tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29907633602226698872024-03-23T03:16:42.795-07:00Travels with Starbaby by Mickie AmundsonTravels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-27678606550876277342023-08-25T13:50:00.000-07:002023-08-25T13:50:40.183-07:00Home<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZqhoqrNKOZzdxZiREcfKfAD5ESjdE0X5CcGOns8ui5KGTxhtByjdkPnw6Fh8egz1W_eLuKaIA7ed7nzNqrW_LHEd3NxtcxExRK1ZU0WPQw-XwWw6cpsDgC5e1jroT_BZjxu_w1q_yM5AOVEfr5H3egrY1ju7ggEcEouD-nxE1lFT2lBLoFvsxwzXLV0/s4032/IMG_0991.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZqhoqrNKOZzdxZiREcfKfAD5ESjdE0X5CcGOns8ui5KGTxhtByjdkPnw6Fh8egz1W_eLuKaIA7ed7nzNqrW_LHEd3NxtcxExRK1ZU0WPQw-XwWw6cpsDgC5e1jroT_BZjxu_w1q_yM5AOVEfr5H3egrY1ju7ggEcEouD-nxE1lFT2lBLoFvsxwzXLV0/s320/IMG_0991.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Leaving Custer, our mission was to get home as efficiently as possible but we did take time to pause in Mitchell, South Dakota to see the world’s only Corn Palace. The Corn Palace was built over 100 years ago to prove to the world South Dakota had an agricultural presence worth taking note of. The Palace is decorated with naturally colored corn and other grains and natural grasses. A different theme is chosen every year. The mural designs are created by local University students and are truly a-maizeing!<p></p><p>From South Dakota, we put in some long driving days through Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky, thankful for shady campsites and our camper’s hard working air conditioner. The Tennessee welcome center was a welcome sight after traveling 14,700 miles through 19 states, for 7 and 1/2 months. We’ve loved the adventure but “what a long strange trip it has been.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw2ahBu5CA_YdbadkEYERijwIVvWHNbOHHnHAB8Ce9SM4H9UBpguNKNaPJELaFC9dd4JJj-kopmYCBikaAG-cyRFjcagvMJR8Xwat65yoeAhW4zAwTchuFvZ9uXY9rOTEasCFJKM9ihoFqLp2xP-KcvU_efhoLEzyz5pFenzOgQZegzvu-TfT7teS0f8/s4032/IMG_0986.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw2ahBu5CA_YdbadkEYERijwIVvWHNbOHHnHAB8Ce9SM4H9UBpguNKNaPJELaFC9dd4JJj-kopmYCBikaAG-cyRFjcagvMJR8Xwat65yoeAhW4zAwTchuFvZ9uXY9rOTEasCFJKM9ihoFqLp2xP-KcvU_efhoLEzyz5pFenzOgQZegzvu-TfT7teS0f8/s320/IMG_0986.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4nwEtMGRphydZ0tIGaBYNR6QyOytkhmCKE1BjjBWVN7EW6XmD1t4_IDFWRrTaq3z-WOlvaZJO6pjl1tItG7V-EVm-34X-6bGaYPRDqgp9g-7FJCftHyZ2p6nIakE6QGI8jNXCGnRGLOLrBk_KsCOwzcaoHkShbccIeK4yfTV7L_0VPj2w-cNAD4ea7k/s4032/IMG_0996.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4nwEtMGRphydZ0tIGaBYNR6QyOytkhmCKE1BjjBWVN7EW6XmD1t4_IDFWRrTaq3z-WOlvaZJO6pjl1tItG7V-EVm-34X-6bGaYPRDqgp9g-7FJCftHyZ2p6nIakE6QGI8jNXCGnRGLOLrBk_KsCOwzcaoHkShbccIeK4yfTV7L_0VPj2w-cNAD4ea7k/s320/IMG_0996.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-34708050242546396462023-08-19T11:05:00.000-07:002023-08-19T11:05:15.758-07:00Where the Wild Things Are<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHJk9ANh8mXuwCCtzjlwT-Hg5O-as2m4I096wQdUGeUY4v1dB66w2MaZow3A0UgAGrCjO9_wTRbS7x7b44_0SJnLESLaMGnzg_RM8okywBhpTOJ2s36grsdS1pFTxnIJybCJ9juoGZo-CP-GfSMM3nZxrCXxRaKC-eQzlsX3zlwTMmBW9BIhFIjclrj4/s4032/IMG_0946.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHJk9ANh8mXuwCCtzjlwT-Hg5O-as2m4I096wQdUGeUY4v1dB66w2MaZow3A0UgAGrCjO9_wTRbS7x7b44_0SJnLESLaMGnzg_RM8okywBhpTOJ2s36grsdS1pFTxnIJybCJ9juoGZo-CP-GfSMM3nZxrCXxRaKC-eQzlsX3zlwTMmBW9BIhFIjclrj4/s320/IMG_0946.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>Home is calling but we had to stop for the week at Custer State Park in South Dakota. We visited this area eight years ago and put it on our list of epic places we want to revisit. When we were here before, we stayed in the northern part of the park with close access to Mount Rushmore and Sylvan Lake. Our goal this visit was to go where the wild things are, so we opted for Game Lodge Campground. Staying in this area almost guarantees you’ll see bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep. In fact, the female bighorn might show up for a picnic at your campground shelter. We’ve loved this last opportunity to drive, bike and hike among wildlife at the state park and adjoining Wind Cave National Park.<p></p><p>The true push for home begins tomorrow. We’ll be racing to stay ahead of the looming heat dome in the Midwest. I’m not very confident it’s a race we’re going to win.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSdcgBUtHMIzwyrfxVM_SyAWGMxDYnirztyd6mY6tmTCtVNFVJXegh94qRBhiBS0q1qN-8YfN6K7g-rO_MFhggvkHCxzTHJX0syc-WDCodZvd4m_4jbEU86W87IV3m9amckQ0xY6xWSFdd6rCjaD_HBJ0WPGQv1STwTC7ay9fnHJeHnJ8w_iGW2kPYYU/s4032/IMG_0971.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSdcgBUtHMIzwyrfxVM_SyAWGMxDYnirztyd6mY6tmTCtVNFVJXegh94qRBhiBS0q1qN-8YfN6K7g-rO_MFhggvkHCxzTHJX0syc-WDCodZvd4m_4jbEU86W87IV3m9amckQ0xY6xWSFdd6rCjaD_HBJ0WPGQv1STwTC7ay9fnHJeHnJ8w_iGW2kPYYU/s320/IMG_0971.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHxxHhXO6f8wS2CkPPt-zuzGSa2zLSGQkjtrazLDNlNw8ZL22TOuNFq4qq4a8z9z_Pwa9ZV7fSRdJHkL6dl54QLHWUzrAFLekVFJUIPrlMVZIHk5etf6k7Wa2tmgZO5mGo5ch1ocRVqlXg7l24Ytb-LDN8erkmm9wiUA6C-GvOsjbdM-5kR8KAQN9ki0/s4032/IMG_0958.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHxxHhXO6f8wS2CkPPt-zuzGSa2zLSGQkjtrazLDNlNw8ZL22TOuNFq4qq4a8z9z_Pwa9ZV7fSRdJHkL6dl54QLHWUzrAFLekVFJUIPrlMVZIHk5etf6k7Wa2tmgZO5mGo5ch1ocRVqlXg7l24Ytb-LDN8erkmm9wiUA6C-GvOsjbdM-5kR8KAQN9ki0/s320/IMG_0958.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimb77bO0e8wnktOrQnia8JytyebhqFvcuWULn8oL2C-LsNniEtWMq18Iewc_-kNV3kEh5UJh4BwfcsdS7I_WPeIWK64if-7jT3hOcx0lmcS1bdv8bDP5L3dxL1rP5dC-pKQMKpfifJSnOfaOB0d7K7dxnTQva45tKI1RvVevFcHwrjwqiNLUZV5jogrY/s4032/IMG_0982.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimb77bO0e8wnktOrQnia8JytyebhqFvcuWULn8oL2C-LsNniEtWMq18Iewc_-kNV3kEh5UJh4BwfcsdS7I_WPeIWK64if-7jT3hOcx0lmcS1bdv8bDP5L3dxL1rP5dC-pKQMKpfifJSnOfaOB0d7K7dxnTQva45tKI1RvVevFcHwrjwqiNLUZV5jogrY/s320/IMG_0982.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDS7IqHADzXPugmQQay3HQlVi3Lmb5kJlLLxzksjW7E-si9vLUecVsI71NWP6J2rJat69QjvUM2TMZLYlevV3xVXwvT2vDEUxZraPZ4asRcjKjAN61Ooziwk-pKPna1cpSBHAe7bH89sh156poEKaBGmtu7v8DlAwDGP4N7xh6aDCtVZ32t5wPXUIvd3Y/s4032/IMG_0940.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDS7IqHADzXPugmQQay3HQlVi3Lmb5kJlLLxzksjW7E-si9vLUecVsI71NWP6J2rJat69QjvUM2TMZLYlevV3xVXwvT2vDEUxZraPZ4asRcjKjAN61Ooziwk-pKPna1cpSBHAe7bH89sh156poEKaBGmtu7v8DlAwDGP4N7xh6aDCtVZ32t5wPXUIvd3Y/s320/IMG_0940.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-24407460081265657112023-08-15T17:34:00.000-07:002023-08-15T17:34:33.160-07:00Fast Things<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiov8bvgn3KWGYjIJ1xfjDODsdCD_Fn_5GxkGvlnb6nEL4huN-TwzBcBm_cTZFI_Nyz5BVPra45xX-eTM8CmGwsYGgZxx4f5eN3c504Y-qG-WLDW1up7ZfcA9TqHsCcIWNvbDf2FFbYVQlbWDWpCy9ujjXhSjcWYFIU2CZyTbSw07K636AvWwBCL2IsI3Y/s4032/IMG_0887.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiov8bvgn3KWGYjIJ1xfjDODsdCD_Fn_5GxkGvlnb6nEL4huN-TwzBcBm_cTZFI_Nyz5BVPra45xX-eTM8CmGwsYGgZxx4f5eN3c504Y-qG-WLDW1up7ZfcA9TqHsCcIWNvbDf2FFbYVQlbWDWpCy9ujjXhSjcWYFIU2CZyTbSw07K636AvWwBCL2IsI3Y/s320/IMG_0887.HEIC" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>We said goodbye to Yellowstone and began our trek across the Cowboy State. We stopped in Cody for a few nights, at Buffalo Bill State Park, then made our way to Casper, passing vast expanses of sagebrush-grassland. At first glance, you might conclude the passing landscape is a wasteland but then you notice the pronghorn. Pronghorn are one of North America’s most impressive mammals. They have the longest land migration in the continental US and are also the fastest land animal in North America. They are the second fastest land mammal in the world! (Cheetahs are the fastest) Pronghorn can run 60 mph and are found only in America.<p></p><p>Another noteworthy sighting, as we traveled through the sagebrush-grassland….lots and lots of motorcycles. I think most were connected to the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis. I’m not as interested in motorcycles as I am pronghorn but I have to admit I was enamored with the Indian Motorcycle we saw at a rest area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gb8pUd1PiMwvNfcWe9WgnccF6TqG1j6tnv98lH2c8M_BYG5Amjc59zDX58yYyRc2UMjZ_QDrhsdyBix2n3q-434DhJxS5LZGja5HRw9ZCJQRhCo08KmkdBJ3JfxXq0SOzIIV6wsHimi1Fy_vz6HydKMIai3kVUJP1dzdO_PA6uIFdwId0-o1BJBI-wo/s1408/IMG_0937.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gb8pUd1PiMwvNfcWe9WgnccF6TqG1j6tnv98lH2c8M_BYG5Amjc59zDX58yYyRc2UMjZ_QDrhsdyBix2n3q-434DhJxS5LZGja5HRw9ZCJQRhCo08KmkdBJ3JfxXq0SOzIIV6wsHimi1Fy_vz6HydKMIai3kVUJP1dzdO_PA6uIFdwId0-o1BJBI-wo/s320/IMG_0937.PNG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxMYzRo1UltYZvYSPgSuZb0vouSIqbW27rApfBAn9q61oJrWdEkMhZAqPoki_USXgGUSJYK6H58JJyPacBBK6EBFQG69vGN6xGJSxb1OdK413StplH4IkxwI69ZKEbhEL3lQQExRUZjyOuP7qKIz1KybxO22qLNaHSu6KgrmDEL-blN8FJnjPGCT2Rzg/s4032/IMG_0920.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxMYzRo1UltYZvYSPgSuZb0vouSIqbW27rApfBAn9q61oJrWdEkMhZAqPoki_USXgGUSJYK6H58JJyPacBBK6EBFQG69vGN6xGJSxb1OdK413StplH4IkxwI69ZKEbhEL3lQQExRUZjyOuP7qKIz1KybxO22qLNaHSu6KgrmDEL-blN8FJnjPGCT2Rzg/s320/IMG_0920.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-1848689125772802192023-08-09T17:06:00.001-07:002023-08-09T17:14:28.937-07:00Yellowstone <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGHzz5c6IPHWOeUXCP51OYkvK3C_6m9ljKVA99XUv8yFN_8l2urME-rxKjoLb3CE7md95k0Am53XKCkSYr5kJtsJitYlB5xqBqEIN4yw2Fuop4CLCosuVlB5C4-MoCIjC4K1FNcaZsX8ej3kuQgO-rfienlo3HjUMR9jUp130vVS-jy8mz_YPoR5fTE4/s4032/IMG_0883.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGHzz5c6IPHWOeUXCP51OYkvK3C_6m9ljKVA99XUv8yFN_8l2urME-rxKjoLb3CE7md95k0Am53XKCkSYr5kJtsJitYlB5xqBqEIN4yw2Fuop4CLCosuVlB5C4-MoCIjC4K1FNcaZsX8ej3kuQgO-rfienlo3HjUMR9jUp130vVS-jy8mz_YPoR5fTE4/s320/IMG_0883.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /> We traded our campsite on the shores of Henry’s Lake for one near Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Lake is the largest high elevation lake in North America. I can’t believe this is our first time seeing it. This is our fourth visit to Yellowstone so instead of trying to see the typical sights we’ve visited before, we chose to stay in a quiet corner of the park near Fishing Bridge. This gave us access not only to the lake but also to hiking trails in the Pelican Valley. This area is where Mollies Wolfpack have been spotted numerous times. Mollies are one of the oldest wolf packs in Yellowstone.<p></p><p>Once settled, we armed ourselves with bear spray and completed three different hikes around the lake and in the valley hoping to see a wolf. We had all three trails completely to ourselves. We saw “bison, moose and elk, oh my!” but alas, no wolves. Of course, the best things usually happen unexpectedly. While hiking at daybreak, I startled a great horned owl and as she flew, four owlets followed behind her. Of course that’s the one animal sighting I wasn’t quick enough to get a photo of!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcqCrokgkfcAe-cwVf-eiPvfRh3TF3KmbpcJ3sqc85Zet4t2Xdbs_M34BNgTchd5cxj7CiAeJJa6UIFs0Z8Wbb8aPfJk66cSa3ryLdjaS_OGr3IzzzNJGtE9huNLHywXLSWf8n_jweMxRWuWJVw-PZ2AuAw8f4vNmRLot_POZ38OfiDhNRvc45IsF-DE/s4032/IMG_8645.