SPRING FLATHEAD VALLEY HABITAT TRIP 2022
April 23 – May 8
SATURDAY APRIL 23
High Country Lane to Wallace, ID
355 miles
We are off on another Habitat adventure, heading down High Country Lane to head north by 7:20am – an earlier departure than we thought! Ginger takes the wheel for this first freeway portion, delighted that the predicted north winds haven’t quite materialized yet! It is a beautiful morning!
We waited until this morning to actually hitch up the trailer, doing all our packing while it was in the shop. Meant I could have the trailer fridge plugged in all week and I gradually filled it and packed – inbetween a busy week of teaching Crossroads classes, serving at the Senior Center, and babysitting Harper Allen! But...we got it all done and took off early!
Up to Milton Freewater to gas up before entering Washington (and its high prices!) Note to future selves: There is a Sinclair station just past TAJ on the right side that has competitive pricing AND a place to get coffee!
Rick takes over the wheel to drive us up and through the palouse with its hills and windy two-lane roads! But we prefer this drive to taking 395! We are earlier this year and the palouse isn’t quite as green yet, although there are some fields of winter wheat that are 5-6” lush. Others are just poking green shoots up and still others wait for planting… lentils!
A quick stop at the rest stop near Dusty where I quickly cut up an apple and some cheese for a snack. The wind turbines are spinning up on the plateaus – their white spears cutting through the puffy clouds of the sky.
We get gas in Plummer Idaho for $4.11 a gallon – the cheapest we’ve paid since Albuquerque! Then just another 80 miles to Wallace and our RV spot in site #5, backed up to the creek which seems a little noisier than in the past. There is a good flow of water! We arrive around 3pm, and by 4 we are heading into the City Limits Pub next door for dinner! Rick really enjoys the Scottish Ale and his sandwich and fries (a PILE of fries!) I have an Italian chicken salad and split pea/ham soup! And then I break down for a glass of White Zin – it was so reasonably priced! While we ate the pub filled up!
Then a short stroll through town to walk off a little of that dinner! Quiet evening in the trailer.
 |
| Wind turbines and the greening hills of the Palouse. |
SUNDAY APRIL 24 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JED!
Wallace to Lakeside, MT
143 miles
around 9:25am, Rick opting to drive the WHOLE way to Lakeside! Our usual stop in St. Regis to check out the art work, and then on up the back way to the Flathead. I always love the view of the lake as you crest the hill from Hot Springs and drop down to the shoreline. The mountains in the distance are snowy.
We arrive in Lakeside around 1 (we had a time change and lost an hour!) and find we are the LAST of our group to arrive! Quickly set up ‘camp’ and I go around and introduce myself to the others in the group. Tom and Kim are off visiting Kootenai Falls for the day and will be back in time for Happy Hour.
We have time for an hour birthday call conversation with Jed!! He is 37 today!!
Besides Tom and his daughter Kim, who will be with us until Thursday, our team is composed of Al who has driven up from Yuma, but hails from Fairbanks, AK and Teresa and her son Nick from Illinois. For both these rigs, this is just their second build. We have a very talkative meeting!! Nick and Teresa are brand new to RVs and they have MANY questions! Tom will be a great resource for them!
Temp will be in the low 30’s again tonight.
 |
| Mission and Swan Mountains from Lakeside Marina |
 |
| Dropping down toward Flathead Lake |
 |
| Clark Fork near Plains, MT |
MONDAY APRIL 25
A Day of Rest, Shopping, and Somers Cafe
What DID we do today? Not much! We gathered at 9 to take a peek at the build site and then all but Teresa went up to Somers to pay a visit to the cafe. A very congenial breakfast together!
Rick and I headed up to Kalispell to pay a visit to Walmart – we needed to pick up just a few things for the trailer – a new rug and thermometer for outside (I think we lost the last one when I forgot to take it off the awning before leaving a site!) Then we met Tom and Teresa and Nick at Costco – a restocking opportunity! Finally Rick and I went over to Sportsman Ski Haus and he bought some new hiking boots.
