Friday, October 8, 2010

Fall Projects

This Fall I decided to jump into a couple of projects that have stretched both my cabinetry making skills as well as every muscle and tendon in my back! Sherri is developing quite a collection of books for her classroom, and has been in need of another bookshelf. Since Dad gave me his old router, I figured this would be the perfect job to christen my new power tool. After two weeks of racking my brain on dimensions and filling the garage with sawdust, I was finally able to put it together just before school started. It turned out great- custom fit and everything.

The next job I tackled is nowhere near as fun, but it sure is keeping me in shape these days. I'm basically digging all the rocks out of our yard so we can start fresh with actual dirt instead of a gravel pit for a lawn. I'm sure there's some kind of machine out there that can pull them out for me, but I'm too cheap. Besides, I feel like John Henry with my pickax in hand, and when I finish...we'll have the best darn soil in town. I'll also probably fall down and die just like the legend says, but it will be worth it!

The fourth set of rock piles that I've dug-up so far...whewww!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Mirror Lake

Sherri and I went hiking with some friends up to Mirror Lake this week and caught some great views of Mt. Hood from the ridge of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain. I forgot what a great local hike this is. Last time we tromped around in this area was a couple years back during the early Spring on our snowshoes with snowboards strapped to our backs.

Mt. Biking Hagg Lake Trail

A few weekends back Sherri did some research online for mt. bike trails in our area and found Hagg Lake, which is only about 40 miles from our place. It was Sherri's first experience on real, gritty singletrack. The 15 mile round trip along the lake shore had lots of rolling hills and just enough technical spots over roots and rocks to make it challenging. She did great, and we really enjoyed our time out there. Every once in awhile we'd come to a little inlet from the lake which looked like some private lagoon with picnic tables on the shore nearby. After our ride we headed down to the beach and threw the Frisbee around in the water to cool off. I think we found a new summer hang-out spot.


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

2010 Summer Vacation to MN and National Parks

7-1-2010 (Thursday) Day 1
Sherri & I spent a couple days with her brother Jim and his twin daughters before heading our way out east to visit my family in MN. We also planned to check-off a few more National Parks from our list on this trip as well. This morning we crept out of Jim’s house at 6am, careful not to wake anybody, and set-off on our road trip adventure. On our final gas fill before entering Glacier National Park I noticed that my driver’s license was missing. I asked Sherri if she had our ID’s, and a distressed look came over both our faces as we realized that we had forgotten them in Jim’s car upon entering the Military Base the night before. By this time we had driven 11 straight hours and had no choice but to press on. Unfortunately, we needed photo ID to verify our National Parks pass, and we nervously hoped that the attendants would understand as we approached the west entrance of the park. After telling the ranger our messed-up sob story, he politely let us through and we fortunately never had a problem getting into any of the other parks as well. We snagged the last available campsite, which happens to us more often than not, and took a short hike out to Lake McDonald where we were able to catch the sun setting on the surrounding mountains. We were already starting to feel the serenity of wilderness working its magic on our tuckered-out minds and bodies. Expenses: Gas ($69.11), Campsite ($20).

Happy to be touring the National Parks againSunset on McDonald lake for our first view of the mountainsWilderness is good!
7-2-2010 (Friday) Day 2
Just as morning rolled over the horizon, we were startled awake by a crackle of thunder, preparing us for a rainy day. After some coffee and doughnuts we started driving up the going-to-the-sun-road for a look at Logan Pass. On our way we stopped for a short hike along McDonald creek, which was raging through the forest at a really good clip. We then pulled-over to walk the Trail of The Cedars, which gave us an opportunity to play around with our new GPS device. The farther we drove up into the mountains, the more we became absorbed by the clouds. By the time we reached Logan’s Pass Visitors Center, we were completely inundated with clouds and down pouring rain. This pretty much eliminated any hiking opportunities along the Garden Wall, which at this point in my life I’ve come to believe is a total farce since it is apparently always hidden by clouds. This quickened our pace to descend below the clouds and make a beeline for Many Glacier. We reached the Swiftcurrent pass trailhead at 3:15pm and debated starting a long hike this late in the day, but we were rearing to go and decided to take our chances out on the trail. Several hikers warned us of the dark clouds rolling in our way and cautioned us of possible thunderstorms. We just smiled and nodded as we pressed on ahead with the hope that a break in the clouds might soon find us, which is exactly what happened about a mile further on our trek. The path meandered along a chain of lakes that eventually ran smack-dab into a massive headwall of granite and snow. To our amazement, the map verified that it was the other side of the Garden Wall, which meant that we were on a route headed straight up the Continental Divide. Since the rain scared everybody else off the trail, we had the entire place to ourselves, except for a couple of white-bearded mountain goats who were surprised to see us climbing around on the mountain. As we followed switchbacks up the steep canyon wall, the lakes down below became smaller and smaller as we rose into the clouds. Eventually, a snow bank blocked our path, and there were no fresh footprints going across it. Together with the fact that we were beginning to run out of daylight, our outdoor instincts told us it was time to turn around and head back down to base camp. It was a long hike back and both our bodies felt very creaky. As soon as we made it back to the truck, we made some dinner and kicked back the seats for some shuteye. We were a little on guard that night, practically sleeping with one eye open in fear that a ranger might come along and tell us that we couldn’t park there overnight, but not a soul bothered us. Hiking (13 miles).

