Monday Masts

Sailboats in the harbor at Bayview signal summer's swan song. Formed by glaciers Lake Pend Oreille (pond-or-ey) is Idaho's largest lake and one of the largest inland lakes in North America. A renowned recreation and fishing mecca with a shoreline of 143 miles, its depth has been measured in excess of 1,170 feet. The name came from the early French trappers, referring to the earlobe pendants worn by the local Indian tribe.

Practice Makes Perfect

The Spirit Lake fireboat put on quite a show for those along the shore at Spirit Lake's Silver Beach while performing an equipment check on what might very well have been the last summer day with temperatures in the '90s.

Dog Days of Summer

As August comes to an end, near triple digit temperatures return making a swim in the lake the perfect way to spend the day. Pebbles, a long-haired Chihuahua, enjoys cooling off with a dog paddle in North Idaho's Spirit Lake.

Fair Food

The North Idaho Fair kicks off today at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds and runs through Sunday. A favorite fair treat is found at the award-winning Ekness booth ~ North Idaho Beer Balls. Add a little kraut and some onions and they're delish. There are the standby elephant ears, cotton candy, deep fried everything including Twinkies and Snickers bars. The Lutherans have a long-time favorite food-on-a-stick ... The Viking, which is breaded, deep-fried meatballs. If you want to eat something a little more diet friendly ... try a fresh ear of corn-on-the-cob from the Lions. What melted butter? :)

Monday in Paradise

As the dog days of summer begin to turn the corner into back to school, Monday afternoons are still time for play in North Idaho. On the Spokane River a boat pulled two tubes of thrill-seekers through the waves.

Simple Pleasures

We have an abundance of natural and spectacular beauty in North Idaho so sometimes it's good to be reminded of the simple yet special places. Rathdrum's city park is just such a place. Right on Hwy. 53, with a gazebo, pavilion and a playground, my favorite feature is the creek that runs through the center of the park. Rathdrum Creek is the quintessential small town swimming and fishing hole and in early evening on a summer's day, it's the perfect place for a picnic dinner.

On the water

Today and tomorrow is the free Wooden Boat Show at the Coeur d'Alene Resort's boardwalk marina. I never tire of seeing these beautiful boats so lovingly restored. And any excuse to be in or on or near the water in August is good.

Murray or Bust

This weekend the little North Idaho mining town of Murray rolls out the welcome mat for their annual celebration. It's everything Idaho used to be, and then some.In the 1800s there were more people living in Murray than in Spokane. I love that even now with a population in the double digits, Murray still boasts a post office and their own zip code. Not to miss: The Spragpole bar and museum and the historic cemetary where many of the Silver Valley's most colorful characters reside for eternity.
How to get there: Take Kingston Exit 43 from I-90 and follow the Coeur d'Alene River Road north about 30 miles.

History Revisited

The new Post Falls Historical Society Museum opened with much fanfare on Saturday. Located in the restored former Chapin Drugs building on the corner of Spokane Street and 4th Avenue on the Post Falls City Hall campus, it's filled with artifacts and mementos of this milltown on the Spokane River. For hours and information use this link.

Sparkly web

A remnant of overnight thundershowers in the Idaho panhandle were captured in a spider's web on my front porch steps.

Beautiful Boats

There are no shortage of beautiful boats on North Idaho waters and this classic wooden beauty was a vision at sunset. Coming into the dock at the Cedars Floating Restaurant at the convergence of Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Spokane River, it glowed golden brown.

Happy Birthday Athol!

Athol, Idaho has a colorful history which will be on display this weekend as the town celebrates its Centennial birthday!
Full Coeur d'Alene Press story HERE.

Cool Drinks

Outdoor on-the-water dining is a treat on Lake Coeur d'Alene. While local specialty drinks often include the Idaho state fruit, huckleberries ... a watermelon mojito at the Cedar's Floating Restaurant is mighty cool on a hot day.

Fashionable floating

The Park sisters, Marisa and Veronica, prove that floating the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River on a hot summer day is fashionable, indeed.