SOTF OUTING AT HEYBURN STATE PARK IDAHO

We left home on a dreary, foggy Tuesday morning to head for Plummer Idaho, specifically Heyburn State Park. The SOTF outing would ‘officially’ begin the next day through Sunday the 11th. Arriving in the late part of the day, and finding no (as in zero) cell signal or wifi, we were almost resigned to having to miss the Storm basketball team play in the finals. Fortunately the camp host knows just where to send us and we end up five miles from camp at the foot of a hill that holds the cell tower — and in the middle of a crop field, eating cold pizza for dinner, we watch the Storm win the Women’s Basketball Championship ;’-). YAY STORM

That was enough to excitement for one day 😉. The following day we would take a bike ride.

One mile from camp we enter the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. The 72 mile paved trail almost spans the Idaho Panhandle and winds past lakes and rivers, and through marshes, meadows and, at the east end, some small mining communities, offering beautiful scenery and wildlife. On my past rides along here I have seen moose a few times. Not on today’s trip.

Our ride today begins on the west end of the trail that is within the boundaries of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation. We cross the 3100 foot Chatcolet Bridge that has ‘steps’ to make it easier to ride to the top — they say! Not so easy however. But going down the other side is fun on the rolling pavement.

That is Susan nearing the top of the bridge.

I found these ‘boat garages’ interesting.

We continue along the Coeur d’Alene lake for more fun on the saddle.

Came upon a few kayakers enjoying the stellar day on the water.

We stopped to eat our packed lunch at one of the well appointed wayside tables before turning back to retrace the trail to our camp.

Taking a spur off the trail treated us to some exquisite fall color.

Maybe the (famous) ice cream store in Harrison would be open??? Maybe, maybe. Another short spur UP a short but STEEP hill would take us to the Creamery. But alas — closed for the season. They do have GREAT ice cream here.

Back at camp we found that the hostess for this SOTF outing had arrived, and set up ‘camp central’.

Several campers had arrived and were sitting in a circle enjoying an evening beverage. We cycled by, introduced ourselves and returned to our ‘home’ for the evening and night. We will join the group for a bit of distanced socializing on another day.