KALISPELL
QUICK TRIP
May
1 – May 4
WEDNESDAY
May 1
High
Country Lane to 340 Cloud Creek, Somers, MT
528
miles
HAPPY
MAY DAY! We waken to an inch of snow on the ground in Baker City,
which confirmed our decision to take the truck rather than the
snow-avoidance
Prius for this quick trip up and
back. We are on the road shortly
after 6am, surrounded by the beauty of fresh snow with temps hovering
right around the freezing mark. Should warm up and melt soon!
Rick
drives up and over the passes, through Tri-Cities and on to
Ritzville. We opted to take freeway the whole way, hoping for a
faster and quicker drive. At least it’s easier without the trailer
as we can use the cruise control! We hit some snow up on Meacham,
but the interstate itself was clear – snowplows clearing the berms
as we passed. But the skies were clearing and we found clear blue
skies as we descended down Cabbage Hill toward Pendleton!
Traffic
not bad through Tri-Cities as we take 395 north through some pretty
barren and stark landscapes this time of year. In places fields were
greening up. Stopped in Ritzville just to coffee up and bathroom up
AND to switch drivers. I was feeling good as I had ALMOST finished
the fronts to two Josephs in Needlepoint while Rick drove!
I
took us from Ritzville clear across the rest of Washington, through
Idaho, and down to St. Regis, MT. But… in the middle of that, we
had nearly an hour long break in Post Falls, ID. First difficulty
getting our credit cards to work in the gas terminal (Banner Bank
finally worked) and then a VERY slow process at the Subway to grab a
couple of discount footlong subs for lunch and dinner. The poor guy
was short-handed and out of many items because they were SLOW in
defrosting from last night’s shipment!
No
problem going over Lookout Pass at 4700’. There was snow at the
side of the road, but since we weren’t pulling the trailer I was
able to say NEW HIGHWAY because we have never been able to drive it
the whole way in the left hand lane!! We said hello to Wallace and
sorry – no stop this trip in your quaint little town. We did
pause...momentarily...at the exit to Thompson Pass as we had hoped to
take that alternate route this trip, especially with no trailer. But
the weather wasn’t exactly cooperating.
Rick
drives us from St. Regis up the familiar road through Plains, Hot
Springs, and down to Dayton and Elmo. Even with the time change we
arrive at the VRBO Tiny House around 4:45 pm. Find it easily and we
quite relieved when we found an email earlier that explained how to
get in...(not locked) and where the key was to lock while in use.
Our
little baby blue cabin is small (bigger than the trailer!), but well
stocked with most everything we might need, including a puzzle,
books, and about 20 DVDs of movies. The bathroom is TINY – The
sink hides behind the door which barely clears the toilet. However,
the shower is roomy and beautifully tiled with a river rock base. A
queen bed, a small table and two folding chairs, a medium sized mini
fridge, sink, microwave and electric fry pan. Basic utensils and
dishes, including coffee maker and hot water pot. There is a ladder
up to the loft which has two twin beds. The room was cold when we
arrived, even though the heater was already running. The
accommodations will suffice quite well.
We
unpack, get settled, and call Tom up at the campground where they are
having Happy Hour. We decided we had driven enough today and didn’t
need to add another 45 minutes of drive time on to our day! So we
called to check in, discover that Gayle was there as well as Clint
and Kathy, Gary and Karen Neighbors, Tom and Al, plus a new couple.
A full team!
We
eat the second half of our footlong subs and in general spend a
relaxing evening on computer, doing puzzles, reading, etc. And early
to bed!!
THURSDAY
May 2
Somers
Build Site Work
285
School Addition Road 9 mi RT
ReStore
RV Park 22 mi RT
It’s
a cold, damp, and sometimes outright rainy day, at the build site!
We gather around 7:45 and give hugs all ‘round to friends we
haven’t seen in awhile. The new couple (she didn’t work today –
fighting cancer and it wasn’t a ‘good’ day) are long time
friends of Gary and Karen Neighbors: Chet and Jeannie. I had a good
visit with Chet during lunch as he worked at McClellan Air Force base
for 20 years!
Most
everyone was outside working on siding the 3bdrm house. The trailer
that will house the new bathroom/showerhouse at the campground is
parked in between the houses. Rick and I were to help Tom, Al, and
Steve Maneras on it. I helped with door trim and siding outside,
while Rick worked with Maneras to install ceiling panels inside.
They eventually started working on the walls as well.
Garrett
spoke for awhile on Land Trust involvement with Habitat and how that
is working to obtain land for development. Pretty interesting. Al
had me read his devotion this morning which was fun (he said it was
because his glasses are too old to read clearly!)
I
took a number of pictures during my breaks of everyone. Will get a
few more tomorrow and send them out to everyone!
Around
4:15 we head up to the ReStore campground and Happy Hour/dinner with
our friends. Al has cooked up pots of ham & bean soup and
cornbread. I brought my choc zuke scones, others brought hors d'oeuvres and salads. We started outside, but quickly moved indoors when
the sun went behind the clouds.