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcqCrokgkfcAe-cwVf-eiPvfRh3TF3KmbpcJ3sqc85Zet4t2Xdbs_M34BNgTchd5cxj7CiAeJJa6UIFs0Z8Wbb8aPfJk66cSa3ryLdjaS_OGr3IzzzNJGtE9huNLHywXLSWf8n_jweMxRWuWJVw-PZ2AuAw8f4vNmRLot_POZ38OfiDhNRvc45IsF-DE/s320/IMG_8645.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt71sM66lY8ZC4y3NTeiwGbNcfSn9zheBIhKcdkPlrl0EuyoKubr5wPeYEwBMsq59h40gi0NTJvJvoL9LaYPypa4A_oDVfOYiBPMV_HLVd4eNgJ4XSAdJW4jd-CWnJjjvh3KommIPPT_bnitvBTMMItUbLqViBpeRJyAb-bWUDSeH67UvD2P0ME02Z450/s1834/IMG_0880.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt71sM66lY8ZC4y3NTeiwGbNcfSn9zheBIhKcdkPlrl0EuyoKubr5wPeYEwBMsq59h40gi0NTJvJvoL9LaYPypa4A_oDVfOYiBPMV_HLVd4eNgJ4XSAdJW4jd-CWnJjjvh3KommIPPT_bnitvBTMMItUbLqViBpeRJyAb-bWUDSeH67UvD2P0ME02Z450/s320/IMG_0880.PNG" width="204" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSVzw9e7Di8T19KXKR0AmHZp29OOjMvewIwj8TO07E5S-Hkk3PfrQ8vr22jYOjGF19KmmIz2vnhaHN_IhGci1--J9DIXF1R7Ny-EvBx5ui8WGqUaX9CwAmQ4eD1FeJ4Uh2l2tjIBBnoNQXMT0mDtZmD31JyfQHyd6pzmEDUt9JStNgQvnzvZ-lS3bSu4/s4032/IMG_8625.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSVzw9e7Di8T19KXKR0AmHZp29OOjMvewIwj8TO07E5S-Hkk3PfrQ8vr22jYOjGF19KmmIz2vnhaHN_IhGci1--J9DIXF1R7Ny-EvBx5ui8WGqUaX9CwAmQ4eD1FeJ4Uh2l2tjIBBnoNQXMT0mDtZmD31JyfQHyd6pzmEDUt9JStNgQvnzvZ-lS3bSu4/s320/IMG_8625.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-39250341742272645762023-08-05T06:05:00.001-07:002023-08-05T11:01:28.856-07:00Life Goes On<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsq6bz_ZPHL0EbGkuEGfbboapEVRgUTG7juIPLIk-FXiREfYkYASGUfCSUU3ZSYnOjfSXUuq49ubBQ5RuUkyBoTIOxi6zv2tAnrXpLS5JpEU7j8cIBxXf3Osq2vR0A8pblYqGPj-0mtg5vxxJCWwXZ2aaDuEEn7SDzSBBwFC9A_o_9EV6SDHncihfzA0/s4032/IMG_8548.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsq6bz_ZPHL0EbGkuEGfbboapEVRgUTG7juIPLIk-FXiREfYkYASGUfCSUU3ZSYnOjfSXUuq49ubBQ5RuUkyBoTIOxi6zv2tAnrXpLS5JpEU7j8cIBxXf3Osq2vR0A8pblYqGPj-0mtg5vxxJCWwXZ2aaDuEEn7SDzSBBwFC9A_o_9EV6SDHncihfzA0/w400-h300/IMG_8548.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div>Mark and I have appreciated being at Henry’s Lake State Park all week as we try to come to terms with our dogs death and adjust to travels without Starbaby. This is a peaceful park with abundant bird life, wildflowers and wildlife. We also love the location because it has allowed us to visit Mark’s sister’s family. A visit with Jan, Greg, and their daughter Emily’s precious family (plus their lively dog Ash) helped lighten our mood while providing a much needed distraction from our sadness.<p></p><p>I know that what Ralph Waldo Emerson said was true; “Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.” But I think the wisdom of Maya Angelou is most encouraging to me right now. “ I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzJldgTMht0oyHZLgD6IubH-E7uqGXWsjRw4xYG3abmBZpb-B4FBNcxX5vsjuFMSXp2tHlZnVT4JUrqvCNdFKiQf6SZXAPC0WlLS3iblzGpYbJvlSMPz76bsuxKxp4SI0qKggb49Nr-IoFWuQL3_uiXpXmgJ7KVvf4M8lEUSdozePLDrdSlZh6kMM15Q/s4032/IMG_0849.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzJldgTMht0oyHZLgD6IubH-E7uqGXWsjRw4xYG3abmBZpb-B4FBNcxX5vsjuFMSXp2tHlZnVT4JUrqvCNdFKiQf6SZXAPC0WlLS3iblzGpYbJvlSMPz76bsuxKxp4SI0qKggb49Nr-IoFWuQL3_uiXpXmgJ7KVvf4M8lEUSdozePLDrdSlZh6kMM15Q/s320/IMG_0849.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnWH1BMyijRIon6BL33BEU9VzWEMz20GSDP6AfyIPjrpNPnjCHro9pAwCS9n4PjSwuhBTRHq3WBTNH_ddxLVTghIzyVY7guatBnAsEKACnd9tSoux9xamZXvf0dV9US1ImfnqyFYx6eXu7GcuULIrsKraihSV2G5oj5TKqvPmB7y5eyRvs2QDY_xXrQ0/s4032/IMG_0853.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnWH1BMyijRIon6BL33BEU9VzWEMz20GSDP6AfyIPjrpNPnjCHro9pAwCS9n4PjSwuhBTRHq3WBTNH_ddxLVTghIzyVY7guatBnAsEKACnd9tSoux9xamZXvf0dV9US1ImfnqyFYx6eXu7GcuULIrsKraihSV2G5oj5TKqvPmB7y5eyRvs2QDY_xXrQ0/s320/IMG_0853.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FOI8-Ha3G8QVYBsHZmJLe42KDFlrvnmHaKzTL6PidFD2d61YN9wWICQ8DJtRcD_A4PHVznzwGTm6QkURbDSuL5KQnTWYXrSXWFpZ3FadwGZXt823w7O2bO7Pa16yuI-14Yk_JZ6ENQdQ4jvjU4V6-1344kRto_6b4HyxzxM4bp6wRIG7j-c5oa16a_s/s3699/IMG_7466.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3699" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FOI8-Ha3G8QVYBsHZmJLe42KDFlrvnmHaKzTL6PidFD2d61YN9wWICQ8DJtRcD_A4PHVznzwGTm6QkURbDSuL5KQnTWYXrSXWFpZ3FadwGZXt823w7O2bO7Pa16yuI-14Yk_JZ6ENQdQ4jvjU4V6-1344kRto_6b4HyxzxM4bp6wRIG7j-c5oa16a_s/s320/IMG_7466.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-65876956278452076392023-08-01T11:59:00.001-07:002023-08-03T03:06:04.746-07:00Starbaby<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfVRTe5GaA8VfoCX8ZjCQhuZLx19IgNJuUv_p1cqibcCffdXT8sdR5_Ogu7LGfpCYj791duijjjgfiQfimpX-dIjV0tqEVS6RlOO0cv41Hf-zlnxR5lSt_Vphs9hQPDQC-JKZUq8pdH_ZomTKBsC0SzKrCg74uXdGmL_I5tJkaJOBAxThG6Bco8GNgT4/s4032/IMG_0126.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfVRTe5GaA8VfoCX8ZjCQhuZLx19IgNJuUv_p1cqibcCffdXT8sdR5_Ogu7LGfpCYj791duijjjgfiQfimpX-dIjV0tqEVS6RlOO0cv41Hf-zlnxR5lSt_Vphs9hQPDQC-JKZUq8pdH_ZomTKBsC0SzKrCg74uXdGmL_I5tJkaJOBAxThG6Bco8GNgT4/w300-h400/IMG_0126.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>When Mark was a little boy, his parents took him to the theatre to see the Disney movie “Old Yeller.” When it dawned on him, near the end of the movie, that the dog was going to die, he tearfully pled with his mom to change the channel. We lost Starbaby today. It may sound silly to anyone who has never loved an animal before but she really was my best friend. I wish I could change the channel.<p></p><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-15189120890090238502023-07-25T15:47:00.000-07:002023-07-25T15:47:24.977-07:00Peaks to Craters<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_6Szx8ksjwHDwIqnZdj-8KIql3vhCMEgfe1zDsuUb2mp6afDfhL7lLKkBOIotEDm7Lo_7FW0UNZaQyoXPnGr09p3C9gbsfbpzEyaN0O1ZA_3JBaVzUfQckUTyqx2ww2DCdEKEeJy_ncyS0s750oVSeE5Q5FJ71Px-ps-KkBX-NtEvq4d75CDoZhgcH4/s4032/IMG_0826.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_6Szx8ksjwHDwIqnZdj-8KIql3vhCMEgfe1zDsuUb2mp6afDfhL7lLKkBOIotEDm7Lo_7FW0UNZaQyoXPnGr09p3C9gbsfbpzEyaN0O1ZA_3JBaVzUfQckUTyqx2ww2DCdEKEeJy_ncyS0s750oVSeE5Q5FJ71Px-ps-KkBX-NtEvq4d75CDoZhgcH4/s320/IMG_0826.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6uzYOlvFyxI_ZNGdB1vgwmfhRvyFBNBgTovfdwNs0Gp4ble1AvnYuPsZEzGthfeYuu4BJH3CbbJB0cRs9QRypxOaisCEEgvz-G8wm3e7tiRLvG_i_FDAgGdhI70JOWyZKl8HVU2bjKWOFsN39oBDz_ZRJSYivZP3nY_3ov8N0y_p8K-SchGN31vyE8M/s1030/IMG_0829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6uzYOlvFyxI_ZNGdB1vgwmfhRvyFBNBgTovfdwNs0Gp4ble1AvnYuPsZEzGthfeYuu4BJH3CbbJB0cRs9QRypxOaisCEEgvz-G8wm3e7tiRLvG_i_FDAgGdhI70JOWyZKl8HVU2bjKWOFsN39oBDz_ZRJSYivZP3nY_3ov8N0y_p8K-SchGN31vyE8M/s320/IMG_0829.JPG" width="217" /></a></div>We hated saying goodbye to the Sawtooth Mountains but thought it fitting that the road we traveled this morning is called the Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway. This byway took us to a national monument we wanted to visit called Craters of the Moon. Craters of the Moon is a vast expanse of lava flows and cinder cones. There are also a number of small volcanoes, in the park, but most of the exposed lava issued thousands of years ago from a series of fissures referred to as the Great Rift. In 1918, President Calvin Coolidge described the area as “a weird and scenic landscape, peculiar to itself.” In 1969, Apollo Astronauts learned basic volcanic geology here as they prepared for their moon mission. We enjoyed climbing a mountain of ash and checking out the unusual volcanic features on the 7-mile loop road that goes through the park.<p></p><p>Our home for the night is a KOA in Arco, Idaho. Sometimes referred to as Atomic City, Arco was the first community in the world to be lit by electricity generated solely by nuclear power. This occurred for about an hour, on July 17, 1955, and was powered by Argonne National Laboratory. We didn’t choose to visit Argo solely because of its atomic history fame. This happens to be where Mark’s dad worked (for Argonne National Laboratory) right before he died.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSCbAAG8LzAuOVwY9lErzEAe6lhjn2HdHjhF2AppK3VLr3ze-moPzSNDNqLsr2kCNXvMYgxaXW3w50qAwBdihZm5i6bNDQQdHj1TEEE4auZqWmmlJB4daL6PS2RlQ-oj-FbY-TonTxKfoarUUIz0pugv0-cdANC6NvdGVl932PntPrnDA2W7ACelAYJ0/s4032/IMG_8539.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSCbAAG8LzAuOVwY9lErzEAe6lhjn2HdHjhF2AppK3VLr3ze-moPzSNDNqLsr2kCNXvMYgxaXW3w50qAwBdihZm5i6bNDQQdHj1TEEE4auZqWmmlJB4daL6PS2RlQ-oj-FbY-TonTxKfoarUUIz0pugv0-cdANC6NvdGVl932PntPrnDA2W7ACelAYJ0/s320/IMG_8539.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7LatJ30HFUOThDn_cI0HA-C-PqWHN2ZcJPANf7Rmrh3zBnazQmHzjuPm1a8T5e6-uQ0AsjA_UjgCTIVYfuOj7D6XRH0rKs4i0RstFFAFF48IX4mnZ-3IjQo2R_6m8I5hJNg5rknYvOmi7IsgDTYryj6veterS9q3C4TXBAwKfFBeVA1CSmRkFzZrDUc/s4032/IMG_8510.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7LatJ30HFUOThDn_cI0HA-C-PqWHN2ZcJPANf7Rmrh3zBnazQmHzjuPm1a8T5e6-uQ0AsjA_UjgCTIVYfuOj7D6XRH0rKs4i0RstFFAFF48IX4mnZ-3IjQo2R_6m8I5hJNg5rknYvOmi7IsgDTYryj6veterS9q3C4TXBAwKfFBeVA1CSmRkFzZrDUc/s320/IMG_8510.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qykb3Fkl2UfY2ksA4Zf6mOw31vfpIDvJ0tTk9WfRTw_b6AC-EkPUoZRbSg7C3nguFvDetGEv87k9Hdu2a0Q1gmUi7DMtufHwJyR5YVbM4k1yMY0BZqLH7UyhIr_BFqih5xOOPTEFRag5LwkpSk0G-A8m91XUTpbL9MhzstaIS7NMhamw4y01nqAvmJI/s4032/IMG_8531.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qykb3Fkl2UfY2ksA4Zf6mOw31vfpIDvJ0tTk9WfRTw_b6AC-EkPUoZRbSg7C3nguFvDetGEv87k9Hdu2a0Q1gmUi7DMtufHwJyR5YVbM4k1yMY0BZqLH7UyhIr_BFqih5xOOPTEFRag5LwkpSk0G-A8m91XUTpbL9MhzstaIS7NMhamw4y01nqAvmJI/s320/IMG_8531.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhql2xt4EIVea-Jvx_cg8_FGKnQWrvZfIMrHp8r3lJJ0Hdh319Y3LYFuKOOepbg3St_-hajmN1GFa0UqJ_IxCgyeuf-k19AS35oOTnb49JFe0uRAGwPEVZbkmIrrAcM0XA_-dx5KEQIIqw2mFKs6733kz6qB77hWZfM_lL-C9poqiRd7VKlws61dAlQqfw/s3200/IMG_0833.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3200" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhql2xt4EIVea-Jvx_cg8_FGKnQWrvZfIMrHp8r3lJJ0Hdh319Y3LYFuKOOepbg3St_-hajmN1GFa0UqJ_IxCgyeuf-k19AS35oOTnb49JFe0uRAGwPEVZbkmIrrAcM0XA_-dx5KEQIIqw2mFKs6733kz6qB77hWZfM_lL-C9poqiRd7VKlws61dAlQqfw/s320/IMG_0833.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-17409012896734839422023-07-22T15:17:00.001-07:002023-07-22T15:31:20.470-07:00“Where’s the Park?”<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuTnA7rXO8ubwrYW0JBzzubsz8Em-SETL_LiRhgiu0NHrG0CIuv_M--30qnb-gy6TSU6pjv9rKdqvDtcelHsOjFghgIWWceOh9qEhEbDtymDKqlAapwYGn6j-jhvbbubPibDpXi74BvugF9TEdjX36iHaifIA4-FAnkxMYeY81BHoAfgjY1-nl3oPfpU/s4032/IMG_8489.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuTnA7rXO8ubwrYW0JBzzubsz8Em-SETL_LiRhgiu0NHrG0CIuv_M--30qnb-gy6TSU6pjv9rKdqvDtcelHsOjFghgIWWceOh9qEhEbDtymDKqlAapwYGn6j-jhvbbubPibDpXi74BvugF9TEdjX36iHaifIA4-FAnkxMYeY81BHoAfgjY1-nl3oPfpU/s320/IMG_8489.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>Idaho is the only western state without a national park. Bills to establish a national park, in the Sawtooth Mountains, were introduced in 1913, 1916, 1935, 1960 and 1963 but none were enacted. A joint report on the area, published in 1965, recommended it become either a national park or national recreation area. The national recreation area was a compromise allowing logging, hunting and grazing to continue in the area but it was also a quicker path to protecting more than 750,000 acres of the Sawtooth, Boulder and White Cloud mountains and the valley between. Congress passed legislation for a national recreation area in 1972. Since then, two thirds of the area has been designated wilderness. In many ways that might be even better than becoming a national park. The goal of a wilderness area is to preserve an area in its natural condition; wildlife are left wild and free and natural processes unfold without intervention. Today, the area is often referred to as “the heart of Idaho.” Not a bad place to hike, bike and recreate for the week!