Scouting Outing

November 22, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

So, what makes you want to get up in the morning? This is an important question to ask and answer for one’s self and then make sure you do it as often as you can. The “shoulds” and the “musts” and the “to-do” list so often take priority. I think, at this point in my life, I would be a lot healthier if I had done way more of the things that make me want to get out of bed. But I’ve always been the type to take care of the shoulds and musts and the to-do list, letting them have too much of my precious time. Of course, if one has a job to do – do it in a timely manner, in an attentive way, But, again I say, do the things that bring life into you as often as you can.

So, today, as most days, I want to find a pretty spot outdoors to take photos, preferably where there is water. I just don’t want to go by myself, as it is a chilly overcast day, not the best day to be outdoors. However, Clifford says he’ll go with me. Hooray! So, right after breakfast, off we go.

We are always scouting for possible places to camp, and because of the weather, decide to scout close to home. First we drive up a gulch with the name Lake Road. Now that sounds pretty good, but not too far up, there is an active mine and the road seems to end in their big parking lot. Hmmm……. No lake here for us, so we head back down and find Two-mile

Scouting Outing Nov 041 — South Fork of the Coeur d Alene River

Creek Road, crossing over the South Fork of the Coeur d Alene River just outside of Osburn. We drive up this road. It is kind of pretty here with a very small creek running alongside the road.

Scouting Outing Nov 045 — Two-mile Creek

Once we get to a spot where the road narrows and climbs, we know this is not Pony (pop-up tent trailer) camping country, but it was fun to take a look at it.

Next, we decide to head over Lookout Pass to the Taft area, as we had heard that there are places to camp up that gulch. We have been intending to explore there for months and just never got to it. On the way, we stop at Elmer’s Fountain to take photos of the ice that is beginning to build around the fountains. The water flows down Gold Creek from Gold Lake. Up the mountain from the fountain location is a small water dam and a water flume that skirts the mountainside before a final steep drop to a valve which controls the flow at

Scouting Outing Nov 047 — Elmer’s Fountain (the smaller fountain)

each fountain. The water supply remains unfrozen during the winter because the builder, Elmer Almquist, a miner from Mullen, was smart enough to store the water upstream in a horizontal mine tunnel. The water is reputed to be wonderful tasting. Seems I am there when the water drinking fountain is frozen, but I would love to get some of that water for drinking next spring.

The highway is clear, but it begins to rain as we near the pass. On the Montana side, there are low clouds obscuring the mountains and the rain is heavier. When we reach the Taft exit, we discover that the road is covered with a thin sheet of ice. I take a photo of a

creek that we would have crossed over, but this is as far as we are going today. It seems like a good idea to head back to Wallace before the freezing rain settles down on the interstate.

Scouting Outing Nov 056 — The Road Not Taken

We didn’t find a place to go camping, but an outing with a few photos makes my day. The to-do list remains largely ignored; I am doing only those things that I would do even without the list. Of course, not everyone can do this everyday, but when you can, give it a try. Bring as much joy and meaning into your life now, today, and every day. Life is too precious to waste on getting all of one’s ducks in a tidy row. Let them run wild now and then and see how it feels.

South Fork of the Coeur d Alene River

November 19, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

No, its not a camping trip; its not even an outing, exactly.

Temperature is up to 20 degrees and I need to get out and walk,,, and take photos.

So, I walk the back way to the bridge over the South Fork of the Coeur d Alene River near the Wallace Visitor’s Center and then back along the river to the crossing at 6th Street.

Now 20 degrees on a sunny day is one thing, but 20 degrees on a cloudy day with a breeze and high humidity is something else.

However, I am warmly dressed and I don’t mind the cold.

It is very lovely along the river, seeing what the low teen temps have sculpted.

I am grateful that a river runs through our town.

Scouting: Winter camping on the North Fork of the Coeur d Alene River

November 16, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol Carnicom1 Comment

Saturday November 15: Today is a scouting-for-camping day. We had hoped to take a road trip to Oregon this month, but since that is not happening, we decide to scout around for possible winter Pony (our pop-up) camping closer to home. We drive to Kingston – about 20 miles from Wallace where we live – and then north on the Coeur d Alene River Road, turning northwest on the Little North Fork Road which runs along the North Fork of the Coeur d Alene River.

