Purls of Wisdom
Peals of laughter, screeches of joy, biker gangs (the type with playing cards clothes-pinned to their spokes) roaming enthusiastically … the campground was abuzz with activity. It was actually refreshing as, so far in our journey, most campgrounds have been relatively quiet. All was well until the little outlaws decided to invade our site. Kaia was not impressed, and neither was I.
Together the Whole Way
The hike started off easy on a packed gravel trail. I was second-guessing myself for bringing walking poles and boots as overkill until the gentle slope gave way to a few snappy climbs and more tree roots and rocky obstacles. About a mile into the hike, surrounded by beautiful landscape, my heart rate was higher than I would have liked.
The Road Less Traveled…For a Reason
We left the campground in Washington and headed east toward Idaho to explore the beautiful towns near Lake Pend D’Orielle. It was about an hour drive and we had no trouble navigating to a Home Depot on the north side of the lake. With that mission completed we decided on a nature drive around part of the lake. Fired up by a level gravel road winding through the backwaters and a mountainous backdrop, our first mistake was made.
A Bit of a Learning Curve
So we fled the heat to this current “remote” wilderness outpost. While the nearest metropolitan area is only an hour away, the campground is wild enough that there is no hookup for sewer. That means a finite capacity in the camper to contain what goes down the drains of our shower, sinks and toilet. It also means trekking down a narrow dirt path at all hours to reach the shower house…that a large number of other campers use. Let’s just say that not everyone was raised with the same importance on cleanliness.
From Chaos to Clarity
All of that stuff, all of those scheduled events, took up space and time. It was like I was on one side of the room and Donelle was on the other. We could wave at each other easily enough but it sure was hard to hold hands.
Earthquake!
The rumble grew and grew, louder and louder. Our camper started shaking just enough to rattle the dishes and the shades. We were sitting on the recliners in the slide when, instinctually, we both jumped up and moved to the center of the camper. My first thought was something large hit the side of the mountain we were staying near.
Don’t Wish Away the Days
The steady march of time will continue regardless of whether it’s viewed through the eyes of a six-year-old or 56-year-old. But age and experiences directly, and mysteriously, affect the speed of the hands on a clock. One thing is for certain, I’ve heard numerous times in the span of my years: “Don’t wish away the days.”
Our First Campground Conflict
Our travels have brought us to amazing places and have surrounded us with fantastic people. In our six months of travel, we had yet to be next to someone who was genuinely rude. It was bound to happen sooner or later and in this case, we had a front row seat.
“Where the Heck is the Chipotle Mayochup?”
One important I’ve learned this year is that there’s no universal standard for setting up grocery stores. Typically it’s not something I concern myself with as I’m the one sitting in the truck watching the dog as Donelle runs in to do the shopping. Every now and then, however, my big mouth gets me in trouble.