Two
hours of fine food, good conversation, and sharing. Chet's wife Jeannie
was able to join us so we got to meet her.
Back
to the tiny for the evening.
FRIDAY
May 3
Somers
Build – Campground Dedication/Retirement Party for Steve
31
miles both trips
What a full crowd this morning
that assembled on the build site. There were 12 of us associated
with the CAVs (Tom now has both kids with him) and about 10 local
volunteers plus Steve, Garrett, and Isabelle, the Americorp trainee.
This was OFFICIALLY Steve’s last day on the job! For real this
time. He spoke a little at the beginning and then we got to work!
So much activity – siding
going up all over on one house while crews were trimming out the
corners and windows on the second in prep for siding. Chuck was
instructing the two trainees in drywall, Rick and Steve Maneras still
working on the inside of the showerhouse that Al, Tom, Adam, and I
were working to side the outside, Before lunch, Garrett brought out
some caulk guns and asked if we could caulk as we go. Well, that
ended up Ginger caulking for the rest of the day!! Parts of the
shower trailer weren’t level which drove Tom and Adam crazy, but
eventually we have three of the four sides done! Whew!
PS. The caulk was the stickiest
I have ever used and I made a mess of my gloves and hands.
Ultimately, I threw my gloves away!! Time to replace them anyway –
they had served for nearly 4 years.
We head back to tiny house to
shower and get cleaned up and then up to the ReStore by 3:40 for the
PARTY!! Food first – some burgers, dogs, and cookies. I threw my
biscotti out to add to the mix. Plus plenty of wine, beer, and
sodas.
A few tears shed on my part as
Steve speaks after introductory comments by MaryBeth and the board
chair. I was sitting next to Lisa his wife and she kept comforting
me! A typical moving Steve speech.
Then it is Rick’s turn to talk
about Katy B and the bench being dedicated to her. He did a great
job, and was followed by Tom who talked about the CAVs and why we do
what we do. That led into Tom inviting his kids up to join him by
the bench in memory of Diane. Diane’s bench had been finished
(made by local volunteer Anthony from WhiteFish). We had the plaque
for Katy which Anthony took with him to get her bench done, Tom,
Adam, and Kimberly all had difficulty getting through the tribute to
Diane, but it was beautiful. And then Tom talked about the bench
also being made for Genia. The plaque isn’t done yet because they
wanted Steve and the kids to write what went on it.
Then MaryBeth began to wrap
things up by talking about what we will call this campground….And
Garrett and ? Brought out the new sign...The Steve Tartaglino CAV RV
Park. Steve did NOT expect this – he knew about the bench for
Genia.
We then had a retirement cake
for Steve as well! A VERY NICE CELEBRATION!!
Rick and I stuck around until 7
visiting with folks. Most except for Hilary and the CAVs and
MaryBeth had left by then. We said our goodbyes with hugs. Home
tomorrow!! We stopped at the gas station near the ReStore and
gassed up the truck at $3.51 a gallon! Yay!!
Worth driving 1000 miles in four
days and working hard? You bet! I think it meant a lot to Steve for
us to be here, plus we got to see many good friends – boths CAVs
and locals!
SATURDAY
May 4
Cloud
Creek Tiny House to High Country Lane
via
Thompson Pass!
523
miles
We are up between 5:30 and 5:40
to do final packup and hit the road by 6:10. Quick stop in
Lakeside
to grab coffees and then head south. A beautiful morning as we watch
the sun silhouette the Swan Mts.
Somewhere in the middle of the
Hot Springs valley, we decide the weather is good, we got an early
start, and we might as well give Thompson Pass a ride! (No St. Regis
gift shop this trip – ah well! But I get to mark off new highway
in the atlas!)
So, instead of heading left
(east) on Hwy 200 toward St. Regis, we turn right! Another quick
bathroom stop and coffee in Plains, then up to Thompson Falls and the
turn on to Rt 731 to go over the pass. This route is NOT maintained
for winter travel, but other than a few snow drifts in the shade at
the side of the road near the top, we didn’t see any white stuff
except high on peaks above!
A forested route that on the
east side is very gradual until the last 2-3 miles. The west side is
a little steeper for a longer distance. A few rough road sections
near Murray, but overall good running road. For the most part we saw
VERY FEW other vehicles until near Pritchard as we neared I-90.
Rick drove us into Post Falls
where we gassed up on the last of cheap gas ($3.74) I took the wheel
then to drive most of the way through Washington – I90 to US 395.
Down in Kennewick we stopped at a DQ to switch drivers and grab a
treat/drink. Home by 2:01 Pacific Time!! We made the trip in under
9 hours with a few stops! Cruise control sure makes a difference and
we don’t usually use it pulling the trailer! Plus the fewer gas stops helped!
Spring is a beautiful time to
make the drive. Balsam root beginning to blossom, lupine fields near
Spokane, and every shade of green trees and fields imaginable!
TOTAL MILES: 1113 miles
VOLUNTEER HOURS: 13 X 2 =26
hours
