Wandering with Reason….

Around the Boise area. I think the phrase is “Wandering without Reason”, however that really messes with my OCD. Jay’s favorite phrase is, “All those who wander are not lost.”. Let’s do a little wandering…..

One of our favorite hikes in Boise is Table Rock. It’s a 3.7 mile hike with a 890 vertical climb. The Harris record is 24 minutes to the top, created by, of course, Papa Jay. Anyone who can beat his time will receive $50.00. Luke and his friend, Jackson, did a tag team and beat the record, however no one single handedly has beaten him yet. What I love about it is walking to the cross. It’s kind of like being home and seeing the cross on Gazebo Hill. May they never be forced to take either one down.

On Saturday morning downtown Boise has a wonderful farmer’s market. Each of the kids have their favorite booth to stop. Grandma Jelly’s (Not a typo, that’s what they call me) is The Creperie. Each year they seem to add to their savory menu. This year’s new one has asparagus. My favorite is the ham and cheese with a jalapeño mango sauce. When berry season hits we will all be there each week buying all we can. These farmers grow the best blackberries and blueberries and seems to be a common favorite in the Harris household.

The girls really enjoyed the homemade tamales since the beignet booth wasn’t there this week.

Just like Jay and Lionfish spearing, I love a great sunset. I could stop every night to watch it if possible. There has been some pretty amazing sunsets produced since we have been in Boise. We are struggling, however, seeing them each night since the sun does not set until 9:15ish. It’s difficult to get used to the late sunsets. Curacao’s were 6:45ish, then off to dinner. Here we are beginning to settle in for bed, not walking outside somewhere to watch one. However, we have managed to catch a few. I also love how they light up the hills on the west slopes.

Back to the subject of wandering – since we have five grandchildren I have assigned each one a day to keep up with their wandering Papa. Instead of “Where’s Jay”, around here the phrase is “Where’s Papa”. So, when I hear that I simply ask, “Who’s day is it?” My day is Wednesday. So, that is date day/night for us while in Boise. That means just the two of us. (Grandkids get us all the other days.).

Our first date day was a small road trip to Kirkham hotsprings approximately 1 1/2 hours from Boise in Lowman, Idaho. Gorgeous drive. Just along the side of the highway and nestled on the south fork of the Payette river are these streams and pools of steaming water – up to 180 degrees steaming. Somewhere I read Idaho had the most hot springs than any other state. But I can’t remember what I read that or maybe I dreamt it and making it up. Non-the-less, they are great.

The river is so high from the snowmelt and rains it is coming into some of the lower hotspring pools and cooling them off.

We liked the sign no dogs, no glass, no nudity. Thankful for the no nudity clause. We spent several hours soothing our souls, washing away our stress, and placing ourselves in a state of relaxation soaking in different temperatured pools and cooling off by sticking our feet into the cold river. Oh, the bonus – no cellphone service available. Jay found the perfect temperature shower to hang out under.

While wandering around looking for the perfect temperatured pool, a young couple invited us over to their area. They said there were warm and cold water spots a step away and were happy to share. So we decided to join them and hear their story. After all, that’s what we are doing during this year adventure, hearing people’s stories. Just as we found a comfy spot, the young lady decides to pull out a cigarette, or that’s what we thought until she asked, “Do you mind? We would be happy to share.”. Ohhh, share!!! Yes, we declined and thought we were up wind, however the aroma was swirling around the pool. Let us make this perfectly clear, we did not inhale. Hmm, Is that the “warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air” phrase in the Eagles’ song Hotel California? Thank goodness we had been doing a little free diving and could hold our breath some. A sweet couple with a great story of their young lives.

Several mornings we get to have some hungry kids over breakfast. The best part of Chef Papa’s day is to be the short order cook as they trickle in one by one shortly after waking up later in the morning.

This week the mornings have been pretty busy – Lilly volleyball clinics, Daniel cross country training, Rosie and Luke orthodontist appointments along with friends spending the night, and Noah hanging with his friends that have come home from their first year of college. Grandma Jelly Uber drives, Papa cooks.

However busy, we are managing to get our miles in and my sweet husband picking bouquets of flowers for me along the way.

By the way, one more story regarding date day, when we made our way back to Boise and regained access to cell service, our phones were dinging like crazy….”Jelly, can you take Jackson and me to the skate park?”.”Grandma Jelly, are you guys home?” “Papa, where are you?”

Ahhh, the sweet sounds of summer – retired and 1/2 mile away from our precious grandchildren. I’d say that is how you Wander, not lost and with Reason.

We hope you all are enjoying your wandering with or without reason.

Blessings this week.