Fun-Stuff Friday

from KHQ News

 SANDPOINT, Idaho – The Long Bridge pedestrian path is expected to be reopened by the end of next week, allowing end-to-end access via a designated route, after custom steel support brackets were installed at the bridge’s “most critical” locations, according to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD).

The announcement was made on Thursday evening, just over one month since inspectors found major structural deterioration in key parts of the bridge  and closed the pedestrian path near the start of the summer season.

*******

I'm guessing there will be a lot of happy pedestrian bridge users as they learn this news. 

And, then below, some neat hoops news. 

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

North Idaho! 

Bring out the young Vandals to Sandpoint HS. 

Our whole team will be there, and we will have an open practice following the youth clinic.

                             ---Vandal Coach Alex Pribble

Willie aka Coach Love featured University of Idaho Coach Pribble in an Idaho Basketball Coaching podcast earlier this year. 

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/idaho-basketball/transition-rebounding-4b9LV-xySBO/

He told me this morning that Coach Pribble, who earlier this year took his team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 36 years,  views this experience as a team-building opportunity for the Vandal squad. 

As noted in the graphic, the clinic lasts from 2-4 p.m. Afterward, the Vandals will hold a practice in Les Rogers Gym. 

Coach Love says a set of bleachers will be pulled out and available for anyone who wants to watch the practice which starts shortly after the clinic. That portion of the Vandals visit is free to the public.  

Meanwhile in Spokane last night . . . . a very generous gesture from a former ZAG.

The largest donation ever to Gonzaga by a former player, Domantis Sabonis, a member of the NBA Sacramento Kings and three-time NBA rebounding champ. 

How neat for the ZAGS program and really neat when people show their appreciation! 

According to Artificial Intelligence: 

The Spots of Fun Open Horse Show is a vibrant event that takes place at the Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint, Idaho.

This event is organized by Moriha Yetter.  

The two-day event is free to attend and offers a chance to watch thrilling competition and enjoy the beautiful horses.

Thanks, AI. 

Now, I'll add that there are lots of pretty belt buckles to win as well as first-place awards, ribbons and raffle goodies.

The show, which has been an annual event for about 40 years,  opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday.

You can show up any time after 8 a.m. each day and even enjoy some goodies from the food vendor. 

Well, I'm sure there's more good news to share, but I'm calling it a day. 

Happy Friday and wishing you all a "good news" weekend. 

Deep? Creek Paddle

 

How to spot an old lady kayaker. 

Look at the shoes. 

Look at the towel over the legs. 

Look at the long-sleeved shirt. 

Points on style for the Golden Girls on the water are pretty minimal. 

Still, those feet and legs are out there and the arms/hands are as busy as any other paddler. 

When you're on Deep Creek, which isn't very deep, and your only audience is your husband, who's almost as old as you, and the birds, turtles, ducklings, etc., nobody cares about your looks.

Yesterday marked my first experience in a kayak in two years.  

Last summer while dealing with the unpredictabilty of gut problems, kayaking did not fit in the picture. 

So, it was nice to get in a boat and do some paddling. 

We entered Deep Creek at the Kootenai River boat launch a few miles west of Bonners Ferry. 

I had asked Bill if we could go somewhere that was not in the direct sunlight, and Deep Creek seemed like a nice option, especially because we've never paddled it before. 

The first part of the trip was heavenly, with the sounds of birds interrupted occasionally with big trucks working on a project in the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. 

We saw turtles, blue herons, cedar waxwings, baby ducklings and a whole lot of other birds.  Tiny fish were jumping, and Bill even caught on small lunker. 

We noticed all the way that the name "Deep Creek" seems to be a misnomer.  The mushy-looking bottom was visible at all times, as was the algae. 

Still, it was a nice boat trip. 

All went well for me until the mosquitoes took over.  The air turned humid and mosquitoes were hungry. 

So, my paddling increased in speed in an effort to avoid the mosquitoes, which I swear had lead feet. 

Overall, it was a nice outing, and we finished up just about the time the after-work crowd showed up with their boats. 

And, I noticed that nobody really seems to care about anyone else's style when they're headed for the water. 

We both agreed that it might be neat to go back to Deep Creek in the fall because of the huge cottonwoods along the banks.

As for yesterday's maiden voyage of 2026 for me, I enjoyed it, 'cept for those mosquitoes.  

Before we took off for our kayaking trip yesterday, Leslie and her daughter Faith walked over through the woods from where they keep their horses.  

They'll be making that walk fairly often soon while leading horses over to be worked in our round pen. 

So, yesterday gave them an opportunity to get acquainted with the lay of the land. 

The family moved here several months ago from Oregon. 

The horses have gone to the hay field today.  It will serve as their pasture for the next couple of months.

  

Happily, the pastures closer to the house still have plenty of grazing available.  Therefore,  when I get lazy and don't want to walk clear to the end of the lane, these pastures can be used. 

Thursday Throwbacks:  Images of past moments, places, animals, peeps, etc.  Enjoy.