LIFE'S FLOW~Shavua Tov; Woodland-WA

Today was a tranquil, laid-back day; I didn't sleep much throughout the previous night (sticky humid, and hard to breathe night), so I snoozed off and on throughout this day.

Holland sat beside me, surfing the internet in blessed quietness - he was enjoying the quiet lulls; hahaha ;-)

When I woke around 4:30 PM, he said, "How about some ice cream, and a short drive?" I agreed, while freeing the Sandman slowly.

We drove 5 minutes up the road where Holland ordered my new favorite ice cream treat - the Turtle Pecan Cluster BLIZZARD: so yummy!

Holland got a peanut butter flavored concoction for himself; then we sat in the shadowing shade of a large tree to finish them off.

Then, we enjoyed a lazy drive past the Tulip Farm, and along the dike road … we saw a cow nuzzling her newborn calf, whose fur was spiked with wet cow licks … and carefully passed over the rutted and crater-pocked dirt road under the Ghost Bridge; ending at our favorite river watching spot, where we both peeked towards the osprey nest platform to see if the youngsters have fledged yet: they haven't.

Newborn calf along the 'Ghost Bridge' Dike Road; Woodland-WA

Mama Osprey is still ferrying food to her youngsters …

As the sun began to lower in the evening sky, we parked on the beach and listened to the gentle lapping of the Columbia River as it's low curving waves softly kissed the sand.

Loggins & Messina - 'Watching the River Run song' 1973: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZfIE9mbZdY)

There was a little nip in the breeze due to the low hanging clouds … but the chilly, wind whipped waters did not seem to faze the jet-skier's - the river was teaming with human porpoises, a few popping wheelies & doing twisting tricks that eventually found them bobbing in the waves alongside their upended power toys ;-)

The river was very busy tonight - parking space was limited & firepits scented the breeze; Austin Point~Woodland-WA.

Tonight was a good close of this week's Sabbath ebbing … and the new week hovers, waiting to be embraced :-)

Shavua tov is a Hebrew term used as the Sabbath ends, to wish someone a good coming week.

SAME DAY~DIFFERENT SCENARIO

This morning last year, we were enjoying our trip to Yellowstone National Park; neither one of us had every been there before, and it was one of the Bucket List notations.

'SHINE ON~Cameron-MT'~2023 Post: 

https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2023/07/shine-oncameron-mt.html

This morning this year, I saw an article on my Tablet that drew my attention:

We still maintain that the West end of the Park is a disappointment (except for the hydrothermal Fountain Paint Pot viewing):

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK; West Entrance/Old Faithful Side~2023 Post: 

https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2023/07/yellowstone-national-parkwest.html

However, we did view Yellowstone National Park from all entrances … and found those excursions redeemable - Holland went above and beyond to cater to my American Indian Blackfoot DNA; and of course he also, has American Indian Blood ties to this land through his Cherokee DNA:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK; North Entrance/Mammoth Hot Springs side~2023 Post:

https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2023/07/yellowstone-national-parknorth.html

On our way towards Wyoming, we passed again through Yellowstone's west side … this area is where the recent hydrothermal explosion took place; and we were also hauling our 45-foot RV (basically a studio apartment on wheels) behind our red 'Beast':

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK; Wyoming~2023 Post: 

https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2023/08/grand-teton-national-parkwyoming.html

This year's Yellowstone West Side news …

This Day, last year, was a Bucket List adventure through Yellowstone; and we are happy we experienced it … but, it will not be a repeat.

HIGH LANDS; Toutle-Castle Rock-Green Mtn. Road, Woodland-WA

We drove into the Jantzen Beach Mall Complex, in Vancouver this morning, to purchase some items needed for our new kickoff venture as soon as we get Independence back from the repair shop … traffic has been backed up (as in slower than a snail's pace) from Kalama to La Center every morning until about 6 PM (the blacktop is being scraped off & hauled off from the outgoing southbound twin bridge).

