Roger's Pass is well known as having the coldest temperature in the 48 states. Today is was sunny and 80 degrees with ample wild-flowers. A trek to the top of Roger's Pass trail offers a great view of the continental divide.
During a very rainy drive through the hills of Cascase countiy on July 4th 1982, my Dad pointed out a window at a hill and said it was called "Dailey Hill." With permission from the current owner, we returned to hike around on what is still called Dailey Hill. Dailey was George & Ida Dailey, my great-great grandparents who first home steaded there in the earliest part of the 20th centurty. The remains of their home was buried about 15 years ago. Stories have it that George, who never had a car, would sometimes would be heard driving his horse wagon, singing, after returning from the bars in Stocket, MT. George and Ida had 9 children, but only 3 lived into mature adult hood. They had 2 kids die in the Flu Plague of 1918 (including my Great Grandfather, Charles Dailey). George and Ida stayed on their hill until 1944, at 80+ years of age. The had a son, Robert, who was know to be mentally slow, or was likable enough but was often getting in the way; likely retarded. Some have surmised that George and Ida stayed on their hill so long as a way to keep Robert at home. When they finally got to old and had to move away, Robert went to the state mental hospital and died there in the 1950s.
I had long been curious about the Dearborn River, especially its narrow shutes and canyons up the main dearborn river. The Dearborn is usually only floatable through June, though this was a higher water year. I followed a train of horse packers up the "Devil's Glen" trail, though didn't quite reach that point. Rain the day before had left the trail most so it was easy to follow. On the return, I saw large claw prints mixed into the horse show tracks; I hadn't seen any claws on the way up. As the area is part of bear country, and I was hiking alone, I made a quick trek out and tried to make as much noise as possible. The Dearborn River eventually flows into the Missouri River.
Team Idaho Gladiotors ran in the Saturday Sawtooth relay from Stanley to Ketchum Idaho. After an especially "well-endowed" dinner at Bridge Street Burger and Brew in Lower Stanley on Friday, the team checked out the starting point and turned in for the evening at the Triangle C guest ranch. A 5:00 a.m. start, I especially noticed the thin mountain air during the morning run. Afternoon warmed up, and the the water bottles seemed to empty fast. A great race, and with a finish just under 10 hours.
Biking along the Boise River, I sea a stream of traffic and recalled that this is "Rooster Tail" weekend. Spring Run off fills luck peak reservoir, and the BLM allows a show of spray from the bottom of the reservoir. A worthy show with many spectators. The sting of the cool spray was easily numbed by a detour to the new Lucky13 on the way home to south-east Boise.
Saturday was a chance to catch up with friends on the front patio....and to pause at the 10 year mark since passing of Frank Sinatra, May 1998. There was supposed to be some talk of upcoming outdoor outings too, but with all the banter about Frank, no one quite got to the logistics. There were some good stories, such as being on the Vegas strip when the lights were dimmed as a not to Frank. Or my Dad's story about his Dad's experience back in '44, helping to arrange a visit by Sinatra to East Base during a WWII tour of military bases. No doubt that Frank was the Chairman, when he passed I wondered who now? I recall back in May '98, being on the way to Utah for the George Strait Music Festival, and a vendor outside the venue was selling t-shirt saying "George Strait, the new Chairman of the Board"---certainly I agreed.
Philadelphia's Independence Historic Park---Home to the National Constitution Center, The Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall. A lot of history....and a lot of crowds....but still worth it. 
George Washington's Chair with a rising sun.....
I didn't expect the weather to be great in March in Philadelphia. Still, there wasn't much of a break from wind, rain, drizzle, etc. Finally towards the last day, it was good for a real stroll through Rittenhouse Square and to hang out at the "Happy Rooster" and watch NCAA games. Things were good, though I was getting tired of all the "vote for Hillary Clinton" signs everywhere. But the site of a "Hillary for President 2008" lady G-String in the Rooster was just about too much---I did suggest to the bar-maid that I'd vote for Hillary if she'd go model it for me. Apparently I wasn't the first to come up with that.
Finally made it to Dr. Franklin's grave in the Christ Church Burial ground. People passing by toss pennies (A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned) and leave several thousand dollars worth of currency; supposedly is a real help in keeping up the very old cemetary.
The Franklin Institute in Philly is all about learning for the kids.
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