Dover Bay Beauty

If I were ever to leave the farm life, I'd move to Dover Bay.

Local developer Ralph Sletager had a vision when he purchased the old Pack River Lumber Co. mill site, which had sat idle for years.

As with any real estate development, he met with opposition but continued to move forward on his dream.

The dream has turned out to be a happy reality.

It also turned out to be a perfect place for a short afternoon drive yesterday with my mother.

The old community of Dover seems to be doing just fine with its new sister community right next door.   

A lot has happened out that way since the days of the busy Dover post office sitting right off the curve as drivers started up the bridge over the railroad tracks.

A new, safer bridge will soon open.  

The post office has moved into the old residential area, alongside the spot where the SPOT (Selkirks-Pend Oreille Transit)  buses park.  

The SPOT buses provide regular transportation for about 12 hours seven days a week to areas around Dover, Sandpoint, Ponderay and Kootenai.

Mother and I thoroughly enjoyed our leisurely drive around the Dover Bay development yesterday.  

The development has an open feel and is beautifully laid-out with plenty of scenic areas left open for wildlife and bird habitat. 

Although a few of the housing plots may get the "cookie cutter" label, most have a unique design in keeping with the surrounding environment.

There's a row of rustic-style homes with wrap-around covered porches along a creekside---any of which would be much to my liking.

One needs to take a camera when going to Dover.  

It would be easy to fill and album within a couple of hours with the views of the mountains, the lake, the cattail-rich marshland and the Pend Oreille River.

I stepped out of the car just twice to snap my photos yesterday, but I know my sisters have taken their share of photo runs out there on Sunday afternoons.

Dover has a rich history, which should be honored.  

Many of the homes and its community church in the old section were ferried down the river from Laclede during the 1920s.

The open areas where Dover kids used to play for decades are mostly private now, but the development includes some beautiful public segments, including a beach.

And, the walking areas are abundant, to say the least. 

Time marches on, and with it comes change.

In this case, the change offers a little something for everyone who enjoys being outdoors and taking in the beauty of North Idaho.  

The top photo looks east toward the Long Bridge and the lake, while the one directly above shows off Baldy Mountain to the west of Dover.

Special Note:   John Evans added a few interesting facts about "It's a Small World" in his comments to yesterday's post.  I found them fascinating enough to add them to the regular post.  Check 'em out.