December Adventure Day 11 - Lake Coeur d’Alene to Butte, Montana

Met up with Hunter and Paul at the Higgins point boat ramp at 9 AM. Fish near Carlin Bay from hunters boat, trolling for Chinook salmon. Weather was nice, fishing was slow. Marked a lot of fish, and managed to real one in as we were bringing up the gear. Finished around 11 AM. Drove to Butte, Montana, and spent the night at the Walmart on reserve Street. Drove the remaining distance home, stopping in Sydney Nebraska at Cabela’s for the night. Home at 5 pm. 4000 miles.

December Adventure Day 10 ~ CDA

Austin and I made duck sausage this morning. Austin cooked up some breakfast. Met up with Fowler at the Coeur d’Alene Gun Club . Shot some five stand then had lunch at the Mexican Food Factory. Went to Black Sheep and picked up some gear for Kokanee fishing then back to the camper for the evening.

December Adventure Day 9 ~ CDA

Spent the day here in Coeur d’Alene, took Fry out to Blue Creek Bay for a hike. Went to lunch at Fisherman‘s. Did a little shopping, rounded up some supplies for making duck sausage. Cooked a venison backstrap for dinner at Austin and Carrie‘s house, then watched a movie.

December Adventure Day 8 ~ Moses Lake Duck Hunt to CDA

Up this morning at 4:30, met Josh and DJ at Ernie’s truckstop. Eric and JC also met us there. Did a caravan out to a cornfield east of Moses Lake. Muddy with light rain falling so we had to tote the decoys and gear from dry ground to the pit blind. Before daybreak, the ducks were circling the decoys. We had a great shoot; with 40 ducks at around 11 AM. We ate some lunch then got on the road headed east to Coeur d’Alene. Arrived at Austin’s around 3 PM. Now we are going to clean some birds!

December Adventure Day 7 ~ Tri Cities to Moses Lake

Spent the day today traveling around the Tri-Cities with Austin and G.G. We looked at most of the old houses that we have lived in. Also made a stop at Spudnuts and had lunch at Zips. Afternoon, Austin and I drove to Moses Lake and met up with our other hunters. Had dinner at the Porterhouse Steakhouse staying at the Comfort Suites on Kittleson Road. Up early tomorrow for our goose/duck hunt.

December Adventure Day 6 ~ Walla Walla to Tri Cities

Left the Hampton Inn this morning, drove up Mill Creek to our old cabin. Took some pictures and had a look around. Headed back toward Walla Walla, played nine holes of golf at Wine Valley. Light rain when we started turning into heavier rain, called it after nine holes. Stopped in Touchet for a burger. Then headed to the Tri-Cities. Parked the camper in Mom‘s driveway, had a good visit with family. Turned in around 10.

December Adventure Day 5 ~ Orofino Steelhead

Up this morning at 5, coffee and breakfast at the lodge. Fished above Lenore, back trolling, around 10 AM, Austin nearly landed a nice female steelhead after a good fight. Lost near the boat. I hooked and lost another after lunch. Steady cold rain most of the day. Guide, Jaden was a pleasure to fish with. Stopped in Dayton WA for some pizza, then on to Hampton Inn in Walla Walla.

December Adventure Day 4 ~ CDA to Orofino

Left from Austin’s house mid morning, heavy snow coming down. Roads are a mess. Stopped at North 40, Austin got rain gear. Took Highway 95 south to Lewiston, got some wings then headed up the river to Orofino. Secured our steelhead punch tags at the guide shop. The lodge is nice, perched above the river. 2 fishermen from Denver area and another from Lenexa also fishing tomorrow. Played cribbage with Austin, Lisa and Mel made dinner. Turned in at 8.

August Camper Tour ~ Day 4 ~ Dillon to Afton

Woke to an empty propane tank this morning. Got coffee at the Safeway then did laundry at the Clean Critters in Dillon. Arrived in Alpine Wy early afternoon. Stopped at a fabric / hardware store in Star Valley for some zippers and other items for Nans crochet project.

Scoped out the Star Valley Ranch golf community, not really the right deal for us.