And then a restful afternoon! Rick took a nap and I should have as I was falling asleep late afternoon. Ready to go tomorrow to build – sounds like maybe siding or sheetrock or paint!
 |
| The ONLY picture I took today! Group gathers to check out build site before heading to Somers Cafe! |
TUESDAY APRIL 26
Habitat Build Day 1
Rick: Painting; Ginger: Siding
We are hard at work again in Creekside! Fun to see the finished townhouse across the street with Betty and Robert’s cars parked outside. Today we met Chris, who has just been selected as the homeowner of the west blue house. Bob, exec director, and Ellen, the new community engagement coordinator, were there to greet us and ply us with gifts (bottle of wine, huckleberry wine, and an awesome travel mug) And Steve was his usual self – appreciative of the CAVs to the max.
After orientation we are set to work: Chris is working in his house, Rick and Teresa painting stairway (Rick on tall ladder) and ceilings in Hosanna’s house. Nick opts to help Garrett with sidewalk forms, and Tom, Kim, Al, and I head outside to put up more siding on Ricky’s house. Basically Al and I worked all day together with siding 2 ½ walls, while Tom and Kim did part of the board and batten on the gable (as much as possible until the belly band board comes in!)
 |
| Rick way up high in stairwell |
 |
| CAV Nick helps Garrett with porch forms for cement |
The best part of the day? The rain held off for the most part! We got enough sprinkles after lunch to dampen a few things, including US, but not enough to make us stop work! That was a blessing considering the original forecast we had heard for Tuesday!
Happy Hour at 4:30, again in the Rec Room since it was damp and cool! Teresa missed as she was cooking dinner, but the rest of us enjoyed an hour and half of conversation and laughter.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 27
Habitat Day 2
Rick and Ginger: Siding
A huge crew on the job today as the regular locals show up! We see familiar faces and a few new ones. One blessing to join the Habitat team is Chuck, a retired dry waller who is donated his services to do the finish mudding on all future homes. We have been meeting in his first efforts and the guy is skilled beyond measure!
Rick and I are teamed up with Randy, another retired teacher who lives in Lakeside. Randy is well over 6’ tall and his height comes in handy! We are slated to finish the siding on the back of Randy’s house. By day’s end? We have it done!! Considerable fussiness under the porch as we had to cut around windows, doors, faucets, and the porch beams.
Other teams finished siding gables, the board and battens, prepping for cement work, painting, etc. Chris’ house is ready for flooring!
Everyone gathers again for Happy Hour in the rec room.
 |
| Back of house all finished with siding |
 |
| Another crew was working on the front |
 |
| Rick works out one of the more complicated cuts |
THURSDAY APRIL 28
Habitat Day 3
Rick and Ginger: Flooring
Up and at ‘em today with a very small crew. Tom is taking Kim to the airport this morning and will join us around noon. Teresa and Chris continue to paint in the middle house, now painting room colors (nothing quite as bright as Chris’s house!). Nick opts to work by himself and continue laying foundation footers for the back porch at Ricky’s, and Al, Rick and I are sent to Chris’s house to lay vinyl flooring.
So...today we learn a new skill! We lay the vinyl flooring panels. Garrett gives us a tutorial and then stops by occasionally to answer questions and lend his expertise! An initial learning curve, but Rick and Al get a technique developed and I just keep them supplied with panels and a clean floor! Basically I vacuumed the entirety of a 1200 sq ft home (with Al’s help) 1 sq inch at a time! We couldn’t find any attachment for the shop vac other than the 1” opening at the end of the hose! A challenge!
Happy Hour together and then a quiet evening in the trailer.
 |
| Al takes a turn at vacuuming the cement pad |
 |
| Our day's accomplishment |
 |
| Rick and Al work to snap all the panels together. |
FRIDAY APRIL 29
Habitat Day 4
Rick: Flooring; Ginger: Priming and Exterior Caulking
Another day with the locals in attendance – some of the same, others different! Plus Angela, homeowner, plus Chris and Ame, homeowners, are working. Sheetrock is starting in Angela and Ricky’s home, flooring continuing in Chris’s, and rooms are getting the final coat of paint in Hosanna’s. A bustle of activity!