We know that the Bumble Bee campground is closed, but we had camped in the meadows along the river this summer and have hopes that the meadows are still open. However, they have been closed off, so we continue along the gravel road and find several places where a person can pull off and camp. My favorite is a spot right by the river. Due to the chilly day – temps in the teens – there is still frost on the river banks even at mid-day, which is quite delightful for a photographer, especially along with the gorgeous blue sky that we don’t often see here.

Now, there are some drawbacks to winter camping in northern Idaho. It is already cold, there could be a lot of snow, which would make it hard to get in and out of the area, and it is dark by 5:00 although more than a month until the solstice; afternoons outdoors are very short. So, why bother to go at all given the cold, snow, dark days of winter. It is hard to explain, but there is something REAL about being on the river bank surrounded by trees and sky – no pavement, no power lines, only the sounds of the river and perhaps a few winter birds.

The Pony can be kept warm, there is room to cook and eat, room to read and write, and a comfy bed. Life becomes more basic; I become more in tune with what is truly important in my life and in LIFE.

Canada – the Rosebery Trip – September 2014 – Part 9

November 15, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

Tuesday September 16: I wake up, no longer in Canada, with a headache and the bothersome pounding in my eardrum. Although I seldom do it, I take an aspirin and fortunately feel fine the rest of the day.

I walk down to the shore of the lake and take a few photos. After breakfast we head to Metaline Falls, which I thought was a falls on the Pend Oreille River. Turns out it is a town named after the falls that were covered when a dam was built there. So, for the third time I am rooked out of taking photos of waterfalls on this trip. Oh well. We go to the Visitors’ Center, which is an attractive once-a- boxcar building sitting on a great lawn with trees and flowers all around.

We read about the history of the area, which is quite interesting.

On the way back to the campground, we stop at the Mill Pond Historical Site on Sullivan Creek and look at the kiosks. There are many photos of the area showing the dam that was built on Sullivan Creek, forming a large mill pond and another dam built at the outlet of Sullivan Lake, raising the level of the water by 40 feet.

The spillway below us is quite a dramatic falls, and although not natural, it is the closest I’m getting to a big waterfall to photograph on this trip.

Back at camp, I sit in the shade with Clifford, playing the flute while he reads. As the shadows grow longer, I build a campfire and write in my journal by the warmth of the flames. We make nachos for dinner using the last of the ingredients, and the cooler is almost empty. Good timing, as we will be home tomorrow.

Wednesday September 17: We’ve enjoyed our brief stay here by Sullivan Lake, but pack up after breakfast and head south and then east on I-90, arriving home by late afternoon.

It was a great trip; I am grateful that we had the opportunity to visit Canada, and I look forward to exploring more of that beautiful country next summer.

Canada – the Rosebery Trip – September – Part 8

November 14, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

Sunday September 14: Sitting on a log in the sun rather than at a campfire this morning, I enjoy the beautiful blue sky, sunlight on tree branches, and the promise of a warm day. Read from the Course in Miracles “I see nothing as it is now” – but what am I seeing if I don’t see it as it is now? Unless it means I don’t see the Whole Truth of the river, the blue sky, the tree, and so on. That concept I can understand – who can know the Whole Truth of anything? But the way it is explained does not resonate with me.

We take showers (thank goodness for sunshine) and then head to New Denver. Today I have a red latte – very tasty – with my sandwich. I upload a blog to wordpress and send some emails while Clifford does what he needs to do. After taking care of our internet business, we head down to the park alongside the lake. It sure is pretty here. I am really going to miss Rosebery, Slocan Lake, and New Denver.

Back at camp, I make my last campfire and we begin packing up the things that we won’t need in the morning.

Monday September 15: I get up as the sunshine comes through the trees.

No time for a campfire this morning. Finish packing, make tea for the road, and within a couple of hours, our Pony home becomes a little rectangle to be pulled down the road behind the Blazer. Before we pull out of our spot, I go down to Wilson Creek to say good-bye.

As we travel south on highway 6, we pull into a scenic overlook so I can say good-bye to Slocan Lake.

Good-bye, good-bye. But I’ll be back! Then on to Nelson.

We had heard about Nelson, a town we should visit while in British Columbia. Once we get there, we discover it is very difficult to find parking when traveling with an RV. Eventually we find a spot at the far end of town and walk uphill to the main downtown, which, like other tourist towns, is filled with galleries, gift shops, and cafes. If a person has money to spend, then Nelson would be lots of fun. But I have neither the money nor the need to buy stuff. After a little lunch, we walk the streets looking at all the attractive wares, but I am glad when we head back to the Blazer and hit the road.

