Wild Turkey Mine  Valley, WA  June 19 to 24, 2024

 Day One Wednesday June 19

We left home around nine in the morning and headed to Ephrata, WA via hwy 3, 101, I-5, highway 512, 167, 18 I-90 and 283 and 28. Stopped for lunch at the rest stop just before Ellingsburg. We got to the Ephrata RV park on Hwy 28 around 3:15. Checked in and set up the motorhome. Called up granddaughter Jessica to let her know we were here and agreed to to be at there house at 4 ish. After visiting for a while Judy and I took the family out to dinner at the local Thai restaurant. The kids had corn dogs and fries. Tony and I had the orange chicken, Judy had red curry with chicken, and Jessica had a noodle dish which she shared the noodles with the kids. We all drove back to our house (motorhome) and we had a treat of ice cream.

Allie Standing

Tony, Maddie Jessica, and Allie

Noah

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Greatgrandma Judy with Allie

Noah was so surprised to see our house on wheels with a bathroom, etc. After talking for a while in the motorhome, we went outside to the picnic table so the kids could run around in the grass. To everyone's amazement, little Allie was practicing standing up and she made it multiple time to the joy of her parents and greatgrandparents. Judy and I were glad to be here to see this event. They left about 8:30. Judy and I had a fun visit with them.

 

Day Two Thursday June 20

Left Ephrata and drove highway 28 to Davenport where it meets US 2. Drove about 12 miles and took highway 231 north to 395 and on to Chewelah. We had a RV site reserved at Chewelah Motel and RV and got site 10. Judy made a nummy chicken salad for dinner with corn on the cob and a piece of toast. Bad news is that the microwave stopped working and seems to have blown an internal fuse. I hope to fix it when we get back home. Tomorrow the Wild Turkey mine.

 

Day Three Friday June 21 Happy Birthday Judy !!!!

We got up had breakfast and made lunch and loaded up lots of water and headed off to the Wild Turkey Mine. It was very easy to find from Chewelah. However, the dirt road off the main paved road was very water eroded but passable. When we got to the mine we were greeted by Jim and Jennifer, the owners of the 60 acres.

Jim and Jennifer owners of the Wild Turkey mine.

It had been a site to get magnesium during WW11. We signed the waver and went looking around. Judy had a difficult time walking in the rocks and ended up talking to Jennifer. Jim was very helpful and showing me where different types of serpentine could be found. I got about 50 pounds or so. Not sure. I am bring back small samples for the rock club. We spent 3 hours there, part of the time talking to Jim and Jennifer.

Serpentine

Jim gave this bag of polished serpentine to Judy for birthday.

We invited them to come to our tailgate next year. We left at noon, getting hot, and headed back home but decided to go to the public launch area at Waitts lake to eat our lunch. When we got to the motorhome we both took a short nap. Spaghetti for dinner. We both took showers after dinner. Judy found a tick on her. None on me.

 

Day 4 Saturday June 21

After breakfast we wanted to know if the tick was any problem. The clinic and vet hospital were closed but we talked to two men who said the ticks here did not carry any bad disease. Stopped at the local farmers market and was typical of most. Judy bought a small sign. We stopped at Safeway to get something then headed into the hills to look for mines and mine tailings. Most of the area is not posted no trespassing. We did not find anything and came back to town and had a late lunch at a noisy sports bar. Plan on leaving in the morning.