I start out to caulk and then realize there is still a lot of bare wood showing on eaves and ends of fascia. The same things I primed on Hosanna’s house last fall, only that was off scaffolding on the upper storey. Checked with Garrett, and YES, we need to prime. So the rest of the day I primed a little, then caulked a lot – mostly working on the front of the house and under the front porch.
Rick and Al made good flooring progress, joined by Tom which helped more than I had the day before! Tom finished the main bathroom and Rick and Al were halfway through the kitchen at day’s end. Mostly closets and storage rooms left.
We had a couple of showers during the afternoon – some only lasting 2-3 minutes, others up to 10 minutes. One afternoon shower included some corn snow bits. But then the sun would shine again!
Happy Hour included pictures of the barge fire in the Inland Passage Al has been talking about, a map for Teresa to think her return trip, and glass etching names on the mugs I made for Al, Nick, and Teresa. (Plus leftovers pizza from lunch!)
More showers in the evening, but I took a short walk also in the sunshine. Such fickle weather!
 |
| View from up on the scaffolding while priming. Townhouse across the street is the one we have worked on and got finished in December. |
 |
| I asked Teresa to come out and take my one picture for the build! |
 |
| Al and Rick discuss the flooring. |
 |
| Tom works laying floor in the bathroom. |
 |
| Evening picture from the marina |
SATURDAY APRIL 30
Habitat Day 5
Rick: Flooring; Ginger: Priming and Caulking
A smaller crew again today as Bill was the only ‘local’ to show up on behalf of Chris and Ame. Chris was also still there, painting away! And...Ame brought us lunch today – a wonderful taco soup and cornbread muffins. So...Teresa went back to painting with Chris while Al, Rick, and Tom FINISHED the flooring in Chris’ house! Nick worked solo on sheetrock in Ricky’s home. Bill caulked ALL day!
I started to caulk and then realized just how much still needed to be primed in terms of raw wood exposed on fascia, etc. It took me until 11 to get all that priming done. Lots of upper work for me today off ladders and scaffolding – my neck and upper back were TIRED by days’ end. Move ladder – caulk or paint – move ladder. A few times I called Garrett over to just reach a spot I wasn’t tall enough for! Just before lunch I moved to caulk – we STILL aren’t quite done!
Weather held for us again – a few light sprinkles but nothing more!
Folks are kinda going their own way for the weekend. Nick and Teresa hope to drive up to Glacier as far as McDonald Lake. Al’s daughter MIGHT drive over from Helena. Tom is kicking back, as are Rick and I. A trip to wander the shops of Whitefish is as motivated as we are!
No happy hours until next Tuesday! Rick and I drive back down the half mile to Mother Chorizo’s food truck and pick up burritos for dinner. I only eat half of mine – another meal ready!
Time to start reading the Debbie Macomber book I picked up in the rec room!
 |
| Early morning pix showing progress from yesterday |
 |
| Al works to rip a piece of flooring |
 |
| Rick rips flooring |
SUNDAY MAY 1
Relaxation and Whitefish!
Now this was a wonderfully lazy morning! Was in bed for over 9 hours and spent the morning on computer (a little) and reading the final 300 pages of my Macomber book. I couldn’t put it down! Rick even took a morning nap!
We changed plans and decided to do laundry tomorrow and go to Whitefish today (and Walmart since its enroute!) Wander MainStreet for about two hours poking in our favorite shops – didn’t blow as much $$ this time – buying only a towel for our kitchen and some fuzzy winter slipper socks at half price! The quilt patterns I like were only available in full kits (over a hundred dollars!) :(
Stopped at Walmart enroute back to Lakeside and picked up a few groceries. Thought about trying out the new Italian restaurant in Lakeside, but it didn’t open until 5 and we were hungry NOW! (Besides, menu was pretty pricey!)