We are going home by way of Coville National Forest in eastern Washington and our destination is a small reservoir called Sullivan Lake.

Several campgrounds are shown on the map, but the first two we come to are closed. Luckily, we spot a small 10-site campground not too much further along and since there is only an hour of daylight left, we quickly find a spot and begin setting up, keeping it as simple as possible since we won’t be here long. It may not be Rosebery, BC, but it is a pretty spot surrounded by big old trees and a little lake nearby.

Some health issues have reared up again today: heart palpitations and the sound of my heart beating in my eardrum and a headache (very unusually for me). Obviously something is not as it should be. Going to have to look into this once we get back home. But in the meantime, I am glad when the Pony is set up and we have a moment to walk down to the lake as dusk becomes night. A peaceful close to our journey today.

Canada – the Rosebery Trip – September 2014 – Part 7

November 5, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

Saturday September 13:

Forty-two degrees when I get up and the sun has just risen, casting sunlight through the trees in long skinny patches.

Today, after breakfast, we head to the Galena Trailhead near the path from Rosebery to Slocan Lake. The Galena Trail is the old N & S Railway bed, so it is a mostly level and easy hike. A portion of this trail heads east and then south along Slocan Lake to New Denver, and that is where we will walk today.

After parking at the trailhead parking space, we get our cameras and hiking sticks, and are soon ready to go. We first traverse a cedar forest, rather dark and spooky. As we emerge from the cedar forest, we cross Wilson Creek on an old railroad bridge near its confluence with Slocan Lake. When the view opens up, we can see the lake and what appears to be the remains of a once commercial pier.

Slocan Lake and the railroad were instrumental in the moving of silver, lead, and zinc ore from the mines to freight steamers in the 1890’s. Past the pier, the trail bends to the south and is a straight shot along the lake most of the way to New Denver. A great variety of trees on either side create a canopy over the trail.

In the distance, Clifford on the Galena Trail

Looking west, the lake can be seen in glimpses through the dense trees, while the other side of the trail slopes steeply upward toward the highway, also obscured by trees, where we can hear occasional traffic. Another mile and we find a pathway down to the rocky gravelly beach.

We sit on a sun-bleached log to share a trail bar and admire the view of the lake with the mountains of Valhalla Provincial Park across from us.

It is so pleasant here, we are reluctant to head back, but other activities beckon.

Along the way we stop to watch and try to take photos of a woodpecker that is busily throbbing away on a log not far off the trail. Amazing how fast a woodpecker’s head can move. On we go, stopping occasionally for a few more photos. I am especially enjoying the first colors of autumn.

When we are in the midst of the dark cedar forest, a sound and movement catches my attention. Clifford has already seen the bear cubs, but does not said anything until one of them takes off in the direction we are headed. My inclination is to head straight the other direction to the lake shore, walk along the beach, and take the much more traveled pathway from the lake up to the Galena Trailhead. However, Clifford keeps us steady on the trail and the young bear ahead of us soon gallops back to his sibling deep in the woods.

We are soon at the trail head and I am glad that we don’t have to walk all the way back to camp from here, as I am tired out from this easy two-and-a-half mile hike. It is a concern to me that my endurance has declined so much this past year. Back at camp I take a shower, clean out the coolers, then enjoy a cup of coffee as I write in my journal, moving my chair from one patch of sun to the next as each disappears into tree shadows. Before the last sun-patch goes away, I get out the flute and play for a bit. A campfire extends my time outside and I peel potatoes for dinner by firelight, not wanting to waste any of the heat being generated.

We enjoy mashed potatoes, the last of the broccoli, and kipper snacks (we are getting low on food) for dinner as we listen to old-time pop music on the Canadian radio. What a great day!

Canada – the Rosebery Trip – September 2014 – Part 6

November 3, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

BC-3_G1x 016 — Slocan Lake at New Denver

Thursday September 11: Chilly this morning, 34 degrees, but a gorgeous blue sky. I will need to buy more wood soon, but luckily, the neighbors left some, so I have a great campfire – warmed by the flames on one side and warmed by the sunshine on the other. Read a bit more of the “Course” – the text on fear being a lack of love. I would say my fear of grizzly bears has little to do with whether or not I love them. Take that guy in Alaska – or was in Canada – who loved the grizzlies right up to the moment they ate him. Hmmm….. Perhaps a glossary would be helpful, as my understanding of some words is obviously not the same as the writer of this grand document.

