We started south from Kalispell along Flathead Lake--beautiful touristy lake homes clinging to cliffs along the lake. Many were multistory with the top floor on level with the road. Very cool, but also very civilized. (And no way to stop and take pictures!)
We left the lake at MT 28 and headed west then south across rolling hills with low mountains on both sides. We hit the Clark Fork of the Flathead River and jogged southeast before cutting back west on MT135 to I-90. IN135 is the road we used to take to my dad's cabin in Brown County, so we felt right at home with the same winding valley and steep hills.
I-90 itself is spectacular and let us travel at speed into Idaho.
The Idaho map is covered with marked scenic routes, but we gave priority to the ones in our National Geographic Scenic Highways and Byways book. That meant we turned south on ID97 just before Coeur d'Alene along Lake Coeur d'Alene. Steve and I both thought it looked familiar although we couldn't think when we would have taken this route. We finally realized we had turned down ID97 just far enough for a picnic spot and then returned to I-90. The area deserved a second visit. Not as crowded or wealthy as Flathead Lake, but lovely little lake places nestled in all the bays. Lots more room to enjoy a sailboat than our lake at home. Lots of traffic on this Fourth of July so lunch was eaten in the car at a place to pull over.
The route took us from ID97 to 3 to 6 and out to US95 at Potlatch. US95 is not marked scenic on the map, but it was still pleasant. The route we were headed for was US12 east out of Lewiston. US12 is one of the oldest routes across the country. There were signs for Lewis and Clark historic markers every few miles. It follows the beautiful Clearwater River.
We stayed at the River Dance Lodge right on the river.
Of course, every place is right on the river because by the time you get to Kooskia there is no place to go away from the river except to head up a mountain. Our cabin was beautiful, but not exactly handicap accessible. There were maybe 8 rustic steps down before four steps up to the porch. The alternate route had 5 wide rustic steps and then a slope. Getting Mom in and out with her walker was challenging, but we made it! She enjoyed sitting on the porch reading a book about the Nez Perce Indians of the area.
Did I mention the great view of the river?
Steve had a really good book to read. I hope he puts a review on Amazon when he's done.
No internet at all, which is why this is getting posted on Sunday rather than Saturday. At least I had a good excuse to soak in the hot tube instead of write a blog.
That view of the river is off to the left in this picture.
Their cafe was closed, but we had ordered dinner ahead--one steak, one chicken breast, two baked potatoes, two corn on the cob, salad and two brownies. Dinner for two was plenty for the three of us. We had a bucket of charcoal and container of lighter fluid. We grill all the time at home, but we light our charcoal with a metal chimney. We had a terrible time getting this started and ended up finishing the potatoes and corn in the microwave. It's a good thing Mom and I like our steak rare!
Fireworks started about 10PM Pacific time, which sounds reasonable until you remember that our bodies are still pretty much on Central time. Fortunately they didn't last too long. Or else we fell asleep in spite of them. Of course, Mom just takes her hearing aids out.
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