July 31, 625 miles to Astoria
After spending nearly four days away from the vehicle and with family, getting back into the loop of things is challenging. Last Thursday, we stopped off in Donnelly, Idaho, were my Grandmother, aunt and cousin are spending the summer. They have a nice four-bedroom house near the lake, and we spend a lot of time swimming and catching up. On Saturday, I went flying in my aunt Amy’s airplane, into the mountains and canyons around the McCall area. It would have been nice to stay a few days longer, but we have a schedule to keep, so today, we set off for the Snake River canyon, and the Oregon border. After a couple of weeks in the high country, with cool temperatures, it was not enjoyable to find temperatures in the high 90s down in the canyon. And on top of the afternoon heat, we had a flat tire. Things got better when we reached the Oxbow dam and stopped for a recharge and a swim in the river. After that, we did a 17-mile slow climb up the Oregon side of the canyon to the town of Halfway. The town got its name back in pioneer days, when there was a logging camp at one end of the valley, and a mining camp at the other. They wanted to build a post office, but couldn’t agree where, so they but it half way in the middle. We are staying in a 120-year-old hotel that used to be a brothel, and some of the furniture looks original. WE are happy to be into the last state of the trip, but tired from the heat, so I’ll say goodnight and sign off for now.
Original furniture from the brothel huh? Well I hope the beds were not!! :-