From Montana to Washington State via Idaho

Leaving the rugged splendour of Montana we headed for a town with a French name in the State of Idaho. The town is Coeur d'Alene and was named by French Fur-trappers. They were shrewd business men and the name means "Heart of the Awl".

However, shortly after leaving Paradise Valley in Montana we stopped to have a look at some bears. Sadly the only one showing-off was Lucy the baby.

Glad that's not one of my bones she is taking a fancy to.

Being summer the traffic has been quite heavy with trucks, cars and motor-homes of all sizes. Some are enormous and surprisingly, anyone can rent them. No special licence is required. So you see many motor-homes the size of a bus, towing a car for use when they set up camp at the RV Park. 

If you look carefully you will see that this trailer has a "skirt".  While it stopped stones 

being thrown up it did not stop insects splattering my screen.  After a day of driving we pulled up at our accommodation for the next two nights  -  Blackwell Hotel in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

This Hotel reminded us of one of those stately homes you find in the South.  With its 

beautiful setting we thought we were back again in Savannah, Georgia.

But while a hotel may appear stately, it's the staff that makes or breaks a good place of rest.  Here the beauty of the building was matched by the brightness, freshness and thoughtfulness of Liz, our host. She is the one on my right, not the other woman on my left!!

Coeur d'Alene is set on a large lake which provides a playground for a 

host of vessels from canoes to luxurious motor cruisers.  

Here are "Darby and Joan" standing on what is the world's largest floating boardwalk.

A mysterious man appeared!  Maybe one of the rich and infamous? No, just a layabout!

So what do we do after a day driving and sightseeing? Well, there is shopping to do and meals to prepare and laundry to keep up with and of course, this blog. So to give credit where credit is due, this blog is the result of some highly trained and talented staff.  Here is one hard at work and notice...

A Notebook in the right hand and an iPad at the ready on her left. Now that's being ambidextrous!

Between Coeur d'Alene and North Bend WA we diverted to experience a little piece of Bavaria, named Leavenworth, WA.  Joe, our Travel Agent advised us to take a look at it.

Being lunch time, what more could one ask for than a good German sausage 

with potato salad and saurkraut.

From Leavenworth it was south-west to our accommodation in North Bend, WA....

....and as you looked over the back balcony, this was what confronted you..

A river instead of a backyard! 

The Chalet itself is two levels and quite comfortable

The staircase leads upstairs to the second bedroom. 

Today was a strange day with some sightseeing this morning and then odd jobs this afternoon ie Christine spent some time at the laundromat while Pauline had a manicure and I had a haircut.

 Snoqualmie Falls, not that far from where we are staying.

Sometimes I wonder about my sister !!!!

Then again, I suppose people wonder about this old guy having a chocolate Milk Shake..

So here ends another edition of the "hair-raising" adventures on the 

Harper Burnside Wild West Tour.