Crossing the Rockies into Idaho

Good morning Zigs and Zags, Well, we are staying in Post Falls, Idaho. Got here at around 3pm yesterday after doing over 250 miles. We are now in Pacific Time, entered it at the Montana-Idaho border. That means we are three hours earlier than those of you in the East. We started from Butte in 34 degree weather with frost on the front window of the car but it was a beautiful sunny day and by the time we reached Post Falls the temp had soared into the 70's! Today is glorious as well, but I'm doing paperwork so will be indoors for awhile. Looking at the weather on TV at breakfast it looks as though we will have the same through to the week-end. Just a few words about yesterday's pix, which are primarily scenery through the various mountains through which we passed. They have lovely names, The Bitterroots, the Coeur d'Alenes, the Sapphires --I don't have the Montana map in our room so cannot list them all. It is interesting that the mountains to our right ( north more or less) are dry and almost treeless while those to our left ( south more or less ) are covered with heavy evergreen forestry. As the clouds come over the mountains they drop their moisture almost immediately leaving only a little for the opposite slopes. You can tell when we are at high elevations by the plant-life. Evergreens we are up in the clouds--well, at least 6000 ft -- when you begin to see deciduous trees in their gorgeous fall colors you know we have descended some. By and large the roads follow rivers and so there are easy passes without terrifying heights and drop-offs. Lookout Pass on the Montana- Idaho border is an exception to that rule though it is only at 4000+ feet. As elevation in these mountains go, that isn't very high. For a great part of our drive we followed along the Clark Fork over which we crossed at least 8 times. The scenes along its curves are so serene and lovely. There were lots of high mountain meadows as well, wide and cultivated. You might also notice the names of some of the towns, Gold Creek, Phosphate, Opportunity, Anaconda--all giving clues to the industry in this part of Montana--mining of precious metals. The Anaconda is a very old and large silver mine--it is mentioned in books, movies etc. Though I didn't photograph it, the smoke stack of the original smelter is still standing and is a National Historic Landmark. I did photograph Our Lady of the Rockies in Butte. Unfortunately, she is so high above the city that I couldn't get a clear shot of her. She was built by the city of Butte--though originally a gentleman planned on building a 5 foot statue of her in his yard, if Mary would intercede on his wife's behalf and cure her cancer. When word got out the people of the city decided to erect this huge statue over one of the defunct mining pits and the city in honor of all Mothers, world-wide. I guess if Rio de Janeiro can have it's statue of Christ, Butte can have its statue of His Mother. It is beautiful. Before leaving Montana we made a stop at an Albertson's in Missoula--Griz country. Our daughter went to school in Bozeman to Montana State--they are the Cats. Bobcats. Montana State in Missoula are the Griz. Grizzly Bears. They are vicious foes! lol Within 6 miles of entering Idaho we pulled off the Interstate to revisit Wallace. OMG, what a difference 18 years makes--those ugly loops of Interstate looming over the town. But we stopped at the visitor center and spoke to a gregarious transplant from Philadelphia. He said the town sued the State to prevent the Interstate from going right down the main street. When we came through US 10 was the Main Street and the town was a wonderful old west town. It has the same buildings from the early 1900's but the place is overflowing with tourists and seems open somehow--not close and homey as it once was. It is a mining town and has been for many years. The mine is still active--silver and galena, a lead ore. The town takes no money from the State or the Feds so they have no interference from big government. There are no chains of any sort allowed in the town--hotels, motels, McDonald's or Burger King or any of that ilk. All the businesses are locally owned--mom and pop as he said. AND, the town pays the college tuition of any graduating senior for four years as long as they maintain a C average and have no felonies--misdemeanors are okay. If the student does not go to a State college then the town pays their tuition at the other College up to the cost of In-State tuition at a local school. Well, the population is under 1000 but still that is pretty special, I think. We were going to tour one of the bordellos of the past but it was downtown and when we were there we were told that the old Victorians on the Hill were the red light district. Not to say that there weren't a few smaller joints closer to the saloons the miners frequented. After all, when we stopped at the Elks in 2000, they gave us a Wallace Idaho souvenir pin. Guess what it was-- a Lady of the Evening, leaning against a lovely old street lamp. Guess Wallace was known for more than its mines in its heyday. It was here in this vicinity, NOT Wallace, that Bill fought forest fires in his younger years. We took a spin around town, admiring the old place and seeing it as it was back in 2000 and then continued on the remaining 44 miles to Coeur d'Alene--by way of a 14 miles, wide, curving steep pass to the shores of its beautiful Lake. We did not stop--we had been there four years ago and could not stand how it has grown and become a real tourist town with gift shops and restaurants and yuppie aura that replaced the sleepy little town whose streets we'd explored 18 years ago. Also, now that its focus has changed its motel room rates are outrageous. So we went six more miles, almost within site of town, since it has extended out along the Interstate, too, to Post Falls and the Quality Inn where the rates were 3/4 that in town. Though we got in early, unfortunately, I had a intestinal problem and sought assistance at the hospital emergency room where they took care of the problem. Sadly, we spent 2 1/2 hours there and I was exhausted. So back to the hotel and TV. We decided right then that we needed a down time day so we extended our stay until tomorrow when we returned from the hospital. I feel fine though tired today. Am going to take the time to pay October's bills and really be able to call Bill when he is home and not in bed and have a good chat. I really miss him and Betsy. So, folks, that's what's up. Will let you know what's next probably tomorrow night--we are headed to Washington State and will be there tomorrow but not sure exactly where. We are aiming to the San Juan Islands for sure. Until then, take care BarbZig and KatZag