Camped at Kodiak Mountain Resort in Afton. Nice newer facility. Hot, temp around 86 degrees.

August Camper Tour ~ Day 4 ~ Dillon to Afton

Woke to an empty propane tank this morning. Got coffee at the Safeway then did laundry at the Clean Critters in Dillon. Arrived in Alpine Wy early afternoon. Stopped at a fabric / hardware store in Star Valley for some zippers and other items for Nans crochet project.

Scoped out the Star Valley Ranch golf community, not really the right deal for us.

Camped at Kodiak Mountain Resort in Afton. Nice newer facility. Hot, temp around 86 degrees.

August Camper Tour ~ Day 3 ~ Sula to Dillon, MT

Up this morning at 7 after a good rest, 45 degrees in the camper. Fired up the heater while making coffee.

Rigged up the 7 foot Fenwick and fished the East Fork of the Bitterroot right at Camp Sula. Caught 3 cutthroat on a copper bead head nymph.

Kicked around camp and had some lunch before heading out to Bannack.

Toured Bannack State Park, interesting to see the old town and buildings. Took a fair number of pictures. Hot day and the dust made it feel authentic!

Arrived late to Dillon, checked in at Southside RV then went to Town & Country Grocery for supplies. Dinner and bed by 9:30.

August Camper Tour ~ Day 2 ~ Eureka to Sula, MT.

Up early this morning at Indian Springs, drove out to The Widerness Club to check out the facility. World class set up. Great venue for Cactus Cup in the future. Would like to return to Eureka again for fishing and camping.

Arrived at Big Sky Sporting Clays around 11, Sonya pulled targets on the blue course. Broke 86 of 100 with the new Beretta A-400.

Got to Camp Sula around 5, set up in spot 12. Cooked steak, salmon and rice for supper. Big rainbow trout swimming in pond next to our camp site, chipmunks have made friends with us. Bed around 9:30.

August Camper Tour - Day 1 ~ Eureka, Montana.

Met up with Austin and Carrie at Hey J’s Bistro in Liberty Lake last night for dinner. Excellent experience! Nan says one of the best restaurants ever! Amazing quality all the way through.

Slept at the Best Western Plus, up at 4 AM. Did some laundry then grabbed breakfast before we hit the road to Bonners Ferry.

Bonners Ferry Farmers Market ~ bought a few items then visited some of the local shops. A coffee and variety store, The Nest, an Art Gallery where we met Hanna and Sonya bought a print for our house. Made our way to the Boundary County Museum, very nice display of history, well worth the $5 admission.

Took a loop over a mountain road to look at a piece of property. Total klunk so we moved on.

Had lunch in the camper at Roosevelt Park in Troy, MT.

Drove through Libby, MT then along the river and lake all the way to Eureka, MT. Got some groceries and checked in at the Indian Springs RV Resort for the night.

Our first set up of the camper was a breeze. Campground is first class! Sonya doing crochet and I am writing this post. We plan to grill some steak and fish later. More exploring tomorrow.

NW Tour Day 24 ~ Muskies at Merritt Lake

8 am ~ Met fishing guide Sam at the launch, started trolling 4 lines with large diving plugs. Great weather, cool and windless.

First fish hit at noon on a 9 inch bait. Into the net. 37 niches and 14 pounds.

Second fish came at 3:30pm, nearly on the same spot as the first. 42” and 16 pounds. 12” bait, landed and released. Two fish day!

Packed up, got on the road about 4:30. Camped at Ansley, NE city park.

NW Tour Day 23 ~ North Platte to Merritt Lake

Frosty morning on the North Platte with temperature at 27 degrees. Packed up and headed out for Nebraska. Took state highway 18 over to Lusk, stopped for breakfast at The Outpost Cafe. Interesting watching a family of ten get situated for breakfast as I was leaving.

Took highway 20 across the top of Nebraska to Valentine. Stopped for fuel then drove down 97 to Merritt Lake. Filled the camper water then found a camping spot at Beeds Landing.

Fishing guide Sam stopped by after hunting sharp tail and prairie chickens with his two shorthairs. Sat in the camper and talked fishing, hunting and bird dogs. He headed out. Wound things up around 9.