WALKIN’ IT OUT IN 2 COUNTIES

There are times you just need to distance yourself from the world’s insanity and find some peace of mind.

Yesterday was such a time.

It makes me sad to lose people in my life (because I am very careful letting anyone into my private space – trust issues); and I’d lost one Sunday afternoon – the covid-19 hysterical fear started her withdrawl … and the animalistic riots with city burnings, lootings, and racial violence just cemented it. I don’t spend all day glued to the idiot box, drinking in and swallowing demoncrat swill; I don’t believe everything my kids tell me simply because they are my kids, and they are telling me what they perceive given their own political leanings.

By the time her call to me ended Sunday afternoon - and she'd let me know how she'd felt for months; I looked at the blank screen on the phone and wondered why we were even friends … she let me know there was nothing about me that makes her glad we were friends – I’m too loud (my voice hurts her ears), I’m too opinionated (I don’t agree with her, and I don’t think she’s the voice of God because she listens to dr. phil and oprah all day long), I’m too vocal (she’s an introvert and I am not introvert enough for her comfort), I’m too animated (I make her dizzy), she hates Trump and doesn't understand why I don't (uh ... I'm AN ADULT. I don't have to explain myself to anyone), I’m a Christian (she is not – her faith is in science and humanity, which will always fail).

In short, I’m too MUCH ME for her comfort.

Wow.

All I could think was, “Why bother calling me at all and bring up topics you know we will not agree on, if you just want to hear your own voice; and live in your own head?”

I’m 63 years old – I have been out of school for a loooooong time … and even in school, I never followed the herd mentality: I was always an individual; with individual thoughts and individual actions.

Bob understood that about me.

Bob loved that about me.

My lifelong friends – now laid to rest for several years – understood that about me.

Real friends don’t try to control you and force you to behave the way they decide you need to behave so they “feel comfortable”: aka: they want to dominate you.

I don’t even let my kids treat me badly.

Real friends love you BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE – that is what drew them to you in the first place. And THAT is like any relationship that involves real love.

If a {friend} does not allow for disagreement, individual thought and opinions; and flat out tells you that you stress them out because you are not wanting to “fall in line” and be in solidarity with anarchy (or any activity you find objectionable and destructive) … it’s time to let them walk if they want to walk away. They are shallow people, wanting their own way; and wanting to mold you into their opinion of acceptability.

They will never be satisfied – and there will never be enough that can be done to make you acceptable in their eyes.

I am trying to sort out - and rebuild my life after my husband's spirit left this Earth 17 months/28 days/7 hours & 46 seconds ago ... I do not need someone else deciding for me how to 'become'.

So, yesterday I woke up knowing I was going to get out for Dodge for the day to shake off the blue mood (I loved her – I will miss her; but not enough to let her heckle me); I left home in Cowlitz County a little after 9 AM for Toledo, and crossed into Lewis County a little out of Castle Rock – reaching Toledo’s South County Park at 10 AM.

Crept past a County Crew topping trees, out Coal Creek Road.

Back way to Toledo

Cowlitz and Lewis Counties Boundary Lines

Backroad way

Crews laying line this side of Toledo - thick, bulky, and orange ...

The morning air the breezed through the Park was refreshing after the night’s rainfall.

Though Bob & I had many times visited this little Park in Toledo, we never walked the trails … and I only walked one trail – half way; one time, with Cheryl & Pam last Fall: today, I decided to try another trail and see where it went. It didn’t go far – it ended a short way along the riverside Park perimeters, and cut back into the Park via a short, rough footpath that wound around the outside perimeters.

Little yellow mushrooms dotted the grass everywhere …

Restrooms were open. Some parks still have their restrooms locked tight.

New trail ... for me, anyway.

Trail led to the outer perimeters of the Park. Bob & I would have laughed together ...

Both sides of the lake were busy...

The blackberry brambles were in full blossom.

It only took half an hour to go around the entire Park … that includes the elk trail adventure. The time was 0.06 miles: very short.

But it was a nice morning walkabout, out of town.

Leaving Toledo, I decided it was really too early to go back home and start dealing with the new day’s political madness running like wildfire over this Nation; so, I extended my day’s outing by taking the Mt. St. Helen’s crossover road – I had ¾ tank of gas when I turned off onto that road with a hope and a prayer ;-)

Mt. St. Helen’s crossover Road.

There was wide open flat land for miles on the Mt St Helens Road; good farmland.

This interesting named road sign kinda tweaked my weird sense of humor …

Baby fawns: twins! Mama doe split first, and will find them as soon as they hit the bushes too. They were all standing in the road with Mama taking inventory, when my car spooked the little family.

