Pine Flats Campground, Idaho-- September 26-28, 2012

Wednesday:  Move Day 

We moved to the Pine Flats Campground today.  We have stayed here before.  Right above the Payette River on the Banks-Lowman Road, it holds about 20 camp sites. Its major attractions are river access for the floaters/kayakers and it has walk in access to an amazing hot spring.  The pools are about a quarter mile walk down the hill and along the river.  

 

This year we camped nearer to the path to the springs.  Bob and JD found level spots with a river view and Wayne parked us in the empty Campground Host spot.  Nice! 

 

 

Each year the rivers this size seem to re-invent themselves and the Payette is no exception.  This year what used to be a wide gravel bar on our side of the river has been moved to the other side of the channel and is now an island that currently stands several feet above the river.  This leaves a rather narrow space for walking.  And man has been busy as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where last year we had to wade through knee deep water to get to the pools, this year someone has moved many rocks to make a path beneath the cliff that leads to the main pools. 

 

 

 

This spring, like Sweet 16(see previous post)  has water

falling from above.  Unlike Sweet 16 this spring comes

over the rocks in natural waterfalls. The whole hillside

seems to have water cascading over it.  The drop causes

the water to lose some heat, but the pool maintains a

great soaking temperature and has room for 6-8 people

at a time.  It is worth exploring.  

 

 

 

Thursday: Ride Day

The boys rode the Deadwood trails today.  One of the trails they like to ride is the Deadwood Ridge Trail.  It stretches 20+ miles to the north to Whitehawk Basin.  From there they jumped on what we call the Corkscrew Road, for good reason.  It is a blast to ride, and has many great views.  This took them to Clear Creek Summit where they took the Clear Creek Road back down to Lowman and camp. 

 Raydonia and I worked on stuff in our houses and hung out all day. One thing I am determined to learn in my new RV is how to use the Microwave/Convection oven for baking.    I just can’t seem to get the hang of it.  I’ve tried cookies, muffins and today I am trying brownies.  For some reason it just doesn’t cook like any oven I’ve used before.  I have friends who use theirs all the time, so I know I can get used to it, I just have to keep trying.  The brownies turned out ok, not great, but ok.  Of course they are chocolate, so they will get eaten even if they are a little soft in the center!

Friday Move Day:

What an easy move.  We only had to move to Idaho City.  Wayne and I were the last to leave, taking our time.  I took one last walk down to the hot springs. No soak this morning, the air is too cold to convince myself to remove my clothes.  Highway 21 from Lowman to Idaho City is a narrow, winding, steep road.  I glanced at my GPS screen at one point, and could see where the road turns so often and so tightly that I could see 3 U-turns and the roads on either side.  I never realized how close together those curves were.  The hill is so steep there, I think if I stopped and looked over the edge I would have been able to see the road directly below and again right over head.