Off and at it!  But before I leave my story at Christina Lake I shall tell you about my last night there.  And before I tell you about my last night I must tell you about my last day.  As I mentioned yesterday I went on a hike on some rocky uneven ground.  One time I almost lost my balance when a rock rolled under my foot.  And did another little ankle two on the same foot a little later.  It was no problem.  It did not hurt when it happened nor afterward…UNTIL…I went to bed.  Now remember that I did not get up until 10:30 a.m. yesterday as mentioned in my yesterday’s blog.  Now fast forward to 10:00 p.m. last night.  Early bedtime for me during this trip.  I try to go to bed earlier on the night before a long drive.  I closed my eyes anticipating quick and deep sleep as I have done every single night on the road.  But alas, it was not to be.  First off, I was wide awake, probably from late awakening less than 12 hours previously.  I’m used to 17 hour days.  Then to top it off my ankle started hurting with a pain like I have never had before.  It was in the ankle bone on the outside of the foot.  It would come in a deep wave of pain, then subside.  It was so severe it literally took my breath away and caused my leg to jerk when it came.  It was constant pain, no pain, etc.  I didn’t know if I could stand it much longer.  It was now 11:00 p.m. and I had not been able to even think of sleeping with the pain so severe.  Then it was midnight and I was still awake and suffering but felt a little tiredness taking over.  I fell asleep, only to wake up at 12:31 a.m. for a potty stop and then back to bed.  I didn’t feel the pain any longer.  I’m almost asleep and I hear someone trying to get into my bedroom window.  I became wide awake and decided I was not going to lie in bed if someone was after me.  The house I was staying with is large and the bedrooms are separated into separate wings on opposite sides of the house.  There is no way my hosts would be able to hear what was going on.  I got out of bed and yelled out the window “Who is there”.  The noise immediately stopped.  I crept closer to my open window.  The entire window was open with just a screen on the ground level in a backyard in a country like setting.  No one to see and no one to hear.

After a minute the noise resumed and it wasn’t very quiet.  “Who’s there I called out again” and again the noise stopped.  I looked out and could see a figure on the compost bin.  It jumped off and in the dim light I thought it was a cougar.  Well, it looked up at me (from what I could barely see in the dark), jumped back up on the compost bin and then lunged at me scaring me to death.  I just had a screen between us on one end of the window.  I quickly closed the window when I realized it was the hugest raccoon I have ever seen in my life.  He was fearless!  He resumed his attempt at opening the tight trash can/compost lid.  He did it too.  I just told him to eat all he wanted but I was going back to bed.  By this time it was almost 1:00 a.m.  But…my ankle didn’t hurt and I had no trouble in going right back to sleep.

And then it is time to rise because I have a long driving trip ahead of me.  I get everything ready and pack my car and I take off for the long way around.  The long way took me through some of the most beautiful forest mounts I have yet seen.  The road was very curvy but fun to drive.  I only stopped for restroom stops and to eat once in the car.  Another reason why I wanted to go the long way was that so I would have more time to eat.  I needed to eat a lot before arriving to the boarder check to be readmitted back into the United States.  I didn’t want to have my food taken away from me.  They didn’t event ask me about what foods I had and believe it or not, I didn’t even say a word.  I made it across without a glitch.  And the longer drive was so worth it.  So beautiful and serene and jagged and powerful.  I never realized just how important mountains are to our survival.  The mountain tops are the depository for the accumulation that will last for months and up to a year in order to store frozen water for water consumption.  And now there is no snow and the rivers are drying up and people are still watering their lawns.  On the other hand I saw many places with water in abundance, lakes that are high, and rivers flowing nicely… for now.  Where is the water going to come from once the supply we have is gone?  The snow is melted, there is no more water trickling into the streams and rivers, yet the waters keep on being used up without hope of rain in the future.  I did see quite a few paces in Canada where the trees have died on that eastern facing rock.

Once I crossed over the border the terrain just seemed to be tamer.  The trees are different, more roads, more traffic. I was so impressed with Canadian roads.  All the ones I drove on were in impeccable condition.  They have so many bridges and hidden areas that it is difficult to describe all I saw today.  It was a wonderful driving day, clear and warm, no rain or winds.  Just beautiful sailing weather so to speak.  I said goodbye to an utterly beautiful place.  The forest has caught my heart.  Sorry Yosemite, I am two timing you!  I fell in love again.

And now I am here.  Here is Idaho in a beautiful little town in a beautiful area.  My nephew lives here and I came to visit him.  They have a two year old and a 2 month on baby, both girls.  My nephew’s wife has a son from a previous marriage who is with them half time.  Her son is delightful!  Such a please young fellow.  I am staying in a home that my nephew rents out.  His sister Ericka and her daughter drove up from California so we could spend time together.  Their father, David, came with Ericka.  Dave was once married to my sister Faith.  So I feel as if I am in the middle of a family reunion and enjoying every moment of it.  I will include some pics and their two little girls with parent’s permission.

It is late again, it has been a long day and I am falling asleep.  Must close again without a proofread.  I hope I get a little rest this week to get myself ready to head home.  I am wishing that my trip would go on longer but I know this must end.  It has been an absolutely wonderful run.  More about that later.

DAY IS DONE

Kathleen Martens

June 16, 2015

Day is done

With setting sun.

Sleep is next

I’ll not be vexed.

A long way

I have come

Now it is me

That is done.