I'm guessing that nobody heard this tree fall in the forest along Deer Ridge Road northeast of Bonners Ferry.
I'm also thinking of how uncanny it was to see it downed on a calm afternoon across the same road we had traveled just half an hour before.
Kinda mysterious what prompted the tree to fall, but it did.
And, we happened to be on the wrong side of the tree as we returned from a quick visit to Deer Ridge Lookout.
People were staying there for the night, so we didn't hang around long.
Besides, we'd gotten a relatively late start when Bill had first suggested going to the lookout.
In fact, when Bill was eating his deli chicken just purchased from the Bonners Ferry Super 1 and waiting for the pickup to fill up with gas from Three-Mile, I looked at my Fitbit.
It said 3:29.
"It's almost time for us to head back home," I teased.
So, Bill downed that last bite of deli chicken, washed off his hands, climbed into the truck and we were on our way to Deer Ridge.
The trip up to the lookout seemed to go faster than I had remembered from our visit last year.
And, since we didn't end up spending much time at the lookout, we would be getting home at a reasonable hour, no later than 6:30, for sure.
The tree had other ideas.
The instant he saw that skinny but immovable aspen blocking the entire road, Bill said a lot of stuff.
A few "oh no's" and "we're in trouble," along with a revelation that we had no tools in the gray pickup for sawing or chopping trees.
Bill, the always prepared Eagle Scout and the forester, always carries that stuff whenever we go to the mountains or to the back country but not yesterday.
The "stuff" was in the white work pickup. We were in the gray pickup, which has generally carried kayaks over the summer.
It was 5:30 when we met up with the tree.
The forest was surprisingly quiet late yesterday afternoon. We had both commented about how the area is usually buzzing with 4-wheelers and other recreationalist in trucks---especially Labor Day weekend.
While driving up, we had seen some wood cutters a ways down the road, but Bill was pretty sure they were wrapping up their day when we had passed by them.
So, we assessed the situation, got out of the truck and began walking down the road with faint hopes that the wood cutters were still there and that maybe they could hear us if we yelled.
We did yell, and Bill also walked back to the pickup to honk the horn.
Except for us and some squirrels, the forest remained silent.
In our initial walk down the road, I wondered if we could possibly have cell service. Indeed, there were bars, so I texted Barbara, Laurie, Willie and Debbie.
A minute or so later I called Willie, and, by golly, he answered and the others had seen the text.
Long story short, family really came through for us late yesterday afternoon, with Willie, Debbie and the grandpups going to our house and getting the "stuff" from the white pickup.
Then, they headed our way on a trip that would take 75 minutes.
My sisters also came to the Lovestead and brought horses up from pasture.
At one time, as we waited and walked and talked, Bill pulled out his Swiss Army knife and began chipping away at the tree trunk---knowing full well that even if his effort was successful, more trunk would have to go before we could go.
So, he abandoned that project, and we waited, eventually deciding to walk down the Deer Ridge Road to meet Willie and Debbie when they came.
Seeing their gray Subaru rounding the bend was a welcome sight. It was getting dark but still light enough for Willie and Bill to go ahead and get that tree out of the way. Meanwhile, Debbie and I chose to walk with the dogs.
Just about the time, Willie and Bill were probably moving the tree, we heard a 4-wheeler coming up the road.
Two brothers from Sandpoint were out bow hunting. We visited with them, and they went on their way, waiting a bit as the road was totally clear for traffic.
One minute later, another pickup with a dad and his son came up the road.
Great timing, we thought.
All's well that ends well, they say, and our unplanned extra time on the Deer Ridge Road turned out okay, almost enjoyable.
We treated Willie and Debbie to dinner at the Mexican Restaurant in Bonners Ferry, and when we pulled into the driveway, it was 10 p.m.
Happily, all was well at home, thanks to help from family.
This story will be added to the collection dealing with troubled times out in the woods---including the one a few years back when Bill had his "stuff," including the chainsaw.
He sawed several downed trees as we made our way down the Twenty Mile Road after a sudden thunder, lightning and rain storm had driven us out of Boulder Meadows.
Lots of adventures, and even the one where the Swiss Army knife didn't quite pack it will add to our memories.
By the way, it was really pretty up there yesterday, especially the orange and white cedars.
Bill says that some years they get a message to drop some of their needles in preparation for winter snows, and it looks like this year the message is loud and clear.
Stunning color in those trees.
Happy Monday, and, on this Labor Day, thanks to all who labor for the good of all.
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