WSDOT I-5 Construction April - October 2024 Expect Delays: https://www.ci.woodland.wa.us/community/page/wsdot-i-5-construction-april-october-2024-expect-delays

Last year Holland gave me an adventure of a lifetime: 3 years into widowhood, I had wanted to shake things up in my life and spread my wings … before I married Bob I had my thoughts set on traveling across America and experiencing every mainline State, but Bob snagged my attention in the Spring of 1974, and I happily let moss grow under my feet for 44 years; when that chapter if my life ended with Bob's last breath, I revisited and entertained that old dream of mine: I prayed that Elohim would give me a traveling companion. I never thought Elohim would answer my prayer in such an unexpected way - I was 66 years old when Holland's 35 year old vision/quest took root in both of our lives: he got the wife he was promised and held out for, and I got the Bucket List Adventuring my itchy gypsy feet were wanting.

I never thought I'd remarry; Holland never thought he'd be driving across America again: but here we are, rocking our world.

Together, since marrying, we have traveled through, and enjoyed 21 States last year: this year, we will be seeing America a new way: Holland's Bucket List Adventure is being set in place, this month.

Holland found what he was looking for - and I grabbed a pair of headphones to use while I'm surfing the internet: our tastes in music, movies, and news sources are very different; headphones are a staple in this Redmill relationship ;-)

When we got back to Woodland, Holland went online to track down a weight distribution hitch; and I went online with a hope and a prayer.

Graced with enough WIFI to check FB Friends Pages …

The internet connect here for me, is spotty at best - and nonexistent 99% of the time. Holland struggles too, but he is able to be online for a significant amount of time before the wave disappears, and he too, is kicked offline :-(

This afternoon he was able to connect and stay online long enough to track down the hitch he is needing … and off we went to Toutle, to collect it: it was listed as brand new (never used), for half the price.

I was happy to be getting out - and looking forward to a high land country drive :-)

The hitch was brand new, and the sunny drive was soothing: we were both feeling good.

As we were leaving Toutle, and crossing the overpass to enter freeway traffic … our ears heard, and our eyes beheld a strange sight: a bagpiper playing a Highland Scottish tune!

Don't know where he was headed to, or why he was piping - but we started laughing because we were listening to Steve Earle (whose song starts with a bagpipe intro); so Holland pulled over onto a wide spot alongside the freeway entrance and let me listen to the overpass bard because he knows I like the sound of bagpipes ;-)

Bagpiping 'Overpass Bard'; Castle Rock-WA

Copperhead Road song …

Steve Earle - Copperhead Road/Official Music Video: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvaEJzoaYZk)

The Story of Copperhead Road Song: (https://www.bathroomwall.com/blogs/rock_blog/steve-earle-the-story-of-copperhead-road)

'Be yourself - do what you wanna do'. LOL

Driving back to Woodland from our Toutle pickup appointment, we decided to take the Green Mountain Road back to our motel room: we quickly saw that the backroad route was just as congested as the freeway (we passed two offshoot spurs where state patrol was rerouting freeway traffic to merge with backroad travelers like us); but at least the high land traffic moves forward - freeway traffic pretty much stands still (southbound bumper-to-bumper standstill from Old Pacific Highway out of Longview, to La Center-WA).

I was happy to be in the high country backroad.

I am very familiar with this road, having traveled it most of my adult life.

Freeway overflow congestion on Green Mountain Road: long string of vehicles in front, and behind, us; Woodland-WA

A 10 minute drive stretched out to a slo-mo, h.o.t., 55 minutes.

Coming off the upper high land road … we decided to avoid downtown Woodland (where most of the traffic was headed); and continue backroad travel, which would be much easier to drive. We grabbed a hot fudge sundae, on our way back to the motel room.

Holland is happy with his purchases today - and I'm happy his newest Bucket List Venture is working for him, so far. We have one or two more things to check off; but when we leave WA State again, this year will be Holland's adventure and we are both excited to get it underway :-)

Tomorrow we will be taking care of more {business}; but tonight is for relaxation and unwinding …

A cup of cocoa and a relaxing read before welcoming the Sandman.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS LEADER MATERIAL

Fox & Friends First 7/25/24 FULL END SHOW | FOX BREAKING NEWS TRUMP July 25, 2024: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE7j_sMXNdQ)

obiden still doesn't "see clearly": his term in the Oval Office IS A TOTAL DISASTER … and yet he, and the deadheads in his {administration} continue the cricket chatter, and spin nonsense no one believes but them. biden didn't "decide" to "step aside": he was forced out of the lead by evil power-hungry DC sharks, who smelling blood, began moving in for the kill.

