Day of Hope #56
Sunday August 13, 2017
Goal: Visit one of the top 25 spots in Idaho and have pie
Quote: “Food may be essential as fuel for the body, but good food is fuel for the soul.” – Malcom Forbes
Another favorite find was when I discovered natural hot springs in Idaho City, ID. I was so excited the night before that I had a hard time sleeping. I felt like a kid on Christmas eve. I needed to stay close to home to save money, but I had found out about these amazing hot springs in Idaho City about 45 minutes away. I rented a private pool which is a round pool in a hidden cove that backs up to the mountains. The pools are warm, and it felt amazing. I saw hummingbirds, a tiny lizard, and dragon flies. It was so quiet and peaceful; all I could hear was the water flowing, birds singing, and just nature all around.
Attendants brought drinks and food to my private pool and delivered them through a secure round table in the wall that I turned to get the food. I was completely secluded, enclosed in my little piece of paradise. I soaked in the hot springs, ate an amazing meat and cheese tray, had some wonderful drinks, and journaled. My muscles felt amazing. I did not want to leave. I spent two plus hours in the pool.
The main reason I went to the hot springs was that I saw it in an article in the paper of the top 25 places to visit. Trudy’s restaurant in Idaho City was on the list. It said to have pie at Trudy’s. It was just up the street from the hot springs so why not go and have the best pie. After my soak I enjoyed a slice of Cherry pie topped with ice-cream. It was amazing and the perfect way to finish out the day.
My lesson of hope: Even finding a close get away in your city can do wonders. This day was so relaxing, and it nurtured my inner goddess and my taste buds.
Bonus event - Run for Wine
For a bonus item this month I extended the next weekend into my Day of Hope. It was to keep a promise to myself to do thirteen half marathons before I am fifty. This month I did the St Chappelle wine run. My sister and her friend Sarah drove up from Utah to join me. I had planned to do the half marathon, but we ended up doing the 10K instead which is 6.2 miles. We had a little too much fun at my good friend’s Mr. D’s the night before with wine. He just loves everyone, and we were having so much fun we could not leave. We were there for hours laughing until our sides hurt. It ended up being a whole weekend of wine.
These ladies are very special to me. My sister Sally is amazing, and I don’t know what I would do without her. Sarah is my sister’s best friend and is an angel on earth. She walks into a room and has a way of lighting it up. She makes friends with everyone and makes sure no one is left out. She is so fun to be around. Her personality is contagious. She is a real genuine person inside and out. I feel very blessed that they chose to spend their weekend with me for the race. Well, let’s be real, it was for the wine. HA!
We had gotten ready the next day for the race, and we all knew we were not going to make the half marathon as we were feeling a little woozy. It was a good decision. We started off at the apartment for pictures then off to the race. The winery is about forty minutes from Boise, Idaho. We Google mapped it, and it took us on the back roads. As we were driving, I was sure we were lost. Especially when we came to a highway and the road was called Chicken Dinner Road out in the middle of nowhere. I was so funny to Sarah, she made us stop and take a picture so she could pose in front of it. We finally found the winery. We decided to do some wine tasting and cheese tray before the race just to attempt to recover from the night before. It really helped.
Now it’s time for the race to begin and we are off. It’s a beautiful road through the vineyards. Great scenery and very peaceful. We were cruising along just laughing and having a great time. At about mile four it started to get hot. The sun was beating down. At about mile five we begin to wonder if we will make it. We just want it to be done. At around mile six we are dragging but still in good spirits. My sister and I are ready to tackle Sarah as she is so cheerful and happy, and laughing and cracking jokes and we are not, at the moment. We know we are getting close. We go around the last part, and we see it. The hill, the hill of death to us at that moment. It’s so hot outside. It got into the 90’s. We all just looked at each other in disbelief. I reminded them of my climbing a mountain story in #33. Head up, shoulders back, keep going. It’s just around the corner. Somehow, we made it up that horrible hill and then it was all downhill to the finish. We crossed the finish line hand in hand and went directly to the grass and laid down. We did it!!!
For finishing the race, they gave us a wine glass that said will run for wine on it and a medal. I don’t let anyone use that glass as it’s very special. The sunset that night was so beautiful. We felt so grateful for life, good friends, finishing the race, and of course wine. It was so amazing. The next day we visited my cousin who has a floor to ceiling chalk wall we drew on. Sarah of course loved it. It was a special weekend for sure.
My lesson of hope: Do not go to Mr. D’s the night before a race. Ha! Wait until after. Enjoy the time with friends. Make memories and never regret any of them. Life is so short. At the time I am writing this our dear Sarah is in heaven. I will always cherish the times we spent together and always remember our wine run weekend.
