Idaho: More Than Just Yummy Potatoes, Part I

Sorry about the 4 posts this week,

but I just figured out that at the rate I've been posting,

I will still be talking about my trip in mid September

(not that this would necessarily make me unhappy...)

 

And then yesterday,

 I saw what appeared to be the first color changes in the local leaves--

(and you know I LOVE autumn color) so...

I am definitely going to have to speed up my rate of posting --

for awhile at least-- 

so I'll be ready to post all those 'autumn in the Pacific NW' posts as they occur

:)

 

Besides, I am eager to get to beautiful Bear Lake!

 

 

Over the Snake River

(a lot easier crossing today than our forefathers had)...

 

 

 and you'll find yourself in Idaho!!

 

 

A place very connected to the Oregon Trail...

(don't you just love the angle of this photo? LOL. My son was in a BIG hurry...)

 

 

Looks interesting! Someday we'll have to slow down and take a

better look at all the Oregon Trail places...

 Just to let you know, I have included a link to a state site on the Oregon Trail in Idaho--
see the links below should you be interested.
 

 

What a difference a little irrigation makes!

 

 

I don't think I've ever stopped here and this is a VERY important place for us

Oregon Trail history lovers:)

 

 

Idaho has lots and lots of untamed, wild topography...

these photos were taken on I-84 but I've been to other areas that are off of this highway that are also noteworthy:

Sun Valley--where I recall resting on a picnic table because
someone told me there were snakes in the area.
Silly me!

Twin Falls--
famous for its beautiful Perrine bridge over the VERY deep Snake River Canyon,
the falls in the area (which unfortunately I still haven't seen) and more.

Lenore--
north of the Boise area (near Lewiston) where I was,
for awhile,
a bit infamous for 'causing' snow--
a LOT of snow--
one Thanksgiving.
LOL:)

OK, enough of my memories...
 

Next:

Idaho, Part II and then on to beautiful Utah!

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Links:

For a transcription of the Snake River sign and more photos of this area and others

(for those, who like me, can't get enough history)

http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=23195
Twin Falls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perrine_Bridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_River_Canyon_(Idaho)
Oregon Trail (in Idaho)
http://idahoptv.org/outdoors/shows/pathwaysofpioneers/index.cfm
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/id/publications.Par.50091.File.dat/OCTAbooklet.pdf 

Lime: It Isn't Just A Fruit

Past Baker City and those wonderful Blue Mountains you enter a very different world.

After awhile you pass by this...

 

 

A long time ago my memory is that there was a pipe or something that ran above the highway,

but it isn't there anymore.

This place fascinates me...

it just begs me to come and explore it.

But there are many reasons I won't give in to its 'siren' call...

 

 

My reluctance has something (OK a lot) to do with rattlesnakes,

possible loose asbestos (ick) and other dangers in the area.

Nevertheless, I DO like taking photos of this former cement plant in Lime

from the safety of my car:)
Another reason I LOVE zoom lenses!

 

 

Question of the day:

What is the purpose of these 'fences'?

We saw them all over on our trip...

I only ask because it has been the topic of discussion in our family for about a week now

(and I want to be right about my guess--LOL)

 

 

The Snake River...

 

 

Rather stark, but interesting landscape prior to making the descent into Ontario and then Idaho.

 

 

This looks interesting also.

Wonder where this side road goes to?

So much I want to know...

so many tasks that keep me from researching the answers to the

 hundreds of questions I keep adding to on a daily basis:)

 

By the way, at some times of the year this area is desolate but green.

I know, I've seen it that way.

It is quite beautiful then and somewhere, some place I probably have the photos to prove it.

 

 

Farewell beloved Oregon...

hello Idaho!

 

Moving closer with each mile to my beloved Utah mountains, canyons and ASPEN trees!

 

Next: Idaho--It's more than just potatoes:)

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Links:

Lime

(amazing post with photos on the abandoned cement plant and area)

http://archive.lyza.com/2009/09/29/weekend-abandoned-cement-plant-in-lime-oregon/index.html

 

 

 

The Beautiful Blues and Beyond

Now the payoff begins for braving Cabbage Hill...

 

 

Behold the beautiful Blue Mountains...

I could see myself living here.

It is one of my most favorite areas in Oregon!

Love, love, love these mountains.

 

Wonder if the pioneers appreciated their beauty as much as I do?

Perhaps they were too busy worrying about the hardships involved in making their way down and through them.

By the way, does anyone know the name of the reddish plant growth seen in this photo?

