in the neck with a clean shot through the neck.  His elk scored 328 & 4/8 - that was a good score.  According to that measurement he had the biggest elk - one other guy scored 327 with a normal rack - but he could get his rescored and be higher - the guide likes to underscore so there are no disappointments.
Dick's elk is non-typical elk (which I found out means the rack grew in an odd way) his guide is going to enter it in a contest for non-typicals and feels Dick will place in the top 3 but it is the whole state of Wyoming and they have until the middle of October to get a bigger one.
Dick met 5 really nice guys and had a great hunting partner.  They ate gourment meals even a Turkey dinner.  Had really nice and helpful guides.   The long horseback ride was not as bad as he had anticipated.  The fall colors had started to turn as they came down the trail so had a beautiful view.

I think  if Dick never got to hunt again - he would feel he has had the best.
We are posting some pictures (hopefully) you can get a overview of his awesome trip.

Elk Trip Continued

No news from the hunter - I was able to track him on Monday and was a little hopeful that someone got an elk as they stayed out late and in the same area. Yesterday I wasn't able to track him and so far this morning I see nothing (bummer) it was fun to see them on the move.
I am working on the T-shirt quilt for Danielle.  You won't believe my work area - I am on an enclosed patio with windows looking out on the ranch and the horses.  I have my computer set up so I can do my Target work, my phone plugged in so I can actually talk to someone, and the quilt laid out on a long table and a pool table - couldn't ask for more.

The weather is beautiful and finally the skies are blue and clear.  The Cali and Rusty are getting along great!
Cali barks at the horses but enjoys the freedom of running around with no leash.

Elk Trip

Well we dropped Dick off on Saturday just outside of Cody for his ElkTrip.  He met up with the five other guys he will be hunting with.  Saturday night they have dinner at the ranch and sleep in the bunkhouse.  Sunday morning they were getting up early to head for their camp.  Dick is suppose to turn on his spot so that we can track him but so far today we have not been able to follow his trail.

My fish

Cali and Rusty

view from the motorhome

Wyoming

We have been in Wyoming since Labor Day.  We are all set up on the Doty Ranch.  Cali is having the time of her life being able to run free with Rusty, her new friend.  Dick leaves for his Elk trip on Saturday and Cali and I will stay here and take care of Rusty while his owners go on a golfing outting.  We had rain last night which will hopefully clear the smoke from the sky - they have beautiful hills and sunsets when it is clear - hopefully before we leave I can get a picture and let you see what we get to view daily.
We have gone fishing, golfing and today we are going a 4 wheel trip to Devil's Kitchen (not a clue) but after the trip I hope to have pictures.  We have been eating fresh vegetables from their garden (what a treat) - I could become a vegetarian.  We have seen antelope and deer, bunnies and beautiful birds.  Hopefully Dick will see that big Elk next week.

pictures from our sightseeing tour in Astoria Area



Lighthouse in Washington



Cape Disappointment LightHouse - WA

Astoria Column in Astoria
it is very unique - tells a history story

Dick and Cali in an old tree
on our 2 mile hike



Cali in the ocean - Long Beach, WA



pictures along the way



tug boat on the way to the locks on the Columbia River










driving along the Columbia River









tunnel on the way to the falls

The Multnomah Falls
Dick walked up to the bridge





Hamilton Montana

 

This has been a great week - we met up with Dick's friend Tom and his wife Lois.  They live just outside of Victor, Mt from May - November.  Cali has been in 7th heaven.  She has been able to run free with Kona and Splash.  Dick & Tom have been training a couple of times.  Yesterday we went drifting on the Bitterroot River - it was a beautiful day and the smoke from the fires was a little lighter.  We saw ducks, eagles and the cutest little black bear cub that crossed the river in front of us.  Several fisherman trying their luck at fly fishing - we saw fish jump but none caught.  They are having a County Fair here this weekend so we are hoping to stop by and see a small county fair.  Lots of property for sale here.

Dayton, WA - Hamilton, MT

Our night outside of Dayton was great - we had a beautiful campground and Cali was able to run in the open field.  Our journey from Dayton to Hamilton was a little disappointing - it was beautful for us to see but the pictures were drab due to the fires that were burning in Idaho causing smoke to fill the canyons. 
We arrived in Hamilton and got settled in our campsite at Angler's Roost it is a campground that is on the Bitterroot River -  very quiet and relaxing with the river running by.

We met up with Dick's friend Tom and his dogs Kona and the new puppy Splash.  It so makes me want a puppy.  Cali got to run around Tom and Lois's place chasing whatever caught her attention and playing with Kona and Splash.  Tuesday - Dick and Tom are out training the dogs - I am sure Cali is excited.  I have been working, doing laundry and baking a blueberry crisp with the handpicked blueberries from Oregon.
Tomorrow we will go golfing and then Thursday we are drifting down the Bitterroot River - hopefully we will get some good pictures.  It rained last night and the air is a little clearer but still smokey with the fires from Idaho.

