On The Road Again
(Saturday, Oct. 27)
Today they're loading up to head back home. We'll be going to Idaho to see Kathy.
Brent's bringing the ATV down to put on the trailer.
Everything's ready to go...
Here's where we part company. They'll turn left on the highway to Sumpter and Baker, and we turn right to Granite.
When we were here five years ago (in our old RV), Tim had given us a GPS so we wouldn't get lost. We were supposed to meet them at the campground we just left, but got lost and wound up on the top of a mountain. We found our way back and stopped at this restaurant to have breakfast and ask directions. When we told them where we'd been, they were surprised we could get around up there in a motor home. Actually, I think it was because Mel had driven log trucks on such roads. It was kind of scary.
It's a very old town. Each building has a sign designating what it was in the town. This was the drug store.
Further up the highway, thousands of acres of forests had been burned.
We got a kick out of these signs. The distant one says, "If you've grown sick of working, what the heck! It's an easy fix with a cockroach check." You can read the closer one. Does it refer to the Queen who eventually faced the guillotine during the French revolution?
Mel went in to buy us an ice-cream bar. The owner said he couldn't find dependable employees. They'd work until their first paycheck and then not show up until they needed more money.
Aerial view of Sandpoint, Idaho
Nestled at the base of the Selkirk Mountains in North Idaho's Panhandle region, the community of Sandpoint can be found 60 miles south of the Canadian border and 75 miles northeast of Spokane, Washington. With a population of approximately 6,000 residents, Sandpoint is located in a land of uncompromising natural beauty on the northern shore of Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced Pon-da-ray). A spectacular, glaciated body of water 43 miles long, Pend Oreille is the fifth deepest lake (1,158 feet at its greatest depth) in the United States with 111 miles of shoreline. Its pristine waters are a major factor in the community of Sandpoint's high ranking as a premier tourist destination.
We're approaching Sandpoint.
And not far away is Bonner's Ferry.
Downtown Bonner's Ferry. We stopped at Safeway's drug store and re-ordered Mel's prescriptions that were running low. Then took a quick look at the town and headed for Kathys.
Kathy was having a dinner party with friends we'd enjoyed breakfast with last year. It was fun to renew our acquaintances while enjoying Kathy's culinary expertise.
The next day Kathy took us on a grand tour of the area. This is the Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort.
After enjoying ice cream cones we head back down the mountain.
Beautiful view of lake by Sandpoint.
We stopped by Don and Lois.' No answer at the door, so we checked out back.
I couldn't resist picking and eating an apple. There aren't many Delicious Apple trees around anymore, because they were replaced by Granny apples commercially. However, there's no flavor like these little yellow apples with freckles. Don showed up and we had a nice visit.
This is their back-yard boat ramp on the river that flows into the lake.
Kathy took us on a short tour of the Sandpoint city park. Very nice. By the time we got home we were tired and ready for dinner...tasty leftovers from the night before. Kathy wanted us to stay a couple more days so we could meet her musical group, but we felt we'd better be on our way tomorrow after breakfast.
Breakfast is a Tuesday and Thursday event with her friends at the Chic and Chop Cafe.
And here we are ( since dinner the other night) once again sharing a table. Don's wife couldn't be here this morning because she's serving breakfast at the Senior Center.
Thanks so much for everything Kathy, and so long everybody. It's been so nice to see you all again. Take good care of yourselves. Good-bye...Next stop will be Salem to see Giny and Bill, and from there we'll head back to California.
