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Published: September 19th 2009
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Coeur d'Alene, Farragut State Park, Sandpoint and Smith's Lake
Sat. Sept 5-Mon Sept 7 -- Heyburn State Park was totally booked out for the remainder of the Labor Day Weekend, so on Thursdasy morning we checked the map and found a park further north which had a huge number of campsites, called up the office and just managed to get the next to the last site for Saturday and Sunday.
Whenever I'd asked people for advice on where to go in Idaho, they told me Coeur d'Alene, so that was our next destination. To the early French fur traders, Coeur d'Alene meant “pointed heart” and referred to a Native American tribe from that lake region. These days Couer d'Alene is also the name of a large lake and of the bigtime resort area on its northern shore. The closer we got along the lakeshore route, the grander the houses became. No little summer cottages these!! And the city itself is definitely geared for tourists. The information center even has comfortable chairs and free wifi as well as racks and racks of brochures and helpful attendants.
Once we got our bearings and upon completing our deli repast on a
Waterside picnic area
They take waterside seriously here! Note the location of the picnic table... rocky outcrop of the city park, overlooking the lake, we took a walk on the boardwalk. We did not pass Go, nor did we collect $200 — it felt as if we'd landed on Park Place at least! (At last?) There was a big boat show on and the further we walked along the pier the deeper a purchaser's pockets would have to be to buy one. From 5 figures to 6 figures to 7 figures. Recession time, is it?
We didn't have time to buy one ourselves, as we were anxious to get further north to Farragut Park, slip into that remaining campsite, and get settled before the ever-earlier darkness overtook us.
Sunday was a momentous one for us: our 35th wedding anniversary. We decided to treat ourselves with breakfast out, so we drove to the nearby lakeside village of Bayview and had some good coffee and a hot breakfast, then did what married people do: 10 days worth of laundry and internet banking--to transfer funds to our son Lucien back in Oz.
Moving back into celebration mode, we decided to go back to Coeur d'Alene for a day outing which would include lunch in the
35th Wedding Anniversary
OK, this was taken at Lucien's graduation--we weren't doing photos in the rain! beautiful park by the lake and a meander through the Museum of Northern Idaho. But, you know how these special days go... It started to pour with rain, so we ended up scoffing our boiled eggs in the corner of the large shelter in the park which was otherwise occupied by a religious group which had it booked. Then dashing across the park and parking lot for the museum, which turned out to be closed on Sundays! What next?
Well, Phil measures his general state largely by how long it's been since he's been to the movies, so we decided to do that. Not much we could agree on at the multiplex...but we ended up seeing “Julie and Julia” since I had recently read the book with my book group, and we both like Meryl Streep. I found it rather appropriate as it was a look into the lives of two couples, better than a space cowboys flick, for me anyway.
Back at Farragut (good showers there, by the way) Phil built a big fire to grill a special dinner over and to sit by and sip our anniversary wine. He got the roaring just before another rain
Smith's Lake
A lake to ourselves shower hit, so we huddled in the van wondering what next, but were able to get back outside before the fire was completely out, and enjoyed the meal and the foot massage in the campfire light.
Our next destination was Sandpoint, we thought. But a small sign on the roadside caused me to turn a sharp right and travel a befuddlingly long distance down a country road. Bird Museum of Inventions. Well, you know how you don't always get the whole sense of things while you're also making some attempt at driving, correct? But our trip plan was to be spontaneous and we both like birds.
As we headed in the doorway of a larger hanger-like building, we were ready for displays of osprey and eagles, but it turned out it was a museum built by DOCTOR Bird, who invented the respirator which replaced the iron lung. He was the holder of many many patents, had a huge list of inventions to his name and was also a keen aviator. So in this huge building there was an array of his own airplanes dating back to pre WWII, his medical rescue helicopter and even an iron lung. His
Smith's Lake
Hmmmm--will we see a moose this morning? respirator (known as the “Bird”, as in TV Dr Kildare saying, “Go get the Bird”) totally changed neo-natal care aswell and radically upped the survival rate of preemies around the world.
Upstairs were Doctor Bird's medical inventions and also a hall of tribute to inventors in general. It was a total surprise and of great interest to us. In fact, Phil had JUST got an email saying that the US patent for his invention Porta-NIRS had come through, after 5 years in the works.
After lunch in the museum's cafe, we headed on for Sandpoint, an arty little town, full of galleries. Bonnie had given us a brochure for a summer artwalk that took place in about 16 venues around the town. We went to several, and enjoyed them, but as it was Labor Day, some of the places were closed and also it was raining again.
Our aim that night was to get to Smith Lake, where there was a small free campground managed by the Forestry Commission. It was tricky to find, but when we got there, a few of the merely 7 campsites had people. However, by nightfall everyone had left, so we went from being in a Labor Day mob scene at Farragut State Park to being down a long deserted dirt road in the woods, entirely alone. Gulp.
Rain, rain and more rain. It was certainly vindication of the decision to travel in a van! How slack we'd become, we'd never yet put up the tent, and we certainly weren't going to do so this night! After an indoors no-cook dinner (Sorry, Julia, not even any butter!) of nuts and crackers and cheese and wine, we were in bed by 7pm and listened to a Tom Stoppard play which went on forever, or at least till we could fall asleep.
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Walter
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Looks like a great trip !
Very cool to receive your reports. Will you make it all the way east? All the best during your travels. -- Walter