MORE FISH COUNTS

If you just can't stand it, and want more data about fish counts, this link takes you to a chart offering a ten year history, providing cumulative Steelhead counts for both Bonneville and Lower Granite dams:

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/steelhead/history.cfm

FALL STEELHEAD FISHING

Idaho Fish & Game (IDFG) is already commenting on the Fall Salmon Season. They report that as of late July, over 3,500 steelhead have been counted at Lower Granite Dam and some are already in the lower Clearwater River where they are waiting for the Snake River to turn colder before continuing their migration.

And if you want to know more about steelhead, IDFG writes: "All Idaho steelhead are summer run fish, which means they leave the ocean in the late summer, with most of the fish arriving in Idaho by early fall. These fish will then spend the winter in the Snake, Salmon and Clearwater Rivers, and spawn the following spring.

Fish managers have broadly grouped Idaho steelhead into two types, which we have termed A-run, and B-run. A-run steelhead originate mainly from the Snake and Salmon Rivers and typically spend one or two years in the ocean, returning as 5 to 10 pound adults. B-run fish originate primarily from the Clearwater River, and typically spend two to three years in the ocean, returning as 10 to 20 pound adults." source: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/reports/clearwater.cfm

The fish count for steelhead over the dams continues to hold strong, making us think it might be a hot season coming this Fall for steelhead. Keeping track of the fish counts over the dams is recorded by IDFG and can be viewed daily at this web link: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/fish/steelhead/dam_count.cfm. The graph for Bonneville Dam is impressive. Check it out!

Summer on the Salmon River

Hot, lazy days of summer are here! Rafters are keeping cool with great floats on the Salmon River and many go by the RV Park. Not yesterday though! Cloud cover brought thunder clouds and by 4pm, it was raining cats and dogs and could hardly see the hills up the Doumecq Road. A few hours passed, and the cloud cover smoothed away, leaving a somewhat sunny evening, though cool. However, another rain squall came in during the night, leaving the ground good and wet.

Family re-union folks stayed a few nights on their way back from Troy, Idaho and tried their fishing skills across the river at the favorite spot where the river eddies make fishing fun. Don't know how they did, because the rain squall came through, and they looked pretty soaked, but had big smiles. Go figure!

Giraffes, Lions, and More!

Yep...saw lots of Giraffes this week, but not on the Salmon River (darn!). While I'm in Boise at the Northwest Community Development Institute (NWCDI), we had a banquet event at Zoo Boise Monday evening, and I got to gander at nice, sweet giraffes, and even a few lions, like this Mama, taken through a window directly adjacent to their lair.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Al and Aras hosted nearly 20 continuing education teachers studying the Nez Perce through Duane Heglie's program at UC San Diego. Will post pictures of that group too.

And....inbetween all that, I'm managed to get 'twittered', thanks to the help of Idaho Tourism, so start following my tweets through the link to the right.

Happy Hot Weather!

CYCLIST FROM D.C. TO SEATTLE

Will Hewes, a Brown University 05 graduate, now working in Washington D.C., has been cycling east to west across the USA, and stayed at Swiftwater RV Park on July 18th. Almost 100 miles per day is his average, but with today's 100 degree temps, he plans to start at 5am on Sunday to keep up the pace. Final destination: Seattle, with stops to visit friends in Corvalis and Portland Oregon. Other friends visited were in Denver, CO, Bozeman and Missoula, Montana.

Will hopes to ship his bicycle back so it arrives at the airport in Washington D.C. and he can cycle home from the airport! Not owning a car, the bicycle for this cycle adventure is a commute vehicle, transporting him to and from work everyday.

He's enjoying camping at our place alongside the Salmon River, because at his day-to-day work at American Rivers (www.americanrivers.org.), a conservation organization standing up for healthy rivers so communities can thrive, rivers are a part of his day job. I did a quick search at their web site for the Salmon River, and surprisingly read an article titled 'See a Newly Free Flowing Salmon River'! ! ! ! This is about the other Salmon River in New York state!

Safe travels Will and thanks for sharing your story!

Hot, HOT, and More HOT !