So love this kind of countryside...

could also see myself living in Sisters, the Wallowa Valley or perhaps near Baker City.
There's just something magical and very peaceful about those places.

 



Beautiful mountains...

a ski area is nearby at Anthony Lakes:)

 



 

 

On the way back we'll take a closer look at some of my favorite places...
at this point my son was determined to make good time and
 I was eager to see my beloved Wasatch Mountains before the day ended.

 

Next: Lime and beyond

Blessings,

Aimee



Headed Southeast: Towards the Blue Mountains

We've left the Columbia River now

and have made a turn towards the southeast

and Pendleton

(famous for lovely woolen blankets

and the Pendleton Roundup that takes place each September)

 

 

Surprise!

This is a HUGE poplar tree farm on I 84.

Seems a lot bigger then when I passed it some 7 years ago...

it is definitely not something you would expect to see here.

 

Sorry about the blurry photo but I have a fondness for art wherever I see it

 and this was the only shot I could get.

Besides I adore horses--even metal ones:)

 

The Blues straight ahead...but to reach the top you have to ascend the HILL--

Cabbage Hill that is.

Believe me when I say driving up or down this hill is a very memorable experience :)

 

 

Up we go--

be prepared for hairpin turns and a 'lovely' 6% grade...

and did I say some great views of the valley below?

 

Upward and onward...

I would not want to be driving a semi up this hill.

To be quite honest, I would not want to drive anything up this hill---

fortunately I wasn't driving and my wonderful son kindly stayed in the 'innermost' lane.

Did I mention I had already had one anxiety attack on this trip so far?

Argh.

Fortunately the trip up was not a problem and I was OK.

 

And up some more...

aren't you glad you're NOT a pioneer in a wagon?

 

See? I told you there were some great views

(despite the haziness)

 

Next: The beautiful Blue Mountains and beyond.

 

Blessings,

Aimee

Notes/Links:
One should never write posts at 0300 so please excuse any grammatical errors.
I think I am ready for bed now.
Night!
ODOT info on Cabbage Hill
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/MCT/docs/EmigrantHill.pdf
(I will be posting photos of the descent on our return trip soon.)

 

Eastward Bound: Columbia River Gorge, Part II

As I have mentioned the terrain in the eastern portion of the Gorge

 is much drier then in the western part.

 

 

We saw lots of wind turbines in this area...

I know there's some controversy associated with them, but I really enjoy seeing them.

 

 

Several bridges cross the Columbia along the Gorge--
at Cascade Locks, Hood River, The Dalles
and here at Biggs Junction.

 

Not far from the other side of this bridge you can find a replica of
Stonehenge and the Maryhill Museum.
And continuing up Highway 97 would bring you to

central Washington State and the Yakima Valley, Cashmere
 (home of the Applets + Cotlets Candy Factory),
Leavenworth, Lake Chelan and on into the interior of Canada.

We did this trip many years ago...

 

 

Always the river...

wonder what my forefathers thought of this area.

The drive seems long even today in a car,

but with wagons and on foot--

I can't even imagine.

Glad we were making the trip in an air conditioned car.

I guess I am pretty spoiled:)

 

One thing I would love to share with my ancestors is to see the river as it was then--

when the Celilio Falls still roared and the Cascade rapids were still wild.

I've seen photos and film footage...

but they only left me wanting to see the real thing.

Alas, that was before my time :(

 

Look! More wind turbines...

so LOVE my zoom lens:)

 

 

Besides history, I find geology interesting.

Perhaps because one of my ancestors worked in mines?

 

Yea! We made it...

past the Cascades,

past several bridges,

past some agricultural areas,

past lots of wind turbines on the ridges,

canyons,

waterfalls,

three dams,

towns and cities.

Now it's time to leave the river and move on

and

UP

into the Blue Mountains

and NE Oregon

(one of my favorite places).

Are you ready?

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Links:

Columbia River Gorge

(more info about the geology, history, etc. of the area)

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_River_Gorge

 Stonehenge + Maryhill

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryhill_Stonehenge

Celilio Falls and the tribes

http://www.critfc.org/salmon-culture/tribal-salmon-culture/celilo-falls/

 

Eastward Bound: Columbia River Gorge, Part I

It was truly a last minute decision that found Aimee,

Aimee's youngest son

and the Small One

headed eastward one warm summer morning.

Destination:

Utah!

Want to come along?

 

 

Taken in the beautiful lush western portion of the Columbia River Gorge--

an area my pioneer forefathers would have been quite familiar with as they traveled the so-called 'river route' (albeit westward) to their new home in Oregon.

