Aspen Grove Grandeur; Irish TBT

 

It's October, and the supreme grandeur of the Rapid Lightning Creek Road aspen grove is still about a week away.

Bill and I pretty much knew that when we went for an afternoon drive and hike to the grove yesterday. 

Still, the magnificence of the place on such a glorious fall day kept us in awe.

I don't think this place is a well-kept secret to most folks who live around here, but any locals who have never seen the grove on a beautiful October day have a treat in store. 

To get there, head for the Pack River General Store, have some lunch, get back in your rig and stay on the road.  

No turn offs.  

It's about 8 miles, and when you see your first amazing glimpse of the tall, lean trees in the road ahead, you'll know you have arrived. 

The place offers plenty of choices for leisurely walking, admiring the Selkirks to the west, staring straight up to the tops of the trees which are stunning against a deep blue sky and, of course, taking pictures. 

On our trip yesterday, we saw one other pickup parked alongside the road.  A hunter in a full suit of camo and holding a big bow was standing next to the truck. 

Later, as we began our walk, we heard a whistle, sounding very much like an invitation to elk. We figured the sound came from the hunter we had seen down the road.  

The only other sound of humans and vehicles could be heard off in the distance, as a feller-buncher worked on a logging job. 

Other than that, various birds, Bodenstein creek-water flowing and whatever comments coming from our mouths while walking accounted for all that broke the silence of this peaceful and heavenly place with views of Wiley Knob, Grouse and Strawberry Mountains. 

We did encounter one obstacle along the way.  Two fallen aspen across the little-traveled road required some maneuvering and crawling over the trunks. 

Autumn color is just coming on in the grove with the underbrush.  I'm guessing that in about a week the place will be OMG magnificent.  

Again, the sights will require a bit of neck action to capture the full extent of remarkable scenes within the grove. 

It will be worth it, as I think the place is one of THE most beautiful any time of the year in our gorgeous North Idaho, but next week--- it should be something special.  

TBT's . . . .

A year ago at this time, Bill and I were touring Ireland.  

Twas my fifth visit; his fourth. 

Anyone who follows this blog knows that we would have notched another visit this year until the Pandemic changed everybody's lives.

With that in mind, pardon me for some posting some self-indulgent photos as reminders of our trip from last year and of how magical the place is. 

Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do reminiscing this small sample of countless enduring and happy memories.   

Our first item on the list when and if it is safe enough again:  RETURN TO IRELAND.

Irish National Stud grounds near Kildare. 

We've stayed at an apartment owned by these kids' dad Frank twice while visiting Drogheda, north of Dublin. 

Nice kids; beautiful dogs. 

Thatched roof cottage near Malin Head in the northernmost point of the Republic of Ireland. Cows in the pasture near the cottage. 

Bill at Malin Head. All ocean from that point on. 

Malin Head sheep. 

The road to Buncrana in County Donegal, homeland of my mother's Irish ancestors. 

We love this island near Galway and Clifden and will go back next trip to Ireland.

Beautiful Connemara ponies on a rainy day and their caretaker (below) Oliver, who invited us to see an unoccupied old farm where the horses live. 

Typical sidewalk scene in many Irish towns.

Bill with "Cousin Patrick" O' Sullivan, whom we've met on two different visits to Killarney. 

Cousin Patrick has Sandpoint connections AND he has visited here. 

Cousin Patrick's cousin Tricia who moved to Ireland from Sandpoint in August, 2019.  

Lucky gal.  She gets to stay there. 

Jockeys working horses at the famed Curragh Race track near Kildare. 

No explanation needed.