ROAD BY ROAD DAYTRIP ~Meaningful Monday #2: Battle Ground

I planned this morning’s daytrip last night: and I set the alarm 😊

I have mentioned in past posts, that I need to do things repetitiously for it to sink in and stick … I knew there was a route from home to the Gorge: without touching down on the freeway at any point: today I figured out 3/4^th’s of the way 😉

I knew I had to figure this out from my Battle Ground pilot drive there Saturday, that triggered memories of tie-in roads along the route; and I’ve been having dreams lately that helped the memories along.

Anyway …

I wanted to keep the route fresh in my mind: and explore those tie-in-roads today 😊

The alarm went off around 7:30 AM, and I was on the road by 9:30 AM. If this was summertime … I could have completed the entire route. But, it’s Fall, and quickly moving towards Winter; so, I could only do what I can do for now.

Road by road 😉

Today dawned bright and beautiful: temperature stayed in the high 50’s all day long – and blue skies stretched on into the horizon. It was perfect for today’s mission; everything was dry and clear. Rain is forecast for the next seven days.

Battle Ground from Woodland; via NW Pacific Hwy - 25 mins. I CREATED THIS MAP RELYING ON MEMORIES! GPS didn't have it until it followed my route, Saturday.

( https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/11/freewheeling-fridays-2-river-runs-thru.html)

I caught sight of Mt. St. Helens peeking over the landscape as I passed through LaCenter; and she was showing big and bright in Ridgefield … a little further down the road, I saw Mt. Adams – I’m always excited to see that mountain show up because I rarely am in its locale 😊

Mt. St. Helens; taken from the driveway of a new housing development, in La Center as I passed through.

Mt. Adams; seen Highway #502 - Battle Ground Highway.

Mt. St. Helens - pic taken from shoulder of the Battle ground Highway: zoomed in. Battle Ground-WA

I don’t know if it’s allowed to nip into driveways of housing construction … or to pull over to the shoulder of a mini-freeway: but I do know that if these things cut through scenic backgrounds – with no turnouts that allow picture taking … I will stop and snap a picture. I am tired of beautiful scenic moments never having a spot handy to capture the moment: so, I made my own moments 😉

I made a few discoveries: and enjoyed renewed adventures, too 😊

On my way to exiting Battle Ground (after I had spent 1½ hours kicking around, there), I saw a blue road sign along the way that said: Scenic Route North – with an arrow pointing in the general direction … so, I turned in that direction, thinking, “Why not? I’m here/it’s here – and I’ve got time. It’s not even 12:30’noon, yet: let’s see what’s out there.”

This will come in handy: an Albertson's Store in Battle Ground; half an hour closer than the one I’ve been visiting over Cornelius Pass in OR.

Hmmm ... my curious george attitude kicked in ;-)

An 'unscenic' {scenic} side trip.

A small airstrip for the wealthy.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedars_North_Airpark)

A Cemetery.

That little side excursion was kind of a waste of time. MPO

In La Center, the road and car were showered with whirls of coin sized golden leaves, as the Alder trees shook them free. I like to watch the leave's swan dance, matching the tempo of the Fall breeze.

Along the route, I came to a tummy-tickler road that would have been fun to enjoy at full speed … but I am being good; so, I dropped and rose at the boring 35 mph posted ☹

A tummy-tickler road in Ridgefield.

When I got to the 3-way junction in Woodland, I decided to turn towards Amboy, and clock how long it would take to get to the Lewis River Road (I’d drive home from there).

I knew I’d have to cross that 1-lane Yale Bridge; but I also knew I wanted to see the ancient Cinder Cone: TumTum, too – I always stop and gawk at it when I pass that way; and Bob was good about parking where I could get the best pictures of it. He was a good man, and a good husband to me.

TumTum is For Sale! (https://www.columbian.com/news/2011/nov/01/buyer-sought-for-tumtum-mountain-asking-price-for/)

When I passed the Amboy Middle School, I remembered that there is an Espresso Shack on the road along the other side of the school: I will pencil that into my plans next time I make this trip 😊 Bob and I always stopped there – the coffee was good, and the crew was always friendly.