 

 

Lots and lots to look at in this area:

trees, mountains, waterfalls, great rock formations

and always the river,

 with its windsurfers, sailboats, barges and more!

It truly is the one of the most beautiful places in Oregon and Washington.

 

 

As you travel westward, the terrain becomes increasingly drier.

 

 

The trees change too and become the type you would expect in a drier, more desert like terrain that you find east of the Cascade Mountains.

 

 

I probably should mention you pass by some towns on this route:

Cascade Locks

(home to the sternwheeler Columbia Gorge that you can travel on from May to October)

Hood River

(very famous for windsurfing and orchards),

The Dalles

(near where the once beautiful Celilio Falls was...

before it disappeared forever under the waters impounded by one of the three dams we would pass)

and some other small communities like Mosier (yummy apricots to be found here) and Biggs.

 

 

Overall though it's pretty desolate...

but, in its own quiet way, interesting.

 

 

More later...

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Links of Interest:

Cascade Locks Info (sternwheeler and more)

http://portofcascadelocks.org/marine-park/sternwheeler-columbia-gorge/

Columbia River Gorge Visitor Info

http://www.crgva.org/

Hood River Tourist Info

http://hoodriver.org/

 

 

Random Photos + Note to Visitors

Life is crazy.

 

 

Life is good.

 

Life sometimes is crazier then at others.

 

Life is really crazy right now.

 

And to keep it good...

 

I am taking a blog break. 

 

 

See you in awhile:)

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Before I bid a temporary adieu though,

 I want to take a moment to  thank each and everyone of you

(except the s*am*ers) for your presence here--

whether one time or more. 

A big thank you too for those who have left comments--

it's fun to share in your lives!

Hope you're all enjoying this summer

or this winter (as the case may be).

Have a great day

or night:)

~

Photos:

Agricultural area near Highway 6 

(can't get enough of the abundant patterns in fields these days)

Tillamook Forest Center

(always a favorite)

Paraglider near Tillamook

(so fun to watch!)

Willamette Valley-Champoeg State Park

(historic area on the Willamette River with overnight camping)

 

A Walk In the Forest

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,

Your consolations delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19 NASB
 ~
June was not a good month for us;
in fact it began with some very difficult news.
Quickly we realized life had changed--perhaps permanently.
Hard decisions needed to be made and
anxiety levels increased along with the uncertainty.

The future wasn't quite as secure as we had once thought and had been planning for.
Of course, there are always things one cannot control...
that's life.

But we weren't left to walk this 'new' path alone and everything wasn't bad.
In fact our life was filled with many blessings during this time
(the kind money can't buy).

Blessings like the verse above,
 which I 'happened' to hear shortly before we received the news.
 I am convinced it was God preparing me.
The 'me', who can easily let fear take over when I dwell on the negative and the unknown,
 was given something positive and tangible to dwell (meditate/reflect) on instead.

Of course, God brought other good and wonderful blessings along our path during this time too --

Blessings such as this gorgeous butterfly we found
who found us along a mountain river
It reminds me of my grandma who used to collect butterflies years and years ago.
Isn't he beautiful?
 

Blessings such as these pretty flowers too.

Love the pink:)

 Blessings which nourished my soul and reminded me of God's love and His power.

Yep, we were definitely not without blessings!

 

 

Small One was with us when we experienced some of these blessings.

Small One is a BIG blessing in our lives!

 

She was with us when we were privileged to see this butterfly dancing on the wind
(yep same butterfly--but this time in flight).

 

 

And she was with us when we enjoyed the blessing of woodland flowers too--

the mountains were full of their beauty!

 

I want Small One to always have a love for nature

and the One who fills our lives with blessing after blessing.

I also want her to understand that in the hard times,

 as well as the good,

God is only a prayer away

and that His love never fails us.

He is just waiting for us to ask,

honestly and humbly ask,

Him to show us the right path to take.

 

 

 

I want all my kids and grandkids to know this.

That is one of the reasons why this blog exists--

in a way, it's my letter to them as well as a journal of my walks on the mountainside of life.

 

As for us we'll be fine.

In time this challenge will end and the sun will come out again.

 

Life is like that--

filled with ups and downs;

difficult times often end up being blessings in disguise.

I've seen this happen;

I know it to be true.

 

Blessings always,

Aimee
 ~
Update:
The challenge is over now.
Life has changed,
but not as drastically as it could have.
God has provided and we are OK.
AND -- we are still counting our blessings:)

 

Notes:

Photos taken in the Tillamook State Forest.

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,

Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."