Longer than . . . .

What could have gone on longer than the winter in North Idaho? Let's see. It started in early November, and it's now June 10. Schweitzer Mountain Resort, which is currently looking for its summer activity season---biking, hiking, etc., has new snow on the runs this morning. The snow level comes down to about 3,000 feet, maybe lower.

Would ya believe, I waited the latest ever in putting out and planting parts of my garden this year? The melons went into the ground (actually the horse apple pile) yesterday, June 9. The tomatoes, over the weekend, as did the cukes and several posies planted from seed.

I've been on the edge of my indoor seat (who can go outdoors for more than two minutes at a time?) worrying that frost would kill those tender transplants, but Mother Nature apparently had a little tidbit of generosity in her otherwise wrathful bag of tricks. The plants live on as does the endless winter. By the way, I've planted corn and beans twice and am wondering if the third time will have to be a charm.

So, what could go on longer to test the mettle of locals than the endless winter which has dominated too many of my blogging thoughts during 2008? Well, 1, 2, 3, here goes . . . . the goat trail aka Great Northern Road!

Our longtime former neighbor Pat Gooby wrote about the pock-marked trail leading from Woodland Drive to Baldy Road in this morning's paper, lamenting the goats who would surely shoot out a passle of rear-end pellets should they come walking down out of the mountains and think they're going to have an easy time of it down on the flats.

Bill noted that in his letter about goats and James J. Hill's railroad, Pat forgot to point out the Great Northern goat's name was Rocky. To which I said, Pat could have forgotten that cuz the road where that goat would be spraying its pellets probably doesn't rocks enough to even fathom memories of "rocky."

Great Northern Road could test the most agile of Rocky Mountain sure-footed critters. Every single day of its existence Great Northern Road serves as an welcome insurance policy for mechanics specializing in car and truck alignment issues. I believe these professionals may have even bought stock in the road, just to make sure their business would go on as long as the hearing aid folks who are bound to make a bundle off all Babyboomers and generations thereafter.

We drove Great Northern Road---er should I say prayed and maneuvered it a couple of weeks ago. I clearly recall commenting that it is definitely at its all-time worst, especially since it's been at its all-time worst for longer than I can remember now.

Well, actually I haven't forgotten when Bonner County Commissioner Henry Samuels did a project on the north end of the road back when Bill and I were first married and living in the little house that no longer exists on the Upper Tibbs farm that no longer exists. That was back in 1974, which is 34 years ago cuz Bill and I are celebrating that anniversary this weekend.

Just above Great Northern Road above those railroad tracks exists a boulevard running through the Upper Tibbs Farm, which is now a housing development for "affordable housing." Well, there's one house being constructed up there, and judging by its ample square footage, maybe it will allow for a commune of about twenty people to live in it, sharing expenses, thus making it affordable.

Anyway, ol' Henry built up that stretch of road with a whole lot of gravel and crushed rock. I think that was the last time anyone did anything to improve the road. If I'm correct, the city now has responsibility for it; in fact, it has had responsibility since taking in that part of the country into town back in the 1980s. I keep reading about how Great Northern Road ranks right up there in priorities on the city's forward planning, but the planning must be taking a long, long time.

On our geocaching and metal detecting runs, Bill and I go up unmaintained mountain roads that look like toll roads compared to Great Northern. It will be interesting to see how bad it gets before someone decides to do something. Could be another "byway story" in the making. In the meantime, any self respecting goat had better find a better path to get from the north part of town to downtown.

I suggest Mickinnick Trail on Greenhorn, then down through Pat Gooby's farm fields west of the railroad tracks. Then, they're home free, as long as they don't have to wait for a train at a railroad crossing, that is.