Saturday, fires & heat

[SoCalGalcas]

Good morning, bad fire east of San Diego yesterday. Walking Benji in the afternoon, I have to stay on the shade side of the street. I worry about his little paws crossing the street. We go fast.

Got to the store yesterday. What a mess. If Ijust need milk I go to the Grocery QOutlet across the street. When I have a list, I go the big store.

Off to my guitar lesson this morning.....Lyn

[Bethers]

It's going to be really hot in Keystone today... Mid 90's. Too hot for here. Here's some important info if you're around the fires;

If you live anywhere near the fires that are decimating Utah, California, Arizona, and Colorado (or anywhere else!) please be aware that wild animals are fleeing the fires and they may show up in your yards. The Forestry Department is urging you to bring your domestic animals in at night and let the wild ones pass through. Please put out buckets of water for them - they are scared, exhausted, and have also lost their homes - they need to refuel.

Anita love your horse pics on FB.

Since my a.c. has already kicked in this morning, I don't think I'll be doing much today!

[chalet05]

Good Morning from cool, cloudy, breezy Assateague Island - a welcome weather change!

Sure hate seeing all the fires - I'll have to pay more attention when I head west next week.

Here are my morning visitors. Is there a way to make the photos smaller?

[havingfunnow]

Anita, I love the ponies! Did you get to camp right on the water? How many ponies wandered through your campsite?

[JudyJB]

I drove west from Hood Park along the Snake River in western Washington yesterday to the cool of the Columbia River north of Vancouver, WA. It was 99 in Hood on the Fourth and is now more like upper 70s! Yea. And will be doing laundry today, but tomorrow is Pacific Beach, right along the ocean, so temps will be in the 60s. My California son and family will be there on Thursday for four days, so we will be camping next to one another.

As I drove west yesterday along the Columbia River on I-84 on the Oregon side, I decided to avoid Portland traffic and take the more scenic route along the north side of the river--Route 14. I cut over on the extremely narrow and harrowing Hood River Bridge, then turned left on 14. Won't do that again, as it was so narrow I was afraid of scraping the passenger side of my vehicle, in spite of my driver's side dual tires riding on the middle yellow lane!

Anyway, there were no warning signs, but within the first five miles, I drove through FIVE tunnels. Heights were marked on the edges of the tops and the middles of the tops, but even the middles were only 13' and my vehicle is very close to 12' tall! I was able to go through most in the middle because there was not much traffic. No room to turn around before the tunnels, either, but I found a boat launch parking lot and pulled in, got out my computer, and looked up the number of the Washington State DOT. Got transferred to the Southwest Washington office where someone is on duty 24 hours a day. I told the person on the line that I was about ready to turn around and head back to Oregon and asked about any more tunnels or very narrow bridges up ahead. He looked up my location and told me I had gone through the worst and there was nothing else to the west to cause me problems. He also gave me his direct number. VERY nice!

Stopped at north side of Bonneville Dam and walked around the displays and the fish ladder, plus the inside part where you can see the fish swimming up.

[Rufflesgurl]

Nice pictures Anita - thanks for sharing. I've always wanted to see wild horses - maybe someday.
A couple mornings this past week our sky looked like overcast with a slight yellow/orange tinge. Think it must be the
wildfires but nothing real near where we live in N. Central CA

When I was returning from OR a week or so ago there was smoke in the distance. All of a sudden, lots and lots of fire trucks and vehicles were passing
on the other side of the highway. Assumed they were headed to that fire.

Linda

[chalet05]

Louise only the three in my campsite so far. There are many around as you drive in and out of the area. I wish I were on the beach but I didn't think of coming here soon enough to get a reservation there.

[Acadianmom]

I remember the book about the ponies that I read when I was in school. I think I was born wanting a horse and wanted to go to the pony roundup. I assume they are still doing that.

The alter society ladies were preparing food for a funeral so I had to deliver a fruit salad this morning. I'm not catholic but volunteered to help. Then I went to Walmart - AGAIN! I wonder if they worry about me the few days they don't see me. lol The new motorhome has a place for a TV at the foot of one of the beds but no TV and the bracket is broken. I picked up a TV mount for a small TV I already have.

I thought it was hot in Louisiana but California has us beat. It's overcast and thundering again. The radar shows a lot of scattered showers.

Martha

[elkriverrats]

Louise only the three in my campsite so far. There are many around as you drive in and out of the area. I wish I were on the beach but I didn't think of coming here soon enough to get a reservation there.