The obamanites - of which biden is a proud obamanite card holder - is not about "saving" anything in America; the obamanites have done thier level best these 15 years of barak hussein obama and big mike politcal coup years, to destroy America and subjugate American Patriots: now, as brown-nosing-biden says in this video, they are going after the Supreme Court to try destroy that bastion of American Life. barak hussein obama and his demented lemmings have no shame whatsoever ... and they don't seem swift enough mentally to understand that they are on th elosing end of the DC whipping stick.

What biden is doing by holding onto the Oval Office with a death grip, is illegal - like everything else he has done since his illegal prez grab. He cannot legally stay in Office and conduct official business if he has been forced out because he is incapable of doing official business. He is legally bound to leave the White House so that laughing hyenna pretending to be a female (remember: the obamanites have officially erased true femininity - harris can no longer carry the "sexist and homophobic title of {female}" - the obamanite rule of law) can be the legal unsexed prez until our lawful President - President Donald J. Trump, The People's Choice winning by a landslide kicks her sorry ass to the curb in November and clears the White House, The House, and The Senate of the foul smell of obama's 3rd coup. If Harris continues to run a Presidential Campaign, she can no longer hold the legal title of VP - who then is current VP?

Capitol Hill in DC is a royal mess right now with the obamanite elitists holding court and indulging in fantasy gorging egomania ... and completely ignoring the legal citizenry at large.

Listening to this ridiculous self-centered video speech, it is clear that biden is out of touch with realtiy.

Of course biden's family members were teary-eyes: the gravy train no longer flows in thier direction. Hunter is losing his pardon and will have to serve time like the peons the biden cartel dispise; gold-digger partner in crime jill, will no longer get a personal band announcement when she minces forward to dih heaping platters of lies to the adoring obamanite masses; and angry dementia joe will no longer be able to shake hius scrawy fist and shout damnation on Americans who do not do homage to him or the obamanite agenda. I'm sure "this is a painful moment" to the biden cartelas thuer reign of tyranny is finally - thank the Lord! - coming to an end; belated as it is.

And harris sounds stupid when she opens her pie hole: that awful nasal whine, the cackling hyenna laugh, and the way she talks down to the crowds she attempts to address ... is just about as appealing as her brainless motions and her clueless activities: these are a 100% no-go, and that's why she was a washout in her 1st bid for prez, 3-1/2 years ago. The biden-harris debacle would be a laughable keystone cop episode, if it wasn't so tragically real. Do the obamanites really believe that communism and socialism will "save our democracy" when it has failed in every corner of the globe that it's wicked and poisonous roots have spread? Do the black-hearted obamanites in the Oval Office, and USA's Congress, truly believe that snubbing Israel and backing the murderous terrorists hamas is beneifical to anyone with a rational thinking brain, and a love for freedom?

When the middle class is eliminated (as in taxed out of existence, and homes are conviscated), all that is left is the ultra rich (aka, politicians) and the poverty stricken (those who depended on the middle class income trickle downs that have been erased by the political elite). Communism and socialism does not work; that is why people from those countries come to America: they come in drovees to escape communism and socialsim! People fleeing communist and socialist countries to not hail hitler, stalin, lennin, mao, khamenei, castro, or barak hussein obama … as saviors: they see them as evil dictators sucking life out of the souls that inhabit the lands they have claimed in their rush to be crowned global gods :-(

Add to the FACT that HARRIS LIED TO THE WORLD ABOUT BIDEN'S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES - she has already lost the race. Her past behavior of always jumping to premature conclusions based on personal opinions, and posting on social media her biases and hyperboyle ranting; and she is shown to be untrustworthy on every level. But in her recent staunch claims that biden "is in the best of health", she has pesonally put the world in danger with her continual lies. No one wants a dishonest leader, no one wants a hysterical maniac running the country ... except 3rd world tyrants power-grabbing 3rd world countries - and America will never be a 3rd world country dispite the obamanite claim that "America is an experiement": America was never an experiment, and Americans are setting about routing the obamanite rats, and cleaning house come January 2025.