Since we are headed to New Denver again today, I need to wash my hair and decide to do so right by the campfire, as it is too chilly away from it. Clean hair deserves a clean body, so heat more water and have a quick shower (outdoors behind shower curtains). Clean head to toe and off we go to New Denver.

The internet at the sandwich shop gives us a chance to get caught up on business while we enjoy our Rueben sandwiches.

We decide to find a different falls that we see marked on the map: Kane Creek Falls. Kane Creek is not far from New Denver on Highway 31A. The turnoff is not well-marked, but we find it, only to discover after a mile in that it has become an ATV-only road and we will not be driving in to see Kane Creek Falls.

Back at camp we manage to scrounge more wood from vacant campsites for a campfire. Later, when the forest service guy comes around with fresh tubs of wood, I buy one so I will have enough to last until we leave.

Friday September 12: A chilly morning with an overcast sky and a warm bed causes us to sleep in. But it doesn’t really matter, because we don’t have to go anywhere and do anything on any schedule. I start with the campfire and my hot cup of tea. I reread the “Course” on fear trying to get a better understanding of it, but it is still not resonating with me. Play the flute an hour – if I keep it up, I should start sounding pretty good for a beginner. Hike up Wilson Creek a ways, but the trail gets quite rugged and I don’t have my hiking sticks, so head back. After my experience trying to hike to Wilson Falls, I am being a bit more cautious about pushing myself, especially when I am off by myself. I can get more of the photos I am looking for closer to camp, anyway. Autumn colors are starting to show themselves, even in the cedars right around our campsite.

Clifford continues his projects, which on this trip involve his ham radio set-up, as well as studying genetics in connection with his research for CI.

As the afternoon chill comes around, I head inside to tackle some paperwork that I brought with me. After dinner and cleanup, I read a really good article in the Outdoor Photographer magazine on focus. I am always happy to learn something new to improve my skills. Before I know it, the yawns overtake me and I head to bed, while Clifford stays up to continue working on his projects. Another great day in British Columbia!

Canada – the Rosebery Trip – September 2014 – Part 5

November 2, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

Tuesday September 9: Happy Birthday thoughts to my daughter, Ang.

I start the day by taking the scenic route along Wilson Creek to the rest room,

followed by a campground walkabout noting which other sites might be good if we can’t get this one again. Back at camp, I make a campfire and read “Course in Miracles” comparing lesson 7 (I see only the past in this pencil, hand,…) to my current experience of the campfire – its warmth, color, motion, and crackling sound being very much present moment.

Most days I play my flute while looking down on Wilson Creek, but today I play my flute for the forest. Who knows what forest spirits are lurking about and pleased that I honor them with my music. Spend more time along Wilson Creek taking photos, loving its pristine clarity and gorgeous color. Later, by an afternoon campfire, I work on a blog and edit some photos until the battery on the laptop is almost dead. Then another good dinner to finish off the day as we listen to an interesting program on Canadian radio.

A present-moment kind of day.

Wednesday September 10:

I build a campfire, make a cup of coffee, and sit out to read the next section and lesson of “Course in Miracles,” but let the fire die out soon, as we are headed out this morning to New Denver. The sandwich shop is closed today, unfortunately for our plans – no internet for us.

We do a bit of exploring and by time we get back to camp, the afternoon has slid past. I build another campfire and sit out to continue writing and editing, having charged the laptop as we drove about.

A bit of a toothache tonight, but can’t find the mouth tonic. You’d think in such a small home (Pony set up is 7’x 16’) that nothing could get lost. But the opposite is true, actually. With such a small living space, things get tucked away and then are hard to find again. Use coconut oil instead and then off to bed. Tomorrow I can reorganize our space.

Canada – the Rosebery Trip – September 2014 – Part 4

October 29, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

Monday September 8: We are exploring today.

First stop on Highway 6 north is Summit Lake Provincial Park located along the shore of a lovely mountain lake. It is very pretty there, especially those sites that are right on the water’s edge. Maybe this would be a possibility for us next summer. But for right now, we are happy to stay at Rosebery.

Our next stop is a forest service camp a ways off the highway: Box Lake aptly named, as one does feel a bit boxed in there. The road is narrow, the camp is dark, the sites are not very level, and the lake is small. Good for fisherfolk, but not so good for Pony campers like us.