Oh Anita, I wish I had been keeping up on the forum! This is my absolute favorite place and I'm only about 2.5 hours away. Next time you pass through maybe we could meet up somewhere. I don't often go there in the summer, I love the off season, but today looks like a winner as far as weather goes. Look for the tiny deer, they go through the campground areas alot. They are actually a tiny cousin of the mighty Elk. I love hearing them at sunset. Enjoy your time there.
Happy travels to all, stay cool and hope all of you are away from the horrible fires.

[OregonLuvr]

Good afternoon. Busy day here today. We have had a devastating fire on the CA/OR border (close to where I live) and it is still only 5% contained. Went from 50 acres to 22,000 today. Pretty much wiped out the town of Hornbrook so the evacuees and their animals are sheltered in Yreka. Large animals at the fairgrounds and they are putting up more corrals today. They have lots of donated crates for the smaller dogs and cats in the school gym with their owners or waiting for someone to claim them. They said they were getting a donation today of Dog food, Cat food, litter and poop bags. They have a schedule made out for walking the animals and the volunteers coming to do it. Tractor Supply, and various ranchers have donated food for the large animals and hay is constantly being delivered.

So I made a quick trip to Yreka today with my car chock FULL of donations of bedding, clothing, water, misc things, dog food, leashes etc. Thanks to myself, Cathy Watt, and John Watt. That is Laura's sister and BIL. Laura alerted them and they were more than happy to help with some donations. They had a few hours to get stuff together before I went over to their house. I could not believe all they gathered. Totally filled my car, AND they said they have more ha ha

I could not believe the smoke and devastation on both sides of the freeway. All Star Liquors (Laura and I go there when she comes to town, cheap booze) was still standing, but closed and the fire seemed to stop just below where they are located. Was sad to see houses and cars burned to the ground and then next door not touched. I could see why the freeway was closed as it is totally burnt on both side of I-5 and the smoke was very thick in this area. I didnt see any flames but saw lots of fire trucks on the move coming and going.

The donation center was easy to find. They said donations were kind of slow today BUT The Mail Tribune Newspaper in Medford donated a huge pallet of water as they go thru that pretty fast. We are going to be over 100° later this week so I am sure it is much appreciated.

Hopefully when they get the fire out and people can see what is left they will have a different list for donations. Right now they need underwear and toiletries desperately. They can shower at the Y so hopefully they will get the donations for the undies and toilet items.

Smoky here at my house right now. It was clear earlier but its 94 here today and kind of breezy so hope the firefighters dont have to fight the winds too. 104° here for Thursday....geez they keep changing it and it keeps going higher.

[BarbaraRose]

I have a friend in Alpine and I spoke with her sister late last night. Her house was spared but her neighbors house is gone.

Another hot day today. It was nice and cool at work today but now I am home with the big fan on me. Cats are hot. I remember a friend of mine telling me her grandkid told her "you can tell how hot it is by how long the cat is". So true! It is around 95 here right now where I am. Supposed to start cooling off tomorrow and then back down to around 80 by next week.

I have bowls of water outside for the bunnies, squirrels and birds because of the heat.

I also remember reading books about those ponies when I was young. I loved reading about them!

[Cudedog]

Good afternoon. Busy day here today. We have had a devastating fire on the CA/OR border (close to where I live) and it is still only 5% contained. Went from 50 acres to 22,000 today.

Hi Karen. Sorry to hear that the fire is so close to you. Came across this map, don't know when it was updated, hopefully the fire is no closer to you than indicated on the map:

http://ktvl.com/news/local/blm-lands-southeast-of-ashland-under-temporary-closure

Take care.

Anne

[chalet05]

Kelly - sorry we missed a chance to meet!

[OregonLuvr]

Anne I am quite a ways away from the fire with the entire town of Ashland in between .....whew I am 21 miles from the border so I feel quite safe. Yreka is 52 miles from me but the fire is not threatening Yreka at this time.

[snowball]

looked at the sunset tonight and it was red red red usually when the sun is that red it's due to fires but haven't heard of any in this part of Idaho though so not sure why the color... heads up in Utah anyone traveling they have a major one going on but I am not sure where it is they say the hwy number not towns but it is huge and evacuations going on as well...
went to Idaho Falls today with my daughters and granddaughters. spent way to much at Wally world wanted to get sunflower seeds so that hopefully someone will fill the feeders while I am gone
a bit cooler here today or seems to be
my daughter keeps asking me why I don't walk much then says I walk way to slow for her to walk with me but would bet if someone would walk with me I would be more likely to go..
not looking forward to Vegas when I go although Carol said that they should be cooling down some..probably be there when some of the rains hit can't win right?
sheila