Downright Giddy Friday

We're at T-minus 65 minutes as I begin this writing.  By the time I finish, the countdown will be just half an hour.

Today is an historic day for our community.  When all the barrels are officially removed, the Byway and its accompanying bike path along the lake and Sand Creek will be fully open by 2:30 p.m. 

I'm trying to think of another equally significant event in my lifetime that changed the community of Sandpoint forever.

In my humble opinion, I'm thinking the day Schweitzer Basin Ski Resort opened in the fall of 1963 may be another.  

I've often said that Schweitzer significantly awakened Sandpoint from a little North Idaho logging town which hibernated every year from Labor Day to Memorial Day.

The long-term effects of Schweitzer, which eventually became known as Schweitzer Mountain Resort, home of Schweitzer Village, continue to affect our community on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. 

Sandpoint has not slept for nine months in nearly 50 years.  Does it even sleep for one week these days?

The long-term effects of the Byway, once known as the Bypass and still called that by many locals, are unknown at this writing.  

I read one comment on Facebook yesterday lamenting the fact that Sandpoint may begin to die, once those orange barrels disappear from Idaho's most expensive road project ever. 

Only time will tell that, but I'm thinking that today we won't be worrying too much about our community demise.  

We'll be too focused on taking our first spins north and south on the Byway and eventually loading up our bikes to pedal along Sand Creek. 

It's like Christmas, finally one month after we thought the present had come and that it would be opened.  

I recall that I went to my hairdresser for my bimonthly zap at noon on June 29,  the day of the big Byway ceremony,   I was all primed for a big celebration.  

That fell short.

Well, today I'm going to my hairdresser again at noon for a trim.  In fact, I'm figuring my route may take me on the Byway across Lake Pend Oreille and back.  

While coming north, I'll turn off the Byway, head into Sandpoint and drive just one block to Sally's salon.  Once trimmed, I'll drive out of town again, across the bridge, back to town and north on the Byway around Sandpoint.

After that, I'll go pick up my mother and take her for a spin.  I'm figuring by the time she has seen the Byway, I'll have it figured out.   Let's hope so anyway. 

If not, we'll drive it again. 

Bill and I have anxiously awaited the day when we can head to Coeur d'Alene or Spokane with ease rather than fighting downtown traffic.

I think we're not alone.

This is a monumental day, and I hope it goes well.  

When Byway-mania ends this afternoon, I'm planning to drop in at Laughing Dog Brewery and say hello to a bunch of wonderful former students from the Class of 1982.  

So, it's definitely a Giddy Friday, and I'd better giddi-up and get started with all the fun.

Happy By Way-Day to all.