We have disconnected from the world for three days at a little National Recreation Area campground on Lake Roosevelt, the lake behind Grand Coulee Dam. The park is right where the Gifford ferry crosses to Inchelium on the Colville Indian Reservation. There is no cell phone, no internet, no wi-fi, no Wal-Mart and no electrical hook up. The park is set in a lovely Pine forest right at the water’s edge.

We met Gary’s sister, Holly and Doug here. They brought their hot new Ranger bass boat and an intimate knowledge of the hot walleye fishing spots. Like true hosts and guides they let Gary catch the first walleye and let Judy catch the biggest one. The weather was just perfect. Friday night was a bit windy, but Saturday and Sunday were in the seventies and the lake was calm or rippled the whole day. Although we fished several species of fish in our lives, this is our first walleye experience. They are a fun and wily game fish to go after.

We will have to post this when we get back to civilization on Monday, but this quiet time sure drives the busy city life and congested freeways out of our systems.

On our way to this location we traveled through several small towns in eastern Washington. I wanted to visit some of the places I worked in 1964 as a college student telegrapher on the Northern Pacific Railroad. The towns, Almira, Wilber and Reardan have hardly changed at all in the 44 years. Railroading has changed, however. There are no small town depots and friendly railway agents. There are no cars lined up on the sidings waiting to be loaded. There is no sign of the depots even when you know where to look. In Almira the lady at the city hall had no idea where the depot had been, but a historical book had a two page reference to Mr. Kreitz, the agent I had relieved in 1964. In Reardan a couple fellows at the Reardan Grain Growers pointed out where they remembered the depot had stood. They told us where to find the museum. We looked it up and even though the door stood open there was no one in the building. We found a single photo on the wall of the depot in nearby Almira, but none of the Rearden depot.

I came away wondering if I had only dreamed that chapter of my life. Some of the memories perhaps will live on. I have a magazine, Classic Trains, that is interested in publishing a tale from my past.

Stay tuned for more adventures as we spend a week with our family in Colville Washington.

Love from Gary and Judy Dinsmore