Yep...the thermostat is climbing today and through this weekend, so slather on the sunscreen, or stay in the shade by the willow trees and listen to the Salmon River lap onto the rocks (just the thought of this sound is refreshingly cool), or stay indoors with the AC cranked up. It was just a few weeks ago as we peeked out from under our umbrella to stay dry from the daily downpours, that we were wondering when Summer would appear. No need to guess any more!

We've been mowing, removing stray limbs and brush from the last wind storm (still....sigh), and watering like crazy to keep everything green.

A fun family of four from California with a 12 year old daughter who industriously shampooed their little dog on a picnic table is heading back home today. Boy, did that little dog get clean! Another guest, a retired couple from Arizona, drive almost everyday in their cute little jeep to learn about the area. Last week, there were in Donnolley and traveled nearly 400 miles during their stay.....and I'm calling them vacation explorers!

Photo of LInda, the Cyclists

Now that I've got the hang of adding pics to the blog, this one is worth sharing, as it's Al and I, along with our Bichon, named Daisy Mae, with TriCoast Cyclist, Linda. Her husband took the picture, and there are lots more to enjoy at her blog: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=3Tzut&page_id=118301&v=3T

Adventure Cyclists

Readers are invited to join and travel along with one of last week's guests, Linda, who is cycling and blogging her way across the country. Follow her adventures at:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/4908

We're cleaning up the park from the weekend's windstorm, getting ready for a park-full of guests from various parts of the Northwest who have chosen their summer vacation destination at our park, and the surrounding area.

Check out this week's news White Bird news article in the Idaho County Free Press...there's a great photo of the 70' uprooted tree from the Harvey's yard on the north end of town, near the Nez Perce National Historic Park - White Bird Battlefield site. LInk for the article: http://www.idahocountyfreepress.com/IFPPeople5.shtml. The paper didn't print the other photo I submitted, so here is of the tree laying across the front of their house. (I"m learning how to post photos, so bear with me).

Property Lookers and another Tornado!

Happens every summer, and this year of economic turmoil is no different! We have a couple from somewhere on the coast looking for about 20 acres of somewhat isolated property where they can build a main home, and a 2nd one for their parents. They'd like to be isolated, yet 'somewhat near to services' and have traveled up into Twin Rivers Ranch, Phase 1 and 11, but still looking.

Yep...for the 2nd Sunday in a row, tornado-like winds came through about 3pm and trashed the park with limbs! We'd just cleaned up the grounds from last week's freak wind storms, and there I am again loading up limbs from the willows and cottonwoods that are strewn everywhere. Rain today (Monday)....and it's the middle of July! Hope there's enough hot weather that my tomato plants produce enough by the end of the summer to get a few jars canned!

Link Correction and More Fun

Oopsie! Sorry 'bout that...am learning my way thrugh the url maze and realize this link is live to the family cycling/driving from coast to coast http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/4908 while the link typed on the frst blog is wrong.

Other news: a family traveling from eastern Washington is staying at Swiftwater Rv Park (www.swiftwaterrv.com) and plan to bike around the arrea and are tying to orchestrate a jet boat ride on the Salmon River with River Adventures. If 6 people can be gathered together on the same day, it's a go! Lots of great activities...some cheap...and some cheaper.....here on the beautiful Salmon River in July.

Stay tuned!

Reading Writing and Riding across America: Alan and Donna and Lewis reach 1000 miles today!

Reading Writing and Riding across America: Alan and Donna and Lewis reach 1000 miles today!

TriCoast Tour Family

A fun family of three from Florida are 'partially' cycling from coast to coast and stayed July 10 at Swiftwater Rv Park, tenting alongside the Salmon River in Idaho. Check out their blogs at tricoastbloggerspot.com/2009_07_01 and www.crazyguyonabike.com/triccoast. Joe and son Maurice follow wife and mother Linda on her cycle. Father and son meet up in the afternoon, tracing Linda's cycle route and they spend the evening together at campgrounds and/or motels along the way. Since Swiftwater Rv Park - www.swiftwaterrv.com - offers guests free WiFi, they've been able to blog right from the park, which Joe did this morning. Maurice has to return to school in early August, so Joe will leave Linda to finish the cross-country trip on her own, returning back home in early September. Follow their trips and adventures. We enjoy having families and cyclists stay with us, especially all those cyclists!