Arriving at CDA

June 17, 2009

CDA

Though the rains have continued off and on, we traversed from McCall's Ponderosa State Park to Coeur d‘Alene (hereafter “CDA”) with a one night stopover at Winchester Lake State Park. Most of the drive was on Hwy 95 and provided some fabulous views of the Little Salmon and Salmon Rivers, plus the rolling hills between Winchester and CDA. The wheat (and whatever else, alfalfa??) was a lush green and it just looked like a gigantic golf course at times. Today’s drive featured blue skies for the first time in days, which provided a lift.

Have to comment on Winchester Lake, where we stayed only one of our intended 2 nights (thereby making a $20.50 donation to Idaho). It’s a nice campground, but no internet, and no phone service. The main activity appears to be hauling a lawn chair down to the lake, tossing a bobber and worm, and hoping one of those planted, pellet-fed trout jumps in the frying pan. Yum-yum!

Another diversion would be a visit to the nearby “Wolf Education and Training Center”, 2 miles down the road. This, I believe, is the modern version of the old “Stop here, Giant Gila Monster.” In the name of “rescuing” wolves that have been domesticated (and therefore could not be reintroduced to the wilds), this place was some do-gooder’s dream where these confused carnivores would spend their golden years. The “feature attraction” are purported to be two wolf packs, safely restrained in wire enclosures. Imagine if you would Jurassic Park with 12 foot high reinforced cyclone fences—topped with electrical wire. The fences run parallel about 20 yards apart, forming a several acre circle that extends through a meadow (where the “viewing platform” is) and then disappearing into the thick woods. There are two such enclosures. I was the only visitor on the premises, conducting a “self-guided tour” for five bucks! (Janice wisely passed on this side-trip.)

Despite diligent searching with binoculars loaned to me by the “WETC”, nary a wolf was spotted. I surmised that the WETC folks back at the ticket booth were guffawing that they had bamboozled another city-slicker. Upon my exit, I advised, “I think they must have been taking their afternoon nap in the woods” to which the freckle-faced red-haired young lady responded, “Probably…we fed them a goat this morning.” Goats are like a Sominex for those wolves. Maybe she could have told me that the chances were one in a million that I’d see a wolf that day BEFORE she grabbed my five dollars. I think that somebody is scamming the IRS on this one. A beautiful piece of mountain property that is supposedly harboring wayward wolves. Stupid tourists pay money that supports the summer job for the freckle-faced red-head, likely the daughter of the property's owner.. PT Barnum had it right. I was the “sucker” for that moment.

Upon arrival in CDA, we gassed up at Costco, anticipating a quick get-away on Monday after the Ironman. We were welcomed at Blackwell Island RV Park by a downpour. Weather looks like it might be improving, but the local soothsayer gas jockey at Costco predicted rain for the event.

We declared the afternoon a clean-up day today with me cleaning the bugs off the front end and vacuuming the Honda and RV. Janice headed to the park’s laundry room.

And finally, in the “ouch” department: While backing into our space at Winchester, I got impatient and failed to wait for the signal of the RQ, resulting in the first scratch to the rig in 23,000 miles. It was a rather minor scrape along the front fender, but sounded like the awning was being ripped from the outside of the rig. The park’s “space marker” was restored to vertical with a little persuasion.