The ride we took went over the bridge where we fed the fish earlier that morning (Big Springs, Idaho) and we parked in the parking lot where our cabin was built and have a look around. Here are some photos looking down at the river, where we once had a view and a dock.

I used to sit on that log in the river as a kid

Then we drove about a mile down the river to the old railroad bridge and boat landing. Everything to the west of the boat landing (up river) is protected area. No boats, fishing, or people are allowed in the river. Which is why we cannot have a dock where the cabin is now and one of the reasons we had to move the cabin 22 years ago.

Lou Jean stayed in her car in the parking lot of the landing which was a short walk to the landing. Lou Jean was going to be on the lookout for bears and moose and if she saw any, she was supposed to honk the horn.

Mom and I walked down a boarded sidewalk, through some brush to get there. We heard some rustling but were pretty sure it was a small animal or a bird, but it gave us the creeps. We made it to the boat landing and the bridge safely and had a great time.

I found myself obsessed with photographing the railroad bridge. I got some great angles and it seemed as if I was looking at it for the first time in my life.

This is a view from under the bridge

This is looking down river.

As I was taking photos of the trees around the boat landing, all of the sudden, I heard Lou Jean start her car. I looked past the brush and saw her lights were on. I started to freak a bit and told Mom that Lou Jean started her car. Mom just looked at me with the deer in the headlights type of look. I'm used to freaking out but not Mom! Animals usually don't bother her... but this year was different; probably because there have been grizzly sightings.

We stood still and listened but couldn't hear any rustling. Then we started talking really loud and then Mom said she heard Lou Jean honk her horn. "Oh shit," I thought, the only way out was through the brush or around the brush next to the forest. We started yelling to Lou Jean and waving our arms to tell us to come get us! She finally got the message and drove down.

We climbed into her car so quickly, in a panic, and we asked her, "What did you see? Where is it?!" She did not know what we were talking about. She started her car because she needed to charge her cell phone while talking to her daughter and she never did honk. Thanks, Mom! We laughed and laughed about that. I got out of the car and took a few more photos but I had the creeps still so I decided I had enough.

I wanted to stop at the springs again to get some photos at sunset and that is when we encountered the big bull moose in the river. Lou Jean pulled off the side of the road and I snapped the photos.

I used my telephoto lens and was about 100 feet away, unlike the idiots who were standing on the side of the road with children (babies and toddlers) when their cars were way up in the parking lot - a heck of a run! Luckily it wasn't bothered by them.

It was such a gorgeous night but was too dark to go anywhere else so we decided to settle in at the cabin and watch a movie. Another early night... but it was a fun-filled day! The biggest adventure will be posted tomorrow, so stand by! :-)