McDonald Creek tumbling down the canyonJake studying the rapids from aboveLogan's Pass looking a little cloudy as usualWeight limit of only 1 person on this little bridgeLooking back on the mountains beside Swiftcurrent lakeApproaching the Garden WallThis mountain goat seemed a little surprised to see us up this highNoticing the now tiny chain of lakes on the Swiftcurrent Pass TrailWorking our way up to the Continental DivideSnowfields...our final sign to turn back
7-3-2010 (Saturday) Day 3
This morning we got an early start on a hike up to Grinnell Glacier. Apparently, there was a ranger led hike just about to take off as well, but we opted for the self-guided tour, skipping all the icebreaker conversations about why people chose to visit the park and Ranger Bob stories. We were slightly embarrassed by an older couple that power-walked their way right past us, stopped to take pictures, and continued playing leapfrog with us for miles. Our egos were only messaged by the fact that we were still very worn out from our hike the night before, and a short night sleep as well. At one point along the way Sherri said she had to go to the bathroom...pronto, so she scrounged-up some toiletries and headed off into the woods for a little quality time. Of course, the older couple then decided to come strolling around the corner near the spot where Sherri was hiding. I thought it would only be polite if I distracted them from the area where Sherri was and started talking to them on the other side of the trail. Well they turned out to be really nice folks, and we kept talking for quite a while until I caught a nasty glare from Sherri peeking out from the woods. I quickly wrapped up the conversation as best as I could and encouraged them on their way. A little ways ahead we caught up to them again as they were studying a dug-up hole in the ground along the trail. The older couple said it was a sure sign of bears, and then asked if we wanted to go first. From that point on we were a bit on edge, somewhat anxious to see a bear, and yet secretly scared that we might get eaten if we actually came across one. Lone behold, we heard reports of two different bear sightings that day from other hikers, but we never saw one. Eventually, we were forced to turn around due to snow pack, and ended up walking down with a different couple from CA. The woman had been a fifth grade teacher like Sherri is now, and they kept conversations going while I scouted the area ahead for bears. In a way we felt fortunate to have successfully avoided a dangerous encounter, yet it would have been quite an experience to actually see a bear in the wild. We then hopped back in the truck and headed over to Two Medicine Lake where we hiked out to a little beach called paradise point. We sat there for quite some time just soaking in the sun, watching the water stretch across to the mountains on the other side. On our way out of the park we caught one last hike out to Running Eagle Falls that provided a backdrop for one of our favorite shots together. It was hard to drive away on that lonely road across the plains with the mountains slowly fading behind us with the sun. After only about four hours of driving, we were both so tired that we decided to pull over for the evening and give it another try in the morning. Expenses: Gas ($34.20). Hiking (9 miles).

Sherri leading the way along the banks of Lake JosephineMt. Gould holding onto the clouds (9553ft.)Sherri engulfed by mountain sceneryGrinnell Glacier draining into emerald green waterWildflowers galore!Jagged peaks along the valley rimRunning Eagle FallsSherri found a natural tree chairSoaking in the sun at Paradise PointEnjoying the view on the beach of Two Medicine Lake
7-4-2010 (Sunday) Day 4
Today was a long trek across the boring part of Montana, which seemed forever until we finally reached Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Inside the visitor's center, before the air conditioning even hit our face, a ranger immediately jumped out from behind his desk asking if we wanted to watch an informational video about the park. We were apparently some of the only visitors this park had seen in awhile since we were treated like special guests. Sherri got a little nervous after finding out that rattlesnakes, black widows, and brown recluse spiders live in this region. After setting-out on their “most popular trail,” we found ourselves totally bushwhacking just a mile into the dense canyonlands as if no one had set foot on this trail in years. On our way out to one of the prairie dog towns a huge bull buffalo stood up from behind some sagebrush and stared us down. As soon as Sherri and I caught sight of him, we immediately turned around with our eyes wide open and quickly walked away in the other direction. Fortunately, there were plenty of other prairie dog towns and opportunities to view bison from a much safer distance, or at least from inside the truck. After backtracking from our bison encounter, we continued hacking and slashing through the brush until we climbed out from the forest onto a clearing that overlooked the entire valley. Sherri directed my attention to what I thought was amazing scenery, but she was actually pointing to a lone buffalo grazing on a bluff in the distance. It was as if the backdrop was staged somehow since everything seemed to portrait Native America as it once might have been. We both just sat there in the silence for a while as we soaked in the view. The trail continued along the ridge for over a mile, peeking down over the winding Missouri River and rugged tundra. After heading back down into the forest, we were surprised once again by an animal that practically scared us to death. A deer happened to be standing on a steep slope of loose rock that gave way like an avalanche as it darted up the hillside. That night we also saw a buffalo walking straight through our campground. We found a beautiful little walk-in campsite tucked under the shade of some cottonwood trees, which was actually the first time we had set-up our tent this trip. It was a nice change to sleep on a cushy queen size air mattress. Expenses: Gas ($49.80). Hiking (5.5 miles).