At Woodland, I decided to extend my drive back home ...

Amboy from Woodland; via NW Hayes Rd and NE Cedar Creek Rd - 22 mins.

Amboy Middle School, on Chelatchie Road.

RJ's Coffee Shop, Amboy.

Once I turned onto Chelatchie Road, I deleted the GPS voice aides: I knew how to get through from there without any help.

Memories kicked in.

I remembered what my dreams showed me.

Bob always took the long way home when we were Daytripping because he knew I liked backroads. When I day-tripped to Cougar, Yale, and Amboy in May; I didn’t push past the Ranger Station in Amboy, because my main focus was finding the back route to Trout Lake …but today, I pushed all the way through – I am determined to connect the backroad dots 😉

As I crossed the suspension bridge, I noticed that the potholes had been paved since May: it was easier crossing – my backbones were not jarred like they were this summer. And I wasn’t so nervous crossing the gorge on that vintage skinny thing.

I do like the bridge; I like History.

And I always look for the Osprey nests 😉

The Osprey nests are still in place, on the Yale end of the bridge.

NE Chelatchie Road; Amboy-WA

Dragging the day out with a looping side road.

Cinder Cone, TumTum; Chelatchie.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumtum_Mountain)

NE Yale Bridge Road from Amboy; via WA-503 N - 7 mins.

Yale Suspension Bridge.

(https://www.loc.gov/item/wa0439/)

It looked like the bridge was repaved; easier crossing.

Back towards Woodland ...

Lewis River Road from NE Chelatchie Road; via WA-503 N - 24 mins.

Lewis River Road.

When I got back to Woodland again, I saw a Great Blue Heron standing in a field along the backroad: I was happy and sad at the same time – happy because the bird was present (I will always think of these birds as ‘Bob’s bird’; he was always excited to see one) … and sad because this area is becoming suburbanized, and soon that bird will not be able to enjoy his marshy spot along the road ;-(

A Great Blue Heron in a field on the backside of Woodland.

I also saw another sight.

A memory pricked.

Another memory was triggered 😊

I veered off … and headed to higher elevations. If this road led to where I hoped it would, it would be another connecting dot.

Green Mountain Road from Woodland; via Green Mountain Rd - 10 mins. 436 feet elevation on the Woodland end - it gained in elevation.

HIGH and steep Martin's Bluff overlooking the Columbia River & Port of Kalama; this hillside is sliding and the road is falling apart.

Green Mountain Road - Woodland to Kalama & Visa Versa. 1,608 feet elevation at summit before drop to Todd Road.

4 jackasses - I named them obama, biden, pelosi & schumer; Cloverdale Road.

A jackass is a sterile crossbreed of horse & mule. They are work animals - bred specifically as draft animals; I wonder what they are being used for ...

Cloverdale Road from Green Mountain Road; via Martins Bluff Rd and S Cloverdale Rd - 9 mins.

A backroad connection from home to Battle Ground ... and beyond. HAPPY!

Green Mountain Road was very rough in two spots where the road had previously slid and washed out; the roadway was still uneven, and in one place was loose gravel laid over an obvious drop-crack that hadn’t been leveled. Thank goodness, the Highlander is an ‘all-terrain vehicle’ 😉

I found out that Cloverdale drops into Todd Road, and Todd Road links to the freeway (left side), and Kalama (right side): I took the right, which led to Elm Street. Elm Street drops right into Kalama.

I knew there was a way all the way through, on backroads.

Thank you, Babe for all those wonderful backroad drives!

Thank you Yeshua, for prodding my memory with dreams and landmark recognitions 😊

I could have gone straight home, then, on the Old Pacific Highway a usual out of Kalama; but … I chose instead to turn uphill and extend the drive: going out of the way again, and backtracking again 😉

The road construction on Spencer Creek Road is still going on: this has been going on for months – and it has been in the planning for years.

