South End of Coeur D'Alene Lake

When we pulled in to a great little resort (Sun Meadow) on the south end of Coeur D'Alene (CDA) lake, I had a feeling we were in the right place when I saw this sign - their way of saying, gently, "Look after your kids!". We were there after peak season so we darn near had it to ourselves. Pool, hot tub, even an indoor heated pool. Joan picked up a CD and saw that one of the artists was married to someone she knew from Boulder. And Rob Quist's band (who we saw in Kalispell) was on the CD as well. His song explains why the Bad Medicine area at Bull Lake is so named. We camped there on the way down from Glacier. Way back, one winter, a band of Kootenai Indians was trapped there by an earth quake. Many people died. Turns out that Rob played at the resort owner's wedding ... Small world. We spent one week here relaxing.



There's a great paved bike trail that follows an old railroad grade across the Idaho Pan Handle. It's the Coeur D'Alene Trail. We rode a section of it that crossed the south end of the lake on an old rail road bridge. Further down the trail a preying mantis attacked Joanie (well, not really!). Finally, I noticed that we were not out of bear country just yet - the trail was lined with ripe berries and apple trees. I observed several piles of bear scat chock full of berry seeds. On our return trip in the afternoon, I observed more piles than on the way out. Not a trail I'd like to ride at dusk!

The Route so far - Erie, CO to Post Falls, ID

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Glacier and Pole Bridge

Avalanche Lake in Glacier is well worth the hike. Several water falls cascade off the rock walls and feed into the lake. We hiked in and had lunch at the lake. On the way out, not 30 yards from where we had lunch, I stepped over a grizzly bear print where we joined the main trail around the lake. I might have missed it on the way in ...

There's a little town named Pole Bridge adjacent to the park's west edge on a gravel road darn near into Canada. Not much more than a mercantile (great baked goods!), a 40 kw diesel generator, several log houses and the Northern Lights Saloon. On the last day of summer they host the Pole Bridge Prom. Dresses are provided to ladies that have none. Corsage mandatory.

Glacier National Park

Ok. I'm a Colorado guy and I figure that Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park is pretty spectacular. Well, the Going to the Sun Road is Glacier is just as good, in some parts it's even more spectacular.

At the top we hiked for quite a ways. Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain Goats grazed near the trail. The sheep were a little edgy. The goats were calm and peacefull.

In Glacier we begin to get into some big tree country, beginning with Western Red Cedars. Fall begins to catch up with us here. The leaves are beginning to turn more golden each day. We do get to spend one last afternoon swimming in a sheltered cove on MacDonald Lake.

Flathead Lake

Flathead Lake is beautiful. It's the largest fresh water lake west of the Mississippi. Gorgeous valley. We spent several days camped on the lake at Wayfarer State Park. Joanie was fascinated by the way the light played off the dripping sap and berry water droplets. We both enjoyed swimming near the shore where small schools of fish hid from the much larger Mackinaw just 20 or so yards away. Perfect sailing weather!

Family and Friends - Bozeman, Kalispell, Post Falls and Spokane

We get to spend quite a bit of time with family and friends in September.
First stop is Bozeman, where we visit with my sister Ann and her black lab Tex. We enjoy watching the Republican convention with her, especially when Sarah Palin speaks.
From here we head to Flathead Lake and then are lucky enough to find old friends and former neighbors Bonnie, Rob and Guthrie Quist outside Kalispell. When we leave their place on September 11th, two firemen in full gear hold an American flag at a small fire station alongside the road.

We go to Glacier, then drop down on to Coeur D'Alene Lake and visit good friends and former neighbors Mark, Jeanine, Kali and Nicoya Wilson in Post Falls. The Coeur D'Alene boat show is on during our stay - they also have some classic cars on display.

We wrap up the September family and friends tour visiting Joan's friend from way back, Francie and her husband Tom. Francie teaches us some basic Svaroopa yoga, Joan helps her re-upholster chairs and I get bit by yellow jackets working on the truck. This visit proves especially helpful - during September Joan had many migraines. The yoga Francie teaches, the tumeric (anti-inflamatory) they bought in Spokane and the healing waters of Sun Meadow broke Joan's headache cycle. Thank you Francie!