Strolling into Theodore Roosevelt National Park on the 4th of JulySherri checking-out the scene in North Dakota BadlandsBeautiful overlook with a lone buffalo on the bluff behind usLooking down on the Little Missouri RiverSherri walking ahead on the Upper Caprick Coulee TrailWild horses roaming the fieldThis was our favorite buffalo shot right of the side of the roadBuffalo Chips!Another massive bison keeping an eye on us
7-5-2010 (Monday) Day 5
This morning we woke up to rain that got us packing our tent and on our way down to the southern part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The clouds eventually dissipated and we found ourselves strolling through Medora on another sunny day. Our tired hiking legs agreed to a leisure scenic drive through the park with a couple of short stops at some overlooks. We took a bunch of pictures of prairie dogs and wild horses right out the window of our truck. Before long, we were making our way across the fields of North Dakota headed to my old stomping grounds for an early visit with my parents. Since we both had an hankering for a couple of milk shakes after a hot and grueling drive, we decided to take a pit stop in Bismarck. Happy hour at Space Aliens Bar & Grill grabbed our attention and we quickly ordered up some garlic pizza bread with milk shakes. The big screen TV in the bar was showing a sport called air racing, which was something we had never heard of or seen before. Driving into Detroit Lakes brought back a lot of memories as Dad welcomed us from the lit-up garage and Mom threw us a joyful wave from the kitchen window. We warned them that we hadn’t showered for a few days, but they forced hugs upon us anyway. Mom poured me a glass of wine and we all stayed-up talking for another couple of hours in the kitchen until the bathtub finally drew our aching bodies in for a late night soak. Expenses: Gas ($32), Lunch ($13). Hiking (1 mile).

Prairie dog posing for photosThe Misses was distracting this guy on lookout dutyThey've got quite a home out here
7-6-2010 (Tuesday) Day 6
Today we slept in, which is easy to do in the basement bedroom since it stays dark all year around down there, and then woke-up to pancakes and hand-picked raspberries from Mom’s garden. Dad was already hard at work painting the deck, but the sun stopped him halfway to the picnic table. Dad and I later worked on fixing the broken recliner lever in our truck. After some drilling, sanding, and plenty of head scratching, we finally got it done. I then headed for the backyard to set up the badminton net on that abused, torn-up patch of dirt where we always used to play. I was surprised to find a lush green grass court surrounded with flour beds, like something you'd see at the Wimbledon Classics or something. Later that day Mom and Dad sat out on the porch for “wine time” and watched Sherri and I smack the birdie back and forth at each other, hooting and hollering after every good rally. That night they took us out to dinner at a place called Billy’s where we got 2-for-1 half-pound monster burgers and waffle fries. It was nice to get a hearty meal in after surviving off of snacks and MRE’s. We then drove out to the farm where my parents keep their horses and camper trailer. El-Zar and Rendezvous eventually came prancing in toward the stable as we noticed the other horses not too far behind them. They all apparently sensed that visitors were waiting for them with treats in hand. We got a chance to visit with the owner of the ranch, Roy, who encouraged us to stop by his lake cottage on the way home for the absolute best seat in town to watch the sunset. From the bench on his dock we laughed and talked together as the sun reflected beautiful colors on the glassy, smooth lake. After returning home we fixed some cold drinks and broke-out the cards for a game of golf. We owed Mom another chance at racking-up a better score than when we last played together during their visit to Portland.

7-7-2010 (Wednesday) Day 7
Today, Dad and I were determined to drop the old canoe in the Ottertail River. The water was unseasonably high for this time of year and made for a quick yet rewarding trip down the river. Sherri and Mom offered to shuttle the car down to the take-out for us, and was fun to see them waving from the bridge as we floated around the final bend. We then headed into town to do a little shopping and returned home for dinner and a slide show. Dad broke-out the pictures from all the Glacier trips for us to compare with our recent visit to the park. It was amazing to witness how the timeless landscapes remain virtually unchanged next to our aging faces. Expenses: Shopping ($21.30).

7-8-2010 (Thursday) Day 8
Today we packed up the truck again and headed down to Minneapolis to hang-out with my brother Joe and his wife for a few days. Upon entering the city, we blew right past the exit that mapquest told us to take, which we later found out doesn’t even exist…go figure. It actually worked-out just fine since we found another exit that led us right to a bookstore where we picked-up some gifts for all my nieces and nephews. Later, Joe met us in that same part of town where we found a great little restaurant just down the street. We then headed back to his place to watch Uncle Buck for some laughs. Throughout the week Joe and I were rattling-off one liners from that movie- “I feel like a big mouse!” Expenses: Gas ($36), Dinner ($34).

7-9-2010 (Friday) Day 9
We woke-up to a beautiful sunny day as Joe cooked us up some tasty breakfast burritos. We immediately took advantage of the nice weather by hitting the tennis courts for a doubles rematch against Joe and his wife. The last time we played together was when they came out to visit us in Portland, and they kicked our butts. Joe and I agreed it was time to offer our sacrificial base layer of skin to the sun, so the shirts came off as we worked on tanning our albino skin. Sherri and I held our own playing against them this time even though we all seemed to have certain physical ailments working against us that day. We then watched some of Philip’s baseball tournament later that evening and dropped in to visit Katie at the restaurant she’s working at this summer. She hooked us all up with giant chocolate shakes and sat down to visit with us for a while. On our way home we stopped at a tasty, authentic Italian pizza joint. Before turning into bed we tried to watch a bit of Will Farrell in Anchorman, but were too tired to finish it.

