BlazingWest

OK … after the mountains, how about a longer trip at lakeside?  All this “testing” sounds like an excuse for getting on the road – do you think? Lake Roosevelt is always close, and the Evans campground is just $2.50. It’s huge, with very few campers, and has great WiFi. So, I can work too!

The water is low …

The lake is low … I guess they’re keeping it low for the winter runoff to come.  This is a peaceful time though, and the temperature is mild.  It’s going to be a clear evening – time for some steaming hot tea and a good book.

I never get tired of the sunsets …

Cool lake breezes, sunsets without a lot of color, all pointing toward an evening of relaxation.

I really, really never get tired of the sunsets …

Corned beef hash and eggs …

… served up on those cast iron skillets – very hot!  Yum.

And another day in the West!

Yes, work did get done …

It’s sometimes hard to work with a view like this. We certainly enjoyed winter, and were amazed at the glorious beauty of that time of year … but this budding of spring is pretty astounding too!   Will it last … remember, we are in Washington.  Robert Frost noted in “Spring Pools”,

The trees that have it in their pent-up buds
To darken nature and be summer woods -
Let them think twice before they use their powers
To blot out and drink up and sweep away
These flowery waters and these watery flowers
From snow that melted only yesterday.

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We’re trying to squeeze the last bit of winter pleasure out before it’s gone … so we’re off to do work in the country-side.  Mild weather is all around … high 30′s in the daytime, high 20′s at night – a harbinger of warmth just around the corner.

This is what we’re greeted with in the first evening …

Time to quickly settle in …

… and watch the sun settle in the west.

Then, finally to come inside.

The view out the door …

Peaceful it is … again at Lake Roosevelt, on our own private island.  I don’t know what it is that keeps everyone else away – but we are alone here.  ”The only other sound’s the sweep of easy wind and downy flake.”

As always, great WiFi connection to get some work done.  Then a candlelight dinner of tender BBQ pork chops (from Ernie … courtesy of our local farming friends.  Actually, Ernie is – was – the name of the pig, not the name of our friends), a giant salad, steaming hot tea and a few hands of gin rummy.  Sleep comes easy.

In the morning, those pesky Canadian Geese are up and at ‘em … hundreds of them all talking at once.

Time for a brisk stroll with a cuppa …

… and watch the fog burn off as it drifts away.

Wintery feel, but the look of spring.

Work continues on inside the house …

… and even though the view is stunning, time passes as we pursue those deadlines …

… over countless cups of tea …

… as lunch turns into dinner, and afternoon to evening again.

Work punctuated by forays into the woods.

… and evening falls again.

With the passing of winter comes those most feared words in the English language: “Spring Cleaning”.  When this trip is done, it’ll be time to prep the TC for the next year … clean and prep all the machinery; check all the insulation, seals, connections; start (and hopefully finish) all those TC related projects that are in the queue.  Oh, that winter would last a little longer!!  But the next day brings that “look” of finality to the winter season.

The bright springtime sunshine …

… the snow receding yet further …

… the early afternoon warmth.

Now ya gotta love the look of spring … it’s just the list of projects that come along with it that make us want to linger in the wintertime.  Robert Frost penned these words:

“O, cease to heed the glamour
That blinds your foolish eyes,
Look upward to the glitter
Of stars in God’s clear skies.”

Well, this is the view ahead … down the road of the unexpected.

Let’s go …

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This is not about pinched pennies, or squeezed nickles … it’s about cramped quarters!  As in campsite cramped quarters, that is.  One of the campgrounds along the stunning Lake Roosevelt NRA is called North Gorge.  There’s only a handful of sites, and most are tent sites.  Not much room to drive in – only large enough for a TC for sure.

4×4 is good!

No space to turn around at the other end of this road (which is just around the corner).  There’s a great TC spot right at the top of the hill, then a couple of others on the backside, looking toward the lake.  We went for the backside.

Talk about hidden away …

Very short paths over the rocks bring you to some real places of solitude!  There’s NO signal here (no WiFi, no cell signal) … bring a book or some offline work.  We brought both.

Step outside for peace and quiet.

Of course, it’s like all other winter campgrounds – it’s completely empty.  Only the park ranger comes by a couple of times a day.

This rocky outcropping has a view.

Gotta recommend this for a getaway location!

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I’ve said it before, and I guess I have to say it again: winter camping rocks.  Beautiful choice locations with total privacy.  This particular campground is named Evans Campground.  It is another of those amazing sites on Lake Roosevelt – well-kept, nicely situated, open year around, inexpensive and with abundant facilities.  No hookups though, so bring your own water and electricity.    Many have RV dump stations (though unavailable in the winter).

Well, here we are continuing our winter camping excursion.  WiFi signal reaches here … which is important to those, like us, who work for a living over the internet.

Would you like an office here?

