Catching Up with My Cousins

Location: Post Falls, Idaho

I slept like a log last night, but I have to admit I was a tad sore this morning. I've been keeping in touch with my dad while on this trip, and if you think I was going to get any sympathy from him on my harrowing bike ride, fuhgetaboutit! Growing up, no matter what trials or tribulations we endured dad's response was always the same, "It builds character." Needless to say, after hearing about my experience yesterday he actually trotted out that old line. I figure by now my moral fiber should be a cross between Atticus Finch (as in Gregory Peck's badass Atticus) and Scarlett O'Hara in that scene right before intermission when she is standing in the fields of her beloved Tara, holding a handful of dirt and proclaiming to the heavens, "As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again." You get my drift...So dad, for the record I feel fine, I'm doing great, ready to go at it again today!!
My destination today is Post Falls, Idaho where my cousin Cary and his wife, Lisa live. For the last several months Lisa and I have been planning a trip to Glacier National Park. I can't believe we'll actually be together by tonight. Originally, I was going to head for Spokane and then head into Idaho. While pouring over my maps this morning, I decided to take a more scenic route and go thru the Southeast corner of Washington and then head up thru the Idaho panhandle. I realized that it would probably add about 3 hours or so to the trip, but I figured a) it was raining so why not b) it'll be fun to drive thru some of these old towns and c) it sure as hell beats riding a bike! I spent a couple of hours driving along the Columbia River leaving the high cliffs of the gorge behind and watching the land flatten out into barren desert. When I finally cut thru the bottom corner of Washington I really appreciated the beauty and colors of the growing wheat. Green, yellow, golden brown everywhere! See today's pic. I finally crossed over the Snake River and made it to Idaho. I stopped at several fruit stands and vista points, checked out a couple of state parks for future camping trips and drove past numerous Indian smoke shops until finally touching the outskirts of Couer d'alene and reaching Post Falls. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see Lisa and Cary again!! The time just flew by getting caught up. After a night run to the grocery store Lisa and I are sufficiently stocked up to survive the wilderness for 3 days...yes, adult beverages and snacks are part of the wilderness experience.
Tomorrow...into the wild! (well in a car camping, junk food, road trip music kinda way).