Foster and I went on an excellent adventure yesterday.
We drove to beautiful Spar Lake near Troy, Mont., where Bill and Willie were fishing in their kayaks. My purpose was mainly to beat the intense heat and enjoy some gorgeous Montana scenery.
Foster lives to ride shotgun in the car and partakes in every adventure, using his remaining senses to the fullest.
We made many stops along the way, including a few minutes at the funky and fun antique shop at Three Mile.
Later, Foster even received an extra pat on the head from a gentleman at the Moyie Bridge overlook because his name was Foster, the man's favorite beer.
We always say Foster is Australian for beer, and since he's a mini Aussie, it's a good name for the little guy.
Foster enjoyed the few minutes we spent at the lake visiting with Bill. Willie was still fishing around the bend so I only saw him from a vista above the lake.
The trip to Spar Lake is loaded with fun and funky roadside attractions, including two places in Troy with Sandpoint connections.
I stopped at the Shoo Fly Fishing Co., which is owned by Steve and Denise Kalb. Steve grew up in Sandpoint where his dad Bob owned a local shoe store called The Bootery.
The couple has established a classy and impressive business at their home along HWY 2 in east Troy. Steve builds fly rods and ties flies, among other fishing pursuits.
They also own a cute Yorkshire named Mia. Mia didn't seem to mind having Foster come in for a visit.
From the website:
Welcome
As
a young boy, my brothers and I grew up with a father who loved to fish.
We journeyed to high mountain alpine lakes and fished some really
great trout streams. Many trips were made backpacking small fingerling
fish to stock the mountain lakes. The fishing was always unbelievable.
WHAT A GREAT LIFE FOR A KID!
Our
Dad was a great fly fisherman and I would sit on a rock and watch him
throw his fly rod, presenting the fly on the water with perfection.
He
set us up with a fly and a casting bubble on a spinning rod but he
always caught more fish. I wanted to learn to fish like him and I saved
my money from mowing lawns and bought my first fly rod at the age of
10.
Dad would take me with him and taught me how to throw my line but
boy did I lose the flies! I depleted his fly box in just a few trips.
He asked me how I would like to learn to tie my own flies and I said
sure! Dad set me up with one of the best fly tiers in our area and I
have been tying flies ever since.
I have a family now, a wife and a son and daughter. Fishing has been carried on to the next generation,
Our
son Robbie started as I did and has become one of the best fishermen
around. Together we have trolled 1000's of hours fishing for trophy
fish with planer boards and downriggers, trolling streamer flies built
in our shop.
We have fished countless hours on some of the best blue
ribbon trout streams. Together we have studied what fishing lures and
flies make the fish bite.
In
1997 I started Shoo Fly Fishing Company. I used to own a shoe store
and people always called me Shoe Fly and that is how the name of the
business Shoe Fly came about. When we closed our shoe store I changed
the name to Shoo Fly.
We love the outdoors and enjoy the best sport ever. FISHING!
We
welcome you to our business and will do everything we can to help you
have a great time fishing the beautiful waters in our area, so good you
will come back in with a great fishing story to share.
I also stopped at the Silver Spur Saloon, Restaurant and Casino on the west end of Troy.
My former student and friend LaRae Kistler co-owns the longtime Troy staple with her partner Shawn Stout.
In the past couple of years, the couple have added some neat updates to the building which first opened in 1943.
I saw Shawn and LaRae last Saturday afternoon at the Yaak Mercantile and decided it would be fun to stop in at their Troy establishment for a piece of pie and coffee.
Shawn, who grew up and participated in athletics in Libby, offered to have Foster stay in an enclosure next to the building so I could wait for La Rae who was on her way to work.
With the little guy's blindness, I decided it was best that we just continue on our way to Spar Lake after a quick visit to the ladies' room, which is pretty snazzy and fun.
They let you write on the bathroom wall. Well, sorta. Each stall has a blackboard, and colored chalk is provided.
The Silver Spur hosts country western bands every Friday and Saturday night. So, we may go back some time and enjoy dinner and some music.
It's fun to see these establishments in other communities owned by people you knew from way back when and to see their talents at work.
Shawn Stout, co owner of the Silver Spur in Troy, Mont.
I took pictures of this place near the Montana-Idaho border, in case someone wants to invest in some real estate.
Contact info. below.
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That's Willie down there in the kayak.
Both Bill and Willie enjoyed their stay at Spar Lake and caught enough fish to add to their hours of floating around in drop-dead Montana beauty.
After making a quick stop at the Moyie Store on the way home and biting into a fast-melting Twix bar, I looked at the thermometer on the car dashboard: 98 degrees.
The late afternoon temperature definitely indicated that my plan to take the day trip in mostly air-conditioned comfort with my sidekick had been a good idea.
Twas a fun drive.
Happy Saturday.
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