Day 69. August 29, 2017. A Visit with Old Friends!

 This morning I remembered why I had told myself not to bother running over 7000 feet.  Pooh.  Had to stop a couple of times.  Ceilidh kept looking at me with that expression that said “Are you all right?’  I made it.  Tail tucked between my legs.  Live to run another day. 

Russ made me almost exactly the breakfast I was fantasizing about on my run.  An almost frittata of left over sausage, cheese, onions, tomatoes and eggs with a little Slap your Momma spice.  Oh and did I forget to mention?  A couple of pieces of his own bacon.  Lots of protein and just a bitty of fat.  Just what the doctor ordered. 

Breakfast over, we hit the road for Ketchum on the chance that we might meet up with Buzz and Luanne Mandeville.  I had no idea whether or not they were in town but I did know that if I failed to try to contact them, there would be hell to pay (or at least a few hurt feelings).  Cell service here is pitiful (part of the charm) but I managed to leave a message on Luanne’s phone and an hour later, upon entering an area close to Ketchum where there was service, I retrieved a voice mail from her saying that they would love to meet up with us, please call her back. 

Here are some photos from the trip south from Petitt Lake over Galena Pass.  We were blessed with very little smoke this morning.  Unfortunately the fires are still burning to the north east.


This one really spoke to me. I hope you can read it

 Turns out the Mandevilles were off to Shoshone, ID to settle some plans with a homeowner allowing them to hunt doves on her property.  We made plans to meet for lunch at Perry’s in Ketchum at 1 pm.  While we waited, Russ, Ceilidh and I took a little hike along the Big Wood River. 



Lunch was great.  Obviously a place frequented by the Mandevilles, the owner greeted them and us with particular gusto!  Afterwards we were invited back to their beautiful home in Ketchum which has the appearance of a “Tahoe home” such as the one they left in Alpine Meadows, CA with the added features of new kitchen and baths.  The most awesome thing about it was, of course, location – what would you expect from a real estate agent such as Luanne.  The place is situated at the end of a road and backs up to the mountains.  Super view out the living room windows of jagged peaks of mountains.  Luanne is in heaven.  She still skis and there is a bus that picks her up and the end of the street and drops her at the resort.

We got to see their brand new – to them – Lance cab-over camper.  They are so excited to use it this weekend as they are heading up to Yellowstone and Canada.  I guess our neighbors to the north are celebrating their National Park System Anniversary by allowing free camping.  Can you imagine how beautiful that will be?  I am already getting homesick for a new adventure.

We are back in camp now.  Getting ready for hot dogs (my choice) as our last camp meal.  Looking forward to our run to Elko tomorrow morning – 250 miles.  Made a reservation while I had service.  Good thing we did, the Burners have booked up everything in that town.  Should be an interesting journey.  Hopefully I can get this and the pictures I took uploaded then.

Here are just a few of our last night in primitive camp.  Missing it already.

Faithful Ceilidh

Sunset

Alpenglow over Pettit Lake

I thought it couldn't get any better.


Once again, I just must say how lucky we are to live in this beautiful place called the USA.  It has been such an awesome journey and given me a real hunger for exploration.  Too bad we have had to work all of our lives to get to the point where we have enough freedom to do this but then again, some really smart people have made this journey a priority and written this chapter earlier in their lives.  I’m lucky that the book has not ended just yet.

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