Summer in McCall Take 3
We returned to McCall for another great summer on the lake with family. Instead of spending 7K on airfare and a car rental, we choose to hit the road again. Let me just say, I love my family is a road trip family. Just not in a huge winnebago! I hope to leave a few days early to get a small road trip, that I have been dying to do for almost 10 years. In a nutshell, I desperately want to visit Zion, Monument Valley and Devils Tower while the kids are still young. For some reason, I just can’t get it to come together. This years excuse, between remodel drama with our architect and family commitments, it’s on the back burner for another year.
The last time we did this road trip we were really good on getting out the door. The difference was we were leaving in the middle of the night to be able to arrive in time to check into our rental. The truth, it Covid 2020 and we didn’t want to spend the night anywhere and reduce our risk level by driving straight to the lake. This year, our bubble is popped and we opted to spend the night in love Winnemuca. We got great reviews from other family that Best Western is our best option and they were right. Gotta love cramming a family of 5 into two queen beds. Rethinking my plan saving money on doing just one room at Disneyland.
Stopping in Winnemuca is always an adventure to find something new. This little town is truly frozen in time. It’s interesting to see how the store fronts have not changed at all. We did breakfast at THE GRIDDLE and had a very yummy meal and the staff was so friendly, the same could be said about the Garden Cafe which is actually open late. The downside of the latter is smoking is still a thing Nevada. On the road back to Idaho, we always love the moment you hit the Oregon border and the road become swiss cheese. This is our third time hitting this spot in the last 5 years and the Oregon road works must have McDermitt very low on repair list.
Two weeks in McCall was the perfect amount of time and staying on the lake again on the lake. We found this adorable 4br hours back in 2020 and fell in love. Owned by a couple in California, the house has plenty of room for our family and plenty of room for guests. This summer we rented another boat to enjoy during our stay. The kids were over the moon riding on it each day. Lochlan was help Clem and I drive it again and he even was warming up to being in the water more and more.
Being with family was a big part of this trip again. Clem’s mom joined us for the most of the stay. And more family came in town. We even got a chance to entertain extended family and friends on this trip. Hosting a little put-put around the Payette Lake a few time were certainly a highlight of the two week stay. Paley got more info on what is required to possibly working at her favorite burger place in McCall. Lochlan was able to go golfing with Uncle Bob and Christian again. Margot’s hair turned green from the abundance of water time! Overall this trip was another wonderful stay.
Sadly Paley and I had to jet home early for Freshman year orientation. Luckily a family member needed a car delivered down to Boise Airport, which saved Clem from a 4 hour trek back and forth to Boise. The trek home together was a perfect dad and daughter time we both needed, with a new big change coming. Freshman year is not only scary for the kid but also parents. Lots of lessons taught and a lot of download about fears and expectations with friendships. Overall the drive and flights home was time well spent. It was just a bummer that Paley had to loose two days on the lake. Next time McCall.