On to Libby, Montana

We said our farewells, and were off mid-morning. It was an easy drive from the Sprague's to US Highway 2, traveling north along a quiet and scenic two-lane road.




About 40 miles later, we crossed into Idaho across the Pend Oreille River and continued along the scenic, dotted road on the map known as the International Selkirk Loop. The road followed the river then the banks of Lake Pend Oreille. 

At Bonners Ferry, we filled up at the conveniently located Pacific Pride and 18 miles later crossed into Montana then continued to Libby, nestled in the Cabinet Mountains in the heart of the Kootenai National Forest.  

We were surrounded by spectacular scenery, between the mountains, the forests, various tributaries of rivers, and occasional valley meadows. 

A railroad followed the highway, and we saw a couple of trains. 

On the approach to Libby, we hugged the Kootenai River which flows through this narrow canyon. I noticed a taxidermy business that caught my eye. The sign said: Wildlife Recapture.

Woodland RV Park certainly has an eyecatching sign at its entrance. 

The park was fairly empty, the owner very friendly and welcoming. 
He suggested a few attractions close by, so once we parked and were hooked up, we headed off in search of the Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge. 

A short hike led us to the amazing falls and rushing Kootenai River. Although it's already late summer, there was an impressive amount of water and I can only imagine how much more water must flow through here during the spring melt.

The water was crystal clear and the color a deep aqua. 

The swinging bridge was worth the hike and 64-stair climb to reach it. I crossed fingers that it would not collapse as I wobbled my way across and back.

I concluded that it's a good thing I was never interested in tight-rope walking because the bridge was so high above the rushing river below that I dared not look down for fear of becoming dizzy.

The information boards explained the geology of this rock, called the Belt Supergroup. 

Another display explained that the river is named for the Kootenai People that lived and hunted in this part of Montana and the adjoining territories in Idaho and Canada. There are seven bands of Kootenai People, five in Southern British Columbia, one in Idaho and one in Montana. The river was central to the economic life of the Kootenai People as an important traditional fishing area.
White Sturgeon and Bull Trout populate the river. For the Kootenai People, the White Sturgeon held a cultural and religious significance, even their canoes took the shape and name (sturgeon-nosed canoes).

A day with the Spragues

It's Labor Day, and we spent the day with the Spragues who took us touring. 
The first stop was a gondola ride at Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, Idaho, about an hour away. 
This is a popular ski resort in the winter, and a mountain bike and hiking haven in the summer.  From the gondola base at 2,300 feet elevation to the gondola summit at 5,700 feet elevation, it's a 3.1-mile trip, which is why they advertise themselves as North America's longest gondola. I would add that it's also the steepest ride I have ever been on. The final climb looked like we were almost vertical.

the first section took us over this ridge and down into the valley

riding through the valley on the other side

the final steepest ascent with Kellogg in the distance

magnificent views from the summit

The scenery was breathtaking as we dangled over the tops of the tall fir trees, slowly inching our way upward. If I were braver, I could have touched the cones at the very tops of the pines as we passed them.

There are numerous ski runs and more ski lifts at the summit. The map showing the various ski runs is like a maze.

enjoying a beverage on top of the world

Our next stop was in Wallace, a small town along I-90 where time looks like it stood still once the mining boom ended in the 1960's. This area grew and thrived thanks to the discovery of silver, lead, and zinc.

We had a late, al fresco lunch, enjoying the grand buildings around us, a legacy of a once-thriving town nestled in the mountains that provided a lucrative source of income.

with Karen and Rod

On the way back to the car, we noticed these intriguing signs on all four corners of an intersection:

And this marker was in the middle of the intersection:

Here's the explanation:

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/22660

First stop - Spokane, Washington

And we are off! It feels good to be back in the saddle again after many weeks at Lake Pleasant RV Park. 

Like riding a bicycle, the familiar routine came back to us as we struck camp and prepared for travel mode. We each have our specific tasks, and my task is to make sure everything is stowed and buttoned down inside. 
Once Jeep was hooked up, it was on to I-405 south bound, connecting to I-90 east bound for Spokane. 
We were heading along a familiar route, first winding our way through the majestic Cascade Range, zipping past forests, Snoqualmie Pass (elevation 3,015 feet) and Lake Keechelus.