Didn’t see Tom all day. Al took Teresa and Nick on a jaunt up to Glacier NP (as far as you can go now – Apgar and McDonald Lake.
Makeshift dinner and lots of down time!
I didn't take ANY pictures today!!
MONDAY May 2
Laundry and JoAnn’s
You gotta love two day’s of rest! We have sunshine today! We leave around 9:15 heading north to find some breakfast and then do laundry at Rocky Mountain Hi RV (they have BIG washers and dryers for reasonable prices!) We were going to hit a little restaurant on Rt 2, but instead stop at the Somers Cafe again
The place is busy! But we find a table, order, and then wait nearly 50 minutes before our breakfast arrived. We did find out that Justin, one of the Kalispell Habitat homeowners that Rick roofed with 4 years ago, still works as a cook at the cafe – but Mondays and Tuesdays are his days off! Bummer! So Rick ordered the Justin Scramble – it has a little heat to it!
On up the back way to Rocky Mt, where Rick stays to tend to the laundry while I take the truck on down the road to JoAnn’s for a little shopping! I spend an hour an just over $50 – back to find Rick just finishing up folding. We are back in the campground in Lakeside by 1:30ish.
We take a short walk down to Volunteer Park along the lake and enjoy the views, stopping at the little library enroute home. They have signs advertising a book sale – make a donation! I pick up three books for $3!
Tom and Al have gone down to Polson for the day and a round of golf. But not before Al put a pork roast in the crock pot and invited everyone down to dinner! So at 4:30 we walked down to Al’s, bringing a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine. GOOD roast and time visiting around the meal.
 |
| Pano of the lake and mountains |
 |
| View of the mountains from Volunteer Park |
 |
| Happy Hour meal at Al's place |
TUESDAY MAY 3
Habitat Build Day 6
Rick and Ginger: Sheetrocking with Nick
Today is forecast for rain in the morning, but it turns out to be the most delightfully warm sunshiney day we have had so far! A few sprinkles after we returned to the park and before Happy Hour, but otherwise….beautiful!
We are joined today by Kendra, one of the new homeowners up in Columbia Falls who has taken three days off from work this week to finish up her hours so she can move into her new home!! Her dad came over from central Montana to help her for the day...nice! The resumed the caulking job!
Rick, Nick, and I went to Ricky’s house to continue the ceiling sheetrocking – not the most fun of jobs, but it needs to be done! The 12’ long panels are heavy and 5/8” thick – harder to cut and break, and definitely heavier to lift into place! The upside? We do have a lift!!
But first we have to do some framing work to add some supports in a section of hallway. That took over an hour! Then a few funky openings to cut out, but by lunch we had the hallway done!
 |
| Our finished ceiling after adding framing, then sheetrock |
Al and Tom were down in Chris’ house installing doors, while Teresa continued painting in the middle home. Steve T was here for the initial morning meeting, then off to staff meetings. We are invited to his place on Friday night!
By day’s end we had another bedroom done, plus part of a bathroom. Garrett came in and helped out which really was nice.
Back to the park and happy hour at 4:30 outside Al’s RV in the sunshine! Felt good! I cut up one of the juiciest pineapples ever tonight. Yummy.
Another big crew expected for tomorrow with all the local regulars.
 |
| Rick lays out one of the penetrations in the ceiling panel. |
 |
| Tom and Al work on installing doors. |
 |
| Putting up the sheetrock ceiling |
 |
| Nick installs sheetrock |
WEDNESDAY MAY 4
Habitat Build Day 7
Rick and Ginger: Sheetrocking with Nick
Another day of sheetrock – ceilings again! Plus I think someone counted 18 workers on site today, which made it a little chaotic at times! Three people caulking, 2 installing doors, 1 putting up shelving in closets, 2 painting, 3 working on forms for cement patios, and 7 of us in the house sheetrocking! Too many in the house!
