Fairfield Inn Coeur D'Alene

Here I am trying to pack for yet another trip. Everything out ready to put 1/2 back....then another 1/2 back in a day or so. The good news is that we have really no restrictions on weight (other than the standard 2-bags at 50lbs each) and neither Southwest nor Mexicana is charging for baggage. No way I'll need that baggage limitation but I still worry about having to carry the stuff around!<br ...

Finally got the truck back, all fixed and running beautifully. Decided to get on the road, though it was already 2 pm. Headed south along Flathead Lake through green forests and valleys to I-90, then west, west, west. All uphill, what a climb, to Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, then downhill into Washington State. Spent almost two hours trying to find Riverside State Park in the city of Spokane, finally set up the camper and tried to settle down for the night.

... most of the UK are patriotic but I could not imagine the response in the crowd if we were all asked to sing  &#8220;god save the queen&#8221; every time One Man and his dog started.  <br><br>Unfortunately we were unable to stay for the Tom Addis Dodge PRCA Rodeo or the Rhinestone Roper or watch the Canine Demo let alone the Cabela&#8217;s Dutch Oven Cook-Off (heaven knows what that is about). Another recommendation - stop by if you see any state fairs, especially for the rodeos. 

The rest of the week followed the same formula except that we were riding in the adult trek in the morning.  In the afternoon you could ride again or indulge in another activity, shooting, kayaking, archery, fly-fishing.  Ian, Steve, Tim and Robert took a day out and went to Coeur d'Alene golf course (Ian to write on this) and another day left early to go fly-fishing The kids programme was also full with another afternoon on a river boat and swimming in a ...

The golf trip was organised by Steve and I was looking forward to a decent round of golf at a local course to see if my game could recover from the disastrous run I'd been having in England. So four of us (Tim, Rob, Steve and I) set off at lunchtime in Jim&#8217;s hire car to drive the supposed 45-minute route around the lake with Tim driving. Tim normally drives an Aston ...

Most of the adults participated in the adult test &#8211; to see whether we could go on the adult horse ride.  We all failed &#8211; it was hysterical.  Ian and I were cantering English style on a western horse and it was utterly wrong.  We couldn't understand the reaction of the horse and realised that the moves we were told to do in the UK gave out a different message.  Additionally these horses are trail horses and hated being in the ring so ...

... br>Ufem wäg zrug hämm** no amene see ghalte, das isch dänn äs panorama gsi. Ab** lueged doch sälb**, ich find äs chunnt sogar uf dä fotene ei*****masse üb**e au wänns in ächt no viel schön** usgseh hät.<br><br>Am zweite tag hämm** eus dänn id wildnis gwagt und händ drum fascht 10km schott**strass uf eus resp. Und** d'räd** vo eusem 'toyota 4runn**' gno. So hämm** en ändlich mal chli a sini gränze bracht, isch ja ...

... blind as a bat and Ian was ace shooter.  The kids went on a climbing experience on a climbing wall where Lily and Katie succeeded in climbing the full way and ringing the bell.    <br><br>The night was a cowboy games night at the ring with Wranglers resulting in the adults wrestling goats and putting boxers on them then to the Saloon for drinks.  It is similar to skiing with all the fresh air and activity you are shattered by 10 and ready to crash.

We were so looking forward to a bed.  As much as the RV is comfortable there is only a limit to how much time you can sleep on foam.  We drove around the Coeur d'Alene lake  and all had a good feeling about what was to come.   Up into the mountains along a dusty lane we were being encouraged to go further to find Red Horse Mountain Ranch.  We drove to the ranch house and was met by your stereo typical wrangler or wranglet, Ashley in jeans and gingham shirt ...

... of the day, which spanned over 100 miles and provided us with some spectacular scenery along the way. <br><br>All the detours and mountainous terrain we covered resulted in a 1am arrival at our hotel. We were both bushed after having clocked, including stops, a total of almost 17 hours on the road today. Luckily, we have tomorrow to spend at leisure in Coeur d&#8217;Alene.