On to Nakusp, which is located along Upper Arrow Lake. It is one of the larger towns in this part of British Columbia, not so much catering to tourists as New Denver, but serving the larger population of the area. We get ice and groceries at a good-size market there.

A lovely Japanese garden runs along the length of the lakeside portion of Nakusp, a testimony to the Japanese people who lived in this region since the early 1900’s, but who were treated poorly during the Second World War. We spend some time there walking through the gardens and along the shore.

On the way back to Rosebery, we decide to take a little detour and head up the forest road on the other side of Wilson Creek to see if we can find Wilson Falls. Arriving at the trail head, we take hiking sticks and light rain gear, as it looks like rain could move in before we return.

BC-1_G1x 045 — Clifford reading the GPS on the trail

The beginning of the trail is level through a lovely dense deciduous forest. Piece of cake. But then, the landscape changes and we begin a steep upward ascent over roots and rocks on the trail through a spruce forest. Not nearly so pretty and much more of a hike.

I am finding myself getting quite winded. Not a good sign, but then downhill and I catch my breath and heart-rate is back to normal until the next steep upward climb. I have been an active hiker most of my life, and especially in my 60’s, but again I am winded and my heart-rate is elevated. The wind comes up and my hair is blowing in my face, as I had not planned to hike today and had not tied it up or back. This is not good. So, even though we can hear the falls and catch glimpses of it through the dense trees, we decide not to take the next downhill section of trail. It only means that much more uphill on the way back. If I could have taken my time, I think I would have been okay, but we are pushing a bit because of the time of day and the gathering clouds. This trail will not be a good one to be on if it gets wet and slippery. I hate to miss seeing and taking photos of the falls, but wisdom prevails and we head back with Clifford carrying my small backpack and one of my cameras. I have to stop often to rest until we reach level ground again. I am very grateful to reach the car in the now steady rain. I don’t feel so great as we drive back to Rosebery, but as the evening carries on, I begin to recover from our adventure and build a campfire to extend my outdoor time for today.

We end the day with a good dinner as we listen to the Canadian radio station which is airing a program about the Beatles. In spite of falling short of Wilson Falls, it has been a good and interesting day here in British Columbia.

Canada – the Rosebery Trip – September 2014 – Part 3

October 28, 2014January 14, 2017 Carol CarnicomLeave a comment

Canada – Part 3

Sunday September 7: Today we go to New Denver, the small town about six miles south of Rosebery. We want to see if we can get cell phone service or internet while we are camped at Rosebery. New Denver is a cool little town right on the shore of Slocan Lake – very pretty and well-kept with lots of shops to cater to tourists, as well as a couple of gas stations and a decent grocery store. We walk through a park along the lake shore and then find a sandwich shop with free Wifi. Clifford takes care of CI business while we eat our excellent Rueben sandwiches as we sit out on the deck.We decide to explore a bit, driving a few miles on down the lake to Silverton. This town was also important in the history of the valley, but does not, at this point, have as much to offer as New Denver. We take a look at the municipal park. It seems that all the small towns we have come across have a municipal park, handy camping for travelers on their way through the area.

Back at camp, I continue editing the blogs and photos of our outing to Trout Creek in August until the battery on my laptop goes dead. We have a solar panel, but it can’t keep up with the demands of our laptops and all the gear that Clifford has plugged in – ham radio, and other stuff.

Clifford showing how high in the tree he has his ham radio antenna. It is way way way up there.

Comments on health and self-care: My health seems to have deteriorated in the last month. Most disconcerting are the heart palpitations and constriction, and shortness of breath, even without exertion, but there are other things going on also. When we first began these longer outings, contemplating even longer times spent traveling and camping, I had the thought “who will I be taking care of, who will I be nurturing?” The immediate return thought was “yourself.” My whole life has been wrapped up in taking care of family, animals, home, students, gardens, houseplants, and so on. But now I need to take the time to nurture myself. I’m sure there will be many levels as to what that really means. This longer trip to Canada will give me a chance to explore what that experience is, as I did briefly at Trout Creek when I just sat looking down at the river – not reading, not writing, not taking photos – just being there. And what about leaving my campfire last night: I stopped just being to fit a schedule. It will take gentle awareness to move beyond automatic “doing” to mindful “doing” to allowing myself to just be without any doing.

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