7-10-2010 (Saturday) Day 10
This morning we took-off towards Jeff and Julie’s place for a big Wavra shindig. Most everybody made it over to their house during some part of the weekend, and we all had a great time hanging-out and catching-up with family. Jeff and Julie had their place looking immaculate with the house all ship shape, yard all mowed, trees planted, and a path blazed through the field out back for nature walks. We set up the badminton net just below their second story deck for optimal spectator viewing. We also started a game of Bache ball with the high score going to Jeff and Sarah. That night, it was evident that a storm was coming in because the sky was getting peppered with lighting on the horizon. Sherri called me out of the house saying, “I think you’re going to want to see this.” As the sun began to set, it cast a beam of deep orange light through a narrow hole in the thick band of storm clouds. It looked like the sun was attempting to shine a batman sign on the cloudy sky above. Sherri and I sat in amazement as we counted between lightening strikes and the rumble of thunder creeping toward us. For an evening game we all decided to play “What Were You Thinking?” One of the favorite categories was to name five different people from any time period whom you would like to have dinner with. Joe thought it would be fun to patch the biblical Moses and Michael Jordan together. Some of the commentary on that one really got us laughing. Another hit category was to think of names that spouses have for each other. One of Jeff’s answers was “First Name,” which Joe immediately piped in by winking at Nicole saying, “I love you First Name.”

Hanging-out on the porch at Jeff and Julies place
Jeff and Julie being great hostsBadminton net is going up!Joe, Nicole, and Jenna on a nature walk behind Jeff and Julie's place
7-11-2010 (Sunday) Day 11
Jan and her kids came today and we all got another championship game of Bache ball going first thing. The rest of the day we all just relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company. That night we started a campfire and little Jenna crawled up on Sherri’s lap while I made funny faces at her from behind the chair. Jenna then started whispering in Sherri’s ear while looking back at me saying, “he’s weird,” and “he’s awkward.” Expenses: Shopping ($20.82).

7-12-2010 (Monday) Day 12
Julie had to work today, so we made ourselves at home playing badminton and grazing on all the great food spread out on the counter. Sherri and Katie headed out to the Outlet Mall together and ended-up getting lost on the way. It should have only taken them about ten minutes to get there from Julie’s place, but after about a half hour into their trip they had to break-out the GPS in order to figure out where they were. They finally managed to find their way to the mall where Sherri picked up a nice pair of Nike trail running shoes. For lunch, Jeff, Jan, and I all went into town to pick up some Chinese take-out. We brought back a truckload of food for just under $30 that fed all of us at the house with leftovers remaining. When Julie got home from work, she thought it would be fun if we all headed down to Taylor’s Falls together for the afternoon. In agreement, we all piled into a couple of cars and made our way down to the St. Croix River. It was a beautiful afternoon and we all had a great time jumping across the rocky banks and staring into the deep caverns. At the end of the trail we all sat on a rock wall together for a picture next to the water. Just then, we noticed a skateboarder bombing down the hill towards us. We quickly got the impression that he had absolutely no idea where he was going since a dead end was waiting for him around the corner, and he was making no attempt to slow down whatsoever. He abruptly met the barrier at the end of the road and went tumbling through the woods, getting thrashed around by the rocks like a rag doll. Luckily, there was a group of rock climbers who also witnessed the accident and were first aid trained. Within about ten minutes an ambulance was there at the scene with cops and park rangers flooding to the scene to help. It was a very frightening sight to see. That night we played another round of “What Were You Thinking,” followed by “Shenanigans.” The most interesting words to act-out were slaughterhouse and bad breath. Expenses: Shopping ($42). Hiking: (2 miles).

A day at the river with Laura, Jenna, Katie, Sara, and Philip
Mom and Sherri all matching with their Chaco sandals onSherri and I hanging out on the rocks along the St. Croix River gorgeGroup shot of everyone at Wild River State Park
7-13-2010 (Tuesday) Day 13
Today everybody left except for Sherri and I who decided to hangout with Jeff and Julie a couple more days. We first helped knock-out some quick cleaning from the aftermath of the family reunion. Julie and I then went into town to check on her horse, Holiday. Holiday is recovering from a serious leg injury, so we just walked him around the inside arena for a few minutes. Later we all played an official game of Bache ball per Jeff’s request, and then went out for dinner at a local Café. That night we watched “Night At The Museum II.” Random bursts of “ATTACK!” from General Custer were our favorite lines.

7-14-2010 (Wednesday) Day 14
Another laid-back day at Jeff and Julie’s was exactly what the doctor ordered. Julie and I walked Holiday again while Jeff and Sherri watched the movie “Pirate Radio.” Julie and I picked up some pizza and a movie titled “The Road” on the way home. The movie turned out to be a total downer, depicting sort of an apocalypse where a boy and his father attempt to survive in a world destroyed by natural disaster. Coincidentally, a major storm was brewing up over our own heads packing buckets of raining and hurricane winds. After closing-up all the windows in the house, we watched the weather terrorize the backyard. Later that afternoon, we all went outside after the weather had cleared a bit and noticed that the garage door on their barn had caved in due to the fierce winds. Since that there were tornado warnings all over the state, Sherri and I decided it would be wise to hunker down for another night at their place.