At this point, I figured I'd be parking in my carport minutes before sundown.

And that was okay: as long as I was parked before full dark.

I spent 20 minutes cooling my heels on Spencer Creek Road – up in the hills, on the backside of Kalama; towards the Kalama River Road, which ties into Old Pacific Highway. The County is replacing a culvert there, hoping to strengthen that stretch of road where there was an earlier landslide due to heavy rainfall that weakened the road’s foundation.

A full 20-minute wait.

Spencer Creek Road Project: Existing roadway and guardrail were damaged during the 2015 flood event. The damage created the need for narrower lanes as the roadway continued to settle.(https://tdn.com/news/longview-crew-saves-kalama-a-main-water-lines-during-floods/article_edafac2f-4011-5d94-97e1-2a9de4f7e542.html)

Spencer Creek Road undercut by flooding in December 2015.

Spencer Creek Road Project; this patch job is now being restructured.

Spencer Creek Road, Kalama.

It never fails ...

Kalama River Road; 2,890 feet elevation.

Old Pacific Highway S

Additional 2022 Plans.

Road by road I’m building the Daytrip routes Bob used to entertain me with; they were enjoyable drives, and they should all connect without freeway touchdowns, by the time I get them all figured out.

I’m happy with the results – and I know I’ll get “it” figured out in 2022: when the days are longer, and I have more time to dink around on the backroads 😊

I’m happy with the way my day went 😊

Memories were enjoyable, and informative.

Dreams were confirmed: and lived out.

I kept speed-control on. All day.

I'm learning county boundaries ... they aren't blurred anymore. Bob knew all the roads, and drove them smoothly. He never got lost. Ever. And he never used a map; even when we drove clear across America - he just knew how to read the sky and the lay of the land. He was always on target. But I never knew where anything was located, until I started relearning these routes. Everything is different when you are no longer just a passenger.

I stuck to my weight loss goal (I didn't eat until I got home - and I stuck to the Plan).

I found/bought a casserole dish with a dragonfly insignia; and a Great Blue Heron made an appearance: I consider both an affirmation of ‘presence’.

Today's 'find' that came home with me from Battle Ground.

** Sunday~Fundays ~ 2021:

#21/=1 for 2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/04/sundayfunday-21soul-food-clandestine.html

#22/= 2 for 2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/05/sundayfunday-22olympic-peninsula-loop.html

#20/2020 – The last of the 2020 Sunday~Funday’s – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020/09/sundayfunday-20-deep-river-eden-valley.html (plus 10^th thru 19^th SUNDAY~FUNDAY links)

#9/2019 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020_04_27_archive.html (plus 1st thru 8th 2019 SUNDAY~FUNDAY links)**

==Meaningful Mondays ~ 2021:

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/05/meaningful-monday-mccormick-park.html

==Try It Tuesdays ~ 2021: 

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/09/wings-mt-rainier-solo-lobo-daytrip.html

==Wandering Wednesdays ~ 2021:

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-day-to-remember.html

==Traveling Thursdays ~ 2021:

#4/2021 –  https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/08/traveling-thursday-lael-moon-nursery.html

#3/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/06/lincoln-city-thursday-solo-lobo-daytrip.html

#2/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/04/traveling-thursday-sulkum-huff-and-puff.html

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/04/traveling-thursday-3-county-hopscotch.html

==Freewheeling Fridays ~ 2021:

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-boarishboorish-day-centralia-daytrip.html

#2/2021 - https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/11/freewheeling-fridays-2-river-runs-thru.html

==Saturday Shenanigans ~ 2021:

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/10/saturday-shenanigans-jam-session.html

ELOHIM’S FAITHFULNESS

I almost didn’t go to fellowship today.

I had several excuses: all legit.

But by 9:30 AM … after three distinct prodding to “get up and go” – I got up, and went 😉

And I was glad I did 😊

The rain wasn’t too bad; and the road wasn’t too wet.

