Today we moved on from British Columbia into Northern Idaho. Best bumper sticker: Northern Idaho is Full - Go Home! We plan to do some riding on the Coeur d'Alene rail trail, and the Trail of the Hiawatha.
Click here for more: http://www.traillink.com/trail/route-of-the-hiawatha.aspx.
Yesterday we drove a few hours in rain but could see down valley and way out ahead to the edge of the clouds and sunlight. We drove until we were out into sun and found a campground at Wassa Lake. Sure enough, the clouds rolled on down after us. Lots of thunder and lightning and it poured. As the rain let up we scurried to get the tent up, and then fashioned a trap over the picnic table. It did not rain all day but when it did it really came down. We had attached the "garage" module to the REI Kingdom 6 and spent the afternoon huddled reading and listening to the rain. I have never seen so much lightning with temperatures in the 50's. It was a cool afternoon and we also dashed to the car to get most of our warm layers.
The REI Kingdom 6, as it has for the whole trip, held up to the rain, well. The tent design has a few minor flaws but we added a rope here and a stake there and it has been rock solid. The jerry rigged tarp also held up under the system of rope, poles made out of hiking poles and lots of tie downs.
Of course right after we finished dinner, the rain cut back considerably and by late morning today the sun was drying stuff as we packed.
The ride into Idaho featured a lot of smoke from forest fires. It was a cloudless day, with a little bit of wind so that in some valleys the fire smoke hung while the tops of trees cleared. As we progressed into Idaho, it got less, but for about an hour of our drive it was like a light fog all around, and you could smell it. When you looked back in the rear view mirror, it was like seeing thunderclouds. We passed a highway sign that said - "Working Fire Ahead - Do Not Call 911". We learned at the the Bonners Ferry that there are many active fire with evacuations happening and even more serious fires in the Spokane area. The rain was mostly in BC and along the border and it only helped a little.
We are spending the next two days in a "retro" motel in a "retro" town called Wallace.
Click here for more: http://www.traillink.com/trail/route-of-the-hiawatha.aspx.
Yesterday we drove a few hours in rain but could see down valley and way out ahead to the edge of the clouds and sunlight. We drove until we were out into sun and found a campground at Wassa Lake. Sure enough, the clouds rolled on down after us. Lots of thunder and lightning and it poured. As the rain let up we scurried to get the tent up, and then fashioned a trap over the picnic table. It did not rain all day but when it did it really came down. We had attached the "garage" module to the REI Kingdom 6 and spent the afternoon huddled reading and listening to the rain. I have never seen so much lightning with temperatures in the 50's. It was a cool afternoon and we also dashed to the car to get most of our warm layers.
The REI Kingdom 6, as it has for the whole trip, held up to the rain, well. The tent design has a few minor flaws but we added a rope here and a stake there and it has been rock solid. The jerry rigged tarp also held up under the system of rope, poles made out of hiking poles and lots of tie downs.
Of course right after we finished dinner, the rain cut back considerably and by late morning today the sun was drying stuff as we packed.
The ride into Idaho featured a lot of smoke from forest fires. It was a cloudless day, with a little bit of wind so that in some valleys the fire smoke hung while the tops of trees cleared. As we progressed into Idaho, it got less, but for about an hour of our drive it was like a light fog all around, and you could smell it. When you looked back in the rear view mirror, it was like seeing thunderclouds. We passed a highway sign that said - "Working Fire Ahead - Do Not Call 911". We learned at the the Bonners Ferry that there are many active fire with evacuations happening and even more serious fires in the Spokane area. The rain was mostly in BC and along the border and it only helped a little.
We are spending the next two days in a "retro" motel in a "retro" town called Wallace.