7-15-2010 (Thursday) Day 15
Today we said our farewells to Jeff and Julie and headed back to D.L. so we could prepare for our camping trip with my parents, Joe, and Nicole. Mom and Dad took us out for dinner that night and then hit-up the grocery store for some last minute camp food. Joe and Nicole strolled in late that night and then we all hit the sack so we would wake up fresh and ready for our camping adventure together. Expenses: Gas ($36), Dinner ($17).

7-16-2010 (Friday) Day 16
The night before, Nicole somehow convinced Joe and I to tag along with her on a seven-mile run. So at 6am I rolled out of bed thinking- this might not be the best idea. Nicole is planning to run a marathon, and she has committed herself to a very strict training routine. I’m really not sure why Joe and I chose to ignore the little voice inside us screaming, “your bodies are getting too old for this stuff, and tomorrow you’re going to pay for it.” Nonetheless, we had a good time talking along the road as we pounded the pavement with our knees. Upon our return, the delicious smell of sticky buns blasted a fragrant shock wave reaching us from 3 blocks out. This gave us added incentive to book-it down the final leg home for breakfast. Later, we took care of some final packing, picked a few raspberries for the trip, and then caravanned out to Itasca State Park together. After squaring away everything at our campsites, we all piled into Mom and Dad’s car to visit the headwaters of the Mississippi. While we were wading in the water taking pictures, we spotted a bald eagle scanning the shoreline, and it ended-up soaring straight over our heads. As soon as we got back to the campsite, Sherri and I grabbed the bikes for a quick ride down to the lake, which was reflecting golden rays of evening sunlight all around us. After gathering some wood, we got a campfire going and played the card game- “Battle of the Sexes.” The laugh of the night was when Nicole aggressively started answering a question about a movie, and then slowly began to realize that she hadn't even the slightest idea what it was about or who was in it. Expenses: Gas ($43), Food ($10).

Standing on the headwaters of the MississippiBald eagle making its way straight over our headsSherri munching on nature's version of a corn dogGroup shot on the log- Dad missed the memo on blue shirt dayMom and Dad know this place well- one of our family favoritesIt's fun being together with family in MN
7-17-2010 (Saturday) Day 17
Dad already had the hot water going as the rest of us crawled out of our tents all sleepy-eyed. After breakfast, Sherri and I headed down to the sports shack to rent a tandem bicycle. Just as we were about to test ride one, Joe came cruising down to warn us that the radio forecast called for some ugly weather coming our way. Sure enough, within a few hours the storm clouds rolled in with thunder and lightning. Since biking was not really an option for the time being, we all decided to pile in the car again for a trip to the visitor's center to snoop around. After scoping-out a few of the exhibits and looking around in the souvenir shop, the weather cleared just long enough for us to take a walk out to the log cabin on Lake Itasca. We contemplated taking a longer hike around the bend to a different lake, but Nicole’s senses warned us that the rain wasn’t through with us yet. Wouldn’t you know, on our way back the thunder started exploding bombs all around us, so we ran to the Douglas Lodge for cover and sat in the reception hall until the rain let up. We then headed back to the campsite and hunkered down in the screen tent for some lunch and a game of Settlers of Catan. About halfway through the game, the sun came out, so Joe, Nicole, Mom, and Dad decided to go biking. Unfortunately, my knee was really giving me sass from that 7-miler I ran with Joe and Nicole the day before, so I decided to stay back at camp while Sherri headed over to the beach for a sun nap. A few hours later we all reconvened back in the screen tent to finish our game before dinner. After some wine and burgers, we got another campfire going and started round two of the battle of the sexes. Tonight was my turn for embarrassment when I incorrectly answered a question about the tasty treat in ambrosia with a huge roasted marshmallow stuffed in my mouth. Mother was snickering the whole time while we were contemplating because the answer was actually marshmallows. Another classic response that sealed the victory for the ladies was when Mom guessed the right answer for the NBA basketball player known as “The Worm.” She responded, “what about that goofy guy Rodem or something.” A mixed look of disgust and astonishment rolled over Joe’s face as Nicole and Sherri chimed in with "Dennis Rodman!" Dad, Joe, and I knew it was time to throw in the towel after that crushing blow. The only real hick-up that happened on this trip took place that night when Nicole accidentally locked the keys in their car. After racking our brains over how in the heck we were going to find someone at 11pm at night to help us, Nicole spotted a ranger driving right past our campsite. Joe chased him down and told him our situation, and later came back with another ranger to help. After noticing that there were no power locks or windows, the one ranger looked at the other and said “Hmmm…well Bob, this ought to be an interesting one.” After only about 20 minutes they were able to fit a rod in through the window using a blood pressure cuff and manually roll down the back window. We all thanked them and expressed our new-found respect for park rangers. Needless to say, we were all patting our pockets that weekend to make sure our own keys were accounted for at all times.

