We plan extra days in our trips to allow for breakdown days. If you’ve followed these accounts of our trips, you know we often need those days. The breakdown on this trip consumed a few hours, not days, so we now have those extra days to rest and explore.

Day 13

The sky was overcast in Missoula and the temperature cool all day long.

We had the camp-supplied breakfast. This morning’s main offering was blueberry pancakes. After that we packed up and got on the road.

We decided to spend the three remaining nights before going to the convention hotel at a campground near Coeur d’Alene.

I’ve been through Montana on a bike several times, but this time I got a fresh perspective on the geography. There are lots of grass-covered rolling hills punctuated with rugged, high, snow-capped mountains. The roads we were on skirted the mountain ranges. Today, however, on the ride from Missoula to Coeur d’Alene, I-90 went up and over the mountains. There was beautiful scenery on both sides of the highway.

We stopped for gas in a small town. There Beth spotted Motor Maids Past President Susan Gibson and a few other MM ladies in the parking lot taking a break.

The gas station also had a picnic table, so that’s where we had lunch.

One of the Motor Maids “Security” (husbands) noticed that one of our trailer tires was low. I measured the pressure – it was about 10 psi. We carry two spare tires, so I changed the tire. I couldn’t see any punctures in the tire, so I’ll have it checked in Spokane.

Our campsite for the next three nights is in Wolf Lodge just east of Coeur d’Alene, up against the hillside and surrounded by trees. It’s a very comfortable site. Beth has made friends with Camp Host, Dave. The campground shows a family movie in the playing field on a blow-up screen in the evening.

Day 14 – July 4

It was chilly and drizzly all night long. Beth cooked turkey bacon outside, but we did the rest of the meal in the tent. It was a pretty dreary morning. so we just hung out until well past 11 a.m. I put together a lunch ride and we headed out as it began to clear.

Our first destination was Post Falls Park next to a dam. There were picnic tables, an amphitheater, and a good view of the lake above the dam.

Below the dam there are paths to many places to view the gorge and dam.

Frederick Post bought the land from the Coeur d’Alene tribe in 1871, and built a log dam about 20 ft high to supply water to his lumber and flour mills. The Washington Water Power Company bought the dam in the early 1900s and built the dam you see in the photo.

Next we went to Walmart for more supplies and groceries. (No picture. Just imagine two bikes in the parking lot.)

Our last stop was downtown Coeur d’Alene. We walked the street; it’s a typical tourist-oriented shopping area.

By this time in the afternoon it was quite warm. We had a taste for craft beer, so we landed in a brew pub and quenched our thirst.

A hazy IPA for Beth…

… and a stout for me.

Dinner was one of Beth’s excellent, simple meals – chicken breast and bag-o-salad.

Statistics: We’ve traveled 3484 miles since leaving home.