Couer D’Alene, Idaho
We arrived at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds Friday afternoon. We got settled and decided to go into town. This place was hopping. People enjoy the sun as they lounged on park lawns, swimming in the river, strolling, and window shopping along the main street. Each restaurant, café, and eatery had people occupying both the outdoor and indoor seats. It was refreshing to see a town so alive.
We took a 28-mile out-and-back bike ride to the Washington/Idaho state line. When we stopped at the monument, we met three young men and started a conversation. They were part of a group called Illini 4000. This group of young people biking from New York to San Francisco to raise funds for cancer research and participate in the Portraits Project. They interact with people who in some way connect to the disease by having it, dealt with it, or have a loved one going through it. They interview the people, take their pictures, and write their stories to spread awareness of this terrible disease. They bike anywhere from 70 to 100 miles a day, depending on the terrain. We were impressed and asked for a card so we can donate. If you want to check them out or make a donation go to contactus@illini4000.org.
We stopped at The Old European Restaurant for breakfast. Everything offered in the restaurant is made from scratch. Orange juice is fresh-squeezed, and generational polish recipes are on the menu. Mitch said their rye bread was the best he ever tasted. The menu was extensive, and no one rushed you out the door.
Have water- will kayak. Lake Pend Oreille is an excellent place to kayak. It is 43 miles long and has a depth of over 1100 ft., surrounded by majestic mountains and dense forest habitat for wildlife. Unfortunately, we did not spot any wildlife. In researching this lake, the Navy uses this lake for underwater acoustic testing due to its depth which mimics an ocean. In our travels, we have found many interesting tidbits about the areas we are visiting. Down in the marina district, they boast the world’s longest floating boardwalk. This fact is just one of many and more as we continue our travels.
