Week 258 - NorthEast Oregon to Northern Idaho - 07-24-2011

Joseph, Oregon to Blanchard, Idaho

This week we said goodbye to Joseph, Oregon and ended up in Blanchard, Idaho where our neighbors Ben and Sid spend the summer.

1) Before leaving Joseph, we took a trip to the Hell's Canyon Overlook. Google Idaho Hell's Canyon and you will see photos of a rugged canyon and the meandering Snake River. We thought we would see the same. The overlook just showed a big canyon but it is a nice ride to get there. 2) Many viewers think we take all our photos out of the front window of the Mothership. But this picture of the Imnaha River shows you that isn't true.

The bronze eagle adorns our final view as we left Joseph.

About forty miles north of Joseph on Oregon Route 3 is Joseph Canyon. This overlook is at the apex of mountains before you head down to the Oregon / Washington border and the Grande Ronde River.

We love to take the mountain roads in the Mothership. Some we take only once. From the photo on the left, this would look like a "take only once road". But, it is a great road to take slow and enjoy the views. And even with several 15 mph hairpin turns, you don't have to hog the entire road. At the bottom of the road is the Grand Ronde River and then you climb up on Washington Route 129 to get to Clarkston WA / Lewiston, ID.

All good photographers know that shadows appropriately placed really enhance your photos. So sunrise and sunset are the best time to get great contrasts.

Ellen beautifully framed the Highway 12 bridge between Clarkston Washington and Lewiston, Idaho at sunrise.

A few miles upstream on the Snake River in Hell's Canyon are class III and IV rapids; great for exhilarating raft trips.

But here at the bridge the water is smooth and reflects the morning sun.

There is a slight bit of turbulence at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers.

And Pete enjoyed the peace as well.

The river is so smooth that even the boat is reflected.

1) We have had our share of amazing stories on our big adventure and this is another one. Picture below is Pete with his great friend and basketball mentor Greg and Greg's boys, Dawson and Garrison. Greg lives in North Carolina and we have wanted to visit in 2010 but we had to get new renters and we were home for summer 2010. This summer we wanted to go East and visit Greg but fuel, fires, tornadoes, floods and drought seemed to tell us no. So, our next chance might be in 2012. Pete was Greg's assistant basketball coach when Greg's daughter Brett was in high school. Brett lives in Idaho and we thought she was in Moscow, just 30 miles north of Lewiston. We wanted to visit Brett so we emailed Greg to get her address. But sadly, Brett lives in Boise and we had already passed her by. But, on our second day in Clarkston, Greg and his boys were flying into Lewiston for a vacation. Wow! We were only 4 miles from the airport. So we picked up Greg and drove him to Moscow and enjoyed a heart warming visit. God is good!

2) This cool but unrelated statue is somewhere between Moscow, ID and Spokane, WA.

This awesome sunset was taken from the Spokane Elks Lodge. Pete was awake for this shot.

1) Our final destination for the week was the Stoneridge Golf and RV Resort in Blanchard, Idaho. 2) The view from an office doesn't get any better than this. We enjoyed breaking bread, playing cards and pickleball with Ben and Sid. We miss you guys!

Next week it is off to Montana and Wyoming. Yeeha!

Love, Pete and Ellen

Photos from Jul 2011