Sad News Changes Weekend Plans, Future Plans Change the Rest of Our Summer

August 16-22, 2019
Couer d'Alene, Idaho - Missoula, Montana

Friday morning we pack up for our drive to Couer d'Alene where our plan was to meet up with Bill's best friend Tom and his family. Sadly, last night Bill got a call that Tom was flying to California where his brother Mike (who we also have known for decades) is in a coma and not expected to survive long. It's always sad to lose someone we know, but his health has been poor for many years, so it is less surprising. Mike passes a few days later.

It's a quiet, pretty 100 mile drive through more golden plains, through Spokane, and into Idaho.

Highway 2

Blackwell Island RV Park is large and full for the weekend. Lots of families enjoying the beach. The price is more for the location on the water than anything special at the park. Still, everything works well, we're level on a gravel and grass site. Satellite connects.

Sitting outside by the water with our friends was the only plan for this stop, and other than a drive around part of the large and beautiful lake, we don't feel like doing much.

Coming to Couer d'Alene was a last minute change of plans, and I've been thinking about changing them again to get back to Arizona earlier. We've wanted to see more of Idaho, spend more time in the areas we rushed through the smoke two years ago. That was the original plan for the remainder of our summer.

The idea of having a winter base in Tombstone has really been on my mind lately, in a good and exciting way. Keeping an eye on the available properties, it's clear the prices are going up, and the inventory is going down. I really want to have a place before we head to see the kids in December. 

Soooo, Bill is on board with speeding up our return, and I cancel several reservations. Now we'll fly to California for an October wedding from Tucson instead of Ogden, Utah. Most of Idaho will have to wait, but there will be a stop for several days to see the Grand Tetons. There will also be longer travel days than the short ones we've enjoyed all summer.

The only large town in Montana we haven't visited is Missoula. Most people we know stay at Jim and Mary's RV Park, but they have no openings with short notice. Luckily the KOA has one space available, water and electric only. 

Missoula Holiday KOA is a nice surprise in that the sites are large, well maintained grass, right in town. 

Great for getting errands done - groceries, groomer, massage, shopping. Although we're in town, the park is quiet and good for naps. 

A day trip to the Ninemile Remount Depot gets us back into nature for an afternoon. With an interesting history, and a currently active facility for the forest service, it's a unique and educational visit. 

The original "fire bell" summoned fire fighters and their mounts to head to the next fire. 

4 pack trains of 10 mules waited in these corrals for the next fire call. Each pack train carried enough gear for a 25-man fire camp. 25 head remain at the depot, but today they are out of sight in the large pasture.

This large Blacksmith Shop made the shoes for all Forest Service livestock in the country in the early 1900's. They produced up to 15,000 shoes per year! 

The old weather vanes have great character.

The country drive takes us past farms softened by age.

This sweet baby nearly gets away before I can snap a pic, but curiosity on his part gives me this nice opportunity.

A whimsical house and fence catch my eye.

Had to stop and back up to see if I was really seeing this!

We're looking forward to our new route, and to getting back to Arizona to see if we can find a property to call our own. We hated missing seeing Tom, and that we've lost another long time friend. Having the flexibility to change plans on the fly, no matter the reason, is one of the great things about this wonderful life we live. We're always grateful that we have this opportunity.

For those of you who wanted a pic of the new audio system in the Jeep:

Smarter than we are.