July 23, 2013 Canada to Washington and Idaho

Tuesday, July 23

Finished winding our way along route 3.  In Greenwood, several folks had altered their flags so they were half Canadian and half US, since the town straddles the border.  Signs confusing as we approached Grand Forks, BC, so we asked a local and ended up inadvertently taking a smaller backroad across the border at Danville.

Customs guy was nice.  He did come “on board” and briefly checked the fridge and a cabinet or two but all he confiscated was one orange.  Thankfully he didn’t comment on the rest of the fruit. Said this route would work, we’d just have to go over Sherman’s Pass.  No biggie, right? Sherman’s pass involved about 25 consecutive miles up mountains, and then the same coming down.  Had to stop to let engine cool going up and brakes cool coming down.

 Lots of signs for free range livestock lately, but we didn’t encounter any.

Stopped in a small town called Colville to get gas and asked the few people in the gas station what there was interesting to see in the area.  Got directed to some waterfalls, Crystal Falls, which were ok.  Followed a sign for Wildlife Viewing and saw deer and a duck.

Beginning to see fields of wheat and more rolling hills than mountains.  Not so much irrigation.  Still a good many lumber trucks and processing plants.

Stopped at The Pizza Factory in Deer Park, north of Spokane for a good buffet with salads and pizza.  They hand tossed their pizzas.

Next stop Coeur d’Alene, where we parked downtown and walked around.  Lake Coeur d’Alene is quite large and was really busy today, with temperatures around 90. They had a nice boardwalk around the harbor and there were people doing about anything you can do in water, from swimming to pontoon airplanes.

Note the plane

 Took these shots of the "amber waves of grain" near Worley.

Stopped for the night in Moscow, Idaho , home of University of Idaho.  Camped at a Walmart that had a huge lot where we had our own “wing” and made plans for tomorrow.