Cousin Sam: FB BACKUP September 15-30, 2012

Explored Palouse Falls this weekend. Beautiful place!
posted by Conor Jorgensen, 9-16

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This is "Happy"! She got her name because she was so "HAPPY" to be
discovered yesterday by her owner after 5 days without food or water and
after living through one of the most devastating wildfires anyone or thing
could imagine.

Happy has been badly burnt and yesterday looked as though she had about a 20/80
chance of survival. This morning when her owners went back to check on her she was
up on her feet. She drank that jug of water sitting next to her and she ate. The vet said
a cow/calf can look very rough but if they can stand up and have an appetite
they deserve a chance.

The only problem is where Happy is located. I have no idea why this little heifer is even
still alive. Only one other calf out of the 6 head that ran though this area where Happy
is survived the fire. The others died a horrific death.

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whatwasthere.com

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Beautiful winding Road on the way to Palouse Falls on Highway 261.
posted by Everything Washington, 9-19

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Interchange yard between the the Milwaukee Road
and the AEC Hanford works at Riverland, WA.

https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.623019,-119.738939&spn=0.012512,0.027874&t=h&z=16

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from Similkameen Trail:

Water and now fire have pretty much eliminated all traces of Wild Goose Bill's Condon Ferry. Condon built a small village at his location with a saloon, blacksmith, hotel house and his ferry service on the Columbia River - late 1800's. This was the main route for supplies into Okanogan County from the railroad in Spokane Falls. The structures sat under what is now Rufus Woods Lake behind Chief Joseph Dam and the final traces of the Ferry were probably consumed in a recient fire.

Cable tightener

Shim tightener

Ferry cable

Evidence of sabotage

Farmers repair

This log structure is located on the north bank of the river and may have
served as a dead-man for the ferry cable. There was a fat Rattler here.

Possible route of Condon's Toll Road.

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Kari McKay's photo, posted by SRae Maes, 9-21

by Kari McKay, Tuesday, September 18:

Alison texted me this morning and unfortunately they lost Sparkle and Happy today. They had both made a turn for the worst from the sounds of things and the best and most humane thing to do was end their suffering. The family appreciates everyone's support and tomorrow they plan to head down into the canyon to rescue "Baby". The yellow heifer calf that remains alone in the canyon. Baby has sore ho...
oves but less extensive burns than the other two. When I first saw Baby I thought she had a great chance at survival, but again where fire is concerned one will only know in time. Please say a little prayer for Baby and the remaining animals that have been burnt in this fire. This has been such an emotional roller coaster. My heart breaks for the family and the poor animals, I can't even imagine what they are all going through.

by Kari McKay, Thursday, September 20:

For those who have been following the unfortunate story of Happy, Sparkle, and now Baby, the calves burnt in the fire NW of Grand Coulee. I haven't been over to help with the cows since last Saturday, but here is an update Alison Viebrock posted today. Alison has been there every day with her fiance Kyle and Kyle's mom and dad putting in long hours to help care for the livestock since the fire first started. Here is what she had to say today: Day 6 that we've been feeding and checking on Baby, 11 days since the fire that took the lives of her pasture mates and left Baby, Sparkle, and little Happy stranded, starving, dehydrated, and fighting to survive. Every time I pass the four wheeler trail we pounded out going in to care for Happy I want to cry. Then I see the trail carved into the hillside that this unfortunate bunch of cows followed as they tried to outrun the fire and I can only imagine their terror- it makes me want to cry. Then we break over the hill, and I see little Baby's head and golden body and I'm thankful. We have been fortunate. No houses were lost in our fire, people are not struggling to breathe where we are, people are not in danger of losing their homes. My prayers and heart goes out to those who are fighting the fires- not only the awesome fire crews, but the countless scores of volunteers and the people who lives have been affected by fires. In our corner of the world, our little calf Baby is starting to act more like a cow than a pet which is a fantastic sign- she's starting to feel better. And the simple truth is that the pens are full- an absolutely amazing number of cattle made it out of the fire in good health. I will be forever sad that we lost Happy. After finding her in the first place, then working so hard to keep her fed and watered, plus her kind disposition, made her loss pretty devastating to us. We will continue caring for Baby as long as we need to, and will continue to be thankful for the things we do have. Your supportive comments have meant more to us than you could ever know- thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

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Big Skies of Central Washington - South of Waterville
from Everything Washington, 9-26; photo credit - Rob Desch Photography

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Make your Destination Lake Chelan, WA.
from Everything Washington, 9-25; photo credit - Janine Demorest Ransom

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Alison Viebrock photo, shared by SRae Maes, 9-26

Here is Baby and Delilah. Delilah is another rancher's cow that we found in a neighboring pasture about the time we found Baby and Happy. She was actually with her calf on a nice little spot by the creek. However, I guess her tummy got a little rumbly, or she just wanted to go for a hike- she's a cow, who knows- and she hiked up a big hill to join Baby. Unfortunately, her calf didn't have the energy to make it up the steep hill so she's now by herself, and Delilah joined Baby on Saturday. We have been feeding and checking in these three for almost two weeks now. We will eventually need to get Delilah's calf back with her and Baby, but for now we're just feeding her where she is since she is also at water. She's a bit of a handful, goes running off every time we pull up to feed her, so we'll just keep taking hay to her till we can convince her to head out and find her momma.

Baby continues to heal, but has a bum back wheel so for now, she'll remain where she's at so she can recuperate. Actually, these 3 head kind of have it made... They're all by a nice babbling creek, have shade trees, and get nice hay delivered to them on a regular basis. I'm pretty sure they all say thank you when I make their dinner (and breakfast, lunch, and snack) delivery. It's either thank you, or they're trying to figure out why the strange girl makes strange sounds and talks to them like they can understand..... I'm sticking with thank you :-)
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