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJvoLmYbEtqWnIt8_4VMyyTIIJ7Q4kdnuoqpfSx1s_g6fce1K9rrq5GZzG50Q7PQnk4IxYynOMrKnpuGpyeaq9AsJyLcB5OIGTQ33Sh1rTcn4KuLcEKiGuAHjxqMcRaKqCXpyXiZj6S_yDkL_XNIXUQXbmRDE3GSlZ5qomMX3jPolK2IDWSd8QNHnoR8/s4032/IMG_8485.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJvoLmYbEtqWnIt8_4VMyyTIIJ7Q4kdnuoqpfSx1s_g6fce1K9rrq5GZzG50Q7PQnk4IxYynOMrKnpuGpyeaq9AsJyLcB5OIGTQ33Sh1rTcn4KuLcEKiGuAHjxqMcRaKqCXpyXiZj6S_yDkL_XNIXUQXbmRDE3GSlZ5qomMX3jPolK2IDWSd8QNHnoR8/s320/IMG_8485.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9aFJ9NYD3AWQbSMrUdGECyXxRM6Z0l8RfoUo7jLqjhVF3eR2tppdBjb54_aTj0GEtUrQzPy8aqynz2oNRbwITYSdG8P5ZtVqntqgQYEtkozua4XkLxleXAveOnPPXv3QKiHdiQiuo3_TFhj4j3gpwiTicfK4w_vFHCSuGc2nKEuxpzD5_ZBwo1fLuQw/s4032/IMG_0807.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9aFJ9NYD3AWQbSMrUdGECyXxRM6Z0l8RfoUo7jLqjhVF3eR2tppdBjb54_aTj0GEtUrQzPy8aqynz2oNRbwITYSdG8P5ZtVqntqgQYEtkozua4XkLxleXAveOnPPXv3QKiHdiQiuo3_TFhj4j3gpwiTicfK4w_vFHCSuGc2nKEuxpzD5_ZBwo1fLuQw/s320/IMG_0807.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFa2_I9MzKrmnVncWfmvrFJikFDanESnvrWFpAmeMgKewKmJguSPC_kvRLr46V15guWT3WKxEsivF6x0fhENG-y2sPcNlFmWLckQcHt3HMtD6yeg6GQOn0NoNsU_Af8TxPIhujJ0HmRYxwWuek7tix3Sns8RvAjfgMft8HfLQeNN6p8PxZy3jsRbnsijU/s4032/IMG_0816.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFa2_I9MzKrmnVncWfmvrFJikFDanESnvrWFpAmeMgKewKmJguSPC_kvRLr46V15guWT3WKxEsivF6x0fhENG-y2sPcNlFmWLckQcHt3HMtD6yeg6GQOn0NoNsU_Af8TxPIhujJ0HmRYxwWuek7tix3Sns8RvAjfgMft8HfLQeNN6p8PxZy3jsRbnsijU/s320/IMG_0816.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvkJX-k8jcz2J3Ux5ekyMeCbw7ynz3EPNCfvFZEl5CNbjTeFAXeTSchAV0bINMNUo_NOXb7BGss7OSn_YC62AMI3UVUiDLqwEiOprrxsLw7rFMTbQVZu7kBLEa3-sKmKKUnLm0XGPc8fr84pJniHJKS4yi9GK70Wstn1wy9htRkCAtZn5F7gNyjx1w5Q/s4032/IMG_8458.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvkJX-k8jcz2J3Ux5ekyMeCbw7ynz3EPNCfvFZEl5CNbjTeFAXeTSchAV0bINMNUo_NOXb7BGss7OSn_YC62AMI3UVUiDLqwEiOprrxsLw7rFMTbQVZu7kBLEa3-sKmKKUnLm0XGPc8fr84pJniHJKS4yi9GK70Wstn1wy9htRkCAtZn5F7gNyjx1w5Q/s320/IMG_8458.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-46320406054641706272023-07-13T12:19:00.000-07:002023-07-13T12:19:35.406-07:00Idaho<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQU39C2HFsNoAsq1MB3NHFxpRswQ6ffK68kZ_pMAUw7xtn7qPxRJCsAZkM6SuQ8zrE9_W4Dal_5BSIvKcEzM52J-LYVex42LVDkiF7fndlM2NLIhMzo4b2KazBYGFVji-q5URP4J8jfKMWKeLHwOAtSpv0UjZEtmMcQRn9g8_VBTzaUXm198CD-m935xo/s4032/IMG_0777.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQU39C2HFsNoAsq1MB3NHFxpRswQ6ffK68kZ_pMAUw7xtn7qPxRJCsAZkM6SuQ8zrE9_W4Dal_5BSIvKcEzM52J-LYVex42LVDkiF7fndlM2NLIhMzo4b2KazBYGFVji-q5URP4J8jfKMWKeLHwOAtSpv0UjZEtmMcQRn9g8_VBTzaUXm198CD-m935xo/s320/IMG_0777.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>Six months ago, Mark and I packed up and headed west. We’ve now officially begun our journey home. We will take our time making our way east. The plan is to arrive back in Chattanooga the first week of September. After a couple of long driving days, and a short stay in Montana, we’ve landed in Idaho for a few weeks. It feels strange being on Mountain Standard Time again. The months we spent on Pacific Standard Time will perhaps be the only time in my life I consistently stayed up later at night than my grown children.<p></p><p>Idaho is undoubtedly one of our favorite places to visit. One reason is the important role this area played in Mark’s life when his family moved to Idaho in 1977. This is where Mark graduated high school and began college. It’s where he learned to ski and got interested in biking. It’s where his father unexpectedly died when Mark was 19. After Mark and I married, my very first plane ride was to the state of Idaho to visit family there. Thank goodness we still have family in the state so there’s always a reason to revisit.</p><p>On this trip our first stop has been Salmon, Idaho; a scenic mountain-town located on the banks of the Salmon River. This river is one of the few un-dammed waterways left in America. We loved our hike to a high desert hot springs called Goldbug. It’s on National Forest Land, nestled in rugged backcountry and is a true geothermal gem.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FvweNz0eP2fygytNfVFvXcH4zY4vC2_XQzYLWcWJmF1P16WJOJqUxsw5xlNgvC5VYs69WKhNUhBKR6RG-5xjQj4AkqJyPA78n_7a1zT1SbzowM__cEUKSxh1MFTX5x9wuSGuo6cjnaB9f9OjIbEw0UkkTKoqnDe_tdP6fMUXOhZGEu-KqKmPIGePPtQ/s4032/IMG_0776.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FvweNz0eP2fygytNfVFvXcH4zY4vC2_XQzYLWcWJmF1P16WJOJqUxsw5xlNgvC5VYs69WKhNUhBKR6RG-5xjQj4AkqJyPA78n_7a1zT1SbzowM__cEUKSxh1MFTX5x9wuSGuo6cjnaB9f9OjIbEw0UkkTKoqnDe_tdP6fMUXOhZGEu-KqKmPIGePPtQ/s320/IMG_0776.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YGoG8xP61soYsYjS1reei1tpq2VzVpXnAWEnEay7KHnQbbqHpRgL5LltZx64Uyoy7kAEql8-hIIQEhugoGYwcVs6BZsW-81RPcQwroeIsZI7YD4XuMxeVmcwkmaz4LtRvKwy8yvfglbx5FQrlQpl_LGvMG4gZ0WFovhOWxG70D8mOq1BnisaOMzuHHg/s4032/IMG_0779.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YGoG8xP61soYsYjS1reei1tpq2VzVpXnAWEnEay7KHnQbbqHpRgL5LltZx64Uyoy7kAEql8-hIIQEhugoGYwcVs6BZsW-81RPcQwroeIsZI7YD4XuMxeVmcwkmaz4LtRvKwy8yvfglbx5FQrlQpl_LGvMG4gZ0WFovhOWxG70D8mOq1BnisaOMzuHHg/s320/IMG_0779.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-bkKwtJA0b5qZqy5C7OW3Ug2jvUJYdt3_BUha203tSdT-zB8bJwuzagLodLh-tOYvh5ix-agCT-BXbaoaLs4r179QQbcpSPOgZ3iiHN41y5ahnPAb3S9NwoS0sFDDdIl94Eu8sGZgVIKHM7_G0G63gaCvGmkrr9BbaFfnYT2mzucSubs6qaoit5iu7Y/s3264/IMG_0783.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2995" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-bkKwtJA0b5qZqy5C7OW3Ug2jvUJYdt3_BUha203tSdT-zB8bJwuzagLodLh-tOYvh5ix-agCT-BXbaoaLs4r179QQbcpSPOgZ3iiHN41y5ahnPAb3S9NwoS0sFDDdIl94Eu8sGZgVIKHM7_G0G63gaCvGmkrr9BbaFfnYT2mzucSubs6qaoit5iu7Y/s320/IMG_0783.HEIC" width="294" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-77721952180449346732023-07-04T08:16:00.000-07:002023-07-04T08:16:28.363-07:00The TV Generation <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNAcg7r0CqrkshkvIekLwt0_KDTqmem4EHZ5bbDAdeRSLHrXIOo0GcKMa8QOHjdJuNVwYc3M8PiHBnMejsQcmgGnAsIFNgszvjtkWZmIcjSpavAsZlWHLknns_Lwi9p4kIAL1TxL3zPuCh7wiKri4Ee8Ma2L1p0n71CzW2NN9hTLsm4einKtOCGXPaog/s4032/IMG_8249.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNAcg7r0CqrkshkvIekLwt0_KDTqmem4EHZ5bbDAdeRSLHrXIOo0GcKMa8QOHjdJuNVwYc3M8PiHBnMejsQcmgGnAsIFNgszvjtkWZmIcjSpavAsZlWHLknns_Lwi9p4kIAL1TxL3zPuCh7wiKri4Ee8Ma2L1p0n71CzW2NN9hTLsm4einKtOCGXPaog/s320/IMG_8249.heic" width="240" /></a></div>Baby Boomers, also known as the TV Generation, were born between 1946 and 1964. As a group they were the wealthiest and the first generation to grow up genuinely expecting the world to improve with time. Mark and I are Baby Boomers. We are generally optimistic and we love television.<p></p><p>In my last post I focused on our admiration for the 1990 show Northern Exposure. That same year another show (Twin Peaks) premiered and was also filmed in Washington state. Whether you are a fan or not, Twin Peaks and its competitor/cousin, Northern Exposure, forever altered the landscape of network television.</p><p>Twin Peaks is a murder mystery set in an idyllic Northern Pacific small town where darkness lurks beneath white picket fences and well maintained lawns. The drama follows the FBI investigation of the murder of a small town’s homecoming queen. Special Agent Dale Cooper is sent to solve the murder in Twin Peaks and though he is completely serious about solving the case he also develops an affinity for the unusually good coffee and cherry pie at the local Double R Diner.</p><p>Realizing we couldn’t walk down memory lane with one show and not the other, we took another day trip to North Bend, WA, and Snoqualmie Falls, where the show was filmed. We found the Double R Diner, now known as Tweed’s Cafe. According to Special Agent Cooper “This is where pies go when they die and you can get a damn fine cup of coffee!”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQfrmSjyCNfSQ1W4SURlmgdm9TMTwMvk0EvTx5XTB4vlK0EwI26x7E3ludLhBvKqmE-4cTeOqxgEwSgl8Paw7i4eo7UCWl5olkxMFmXryAXYmS1xFqgWABYrSAqKZR3sCk9JUYvVvVMKozlX5WcHghdltAcMRCOBm44LIJ_JJZ4G3t_W6lArWD8BLKuc/s4032/IMG_8278.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQfrmSjyCNfSQ1W4SURlmgdm9TMTwMvk0EvTx5XTB4vlK0EwI26x7E3ludLhBvKqmE-4cTeOqxgEwSgl8Paw7i4eo7UCWl5olkxMFmXryAXYmS1xFqgWABYrSAqKZR3sCk9JUYvVvVMKozlX5WcHghdltAcMRCOBm44LIJ_JJZ4G3t_W6lArWD8BLKuc/s320/IMG_8278.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUdxxTN6bU6-77wXUy_thsIBgvJlmqD4GM6k673Wqb6wIGbjE6QmDmYJcdVZx70aB8xlv-snpbwEyXmj0M30pk6V4fAsw9ELA-HYa-Jfkz00iDxsYgsw1Kp0kJ3_MDQ66Y-rX_E-LufalpG_SAoPPqGbf54SrJjMBNJK7hR4Xs4YrJxrWyvwGonVqKVQ/s4032/IMG_0741.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUdxxTN6bU6-77wXUy_thsIBgvJlmqD4GM6k673Wqb6wIGbjE6QmDmYJcdVZx70aB8xlv-snpbwEyXmj0M30pk6V4fAsw9ELA-HYa-Jfkz00iDxsYgsw1Kp0kJ3_MDQ66Y-rX_E-LufalpG_SAoPPqGbf54SrJjMBNJK7hR4Xs4YrJxrWyvwGonVqKVQ/s320/IMG_0741.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3xPiq1qOlM1Ppt69BW7cA7k5f3dUGaoy3YfA3K607YaLS4HbrcW7-tnIILjOZppHpGUVSSuzCgpzOIhLmIjdB7QiCOmm9dDVYS9L_RVL7RQTFq1mMPI5tkqgbK49N6UHdkZy5-T-Y_vApudf2Hsc5_w189_7Nb7wv_VSCQKpUOzj0vPKIOEwYpSRHVk/s4032/IMG_0748.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3xPiq1qOlM1Ppt69BW7cA7k5f3dUGaoy3YfA3K607YaLS4HbrcW7-tnIILjOZppHpGUVSSuzCgpzOIhLmIjdB7QiCOmm9dDVYS9L_RVL7RQTFq1mMPI5tkqgbK49N6UHdkZy5-T-Y_vApudf2Hsc5_w189_7Nb7wv_VSCQKpUOzj0vPKIOEwYpSRHVk/s320/IMG_0748.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-24175203793246400122023-07-02T14:17:00.001-07:002023-07-02T14:24:19.383-07:00Almost Alaska<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlkzlf5hr06zQno7HMcsRMr5VkpBP0euoZfJt4qb0WDSNn2qlWBHVJmwjaCXGaYinGeQ4XcAvBbxS5ZQeHRV_BNzeROjiLC7aeqcqBAYGUTSP6oV-OiTcZWnvxKXu99sm6f47lrIKQv5dZU__3Rk_nQQxqRGW46oIfk7ebT65zorh18dk-_8mfLXwLSQ/s1164/IMG_0734.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1164" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlkzlf5hr06zQno7HMcsRMr5VkpBP0euoZfJt4qb0WDSNn2qlWBHVJmwjaCXGaYinGeQ4XcAvBbxS5ZQeHRV_BNzeROjiLC7aeqcqBAYGUTSP6oV-OiTcZWnvxKXu99sm6f47lrIKQv5dZU__3Rk_nQQxqRGW46oIfk7ebT65zorh18dk-_8mfLXwLSQ/s320/IMG_0734.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>Thirty-three years ago an offbeat, quirky television series, called Northern Exposure, premiered with a young moose ambling through the opening credits. The series was about the eccentric residents of a fictional small town called Cicely, Alaska. Turns out the show was actually filmed in Roslyn, WA, just a few miles from where we are camping. Mark and I love the series so we planned a day to visit and hoped to see some of the places that might be familiar after watching five seasons of the show. Roslyn’s weather-worn architecture, from the 1900’s, and the fact that Washington’s oldest continually-operating bar (The Brick) is located there, help to explain why this town was chosen to play the part of a remote Alaskan village. It snows a lot in the winter, too.