McCall, ID July and August, 2009

We're enjoying summer this year not roaming around a lot, but staying put a month here, a couple months there. We arrived at the McCall RV Resort early in July, having left Clarkston, WA, before it started to heat up too much. We love being able to move to where the weather's more moderate than not. We had stayed here for a week our first summer "out" when we were going everywhere we could throughout the summer, meeting friends, seeing as many National Parks and Monuments as Gary planned into our adventures.

We're parked in a sunny setting right on the North Fork of the Payette River. The scenery is fantastic, and we have late afternoon shade from huge pines that provide a wonderful place to sit and read, watch birds, enjoy the river movement. We always have good neighbors, always.

When we arrived, the meadow across the river was filled with wildflowers that are now fading, although it's not a dreary view by any stretch of the imagination. There's a small bridge frequented by fisher people (men, boys, women, girls, dogs, birds) and walkers (myself included) who cross to follow paths throughout the meadow. Glance into the river to enjoy the colors of the rocks and emerald green algae, fish, and various other critters. The tree swallows and violet green swallows work the area for small bugs while osprey and kingfishers are checking from loftier heights for their next meal. A couple of osprey chicks call out as they fish or land in a huge pine, something to the effect of "feed me, I'm hungry." It's not long before an adult (not much different in size or coloring) joins the fledgeling to help direct the activity or request. Western bluebirds abound, and we see yellow birds, presumably lesser goldfinches, along with others. From time to time I see the floaters and bobbers, actually cormorants that float along and then dive under the water, swim a while, then pop up like bobbers. The hatchlings were particularly amusing, reminding me of the yellow rubber duckies we've all enjoyed (maybe still do?).

Did I mention the fragrance in the air? There's a mix of the crisp pine and spruce along with wildflowers that are impossible to pinpoint, but would be an encouraging mix for a perfumer! Kevin, the owner of the RV park described the orange-y fragrance of engleman spruce which I have yet to find. The wildflowers are abundant and changing. New ones show up continually. It's no wonder it's difficult to pin down any specific fragrance.

McCall is central to all sorts of outdoor sports from skiing and snowmobiling in the winter to hiking, boating, rafting, fishing in the summer. The town is small, on the edge of Payette Lake where you'll find a nice beach and boating opportunities galore. The two grocery stores offer sporting goods, clothing and shoes, and all manner of things you wouldn't find in grocery stores back East! There are interesting specialty shops and dining opportunities, our favorites being The Pancake House (great breakfasts and terrific homemade soups) and Ruperts (wonderful lunches) at the McCall Hotel where you can sit on the patio and enjoy the lake view.

More soon. Time for a bit of a walk for me. Visit our photo album showing some of the sights, including magnificent homes, at http://picasaweb.google.com/NotesOnWings/McCallIDSummer2009

Cheers then...