Slight Detour: Sunday Miscellany

Gonna be a busy morning.

Our hay arrived yesterday, and the hay crew will be here early to put the bales in the barn.

So, we'll be scurrying around as their support system with guidance, cold drinks and food.

It will probably take them a couple of hours and then we'll quietly and happily celebrate a major milestone for the year: enough hay in the barn for the horses.

And, I'll be thinking about our mother Virginia who left us on this day 12 years ago. Always miss you, Mother.

In other news, yesterday Bill and I attended a funeral for a much beloved Sandpoint businessman, Bob Aavedal. He and his wife Linda devoted 46 years to the Alpine Ski Shops in Sandpoint and up at Schweitzer.

A packed First Lutheran Church served as the scene for Bob's final good byes.

He was a soft-spoken, humble man who cared deeply about his family, friends and the community of Sandpoint.

Here's a brief contribution which Bob shared with me a few years ago for my "Schweitzer Originals" blog which can be found at

https://schweitzeroriginals.blogspot.com/

Bob Aavedal

Ski Instructor

Construction

Owner of Alpine Shop until 2012

Since retiring in 2012, I’ve been catching up, new things in the house, wood floors. I’ve been up to Schweitzer a few times. It’s kind of nice to go up there without any concern. You always think about work.

July 15, 2012, was my last official day at the Alpine Shop after 46 years. We (Bob and Linda) hung around part time for several days. We still stop in and visit. Brent and Nicole Eacret are the new owners. It’s good to see young energy and new ideas.

The first day they opened, I was working in the parking lot. I helped in the lot, directing traffic for two-three hours. I had talked to Sam before the opening day. He told us (Bob Melton) to show up.

Before Schweitzer, I had skied at a rope tow in Bonners Ferry and at Naples with some neighbors. I spent two winters in Germany with Army from 1960-62. They had just T-bars at Garmish. We would ride the train up mountain

My role at the resort changed over the years. We started building a rope tow, worked on lifts and as a lift operator until 1968, the year Chair 4 was built. I worked on Chairs 2, 3, 4. It was a good crew, including Rennie Poelstra, Larry Smith, Bob Melton, etc. The work started in September, but it was tough when you would get into the weather.

Schweitzer has been a real opportunity for us for our business and being involved with the ski shop. We wouldn’t been skiing that much, otherwise, so it was real opportunity for the family to ski. My son John eventually switched over to snow boarding.

As for Schweitzer, it’s the best thing that ever happened to Sandpoint.

~~~~~~~

Over the years, we have had spent many wonderful and meaningful moments with the Aavedal family so it was great to see them and countless mutual friends.

I snapped a few photos of some of them at the reception afterward.