<p></p><p>We loved having lunch at The Brick, expecting any moment to see bar keep Holling Vincouer or waitress Shelly Tambo asking what we’d like to order. Alas, we had to settle for each other’s company instead. But I swear, in the background noise at the bar, I could hear Chris Stevens, from KBHR (K-Bear) radio’s “Chris in the Morning” show sharing a bit of his philosophical perspective…. “Be open to your dreams, people. Embrace that distant shore. Our mortal journey is over all too soon.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe5Muh0CxyxXJxoz6LJ8rAAlvxPuU6-3uJXNulyNbJKl5FQam5B9koOcLKlu7HwR2SsQYZdgZdWfZR3b7HvYAAIIwaL2Z904WHD58_7m9bJJ7upCDPCoIeNvIpzvA7DT1LRq4bpmRMZCgi09v_QGoBbQxEahfq6Wmim61jzixj-X0TE2FY6YgeJsFHxs/s4032/IMG_0716.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe5Muh0CxyxXJxoz6LJ8rAAlvxPuU6-3uJXNulyNbJKl5FQam5B9koOcLKlu7HwR2SsQYZdgZdWfZR3b7HvYAAIIwaL2Z904WHD58_7m9bJJ7upCDPCoIeNvIpzvA7DT1LRq4bpmRMZCgi09v_QGoBbQxEahfq6Wmim61jzixj-X0TE2FY6YgeJsFHxs/s320/IMG_0716.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjrFpsmbWL_5nul_VFrwWRqSQh-lRMYIUUGdcZ2bs4XoaA5dtHihzeSps-FyekSAnCrytJECO5djbZbbljNd9Qf2PSQYQh7AvCwcoklUGR2V34PnumQ2S6n2CDC-nu2Z41351jt22h953-mzXMoH3jq97r6ti36hNaJegmh4sCLzyHiRJbMUgovuJzFw/s1396/IMG_8199.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjrFpsmbWL_5nul_VFrwWRqSQh-lRMYIUUGdcZ2bs4XoaA5dtHihzeSps-FyekSAnCrytJECO5djbZbbljNd9Qf2PSQYQh7AvCwcoklUGR2V34PnumQ2S6n2CDC-nu2Z41351jt22h953-mzXMoH3jq97r6ti36hNaJegmh4sCLzyHiRJbMUgovuJzFw/s320/IMG_8199.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebU-GLJGlxZmmC9Olu883IrX8drpV3xOnWCv6hUEYIELE2T8YMtHpjKUDpWeryJVfAJpLasThZnfy7ReISZtF6qq8yLSB2-jXmTKi7hb8BmX2NnpibAZKVTZayW9e84zeBh4vpEGHDir9Ph2Vgy0B2ZQskfs-c8OijVQImvrJfGG-hjDaWgV69Wek1GU/s4032/IMG_0728.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebU-GLJGlxZmmC9Olu883IrX8drpV3xOnWCv6hUEYIELE2T8YMtHpjKUDpWeryJVfAJpLasThZnfy7ReISZtF6qq8yLSB2-jXmTKi7hb8BmX2NnpibAZKVTZayW9e84zeBh4vpEGHDir9Ph2Vgy0B2ZQskfs-c8OijVQImvrJfGG-hjDaWgV69Wek1GU/s320/IMG_0728.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2weiQ46gTZ71Zk6wEWwv3bE5897canFO7FzI5ax2Vmw7mwo0IaD3gRt7x8VmzMABtAdySO_RXtGVCmXQTcBwPZ3G68z-v8GZO8iRgj8FGlBjbibF2ilKxXxM9UbPsGgkNzVOfUuQnNCx-cmNNiFW-sniI8kxyM0DkxbqWvKrXeJyOcKH0SPwDCK_p15Y/s4032/IMG_0729.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2weiQ46gTZ71Zk6wEWwv3bE5897canFO7FzI5ax2Vmw7mwo0IaD3gRt7x8VmzMABtAdySO_RXtGVCmXQTcBwPZ3G68z-v8GZO8iRgj8FGlBjbibF2ilKxXxM9UbPsGgkNzVOfUuQnNCx-cmNNiFW-sniI8kxyM0DkxbqWvKrXeJyOcKH0SPwDCK_p15Y/s320/IMG_0729.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qOFa0pb7qQ60DEhmJ_S7i3b1dd7zisUaD5x7fXQa0-atQsTGfoIEQhJNCY5nK1mrramPF8tgVga9XhVMPM35bYM5e5gdU_fvwIxWKE4Bs8m2Q6ZH6gLYrt2RNVxDv8ChPODFnNWsGUCGL_KCTjlrt9Gy1twlKIKWChfLfLKGrlKY_TPrPnlknvck4OE/s4032/IMG_8221.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qOFa0pb7qQ60DEhmJ_S7i3b1dd7zisUaD5x7fXQa0-atQsTGfoIEQhJNCY5nK1mrramPF8tgVga9XhVMPM35bYM5e5gdU_fvwIxWKE4Bs8m2Q6ZH6gLYrt2RNVxDv8ChPODFnNWsGUCGL_KCTjlrt9Gy1twlKIKWChfLfLKGrlKY_TPrPnlknvck4OE/s320/IMG_8221.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-25228357851518647892023-06-30T14:41:00.002-07:002023-06-30T17:28:59.614-07:00Beautiful, Gorgeous, Heartbreaking <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5hyq5LgyrjxmZYyZE6oTYnqeoJwdcPfF96kHunFZTofE8y3i9DD--8Gw0KGzj3o_jmPyV2bgda-EFoxm1B4pTnh8ED5TPZ_iBW_BYUdqqMSjoRjDGMeNxyWWBNmZtKYNTPCnqWVbOAGho_UrB6_jfJIlI7oNXrcOJgXaIEl3-R0FXeycts_nIKTfRCY/s4032/IMG_8026.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5hyq5LgyrjxmZYyZE6oTYnqeoJwdcPfF96kHunFZTofE8y3i9DD--8Gw0KGzj3o_jmPyV2bgda-EFoxm1B4pTnh8ED5TPZ_iBW_BYUdqqMSjoRjDGMeNxyWWBNmZtKYNTPCnqWVbOAGho_UrB6_jfJIlI7oNXrcOJgXaIEl3-R0FXeycts_nIKTfRCY/s320/IMG_8026.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>Starbaby goes by lots of names. Mark gave her the nickname FOMO when she was a puppy because she’s always had a “Fear Of Missing Out”. One reason we choose to travel, within the United States in a camper, opposed to any other sort of travel, is because Starbaby can go too. When we began this trip in January, we knew our little dog was ill. I won’t go into the particulars of her illness but a result of her condition, over time, is the development of cataracts that eventually cause blindness. This week we’ve tried to come to terms with the fact that Starbaby has lost all or most of her sight. This latest trial hasn’t changed the fact that she still wants to go wherever we go and do whatever we do. I’ve been so thankful that the eastern side of the North Cascades National Park complex have had an abundance of epic dog friendly hiking trails for our little FOMO. Even though I have to carry her most of the way, she’s not missing out and can still hear, smell and feel all the wildness around her.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPS3pBJeBDhrG2g5GSTSDczCAr3yh0ayxtXBhPS-FdCFElUQN_MurSIjMmdNF02e0IEusng5ZEQmPGJp9PCPL2mRjASzMfGqXtvepfpqjUYzsplDoztMeRK42o1IL-8zoI1TWrXd7GVFzQ3O7NuT7yD05EINDGa-vi68sJEXmLCj5tdxbnSwf6DD80Mw/s4032/IMG_0679.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPS3pBJeBDhrG2g5GSTSDczCAr3yh0ayxtXBhPS-FdCFElUQN_MurSIjMmdNF02e0IEusng5ZEQmPGJp9PCPL2mRjASzMfGqXtvepfpqjUYzsplDoztMeRK42o1IL-8zoI1TWrXd7GVFzQ3O7NuT7yD05EINDGa-vi68sJEXmLCj5tdxbnSwf6DD80Mw/s320/IMG_0679.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabOW6bbKRAM27n_03rFlHs5_eDtGx_72eGAnBQOhybFNhv6dypz1Fn1NrG5HIw-zVu-sml1I9WJNf8YsflX0r0IhXTyHNAqsiEDaiuO0tfGNzk1iPYFVYe5Z5cwAFSYbCevfHpzWqhB2PIpECuqO9jUGNan_tqkyO0Q8m4ESyA83HKpCTSz9X_Vc6xXM/s4032/IMG_8056.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabOW6bbKRAM27n_03rFlHs5_eDtGx_72eGAnBQOhybFNhv6dypz1Fn1NrG5HIw-zVu-sml1I9WJNf8YsflX0r0IhXTyHNAqsiEDaiuO0tfGNzk1iPYFVYe5Z5cwAFSYbCevfHpzWqhB2PIpECuqO9jUGNan_tqkyO0Q8m4ESyA83HKpCTSz9X_Vc6xXM/s320/IMG_8056.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVCcWNda5pgOwVbEVzJbjdwiAsDF1bLCPvVa418IyPunsO3wSpajz_TYevLxSjsqB8ti3Dwjx63sirpB4ZbkAOCLkcl__MT1eWs_ffqvqyf8Uih6QWNssSN5wLomgouq78ugA2RopvUbYePEMm34gq0JdMt6gDaNnOvcIyzv22slljPGwyTMDt02TUT8/s4032/IMG_0676.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVCcWNda5pgOwVbEVzJbjdwiAsDF1bLCPvVa418IyPunsO3wSpajz_TYevLxSjsqB8ti3Dwjx63sirpB4ZbkAOCLkcl__MT1eWs_ffqvqyf8Uih6QWNssSN5wLomgouq78ugA2RopvUbYePEMm34gq0JdMt6gDaNnOvcIyzv22slljPGwyTMDt02TUT8/s320/IMG_0676.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKDBvgY48CpcHb2u6gLutr0U08jXidW97QpHbdcD986teSHiVDysA3budAXGA70oEhoQ1ZWGJpUhIE5qlMbWltTmbB68vNNtWlLQrvkbGxFiZcRhtP53_bHi3GDkq1-FiVCa2wvCCsqBgDGm2xWuALaSA4-vWGNEEVU4bXGULkndo6D-r5t_rc3A1bVg/s4032/IMG_0699.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKDBvgY48CpcHb2u6gLutr0U08jXidW97QpHbdcD986teSHiVDysA3budAXGA70oEhoQ1ZWGJpUhIE5qlMbWltTmbB68vNNtWlLQrvkbGxFiZcRhtP53_bHi3GDkq1-FiVCa2wvCCsqBgDGm2xWuALaSA4-vWGNEEVU4bXGULkndo6D-r5t_rc3A1bVg/s320/IMG_0699.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-32059955519223846362023-06-26T09:56:00.003-07:002023-06-28T12:08:37.903-07:00North Cascade Scenic Highway<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoRlBr0ijyMklcH1zq7B8caZB7pj5U__9cNdQoZrc4QQPTn_HGPpyi1s3ZyS3rO9uL6lZc1I1DsHxc04sYVHzGqP_OCcJsZI60G7oVZQLsApgAb9jJ7LTzYDwKtiz9ZQfI8Lp3zBTu81vJBsQoGps41hXFAAqVg2xwsrx0FOwRBZqJjSiJ4yyf5QGYyI/s4032/IMG_0661.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoRlBr0ijyMklcH1zq7B8caZB7pj5U__9cNdQoZrc4QQPTn_HGPpyi1s3ZyS3rO9uL6lZc1I1DsHxc04sYVHzGqP_OCcJsZI60G7oVZQLsApgAb9jJ7LTzYDwKtiz9ZQfI8Lp3zBTu81vJBsQoGps41hXFAAqVg2xwsrx0FOwRBZqJjSiJ4yyf5QGYyI/s320/IMG_0661.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>Unwilling to say goodbye to the North Cascades, we decided to pull our trailer through the park, on the North Cascade Scenic Highway, to see what was on the other side. What a good choice that was. The drive was spectacular and the mountains continued to awe and inspire us. When we came down from Washington Pass we stopped in a small community called Mazama for coffee and second breakfast, thanks to a recommendation from our friend, Joyce.<p></p><p>We then passed through the western-themed town of Winthrop on our way to Pearrygin State Park where we planned to spend the week. Winthrop is an unusual place with a population of about 400. It underwent a westernization makeover, in the early 1970’s, after learning travelers would begin driving through the town daily, upon the completion of Highway 20, connecting western and eastern Washington. To encourage travelers to stop, the town opted to put up Old West facades, dig up the sidewalks and put in wooden boardwalks. Each downtown business was required to contribute $2000 to the westernization effort. Two restaurants and a hotel refused to participate in the project so the local Kiwanis Club bought out those businesses to achieve 100% participation. Soon after the project was completed a local businessman recalled, “We went from a town that was about hunting, fishing and farmers to one with thousands of people who wanted souvenirs…quite a culture shock.”</p><p>The photo I’ve posted came from a newspaper article, in 1973, showing the change after westernization occurred. I’m not sure how the hunting, fishing and farming have fared in Winthrop, over the last fifty years, but the tourism trade is definitely thriving.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMteQAldccNxRVm8ulPmdW7APWZ5G2Ru2hF6lY-a9c7MM_UNUON_ILVDeeAdM62amWz_0-5hU8nKCkBA9mXp1pqwJvgKg34tgURTwd3guFDRGZyO729aoljo5DgY_SwT-7StWIACleB_WMt1HHu_5OAK7OEAOqNDg-iJidhDFnhjUxGTdVaRtn5u0v_c/s4032/IMG_0664.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMteQAldccNxRVm8ulPmdW7APWZ5G2Ru2hF6lY-a9c7MM_UNUON_ILVDeeAdM62amWz_0-5hU8nKCkBA9mXp1pqwJvgKg34tgURTwd3guFDRGZyO729aoljo5DgY_SwT-7StWIACleB_WMt1HHu_5OAK7OEAOqNDg-iJidhDFnhjUxGTdVaRtn5u0v_c/s320/IMG_0664.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEsOdUuLMEiEJicmDjjCxASQVYTt1ndM1Zu5HUNYY5f2lxYid96-oY9FEqZOfIT5iTTXmDhCC1pX8p_5FdqDYjkWdVeE6vTCpikagshrzqaS6sIq1WcrBSJ8w815PDV9-4kGRF5aEuYmUtW0LddQIO01TQJgn9thdTItZNDsklkMFl863vmtu2ywxxrg/s4032/IMG_0667.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEsOdUuLMEiEJicmDjjCxASQVYTt1ndM1Zu5HUNYY5f2lxYid96-oY9FEqZOfIT5iTTXmDhCC1pX8p_5FdqDYjkWdVeE6vTCpikagshrzqaS6sIq1WcrBSJ8w815PDV9-4kGRF5aEuYmUtW0LddQIO01TQJgn9thdTItZNDsklkMFl863vmtu2ywxxrg/s320/IMG_0667.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLjjmdexZDpkZT61Ngdt_MbpvJQyYGjvHey_ZilDuK3fhjEi1f0CXHn1V_r3dUi1-eTaG4v3Aq8efCtS9OGy497zAgsCPPFfiPo4oVqx_BEkXb2ZaGGXueO-GcJJr25XkD-siFnisjiNzbcz8aT6gyGqh2Mw38vDNXpsOA9BX90N6aEusOOdKSeXzvxc/s542/IMG_0692.WEBP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLjjmdexZDpkZT61Ngdt_MbpvJQyYGjvHey_ZilDuK3fhjEi1f0CXHn1V_r3dUi1-eTaG4v3Aq8efCtS9OGy497zAgsCPPFfiPo4oVqx_BEkXb2ZaGGXueO-GcJJr25XkD-siFnisjiNzbcz8aT6gyGqh2Mw38vDNXpsOA9BX90N6aEusOOdKSeXzvxc/s320/IMG_0692.WEBP" width="295" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-50263220008523237342023-06-23T12:19:00.001-07:002023-06-23T12:23:28.571-07:00Summer Solstice <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-hVf-Op4_HPULUE1DAA1MRZPIfucwrljacq5IzZ929ZgqV7AH76slaq2Rl3q97Edr0qh9RpGOAL3yBHTRqSfMSZq2itFMW0SRVnR2L-OFjHyo2cLFjn9M-Zuu8xLKSe9ho7Yr05YGCJs7gL56TPZ2SFV3toN71gf4r4PyZj4zqDWh2WJdbRnZZIbJxY/s4032/IMG_0647.