I had a late start … but Elohim managed to get me there, with time to spare. I even had time to turn all the clocks back: three in the house, and the car’s clock, before leaving the carport 😉

It was Communion Sunday: I was glad I was prodded to get there.

The Communion ritual is symbolic of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach’s sacrificial love poured out for our salvation.

Communion is affirmation of Elohim’s faithfulness to those who love, honor, and cleave to Him only.

In remembering Yeshua, and his advocacy, we are affirming our status as joint-heirs with Yeshua: He is our kinsman, and Elohim is our Father – here, in the present, as well as in Heaven.

We are acknowledging Yeshua’s mission to Earth, and the atoning grace of Calvary; and proclaiming our victorious Life in Yeshua’s redeeming sacrifice.

Despite what demonrat obamanites and catholics say … Christians are not domestic terrorist vampires feeding on flesh and blood: the partaking of communion is ritual symbolism of Yeshua’s atoning death and victorious resurrection; in which, we, acknowledge (Calvary) – and expect (resurrection or The Rapture … whichever comes first, in our life).

Among the songs sung, was one of my favorites 😊

I always tear up when I reflect on the words: so precious, so meaningful to me. This song was sung at Bible Camp in Minnesota, before my water baptism in the river – I was 9 years old.

Until this morning, I had no idea it was written in the 1950's - I always assumed it was a new song in the mid-60's.

How Great Thou Art: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc0QVWzCv9k)

When Yeshua shall come to gather me, I will gladly shout for joy and bow before my Lord: I will gladly praise His greatness, and bask in His faithful love; clothed in His grace, crowned with His rewards, and knowing I am there because of His sacrifice and constant companionship to make sure I got there.

When I got back to Longview, I stopped at Wal*Mart, on Ocean Beach Highway to grab some salad makings. As I was turning into a parking spot, I noticed a rainbow forming … as I stepped out of the Highlander, the colors were very visible.

Everytime I see a rainbow, I smile; remembering why the rainbow is – and how faithful Elohim is.

I do not allow for the obamanites outright theft of Elohim’s icon; the perverted obamanites are deluded – they can mince and prance around all they want to swathed in rainbow colors … but the rainbow belongs to Elohim, for His purposes.

Lucifer, and his wicked Hijinx’s has nothing at all to do with the rainbow.

Rainbow over West Longview.

The Great Flood; Genesis 7 thru 8

Covenant of the Rainbow.

When I entered the store, a friend hailed me - it's been a while since we've spent time together: she works, and I'm on the road 95% of the time. We hugged, and talked for a good half hour among the fresh veggies and fruits 😊 We caught up on where our lives are, reminisced on the past, and bragged on our grandchildren 😉

She asked if I have and great-grandchildren … and I said, “No; there will be no great’s for me – every one of the granddaughter's have decided to forgo having children - and I'll probably be six feet under when Aza reaches adulthood; but I am thankful for the grandkids – they are living proof of Elohim’s faithfulness to me.”

Even though I do not see any of them … and I will never get to watch Azariah grow up … I still praise and thank Elohim for their lives: He has been good to me. And I will always remember His faithfulness to answer my prayer spoken 30 years ago, asking Him for grandchildren. He heard and blessed me (and I at least got to know them for a few years) – I am thankful.

I miss my grandchildren: especially my little 7½ year old grandson; but I have learned these past 34 months to let go of the chaotic pain of malicious separation, and let the peace of Elohei wash over me every day. I have learned to rely solely on the faithfulness of Yeshua’s love in my moments of unwanted and unfamiliar aloneness.

I have learned to “let it all go; and rest.”

Even if I have to reset that mindset/heartset every second of every day: every week, every month, every year.

Elohim’s faithfulness never ends.

Elohim’s love and mercy never ends.

It’s okay to reset our emotions and embrace starting the ‘peace of mind’ again, as we lean deeper into Calvary’s victory.

That was the message today.

I’m glad I was prodded to “Go!” 😊