July 2014–To WA, the scenic route - Part 3

IDAHO

The Snake River Valley of Idaho is home to some world class wineries (closed on Mondays) and a few others wanting to be world class (closed on Mondays) and the wanna-bees.
A brief stop in Boise for groceries and gas then the climb up to the Payette River – AWESOME!  After crossing the narrow bridge over the river there is a small city park with ‘pea-patches’ that the locals maintain.  And a nice bike path along the river to the main recreation area where the Payette River Games are held.



No kayak? no worries, there’s also a skateboard ramp.  The Osprey have a great view of it all.


As part of the Rails-to-Trails program many unused rail lines around the nation have been turned into bike routes.  In this case the old power poles have also been repurposed as platforms for the Osprey.

Continued following the river up to McCall on the shores of Lake Payette.  OK it’s a tourist trap, and being a tourist …  Another beautiful place, but no place in the town big enough to park an RV.  Looking for a parking spot on a side street found the entrance to Ponderosa State Park.  Original plan was to park and ride back to town, but never got back to town.  This place was awesome!  Turned in the day pass for a campsite.


A nice ride around the peninsula that the park occupies.  And a 3 young deer wandering outside the RV window in the morning.

Leaving McCall and now following the Salmon River upstream.  Stopped at the city park in Riggins, where breakfast was served right on the edge of the River.


Continuing on toward Heyburn Star Park on Lake Coeur d’Alene, the road was lined with winter wheat and these brilliant yellow fields.  My kid brother called them rapeseed, the stuff canola oil is made from.  Saw miles of rapeseed and never tired of the brilliant yellow waving in the wind.


Another great campsite near Lake Coeur d’Alene and Visitor’s Center where Wi-Fi reached the site.  The site is near one end of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's.   The railroad trestle is one of the pinnacles of the bike path, which extends across the Idaho panhandle.



On first sight I knew San Diego was to be my home.  Sitting at the view point above Del Mar in an overloaded Olds Cutlass, the view was breath taking.  Got the same feeling coming into Coeur d’Alene.  Now that’s a town that’s built around it’s inhabitants.  Of course it was a perfect day in the summer and no 20’ snow drifts!

McEuen Park boasts the world’s longest floating boardwalk, colorful play areas bike paths that go on father than I could.  A definite stop again, when in the area.



 Coeur d’Alene is a wonderful stop.  A thriving vibrant college town, but it’s right on the freeway, across the Snake River from Spokane.  Wenatchee next …