AUGUST 2017

TRAVEL TO IDAHO TO VIEW ECLIPSE

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August 17, 2017 - August 25, 2017

Published August 27, 2017

Wow! A total Solar Eclipse all across the US - first time in 99 years that this has happened, and I had never seen a full solar eclipse, so I decided to go for it. My Toyota Motorhome friends had organized some campsites at Ponderosa State Park in McCall Idaho, so I joined them. Even though in June I sold my Toyota and purchased an RPod travel trailer, I was still welcome as an "SOB" (Some Other Brand - LOL).

This was a relatively quick trip for me, and I drove 200 miles most days, and 300 miles the last day. But my new Chevrolet Colorado truck goes much faster over mountains than the Toyota did, so that helped. First night I camped at Wenatchee River County Park, a lovely park, full of metal sculptures. Then I spent two nights at Hells Gate State Park in Idaho, before heading to Ponderosa State Park in McCall ID. There were about 15 of us, plus Gail Frasier's son Jordan and wife Jennifer and their two daughters. We drove south to Cascade Lake where Jordan had a campsite. Jordan had several high power telescopes - one was automated to track the sun and had two camera's attached to it! I've included a few of his wonderful photos. I decided that for such a short event (the totality of the eclipse lasted only 2 minutes) that I would not try to photograph it, but just enjoy. Yes, it was wonderful! We were out in the open with clear skies. The light gradually got dimmer - kind of like dusk, but with a different sort of glow - and the temperature dropped so that we all put our jackets on. During the 2 minutes of totality you could look directly at the sun. Amazing! We stayed until the sun was fully uncovered, then stopped in the town. Traffic returning to McCall was a bit slower, but not bad.

The night after the eclipse we went to Jordan's Sushi restaurant in McCall. The next day I headed west, first to La Grande OR then to Mosier OR to visit Kristin McNall, daughter of my dear friends Carl and Milan. We used to baby sit for her and her siblings in the 70's and 80's in the Bay Area! Spent the last night at Camping World in Burlington before spending Friday doing errands - including a vet visit for Sunna and parking the trailer in Anacortes at a storage facility (saves me a lot of money on ferry fares!), Costco, and the dog park. Then home again.

Ann

 

First stop in Burlington - met Kelley for breakfast before heading out.

So realistic!

Above: Even the bathroom had sculptures on it!

I couldn't miss the opportunity to stop here, had never been here before. Notice the rainbow in the first picture. And the striking basalt cliffs all around. Remember these were taken in August. You can see how much larger the volume of water is by the width of the stains on the rocks!

Sunset - first night.

We walked up in the hills above the Snake River. Very hot and dry. Couldn't believe these flowers were in full bloom at this time of year!

It was so hot we didn't go the whole distance to see the basalt formations. Sunna cooled off in the river. Below, boat pulling a big inner tube. Fun!

These 3 Osprey were so noisy I just had to see what they were doing. Below, outside the visitor's center.

Here we are at Cascade Lake waiting for the eclipse.

Official group portrait

My photos (above and below). I'm really proud of the one above at full totality. Below, you can see that it was almost dark.

Below are Jordan's amazing photos.

Below: at Ponderosa State Park. I made cinnamon rolls on Tuesday morning. It's an Rpod "rite of passage" to show that I figured out how to use the convection oven. Fortunately I had lots of help eating them!

All gone!

 

Above and below: We drove out to the end of the Peninsula in Ponderosa State park. The last part was a rough gravel road, RVs not recommended, but my 4WD truck did great! Walked up to the top of the lookout where the basalt cliffs were dramatic.

Driving along the Columbia River, with Mt. Hood straight ahead.

My nav system recommended I save time by taking this winding road over the mountain to Kristin's house. Probably didn't save any time, but it was a nice viewpoint. That road below is what we just drove up!

I didn't notice until I was showing this photo in a slideshow for folks on Lopez. Look at what's written on the road at the top of the curve.AWWWWWWW!!

Parked at Kristin's house. Below, Sunna and Ellie, her new best friend!

Sunset from Kristin's

Krisin McNall with Sunna and Ellie.
Watch the Video of Sunna and Ellie playing - they were at it non-stop! I've never seen Sunna play so much with another dog!

Sunna and I had a lovely visit - now we're ready to head home!

Above: Mt.. Adams. Below: Mt. Adams again, with just a sliver of snow covered Mt. Rainier on the right. And Mt. St. Helens just peeking up to the right and behind the hill in the middle.