I look out over Clark Canyon Reservoir from Camp Fortunate Overlook.
Our campsite is across the lake from the overlook.
The interpretive signs state that Sacajawea was reunited with her Lemhi Shoshoni people here, actually right in front of my campsite, at a place now under water. How happy she must have been to see her brother, Chief Cameahwait, after a separation of five years. Lewis and Clark stashed their canoes here. They traded for ponies and supplies for their trip over the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
A replica of a dugout canoe.
This historic reunion occurred August 17, 1805. Wait a minute! August 17th? Today’s August 17th! What a strange coincidence that I’m standing here over 200 years later on the very same date. Of all the days I could have driven up to this lookout . . . hmmm.
Not even mid-morning yet, and already it’s hot.
First thing this morning I take the crew down the lakeside road and let them out. They need some off-leash time to wander around. I take a few photos.
Freedom!
The campground is in the background.
After the jaunt through history at the lookout, we pass the $30 a night Thousand Trails campground ($15 with the member discount).
Gee, at least they could put up some shelters. No shade at all. I don’t think they get picnic tables either.
Driving across the dam we also cross the 45th parallel.
According to a sign on the dam we are halfway between the equator and the North Pole. Okay. That was a thrill. Now what?
Bridget and Spike are happy to go into their pen.
They haven’t had a morning nap yet and it’s cool underneath our shelter. I get some iced tea and a book, set myself up beside them, and read. Sometimes I sit and watch the weekend boaters come and go, including a sail –er, motor — er, sail boat.
Look closely … This guy believes in being prepared.
The campground is filling up, as usual, for the weekend.
Notice the smoke on the hills.
“Helloooo? Excuse me?” I hear a lady calling me.
She steps over the cord between the BLT and the PTV. “Sorry to bother you. I want to know about your dog pen. Where did you get it?”
I tell her I ordered it online from Mid-West Pets and give her some tips on how to pick the right one for her dog, which she hasn’t gotten yet. She and her husband are on their way back to Texas after visiting Alaska.
We don’t talk long because her husband is in the truck with the motor running. She does mention how nice our shelter is before going back to their truck and heading over to the brutal sunshine at the pay campground. Heh-heh. And it’s free here.
Our Camp Fortunate
After two very cool days, today is hot.
A Casita pulled into the campsite next to us last night.
Ken’s Casita is a 2008.
Ken from Utah is here with his son and granddaughter to do some fishing.
The smoke is visible on the mountains. We aren’t aware of it here. Bridget and Spike sleep away the day in their pen. I read, watch the birds flying over the water, read and respond to anniversary wishes, and putz around doing very little. By email I receive word that the vehicle registrations were mailed yesterday, the 16th, so maybe they’ll arrive on Monday, the 20th. We have to leave this 14-day limit campground by Tuesday.
Photo taken from the overlook
I need to make a decision.
Should the crew and I camp on the rivers, lakes, and mountains along the Montana/Wyoming border before moseying south through Idaho and/or Utah to our winter camp in southern Arizona?
Or should we take a more ambitious route, heading west across Idaho into Oregon, all the way to the Pacific, eventually following the coast southward and turning east to Arizona for the winter? Dodging fire and smoke no matter which way we go.
And if I decide to drive to the Pacific, what route should we take? Gee, woman, what’s the big deal? It’s not like you’re Lewis or Clark or something, blazing a trail through unmapped territory in the early 1800s!
rvsue
Canine Corner: “Our Outdoor Room” by Bridget
Our outdoor room
I don’t like the term “exercise pen.” Spike and I have never exercised in it, and we don’t plan on exercising in it ever.
I’d like to share with you some of the things rvsue does to make our outdoor room more comfortable. You could use these tips with your dogs. Set up the outdoor room so there’s sunshine and shade. One thing I like is rvsue puts our dog bed in it. Spike thinks it’s his dog bed, but never mind him. She also folds up an old quilt and puts that in it, too. I like to scratch and paw around in that to make my own personalized nap spot.
You know those carpet squares you can get at the dollar store? We have those scattered around so I don’t have to sit on stones or get my bottom dirty. Spike usually lies in the dirt. They also come in handy when it’s time to set up or break camp, because rvsue uses them to kneel on when she does the chains or puts the stabilizer jacks down. Oh, I almost forgot. Remember to put down a water dish for your dogs. If you want to throw some treats in, too, that would be nice, although rvsue NEVER does!
rvsue and her canine crew 