As usual in the winter, there are many, many campsites available.  There is no one here.  Just us, on another private, groomed lot – surrounded by wildlife.

Yes, we’ll take this spot, thank you.

Much of the snow has disappeared during the warmer days … but at night it’s below freezing.  Keep the heat on!

Here’s the view from inside …

… and here’s what it is from outside.

The sun settles in the west.

Here we are at another beachfront property.  The usual high rent, $2.50 a night.  I guess we can live with that!  And, as is our habit, we get to look around and enjoy the magnificent sights …

… stunning reflections …

… settling suns …

… soaring hills …

… and all of these just outside our doorway.  It is often very hard to get to work.  Imagine a steaming hot cuppa in one hand and a good book in the other … and nothing but time to enjoy them both.  Enjoy, relax, and don’t forget to be thankful.  And for sure, don’t forget to be thankful!

Every day, evening comes …

Yup … the view from inside the doorway.

We don’t usually blog about sitting around the table with a candlelight dinner.  We don’t usually blog about talking, or playing cards while watching the sunset.  We don’t usually blog about praying and being grateful for all that we have.  But all those things are part of a great day.

One last look around.

Check it out (above) … there’s nobody else here!  Look at the playground to the right … there’s also a huge pavilion next to a cordoned swimming area.  Another huge play area (for youth and adults).  Put this on your summer/fall bucket list – for sure.

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Traveling up the lake, we visit another National Recreation Area: Marcus Island Campground.  It’s still winter, and any roads that are not main roads have some snow and ice left.  Within a few feet of leaving the main road, it turns downhill with a hairpin turn at the bottom.  Full of icy snow, it’s time for 4 low … and we creep until we get to a straight stretch.

The long road into the campground – looks deserted.

There is not a soul here.  The island is ours!  I’ve always wanted my own island – and here it is.

All the way to the tip of the island, on the south side.

OK … go back to the entrance and fill out the payment slip … deposit payment … look around the rest of the island … and, there is absolutely nobody around, for miles.  Perfect.

Let’s see what the backyard looks like.

Oops … be careful walking in the dark, you could fall through

Yup … this is our new Lake House.  It’s getting late in the day, there is good wi-fi signal, and it’s time for a little work in our new location.  Good night.

After a great nights rest, let’s see what the morning brings.  There was a LOT of racket outside around 6am – down by the beach area beyond our Lake House.  And, oooo, it is wintery outside!  This is what the “house” looks like in the morning mist …

There it is, on the right …

Spooky fog …

… but the morning sun is rising.

And the fog is moving away.

Maybe a little breakfast and a little work before venturing outside again.

The sun is starting to warm the house!

The view out of the kitchen window …

Hey … let’s go outside now that it’s warm.

Here’s the same view from outside.

It looks like winter may turn into spring here.  Since we’ve got the island to ourselves, let’s investigate our new property!

Here’s the edge of the backyard …

Nice view.  Step on a little further to where it sounded like a convention this morning.

Ahhhh … beachfront!

Footprints left by our early noisy companions.

Canada Geese … and they’ve flown the coop now.  I’ll bet their passports were not up to date.

Dried marshy area for a brisk stroll …

Click on the picture above to see the “Lake House”.  And out the front door, what do we have?

Peaceful woods … just need a dog to walk, now.

Well, this is a nice location.  But what happens when I get tired of the beach … tired of the woods.  Then what?

How about exploring a rocky beach area?

Sold, I say.  How much?  $2.50 a night?  And someone else maintains the roads?

It goes the whole length of the island …

Here’s a different view … we’ll move here tomorrow night.

Gotta love winter camping – amazing views, quiet campgrounds, and a time to really enjoy the gifts we’ve been given.

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After 49 Degrees North, it was time to find wi-fi signal.  Work must be transferred in, phone calls made, you know …  Just up the road is the magnificent Kettle Falls campground in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.  Twenty six campgrounds stretch over the 129 mile long area … most of them are on the lake.

The view out the front door …

It’s a little late in the afternoon, and it’s winter.  Somewhat overcast, and lots of snow still around – but it looks like a few days here could get a lot of work done.  Great wi-fi signal, and absolutely no one else is here!

Good advice!

After work, a spot of dinner – it’s time for a good nights rest.  Peaceful, quiet and restful.

Next morning: 9:00, time for work

As always, the views are stunning.  The morning cuppa is steaming.  Lots of time available for walking in between phone calls.

The day goes quickly, and it’s soon time for another restful evening.  Little do we know that tomorrow will bring a few changes.

Could you imagine a better winter workplace?

Even early in the morning, Spring is coming live.  Big patches of snow are gone!  The gray is floating away.  The sun is warming up the ground, and the grass underneath is already green.  What a difference  day makes.

Early Spring view …

The snow is gone from the beach … and a morning stroll interrupts work!

The snow has disappeared from the beach

Gonna hate to leave this!!

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