Bayview
This photo shows the rainy day what I woke up to this morning––actually this was after 6 a.m., having first been awaken a bit before 5 a.m. because it was already light outside. Sunrise up here in the Idaho Panhandle, the northern section of Idaho, is very early as it is on Pacific Daylight Time, not Mountain Time, so that, as cousin Alan told us, its time of day would coincide with the closest big city to this area, which is Spokane, Washington. Boise, Idaho, south of the Panhandle, is, instead, on Mountain Time, and so is a part of eastern Oregon, so that its time coincides with the biggest city near it, which is Boise.
Bayview
Bayview
I discovered this morning that everyone was pretty much on their own as to breakfast. I drove down to the little town of Bayview to eat at Terry’s Cafe, a small restaurant where you could believe that time has stood still––somewhere in the 1950s or 1960s. The food police wouldn’t be too happy with most of its menu, but I was: for me, two eggs over easy, three slices of bacon, hashbrowns, sourdough bread with butter and jam, orange juice, and coffee. Delicious. If a developer named Ben Holland is successful in turning Bayview into a high–end resort, I imagine Terry’s Cafe will be turned into a snazzy expresso and croissant venue, which would be a pity. So far, the developer has bought up a marina and some other land, broken a sewer line allowing sewage into the harbor, and pounded pilings into salmon spawning grounds. He is not popular here as too many people want to keep Bayview just as it is––not fancy, non troppo.
Bayview
Bayview
After breakfast, I drove back to MacDonald’s to figure out what I was going to do this day. By this time, the clouds had lifted and it looked like the day would not be lost to the rain. View of Lake Pend Oreille from the MacDonald Resort.
Bayview
Bayview
There didn’t seem to be any set reunion plans for the day so I took off to visit Couer d’Alene. View of Hudson Bay on Lake Pend Oreille from a hill.
Bayview
Farragut State Park
Driving through Farragut State Park on my way to Couer d’Alene. I drove through several downpours and almost turned back, but the weather got better to farther I drove.
Farragut State Park
Lake Couer d’Alene
My Gamin GPS wouldn’t recognize “City Center,” where I was headed, so I was on my own for directions, and, of course, I made a wrong turn. I ended up on the wrong side of the lake than I wanted. However, this photo taken there shows, in the foreground, the pathway for walkers, bicyclists, and skaters that extends from a point near here for 24 miles all the way to the Idaho/Washington border. At the border, it connects to Spokane’s Centennial Trail, which ends up near Spokane.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Bates Motel
A closer–up view of the Bates Motel. It appeared to be a very popular place to stay ($39–$49 per night) as the “No” sign was visible. The motel also sold souvenirs. I didn’t see a Psycho House up on the hill.
Bates Motel
Bates Motel
A closer–up view of the Bates Motel. It appeared to be a very popular place to stay ($39–$49 per night) as the “No” sign was visible. The motel also sold souvenirs. I didn’t see a Psycho House up on the hill.
Bates Motel
Couer d’Alene
I was planning on taking a boat cruise around Lake Couer d’Alene and I found where the cruises were to leave from. However, I had over an hour before the next cruise would depart so I walked up a small hill to the City Center of Couer d’Alene. Couer d’Alene’s population is about 50,000, with many artists living here. It is in Kootenai County and the largest city in the Idaho Panhandle. Its City Center has many shops, art galleries, and coffee bars.
Couer d’Alene
Couer d’Alene
Decorated moose on the street from the “No Moose Left Behind” Couer d’Alene Public Art Project of 2004. This one is named “Expresso to Go” and is in front of, of course, a coffee shop.
Couer d’Alene
Couer d’Alene
Another view of “Expresso to Go.”
Couer d’Alene
Couer d’Alene
Not public art, but a sculpture for sale on the street, named “Infinite Woman,” by Dale Young.
Couer d’Alene
Couer d’Alene
This sculpture, also for sale on the street, is called “Buffalo,” by Bill Ohrmann.
Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
I walked down to the dock at Independence Point to go on a 90–minute sightseeing boat cruise. This cruise went around Lake Couer d’Alene. The company also offers, on some days of the week and times during the year, a six–hour cruise down St. Joe River, one of the rivers feeding the lake. The woman at the ticket booth told me that the best time to take it is in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
You can also take a scenic seaplane flight over the lake for $60.00.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
Kyacks for rent at the dock.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
The Couer d’Alene Resort across from the dock. This resort is rated as one of America’s top 10 resorts by the Life Styles of the Rich and Famous. It is also rated as America’s Top Mainland Resort by Conde West Traveler. It is also famous for its golf course (photos of it later). However, even with these ratings, you can get a room here during some times in the year for as little as under $100, and in summer, for as about $259. One of the Ironman Triathlon qualifying races will be held here in June. Qualifying races are held throughout the world, with the World Triathlon Championship being held in Hawaii. The Triathlon consists of a 2.4–mile swim, a 112–mile bike ride, and a 26.2–mile marathon. There is also a 3,300–foot floating boardwalk, the world’s longest, around the resort.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
View of Lake Couer d’Alene. National Geographic has called Lake Couer d’Alene one of the five most beautiful lakes in the world. However, because of the overcast skies, blocking what probably are magnificent views of the Rockies, I couldn’t judge its beauty.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
Along its 135–mile shoreland are numerous lakefront houses.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
A very pretty one.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
One with pilings in the water.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
One with a large teepee in its backyard.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
One with its own seaplane. Some of these houses cannot be reached by road.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
House on stilts and also for sale.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
Pretty flower pots on a dock.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
This little house is also for sale, but maybe this is the boat house and there is a bigger house up on the hill.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
And a much bigger house.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
And a bigger house.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
And an even bigger one.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
The famous house built on a rock, which has been featured in many magazines, etc.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
View of the rock house from the side.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
View of the rock house and the lake.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
A houseboat.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
Paddlewheeler docked at a condo development.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
Boats can be left here through the winter at this marina. It has some way to keep the water warm enough not to freeze.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
Another view of Lake Couer d’Alene.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
And another view.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
The Couer d’Alene Resort Golf Course, rated the #2 resort golf course in the United States (#1 is Pebble Beach).
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
More of the golf course with the Rocky Mountains in the background.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
Probably the boat that retrieves all the sunken golf balls.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
Our flag, on the back of our boat, waving in the strong wind.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Lake Couer d’Alene
Coming back to the dock and the Couer d’Alene Resort. Before leaving Couer d’Alene, I stopped pick up some groceries at their Safeway. There are no large markets on the way to Bayside other than those in Couer d’Alene.
Lake Couer d’Alene
Reunion Dinner
Tonight was our reunion dinner, held at Terry’s Cafe. We had very tasty ribs and the whole cafe to ourselves.
Reunion Dinner
Reunion Dinner
Some of our reunion group at Terry’s Cafe. For me, another very good day.
