Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Scenic drives near Boise, ID

Our primary reason for spending a week in the Boise area was to visit square dance friends from Yuma, Jim and Myra Kemper.  Although Myra was already a dancer at the time, she and Jim were in our beginner Mainstream class several years ago, and we’ve become good friends.

Actually, the first order of the week was square dancing.  On Wednesday night, we danced with their club, the Capitol Squares.2010-08-18 - ID, Boise - Meridian - Square Dancing w Capitol Squares, Jim & Myra Kemper 1001We were surprised to learn that another couple we dance with in Yuma, George and Leola Neumayer, are also Boise summer residents.2010-08-18 - ID, Boise - Meridian - Square Dancing w Capitol Squares, Jim & Myra Kemper 1011

It was a very enjoyable evening.  2010-08-18 - ID, Boise - Meridian - Square Dancing w Capitol Squares, Jim & Myra Kemper 1018

Jim and Myra treated us to some great scenic drives.  The first was a loop through the nearby mountains, and was actually parts of 3 designated Idaho scenic drives.

First stop on the drive was the dam over the Boise river just at the edge of the city.2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1003Several kite surfers were enjoying the gorgeous weather.2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1008

We ate lunch in Idaho City, once a booming gold mining community.  The restaurant, Trudy’s Kitchen, was filled with enough antiques to be an antique shop.2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1011

2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1012The pies were unbelievable, both in size and taste!

2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 10172010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1016

Continuing on the drive, we ascended rapidly into pine forests.

2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1022The size of some of the Ponderosa pines are amazing.  This photo is not an optical illusion from the angle taken; the trees really are this tall!2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1024  From high in the mountains, the view is fantastic. 2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1027 As we continued our drive, it wound alongside the South Fork of the Payette River.  The river flow, placid at first, gained in intensity.  We stopped to watch some rafters negotiate the first of increasing difficult rapids.2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1047

2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1051Our last stop of the day was at Rainbow Bridge, on the North Fork of the Payette.  Myra says this is one of the most photographed sites in Idaho.  We could certainly see why; the scene is beautiful.2010-08-19 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Tour with Jim and Myra 1074b

Jim entertained us on his organ one evening before dinner, playing many of the old standard tunes.2010-08-20 - ID, Meridian - Jim Kemper at Organ (3)Later in the week,  they took us on a drive to a nearby ski resort.    2010-08-22 - ID, Meridian-Boise - Scenic Mountain Drive 1024 

From high up the mountain, you can see miles down into Boise and far beyond.2010-08-22 - ID, Meridian-Boise - Scenic Mountain Drive 1031 

Monday, we spent with Donna and Glenn, their last day on the trip with us. On Tuesday,they left to head back to Texas.  We decided to stay in Boise one more day to do some shopping and have a last visit with Jim and Myra.  They drove us south this time, past the community of Kuna to the dam on the Snake River. 2010-08-24 - ID, Boise-Meridian - Scenic Drive - Snake River Dam 1001 It was a good week.20100824c

scenic drives

 

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I would have loved to take some early morning photos of those pines. Very pretty!