The demonrats are scrambling as thier ship continues to sink like the doomed Titanic. They are doomed because they refuse to acknowledge that America is a FEDERALIST NATION. America is not and NEVER WAS "a democracy". Every democracy that has been put in place around the Earth is a failure in practice. E.v.e.r.y.p.l.a.c.e. democracy has been embraced: it failed in ancient days ... and despite the tyrants that foist it on the populace, it will fail in real time, today.

We, The People, have watched over the past 15 years as high-ranking Pentagon officials; high-ranking FBI offcials; and obamanite groomed political judges ... have openly stated that they will not carry through with order from our duly elected Commander & Cheif, President Trump: either during his first Presidential Term, or his second one that is coming down the perverbial Pike. Those statements are treasonous, and those officials should have been demoted and tried for treason, instead of being hailed as heroes. They were not - and are not  - "heroes": they have spitefully undermined out Nation's foundation, and they are openly engaging in actions that demean the strength of America. They are traitors and should face the full penalty of thier treasonous behavior. A speaker for the FBI is now stating that "the FBI does not believe Trump was shot". This is a rididuclous statement, and an outright lie - a bullet stream was captured in the video clip that showed the assassination attempt on President Trump. I am going to go so far as to state publically that the White House, Congress, the pentagon, and the FBI are somehow enatangled in the assassination attempt: these people suffering a rabid TDS, and these instituions operating under obamanite influences; have dogedly gone after President Trump, his wife, and his children for 8 long years - and constantly came up short.

The only way they can erase President Trump permanently is by killing him. I am going to state publically that the White House, Congress, the pentagon, and the FBI are somehow enatangled in the assassination attempt.

harris, like biden is a weak obama puppet. biden is clearly not dealing with a full deck ... and harris bounces onto the stage like a tipsy 1950's suburban housewife nervously boosting up her floundering male presence.

America - and the world at large - is in trouble with the  obamanites at the helm.

We need a real American Leader, and a strong Global Leader: President Trump is that type of Leader - he has shown himself to be a true Leader at home, as well as around the globe; and rational thinking world leaders understand that, and state that publically. Nobody wants harris, except the political game players. Real people do not care about skin color or gender - real people, in real time, care about Who can get the job done. harris is not presidential material.

There's no way the idiot puppet, harris, can compete with President Trump - and that's a good thing for The People :-)

THE RIGHT THING; Hulk Hogan Speech 2024 RNC

I've never watched Hulk wrestle … blood sports aren't my thing … but, I DO KNOW WHO THIS MAN IS.

I'm glad to see he's left the obamanite darkness and come over to the light to do WHAT IS RIGHT.

I've seen Donald J. Trump many times on TV interviews through the decades, and there IS NO DOUBT that he is a TRUE PATRIOT. He loves America. He loves Americans - and he even embraces TRUE IMMIGRANTS looking for a better Life in America. But like me, he also STANDS ON AMERICAN PRINCIPLES … like LEGAL CITIZENSHIP.

If people in America want the benefits of American principles, then the SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM PLEDGING TO THIS GREAT NATION, AND BECOMING A LEGAL CITIZEN. If they can't do that - if they have a problem with our Constitution, our Laws, our God, and our Flag, and our women having equal rights … then they can get the Hell out (or be deported), and good riddance to them.

America should not be the dumping ground for 3rd world criminals, or the 3rd world criminally insane - and it's a crying shame that barak hussein obama has filled DC high seats of power with 3rd world criminals and 3rd world criminally insane. IT'S CRIMINAL what the obamanite demonrats have done - and are doing - to America and true Americans.

I fully support PRESIDENT TRUMP, who ACTUALLY WON A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - and will do so again. Donald J. Trump was not placed in the Oval Office because of his skin color to push a "god damn America!" agenda. Donald J. Trump was not placed in the Oval Office by a gold-digging wife manipulating an empty-headed puppet to make way for another empty headed puppet who will be pushed ahead of the class for no other reason than again, skin color: the obamanite demonrats have an agenda, and that agenda includes a {woman president} even though the obamanites have effectively eradicated womanhood in all it's truth.

It is criminal what has taken place in America since barak hussein obama's 1st coup. It's time TO STOP THE INSANITY.

