Around the Valley: with Karen Huwe

We spent the Fourth of July week with family and friends in Idaho at Winchester Lake State Park. We all enjoyed activities, including a community parade, fishing, kayaking, bike riding, bird watching, and fireworks.

At our campsite, four baby robins in a nest were constantly being fed by their mom. We were able to see them fledge before we left. A ground squirrel visited often to the delight of grandson Elijah.

Karen Huwe

Baby birds waiting to be fed at Winchester Lake.

The City of Winchester's annual Winchester Days celebration is the first weekend in July. There was a car show, a parade, music, raffles, and vendors throughout the event. Smokey the Bear was a big hit at the parade; he was celebrating his 80th birthday this year and took many pictures with kids.

We enjoyed perfect weather for all our outside activities.  On Saturday night, people gathered around Winchester Lake, also known as Lapwai Lake, for awesome fireworks.

Karen Huwe

The fireworks show at Winchester Lake

For the second weekend in July, we went to bike-friendly Pullman, Wash.; a paved bike path was across the road from our camping spot.

Our cousins in Pullman acted as our travel guides. They took us on rides around town, through the campus, and by the community garden. The Pullman Community Garden has over 100 rental plots for organic gardening and offers community-based activities, including a Spring Fair, programs, and demonstrations.

We stopped at the WSU Bear Center, the Research, Conservation, and Education program was started in 1986 to provide information and understanding necessary to conserve bear populations worldwide.

The center has between 8-10 grizzlies at a time. Only bears incapable of living in the wild or those deemed dangerous to humans are brought to the WSU Bear Center.

On Saturday morning, we went on a 25.5-mile round-trip bike ride from Moscow to Troy, Idaho, on the Latah Trail. We followed the historic Moscow to Arrow railroad right-of-way to Troy. Signage said the trail was only for non-motorized use, no horses, and a recommended speed of 15 mph.

We rode along freshly cut hay fields, 'amber waves of grain' and trees. There were three restrooms and benches on the route. Though the trail was well used, there was no trash along the way.

Arriving at Troy City Park, we saw a crowd gathered for Old Timer's Days. We missed the parade but did not miss the line for buffalo burgers served by the local Lions Club. People filled the park to enjoy the car show, dunk tank, volleyball, kid games, and, of course, the food.

On our next trip to Pullman, we plan to ride the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail, part of the federal Rails-to-Trail program, which connects Pullman, Wash., and Moscow, Idaho.  

The days may be hot, but if you plan your bike rides for mid-morning and late evenings, you can enjoy the scenery without sweating too much.