It was a bit of a frustrating day for our team. We had the sheetrock ‘expert’ on hand, but he was mostly helping the local team in the main room hang big panels. We appreciated Garrett’s help in our utility closet and bathroom. We had a lot of miscuts, and even had to take down one panel which meant unscrewing by hand a lot of screws! But…. Most of the ceiling is done, and the other crew set to work on walls. We decided to ‘opt out’ for the last hour and not get involved in that when there were too many working inside. Rick and Nick went around 1:30 to start cleaning out the middle house as the flooring has been delivered. I went into the tool trailers and marked tools with HfH, and then put labels on parts of the paint and caulk areas which Garrett had been wanting.
We had Happy Hour inside again, altho when we all went back outside it was a BEAUTIFUL EVENING!!
 |
| Al looks like he is in jail as he installs doors! |
 |
| Teresa breaks from painting to help with the caulk |
 |
| Finally got a picture of part of Rick's kitchen flooring success in Chris' house. |
THURSDAY MAY 5 (CINCO DE MAYO!)
Habitat Build Day 8
Rick and Ginger: Flooring!
A much quieter day today with just our crew, and homeowners Chris and Kendra on the job! Rick and I are to begin the flooring in the middle home, Tom and Al still hanging doors, Teresa still painting, and Nick gets an outside job – moving dirt to prep the backyard of Chris’ house for sod! He puts in an intense day!
Rick and I must start by using a cement leveling compound to smooth out two transitions over stem walls. We put on one coat in the morning, and another before we leave for the day. In the meantime, we install about 6 boxes of floor panels – different from what Rick did in the first house last week. These must be pounded tight on one end after sliding them together. A slightly thicker waterproof engineered flooring than what we installed last week. But it goes a little faster also!
Got news this afternoon that the new hire, Ellen as community engagement director, has resigned. So disappointing – she was an awesome hire. Maybe they’ll be able to work something out.
We stop at Stageline Pizza enroute home to pick up a menu for tomorrow night at Steve’s. Then quick showers and we take off for Tamarack Brewery to make sure we get a table for the group. Eventually all arrive and we enjoy a great meal together. Rick and I share a HALF order of Nachos – HUGE serving sizes at the Tamarack. We get there in time for Happy Hour prices overall for everyone’s beers. (Nachos were perfect for a Cinco de Mayo celebration!)
A light rain shower falls just after we get back to the trailer for the evening.
 |
| Nick shovels ALOT of dirt today! |
 |
| Tom and Al finish the main doors...on to the bifolds tomorrow! |
 |
| Rick puts a second coat of leveling on the threshold to one of the closets. |
 |
| Our flooring progress today. |
 |
| Fun time at Tamarack Brewery! |
FRIDAY MAY 6
Lakeside Habitat Build Day 9
Rick: Flooring; Ginger: Papering Floors, Flooring
Things are winding down! We are getting tired! But another good turnout from the locals today and crews are working on landscaping, shelving, trimwork on doors and frames, sheetrocking, and flooring. Rick and I are split up for Rick to team with Brian, one of the newer local volunteers, to continue work on the floor in the middle house. They make a good team and make good progress.
I team up with Aimee, homeowner with Chris, and a local Cher to lay paper down in Aimee’s house to cover the floor and keep it from getting scratched up during the rest of construction. So...about 3 hours crawling around on my knees with scissors and tape. But….Aimee was delightful to work with and it is always fun to get to know the homeowners.
 |
| Aimee stands in her home as we finish papering the floor. |
 |
| The threshold after we poured the leveling compound on it. |
We cleaned up around 2:30 today and said our goodbyes to the locals that won’t be back tomorrow. Showers and cleaned up for our evening at Steve’s up in Somers.
We picked up three pizzas (two would have been enough as Ellen and boyfriend plus Garrett’s wife didn’t make it). The rain showers parted long enough for a little firepit time after eating inside. Steve is still working on improvements – kitchen remodel coming next.