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-hVf-Op4_HPULUE1DAA1MRZPIfucwrljacq5IzZ929ZgqV7AH76slaq2Rl3q97Edr0qh9RpGOAL3yBHTRqSfMSZq2itFMW0SRVnR2L-OFjHyo2cLFjn9M-Zuu8xLKSe9ho7Yr05YGCJs7gL56TPZ2SFV3toN71gf4r4PyZj4zqDWh2WJdbRnZZIbJxY/s320/IMG_0647.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest. As a result, this part of the country has over 700 kinds of mosses. Locals note that “a rolling stone may even be able to collect moss here.” During our stay we’ve had many moss nurturing days. I’ve gotten used to hiking with an umbrella.<p></p><p>Some of the local farms, around our campground, have cattle (Highland) with long fur coats. We figured they’d probably be pretty comfortable when a rainy cold front, with highs in the 50’s and snow in the mountains was forecast to arrive in the area, in time for the first day of summer. We decided it might be more comfortable for us to lock up our camper and book a hotel room for a couple of nights. We found a great rate in Bellingham and enjoyed having a mini vacation without any weather worries.</p><p>When we returned to our campsite we discovered friends we met over three weeks ago, when we were at Cape Disappointment, camping just a few sites away from us. They invited us over for appetizers and fellowship. The sun finally came out. Thanks to Anne and Don and a little rest and relaxation we had a pretty cool ending to the longest day of the year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0grqqDVGNEFBLY5FPirQeSmHBSk5W6BHJrtJJ0821GC_Tr-pOUEU699IbJvniAcV8ArfK6t3zlN7t5XiKZWoGSG9TW_H78WZznaSehyOa-ia_MB8RPKPb5Njqt7m-Us0fIreEAc14-sH4_RXHGSxWxynmJ_g7pU8gYH44nztLY9VEJCj3SSbQimpXYw/s4032/IMG_0627.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0grqqDVGNEFBLY5FPirQeSmHBSk5W6BHJrtJJ0821GC_Tr-pOUEU699IbJvniAcV8ArfK6t3zlN7t5XiKZWoGSG9TW_H78WZznaSehyOa-ia_MB8RPKPb5Njqt7m-Us0fIreEAc14-sH4_RXHGSxWxynmJ_g7pU8gYH44nztLY9VEJCj3SSbQimpXYw/s320/IMG_0627.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIsGUBzrDuZE-nr9FW8S32dlq4vauo2VXCCOFYkjIx_boQlXQ5BhCCg3I1i6vVhbPqw7YOrI7gDa7nMIRZs9DUpYpee_Z3cnFRXusn-ejnpC_NohJTb9rez9vjabzc3LNSg-4dRmTGnijuxw-FqXuLAo7dMUSg3puXkNTVNGo0lECGwwC3E-inO8pJZs/s4032/IMG_0638.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIsGUBzrDuZE-nr9FW8S32dlq4vauo2VXCCOFYkjIx_boQlXQ5BhCCg3I1i6vVhbPqw7YOrI7gDa7nMIRZs9DUpYpee_Z3cnFRXusn-ejnpC_NohJTb9rez9vjabzc3LNSg-4dRmTGnijuxw-FqXuLAo7dMUSg3puXkNTVNGo0lECGwwC3E-inO8pJZs/s320/IMG_0638.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVTefuqA75GsFIQBn-5uJfwpHBNN2L8gPi3ibj-BC3tuTT0izlDBz4GjOsrePPEOVnviwu94R9UlcEC37dLM-raHS6wIGcoPBsIkOZ29Iiu0c_o-UVNCqZWyGjKbj0YVs7DDbTkSgu36nreNswWpTa9WUGevnx2PUWfnb73OZizefIZNqiOOEdAEzZD0/s4032/IMG_0650.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVTefuqA75GsFIQBn-5uJfwpHBNN2L8gPi3ibj-BC3tuTT0izlDBz4GjOsrePPEOVnviwu94R9UlcEC37dLM-raHS6wIGcoPBsIkOZ29Iiu0c_o-UVNCqZWyGjKbj0YVs7DDbTkSgu36nreNswWpTa9WUGevnx2PUWfnb73OZizefIZNqiOOEdAEzZD0/s320/IMG_0650.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggAccbH8Psjt3b2KCpXTei7cp9WWHTfDL68XpO5_Px4gOEBpeP1h7KVPLLKNBI0mfZzV8bciRkjIwrggg4eJ8hds2F0_SCCAPok25PzF1c0VexfjW5W3KO_P7gz4CJy7mbzvWWptcRCAtnaQQ2s5VdWQllOHzew2heJBXRvN2FrThj5Uhzms7BvIGBBg/s3728/IMG_0654.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3728" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggAccbH8Psjt3b2KCpXTei7cp9WWHTfDL68XpO5_Px4gOEBpeP1h7KVPLLKNBI0mfZzV8bciRkjIwrggg4eJ8hds2F0_SCCAPok25PzF1c0VexfjW5W3KO_P7gz4CJy7mbzvWWptcRCAtnaQQ2s5VdWQllOHzew2heJBXRvN2FrThj5Uhzms7BvIGBBg/s320/IMG_0654.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-37957994963845367582023-06-18T09:49:00.002-07:002023-06-19T08:37:34.523-07:00Wild, Rugged, Remote<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEjZWDmwmT45gU3zBos1E70sEBO2raieo3s0TrneD3wrlbVML_4dpPYEelztwwLX9RbpbSp2Ou3pdNxixQ7oRp6GlN2x4f3TEgc4hPuUkMDYUGabnaWRbC8UKQoCOuiuQbdjYNWhHPmhPwTp_DxdrwDzDoisT6Fdb-_GEf5UdZ5z0jrD7huqnymP8/s4032/IMG_0603.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEjZWDmwmT45gU3zBos1E70sEBO2raieo3s0TrneD3wrlbVML_4dpPYEelztwwLX9RbpbSp2Ou3pdNxixQ7oRp6GlN2x4f3TEgc4hPuUkMDYUGabnaWRbC8UKQoCOuiuQbdjYNWhHPmhPwTp_DxdrwDzDoisT6Fdb-_GEf5UdZ5z0jrD7huqnymP8/s320/IMG_0603.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>If I were given the task of designing a national park, North Cascades National Park would be my model. There is only one paved road in the park (highway 20). This road traverses the park east to west and covers an area the size of Yellowstone. Built in 1972, the road only offers glimpses of the impassable gorges, snow capped peaks and glacier fed lakes in the 500,000 acre wilderness. To really “see” the park you have to walk. The park’s isolation and rugged terrain have kept human development to a minimum. It’s a hiking/backpacking paradise.<p></p><p>Because of the park’s 312 glaciers, it’s often referred to as the American Alps. Many of the lakes in the park are an unusual turquoise color caused by finely ground rock particles (commonly called glacier flour) deposited by glacial melt water. When you see these lakes it’s hard to believe they are 100% real, 0% filter; just nature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEVTP9Ydab5tL5wPc6VzdanyMyZaO10zG7EU7UpV390cVgl441dP_Cq0o9yRq3q_TTYh_f_Ko-43V9Us-ekEdfXq2MaxfNhOMg9c6XWTRWmZBgZJre196PAHZ-qGTrbHUIvaUej2NZ56hPe0ZuRm4iDDBmYW9TCZM06TQEpNw2YwNGQnSyDm_BhzE/s4032/IMG_0620.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEVTP9Ydab5tL5wPc6VzdanyMyZaO10zG7EU7UpV390cVgl441dP_Cq0o9yRq3q_TTYh_f_Ko-43V9Us-ekEdfXq2MaxfNhOMg9c6XWTRWmZBgZJre196PAHZ-qGTrbHUIvaUej2NZ56hPe0ZuRm4iDDBmYW9TCZM06TQEpNw2YwNGQnSyDm_BhzE/s320/IMG_0620.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsW4vc8ZylVXk6F8cLa2MYsf7M72BG0bfsngzr9BPLDT3LYlfgewDB_71yaU6flLDkkvxy55wWb545_dxSPtcrPKKnMBvKsNEP_d17MRM9P7K9hGWplVXmzH7mxF1WR-VZMi6xt5qkxe43SFJNk24oFA5fumgjnzpVPmZs2mA5CnZuFGcTs6DmhSw/s4032/IMG_0619.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsW4vc8ZylVXk6F8cLa2MYsf7M72BG0bfsngzr9BPLDT3LYlfgewDB_71yaU6flLDkkvxy55wWb545_dxSPtcrPKKnMBvKsNEP_d17MRM9P7K9hGWplVXmzH7mxF1WR-VZMi6xt5qkxe43SFJNk24oFA5fumgjnzpVPmZs2mA5CnZuFGcTs6DmhSw/s320/IMG_0619.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlap7MNk5TPunCnkFcZZ9UxXTpx9yAUdGQkzABnxZcz7TsdFjd4kicfo6UONhAG6GklmofHS9nkWnwG-LLdsQtqFI5fCwgE6T0CNx6WG7NdT7LNV6koERNx9kojrIfkRv2D4vwQYrseSp3RbblTb_SPEgpQjGyP0j5nLGk3iGbUjfjZOdZC3XgJXA/s4032/IMG_0605.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlap7MNk5TPunCnkFcZZ9UxXTpx9yAUdGQkzABnxZcz7TsdFjd4kicfo6UONhAG6GklmofHS9nkWnwG-LLdsQtqFI5fCwgE6T0CNx6WG7NdT7LNV6koERNx9kojrIfkRv2D4vwQYrseSp3RbblTb_SPEgpQjGyP0j5nLGk3iGbUjfjZOdZC3XgJXA/s320/IMG_0605.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-79497315645238283792023-06-11T10:45:00.006-07:002023-06-11T18:35:10.760-07:00Mountain and Music<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh2WLR1oj3ny03BM7C9GSzdk1CslYpjXzdp5sZGJJ0DXDOBxRqHNjZQy3zuQ9cF8S_zUxBqTPl4EELxOeGvTBS7Jd82dm5ULkd3TFSvX-e-FTnfoMkgQK_57VprrRS1uBm-Go3xSNWt3vxQJYQlPlUcMslVdb6xcV2WRgJ2jCfMw8cD7GkrGIFqJq/s4032/IMG_0590.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh2WLR1oj3ny03BM7C9GSzdk1CslYpjXzdp5sZGJJ0DXDOBxRqHNjZQy3zuQ9cF8S_zUxBqTPl4EELxOeGvTBS7Jd82dm5ULkd3TFSvX-e-FTnfoMkgQK_57VprrRS1uBm-Go3xSNWt3vxQJYQlPlUcMslVdb6xcV2WRgJ2jCfMw8cD7GkrGIFqJq/s320/IMG_0590.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>“Of all the fire mountains which like beacons, once blazed along the Pacific coast, Mount Rainier is the noblest.”- John Muir <p></p><p>Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in Washington and the most glaciated peak in the continuous US. We were hoping for a clear day, when we visited the national park, so we could really see it. We got one and were truly amazed by this “noble” mountain. Mark watched Starbaby so I could do a long hike in the park. I loved every mile.</p><p>Today is our last day in the area. We’ve had unusual, clear and sunny weather for our stay so we didn’t grumble yesterday when much needed rain came. We took the opportunity to meet longtime friends, Tom and Karen, for breakfast at a diner.</p><p>Tom knows more about music than most anyone I’ve ever known. He and I met on a music tour, sixteen years ago, in England. I was fascinated, at the time, by Tom’s music knowledge but also his brilliant idea of disposable clothes for traveling. Before a trip he gathers clothes whose life cycle is over; items from lost-n-found, thrift stores or his own closet.….just regular clothes to wear one last time before discarding. By the end of a trip his suitcase is practically empty and available for any new items he might have purchased in his travels; new clothes, souvenirs, music memorabilia.</p><p>Tom is also one of those rare people who possess a wealth of knowledge no one else seems to know. He told us at the end of our visit, we could probably pick up an AM station, on the radio, (where we are staying) called KBRD 680 that broadcasts a nostalgia format unlike any other radio station. The owner of KBRD (k-bird) started the station from his living room, 29 years ago, naming it after his bird, BJ. The goal was to preserve music from the first half of the 20th century. It’s like a music museum. Today, we’re listening to KBRD, and thankful for a lifestyle that allows us to discover so many new things while reconnecting with far away friends.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvjEZ4syMwtxB4l2tAIgUzZla0Ad93OaEN3Q864KtvYDAfvmnYSUHy-mv2owuyQnltH1F3xWhvLYCu7xI2lhltxT7uUkMf3ujb74ZILHef_3poGSVjgCDwcdV49-ctdR9RmFmQBtcaUPn2WW4_H8nzGqr4h1vYs2MpCq04H-4mPeqfGQ82xmBg74d/s4032/IMG_0584.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvjEZ4syMwtxB4l2tAIgUzZla0Ad93OaEN3Q864KtvYDAfvmnYSUHy-mv2owuyQnltH1F3xWhvLYCu7xI2lhltxT7uUkMf3ujb74ZILHef_3poGSVjgCDwcdV49-ctdR9RmFmQBtcaUPn2WW4_H8nzGqr4h1vYs2MpCq04H-4mPeqfGQ82xmBg74d/s320/IMG_0584.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJHitqH_DD_OtwRjGSmKeZKC6YMdnaa1qaYgQaAgNi4IHZCqQdzCqHUT92HatiALupDHhHefRqcqwS1LFJxJlwENTzq0UMkPvhhq0tnB94f_K-i4koNZmDdkEDZ5w0T7I-fHLVrDU8rsPKfXVXnGS87u9RHQ45Jw_cRKg6PRGxh9B7AsPq0xtkt7u/s4032/IMG_0592.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJHitqH_DD_OtwRjGSmKeZKC6YMdnaa1qaYgQaAgNi4IHZCqQdzCqHUT92HatiALupDHhHefRqcqwS1LFJxJlwENTzq0UMkPvhhq0tnB94f_K-i4koNZmDdkEDZ5w0T7I-fHLVrDU8rsPKfXVXnGS87u9RHQ45Jw_cRKg6PRGxh9B7AsPq0xtkt7u/s320/IMG_0592.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIeqSZD96UlG-FrbLJbsCNNWJO47uOrlGUFFWu-JE-nF4v7GQopO3ihDdHawdSiJ0YAFoXmcb8EBUVp4PhWqSVKC4ubR4xpDUY7r4Bo5T7rIeJjCAVzdj_j3zQUlZaZZ0fyuC1qptLWf_xvVLurC7qbER9nQ9xztGPcq57CBKGVL50FfW77glwz-G/s4032/IMG_0596.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIeqSZD96UlG-FrbLJbsCNNWJO47uOrlGUFFWu-JE-nF4v7GQopO3ihDdHawdSiJ0YAFoXmcb8EBUVp4PhWqSVKC4ubR4xpDUY7r4Bo5T7rIeJjCAVzdj_j3zQUlZaZZ0fyuC1qptLWf_xvVLurC7qbER9nQ9xztGPcq57CBKGVL50FfW77glwz-G/s320/IMG_0596.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-91551381145029308262023-06-05T18:45:00.001-07:002023-06-05T19:02:30.201-07:00Family <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDwFbT8IkPe_DXEZeHLuOc4VGCH_Q7gYIoOj13HXerDk8BMN-PJV-2BDpBabceJKWSz2K-sWbgHzMlto9Uixmw89iRzNlxT3Pnpw9ewQYT71dh_9EAISRkOn8JV-lESCgzRJJQ1s2WZla0RYhw4LpsSFmUGx6lhY1n7xHtC-5AhxjdAFfm-PuWXiu/s4032/IMG_0565.