To White Bird, Idaho along the Nez Perce Trail

Our last morning at the Sohn's we woke up to find Sheila had made huckleberry jam with the rest of the berries the kids had picked!

Elisha also made huckleberry coffee cake

And we had hot buckwheat with huckleberries on top!

Last tractor ride

Last swing

Last goodbye to the horses (with tears) ):

Goodbye Oregon, Hello Idaho (again)

Scenic drive along the Nez Perce trail

Fun rafting spots - we saw lots of boats ready to be put in

Historic markers telling of the local mining - just like so many other places we've visited, tree was a rush influx of people when gold was found and now there is little left but the traces of what once was are evident. From ghost towns to mines to erosion from quarries, there is a unique history out here in the west.

The hills of the canyon where we are staying the night had a unique look to them. 

Huckleberry picking day

A herd of cattle greeted the children this morning as one bull came to the fence along the road to say good morning to the bull across the road.

Everybody load up! We're going huckleberry picking!

The neighbors alerted is to a great place with lots of huckleberries "2.8miles past the Mt Emily sign".

Apparently, others were alerted to this same location. When we got here, this was considered a ton of people out to pick berries.

Getting our equipment ready.

Despite several other carloads of families out picking, it felt like we had the forest to ourselves.

These photos show the size of the berries we were after.

Our crew

It was a major accomplishment to get enough berries to cover the bottom of your bucket!

Yay! After 2 1/2 hours, we're done and have lots of berries!

I am now willing to pay a lot more for anything made of huckleberries because I know how long it takes to get them! (And I was told they go for $40/gallon.)

Pretty flowers and views from the mountain.

After picking we stopped for lunch and ice cream. (: yum!

Back at home...

"Would someone please go to the garden and pick some onions for dinner?" - Thanks Jo.

After dinner, we cleaned the berries.

Then dried and bagged them.

The kids spent their 3rd and final night sleeping under the stars. Tomorrow we head out. 

Visiting friends and making dreams come true

Tonight we got to go to Isabella and Ezra's house. They have been hanging out with us at their grandparents house for the last couple days while their mom got some needed rest.

Ky has loved hanging out with Isabella and having another girl around. And tonight her dreams came true when Isabella let Ky ride her horse! Since she talks about horses daily, I'm not sure this one ride will completely satisfy, but I can hope, right?

Ray walked Sy

Kik got on and was a natural - he's only been on a horse once before. This came easily - like so many things for this one. 

Jo is Ezra's horse 

And there were dogs (and new kittens and pigs ... my kids were in heaven with all the animals!)

Jo on the quad

Sy finally had a chance to drive. He's always been limited to riding along - and if you saw him drive tonight you'd know why! But he learned to be careful and thankfully it was not the hard way - though he came close. (Thank you Pat & Elisha!)

Another blessed day! So thankful for our friends (and our kids' new friends) here in Baker City. 

BLM's Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

Breakfast on the porch. Huckleberry pancakes made with huckleberries that grandma and grandpa picked when they were here visiting last week.

A 20 minute ride to the Oregon Trail interpretive center run by BLM a.k.a. Bureau of Land Management

Wagon circle

Sy in the wagon

Ky & Bella admiring the sheep 

Who went?

This activity hit home for us!!! since we just experienced the fun of trying to fit all of our possessions in a small wheeled vehicle to cross the country. The purpose of this activity is to show that you can't fit everything.

Relaxing on some flour sacks (which children on the trail may have done) watching a movie (which they would not have done!)

Checking out how a fort was designed

Kik & Ezra saying goodbye after our 5hr (!!!) visit

A non-working gold mine 

In case you haven't heard, all 4th graders can get a year pass to enter Federal lands (including national parks, national monuments, and lands managed by BLM, the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Reclamation & US Fish and Wildlife.)

The pass is valid September through August and can be obtained online at www.everykidinapark.gov. Thank you President Obama. (:

(Since Ky was a 10yo homeschooler, she qualified for this year and thankfully, Sy will qualify starting in sept! - so far we've used the pass to enter 7 places!)