Well where to start! So much catching up was in order and it all started in the driveway. When we eventually made it inside, my sorry state was quite embarrassing. Paris asked if I wanted a shower and I suggested that would be in ‘everyone’s’ best interests if I did. I hadn’t washed anything properly (other than in a creek or a hotel hand basin) for over 9 days, so when Paris also asked if I would like to put a load of washing on, the offer was quickly accepted. Everything went in once again, including a second load with all the bike gear.
I met Lauren for the first time, one of Dean’s daughters and we were quickly chatting away like we’d been friends for years. Everyone sat out back in the evening sun with Coronas and talked until Jessie turned up. She was just married and had grown from the little girl I remembered into a lovely, confident young woman who was obviously going places. Her husband, Jeremy, was away for a few days hunting, much to everyone’s vague disquiet! I won’t bore you with all the detail, but we had a tremendous evening with a help yourself buffet style dinner that went late into the evening.
One slightly unusual element of the Howell household is it’s animals. Everyone had contributed to the menagerie, but Kelly (Paris’ other daughter) is the biggest culprit. Calling her a wildlife warrior would be grossly understating things. She collects animals, even to the point of trapping, spaying / neutering and then fostering the wild kittens that are so prevalent in the area. She funds it all herself and has made huge inroads into both decreasing their numbers and humanely finding a solution to a problem for the residents of the town.
The additional family members include:
- Tiny – a rescue kitten that had been living there for 2 years and who spent all day under my bed
- Indy – an Australian expat cat
- Birdie – another cat, but a diabetic one
- Max – a completely neurotic Great Dane, that wouldn’t walk on tiles, but occasionally did so backwards and who weighed close to 80 kg. He’s size of a small horse.
- Rusty – the Papa bear. An ageing hound always looking for food
- Clarkson the bunny – was good buddy’s with everyone and loved Cheerios (human breakfast cereal)
Everyone all lived happily together, with the animals being treated like children. They all wanted to be the centre of attention, got into trouble every few minutes, were yelled at, included in every conversation, were constantly demanding food, are regularly asked if they want to go outside to the toilet and generally spend most of their time underfoot and in the way. Cool – just like any other family.
The next day was a catch up day. A great breakfast at a local hole in-the-wall that the Howells frequented, an then off to the ‘mall’ for a phone. I bought a new iPhone 6 (only to find out a week later that a 7 was just about to be released – I do like my techie stuff) and then a SIM. Everyone was hugely helpful with setting it all up and helping me out. It took a while, but we downloaded everything from the cloud (including the photos I thought I’d lost) and I was up and running as if nothing had changed. It was all quite amazing actually and was great to have a phone back.
Paris and I left Dean at home to watch the golf and headed down to Costco to pick up a few things. This is a Woolworths come Aldi on steroids. The size of a football field, you can buy anything, from milk to booze, underwear and cars. Seriously, it was completely out of control. I grabbed a Californian red to go with dinner and we escaped, heading to where Kelli was house-sitting for friends. As well as working in a dog grooming business (that she will eventually take over) she does a few other odd jobs around the place. It was so good to see her – she’s the one that has possibly changed the most, especially as she is the younger of the 2 sisters. Kelly knows exactly what she wants to do in life, it’s just a matter of putting all the pieces together and making them fit. Much like Lauren, she’s a generous, caring person ….. things always work out for good people.
We all had dinner together, a comforting beef casserole with mashed potatoes – could easily have been back in Australia. It was so nice being in a house and having all the comforts of a home. Running water, a couch, the ability to just make a coffee, watch the news or have a rest without having to think too hard about it. The hospitality was awesome and I was so grateful for it. I watched a seriously good game of college football with Dean that night. Notre Dame v Texas I think. About 84 points were scored in the game and it went into double overtime. I understand the basics, but it’s a pretty complicated game – it’s hard too. You can see why they wear the protection.
It turned out that my arrival in Boise had been timed poorly from the perspective of getting the bike attended to. I’d arrived on the Saturday and Monday was Labour Day and a public holiday. So Paris and Dean suggested showing me some of the nicer parts of the countryside and thought we could go for a drive out to a little town about an hour away. It was they said, one I would never have never heard of, where we could have lunch in a great little resort and enjoy the views and scenery. It was, of course, Crouch. In my usual unthinking and diplomatic way, I blurted out ‘been there’. Paris was so crestfallen, that it didn’t take me long to suggest that I’d love to go back again. And that was being completely honest. I’d really only been through the area briefly and the Dirty Shame had taken up, one way or the other, the bulk of my time there.
Everybody came along, including Cooper, Kelly’s boyfriend. It was nice being driven and not having to concentrate on the road – the scenery was spectacular. We did have a good lunch, however the service was appalling. It started when our server announced that she’d just had her meds adjusted and was back to being a bearable human again. She groaned when she saw us all and said the cook would be thrilled (not) with having to prepare meals for so many people and to ‘hurry up and order cause I’ve got other people to get to’. After an hour’s wait, she snatched back the glass salt and pepper shakers that Paris had bought out onto the deck from inside ‘in case you try and throw them into the pool’. She was, without wanting to vilify any demographic, described by everyone as ‘poor trailer trash’. She snapped and snarled her way through the lunch (which was very good) and poor Lauren was beside herself with embarrassment. I thought it was all pretty hilarious and it certainly added to the experience.
On the way back we stopped at a Costco style camping shop where I bought a gas refill, maps of Oregon and a new headlamp, before heading back home to a joyous reception from the ‘kids’ and a meal of leftovers from the last few days. Jeremy had come home a day early from hunting (no success) so it was good to finally meet him too. My last night in Boise (or so I thought) and a perfect way to end it.
Adventure USA 