While driving toward our destination of French Road, Bill noted that yesterday afternoon's trip marked the first time he'd been up the Caribou Creek Road since the murder.
We usually drive the Caribou Creek Road, which takes off from Upper Pack River Road northwest of Sandpoint, a couple of times each year.
The murder in the link above occurred a a couple of months after our last trip, which was my first experience on French Road, a slightly overgrown and bumpy spur road which takes off to the east then south of Caribou Creek.
On that trip, I discovered that the French Road was actually the other end of P4 Road which I had driven two or three times before, arriving at the same magnificent viewpoint showing most of Lake Pend Oreille.
I must say that the P4 end offers a much smoother drive. Either way, there's a great reward at the end and rarely any other traffic, as was the case yesterday.
The reward: the amazing lake view, a view of the back runs of Schweitzer and even the north end of the hilltop restaurant, the front of which we can see from our kitchen window here in Selle.
And, of course, the scene is enhanced by the surrounding Selkirk Mountains and the distant Cabinets to the east.
Yesterday we spent time deciding that one spot we could see included part of our shop and maybe even the roofs of the shelters along the lane.
And, Elton, we could definitely see your barn as well as Wood's Gravel Pit!
It's definitely a road less traveled, and that makes it nice because the wildflowers along each side abound, undisturbed by vehicle traffic and dust.
After leaving the vista, we made our way back down the bumpy road, and upon arriving at Caribou Creek Road, Bill said he wanted to take a quick trip to the bridge over Caribou Creek just up the road.
A couple of minutes later, where the road opens up into a huge reforested clear cut, a healthy looking young bull moose stood eating on the hillside.
I stepped out of the pickup to take pictures, and, as I walked back to the door, another truck came up the road and stopped next to us.
By this time, the moose had gone on its way, so the driver got out, walked over to us and wondered why we were stopped.
We told him, and then he informed us that after seeing us pass him, he had turned around and come back to see what we were up to.
Seems that there's been thievery and vandalism in the Caribou Creek area, including theft of batteries from logging equipment and, as he noted, some major trashing of the Caribou Creek Lodge, which is not far from the vista where we had been.
Sickening, is all I've got to say.
We don't need this element, nor that mentioned in the murder story, in our beautiful and pristine outdoors, but there's no denying that it has arrived.
It was sad to hear this news, and an even sadder reminder that no place, no matter how remote, is immune from the ravages of low-life behavior.
Nonetheless, Bill and I still enjoyed a fulfilling drive on the road with a view, a short hike alive with floral color and a lovely moment watching that young moose in the wild.
Twas an afternoon experience offering lot of good news and views blended with a little bad in the midst of wondrous nature.
Happy Friday.
A chicken sandwich and berry pie ala mode dinner awaited us when we came down off the mountain yesterday.
Willie and Debbie prepared the goodies. We sat in the shade near Barbara and Laurie's house and enjoyed food and fun visiting.
A nice way to end a beautiful day.
Below: I saw this photo of Gonzaga's new phenom Chet Holmgren on Instagram and Twitter.
Couldn't resist one of the Instagram comments, nicknaming him the "slim reaper."
Yup. I'm sure the ZAGS will reap a lot of excitement, thanks to the talents of this young man.
Welcome, Chet Holmgren. We diehard ZAGS fans are really excited about you!
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