WATCH: Hulk Hogan speaks at 2024 Republican National Convention | 2024 RNC Night 4: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbzNiwRz4gU)

NATURE GIRL~NATURE DAY

July 19th: Today was Nature Day all day long :-)

I like days like today.

The sun felt so warm on my skin.

The air was filled with wonderful nature scents - my favorites: roses and fir trees.

Holland was busy researching info for our life's new direction, so I started my day by taking a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood to enjoy sunshine in the local City Park (very small 'city' with a small town vibe) …

Some of the posted videos look strange because I used my Apple phone - and Microsoft won't upload videos unless I pay $1.00 for each upload; and I'm not going to do that - so, I copied the vids from one phone to the other and uploaded them that way.

Morning roses scented the breeze during my neighborhood stroll.

This is a good idea for evening walks back from the City Park.

Horseshoe Park in old town Woodland-WA

Mural depicting Woodland's beginnings.

Old Town shotgun Main Street; I crossed to the Park, here.

Horseshoe Lake, Woodland-WA

The Park is a short distance to walk to and fro, from.

I-5 freeway traffic in the background …

The walking 'trail' is very short … but I'm counting the neighborhood walk to get here as mileage ;-)

Holland came and fetched me at the end of the walking trail, and off we went in search of Lava Canyon :-)

Parts of this Day's unfolding, piggybacked on my Past experiences here - that couldn't be helped … but I wanted to share it with Holland.

Lava Canyon-WA:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=41609

I've been to Ape Cave & Lava Canyon several times (and even wrote/published a children's book about adventures there). But Holland hasn't visited any of this region, so it was all new to him.

We were enjoying the scenery - missed our turn, and had to backtrack from the Eagle Creek General Store; that was okay.

It was a nice drive.

And I finally got to the illusive store I was on the outlook for, a few years back ;-)

We both have a special place in our heart for the PNW's hairy mascot, Sasquatch, and finding his stomping grounds seemed like a fun excursion for the Day. LOL

Cougar humor posted at the Cougar Store-WA ;-)

Holland called my attention to the swallow nests in the store eves …

Pine Creek Ranger Station; Cougar-WA

DAY TO REMEMBER - Amboy, Cougar, Yale Daytrip~PAST Post:

 (http://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-day-to-remember.html)

Neither one of us had ever been this way, before; Eagle Creek Park~Cougar-WA

Eagle Creek Store, Cougar-WA from Woodland-WA; 1 hr 7 min (47.5 mi) via Lewis River Rd

Eagle Creek General Store~#NF-90, Cougar, WA 98616

Rock slice pretties from the Mt. St. Helens region …

The blue one with the brown center is the one that caught my eye.

Mt. St. Helens, on our way to Lava Canyon-WA

MT. ST. HELEN’S MEMORIES~PAST Post: 

(http://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020/05/mt-st-helens-memories.html)

Thwarted by a road washout. Darn it! The last time I was here, was with my first husband and my little grandson … I wanted Holland to see it this time, but the road was too rough for Betsy.

SASQUATCH & LAVA VALLEY DAYTRIP~PAST Post:

 (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2017/09/sasquatch-lava-valley-daytrip.html)

When we got back to Woodland, we went down to the river for a while.

Mt. St. Helens-WA was visible & Mt. Adams-WA came out to wink in the sunshine … I always get excited to see this mountain, because it is tucked between (and far behind) Mt. St. Helens-WA and Mt. Hood-OR.

Mt. Hood was also visible, but the Oregon haze would have made a murky picture, so I passed on capturing him in frame.

Local water babies were at play … and the osprey young'un's are getting ready to fledge.

It was a wonderful nature day for this young hearted nature girl :-)

Hay bale field towers; Woodland-WA

Mt. St. Helens peeking over the hills between Cougar & Woodland-WA

Mt. Adams - I always get excited to see this mountain because you have to be in the right place at the right time …

EXTENDED COUGAR ROADTRIP~PAST Post:

 (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/07/extended-cougar-roadtrip.html)

Mt. Adams; WA Gorge~2017

4 Ospreys; 2 adults feeding 2 youngsters; Austin Point, Woodland-WA

These youngsters will probably fledge next week; they are already spreading their wings and feeling the breeze in the feathers.