Dad cooking up some dogs on the grillMom and Dad in front of Douglas LodgeWaiting-out the rain under the porch at Douglas Lodge
7-18-2010 (Sunday) Day 18
This morning Joe and I actually beat Dad up and got started on breakfast for everybody. Sherri thought it would be fun to all rent tandem kayaks and cruise around the lake together. So after we ate our egg and cheese biscuits and sipped on some coffee, we all headed down to the lake for a day of boating. It took a little convincing to get Mom into a kayak, but she eventually warmed-up to the idea and we all had a great time paddling around together. The opposite side of the lake was calm and peaceful as we scanned the shoreline for wildlife and floated through the Lilly pads. However, heading back to the other side again was a different story. The wind was pushing straight against us, and we definitely got our upper body workout for the day as we fought our way back to the docks. We then headed straight for the swimming beach for a dip and to rest in the sun for a while. Joe and I found a great patch of secluded lawn where we chucked the Frisbee at each other for a good half hour. After we got back to camp, Joe, Nicole, Sherri, and I took the bikes out for a spin. We cruised up and down the hills all the way out to Preachers’ Grove where we walked out into an open forest overlooking the lake. After Joe quietly mentioned how peacefully silent it was out there, he yelled “Hello!” as if to wake up the woods a little. It would have been a shame not to end our time in Itasca without driving the scenic loop out to the old fire tower. On our way, Dad took us on one of his famous detours off the beaten path to a secluded lake that was completely calm, with no one else around. The lake perfectly reflected the tree-laden shores and offered a great photo opportunity as we all posed on a dock stretching-out over the water. As we reached the access road to the observation tower, loons were loudly calling back and forth the entire time we were there. It was turning evening and the whole park had a calm, luring air about it as we passed by Mary Lake all bathed in red and orange sunlight. Our final campfire together hosted the simple enjoyment of conversation as we laughed and told stories. I led a typical parade of contagious farting, which I argued was my natural right to freely express myself in nature. Expenses: Kayak Rental ($12).

Started-out the day paddling around the lake on tandem kayaksThe boys cooling down at the swimming beachGetting ready to bike around the trails at ItaskaJoe and I scoping-out Preachers' GroveDad's detour down to a secluded lakeMary Lake was perfectly calm as we drove around the scenic loop
7-19-2010 (Monday) Day 19
We didn’t waste anytime tearing down camp this morning since we all had places to be and real beds to go home to. However, things really slowed down as we leisurely ate breakfast and sat there talking together for a good couple hours. After packing-up the rest of our things, we all headed to Park Rapids for lunch at Pizza Hut, which Mom & Dad insisted on treating us. It was hard to say goodbye, especially when I realized just how much I missed being around my family. I think Wavra camping is going to survive after all, and I’m already looking forward to the next time we can all reunite and share more great memories together. When we got back to the house, we immediately got started on some laundry since Sherri and I had even more traveling and camping in store for us on our way home to Portland. We had a really enjoyable evening just hanging out with Mom and Dad in their beautiful, cozy home that evening. Even though we talk on the phone quite regularly together, there’s something quite special about being in each other’s presence. I will miss that very much.

7-20-2010 (Tuesday) Day 20
Up at 6am in order to make it all the way through South Dakota and on to Mt. Rushmore. I quickly sprayed some Febreze in the truck and before we knew it we were on the road again. We arrived in the Badlands around 3pm in the afternoon, which gave us plenty of time to work our way through the park, taking short hikes and snapping lots of photos. Sherri scouted-out a scenic drive around the outside of the park on a gravel road, revealing some of the most rugged and secluded areas of the park. On our way over the Black Hills we careened down a rollercoaster road with circular switchbacks on wooden bridges through Custer State Park. Our sense of direction was completely obliterated, and we just hoped that the road would spit us out where we were supposed to be by the end of it. While we were high in the mountains, we came to an interesting overlook that offered a perfect sunset scene. As soon as I got out of the car to set up the tripod for a picture, I noticed that the mountains contained the heads of Mt. Rushmore. It surprised us both, and was an amazing first view of the monument. We continued down the curvy road until we eventually reached the entrance to Mt. Rushmore. By this time the presidents’ faces were completely dark, and we asked the traffic control guy if the mountain would be lit-up for evening viewing. He responded as if completely annoyed by our ridiculous question and hurried us along saying “yes…the ceremony begins at 9:15.” So we quickly paid the $10 to park and ran to see what this supposed ceremony was all about. When we arrived at the platform overlooking the darkened statues, a recording was being played on the loudspeakers telling about the history of these presidents and the making of the monument. It was so packed with people that we just sort of filed into the crowd as best as we could. Finally, the drawn-out history lesson concluded and the heads slowly lit-up on the side of the mountain. We hadn’t fully realized how many people were actually there until we heard a roaring applause coming from the front of the platform somewhere. Little to our knowledge, there was an entire coliseum full of people below the deck where we were standing. Immediately following the presentation, a stampede of people started making their way to the parking ramp in order to beat the traffic. Sherri and I wanted to stay awhile longer, so we tracked down a ranger and asked him how late they were open. He told us that the mountain would remain lit for another hour and a half until closing time. We then just watched from the side as the massive wave of elbow shoving chaos plowed past us, and waited for the evacuation to settle down a little. Not more than 10 minutes later, we found ourselves completely alone in the park with a couple of candy rappers slowly drifting to the ground like tumbleweeds along the abandoned walkways. We found a path that led us right down in front of the enormous statues. It was quite romantic as we walked hand-in-hand along the lantern lit path with the cool evening air nudging us closer to each other. It amazed us that no one else sought this kind of solitude, and we decided to label the experience as “Our Time.” We have noticed that evening tends to draw the masses back to their campsites an RV’s for dinner or a campfire, making it the perfect time to watch all the animals come out of the woodwork and observe the sun cast different colors and shadows upon the landscape. “Our Time” never seems to fail us and has become the perfect way to enjoy more time alone together in the National Parks. When we returned from our walk around Mt. Rushmore, we noticed that there was only one other car in the parking ramp besides ours. We then pressed on toward Wind Caves National Park that night and caught a glimpse of the needles scenic drive from a completely different perspective. As we approached the top of the pass where the road tangles through steep rock spires, we noticed that the moon's gentle glow created a perfect silhouette of the distant needles rising up into the sky. Expenses: Gas ($110), Coffee ($3.17). Hiking: (1.5 miles).

