KOA To The Rescue….Again

Sunday, August 14 we leave the KOA in Kamiah, Idaho.

Above and below are some of the friends we met in Kamiah, on our daily walks.

We move on only about 45 miles to a COE (Core of Engineers) park called Dent Acres.  I’ve heard good things about this park and am looking forward to spending time here….8 nights in fact, at $10 a night with my Senior Pass.  This includes full hookups, covered picnic table, fire pit, and showers.

It’s a long and winding road, up hill and down, that leads to my campsite.  Top speed here is 35 miles per hour and this last 20 miles is not a drive I enjoy.

When we arrive at Dent Acres the temperature is near 100 degrees and there is almost no shade at our site.  Plus, another problem seems to be bees and hornets.  We end up moving to another site, attempting to get some shade, but there still isn’t much, at least not where and when we need it, and there is no decrease in the bees.

Joy and Shiloh tend to snap at bugs, so loads of bees are a big problem for us.  It turns into a three ring circus as they snap and I swat and slap, and we get more crabby and cranky in the 100 degree heat.  We go inside to sit in the air conditioning, and I raise the Clam (6×6 ft screen house). Other than our early morning and our evening walks, we are more or less held prisoner in WS and the Clam by heat and bees.  Joy ends up getting stung.  We are not happy campers.  I have no phone or internet service.  I read and the kids sleep.

Dent Prison.  Sorry, I told you I get cranky in the heat.

I’m sure this is a lovely park at a different time.  The camp host couple are wonderful.

Here is the reservoir, and the Dent Bridge, as seen from the campground.

I cut my 8 days to 3 days, get a refund for the other 5 days, and off we go.

We are about to cross Dent Bridge as we leave.

View of the Clearwater River, as we go back down the long and winding road.

We  are heading in the direction of Grand Coulee Dam.  In Lewiston, ID we stop at the Petco for dog food, and oh my gosh there is an AT&T signal….first I’ve seen since Missoula, plus I haven’t had internet since Kamiah.  I buy chewies for Joy and Shiloh and they lie on the grass in the shade by the Petco parking lot, while I sit on the curb catching up on some on line business.

When we leave Lewiston it’s over 90 degrees and I’m not sure where I’m going.  After awhile and asking around, I find myself near Starbuck, Washington, at the KOA at Lyons Ferry Marina  on the Snake River.  I ask if they have a spot in the shade for us….and it just so happens they do!  It’s only available for 2 nights, but I take it.  I can’t seem to get away from the heat, but having good shade and green grass for J&S to lie on helps.  I spend literally hours on line (good free wifi here!) trying to figure out where to go next, but nothing is making me happy.  (Our reservations near the dam start on August 23.)

This was taken this morning.  In the afternoon the shade is even better.

The sun sets and we step outside….there is a breeze.  Ok, it feels like the furnace blower, but hey, it’s a breeze.  A few minutes later the lady from the KOA office comes to see me.  “We had a cancelation” she tells me.  “You can stay in this spot until you need to leave on the 23rd if you like.  I put this site on hold for you.  Just go to the office when they open in the morning and let them know.”

That’s good news to this crabby, cranky old lady!  With my KOA 10% discount it’s about $32  a night here….not bad for KOA.

Train trestle over the Snake River, as viewed from our site, with a train on it, no less!

Bridge over the Snake River.  Can’t see this from our site, but when we walk around the marina it comes into view.  I didn’t know the Snake River was this big! (wide).

Golden dogs in the golden grasses.

Right now there is almost no one here at this campground, but apparently it will fill up with boaters on the week end.  We will be mostly laying low, trying to keep cool.