I'll take the West Toutle – it leads homeward.

This is a general idea of where I’ve been this afternoon.

Backward glance at where I had just come from … and where this crossover road leads.

Turning towards home, I take a right; off of the Mt. St. Helens crossover Road from Toledo.

By the time I reached familiar territory at Tower Road road in West Toutle, I had only burned about ¼ tank of gas :-)

Tower Road is starting to slide, and there was a bit if a rough patch of a bad repair job (it slid pretty good), but I don’t think I jarred the car’s undercarriage too badly – I was careful driving over the rough patch; letting Bob’s words in concerning situations like that, run through my mind.

Tower Road is a nice backroad county drive – I’ve always enjoyed that road. Tower Road road melds into Spirit Lake Highway in Castle Rock, coming in on the backside of Drew’s Shell Gas Station/Minit Mart.

I’d only ever been in the Toutle area, and up the Spirit Lake Highway with Bob:  last September was my first solo daytrip that way – it went good. I’ll be going that way more often; not to see the volcano (Mt. St. Helen’s is just an ugly shell of herself now; and it doesn’t excite me), but to drive the backroads ;-)

I’m on familiar territory here.

Can you seeing me Baby: I DID hear you ... and I am drawing on everything you ever said to help me along my way. I love you ~ OX

Drew’s Shell Station & Minit Mart. Back in Cowlitz County again.

It was still early in the day – not quite noon yet; so, I decided to try the dike hiking trails in Castle Rock …

I was curious.

And once my curiosity is tripped … it’s in full out adventure mode ;-)

The dike hike was a new thing – Bob and I had planned to do that together, but life plans changed suddenly in the Fall of 2018, and by the Winter of 2018 those plans would never materialize because Bob was no longer on this Earth: my husband would never again walk by my side.

But, I did the hike yesterday.

And it went okay.

Even if it was 70-degrees H.O.T.

I’m still not used to Bob being physically gone – but solo loboing is getting easier.

Day by day; step by step.

An emotional moment at the start of Castle Rock’s Dike Hike Trail.

What a colorful boulder! I like stuff like this :-)

And another one too ... this picture does not do the coloration justice – there was bright splashy yellows and a pretty baby blue – the blue was what I had hoped to capture.

Riverside color along the trail - california Poppies, Foxgloves, Wild Daisies, Dandelion, Wild Sweet Peas ...

Street-side/Parking Lot area had been planted with rose bushes; the heady, pungent scent of the red Wild Roses was worth risking a deep breath for!

I learned something new today about a town I really like.

Decision time …

Bridges & overpasses make me nervous.

I prefer gravel roads; this one is supposed to tie in at the Bike Park.

I veered off onto a gravel road because it looked like it would add extra mileage to the hike … and it DID, in an unforeseen way ;-)

Backtracked to the Park’s Bike Park …

I researched ‘Biosod’ when I got back home – apparently, ‘Biosod’ is a Trademark Name for Biograss from a Utah Sod farm. Hmmm.

I had an enjoyable walk along the trail, and I know I’ll be going back. I have always liked Castle Rock; the hiking trail is another reason to spend the day in that small community :-D

Yarder tower.

River beach accessed through Camelot Mobil Home Park, off West Side Highway – across the river.

EEWW! A sewer outfall is any pipe or conduit used to carry raw sewage, or treated sewage, to its final point of discharge into a body of water. Disgusting … and people SWIM & FISH (for food purposes) IN THAT RIVER!

Castle Rock 1933 Flood Plaque.

Copy of the 1933 Castle Rock Newspaper Page covering the flood.

Background info on the 1933 Castle Rock flood.

Skinny footpath to the river ...

Leaving Park perimeter and entering the Castle Rock's Lion's Pride Park - a pubic fishing-picnicking area.

Taking a short break and looking downriver to how far I have to backtrack to the car.

Return hike loop past Castle Rock’s Pioneer Memorial.

Castle Rock’s Pioneering Families listed.

HOT! The shade feels good!

The darkening clouds look pretty ominous – I was only wearing a light tee ... it did cut loose while I was on West Side Highway, headed home.

1 of castle Rock’s founding businesses: Robin's Wood Shingles Mill.

 3.4 mile hike – 1 Hr-30 mins loop hike.

Next time I’ll be taking my walking stick with me so I can get to the top of that hill trail ;-)

SUNDAY FUNDAY 6

This morning, as the geese flew overhead honking their adventuring, I decided to do a little adventuring myself ;-)

Off on another Sunday Funday Exploration; this is my 6^th
solo outing

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020/01/sundayfunday-5.html).

