Singing for their supper

Newly hatched sparrows call out for their parents at dinner time in our backyard bird house.

Quintessential North Idaho summer

Just about everyone who's lived in North Idaho for a few decades has enjoyed floating the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River. It's river rafting without the rapids or need for a guide. On a hot summer day you can find literally thousands of people in all manner of devices that inflate and later in the season you can enjoy the solitude of far fewer floaters. An informal survey of license plates on the cars and trucks parked alongside the Old River Road tells the tale ... it's a local favorite pastime. Not something that's on the usual tourist radar, an insider's getaway from lakes that are filled with boats and jetskis this time of year.

City Moose / Country Moose

About a mile past where the fisherman photo was taken on Old River Road, we spotted a handsome young bull moose munching in a roadside marsh. When he was full, he wandered up the bank into tall grass for an afternoon nap. Photos HERE. Earlier in the day, though, people enjoying a day at Lake Coeur d'Alene's Independence Point Park got up close and personal with a wandering young moose who likely came from Blackwell Island by swimming across the Spokane River. The moose wandered across the Coeur d'Alene Resort front lawn to city park and was seen in downtown Coeur d'Alene for an hour or so.

Gone Fishing

Fly fishing on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River.

Stop and see the beauty

There's such extraordinary natural beauty in North Idaho and I enjoy going OnLocation to experience it all. But on a sunny, early summer morning I'm reminded of the simple beauty of petunias along the front walk at my home sweet home.

Bikes on Parade

Over 100 motorcycles paraded through Coeur d'Alene Thursday morning as members of Cal-Tex Riders took to the streets. The organization of retired law enforcement officers is in North Idaho for a convention. John Skeete of California drives a gorgeous orange Goldwing trike in the procession.

Flying lessons

A baby robin crash landed from a nest in one of our poplar trees and took refuge in the flower bed. A few hours later, with a little human intervention and strategic placement in a lower branch of the tree, he happily hopped and flew back up to safety. More photos and more of the story HERE.

Cool Shoes

Hungarian pro Ironman triathlete Balazs Csoke was sporting some cool shoes when he made an appearance at the Boys and Girls Club to talk about his experiences.

Start your engines!

There's no event more "North Idaho" than the annual Big Back-In Lawnmower Drags held every Father's Day Sunday in Spirit Lake. The population of this wild west town doubles on that day as every manner of lawn mower is souped up and piloted by a collection of down home dare devils right on Maine Street. Note: the streets of Spirit Lake are named after states.
I recommend you take a break from Ironman spectating and head up to the lawn mower races for a few hours ... you'll be hooked!

Home Sweet Home

For 15 years the North Idaho College Foundation has funded scholarships, updated technology and programs at the college through the Really Big Raffle of a new house. There are only 5,000 $100 tickets sold. So if you'd like to own a bit of paradise in North Idaho (Post Falls to be exact) make sure to get your ticket right away. This raffle has sold out every year and the drawing will be held on July 8. Take a virtual tour HERE. Or log onto the NIC website HERE.

Five Days and Counting!

Ironman Coeur d'Alene will begin with the elite athletes spilling into Lake Coeur d'Alene enmass at 7 a.m. Sunday. I love seeing the sea of humanity as nearly 2,000 wet-suited competitors flow like lava off of city beach into the water for their 2-mile swim. Amazing to think that many of them will not be crossing the finish line in downtown Coeur d'Alene for at least 12 hours from the time they hit the water for the swim leg. They will ride 112 miles on bicycles and then run a full 26.2 mile marathon before being declared Ironmen.

Alien alpacas

South of Coeur d'Alene, just off Mica Bay Road, are two alpaca ranches I've driven past many times. But today the creatures in the field were looking a bit different. A lot like a herd of space alien Q-Tips, actually. Recently sheared and now sporting just topknots of alpaca wool, their necks looked really long. They were as curious about me and my camera as I was about them. There are close-up pictures of their adorable faces HERE.

Swimming upstream

The one day each year that a fishing license is not required for anyone is Free Fishing Day - this year on Saturday, June 13. To go fishing on any other day, anglers will need to buy a fishing license. Children under age 14 never need a fishing license in Idaho. In Rathdrum's city park the creek was stocked with trout and Idaho Fish and Game officials and volunteers provided assistance for first-time anglers. *photo of a well-stocked Rathdrum Creek on Saturday.

Cruisin' at Car d'Lane!

The Car d'Lane Cruise and Car Show is one of the biggest and best in the region, kicking off with the Friday night cruise down Sherman Avenue. Nearly 1,000 cars, from polished perfection to fresh from the junkyard, take part in the rolicking rolling rumble. An album of images from this year's cruise is here.

North Idaho Fun

Tourists have been drawn to beautiful North Idaho for decades. This bathing beauty on the cover of the 1971-72 Fun Guide is Debbie Johnson, a classmate from Coeur d'Alene High School and a former Miss Coeur d'Alene. Swimsuit fashions may change but the natural beauty of our lakes and rivers continue to make this a destination for vacations.

"Snow" in June?

Our snowblower got quite the workout this past record-breaking snowy winter so I was surprised this morning to see it again surrounded by fluffy white stuff. The sun is shining and the warm temps and breeze is blowing cotton from the poplar trees in our yard. Aaaaaa CHOOO!

Nap time for bear

If you go back through the seasonal archives here at OnLocation, there are numerous photographs of wild creatures taken close by. I enjoy photographing urban wildlife here in North Idaho and have emassed quite a network of people who are quick to call me when something exciting is spotted in town. This morning was no exception when a black bear (that's brown in color) made its way to White Pine Park on North Spokane Street just a few blocks from my house. It was interesting to see Idaho Fish & Game, Post Falls Police and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue quickly tranquilze and then safely lower the bear from a tree-top branch. HERE is an album of photos with captions of the event.

Patriotic Pooch

This poodle looked right at home in the passenger seat of a flag-decorated truck.

Parade Season Marches On

Just about every weekend, now through Labor Day, North Idaho communities hold annual celebrations and parades. The first of the season is in Post Falls where a few thousand people turned out to enjoy seeing their friends and neighbors make their way down the main street of town. Small town parades give us all a glimpse of Americana, a Norman Rockwell portrait come to life. Post Falls Days Parade album here.

Mood Sign

I'm not sure why the owner of this private road in Bonner's Ferry is feeling grumpy, it's gorgeous scenery in those parts. Maybe I should have looked further to see if perhaps the Seven Dwarfs have retired to the mountains and if there were similar signs for Sneezy, Dopey and Happy.

Bird's Eye View

While crowds enjoyed splashing on the south shore beach on Hauser Lake on Sunday, a red-winged blackbird has a bird's eye view of the north shore marshland from his perch atop a pole.