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDwFbT8IkPe_DXEZeHLuOc4VGCH_Q7gYIoOj13HXerDk8BMN-PJV-2BDpBabceJKWSz2K-sWbgHzMlto9Uixmw89iRzNlxT3Pnpw9ewQYT71dh_9EAISRkOn8JV-lESCgzRJJQ1s2WZla0RYhw4LpsSFmUGx6lhY1n7xHtC-5AhxjdAFfm-PuWXiu/s320/IMG_0565.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /> I’ve always loved comedian George Burns’s quote about family; “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” Of course it’s even better if it’s an interesting city. My cousin, Larry, and his wife, Janine, live in Olympia, the state capital of Washington. In our travels, Mark and I love visiting capital cities; especially the ones everyone almost always gets wrong on a U.S. State Capital quiz. You know the ones I’m referring to: Springfield, IL - Harrisburg, PA - Salem, OR - Lansing, MI - Raleigh, NC and Olympia, WA. Being invited to visit Larry and Janine allowed us to get a check mark for time spent in a hard to remember capital, but also presented the opportunity to see their beautiful home on the Puget Sound. We loved our afternoon with them; catching up over a delicious lunch, watching the tide come in and learning how to paddle board.<p></p><p>As I’ve noted before, Mark and I realize these road trips are mostly about the journey but it certainly makes the journey more enjoyable reaching destinations where family and friends make you feel part of something bigger than yourself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeKS4nHQkMBOTRWVobpKYsAu2WYgPSTffFIKCWWETdghjTKuEOnDByM6rgUDaz3afOSb1NBV4Ms7iQkcjzrNwdrnAVzR92A_h0VAqK4EIGcP-1S_g2DH4b_GxcbGiDaI2KOACYDqpSebC_HcOCmEcG4_Y-yxd-YzXeoCIvZ51Zr3KsvyjsfVWkSyW/s4032/IMG_0567.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeKS4nHQkMBOTRWVobpKYsAu2WYgPSTffFIKCWWETdghjTKuEOnDByM6rgUDaz3afOSb1NBV4Ms7iQkcjzrNwdrnAVzR92A_h0VAqK4EIGcP-1S_g2DH4b_GxcbGiDaI2KOACYDqpSebC_HcOCmEcG4_Y-yxd-YzXeoCIvZ51Zr3KsvyjsfVWkSyW/s320/IMG_0567.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFCGb_11lWqHMThLJNdAs3ojyMyCnD89a7E4ZUeX1rp5VMFmm__Vm7hBkvVj2fQmSJvzFnT47XrgcSDGl1xoz3xUUr_Pw592LViH_3A9dlsc8xr0kQeFKARXpYUFPUagygxnQCvRCPadv_Rb2Syf-hGgcEJYxApy1vU8doRcFsLnN_W2zfjsSEwZ6/s4032/IMG_0576.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFCGb_11lWqHMThLJNdAs3ojyMyCnD89a7E4ZUeX1rp5VMFmm__Vm7hBkvVj2fQmSJvzFnT47XrgcSDGl1xoz3xUUr_Pw592LViH_3A9dlsc8xr0kQeFKARXpYUFPUagygxnQCvRCPadv_Rb2Syf-hGgcEJYxApy1vU8doRcFsLnN_W2zfjsSEwZ6/s320/IMG_0576.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0JmadLw5w1fZE9pMoy75xynxwbrZ7jwD3Vi7R6e6xH4xuRV5KLixLEcydeAi6aL-gjcCQ8-_ObMOAV04HHcYjwku_ZNgiPM0eqZIedlpfbdsx3qUhWQ_-aJa2tys2To-jxufmSuZ8gEa1bLM9fA90lOZi3toVzPLMxKFwEjQE16FOWcxt-UkMGkR/s1878/IMG_7753.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1878" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0JmadLw5w1fZE9pMoy75xynxwbrZ7jwD3Vi7R6e6xH4xuRV5KLixLEcydeAi6aL-gjcCQ8-_ObMOAV04HHcYjwku_ZNgiPM0eqZIedlpfbdsx3qUhWQ_-aJa2tys2To-jxufmSuZ8gEa1bLM9fA90lOZi3toVzPLMxKFwEjQE16FOWcxt-UkMGkR/s320/IMG_7753.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsbfyXPR0uKv0yVdjStInSf5aV8NYwsqZRtjnVTYjXe8BkKPvj4Yyeo_tFMy9iq6CIQQOi6Ea92bRuhvDGCdwmm08PloxI2khHHKqcIID6bgvrM7LYOOntvzTA-pMrcjLsHLefBHtcotg6BYLz4RdxHImK5V0yVRQFdbPPe95_cF8txPrAMbBZZPZ/s1658/IMG_7752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1658" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsbfyXPR0uKv0yVdjStInSf5aV8NYwsqZRtjnVTYjXe8BkKPvj4Yyeo_tFMy9iq6CIQQOi6Ea92bRuhvDGCdwmm08PloxI2khHHKqcIID6bgvrM7LYOOntvzTA-pMrcjLsHLefBHtcotg6BYLz4RdxHImK5V0yVRQFdbPPe95_cF8txPrAMbBZZPZ/s320/IMG_7752.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-64843034298874395092023-06-04T07:15:00.001-07:002023-06-05T10:32:04.490-07:00Olympic <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4JmKxj9FofmVZWjorolomLFMFyp7vLIUKMGJ8p2vcZqIx9n3cPsb3wtBNfpE4iF05y5f1dZM3OhT-5YBEz1Il53dGATzsiRQ6WZD8w3_NhfzPxq_veMo7G3TLz236t65Ez-QQbfyU3fzcKCmGYiEYQ-ST07gFrgAc4gahBfkGIE7IUVEYUsP8Apz/s4032/IMG_0549.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4JmKxj9FofmVZWjorolomLFMFyp7vLIUKMGJ8p2vcZqIx9n3cPsb3wtBNfpE4iF05y5f1dZM3OhT-5YBEz1Il53dGATzsiRQ6WZD8w3_NhfzPxq_veMo7G3TLz236t65Ez-QQbfyU3fzcKCmGYiEYQ-ST07gFrgAc4gahBfkGIE7IUVEYUsP8Apz/s320/IMG_0549.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>This week we are “based” at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Air Force/Army base, outside Tacoma, Washington. We chose this location so we can do day trips to explore Olympic National Park northwest of us and Rainer National Park northeast. It’s also a central location where we hope to touch base with family and friends in the area.<p></p><p>Our first exploration, after getting settled here was in Olympic National Park. Very few places provide the diversity Olympic offers; dramatic undeveloped coastline, rugged mountains and enchanted forests. Since we’d just spent a week on the coast we decided to explore the Staircase wilderness area of the park where the Skokomish River flows through lush forests creating cascades and rapids. </p><p>There are ten named sections of Olympic park. The coastal area is comprised of Ozette, Mora and Kalaloch. Forests and big trees can be found at Elena, Sol Duc, Dosewallips and Staircase. The rain forests are Hoh and Quinault. Mountains and glaciers can be found at Hurricane Ridge. After reading over the list of the ten sections, I realize that other than Staircase, the only other section’s name I can pronounce, with confidence, is Hurricane Ridge. Because no roads go through the park, it’s difficult to explore more than one section in a day. That leaves nine more visits before we can say we’ve truly seen Olympic and plenty of time to download a pronunciation app.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfFifOKYmppQm7k96b3JsSBwnxPVmTkhOXWO1UWcfeXHb5DKZ2LGe1Vd17yY5a4JJ1ZH0bpqj38Dc2Y-u8jNADTBt9Ka5U4O6eDqqpi2mFOz6xTkIpK1ahHjjyl0Br7RnoUwt6WbhWafLLIEtORylecG0VdAUIHXezI4BqghE3pGR4p46Laix00MI/s4032/IMG_0548.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfFifOKYmppQm7k96b3JsSBwnxPVmTkhOXWO1UWcfeXHb5DKZ2LGe1Vd17yY5a4JJ1ZH0bpqj38Dc2Y-u8jNADTBt9Ka5U4O6eDqqpi2mFOz6xTkIpK1ahHjjyl0Br7RnoUwt6WbhWafLLIEtORylecG0VdAUIHXezI4BqghE3pGR4p46Laix00MI/s320/IMG_0548.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF-goPaj7Ye4zUBV1094BqGxP7t6qh5lxsUCRfTv-ofXTxzYqWPR-tiCWlhNKyvUBomj67zFqd6rX0vaSrczWsxcD9dEXbrMZEgxgkCtFISHaD5mrX6XRoXsnA_Czmx50OAynaVAMEhWrCmtDhhJqo-GMZZsW0f1-EHqtuosXozyMZ5p6650-zgmb/s4032/IMG_0555.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF-goPaj7Ye4zUBV1094BqGxP7t6qh5lxsUCRfTv-ofXTxzYqWPR-tiCWlhNKyvUBomj67zFqd6rX0vaSrczWsxcD9dEXbrMZEgxgkCtFISHaD5mrX6XRoXsnA_Czmx50OAynaVAMEhWrCmtDhhJqo-GMZZsW0f1-EHqtuosXozyMZ5p6650-zgmb/s320/IMG_0555.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeW_AN9G9iIXWmvLIRRG3lzcfCCPLbWP5_rivM7xusc0VUvm-OXJ_25zsR_hhe-RRdWt32xGcKShU7h16Qfikv5facBwGNxQrZU2lve9tU-4D173c36fJcFGX9L-ky7VxkQ4SYlvFlSOsUTreAXjlwTTlJvkJC0tZ16z1AqE4W8yDYoKMpQHcBYS1/s4032/IMG_0562.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeW_AN9G9iIXWmvLIRRG3lzcfCCPLbWP5_rivM7xusc0VUvm-OXJ_25zsR_hhe-RRdWt32xGcKShU7h16Qfikv5facBwGNxQrZU2lve9tU-4D173c36fJcFGX9L-ky7VxkQ4SYlvFlSOsUTreAXjlwTTlJvkJC0tZ16z1AqE4W8yDYoKMpQHcBYS1/s320/IMG_0562.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH9kLSi2gwn7xGiAG85p9RRiyEnEo7LU52zThzyzyvvjXsT_FBEhUU9wI4nUpOHQAHNf8nf7XOILtu8AxfvEosvzaPU8Y0-2sbkx-KxQavFNWMBvtZfeRAvvdwPiN4tIqhIjE4kDywWXVOaVGc0dHlYAX4xnNhRL6fVGQbjU38nmdeAiKWSdr17pk/s4032/IMG_0557.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH9kLSi2gwn7xGiAG85p9RRiyEnEo7LU52zThzyzyvvjXsT_FBEhUU9wI4nUpOHQAHNf8nf7XOILtu8AxfvEosvzaPU8Y0-2sbkx-KxQavFNWMBvtZfeRAvvdwPiN4tIqhIjE4kDywWXVOaVGc0dHlYAX4xnNhRL6fVGQbjU38nmdeAiKWSdr17pk/s320/IMG_0557.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-73500257668465482092023-05-27T13:36:00.001-07:002023-05-27T13:37:37.546-07:00Not a Disappointment <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwN4-_G2AOYBi_PuDIi_OMfaEOrbRHqAf3Rbglxgd-zRpzrQEWsHVZjYLx6a5DhrrcQ7QWl4Kj1oF0dak9ucrhvtXtrmLzbCU8UabTLGPjMSMPhRzBOS5ep1u2A7v2KWg7Ac_ISEJLd0dQ5rYNy5VTfQ95lO0lRuxQvsKAlI2jXkFo4kEyoG7ONEZc/s4032/IMG_0529.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwN4-_G2AOYBi_PuDIi_OMfaEOrbRHqAf3Rbglxgd-zRpzrQEWsHVZjYLx6a5DhrrcQ7QWl4Kj1oF0dak9ucrhvtXtrmLzbCU8UabTLGPjMSMPhRzBOS5ep1u2A7v2KWg7Ac_ISEJLd0dQ5rYNy5VTfQ95lO0lRuxQvsKAlI2jXkFo4kEyoG7ONEZc/s320/IMG_0529.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>We have made it as far west as we will go on this trip. We are camping at Cape Disappointment where the West Coast’s largest river (Columbia) meets the world’s largest ocean (Pacific). The cape got its name, in 1788, when a British captain was disappointed because of his inability to locate the river’s mouth.<p></p><p>Our visit here has been anything but a disappointment. This is the place Lewis and Clark ended their, three year, 4,000 mile, journey to the sea in 1806. It’s where you’ll find North Head lighthouse, one of the oldest functioning lighthouses on the Pacific coast. There’s also the Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail - a 17.3 mile out-and-back bike path that winds through the park and along the coast zigzagging through the dunes, grasses and trees.</p><p>This is what Mark and I call an epic park. It has everything we love; history, two miles of ocean beach, six miles of wooded hiking trails, two lighthouses and a biking trail. And I haven’t even touched on the small coastal towns you can explore just a few miles away. Plan to visit this place if you are ever in the area. You won’t be disappointed!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1msPQI5nKYLsvvFhnM6Mv7TwZ0dQwViQxNDennqoBpCfswQuCPjvsbdJlG_j-VMi2fCoTUjp-_TwiX9w24gH5XIac6Bt1dtdwkCFY7roarTcCmVqyJTF-dUe_qoyPWeprQ62HyqPwUYtSIdEmcqWxU-v9yqX5pN74L0VBj8ypjSJlBR_C-Jh4Qj6y/s4032/IMG_0516.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1msPQI5nKYLsvvFhnM6Mv7TwZ0dQwViQxNDennqoBpCfswQuCPjvsbdJlG_j-VMi2fCoTUjp-_TwiX9w24gH5XIac6Bt1dtdwkCFY7roarTcCmVqyJTF-dUe_qoyPWeprQ62HyqPwUYtSIdEmcqWxU-v9yqX5pN74L0VBj8ypjSJlBR_C-Jh4Qj6y/s320/IMG_0516.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR155heAaWt8Ae2Oq8H1RyG4hx2xrIB6ySXV_ITRDdcLaD67ofQHh6NvNRHOOLzLBc2bdKWCJ4g-hJ6TDzWQ-yi_1OUZ7KJBlGBRbVQO8CNc6mSTbxWlNYo-O_XDk0AogxuqK0UfNBo6mxVJ2KOZV7PCpKZeojQPrNW4Qa5pD0FXc3Si3iYeCLaB4M/s4032/IMG_0534.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR155heAaWt8Ae2Oq8H1RyG4hx2xrIB6ySXV_ITRDdcLaD67ofQHh6NvNRHOOLzLBc2bdKWCJ4g-hJ6TDzWQ-yi_1OUZ7KJBlGBRbVQO8CNc6mSTbxWlNYo-O_XDk0AogxuqK0UfNBo6mxVJ2KOZV7PCpKZeojQPrNW4Qa5pD0FXc3Si3iYeCLaB4M/s320/IMG_0534.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrEqN1bmr0-ZfM-QNyFLAUoThnj6oa6KVOxQXKIVHTDGPKl5d5kVyc5v0h86cmgxnIE0T3dgnrY0PrZ4JxbuFkfq2Ax5YbgfaZ70LFR5YHvy3Ba16VTumjAbw-8RWgh5feogkw4J8NeyXB1zH0IriVupcar1Ybtqo-_GB8eUm8T0bqDmB1NsRblRs/s4032/IMG_0526.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrEqN1bmr0-ZfM-QNyFLAUoThnj6oa6KVOxQXKIVHTDGPKl5d5kVyc5v0h86cmgxnIE0T3dgnrY0PrZ4JxbuFkfq2Ax5YbgfaZ70LFR5YHvy3Ba16VTumjAbw-8RWgh5feogkw4J8NeyXB1zH0IriVupcar1Ybtqo-_GB8eUm8T0bqDmB1NsRblRs/s320/IMG_0526.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTXQM2k2CDZUM7EQ4LkctwDpSeeAqstZdDl-IbkWLgnbDONK3onJV9D3aSNrxGrd16sg7FrWZ7_eQtCknU0ickWqudahvMdOyXpu7JyZP8KXNAS6w9ES6Q5xiGQ5Bc8adiVP8lqKbpS_6PEKc7-xCRE75A1PBvbwltDOsiGOGbcuIAp-Lp8pRT2zq/s4032/IMG_0538.