Part Two in the excruciatingly detailed account of our Idaho vacation last week. If you missed Part One, click here.
The state flower of Idaho --Philadelphus lewisii (Lewis's Mock-orange). Also known as wild mock orange. It has a heavenly fragrance. Idaho officially calls it "Syringa" which is super confusing and annoying because syringa (lilacs are a kind of syringa) is in a whole different family than mock-orange! Mock-orange is in the hydrangea family! Syringa is in the olive (oleaceae) family. God! Get your story straight, Idaho!
Our first full day in Idaho was Sunday, July 10. We were fatigued from the flying and the time change, so we looked for an easy-ish hike close to Coeur d'Alene. We decided on the Mineral Ridge loop, a 3.3 mile trail with a 700 foot rise in elevation. There are 22 little signposts on the trail that go with a guidebook which explains the natural history of the area and helped us learn to identify some of the common plants and trees in the area. We stopped at every damn marker and earnestly read every word in the guidebook, huge dorks that we are.
Nice view of Lake Coeur d'Alene at the top of the ridge.
Look! Over there!
After the hike we decided to drive to Old Mission State Park, where the oldest building in Idaho stands. It was a Catholic mission built by Jesuits and members of the Coeur d'Alene Indian tribe in about 1850. We could either take the highway roads, or the "shortcut" over the mountain on the Forest Service roads. Naturally, we opted for the shortcut.
I don't think this picture really shows the depth of these ruts.
We were supposed to stay on this road for 5 miles. Josh thought it was a bad idea (remember that Canadian couple last spring that took a shortcut and ended up lost/dead?), but I INSISTED. I thought it would be a cool adventure. We had a full tank of gas, we had phone signal, we had water. What could go wrong? We stayed on the road for about 3 miles, and it just got worse and worse. Finally, I relented and said maybe we should go back to the main road. Josh is an amazing driver, by the way. Still, I hope the rental car people don't check the underside of that car too carefully.
There I am, weaving and stumbling through the parking lot after a glass or two of beer.
Naturally, we had to stop and eat before touring the Old Mission. The food was mediocre but the draft beer (Mac and Jacks) was fantastic! Usually I don't drink in the middle of the day, but hey, we were on vacation.
In my mildly inebriated state, I forgot to take a picture of the building, so I had to lift this from the Internet. It's so pretty!
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
Josh wanted me to take a picture of him in the confessional. I enthusiastically complied. I found the concept of Josh in the confessional so amusing that I giggled helplessly and could barely hold the camera steady.
Giving your wife the finger in church is definitely sinful.
In fact, I found it so amusing that I bullied him into kneeling at the alter for another sacrilegious photo op. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't have had that 2nd glass of Mac and Jacks?
After all our hiking and driving and touring we were tiiiiiiiiired. But we managed to muster up the energy to dine out that evening and then walk around Coeur d'Alene to get our bearings.
Check back tomorrow for Part 3: The Hiawatha Trail Adventure.
I can almost smell the Mock Orange.
You guys need a Jeep.
Posted by: blackbird | July 18, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Mac and Jacks is GOOD STUFF! We never made it to the pretty mission because we had to take our kids to Silverwood. Yuck. I refuse to do Forest Service roads after a few scary experiences on high, narrow, twisty, slippery gravel ones. I thought we were going right over the edge! The weather looks pretty at least.
Posted by: Margaret | July 18, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Wow, and that was only the first day? Josh in church giving you the finger, too funny.
Posted by: Pam L | July 18, 2011 at 01:45 PM
Blackbird is right! That is no car "road", but I showed the pic to my Jeep Wrangler and she positively drooled.
Congrats Josh for not tearing the underside of that car apart.
Posted by: FC | July 18, 2011 at 05:14 PM
We rented a Van one time to take my and my sister's family to Wyoming and thereabouts and we decided to drive down this narrow road to get to where the Green and Yampa Rivers converge. It was a scary ride and it was so narrow the trees and brush were scraping the side of the van on the way down, but we returned it so dirty we hoped they didn't notice until we were long gone. It was totally worth it though, a beautiful spot.
Posted by: Pam L | July 18, 2011 at 07:14 PM
that is wet my pants funny. I cannot believe yiou two kids after a few brewskis. Love the pics and I will go on the hike virtually. Far less wear and tear on the body that way. Pass me a cool one please.
Posted by: the bee | July 19, 2011 at 12:14 AM
You krazy kids!
Posted by: maddy | July 19, 2011 at 10:01 AM
When did you take a picture of my driveway?
And, Josh, put that finger away. Aren't you supposed to be saying your penance, for Christ's sake?
Posted by: Anne | July 20, 2011 at 07:39 PM