Arrived in the Badlands around 3pm all the way from D.L.Sherri climbing around on the rocks along Door TrailTrying to find my way in a rock canyon mazeMini mountain range at the top of Bigfoot PassSherri looking out across the landscape from Pinnacles OverlookRemote scenic drive along sage Creek Rim RoadSunset behind the mountains of Mt. RushmoreViewing the monument at nightThe abandoned walkway leading to the viewing platform
7-21-2010 (Wednesday) Day 21
Wind Caves National Park was already bustling with life as we woke up to a bunch of curious prairie dogs yipping at the site of our truck. We continued on to the visitor’s center where we stood in line to purchase a couple tickets for a guided tour. If it were up to us, we would have much rather found our own way with headlamps and a map, but the cheesy them park exhibit tour was the only way to enter these caves. We thought it was quite ironic when the ranger kept emphasizing the importance of preserving the natural environment while descending into the caves in an elevator, then continuing on a network of cement stairs and metal hand rails, sitting on wooden benches bolted to the floor, and witnessing an electrical system power enough light to support plant life. It all had a similar feel to what the Dharma Initiative did to the secret island in the TV show- Lost. Nonetheless, it was quite interesting to explore the underground maze of rock and boxwork formations. One particular section I found very intriguing was when the ceiling appeared to be a perfectly flat slab of rock sloping downward above us like some kind of continental plate. It continued this way for close to 50 yards until we finally squeezed our way into another corridor. Most people on the tour, including myself had to do a lot of ducking as we navigated our way through the tunnels, but Sherri never once had to duck. Every time we came to a tight squeeze I would watch her to see if she would have to bend down awkwardly like the rest of us, but she just smiled and continued walking as if it was the easiest thing in the world. After the tour we took a quick peak in the 10-inch natural entrance that was blowing refrigerator cool air into the 90-degree heat outside. We then started our trek across Wyoming and noticed that the sky was looking very dark in the direction we needed to go. Soon lightning began to flash and a circular cloud was slowly working its massive center closer to the ground. At this point we thought it would be wise to tune-in a weather report on the radio. Sure enough, a tornado warning was issued for the county we were traveling through, and specifically for the town in which we were now entering. At this point the wind was really starting to howl and the rain was coming sown in buckets as we heard the sirens whining throughout the little town. The radio guy urged any travelers to immediately pull over and find shelter, and that’s exactly what we did. Barely able to see through the crushing rain, we faintly made out a neon sign that flickered Polly’s Bar & Grill. We parked in a puddle alongside the street and ran towards the Pabst Blue Ribbon sign on the side of the building. Once inside we noticed that a construction crew was waiting out the storm in there as well, and the owner yelled out “come on in, it’s tornado happy hour…what’ll ya have?” We both ordered up a beer and sat down in front of the TV to watch the radar showing our area just getting pounded with severe activity. About an hour later the tornado warning was lifted and we continued on our way through the rain and thunder. That night we finally reached Bighorn Pass as the sun was setting on the horizon. The road climbed and climbed to seemingly no end until we finally came to a plateau overlooking the western sky. To our amazement, another storm was brewing in the distance as a thick band of clouds hovered low across the land. It appeared as if we were actually looking down on it since the tops of the clouds took turns bursting with color as the lightning slowly dissipated into the depths. We jumped out of the truck and watched for a long time while elk bugled their calls in the field behind us. It was a total surround sound, 360-degree nature film on steroids. After taking a bunch of pictures and soaking in some last minute blasts of lighting, we continued on down the other side of the mountains until we came upon the town of Cody where we parked for the evening. Expenses: Gas ($46.50), Cave Tour ($18). Hiking: (2 miles).