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTXQM2k2CDZUM7EQ4LkctwDpSeeAqstZdDl-IbkWLgnbDONK3onJV9D3aSNrxGrd16sg7FrWZ7_eQtCknU0ickWqudahvMdOyXpu7JyZP8KXNAS6w9ES6Q5xiGQ5Bc8adiVP8lqKbpS_6PEKc7-xCRE75A1PBvbwltDOsiGOGbcuIAp-Lp8pRT2zq/s320/IMG_0538.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br />Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-38536728892239084952023-05-21T09:18:00.000-07:002023-05-21T09:18:05.894-07:00Simply Simpsons<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimglgototsbB--T2RWG2J-vB9Du9KL24DE1eAf2tAZO9dTz9pH2TFP4tEEgOhihrkRRQRGp6tkGOlZS4db1KpGHmKgV1ai_8qb0DbNO9RxZAwP1JkS95MpVIiCiMrfArgpL9O-RxWEg0J4V_hf62Dk_hgvDBxkn75Q_1lfzR21MWS1iIdCvFlsGIL_/s4032/IMG_7486.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimglgototsbB--T2RWG2J-vB9Du9KL24DE1eAf2tAZO9dTz9pH2TFP4tEEgOhihrkRRQRGp6tkGOlZS4db1KpGHmKgV1ai_8qb0DbNO9RxZAwP1JkS95MpVIiCiMrfArgpL9O-RxWEg0J4V_hf62Dk_hgvDBxkn75Q_1lfzR21MWS1iIdCvFlsGIL_/s320/IMG_7486.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>Three years ago we had the good fortune to spend over two months exploring Oregon. I loved every moment we spent on the coast and in the mountains. This year’s goal is to spend a large amount of time exploring Washington. With that in mind we find ourselves just passing through one of my favorite landscapes. But instead of lamenting about all the things we are going to miss seeing in Oregon I’d like to highlight, for my 12 year old grandson, Henry, one important thing we haven’t missed.<p></p><p>We are camping at The Willamettans, a private resort outside Springfield, Oregon. Springfield just happens to be the Springfield that the beloved cartoon “The Simpsons” was modeled after; according to the show’s creator, Matt Groening. Groening signed a plaque that hangs proudly in City Hall and designates the city as the “real” Springfield. There’s also an official mural that was installed downtown, in 2014, in collaboration with 20th Century Fox and Groening himself. At the murals dedication, the voice of Lisa, Yeardly Smith, presided over the event.</p><p>Since then, unofficial street art has appeared in alleys and along side streets celebrating Springfield’s fictional alter-ego. There are now over 26 tribute pieces to the Simpsons hidden around the city. We only found three of them but did discover another reason for a longer stay next time we’re in this beautiful state.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cOOoqnH02DGETJDdnepAxrgGkfd9zZtcqDksfl_qbYKVxEo2fq-UGEqGlITF_UfgPgxygsf4xemFf9BOGYbF1SvIJXq1TcI4lfACLPGo9J1Iv2OHAlh-_hFs0bzpcCZ1B0C3D5MpW1IjH32ke3CUqlY40EcnJOPyzhDscAbH0nuzHYSdjjp6AVEH/s4032/IMG_7492.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cOOoqnH02DGETJDdnepAxrgGkfd9zZtcqDksfl_qbYKVxEo2fq-UGEqGlITF_UfgPgxygsf4xemFf9BOGYbF1SvIJXq1TcI4lfACLPGo9J1Iv2OHAlh-_hFs0bzpcCZ1B0C3D5MpW1IjH32ke3CUqlY40EcnJOPyzhDscAbH0nuzHYSdjjp6AVEH/s320/IMG_7492.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD-DhpzD5S4Q4SQvCtKwrTfUdaaOZ7T5pWxLZODD_WnMkn5OpePam7pmZlTWtQOJIVWPLxyQXZRQxrtC6kgRl55DscoW_rX8BX3NH-4CMoauQS2TuaZ-nS-hzTxQTFzJBhP--uOrgIy7igubsjKixfRDk1zspo4CKq4vhq2KUMtJcUIv00Ga5S3Uk/s4032/IMG_7494.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD-DhpzD5S4Q4SQvCtKwrTfUdaaOZ7T5pWxLZODD_WnMkn5OpePam7pmZlTWtQOJIVWPLxyQXZRQxrtC6kgRl55DscoW_rX8BX3NH-4CMoauQS2TuaZ-nS-hzTxQTFzJBhP--uOrgIy7igubsjKixfRDk1zspo4CKq4vhq2KUMtJcUIv00Ga5S3Uk/s320/IMG_7494.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6qySpFFG7Ysbfpxyw4VGJcb3N5yugtJ-Xv0xv1NkfESdIvM__E3mz9ME4rHjA1qRGQ3hF-Lkg1DvQsKdPguQlQh62RYDg-KOxFTpfr9BRFNmZmfscZbzqNX2zThaAUxH9eSBM-eRUggvFwMwywZpK2sgTSPaZwHSs_gQ_a_sltpFVREwTsTbgoRm/s4032/IMG_0489.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6qySpFFG7Ysbfpxyw4VGJcb3N5yugtJ-Xv0xv1NkfESdIvM__E3mz9ME4rHjA1qRGQ3hF-Lkg1DvQsKdPguQlQh62RYDg-KOxFTpfr9BRFNmZmfscZbzqNX2zThaAUxH9eSBM-eRUggvFwMwywZpK2sgTSPaZwHSs_gQ_a_sltpFVREwTsTbgoRm/s320/IMG_0489.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-81828468677487647882023-05-15T14:24:00.001-07:002023-05-17T11:55:49.880-07:00Coastal Redwoods Part 2<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFLhXRGOGF6t5lQugQFVQ9g_DDfMeuf1AsjN9-MyJPHUC6D8qmRl4OZAbJezTFdsCbwVyeGFaZIqq9Z2uKwMIp1Kd4gICAg3oq2OuaAAsh8rvn52Q8ul64Z6aJPfnkovIdasGY71zA6VQRYKSlYd7-EbGxIaToA8-17AmhKzUq1ZD63AZR40msgwQ/s4032/IMG_0474.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFLhXRGOGF6t5lQugQFVQ9g_DDfMeuf1AsjN9-MyJPHUC6D8qmRl4OZAbJezTFdsCbwVyeGFaZIqq9Z2uKwMIp1Kd4gICAg3oq2OuaAAsh8rvn52Q8ul64Z6aJPfnkovIdasGY71zA6VQRYKSlYd7-EbGxIaToA8-17AmhKzUq1ZD63AZR40msgwQ/s320/IMG_0474.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>Another remarkable thing about Coastal Redwoods is the obvious fact that they cover the coastal mountains of Northern California. When you visit this area, you not only get to see these magnificent trees but there are also sandy beaches, meadows and even canyons to explore. We loved hiking through Fern Canyon with its 50 foot walls and seven kinds of ferns. (It actually served as a backdrop for one of the Jurassic World movies).<p></p><p>We’ve also enjoyed coastal hikes right from our campsite, fish-n-chips at the pier restaurant (Seascape) and spotting our first Roosevelt Elk!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSvtYWy_3j8sMtUCXXoS8lx5M77J-fcwd9Kye5sLUQTvQHhmY01S2mNxdFyIH08RzXW2uoyNE10dNxg20hebA3tsGQDkw4jxv57YAVvdurSnO-mvY8WqzuQ2ihxS-3p-XIhvhiRAoCPAtvBBoW3okfOiZAPFyT_p8RYfmWKiYRD0BdHiTcu3q_NV9/s4032/IMG_0452.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSvtYWy_3j8sMtUCXXoS8lx5M77J-fcwd9Kye5sLUQTvQHhmY01S2mNxdFyIH08RzXW2uoyNE10dNxg20hebA3tsGQDkw4jxv57YAVvdurSnO-mvY8WqzuQ2ihxS-3p-XIhvhiRAoCPAtvBBoW3okfOiZAPFyT_p8RYfmWKiYRD0BdHiTcu3q_NV9/s320/IMG_0452.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc6zp6M0JertqOzFbz9IUGey94tOzRwjZq1QuBdQ2lv3heWE7d1SMDsxfK-O2y4bPnlzs3uRPtYJ9cITvqroMa1Gr0cp4eK5iy84ftf0o7DCcmSQh_nFW287nCdg0w9CtTqT0SgxW1uTC9rimI3RSUGVK6I6TSRKsHXu_BSK31gHITwidbDGjdGLI/s4032/IMG_0418.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc6zp6M0JertqOzFbz9IUGey94tOzRwjZq1QuBdQ2lv3heWE7d1SMDsxfK-O2y4bPnlzs3uRPtYJ9cITvqroMa1Gr0cp4eK5iy84ftf0o7DCcmSQh_nFW287nCdg0w9CtTqT0SgxW1uTC9rimI3RSUGVK6I6TSRKsHXu_BSK31gHITwidbDGjdGLI/s320/IMG_0418.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKfiZp2ZuDwFPDSGpjnWfRgcnRQBXL5YebPTpENW1Zim88nwui9QdhqCPGxr04IIN3zwAH9c6vNP52hkdqZtk1DRARScoX9yJs8xSWjjSn151WsfXxpkRZAnRTE24-HOBnVRvNpuTw-PYfHf0Q6vL6cP_khR1wEaaQG4BKbp4t93U3eiyUgcY7Hkb/s550/IMG_0480.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="550" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKfiZp2ZuDwFPDSGpjnWfRgcnRQBXL5YebPTpENW1Zim88nwui9QdhqCPGxr04IIN3zwAH9c6vNP52hkdqZtk1DRARScoX9yJs8xSWjjSn151WsfXxpkRZAnRTE24-HOBnVRvNpuTw-PYfHf0Q6vL6cP_khR1wEaaQG4BKbp4t93U3eiyUgcY7Hkb/s320/IMG_0480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt3y0GewkjGQUJqiUMGnBoGRxhL-meW60Aq8XU-5NkqhJG21bob6qmTpHR0GwFQge_ElnUXzx2V6vrAtDNQrfQksHW2nq41FtUVzbAJklk_x4byUkbDSpq-8zflHIkmnw107viA3U8EXieLeX65idQ6c6lEsT9Ah0rS9277Lb7GbBx_bIn6ruFKKg/s1989/IMG_0481.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1989" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt3y0GewkjGQUJqiUMGnBoGRxhL-meW60Aq8XU-5NkqhJG21bob6qmTpHR0GwFQge_ElnUXzx2V6vrAtDNQrfQksHW2nq41FtUVzbAJklk_x4byUkbDSpq-8zflHIkmnw107viA3U8EXieLeX65idQ6c6lEsT9Ah0rS9277Lb7GbBx_bIn6ruFKKg/s320/IMG_0481.PNG" width="188" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-52999301988835704142023-05-15T14:03:00.000-07:002023-05-15T14:03:21.776-07:00Coastal Redwoods <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkaYkE73O4f5H9mWpdO7QF7-I-u1810vTwK1gkpOXhk47yXq_vwoob5cB1FSZEsJ8falWhyz1fGTHw748H8gkEBuoHz5SmxJMOKBghh39KhrVuDu5jThcCdAT-pRLanyks-VNbvnBMzi6KbxW-S-nJZgG4olaDWBkKl5NocCBEYUT_JJ9UL6cgWIx/s1170/IMG_0441.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1170" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkaYkE73O4f5H9mWpdO7QF7-I-u1810vTwK1gkpOXhk47yXq_vwoob5cB1FSZEsJ8falWhyz1fGTHw748H8gkEBuoHz5SmxJMOKBghh39KhrVuDu5jThcCdAT-pRLanyks-VNbvnBMzi6KbxW-S-nJZgG4olaDWBkKl5NocCBEYUT_JJ9UL6cgWIx/s320/IMG_0441.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>Coastal Redwoods are the tallest living thing on Earth; taller than the Statue of Liberty. Author, John Steinbeck, noted that, “no one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always.” The pictures I’m posting can’t possibly capture what it has been like spending the week in Redwood National and State Parks. We’ve driven through them, played disc golf and hiked among them and slept beneath them. I don’t have the words to describe the experience but maybe I can borrow the lyrics from an old Eagles song. We’ve had a “peaceful, easy feeling” all week long.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWIER3j5Dm4k6PhdXrkjl30wY1fcdr2B886FsG_pphlNM6919hS-Sfo1CdrfbgtdZH4Pmzj6QgA0AMgmfnFOnbpKCxIzEjduXO3_nQIz4fW6ZChevpbLIPmX9pNYabEf0IXLPasiArvHs-4tl_Hac45PO5ISsOyS2rCDkorADSbDjDLVr6mB7SECL/s4032/IMG_7383.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWIER3j5Dm4k6PhdXrkjl30wY1fcdr2B886FsG_pphlNM6919hS-Sfo1CdrfbgtdZH4Pmzj6QgA0AMgmfnFOnbpKCxIzEjduXO3_nQIz4fW6ZChevpbLIPmX9pNYabEf0IXLPasiArvHs-4tl_Hac45PO5ISsOyS2rCDkorADSbDjDLVr6mB7SECL/s320/IMG_7383.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oKZ9et2btzxyAttheJDlDf2XhaoPRWCrQ4dZPmn9QxKq_J2inZl1is_ZDjqdrzALcRCHBbk1kFOS8jPH-EIEEFFwzwNXGMdXwOcEoktapDR-0RdUB5qaDbqh78XeZRSXvxbL8uBKkj6ZGlRKHoQ4zO-ap8NYYbH-7ccS_5yRr4qJROTkms5DATC-/s4032/IMG_0470.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oKZ9et2btzxyAttheJDlDf2XhaoPRWCrQ4dZPmn9QxKq_J2inZl1is_ZDjqdrzALcRCHBbk1kFOS8jPH-EIEEFFwzwNXGMdXwOcEoktapDR-0RdUB5qaDbqh78XeZRSXvxbL8uBKkj6ZGlRKHoQ4zO-ap8NYYbH-7ccS_5yRr4qJROTkms5DATC-/s320/IMG_0470.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbky9DffaLVkrFS6HRfI5cq5--DQCyLH3KVsTlB5gJyfwXt8OnMabP0u4tYgWu6u1SYVtbFtyiYhRVBuC0Y9DADFwWnmFiS-41Tx8joLCS5VnNursEQOr9rCW1dbNWA5wdWHXRxqEEnxc8kyxR_s2fJ9xRspBkQeG2Xi6kd7uTtnwYawQvMH5LTti/s4032/IMG_0476.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbky9DffaLVkrFS6HRfI5cq5--DQCyLH3KVsTlB5gJyfwXt8OnMabP0u4tYgWu6u1SYVtbFtyiYhRVBuC0Y9DADFwWnmFiS-41Tx8joLCS5VnNursEQOr9rCW1dbNWA5wdWHXRxqEEnxc8kyxR_s2fJ9xRspBkQeG2Xi6kd7uTtnwYawQvMH5LTti/s320/IMG_0476.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-16903971562327206442023-05-11T14:29:00.004-07:002023-05-11T14:36:55.336-07:00Bigfoot<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPt22zMbFbIou3KkOddMBZTHLTgGtmGmmvGE3neQ5FIYdEepNwX6pLwFtqmBRgEeWvdOE0F23n9PV23yzavzo2qnAbGMjCxCJ7vy8v-UDQouVG6dOG4XLB7v0mPhfLbiprjg8N8yuriC5_KhTc4yVSI7VPtx7ulYps5c3A34xa-18pduWsRYa596T/s1170/IMG_0435.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1170" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPt22zMbFbIou3KkOddMBZTHLTgGtmGmmvGE3neQ5FIYdEepNwX6pLwFtqmBRgEeWvdOE0F23n9PV23yzavzo2qnAbGMjCxCJ7vy8v-UDQouVG6dOG4XLB7v0mPhfLbiprjg8N8yuriC5_KhTc4yVSI7VPtx7ulYps5c3A34xa-18pduWsRYa596T/s320/IMG_0435.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>After a week of snow, rain and cold temps, in Lassen National Forest, we headed for the California coast on Highway 299. This road travels through various canyons and along Trinity River and was one of the last major roads to be built in California. The route is remote and ranges from just above the river to climbing the canyon walls. The terrain is rugged and untouched. The curves seem to never end.