Last week Pam and I drove to Boise, Idaho, to visit with Felicity and listen to her group, Northwest Harmony, sing at the regional Sweet Adeline convention. Some sight-seeing time was scheduled since there were only certain times we would be able to meet with Felicity; her schedule revolved around practice, meetings, and event-related activities.
We had all three dogs with us. Pam had made reservations at a Motel 6 in Meridian, Idaho (about 10 miles west of Boise) as they were advertising as dog-friendly (no extra charges/elevator to the second floor) and had reasonable rates. Three nights, with all taxes, came to a bit over $200. This Motel 6 had a very good dog walking area and turned out to be very well-situated for all our travels, was near eateries and a dog park, and a Winco food store was – literally – across the road. (Winco is a warehouse-type grocery store. We bought breakfast food and fruit from them + great muffins. They also have killer salads for about $3.18.)
In more or less chronological order: packed up to head out. (Lime green rectangle is doggie crate.)
Car packed up for trip. Grey case is a cooler.
We arrived in Meridian, Idaho after a 12-hour drive, checked in, then relaxed. Next morning (Friday) we found a local dog park and let the dogs run off-leash, giving them some much-needed exercise.
Pam, calling for Bru, is trying to get the dogs to drink some water.
After lunch we picked up Felicity at her downtown Boise hotel, The Grove, and drove over to a local park to talk, catch up on family news, and enjoy the beautiful day.
Jer, Felicity, Pam and the dogs enjoy a few hours in the park.
The park was great. It had geese, squirrels, plenty of places to sit, and good bathrooms. We spent several hours there, had lunch, and were able to catch up with Felicity’s news and generally had a good visit. We hadn’t seen each other face-to-face since January 2012.
During one of our walks around the park we came on this scene:
Duck boats in Boise city park.
You don’t see duck (and pelican) boats like this very often anymore!
The next day (Saturday) was the “Big Sing” for Felicity. We made arrangements to be at the venue mid-afternoon and meet Felicity after she completed her part of the competition. (Felicity stayed at the venue, The Boise Center, for all the judging and post-competition festivities but Pam and I stopped at the competition only briefly to see Felicity perform.) This left us with some unscheduled time Saturday morning to fill so we decided to take a trip out to the Snake River Canyon.
We made two stops, the first at Dedication Point which is in the middle of a raptor refuge. While we didn’t see any raptors, the walk and educational signage (and view!) made this a nice stop.
The second stop was at the first hydroelectric plant on the Snake River, Swan Falls. This was a green oasis, a swath of park along the river where the dogs could run and I could walk around the plant. While the original plant was decommissioned in 1994, a newer facility built at one end of the dam continues to supply power today.
Swan Falls power plant on the Snake River
Here is a photo of Pam and the dogs taking a break on the steps of an old four square house located in the small park-like green space along the river. We hope the authorities who own this house take steps to preserve it. Right now it looks somewhat bedraggled; it would be sad to loose this old place. Pam loved the “grandma house” feel of it.
Pam and dogs taking a break from walking around the Swan Falls power plant grounds
Many switchbacks out of the Snake River Canyon – and a light lunch – later, we headed into Boise to listen to the Sweet Adeline groups sing, including Felicity’s group, Northwest Harmony.
The singing was great. Since this was a competition and not a concert, each group sang only 2 songs – one slow, one up beat. We listened to several groups and enjoyed some pretty amazing musical renditions. Felicity’s group placed 3rd over-all, not bad considering there were 18 groups and the competition was close.
Here are Felicity and Pam sitting in the hall after Felicity was done singing. Felicity calls this her “clown in drag” make-up, with false eyelashes, bun hairdo, and lots of foundation.
Felicity in makeup sits with Pam.
I had planned to record Felicity singing, but found the Sweet Adeline organization would not allow either recording or digital pictures to be taken in the hall! I was very disappointed, but I should have guessed the competition was being professionally recorded (with multiple cameras and sophisticated sound equipment). Still I would have liked to be able to have a clip of Felicity singing — that will have to wait for another time.
Felicity introduced “her parents” to several members of the Northwest Harmony group. Their age demographic is more our generation, all very nice people with only good comments about Felicity. The most unusual event occurred when we went to get our tickets. A man and a woman were at the ticket desk, and the woman looked at Pam and said ” You must be Felicity’s mother.” Pam was a little taken aback, but acknowledged the relationship. Considering the number of attendees, we thought this was sort of cool. We later learned the lady was one of the event organizers who had worked closely with Felicity’s group over the last couple years and knew Felicity as a member of Northwest Harmony. (The family resemblance must be stronger than I thought.)
We left Felicity to enjoy the remainder of the competition and took off on our scenic ride up the Payette River Canyon. This drive follows the river and gets progressively higher and into more timbered country. It was a very pleasant, if not spectacular, drive. We were running out of daylight (which lasts until 8:30 p.m. – yes) which necessitated a return to our Motel 6, dinner, and time to hit the sack.
Sunday we packed the car, checked out, picked up Felicity at her hotel in Boise, found a Denny’s for breakfast, then dropped Felicity off at the Boise Airport. We headed east and arrived back home at about 1:00 AM Monday morning.
Overall this road trip was better than anticipated. We were able to spend some time with Felicity, see some scenic Idaho country (that wasn’t interstate), listen to some good music, and enjoy some splendid Spring weather.
I am going to close with a short (1:35) video clip. This clip ends abruptly as I had intended to have a video of Felicity singing as the ending. Still, it is what it is…
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That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!
Pam’s 2 cents worth:
If I was wondering why a young chicky-poo [during the trip] gave me the senior discount without me requesting it, the photo of me with Felicity tells the story. I look just like my godmother, Aunt Angela, during her later years. Geez.
For a look at what Sweet Adelines can do, search on “Pride of Portland Hallelujah” to see/hear the Hallelujah Chorus as you have never seen/heard it.
Yes, Eli, we are still alive. It was a busy week.
Call me nuts but…
– I think Pam (three of you sitting at the picnic table) looks just like mom. Not so much the face, seester, but the way you place your arms and hands. It was the very first thing I noticed.
– perhaps even stranger is that when looking at Felicity (aka clown in drag) I see ME. As far as you/Aunt Angela, I don’t see it, but your haircut is awesome – I love it!
It looks that you have a lovely trip and beautiful weather! Twelve hours in the car is certainly an excursion though – yikes! Perhaps you should write a book on how to successfully travel with canines. Looks like you have it down!
You know what’s the coolest thing of all though (in my opinion?) — for years, during HS, Felicity didn’t find her voice. Now, it is a huge part of her life! It just goes to show you that HS definitely doesn’t define your future (this is a GOOD thing!)
I looked at the Pride of Portland Hallelujah Chorus and WOW. You’re right, I have never seen nor heard that before. It was great – really fun. And that is Felicity’s group, right?
wow! i am so WAY behind!! how did this happen? i need a good chunk of time to get all caught up…but for now–great post–and sounds like a great trip! love your posts–you do such a great job of documenting. good to see the girls in video–all 5 of them! 🙂
Sounds like you had an enjoyable-but-exhausting trip. I’ve no doubt both you (and the dogs) returned more tired than when you left.
I’ve heard good things said about Boise, though it’s always been a bit “bland” to me.
No comment on Felicity’s “clown in drag” make-up!
In-so-far as (your) aunt Angela look — since you probably received your X chromosome directly from Ida (via MOP) as Angela did, only natural there’s a physical similarity. That your physical posturing is also similar speaks of something other than “learned response” — interesting…