We spent ten wonderful days camping at Wallowa Lake, Oregon.  This is a magical place that we have camped at for the past 17 years.  This year we arrived earlier than previous years and the weather was cooler, we had rain and thunderstorms for the first five days, not all day,  just the afternoons.  The sound of thunder is impressive and makes you take notice at this elevation when you’re surrounded by 10,000 foot mountains.

Wallowa Lake looking south. photo by Holly Glenn.

Here is where we digitally disconnect and enjoy the simpler things, we rode our bikes, rode the Wallowa Lake Tramway to the top of Mount Howard then hiked the trails.

Mount Howard trails. photo by Holly Glenn.

We rented a pontoon boat at Wallowa Lake Marina,

photo by Holly Glenn

And played a round of mini golf (where I made a hole in one!),  and something new, we pedaled 12 miles on the railroad lines with Rail Riders.  I rode on the last unit with the guide (that’s my back pack on the right).  This unit is very heavy at 375 pounds, because it has a motor on the back in case anyone on the ride can’t make it back, they can be pushed back.  We never had to use the motor.  I can tell you that pedaling a unit this heavy is a workout, my legs were on fire by the time we got back to the station.  (My personal trainer would have been proud!)  The other units are 150 pounds which the kids rode and they made it all the way.  We had a great time and look forward to going again next year.

Rail Rider units. photo by Holly Glenn

We ate S’mores by the campfire, ice cream from the local soft serve and the BEST fish and chips at Glacier Grill.

We saw baby Ospreys in their nest.

photo by Holly Glenn

And baby Eagles testing their wings.

photo by Holly Glenn

While mom called and watched from a nearby tree.

photo by Holly Glenn

I brought a few art supplies for journaling and one afternoon created this color chart.

Most days I just captured the day in words and photographs, what we did, how I was feeling and doodled with the pens.

I read two books while we were there.  The first one was Badluck Way, A Year on the Ragged Edge of the West by Bryce Andrews.  A haunting memoir about a city man transformed into a rifle carrying, wolf pack tracking, cattle ranch hand living and working on a remote Montana ranch.  A view into his daily life, the progression of the seasons, the hard work that has to be done, no matter what, is truly amazing.

The second book, What Comes Next and How to Like It by Abigail Thomas.  Another memoir.  This is the first time I have read this author.  She is a master of the written word.  I have never felt so engaged with an author as I was with her.  Her life stories touched me deeply.  One of the many gold nuggets I wrote in my journal to ponder are these two sentences that she wrote in reference to her thirty year friendship with a man in her life.

“He remembers what I forgot and I remember what he forgets.  It’s too late for either of us to make another old friend.”

Chew on that for a bit.

And, I have a new joy toy.

38″ long board by Jaseboards.

Woohoo!!!  I’m a teenager again, riding the strand in Hermosa Beach.

Rock on with your bad self.