Robinson Lake

A few weeks ago on a normal Sunday, a friend we ran into in town told us about a hike he had been on the day before. It was a beautiful day and we had nothing on the agenda, so we went looking for this hiking trail!

We drove north on Hwy 95 from Bonners Ferry. The drive itself is so beautiful! This section of 95 is part of the Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway and the International Selkirk Loop. After about 25 miles, we came to Robinson Lake and Campground. It looked promising, so we parked and started walking around.

We found a trail in the forest and followed it as it meandered by Gillon Creek.

We walked about a mile and a half before finding a quiet spot and letting the boys do what boys will do around creeks.

There was lots of rock throwing and leaf-boat races. Jonathan helped guide the boats through a rocky spot as they kept getting stuck. I'm truly surprised he didn't get wet!

This guy and I enjoyed hanging out, watching our kids, and looking at this:

At times like these, we're so so glad we moved here!

We followed another trail back to the campground. When the boys saw a fallen log over the creek that made a perfect bridge, they all had to try it. I don't want to admit how nervous I was for them! They all did great! No one fell or freaked out. Josiah got a little help from his daddy, but I couldn't even watch! #boymom

After that nerve-wracking experience (honestly, I was the only one with a case of nerves!), we headed back to the lake to do some faux fishing and more leaf-boats. Actually, Jared carried a huge chunk of bark through half of the hike and we found pinecones and rocks to be passengers.

I was happy to have a bench to sit on and this beautiful view!

I think Robinson Lake Campground is next on our list of places to camp. But this very pregnant lady isn't camping anywhere for awhile!

After we left Robinson Lake, we drove the remaining 5 miles or so up to the Canadian Border. You know, just to say we'd been there. We currently don't have passports so we can't venture across the border, but we'd like to one day!

Hope you enjoyed this outing with us!

Ross Creek Cedars

We live at the tippy top of Idaho, and if you remember geography at all, you know the northern half of the state is very narrow. We're on the eastern edge of it, just 10 miles or so from the Montana border.

A few weeks ago we took the long way home from church. It added about 30 miles to the drive but we got to see some spectacular Montana country! It's even more wild and rural than the part of Idaho we live in.

We had planned to find somewhere to stop and take a hike, so after driving in several potential areas and getting turned around by long gravel roads to nowhere, or signs warning of fires (which we could see), we came across Ross Creek Cedars.

The weather was cool and refreshing and it felt good to be outside walking around after a day of sitting. We explored the creek and took a walk through the cedar forest.

It was less than two miles so we looped around a little bit extra so I could get my #walk365 mileage in, and because it was fun!

The hike is interactive and it seemed like visitors were encouraged to climb on and in and under and through the giant trees!

And the creek bed had so many of these rock towers! It was an incredible 3D feeling that the pictures simply miss.

We loved being at Ross Creek Cedars and are sure to return. I'd like to go in the spring to see if the creek gets full!

Thanks for stopping by!

Bonner Lake

When I was a little girl my family moved a lot. New places meant new weather to experience, and it seemed as though we were always hearing about how "unusual" the weather was in our new location. The heat in Central California, the snow that stayed on the ground for weeks in Maryland, the late fall snow storm in Kansas. All were so "unusual".

Well, since moving to northern Idaho this summer we have had that term used quite frequently! It's unusually hot for this time of year. We're unusually dry. This heat isn't typical. It's not usually like this.

Sure.

Our favorite escape on an unusually hot afternoon is the lake. Our favorite is Bonner Lake, just twelve miles from our house. It's quiet, small, warm and we are sometimes the only ones there, even in the summer!

Bonner Lake is quite small. We've rowed across it in less than an hour in a big raft with one paddle while fishing and taking in the scenery.

There is a boat dock for public use and several private docks around the lake. We're pretty sure an osprey has a nest in a tree on the far side of the lake.

We've loaded the boys up with floaties, rafts, goggles and snorkels and we can spend several hours out there with no one getting bored or too cold.

My favorite place to be is in the raft, either with Gary and the kids exploring the middle of the lake or soaking up the sun near the boat dock while the boys play and Gary fishes.

Gary likes to paddle his kayak out to the far end of the lake where the water is deeper and fish.

It's not a bad way to escape the unusual heat! We're grateful for beautiful, quiet, free places to be in nature while we swim, relax, fish and play.

 Have a great day!