First, hot off the 2020 census report!
We've grown.
Sandpoint: 9,391
Coeur d'Alene: 54,822
Clark Fork: 599
Bonners Ferry: 2,687
Priest River: 1,969
Bonner County: 47,807
Idaho: 1.85 million
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Bill and I agreed that yesterday's brief trip to Montana's Spar Lake was kinda like a mini-mini-vacation.
We left in the morning, picked up sandwiches, chips and cookies at Clark Fork's Pantry, drove across a state line and then up the Bull River Highway, turned off, drove some more and finally pulled into Spar Lake Campground.
All but three camping/picnic spots appeared to be occupied.
Most inhabitants, whom we saw during our visit, appeared to be about our age, and it seemed that kayaks of various kinds and colors won the boat-show competition.
Two small motor boats were tied near the shoreline where we launched from a big open area, alive with butterflies and a few bees.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kootenai/recarea/?recid=49911
Bill's desire to visit Spar Lake had been enhanced by a post he read in an amazing outdoor-oriented blog called "NaughtyHiker," which is told by a dog and penned by a human "scribe."
As we traveled to our destination, Bill told me that the lake really has no definitive outflow.
Two streams and winter snow melt feed the lake, so when streams dry up, especially this summer, the lake level decreases dramatically.
That said, there was more than enough warm but crystal clear water for us and our kayaks and for the two fish Bill caught while we paddled for about an hour across the lake, to its south end and back to the launch.
We also saw a lot less smoke in that area than we had left behind in the Sandpoint area. It was still apparent though, especially dulling the usual magnificent beauty of those Cabinet Wilderness peaks.
Overall, though, we found the few hours on the Montana roadways and on the lake a wonderful escape from another smoky, hot day in North Idaho.
Plus, those always delicious and filling deli sandwiches from the Pantry topped off a fun experience at Spar Lake.
Turns out, also, that the thicker smoke in North Idaho did one good thing: its presence caused lower than predicted temps, only in the 80s.
And, so it was nice last night, even with the horrible air, to enjoy being outside, picking plums, more juicy, tasty 'maters and green beans for the freezer.
Quite a mix, we've had this summer, to say the least. Hence, those occasional kayaking escapes like yesterday's are really nice.
Happy Friday.
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Smoky downtown Selle last evening. |
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