along the way

Seattle with Daria

Team Spokane

Rails to Trails around Lake Coeur d'Alene

Susan and Jack

The Hiawatha Trail's tunnels and trestles

Northwest

After a leisurely and scenic drive to the Pacific Northwest we find ourselves anchored at the home of Charles and Daria who live just outside Seattle. Sunday we toured the city a bit hitting Pikes Market for some fresh halibut and some people watching. Later in the day we were fortunate to spend a little time on the fabled sail boat "Journey" whose owner's, John and Carol, gave us directions to "bust in" to the marina where she is docked.

Our personal journey has taken us through Phillipsburg, Mt., Missoula, Mt., Harrison, Idaho, Lake Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. While on Lake Coeur d'Alene we parked at Brian and Susan's home which sits at the shores of a tranquil bay on the south end of the lake. While it's obvious waters-sports are a big part of the lifestyle there the road biking too is endless. The Rails to Trails program has turned miles of old train track beds into incredible bike paths. The Hiawatha Trail that passes through multiple tunnels and over trestles as high as 230 feet was one of the more interesting bike paths we've seen. Quite a ride.

Our stop in Spokane was blessed by beautiful weather and a great stay with Linda and Charlie. I learned never say never (again) because we played golf and enjoyed the day greatly. Spokane is hooked into the same rails to trails bike paths as Coeur d'Alene and it parallels the Spokane River for a scenic ride.

Though enjoying our adventures and our freedom we are missing Jackson Hole and savoring the time we had there over the summer. Happy Trails to all, we'll see you soon.

Photos of the Hole

On the road again

As the autumn sun begins to cast its soft rays of light across the palette of fall colors flooding into the valley we take to the road for the second year of our journey, sojourn, sabbatical, whatever. Our summer in Jackson has been filled with friends, family and good times but also mourning for friends who were taken from us much to early in their promising lives. Questions are many, answers are few.

Knowing the people of this community, being part of the matrix that is Jackson Hole is rewarding at a level that cannot be explained, only felt within the souls who enjoy the connection. Toni and I know where we belong and look forward to returning to our home a year from now.

That said we are excited about the coming year of travel which will take us to the northwest then down the coast of California. Beyond that, who knows?

Our hosts this summer provided us with the most incredible campsites available in the valley. All those great evenings of conversation and good times will carry us through until we catch up again.

Vacationing in Jackson Hole, I must say, was a real treat.