We had a great stay at the fire department training center . . . but it was soon time to pack up and move on to Sandpoint, ID. Allison, our tour guide, has spent MANY hours lining up our accommodations but when something better presents itself, she takes the bull by the horns. Here she was on her way to the school admiration office with some flowers for Christy, the administrator,  as a thank you for making room for us in Newport.

She pulled some more tricks out of her hat and tonight instead of staying at the County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint, which there was only a water spigot and porta potties, we are staying at the Sandpoint West Athletic Club and we will have the run of the place!!!

We were teased yesterday with our 1/2 excursion into the State of Idaho, but today we say goodbye to Washington and bicycle into Idaho and points east.

I guess gun ownership must be a big deal in ID since I came to this sign, pasted to a state DOT speed limit sign,  in the first quarter mile after entering ID . . .

. . . probably placed on the speed sign my the same group who posted this sign right across the road!!!

More Logging trucks in Idaho!!!! Hope they are more courteous to bikers than those in WA who seemed to thrive on seeing how close they can get to bicycles, especially when there is no shoulder. The locals even comment that the timber haulers think they own the road. Rumor is they call bicyclist ‘limesicles’ like popsicle but lime because of the safety lime green vest and jerseys we wear SO THEY CAN SEE US!!! Here is what is loaded on their trucks each morning . . .

. . .  and here is the final product!!!

Great riding today along the river as we head to Sandpoint. Blue sky again, no wind, low traffic  and only 40 miles. Lots of osprey along the way. This platform was empty but a neighbor was sitting on the adjacent pole . . .

. . .for some reason in this section the utility did not want birds sitting, roosting or nesting. They placed plastics covers over the lines and on this pole had a plastic owl!!!

. . . but here was a happy family!

Good for Idaho, working to keep invasive species out of their waterways!

Time for an impromptu lunch stop at ‘The Crossing’ . . .  hopefully we will not drive down their property values during our short stay.

Not sure what Lucky the flying cow is all about but . . .

. . . here was another chicken for emJay!!!

After 35 miles we were entering the greater Sandpoint area. We exited  Hwy 95, which we had been on for 15 miles, and got on a GREAT bicycle path. It looked like it had been just sprayed, the weeds were all covered in tar . . .

. . . and sure enough four miles down the trail were Larry and Jim sprucing things up for us. I asked if the city fathers had heard the ACA Northern Tier was coming to town and wanted to put out the ‘black carpet’ for us. No . . .it was just time for normal maintenance.

. . . we have been out of the ‘news stream’ for several weeks now . . . wonder how the whole ‘Rebuilding America’ thing is going?????

The path turned into a full two lanes when we crossed the two mile bridge into Sandpoint, ID. . .

Hello Sandpoint . . . the end of our Map 1, a new state to explore AND a layover day!!!

The city got us off the main drag with this nice path along the river right into the downtown area! Big city for us . . .over 7,500 happy residents.

Not too far from the athletic club was this gun store . . . quite the prop. I assume that is what it is????

Thanks to Allison’s extra efforts, here is our home for the next two nights! Swimming pool, Jacuzzi, hydro massage and all the workout equipment.

Everyone must check in at the club with Leona, who has worked at the club for 26 years. As a shower present, for the delivery of her first son, she was given a free visit. She liked the place so much she asked for a job and has been here ever since!!!

The staff told me one of the women who was teaching a kids class spoke German. Soon her and Corvin were talking it up in German. Diana’s mother is German and her father American. After living in the US for 46 years they are retiring next year to the Motherland. Corvin seemed very happy to speak his native tongue for the first time in several weeks!!

Our camp. The club closes at 10:00pm but we will have a key to get into the bathrooms. AND they had REAL shower towels to rent for fifty cents!!!!

While I have been bicycling through the great State of Washington  enjoying the environment and scenic beauty that has been preserved by federal, state and NGO’s  . .

emJay has been in Washington, DC helping continue the cause!!!!