Motel 6 Coeur D Alene 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.

... halls full of culinary arts, horticulture, poultry barn, beer garden etc.  We went to the critter corner and there were birds and reptiles including Big Al an alligator reared from birth and available for a photo &#8211; Lily and Fynn were first up (Edie not so keen) and sat with Big Al on their laps.  <br><br>We did not have too much time at the Fair as we had promised to be with mum and dad at the Armstrong&#8217;s (Karen and Jack&#8217;s) cabin in Plains for supper so with ...

... actually Ian in a dreadful wig) put us through our paces.  Everyone in the group &#8211; myself, Nancy, Sig, Elizabeth, Fred and Travis (the wrangler at the rear) went for about four amazing long loping runs.  We went up and down the steepest of treks, which you had to rely (hope) that the horses knew what they were doing.  We finished at a meadow for a barbecue and then rode the horses back to the ranch.  <br><br>While this ride took place the boys (Tim ...

... rakes for clearing the bunkers! I teamed up with Tim to form a Brits team against Rob and Steve &#8211; the Yanks- in a Ryder Cup style four-ball match. Tim and Rob played really well with Steve and I contributing on some holes with the match going down to the last green for me to hole a 6 footer to halve the hole and win the game 1 up. A fantastic game on a gem of a course.

... Jeannie, Marty and the kids for a kayak at Harrison Lake a few miles from the ranch.   We raced with the children, Fynn was brilliant and loved every minute, jumping in and out of the lake for a swim and trying to persuade the girls to jump in.  Edie joined in but Princess Lily swans along with her friend Rachel hooking their kayak onto Jeannie&#8217;s Kayak and created, as they called it, a limousine kayak.  <br><br>Time for our lesson ...

... 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 ...

... the kids were cooking smores (called smores from the term &#8220;do you want somemore &#8211; s&#8217;mores)  This is a gooey cocktail of charcoaled marshmellows  with a layer of chocolate wedged between two sweet biscuits  - great for the kids as they roasted their own marshmellows on twigs.  Fun evening finishing with us all crashing into the crisp linen and soft mattress after a warm, clean shower with crisp towels (things we used to take for granted. 

... to the France. I just hate being away from my family. I really feel like God wants to speak to me but I have been so busy lately I have crowded him out with all my work. I know I really need this and if I allow God he will do something new in my life. I guess I am looking forward to that part and just hope I am brave enough to do whatever he wants. more later.