ROSS CREEK CEDARS Summer 2013

What a wonderful time we had at Ross Creek Cedars.  Just 36 miles from us here at the dam.  We enjoyed our walk through the woods.  It made me think of Muir Woods.

LIBBY DAM, Libby, Montana

We have been enjoying our summer here in Libby.  I've posted some photos of the dam with the spill ways open.  The Lake was SO full....just 15" from what is considered full 2472 ft.

We arrived at our 2013 Summer home....Libby, Montana

Our home at Libbby Dam, Libby, Montana

 

                                                               Libby Dam

We arrived at our summer location May 13, 2013.  We will be the Day Use Hosts for Souse Gulch.  Dale takes care of opening and closing the gates and making sure everything is clean.  I work in the Libby Dam Visitor Center 3 half days a week.  It's a very nice place.  The weather's been great.  40's at night and 70's during the day....sometimes in the 80's.  It's been interesting watching the water rise.  One of our first excursions was to Kootenai Falls between Libby and Troy. AWESOME.

                                          Me standing in front of Kootenai Falls

This is what I've always pictured Montana would look like.

Here's the Kootenai River with the Cabinet Mountains in the background.

Trapped in REDDING, CA May 2013

We left St Helena, CA Thursday, May 2nd, heading to Montana.  The plan was to stop in Redding for a few days, then on to Vancouver, then on to Libby, MT.  About 10 miles south of Redding the EGR value on our truck died and white smoke came pouring out the back of our truck.  At first Dale thought one of our back tires or brakes had caught on fire.  He was headed to the trailer to get a fire extinguisher when he saw that it was the exhaust out the tail pipe and not a fire.  The truck seemed to be running OK.  We drove very slowly to the next exit (about 1 mile).  There happened to be an RV park there so we dropped out trailer.  It was about 3pm so we called the Ford Dealership in Redding and then drove up there to have them take a look.  Well it was no good news.  All the coolant had been blown out the tailpipe when the EGR valve failed.  The truck was not driveable so we had to get a rental.  They dismantled the engine on Friday and found that we had 2 blown head gaskets.  This would be covered under warranty so we had to wait for the adjuster to come take a look.  All in all the repairs cost $7100 and took 9 days to repair.  We did manage to go see the things we had originally planned on.  Like Lassen National Volcanic Park, Whiskeytown-Shasta National Park and Shasta State Park.  I've attached photos of those.  All 3 places were beautiful.  Once we left Redding we had to make a mad dash up to Montana since we were suppose to start working there on May 11, which was actually the day we left Redding. 

 Whiskeytown National Park

Shasta State Park

DUFUR, OREGON 2013

On our way to Montana from California we had the opportunity to stop at Dufur, OR....founded by some great-great cousin of Dale.  Dufur is a gorgeous farming community just 13 miles from the Columbia River. We were only able to spend the night there but it made our trip. 

BALE GRISTMILL, Calistoga, CA 2013

What a great find.  This mill is AWESOME.  I'm so glad that a group of people from Napa County  stepped forward to keep this mill open.  It was one of the 70 State Parks that California decided to close.  We are open Saturday and Sundays and an occassional Tuesday when we have school tours.
On the weekend the miller actually gives a tour of the mill and gives milling demonstrations.  We sell 7 different products that are milled here.  Polenta, Cornmeal and Buckwheat, Spelt, Rye, Bread and Pastry Flours. I usally make something out of one of the products for visitors to sample and they seem to enjoy that.  I made Hot Water Cornbread for the first time.  Just cornmeal and boiling water mixed together and fry into little pancakes.....YUMMEEEEE.  The woodburning cookstove works great.  I haven't mastered the oven yet...but I'm a wiz at stove top cooking.  Dale is really enjoying
his time as the Miller's Dusty (assistant)

                                                           Mill Creek - creekbed

                                             Burnt out tree along the path to Old Bale Mill   Redwood Tree at Mill Creek

OUR HOME at Bothe State Park 2013

When we moved into our space, here at Bothe State Park's employee campground it was damp and cold.  Now that Spring has arrived things are warming up and the trees are sprouting.  It's lovely.