I left the carport with a little over 3/4 tank of gas; I never know beforehand exactly where I want to go – I just aim the car in a general direction and let it have its own way. Today the car decided to jog my memory cells and try for Toledo:

Leaving the carport with a little over 3/4 tank of gas.

Heading up Coal Creek Road, my peripheral vision caught sight of the Coal Creek Falls running fast and furious, so I pulled into a side turnout and watched them for a few minutes. They were loud …

Coal Creek Falls running fast and furious.

I will be turning the car back and heading towards Castle Rock. Determined to get to Toledo on the backroads.

A bit up Delameter, I saw a sign I have driven past for years. Today, I decided to drive it and see where it goes:

Garlock Road tied into Hazel Dell Road; on the lower end of Delameter Road: a 3-minute spur.

Bob would have known that; and I am sure, that more than once over the past 44 years, we have taken that route with the same result.

That curiosity settled, I continued on through Castle Rock and decided to treat myself to breakfast; so, I nipped into Peper’s parking lot – and almost pulled back out. It was busy. But, I was determined to prove to myself that “I can do this”. I walked through the door, sat in a familiar booth, and ordered breakfast – 55 minutes later, I realized that I had more of an appetite than I thought I did when I nipped in earlier:

Peper’s 49er Restaurant in Castle Rock. 30 mins Dr. from home.

I sat in “our booth” facing the huge Elk picture. Bob and I ate here quite a bit over the years - Bob liked it.

Echoes of Bob coaching Azariah to “say E-L-K”, in his toddler years, ran through my thoughts. Thoughts of us eating here while we dated. While our daughter and granddaughter were growing up. LOTS of memories ... I admit I did get a bit teary, and my stomach lurched some looking at that empty place across from me - but I toughed it out.

My Breakfast; I'll have to fast for a week – Homemade Beef Hash, eggs, & hash browns. $19

Looking at this picture, I KNEW exactly WHERE this place IS that the artist painted. Just before Box Canyon in Mt. Rainer National Park.

Obviously haunting memories didn't curb my appetite. I cleaned up pretty good: that hearty breakfast carried me through the day until Suppertime at 6 PM.

After I paid my tab, I drove the backroad that skirted the freeway; passing Paradise Cove RV Park and crossing over the freeway on the overpass: I haven’t been this way on my own in a long time & my memory is a bit sketchy when I don’t do things repetitively (Bob drove most of the time after he retired in 2012), but the route I was taking seemed familiar to me. When I passed the RV Park, where we stayed for a while in our 5^th Wheel in 1999; I recalled a rainy night when Bob was working graveyard shift and our Pomeranian, Tyson, needed to go out and do his business. We had our 4 year old granddaughter with us at the time, so I bundled her warmly and slipped her raincoat on her and we walked the dog. We had to go outside the Park to do this, and while out there in the rain, I saw a coyote walk up the onramp and pad right by us – it looked at me, but kept on going past us. I didn’t get rattled, Tyson didn’t bark or lunge at it, and Alyna was as good as gold; there was no incident, thank God!

And that was the only time anything like that ever happened there …

I drove the backroad past Papa Pete’s Pizza; and past Paradise Cove RV Park.

Windfall snapped trees from recent storm, where I crossed the overpass at Exit 52, 1/2 mile north of I-5 at Castle Rock, WA.

Historic Laughlin Round Barn: built in 1883 & repaired when wind damaged it in 1995. 1 mile north of Exit 52, off I-5 at Castle Rock, WA 

Low, old concrete bridge siding. I like stuff like this ... you won't see finds like this along the freeway route.

Turning right, I crossed over the freeway again – and took two left turns.

I MADE IT:

Toledo to the left ... I'll have to take a drive out the right side one of these days. Just because it’s there, and I am curious ;-)

Tadpole Flats. LOL: Toledo was at one time known as “Frogtown”.

Chauvinistic Barn painting - for 'weak women'.

According to historical accounts, Ray Vaughn Pierce acquired a questionable medical degree and sold several ‘medicinal’ products he claimed “could cure” a variety of ills. One such product is advertised on the sides of this barn, south of Toledo. This is just one such barn advertisements that was painted on the sides of barns all across the Nation in the early part of the 20^th Century. “Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription” was touted by Pierce himself to “cure weak women”, or weakness brought on by illness that women were prone to in those days – I’m thinking a loosening of their corsets, stays, and prudish attitudes could have done much better for them. MPO

2nd Left turn pointing the right way ... I'll try the right turn another day: I’m sure that will take me to Toutle.