Astoria to Cascade Locks

Left Astoria and drove along the coast - another scenic drive - We crossed over the Columbia River via another tall bridge, but not as long, into Washington and followed the Columbia River - we then came back into Oregon and ended up at the Cascade Locks.  We took a dinner cruise aboard a paddle boat steamer .  We were able to view the locks - it was amazing.  They told us about how the indians have access to the fishing on the river. on private wooden platforms.  There were board paddlers, canoes and waverunners - and a seal that was laying on one of the rocks.  We enjoyed a fresh caught baked steelhead dinner which was very good (Dick even enjoyed a lemon chutney served on the fish).
Don't know that we will get much sleep tonight - we are at a campground that backs up to the railroad.
Tomorrow we will drive back to the falls that we couldn't see on the way - our rig was just too big - we took the histortic 9 mile road but barely fit - and couldn't stop.  We also went to the Bonneville Dam which is ran by the Corps of Army Engineers - we could see the locks and how they operated along with salmon swimming upstream to spawn.  Dick was really interested in both of these.  My favorite were the falls -  We hiked 1/2 mile to see the Oneonta Falls and another 1 mile to see the The Multnomah falls which are beautiful with a bridge walkway across the falls - it was another 2 mile hike up to the top so Dick only went as far as the bridge.

 We continued on from the Cascade Locks along the Columbia River where we continued to see large barges going both up and down the river.  We didn't however get to see one pass through the locks.
We stopped at a couple of the Lewis & Clark trail markers - most of the information is getting very repeatative but still interesting.
Eastern Oregon isn't as beautiful as what we were use to seeing as we drove down the Oregon Coast and along the Columbia river.  Once we left The Dalles it looked more like desert.  We crossed over into Washington and tonight we are spending the night at a very off the road campground outside of Dayton.  We defintely will get a good nights sleep tonight.  Soon we will catch up with the Snake River - we will miss the Columbia River.  Tomorrow we are heading for Lewiston, ID and then onto Victor, Montana, where we will pick up the Bitterroot River and met up with Dick's friend that helps him train Cali.

Hopefully I can get the pictures loaded so you can see the beautiful sights we have been fortunate to see.
All the trips we have taken have been scenic but this trip has had beauty, history and good times with family and friends.

Pictures

I am sorry I didn't get the pictures done right - will have to keep on trying.  Maybe I am trying to put to many pictures in my blog.  There are just so many beautiful ones that I was trying to share.
I am going to make a slide show with the best of the slides from the trip - I'll keep trying to add pictures.

Phyllis

taking picture from backside

friends on hike to falls

another covered bridge in Salem

bridge crossing into park

view while driving from Redding to Salem



covered bridge on 17 mile drive



hops growing for local brewery

front of waterfall

Redding to Salem, Oregon

We continued our journey to Salem, Oregon to visit family friends- David and Linda and Linda's mother Ola (who was my Mom's best friend).  We had a great visit and did a sightseeing trip with them on a 17 mile scenic drive.  They own a Blueberry farm and they have turned it into a U-Pick so it was interesting to see the people who drove out and picked the blueberries.  It was fun that they were able to take some time off while we were there.
I made blueberry syrup and blueberry pancakes for breakfast. 

While on our sightseeing trip we took a hike to a waterfall and then the trail that goes behind the waterfall so you get it see it from both sides.  We saw a couple of covered bridges, hops growing (for making budweiser), stopped at a winery and sampled some Pinot Noir, had lunch at a quaint dinner where Dick had the biggest hamburger we have ever seen and it was a single.  I will have to post this picture later (it is on my phone and I don't have service right now.

It was sad to leave as we don't get to visit with them very often but we need to get down the road and to Wyoming for the big hunt.

Pictures will be added next

Redding area

We drove from Sacramento to Redding and enjoyed the view of Lake Shasta and Mount Shasta.
We stopped and spent some time with Dick's friend Monty and his wife Rita.  It turned out to be a great stop for Cali - she made 2 more new friends - Abby and Tara.  They have acres and acres of land and they are visited by hundreds of humming birds. 

Mt. Shasta

Cali and her friends Abby & Tara

Lake Shasta

Cali drinking from the foutain

Roseville

We spent two days with our nephew in Roseville.  We got to see Rick and Tammy's grandchildren -
They are very cute.  Cali made three new friends and especially had fun with Sierra.  Rick and Tammy and Dick and  I went to Thunder Valley a very big indian casino.  Didn't win much but it was a fun afternoon.
We are heading out today for Redding & hoping to find some antique stores along the way.  Maybe we can become "pickers" - we have a list of things we would love to find - wish us luck.

2012 trip

We are starting our trip earlier this year - we will be taking a little bit different route for the first time in four years.  We are starting out with a short visit to Rosveville to visit our nephew and his family - then on to Salem, Oregon to visit long time family friends and then onto Astoria to continue our Lewis & Clark trail.
Hopefully I will be able to post pictures and share our journey.