<p></p><p>This region of Northern California is the unofficial home of Bigfoot with the most sightings to date. Situated on Hwy 299, the small town of Willow Creek is where the first widely reported Bigfoot sighting occurred in 1958. About nine years after the first encounter (1967) the infamous Patterson-Gimlin footage, of the creature walking across a clearing, was shot near Willow Creek. Today the official museum is located there. Whether or not that footage is authentic is still open for debate but there’s no denying it sparked an obsession with the Bigfoot legend that continues today. Perhaps the film has endured because it reminds us that no matter how old we get, there are some things in the world we can never know for sure.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBZxAObrDFBjD7MIAIywiD6nxvQ5eVLpEmdCNRh675UOkD2aZ-MCa2cGFV_QoofIvscfSceqvOB2LmpopQAlFGhnPlpIs8T0dA1Ks__lhhIsfuI1bEp4Y-bAFnvV2ONpEO9NuWPoyTVzv9LY7aFnKSxz8ZmOE1HSa9OWetVzcE8--dZ1yFbzjzGz6/s4032/IMG_0405.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBZxAObrDFBjD7MIAIywiD6nxvQ5eVLpEmdCNRh675UOkD2aZ-MCa2cGFV_QoofIvscfSceqvOB2LmpopQAlFGhnPlpIs8T0dA1Ks__lhhIsfuI1bEp4Y-bAFnvV2ONpEO9NuWPoyTVzv9LY7aFnKSxz8ZmOE1HSa9OWetVzcE8--dZ1yFbzjzGz6/s320/IMG_0405.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6lx0gcOIsCmmPyw1CBfQOvlytnDqG1hh6bjliNhHbpTbyRlt61N3WvBFR45VLV-dywRNDspOUc2AbLUbB7HXoFqi6QFBISp5glEm3-Kg_4rxg1hvO_o_NOQqS3IHTUgGsF8y0CLLYsI-2aPKm54-XAykPk2UG13QrBvU8cKmhQXtea14S-ItnZg_/s4032/IMG_7328.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6lx0gcOIsCmmPyw1CBfQOvlytnDqG1hh6bjliNhHbpTbyRlt61N3WvBFR45VLV-dywRNDspOUc2AbLUbB7HXoFqi6QFBISp5glEm3-Kg_4rxg1hvO_o_NOQqS3IHTUgGsF8y0CLLYsI-2aPKm54-XAykPk2UG13QrBvU8cKmhQXtea14S-ItnZg_/s320/IMG_7328.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQ18WN8Tz4vK8fJTaRfSZW9bT35NVcrQmDnfJAnQRkiEJs9rZJ335QAi9gKkeVLnrUo-A2vS5WupRkK0zucqOtVYLb-nMCjfQeUnfSWDPbrwJ0149mnPByelfKIYO4D_DzBInbZcSkpCmlNEwrWcBYyKAPnM9jciinRHfRoeXl6DNghaDXPC3fsZr/s4032/IMG_7324.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQ18WN8Tz4vK8fJTaRfSZW9bT35NVcrQmDnfJAnQRkiEJs9rZJ335QAi9gKkeVLnrUo-A2vS5WupRkK0zucqOtVYLb-nMCjfQeUnfSWDPbrwJ0149mnPByelfKIYO4D_DzBInbZcSkpCmlNEwrWcBYyKAPnM9jciinRHfRoeXl6DNghaDXPC3fsZr/s320/IMG_7324.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-85753324340167847912023-05-06T07:11:00.001-07:002023-05-06T07:21:07.906-07:00Volcanoes <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe6eFIvZOmYSh6Mu3Tf_zl6AvjlQuPR6lNCUhjZW0vPjKGLYZs-QHV8vVJwv37bzMHgfU9mFsuZERMoFTgtDF8p--wqMY9cCv77jn6ryx1mWFTCFQ-xfNMWrl-kdCkRRrZgdweExWdegtwHumWba-kkZCp34FxwN9YEnNHXJ4oin9dD4xdd5gy-V4/s4032/IMG_0373.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe6eFIvZOmYSh6Mu3Tf_zl6AvjlQuPR6lNCUhjZW0vPjKGLYZs-QHV8vVJwv37bzMHgfU9mFsuZERMoFTgtDF8p--wqMY9cCv77jn6ryx1mWFTCFQ-xfNMWrl-kdCkRRrZgdweExWdegtwHumWba-kkZCp34FxwN9YEnNHXJ4oin9dD4xdd5gy-V4/s320/IMG_0373.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>Leaving Nevada, we headed back into California and traveled over the infamous Donner Pass, near Truckee, CA. The unbelievable amount of snow, at the pass, added to the realism of the story of the lost Donner party; the wagon train that got off course and were stranded in the snow for 5 months in 1857. Eighty-one people were trapped. Forty-five survived but only after resorting to murder and cannibalism. Trying not to dwell too much on that sobering bit of American history, we pushed on to Living Springs Campground outside Lassen Volcanic National Park. We knew our visit here would be in the shoulder season of the park’s opening but this year’s unprecedented snow has made the area a bit of a ghost town. We decided to embrace the solitude and enjoy having a national park all to ourselves.<p></p><p>All four types of volcanoes, found in the entire world, are represented in Lassen; shield, plug dome, cinder cone and composite. We made our way to Lassen Peak, a plug dome volcano whose jagged features looked smooth due to the blankets of snow. Mt Lassen is the southern most active volcano in the Cascade Range and its last eruption was in 1915. I’ve always assumed a volcanic eruption is almost always a bad thing but a number of atmospheric scientists have attributed the cooler temperatures and increased rain and snowfall this year, that have drastically improved California’s drought status, to the 2022 eruption of an undersea volcano near China. </p><p>Anyway, after hiking around Manzanita Lake and checking out the campground and camp store, we understood why a large section of the park remains closed indefinitely. But at least a partial pathway has been cleared to the camp store ice machine!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcU7yv6UklU04EKkWKDFen7qS27VJnORJ3ge6efCdshXNljm8Xfe05EwMQzv7LFWIt28fgsH1AGhTQgdhvM_NWikTgcoqjBbEDZu0Fd-7IwWdPjuUcsmhZw_y-Nh1ZbRz6rhV-v8daLnn4GmPMejQt4XCbyOZKsP-ELMExlIrggACzNsOJgfbK2Xb/s4032/IMG_0390.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcU7yv6UklU04EKkWKDFen7qS27VJnORJ3ge6efCdshXNljm8Xfe05EwMQzv7LFWIt28fgsH1AGhTQgdhvM_NWikTgcoqjBbEDZu0Fd-7IwWdPjuUcsmhZw_y-Nh1ZbRz6rhV-v8daLnn4GmPMejQt4XCbyOZKsP-ELMExlIrggACzNsOJgfbK2Xb/s320/IMG_0390.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4uyKc48iifby35_9uHuX56kYmtg5fIQMJWaCRVx7gGjonTtNc1CO1GQtL8F8-N4LBLDJxtGwntM5IMIYTcMKzPikJBSFrVelaNqFBCTxAbSaQYc2XeZZC04NT2CfvANdS56gitslNNlzymH5ghmMCD3XKnDZ-mIxOi55FYOgFmHdLN8BTfpmunkc/s4032/IMG_0376.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4uyKc48iifby35_9uHuX56kYmtg5fIQMJWaCRVx7gGjonTtNc1CO1GQtL8F8-N4LBLDJxtGwntM5IMIYTcMKzPikJBSFrVelaNqFBCTxAbSaQYc2XeZZC04NT2CfvANdS56gitslNNlzymH5ghmMCD3XKnDZ-mIxOi55FYOgFmHdLN8BTfpmunkc/s320/IMG_0376.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRXrtcOLup560v7EBGNOmawk8mdd_53npQ2WznuX-6FXtv0Ngm5BaPFEtog1IGbWInjaK21NMSxDGc2-t8QkAAiqUjJCh8-mkSihZ6vnYJ-g7BIMOVuIgBFhX2YDnyiPAGtUCxFfvh7QainRnFkRPYKgz__9-SdFduOirzVk1AnmY12SBI7zcpw8x/s4032/IMG_0378.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRXrtcOLup560v7EBGNOmawk8mdd_53npQ2WznuX-6FXtv0Ngm5BaPFEtog1IGbWInjaK21NMSxDGc2-t8QkAAiqUjJCh8-mkSihZ6vnYJ-g7BIMOVuIgBFhX2YDnyiPAGtUCxFfvh7QainRnFkRPYKgz__9-SdFduOirzVk1AnmY12SBI7zcpw8x/s320/IMG_0378.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkWte6_Apt4qfm7Qhl4GcEuC3Ez556n80lwX8DYzVyad2iJNCsBZUvNHNzxHoyXNFiZZBgjNaf5ucpeOHjP0FcIQhwHBFGKgXNaFXcWGNgwQSEfxuGEsHovo0rBNXTx_WJLNhVEGA6A7BW4FL_vIA7rI4ZQUa64j8TojWe8c1295zca3LPdvizFMg/s4032/IMG_0385.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkWte6_Apt4qfm7Qhl4GcEuC3Ez556n80lwX8DYzVyad2iJNCsBZUvNHNzxHoyXNFiZZBgjNaf5ucpeOHjP0FcIQhwHBFGKgXNaFXcWGNgwQSEfxuGEsHovo0rBNXTx_WJLNhVEGA6A7BW4FL_vIA7rI4ZQUa64j8TojWe8c1295zca3LPdvizFMg/s320/IMG_0385.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br />Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2990763360222669887.post-78098218875150267692023-05-02T20:52:00.000-07:002023-05-02T20:52:38.734-07:00Enthusiastic <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHL8lHK0-jOaZxhOAYiV7vhVXcphnNLDa1lOgzPINDzEhliplkonRXeNODOJTb13Mr43rp3tK6y-0BK8CmLtCFmn3dnTZhfIu7x62DyPD3BjeC3bL003mYZI1ZAvMvYRFqNUDscyRXZd-Xnfa-ZZmyW1cTF-yf5zB2ZG_zjm0ufrBESxFxQVYzCun/s4030/IMG_0347.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2743" data-original-width="4030" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHL8lHK0-jOaZxhOAYiV7vhVXcphnNLDa1lOgzPINDzEhliplkonRXeNODOJTb13Mr43rp3tK6y-0BK8CmLtCFmn3dnTZhfIu7x62DyPD3BjeC3bL003mYZI1ZAvMvYRFqNUDscyRXZd-Xnfa-ZZmyW1cTF-yf5zB2ZG_zjm0ufrBESxFxQVYzCun/s320/IMG_0347.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>A friend, Jim Wofford, undertook the task over a year ago to write a story once a week. He’s an excellent writer with unique stories and I look forward to posts, from his website searchingdaylight.com every week. He recently posted a quote that resonated with me. “We spend our lives seeking comfort and security when what we really need is something to be enthusiastic about.”<p></p><p>I love our life on the road but it isn’t always easy or comfortable. Plans are often shifting because of things out of our control. With an unprecedented snowpack this year, in the California mountains, we traveled further north to avoid flooding from snowmelt but found plenty of snow at the picturesque park in Lake Tahoe where we’d planned to stay so we’ve ended up in an RV parking lot at a casino in Minden, Nevada. It might look and sound like a miserable Plan B but we are having such a good time here. Mark has gotten to play Texas Hold’em, in a “real” casino, and I’ve gotten to know Rick, our close in proximity campsite neighbor, who truly believes people are being abducted by aliens. According to Rick and his research (after reading the book “Missing 411”) one of the most dangerous places to go hiking in America is Yosemite National Park. Because of Rick and his enthusiasm for extraterrestrials, I was able to make peace with the fact Yosemite had delayed its opening and we hadn’t gotten to hike there. Instead, we found a beautiful, alien free trail to explore in the northern Sierra range.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-ti5KASjtgCuiZea9fFeOyPJVnllEXQFSp_UH5yWeydihQt_x45V6_tDZblOo97TxQ85upaUINo260QWeU93xu17My4DTUawaTq1cew0hjA66VeamavIKdtbXXTyMR1o8Azh2o8YkU17whnDXKeew3aSZN8R6n27gnaFw4lZTTsYy6diCcKkeomp/s1567/IMG_0370.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-ti5KASjtgCuiZea9fFeOyPJVnllEXQFSp_UH5yWeydihQt_x45V6_tDZblOo97TxQ85upaUINo260QWeU93xu17My4DTUawaTq1cew0hjA66VeamavIKdtbXXTyMR1o8Azh2o8YkU17whnDXKeew3aSZN8R6n27gnaFw4lZTTsYy6diCcKkeomp/s320/IMG_0370.PNG" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zY0QOQy_ebmBdhvtQSedt_oeqFB1hUSU-qbo1A8MNiXOTQIA-Q4-HiXWNRY_6w985vgMuuU_wBjiymRPqGzoVVcKZkepbESLc3A91xpTB_f1Mn9F87TwNBL0wgkGqpyEUOZ6n5YD_dWct71-HxEjp24OZWbLcM3fAxV8AHn61aSMj55kW9YVeKwn/s4032/IMG_0356.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zY0QOQy_ebmBdhvtQSedt_oeqFB1hUSU-qbo1A8MNiXOTQIA-Q4-HiXWNRY_6w985vgMuuU_wBjiymRPqGzoVVcKZkepbESLc3A91xpTB_f1Mn9F87TwNBL0wgkGqpyEUOZ6n5YD_dWct71-HxEjp24OZWbLcM3fAxV8AHn61aSMj55kW9YVeKwn/s320/IMG_0356.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMRAJcrSPrXQ_lIIhFMCcxveLunR0kB2-kQDhOjudu77fdNZlnK9_phhJtc05Mu3ifWzTjTgm2Hw-K_chaowWT-zGd-r7c0KNazSSQeDcQZmShps_WBOC15qTmBp43tS2KFzWKVe0uOQcpqa3OZ_Dyv4sS_wxv4w4GdQu-xHMZIedliWxJc5iEbxA/s4032/IMG_0360.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMRAJcrSPrXQ_lIIhFMCcxveLunR0kB2-kQDhOjudu77fdNZlnK9_phhJtc05Mu3ifWzTjTgm2Hw-K_chaowWT-zGd-r7c0KNazSSQeDcQZmShps_WBOC15qTmBp43tS2KFzWKVe0uOQcpqa3OZ_Dyv4sS_wxv4w4GdQu-xHMZIedliWxJc5iEbxA/s320/IMG_0360.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXiMLcEPGfAR0SylStIUzVIKBWtqIqqBlaoYjgesB2-UIfKrSSsFuqEi-WpNzGQXizJYDOBOpYxpwUxiypHrsZa6bPDgv2bgW-uQk6OaCaYs2-TICDAr38yMJnbLo2Yt1jLbptdnyS0fkwx7wd_rWo9sirkPJ-4VujN9XlcLxs0x5GK8SkFdRKvdZ/s4032/IMG_0357.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXiMLcEPGfAR0SylStIUzVIKBWtqIqqBlaoYjgesB2-UIfKrSSsFuqEi-WpNzGQXizJYDOBOpYxpwUxiypHrsZa6bPDgv2bgW-uQk6OaCaYs2-TICDAr38yMJnbLo2Yt1jLbptdnyS0fkwx7wd_rWo9sirkPJ-4VujN9XlcLxs0x5GK8SkFdRKvdZ/s320/IMG_0357.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br />Travels with Starbaby by Mickie Amundsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07371952301764767001noreply@blogger.com0