A park ranger took our photo while we waited for the next cave tourBoxwork formations are the trademark of these cavesSherri feeling the cool air blowing out of the natural entranceTornado system headed our way while driving across WYLooking down at lightning in the clouds from top of Bighorn Pass
7-22-2010 (Thursday) Day 22
We purposefully stopped in Cody so we could shop around in the Sierra Trading Post Store the next morning before driving into Yellowstone National Park. Their most popular selling item just happened to be a one shot canister of bear spray for $50, which had a whole display showing some guy’s face all torn-up from a vicious bear attack. It was hard not to second-guess our decision to opt-out of buying any, but we held to our theory that if we don’t bother the bears, they won’t bother us. Traffic in the park wasn’t so bad until we got hammer stuck behind an endless row of RV rubberneckers taking pictures of every single buffalo along the roadside. There was a string of cars going absolutely nowhere on this tiny 2-way road through the park. Even though there were numerous signs stating “Do Not Block Traffic- Use Pullouts,” people would still get out of their cars in the middle of the road with their hazard lights on. All the while, a thousand car pile up behind them waited helplessly in line. It took us nearly 3.5 hours to get to the first campground, which of course was full. At this point we realized that it was going to be another night of sleeping in the truck somewhere off the side of the road. We were pretty worn-out after all this traffic madness and decided to pull into a picnic area to rest. From here we scoped-out a spot to hike down from a bridge crossing to the Yellowstone River where I took a dip and Sherri laid in the sun for awhile. The great part of all this was that “Our Time” was approaching, and since most the other campers were busy making dinner, setting up tents, and staring campfires, we were left alone on the boardwalks of Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Basin. It was a gorgeous evening walking past all the bubbling geysers and steam vents. The sounds we heard were just as thrilling, as every thermal feature seemed to have its very own language and personality. Expenses: Gas ($19.03), Shopping ($15). Hiking: (2.5 miles).

Anxious to see some wildlife as we enter the parkHerds of buffalo roaming the wild pasturesThis big fella was sitting off the side of the road backing-up trafficSherri taking a little sun nap down by the riverMineral deposits at Mammoth Hot SpringsBeautiful boardwalks led us up and around steep terracesPools of spring water steaming up from the surfaceWe saw this 6-point buck on a hike out to Wraith FallsA growling geyser at Norris BasinThis little hole in the ground shot water at us right as we passed byThe sun going down as we hiked around Norris Geyser BasinEvening let loose some great God cloudsGreat views from Artist Point of Upper Falls and Yellowstone ValleyCouldn't leave Yellowstone without this shot
7-23-2010 (Friday) Day 23
On our way down to Old Faithful geyser in the morning, a construction roadblock held us at bay until 8am. Luckily, there was a small road leading to a network of trails at that very same junction. After a short breakfast picnic in the parking lot we grabbed the cameras and hiked-out toward the steam rising up from the woods. The trail turned-out to be a spectacular place that we for sure would have blown right past if the roadblock hadn’t led us on this little detour. The cool morning air kept us sipping hot coffee and leaning over the steam vents for warmth. Of course, the whole place reeked of sulfur, yet the scenery easily overpowered the smell with beauty. As we rolled into the tourist town of Old Faithful, people were already waiting for the famous geyser to erupt right on schedule. We picked a spot to sit on the southern side, not taking into consideration that we were directly down wind from the mouth of Old Faithful. Wouldn’t you know, as soon as she blew, the wind pushed all that underground water right onto our laps. Luckily, we were able to snap a few shots before covering our cameras to enjoy the warm mist on our faces. Our next and final stop was Grand Teton National Park, which was probably the most breathtaking mountain scenery of our entire trip. It was hard not to be distracted as I drove alongside these steep rocky giants, wanting to study their magnificent features. Sherri led us on a road that ascended up to an overlook designed specifically to take a person’s breath away from the shock of pure panoramic beauty. At the top, we scrambled out to a wonderful little vista for some photos and lunch, when all too soon a host of other visitors discovered our spot and swarmed in around us. Coincidentally, Sherri recognized a girl she used to work with at a camp together. We then headed down to Jenny Lake where we ventured-out on a hike up the Cascade Canyon trail. On our way we spotted an Osprey soaring right above us and then landed in its nest. The trail wound along the lakeshore for a mile or so and then climbed up beside a tumbling river with multiple waterfalls. We thought the trail was quite steep and tough in spots, but that all came to a screeching halt when some dude ran past us with just a pair of wet socks on. Our hiking esteem suddenly plummeted as the difficulty level was reduced to sandals on a beach. We happened to pass an older gentleman who was yelling back for some kids to hurry it up. I asked him if I should crack the whip on them when we see them up ahead, and he replied, “I’ve got so many bleep’n grandkids…I think I should lose a few.” I’m not sure why I got such a good laugh out of that one, but it probably had something to do with the familiar frustration I’ve experienced so many times while attempting to corral a bunch of rowdy kids through the wilderness. Right around the 3 mile mark we decided to turn back out of concern for my injured knee. On our way out of the park we drove up to another scenic overlook to catch a final glimpse of the mountains at sunset. The whole time I was battling the fact that we must now return home to the city and leave the wilderness. I hope we can make it back again soon. Expenses: Gas ($98.30), Shower ($3). Hiking: (9 miles).

Our morning detour led us on this spectacular little gem of a hikeA birds-eye view of Artists PaintpotsSherri soaking-up heat from the lookout deckWe spotted our shadows in the rising steamOld Faithful geyser blasting-off right on scheduleSnagged a shot in front of the Grand Teton National Park SignPanoramic view from the top of Signal Mountain (7593ft.)Grand Teton showing-off some glaciersMount St. John in the backgroundTrying not to get too distracted driving by the amazing sceneryAn Osprey checking-in on its nestSherri just hanging-out in front of Hidden FallsThe end of the line for us on the Cascade Canyon TrailA peek at the mountains from Leigh LakeSunset peering out behind the TetonsTime to wrap it up and head home to Portland
Total Trip Expenses: $761.23
Total Miles Hiked: 43.5 miles