Mccall ID

Over Labor Day Clark and I decided to take a trip up to McCall ID to visit Clark's sister Kim.  I had never been to McCall before so it was a fun experience.  I really liked that little town with the Lake so close and the mountains and trees all around.  The first night we were there Kim was telling us that they had bears in her neighborhood eating people's garbage, so we were determined to see a bear (from a safe distance and preferably from the safety of a house or car). 

On Saturday we got up and went "yard selling".  That town is seriously the Yard Sale capitol.  There were over 40 Yard Sale's that day.  Clark scored big with a brand new fly rod, never used, and a reel.  He was pretty pumped.

Then we walked through the Farmer's Market, ate some Tamales for lunch and then played a little Bocci Ball in the middle of town!  

Later that day we went down to the lake and sat on the beach for awhile and tried to soak up some sun.  It was sunny for about 5 minutes and then the clouds would come and it would get windy for about 5 minutes and we would be freezing, and then the sun would come out.  It was crazy weather, but we had fun.

On Sunday we headed over to New Meadows where Kim works.  She is the Ranger over the Payette National Forest in the New Meadows District.  Basically she is the Boss lady who is in charge!  The little town was having a parade and a logging competition that day.  Apparently back in the day it was a logging town.  So Kim wanted to support the little town she works in!

Clark and Kim enjoying the parade.  Mija (Mee Ha), Kim's dog also enjoyed the parade!

Then we got to go see the Helicopters that the forest fire fighters use.  They were pretty big.

Since Kim is their boss Clark got to sit in the pilot's seat and put on a helmet!  He thought he was pretty cool.  The guys were talking him into being a fire fighter during the summer.... 

Being "tourists" and getting a picture with the helicopter.

 Then we went for a Sunday drive through the mountains near Brundage Ski Resort.  It is really pretty up there.  

Picture time on the rock!

A Moose!!

Well not really but it looked like one.  We thought that was the only "wildlife" we were going to see.  

Giant Tree

There were really big Ponderosa Pines everywhere.

 Our Wildlife Spotting.... 

Yes you are looking at a Black (actually Chocolate Brown) Bear in Kim's backyard.  So we were pretty bummed we didn't see any wildlife on our trip and on the last night, we saw a bear.  He was literally probably 50 feet away (I'm not good with measurements, but he was close).  We were looking at him from the kitchen window and he was almost right below us.  After we got enough pictures we opened the window and yelled at him (or her) and he sauntered off into the woods.  

Overall the trip was as success.  I had a lot of "firsts" on that trip.  First time to McCall, first time eating a Tamale, first time watching a logging competition, first time seeing a Helicopter up close, first time seeing a bear in real life, and first time eating at 5 guys burgers and fries.  Which by the way is NOT better than In & Out.  Their burgers were good, but the fries were soggy and gross.  I'm a big fry person and In & Out has the best fries ever.  Anyway, we had a good time, and we can't wait to go back!