An Embarrassment of Vacation Riches.

A gull hanging out at Lake Coeur d'Alene.

It pains me to tell you this: I have to finish up my Idaho vacation posts while on another vacation at the beach. It's an embarrassment of riches.

Not a thing I can do about it, though, so let's just soldier on, shall we?

Our last big adventure in Idaho was a 30 mile bike ride on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. There is not too much to tell you about this expedition except that the scenery was breathtaking and the ride was easy. The trail is beautifully paved and satisfyingly remote. We rode from Harrison, Idaho to Plummer, Idaho. Most of the trail was flat, except for the 5 mile hill right before you get into Plummer. But the rise in elevation is gradual enough that you don't start noticing the slope until maybe the last 2 miles.

The only thing worth mentioning is maybe the weather which was damp and cold.

Watch me pedalling determinedly along, while announcing that I am "freezing my ass off."

Josh responds predictably.

 

This funny little spotted sandpiper was flustered by our attention. Her nest was likely right there near the water, and she attempted to distract us by skittering back and forth on that log and chirping in alarm. I took 12 pictures but only managed to get 1 that was focused. Here's a piece of advice: Don't buy a new camera right before you go on vacation and then try to learn how to use it while you are on vacation. You're welcome.

We probably could have biked those 30 miles in half the time if I didn't stop and play with my camera every 100 yards or so.

It was a serene and misty lakescape.

The section of the trail that we were on goes through the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, and ends in Plummer, Idaho. The Indians have erected this monument to their veterans of war.

There wasn't a whole lot of other stuff to look at. Silly, east-coast me had expected a sweet little restaurant at the end of the trail, and maybe some cute antique shops. Instead, we found a gritty highway with a meager collection of businesses: a diner, a cigarette market, some gas stations, a casino, and a reservation health clinic. It seemed a little bleak to me, honestly, but hey, I'm sure lots of people love living there.

We ate lunch at the diner and then pedaled our way back to Harrison, Idaho where our car was waiting for us.

The next day we left Idaho and flew east to Maryland.

I had a week to loll around at home, re0rganize, and spend time with my parents. The week after that we had houseguests from Niagara Falls (Aunt Craaaazy!). And then we left for the annual beach vacation with Josh's family.

So now we are all up-to-date, yes? I swear, I will try harder to update this fucker in real time. I am exasperated with my lack of posting.

Love you guys. Thanks for stopping by. Tell me what you have been up to this summer. Can you believe the timer has almost run out on us? Why is summer so fleet of foot?

Comments

[Maureen]

"Summer is so fleet of foot"-I like that turn of phrase, it certainly does go fast. This summer I have been spending a lot more time outside, and it really agrees with me. We just spend 4 days scouting a prospective college campus for my daughter, she loved it and will hopefully be going there when the time comes. We usually take vacations in the winter, when we need a break from the dark and cold, but a beach vacation right now sounds awfully nice. Hope you are having a great time!

[Laura/DaPFG]

Native Americans, yo.

:D <3

[Margaret]

Thanks for allowing us into your interesting life.
Great, beautiful pictures.
Ah...the beach

[Belle]

Oh, Josh. Ha.

Time goes by so fast that it is downright scary. We have yet to get out of Dodge, so same ole stuff here. Lots of dr appt's for myself and for Mom, delayed eye surgery for Mom which means she keeps pushing back my sister coming up to "help" (lmao, yeah right), blow-ups about siblings in reference to that, husband bought a motorcycle, so hellaciously hot that noone wants to be outside. The end. Oh, and my last official Friday off for the summer is tomorrow and then it's back to 5-day work weeks. THERE HAS BEEN NO SUMMER!!!!!

(Loved your photos and your kick-ass pedaling!)

[Margaret]

Jealous of you at the beach when I have to go on a family vacation to MT(to scatter my MIL's ashes) and hopefully not spend too much time around my arrogant and annoying BIL. Pretty soon we'll be bitching about school when we have time or aren't too tired or cranky. I'm cranky even thinking about it.

[Cathy S.]

I know what you mean about being reluctant to admit you have had a marvelous vacation and then, a second one. Such blessings. I am embarrassed to say that tomorrow I leave for another wonderful vacation. This time to North Carolina where I will see our mutual blogging friend and promise to give her a kick in the butt for not posting for two months. I hope you have a wonderful time at the beach. Send us a picture of you in that fancy skin cancer preventative bathing suit.

[the bee]

Your life is awesome ! All I did this summer was work. I live through your hilarious posts. Imagine how cold I would have to be to freeze my ass off. It would take decades. Or dickheads as one of our French friends once pronounced it.

[Vicki]

"So now we are all up-to-date, yes? I swear, I will try harder to update this fucker in real time. I am exasperated with my lack of posting." I love that turn of phrase. I think I will borrow it. The piper and the statue were reason enough to fly to Idaho and bike that trail. Imagine those warriors on the beaches of Normandy!
( sunscreen those pretty exposed parts today)

[FC]

It's hard to tell from a front view if Josh was accurate or not.

Cold in the summer. Huh? No wonder Idaho is full of crazy white people.

30 miles on a bike with no engine? Wow, and such a brisk pace.

[Pam L]

Well, you DID leave yourself W I D E open for that one from Josh, now didn't you! I mean he was filming after all, he had to say SOMETHING.. A funny something to boot!

And, funny sandpiper with the long funny neck. Must be they are funnier in Idaho.

Have much beach fun!