We put in another full day of physical work today. Raked 13 sites, cleared and hauled away 4 garbage cans full of pine needles, made homemade fish stew and cleaned LilyPad. Phew…ready for dinner, a movie, put up the feet and drain a bottle of wine to the very last drop.
Still cautious about staying outside after dark to look for wildlife leaves us only early evening to spot something wild. Walking the park to greet our newbie’s turned up a fat fuzzy marmot who was interrupted from his lounging, spread eagle on top of tree stumps in the sun
several dozen geese who have chosen our little splotches of grass as their personal port-a-potties
some raptors out hunting for nesting materials to repair the goose disruptions
and fishing for their nesting family.
Ducks of all kinds land in quiet coves of the river, bobbing up and down fishing for hours before flapping off into the sunset.
Tonight the moon was eclipsed but the clouds hid the copper color. Very disappointing show considering we stayed up until 12:30 am to watch and rise early next morn to rake and clean 10 sites.
A scraggly little herd of Mule deer roam through our campsite when the sun comes out, which in Spokane, is a rarity.
On the way to the grocery, a local coyote was watching hikers and their dog from a few yards away, not an ounce of fear showing. John’s camera phone was all we had but you can tell how at ease he is with us so close to him as he intently watched the dog.
John and I have been trying for over a year to secure a host position in a local Texas State park near The Woodlands. It seems, unless someone dies, the same people are given positions year after year, Texan or not. Oregon limits volunteer hosts to three years so they don’t become overly possessive with the campground as does Washington.
Today I received an email accepting us for a position with Washington on the Brazos at Barrington Living Farm for December, January and February. John will dress in 1800’s garb and work on the farm with oxen, chickens, repairing fences, etc. I shall be working in jeans and a T-shirt at the Visitors Center answering questions. We have a wonderfully large full hook-up site and have first pick of positions for future years. Only an hour from The Woodlands. Finally we got our foot in the door for Texas State Parks…Go Team Perrella!
Our “time off” has been snippets here and there as our work load consumes most of the day and some of our evenings. Deciding to visit the whole 300 acres of Riverside Park, we took Ribbit and KatieBug on tour. First to the day use areas, not much but tables, garbage cans but with one fantastic view of the river. The dam by the Ranger Station had lots of rushing water and damp mist floating up into our faces but no Kodak moments. Docks for boat access are the main draw to the smaller Nine Mile Recreation Area camping, not as nice as ours and closed until next month.
We caught Little Spokane River Indian Painted Rock Trail between rain showers. Spokane Indians were colorful artists in comparison to the other petroglyphs we have seen.
Spokane House was closed but, having access to the Park’s gate keys, we looked both ways, swung open the gate, quickly snuck in and drove carefully down the long dirt road, both of us having expectations of old wooden structures filled with old timey trading post treasures.
Spokane House, the first American trade house in Spokane a.k.a. North West Company, opened in 1810. After war broke out in 1812, the American’s merged North West Company with longtime Canadian rival Hudson’s Bay Company. 1826 Spokane District Headquarters closed Spokane House and moved to Kettle Falls on the Columbia.
After a few minutes the road opened up to a sparsely treed field with a 1950’s building titled Spokane House Interpretive Center. No trading house in sight, we were utterly disappointed! Anticipation of private access to the first trading post belonging to a white man in Spokane vanished, no freedom to poke around the site at our leisure. Instead we took a picture of the locked building, let KatieBug out to pee, shook off the raindrops and drove back down the road, reopening the gate, locking it behind us.
Our last stop before returning to Bowl and Pitcher was the ORV, off road vehicle area. Wow…enormous region of dirt roads twisting over and around mountains designed for dirt bikes, ATV’s, motorcycles and trucks. Ribbit drove in, took one look at the mud and steep pitch of the roads and refused to continue. Spokane’s constant rain showers keep dogs and vehicles coated in various stages of muddiness…tomorrow both KatieBug and Ribbit get baths with mani/pedi’s.
Our tour took a total of two hours. Back at camp we greeted newbies, raked and cleaned sites, squeezed in a little TV in-between campers needing shower tokens and firewood, then sleep.
Early rising for photo ops after campground duties. Raptors have returned and are chasing the geese out of their nests to begin raising families.
We have multiple woodpeckers outside our window tap, tap, tapping out holes in the pines, curious but not bothered by our presence. Work camp duties finished out the day.
Woke up to rain, rain, go away…for the fifth day! Quick trip into town for groceries, a one hour stop in downtown Spokane to see the Spokane Riverfront Park Falls staying just minutes ahead of the downpour.
“The Joy of Running Together” sculpture of steel celebrates the Spokane tradition of Bloomsday, the largest timed road running race in the world.
A wild turkey having a nose to nose greeting with a young Mule deer on the hillside created an excellent Kodak moment on our return trip to camp. A relaxing dinner with our cousins before returning for our nighttime duties of dressing our faces in big friendly smiles for sales of firewood and shower tokens.