A very enjoyable time talking past builds, telling stories. Garrett leaves tomorrow before lunch for a week’s vacation in Mississippi (his home state). Steve and Lisa will be traveling to Italy to tour with Dawson for a couple weeks before she comes home from her year abroad. Plus they expect their first grandchild – a girl – early in June. Exciting times ahead!
Back to campground to etch a mug for Garrett and then see a beautiful rainbow (no picture :( over the lake.
 |
| Rick spends a few quality moments with Ollie |
 |
| Tom enjoying the fire |
 |
| It was cool, but Al still had on his flip flops! |
 |
| Teresa and Nick |
SATURDAY MAY 7
Lakeside Habitat Build Day 10
Rick: Flooring; Ginger: Flooring and Caulking
Our last day on the build site!! A smaller crew today, but we are delighted to see Hosanna, owner of the middle home. Robert, homeowner of the townhouse across the street is also present, as well as Chris and Kendra. New to us is Luke, a new local volunteer who is also an architect. After Steve shares a few words, I present Garrett with his mug, and then read the Tie Dying Habitat poem I wrote up in Columbia Falls – a more ‘normal’ CAV start to the day. We even do our hand circle and chant, “Habitat is not a hand out, but a hand up!”
Rick, Hosanna, Teresa, and I return to her house to work on flooring. Tom and Al continue installing door frame molding, and everyone else is sheetrocking!
I work with Teresa and we finish the flooring in a bedroom – mostly completed. We take the time to paper the floor when we are done, but not before Hosanna gets in to take a picture! Then we get as much done in the bathroom as possible. I did find the foam portion of some old kneepads in the tool trailer, and duct taped them to my legs for the day. MUCH better! Rick and Hosanna work together in the other bedroom and finish the day in the tiny storage area under the stairwell – a challenge!
Lunch is provided by Buffalo Terrace, assisted living – HUGE sandwiches, chips, and fruit.
After lunch Teresa and I moved down to Chris’ house and she spackled nailholes while I caulked the door frames. I only got 3 frames completely done before it was time to close up for the day.
During lunch which Lauralee brought down to us on her day off [no volunteer coordinator right now :(] she also gave me a card thanking the CAVs which included a gift card to Tamarack for $100!! It said to enjoy our Happy Hour! So….after we quit for the day, we went back to the brewery. Unfortunately Nick couldn’t locate his ID, and he and Teresa never made it. Tom, Rick, Al and I each had a drink and shared an appetizer, but we still have a huge amount left to use in September!
Back to clean and close up front end of trailer, hitch up, disconnect sewer and water, and essentially be ready to leave in the morning! Showers and some goodbyes – all during off and on rain showers.
It has been a good build. Steve gathered the group of us together before we left and expressed his thanks once again, reminding us of what all got accomplished while we were there: considering painting, flooring, sheetrocking, siding, caulking, concrete form work, landscaping prep.
 |
| Luke, architect volunteer |
 |
| Rick and Hosanna's accomplishments for the day! |
SUNDAY MAY 8 – MOTHER’S DAY
Lakeside to High Country Lane, Baker City
523 miles
The Palouse is GREEN – some of the wheat 6-10 inches in height. Other areas haven’t been planted yet or will be fallow this year. Steptoe Butte was green amid some puffy clouds.
As we dropped down into Baker Valley, we couldn’t see the Elkhorn for the veil of backlit clouds over the range. It was eerie almost. We hit the rain briefly near Wingville Crossing. Home just before 4pm Pacific Time. Always seems a little shorter drive when you gain an hour! We had the trailer empty by 5, which was a good thing because the snow started falling at 5:30 and didn’t let up. A strong north wind blowing a very wet sleety snow sideways.
Good Mother’s Day call with the boys early in the evening and then we are both in bed by 9pm!
 |
| Windmills of the Palouse |
 |
| Steptoe Butte |
 |
| Welcome home! |