Keechulus Lake, now low after the summer

On the other side of the range, the rain shadow area, we entered a dry, vast wilderness of coulees and flat terrain. 

 Eventually we passed wind turbines, a familiar feature on this side of the mountain.

wind turbines, dormant today

The mighty Columbia River appeared and we crossed to the other side at Vantage.

Frenchman Hills

We passed fields, golden with ripening wheat.

The terrain changed on the approach to Spokane, and once again conifers appeared.

Our final destination for the day was our Alpine friends, the Spragues, who live just north of Spokane. We passed more golden fields on the approach to their home. 

Three hundred miles later, we were parked on the lush lawn (Rod insisted this was the Alpine site for visitors), with a prolific vegetable patch and more fields behind us. 
This would be our back yard for the next couple of nights.

We sat on the patio, enjoying a glass of wine under the setting sun, against a crimson sky in this rural, peaceful spot. 

the Sprague's beautifully restored early 1900 historic family home

And we're off again...finally!

It's September 1st and we are ready to roll. Tomorrow we begin our journey, heading east from Washington State on our way to our first stop, Glacier National Park in Montana. My boy scout and map maker hubby has an exciting itinerary planned that takes us to several national parks en route to Albuquerque's Annual Balloon Fiesta in October.

We have been in the Puget Sound area for the past two and a half months, most of which we spent working hard to empty our home that my in-laws have lived in for the past 24 years.  We tossed, donated, and packed, moving the items of furniture and belongings that mother-in-law wants in her retirement apartment in Bend, and getting rid of as much as we could to prepare the house for sale next spring. We also spent a week in Bend, hauling as many of Mom's personal and precious items as we could fit into the car, and spending time with our Bend family. 
The house clearing was a Herculean task (and there is a lot to be said about early downsizing and living a simpler lifestyle with less stuff) but we are now one step closer to closing that chapter and once the house sells, we can truly say we will be "home-less" and free to vagabond as we please.

wheeeeee.... that was fun!

While in the neighborhood, between working on the house we also made time to visit friends and old neighbors. 
And the final two weeks of our stay were the ones we looked forward to the most because our daughter, son-in-law, and  22-month-old grandson visited from Sri Lanka. We had a wonderful time with them and the little fellow especially enjoyed several tours of parks and jungle gyms.

Poppa taking Aidan for a wheelbarrow ride like he did with our girls when they were toddlers

with daughter Kathleen on porch steps at the house where she spent her first 4 years

helping Poppa move Alpine to a different site at Lake Pleasant RV

There was an unexpected last-minute surprise visit from my cousin and wife who were in Seattle from the UK to take a cruise to Alaska and timed it well to literally catch us before we headed out of town.

enjoying the Kirkland waterfront with my cuz and his wife from England

a hike to the base of Snoqualmie Falls and stop at the cedar grove

Our summer of hard work is now over and we are preparing Alpine for travel mode after two months parked once again at Lake Pleasant. 
We are more than ready to hit the road and begin a new series of adventures.

Cape Kiwanda, Oregon

For the next week, we hung out at our favorite Oregon beach, one we refer to as the Pismo Beach of the Northwest. Unfortunately I was feeling a bit under the weather with a lousy cough I developed, so the first couple of days I stayed close to home. The weather was also cool and it rained occasionally. Staying cozy and warm inside was more welcoming. 
It was a perfect time to relax and enjoy some down time after a spell of socializing and touring. 

We enjoyed the special beach with its iconic haystack. We took long walks, alternating heading south and heading north towards the rocks. We watched the dori boats slide out of the water onto the beach. We watched the sun setting over the ocean. All the usual activities we enjoy when staying at the beach.
Here is a collection of photos from the Cape Kiwanda scrap book:

Cape Kiwanda RV Park

the rock and the dunes on a grey day

looking south

low tide, with rocks exposed

barnacles a-plenty when the tide's out

exploring the tidal pools and rocks

dori boats returning after a morning of fishing

a brighter sunny day

view south

We'll be back again! But tomorrow we head further north to our next beach destination in Ocean Shores, Washington.