July 26 - 31

In Northern Idaho for the last week of our trip with the boys. Bob has been following a great site on the web, freecampsites.net, and found us this little piece of paradise right on Rose Lake. There is only one site by the water, and fortunately we got here early enough in the day that it was wide open for us. There are a few other sites across the lake by the boat ramp, but they do not have the shade this one does, nor are they right on the water. After the last two weeks at Jellystone Park in Missoula, the quiet here is exactly what we needed. The boys ride their bikes up and down the dock, and so far, as of the time of day I am writing this, they haven’t ridden off the edge YET! They have waded out into the water, and cannonballed off the end of the long dock. Carson has tried his best to catch a fish with his hands. I don’t have the heart to tell him it probably won’t happen.

There is a huge sea hawk (osprey) nest right next to us and we watched as the mama flew over with a large fish for the babies’ dinner. Spreading and beating his/her wings, the baby is preparing for its first flight. Perhaps we will get to see it before we leave.

Bob has taken the jeep to Spokane, about an hour west of us. The generator is not working for some reason, and he is hoping to get the part to fix it. He thinks it may have been caused by a big power bump I had while he was gone on his motorcycle trip. I had to reset all the breakers, and plug in a box that controlled the power but it may have done damage anyway. Hoping for the best. He is so good at being able to fix most anything that has gone wrong, we are lucky for sure.

It is so peaceful and quiet here at this site. It is the perfect stop for our last one before putting the boys on the plane back to Sara and Travis. It is going to be so still when they are gone. Trying to ward off the sadness that will surely fill my thoughts the first days after they fly home. Six weeks have gone by in a blink.

Free campsite, approx. 20 miles east of Coeur d’lane, 3 miles south of I-90. BEAUTIFUL SITE, nestled in the pine trees overlooking Rose Lake. Site may not be available for much longer, talked with the State worker and he told us they are having way to much problems with vandalism and drugs. Such a shame, would love for others to experience this quiet and beauty.