Playing "Turists" at Priest Lake

About a year ago, my sisters expressed interest in seeing Priest Lake.  They had never really been to the lake before, so on that Saturday afternoon, we set off in that direction, hoping for the best. 

Well, the best was not to be that day because forest-fire smoke from fires in Washington had drifted that way, leaving little or no visibility anywhere around the lake.  

The trip was not a complete loss, however.  We enjoyed an ice cream cone from Leonard Paul's at Coolin, and, of course, drove by the house which we're pretty sure NBA legend John Stockton owns at the lake. 

We visited the museum along the lake shore and enjoyed dinner after dark at the Nordman store and cafe.

With this past weekend open from scheduled activities for the first time all summer, my sister Laurie mentioned to me Saturday evening that they'd love to do something Sunday afternoon.  I thought about possibilities overnight and figured maybe they'd like to see Priest Lake withOUT all that smoke. 

Of course, they did, as did Bill.  So, off we went, designating this particular Sunday drive as our big "turist event" of the summer. 

We were gone six hours or so, and during that time, we enjoyed a brisk breeze and beautiful sights while strolling and taking pictures the enjoyment to be had along the shoreline at Beaver Creek Campgound.  

Then, we moved on to Hill's Resort for a late-afternoon lunch.  This was a big event for me since I'd never eaten at Hill's nor had my sisters.  

Bill, though, recalled an event years ago when he was at a luncheon at Hill's, which included then Gov. Cecil Andrus who had come to address the group. 

Then, John Stockton walked in, Bill recalled---adding that suddenly everyone's interest in the governor quickly diminished in favor of some upclose and personal time with Stockton.

Well, yesterday, no celebrity sightings at the restaurant during our leisurely lunch but definitely some of the best, cheesiest nachos I've ever had. 

We walked the docks, which were rocking and rolling and definitely giving me the sense that the glass of wine I'd sipped with lunch may have been a mistake.  

When I saw a boat demonstrating about the same lack of stability alongside the dock, I decided maybe the wine had been okay. 

On our way back to Sandpoint, where the rest of our stretch of Liam-proof fence between our place and Bert Wood's cows needed to be completed, we noticed brown skies to the south and the east. 

We learned later that once again forest-fire smoke from three raging blazes around the Spokane area was drifting into Idaho, along with a lot of ashes.  Sadly, homes have been lost and families, displaced. 

Kind of ironic that we and a lot of other folks had been enjoying a clear, beautiful August day up Priest Lake way while others were experiencing one of the worst days of their lives just miles away. 

Hoping for the best for the Spokane residents who experienced so much loss yesterday and grateful for the few hours we spent in a beautiful place where Mother Nature had decided to spare this time around. 

Happy Monday.