Sandpoint

Day: 48
Destination: Sandpoint, Idaho
Route: Highway 508 over the Purcell Mountains; Highway 2 west; Highway 95 south
Miles Ridden: 181      Total Miles: 11,122

Points of Interest:

• Purcell Mountains
• Yaak River
• Dirty Shame Saloon

We sadly said goodbye to the Hideout and Jim and Christine Gibson. We also said goodbye to Gary, who left at a very rude 3:00 a.m. for the airport and home. We also said our goodbyes to the Stevens and Oakleys, and began our trip to Sandpoint, Idaho. We still struggled with potential rain and actual wind as we slowly inched up the Purcell Mountains. The summit is 6,418 feet, and we were reminded periodically that this mountain range is the natural habitat of Grizzly and Black bears. Needless to say, we did not dilly dally when we took our rest breaks. We saw some amazing views from the mountaintop, and on the way down the mountain we saw the Yaak River with its rapids and waterfalls. We got wet a time or two, but the threat of rain really remained just a threat. We found an oasis, the Dirty Shame Saloon, on the way down the mountain and spent a while there and walking the grounds nearby.

We ducked around a thunderstorm, and stopped at the Moyie River and the bridge which crosses this incredible gorge. After taking a couple pics, we continued to Sandpoint, Idaho. We met up with Mike and Lori Palmer, some friends from Ralph's days on the police department. It was very nice spending some time with them at their new home, which sets above Lake Ponderay. The view from their front porch, looking over the lake almost the size of Lake Tahoe, is outstanding. What a great, peaceful setting. After 33 years on the police department, they have the right to live in peace and quiet. We spent a couple hours swapping stories and lies from the "good old days," talking about America's economic problems and the ongoing political crisis in America, and catching up with other old friends.