Entering Toledo’s Main Street (aka Cowlitz Street).

ARE YOU PROUD OF ME BABE? A H.U.G.E. and major step for me! Water - especially swift flowing water seriously terrifies me. Thank You, Yeshua, for helping me!

I like it here; the people are friendly. Country atmosphere; comfy home-town vibe.

Behind the Grocery Market, is the building where Dr. Christianson had his clinic, and where I had to have pure oxygen treatments from 1996 to 2001: we were in Toledo a LOT, before my lungs acclimated to Longview's polluted environment; there are still dicey days, but I don't need pure oxygen anymore. You would think I would remember how to get there, but since watching Bob die, it seems like every long-term thought has flown out the top of my head. People tell me this is normal for people who have undergone a traumatic experience – but I don’t like it.

And I am hoping that forcing myself to do things like I am doing today, will jog my memory and restart the long-term info,causing it to flow freely again …

Back end of Toledo’s Main Street seen from the old doctor's office locale, behind the Grocery Market.

A penny; I almost stepped on it. Take the find any way you choose ... I choose to believe it is a Penny from Heaven, and that Bob was in some way with me today.

Main Street, seen from Cowlitz Street – the main drag.

That’s it: 2 eye-blinks. There is an Auto Parts building on the opposite side; and the bridge about 10 steps back. It’s shorter than Cathlamet’s Main Street … and that’s hard to believe; but I’m seeing it with my own eyes. Truth! 

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/07/sunday-funday.html)

 

Toledo Events Building, on Cowlitz Street. I suppose Toledoans understand the meaning of the Bull. It's lost on me ...

1880’s Jail House - behind the Events Bldg.: I could not find any info about it.

Toledo is making the claim, but Toutle is actually the real 'gateway' to Mt. St. Helens. Toutle was established in 1890 – Toledo in 1892.  (http://www.chronline.com/news/cowlitz-river-gave-birth-to-town-of-toledo/article_3f804ad6-15e1-11e5-9d38-9bb6d9f74f2a.html)

Checking the gas gauge as I got back into the car, I saw that I had barely used any gas at all getting here. That’s good to know :-D

About 1 hour drive from Castle Rock on backroads. Yes - I am keeping careful documentation of mileage and gas usage; important info for future adventures.

Bob and I ate a few ‘burgers here at this little turquoise Burger Bar, on the outskirts of town over the years; I'll have to do that again.

Back side of the little Buger Bar. When I pulled over and parked in a turnout along the roadway to see what that extension building was, 2 Great Danes were barking and tearing it up alongside the car – they were actually standing on their hind legs and peering down at me over the fenceline: HEAD AND SHOULDERS above the fenceline - huge paws pounding the top of the fenceline. It was kinda unnerving.

Driving up the hill past the Toledo High School, I decided to keep on the road I was already traveling just to see where it would take me:

iI knew where I was at this point: this memory, I knew ;-)

FLYINGDOG FARM on S. Military Road: nothing on the Internet about it; but there is a generic FB Page.

Back at Castle Rock, headed home. 2 hour/9 minute loop to this point.

Memories refreshed, feeling accomplished that I did the drive without once breaking down or having a panic attack along the way, and checking out a farm I don’t remember ever seeing when Bob drove this route … I was feeling 8 miles high as I dropped off Military Road and crossed onto Westside Highway on the outskirts of Vader. It rained off and on throughout the day, but it wasn’t dicey on the road; the whole trip unfolded without a hitch ;-)

After I got back home and uploaded the pics and vids – figuring the timeframes, I was surprised: I had no idea that a spur of the moment trip, like this trip, was a literal DAYTRIP when Bob & I did it together – I scaled it back significantly because I don’t know all the weaving roads Bob used to spin off onto and drive to drag the trip out for me: the little drive I did today was a 3 hour soloing experiment; including my breakfast stop. The “little drives” Bob used to drag out for me when he did them, probably morphed into 4 to 5-hour drives … and sometimes longer because we went quite a bit further afield than I did today.

I left the carport at 9:23 AM this morning, and parked the car in the carport, again at 12:25’noon.

I am spreading my wings and broadening my horizons – even if they are only basically in a {close back 40 proximity} for the time being.

I am learning the concept of time and distance.

And I am gaining a new, and deeper (if that is possible!), appreciation for the depth of my husband’s love for me.

I love you, Babe.

Always.

OX