Because of the holiday this week, Chris got some extra time off. We decided to use one of those days to do some more exploring. So, we got up way too early, packed everyone into the car, and headed north. We had written down some properties we wanted to take a look at. Our target destination was White Bird, Idaho. The maps said it would take about 4 hours to get there.
Scenery once the sun came up. There were little puffs of clouds nestled among the hills. Still not sure what the story was with that. Maybe hot springs around?
First stop of the trip - Little Lady threw up. We have established she doesn't do well with twisty mountain roads - especially after drinking milk. She had started the complaints to get out of her seat nice and early on this trip, so we had given her the dvd player to watch. (To clarify, she wasn't asking to get out because she didn't feel well, she just hasn't been big on her seat lately - she wants to sit up front with us.) She puked right on the dvd player. I heard it and turned to look at her while Chris pulled over. She didn't even look away from the movie - then puked on it again. This is why I don't like her watching that stuff - she wasn't even fazed by throwing up......just continued watching her movie. Zombie........
But hey - nice scenery to clean up vomit!
He was happy to get out and stretch too. I tried feeding him a bottle I pumped before we left while we were in the car - those fun Mama acrobatics of reaching back from the front seat while strapped in. He wasn't into that very much. He seems to be weirded out if I try to give him a bottle.
Breakfast sandwich with a MASSIVE pile of potatoes. Hey - it's Idaho.
Chris got a side of "those" potatoes. The side was big enough to be an entire meal!
Very nice presentation of the oatmeal. Chris said it was excellent. Well done McCall Pancake House. Well done.
Passing the lake in McCall. You can see snow covered mountains in the distance. Almost time to start ski season! I think McCall officially opens Thanksgiving weekend. The mountains are supposed to get a nice snow storm too - perfect timing for them!
More mountains in the distance.
Look at the mountain with snow. Can you see how it just disappears into the clouds? You couldn't see the top of it.
Coming up to different landscape again. Huge mountains with scarce tree coverage. We had the nice view of a trailer full of porta-potties for a long time.....lovely.
Look at that mountain. Look at the car/truck in the other lane - it is MUCH closer to us than that mountain, use that for perspective. It is hard to really see and understand the scale of this stuff from pictures. It is amazing.
Driving through Riggins, Idaho. Very cute little town - and much cheaper gas than Boise. Even filling up at the gas station was a nice experience, everyone saying hello and giving friendly smiles. This is by the beginning of Hells Canyon - hence the enormous mountains. Hells Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon.
Again, look at those mountains.
Beautiful river.
We made it to White Bird! So a supposed 4 hour drive takes at least 6 hours when you have children.
Um - there is a boat up there by that house. It was painted to match the house and everything. I guess they are ready for the great floods?
After being woken up at 6 am, she finally fell asleep - for like a half hour. She dropped her snack and everything. She is draped in odd blankets because her seat had vomit all over it. Did I mention our drive smelled?
So we then started looking at the properties. We drove up....up.....up. And up some more. On narrow dirt roads where we slid around each turn and the roads were bumpy and nerve wracking. Remember those pictures showing how tall the mountains were?
Well - think of how high this road is then. There is, obviously, no guard rail and no shoulder on the side. Just a straight drop down, where your car would roll over and over and over. I eventually freaked out and had a full blown panic attack. Never had one before. I was so worried that a car would come around a turn and force us off the road and my babies would be seriously injured or worse. Chris found a spot to turn around and we went back down - so two properties were off the list. I couldn't even handle the drive to them.
It seemed like every three minutes Chris was spotting a deer. Can you see the deer in this picture?
There they are.
More views. And think of what is over the side of that road....yeah, I couldn't stop thinking of that....
We also looked at a property that had been in a fire in 2007. It was interesting, but would need lots of clean up. It wouldn't be safe for the kids to play around either.
Having a blast after a feeding break while Papa hiked around one of the properties. This little man is seriously so happy sometimes. He is getting much less fussy as he is getting older and gives the best BIG smiles!
Eventually it was time to start heading back home. We had a long drive ahead of us. One last shot of the scenery.
We stopped again in McCall for some dinner and continued our pitch black rainy drive. When we got to around Horseshoe Bend, along the Payette river, we saw tons of emergency lights ahead of us. There were police, fire trucks and a life flight ambulance. We slowed to a stop. It is only a two lane highway, so we had to wait until we were directed to proceed. Once we were able to go, we saw an SUV being pulled up from the side. Someone had gone off the road and into the river. We all said a prayer for the driver and their family, not knowing what the final result.
About ten minutes down the road there was a car stopped in the middle of the road and he was flagging drivers down. When we reached him he asked if we had a firearm. The care in front of him had hit a deer and it needed to be put down. Well, wouldn't you know, Chris had brought one along. We pulled over and up a bit and I turned on some music on my phone for Little Lady and handed it to her for her to look at. I didn't want her seeing what was going on. Chris went out and put the deer out of it's misery. Yes - on the side of the road, he discharged a weapon. And of course a cop that was leaving the previous accident pulled up right then. Of course, I started worrying he was going to get in trouble. Nope. He just wanted to know what happened - didn't want to see Chris' concealed carry permit or anything. Heck - if it isn't concealed, you don't need anything. Idaho is an open carry state. If it is visible, you can carry anywhere (except certain government buildings and anywhere a private business asks you not to). Chris researched the gun and hunting laws before we moved here and as of July 1st you can take deer that are hit by vehicles with you, before then you had to leave them on the side of the road. The cop just took a picture to document it and was on his way. Before he left, Chris asked him how the person in the accident was. The driver, and his dog, didn't make it. The gentleman that flagged us down didn't eat venison, so Chris decided we were going to take it. They tossed it up onto the roof of our truck. Oh boy - I can't even explain the emotions of that evening. It was just too much. Having that panic attack, then seeing a car that had been through exactly what my fear was, then seeing a deer in pain on the side of the road, then my husband putting it out of its misery, and then hearing it tossed up on the roof. Too much for one night. On the bright side, we were going to make sure that deer's life did not go to waste. Chris processed it that evening when we got home. It was only hit in the front, so there was lots of good meat. Chris brought a huge tenderloin to one of his coworkers who is preparing it for his family for Thanksgiving.
Papa showed Little Lady how to make ground.
So our adventure was an educational trip for us with a rather unexpected evening, but we decided to use it as an opportunity to help another family. It was also a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and that "we aren't in Kansas anymore." Once you're out of the city, everything is so different. Much easier to get away and escape. Idaho is big and beautiful and amazing, but with that comes the reality and dangers of the wilderness.
Let's end this with a smile........
......and a chubby, bubby 8 week old Little Man!
