Deepest Darkest Idaho

 After our last breakfast at  Huckleberries We ran back to the house and loaded up our stuff. My traveling compadre had luggage for Alaska Air, and I had groceries and all manner of stuff for the van.

It was a mostly tearless goodbye, but we had all been having such a good time that a group hug was in order. Fortunately, none of the other passengers joined in so we were quickly on our way to the van with a name, who sleeps just a short ride from the International Airport.

I knew the van would start and it did, so I quickly unloaded the groceries into spaces that they needed to be in. Space is always at a premium in the van, and the other day I had a brilliant idea to let Poe take the big suitcase  home , because every  trip you have to move the cases  from the back to the front to sleep, and from the front to the back to drive. This having a big brain is finally starting to work out for me, because I have so much more room without the suitcase.

Spokane has some very scarred underpasses that are marked 11’0. The van is 12 so I can see why they have been hit, multiple times.

Carefully the other day I had selected my route out of town going under bridges marked at 13.1’ This was a good idea as I got to the other side of the railroad, and river without a scratch. The GPS was not happy with this route, as it wanted to go all the way to Division and then go north. But I was happy crossing the Monroe bridge and knew that I could intersect Division when I wanted to and avoid the lower underpasses at that end of town.

Monroe Street Bridge

Once I found a suitable east bound main road, I turned on it, and the GPS became happy again. I was happy anyway but glad the GPS found itself. I knew I would intersect Division and route 2 at some point but I missed it. No worries. The GPS was happy and I knew where I was and where I was going.

Where I was, was on East Trent one of Spokane’s  interesting industrial area’s . The rail yards are here, along with neighborhoods, and just about any kind of business you could think of.

Out On The East Side Spokane

It wasn’t long before the GPS greeted me into Idaho, and into the town of Rathdrum, where I met up with north bound highway 95.

Baked Potato For Dinner Tonight

Now I’m no fan of illiteracy  religion, private schools,  white supremacy, racism, sexism, guns, fascist republicans, and trump, so Ice Gal keeps a low profile and a open mind in regressive red states like Idaho.

 And on this this trip I have seen some unusual things.

They Even Have Ice

Now I don’t know why you couldn’t get out of your pickup, and go into the store to buy several thousand rounds of hollow points for your automatic  rifle. Or get those pearl handled revolvers you always wanted, but I do know we used to have drive through liquor store at home, and they were closed because a lot of  the drivers didn't get very far down the road before crashing,  and I know guns ain’t the same as liquor, but gee if you are running a drive through gun shop  / liquor store wouldn't you think that booze, guns, and cars are a toxic combination  when mixed all up together. Oh well the sign  shop police and  morticians all need to make a living too. 

The most interesting artifact I saw was a billboard size banner that was red and with white letters stated.

Welcome To trump Country 

Below the main theme of the billboard, and professional done as well were  "God! Guns! Gonorrhea! Grifting….." You might have guessed that I added the last two, but when you see displays like this it really makes you wonder, just who these people are that put up that billboard, and do I want to get out of my van? 

 After all that excitement I settled for a RV park with hook ups in Moyie. I needed the electricity  as my guy in Spokane said that “Your batteries are fine. You just need to charge them for overnight”

That’s why I didn’t go far and pulled into The Hemlocks .

This Place Should Be Fine & It Was

The grandson of the owner was helping resident seniors connect to their  Medicare accounts, and schedule doctor appointments. I guess in a state that HATES socialism if you could benefit from it it’s okay!

The park is very near the road. Trucks  made some noise but its quiet  later on. I plugged in first thing and my batteries charged for 5 hours. I guess that the display I have that reads 100% is off.

100% Of What?