Day3: Spokane WA to almost Glacier Natl Park MT

  Kalispell, Montana, United States
Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Day3 Wed Aug 1 - Spokane, WA to Logan State Park, MT
Miles: 216


Summary
-People-magnet Riverside Park in the heart of Spokane, WA
- But where are the Spokane bums?
-Promises of coffee, once again
-Billboards are really ugly.
-Hmmm...Idaho - I think we crossed it...
-Kootenai Falls, MT - short hike over white water
-Almost West Glacier, MT ... no room at the inn?


Details:
People-magnet Riverside Park in the heart of Spokane, WA
On to Riverside Park in Spokane for a stroll and late lunch.

Signs of friendship

We read that Riverside Park was originally designed by the Olmsted family of landscape architects, the same folks that did Central Park, Bok Tower Gardens and the Biltmore grounds,
The plan was not implemented until Spokane hosted the World's Fair (do we still have World's Fairs?) in the 70s.
Every other plot of grass has a plaque declaring what nation's pavilion stood there.

The park is a very nice urban green space with the Spokane River running through it.
There is a YMCA in the middle of it full of YMCA day campers enlivening the lawns.
It was the middle of a weekday and many families were enjoying the park's offerings.




A giant Radio Flyer wagon forces you to smile when you see.

Big wagon is for big kids, yes?

The original Great Northern Railroad clock tower sounds like it contains a carillon and is a great navigation landmark. It reminded us of towers in Italy.

Clock Tower gives you a bearing in the park

A 1909 carousel gave us each a nice ride.

Brass rings for those who reach!

Chere having fun

We grabbed the brass (plastic really) rings and threw them at the clowns mouth (Harry Potter advertising really) just like they did in 1909.
















The city has a gondola ride over a bit of the park and down to the base of the Spokane Falls.

Rory looking out the city gondola

Gorgeous waterfall in Spokane's center

 
We had to do it.





















We ended our stroll in the park and headed for lunch at Luigi's passing an intriguing grouping of statues depicting people of all ages and sizes running together.

The Joy of Running Together by Govedare

But where are the Spokane bums?
During our two hours in the park we never saw one smelly bum.
Everywhere else we've gone and back home in Orlando, otherwise pleasant parks have their share of bums sleeping on the lawns, shaving in the drinking fountains or lurking behind buildings.
We saw none of this in Riverside Park.
What does Spokane do that no other city does?










Promises of coffee, once again
After lunch we walked to the downtown Macy's (imagine that, department stores downtown) and got our espresso maker.

Big hopes for real coffee...

A successful morning and we are on the road out of Spokane at two PM.













Billboards are really ugly.
Driving into Spokane from the west, the city pretty much just appears.
There is some development and more coming but the Air Force Base and Air Port must use up enough territory to keep things at a minimum.
Driving out the north/east side on US-2 is a long slog through tacky urban development equal to SR-436 at its ugliest. 
We longed for the billboard-free Oregon coastline.



Hmmm...Idaho - I think we crossed it...
Eventually we hit open road out of Washington and through Idaho.
High rolling hills and low mountains covered with pines.
They may have been Ponderosa Pines because we were constantly inspired to sing the theme from that hit show from the past "Bonanza".  Little Joe would have been proud :)


Idaho. Very pretty.
Lasted all of eighty miles.
We may go back some time and do the Selkirk Loop.
We enjoyed seeing the double-loaded log trucks and lumber mill areas.

Idaho - short ride over pretty country

Lumber on the road

 

Piles of wood ready for the mill

Kootenai Falls, MT - short hike over white water
We took a break in the early evening to walk off US-2 to the Kootenai Falls in Montana.

Rory at the foot of Kootenai Falls

Chere crossing Kootenai Falls via footbridge

Really terrifying white water.












Almost West Glacier, MT ... no room at the inn?
We figured we'd pick up a room somewhere in Montana about 150 miles from Glacier.
Bad plan.
Every town we hit was booked.
Luck was with us in the end.
The sun was well below the horizon when we saw a sign for Logan State Campground.
Lots of empty camp sites and just enough light to set up the tent.
Endless showers too.

Tomorrow we can use our new espresso pot. :)