Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 16

As I mentioned in my previous post, fire south of Klamath Falls prevented trains from moving between Klamath Falls and Sacramento. The Amtrak crew was talking about track damage and even a bridge that caught fire. We were transferred to busses in Klamath Falls at 12:30 am, taken west to 5 then south to Sacramento, stopping twice and arriving at 7:20 am. There were three busses, packed like sardines. It was a real ordeal. But the train rides from Portland, and from Sacramento to LA, were very nice. We pulled into LA at 9:30 pm, where I got my bike and walked ten minutes to the hotel.  

A Little Before Reaching Klamath Falls, We Would See Some Smoke Above Us

LA City Hall Is Lit Up Nicely

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 15

I got the unwelcome news in the morning that due to fires, trains weren’t running between Klamath Falls and Sacramento, so we’ll be bussed for that segment. So instead of being able to sleep in a roomette, I’ll be stuck on a bus overnight. Major bummer.

We left Portland on schedule, and the ride to Klamath Falls so far has been nice. We’ll see how the night goes.

Crossing The Willamette After Leaving The Portland Station

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 14

One of the reasons I enjoy riding my bike so much is the opportunity to see, then to stop and look if I wish. For example, here are some things I got to see, and look at, this morning, riding from my hotel in Spokane to pick up the rental car…

I Crossed Spokane Falls, In The Park Where I Started My Bike Trip On The Centennial Trail

I Rode Through A Neighborhood With Neat Old Bungalows And Wonderful Little Brick Houses

Someone Was Super Nice, Putting Up This Sign In Their Yard

This Swell Old Tractor Was On Display In A Side Yard

After picking up the rental car, I drove to Portland, backtracking my drive a week earlier, this time with the sun behind me through the Columbia River Gorge. A very pleasant drive, and with the extremely toasty conditions, it was nice to be in an air-conditioned car.

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 13

I headed out this morning, again at 5 am, again ti avoid the afternoon heat. I headed west on Idaho SR-58, and continued on the Palouse Scenic Byway, crossing into Washington after a few miles.

The roads here go through rolling hills and farmland planted with alfalfa, hay, wheat, and the like. Surprisingly, some are fields planted with mustard, with yellow flowers just like springtime in Southern California. It’s cool and lovely riding in the morning, with the slanted rays across the rolling hills.

Scenery Along The Palouse Scenic Byway

The Byway Goes Through The Nice Little Town Of Rockford

It Also Goes Through The Town Of Valleyforge Where These Swallows Were Having Fun Swooping About 

The byway climbs and descends through and over the hills, at first gently, but then the climbs become more challenging, and a few were steep enough that I had  to walk up them. But it was a really nice bike ride into Spokane, and I reached the hotel about 9:30. It was too early to check in, so I hung out for a while in a coffee shop, and in the downtown mall, staying cool until I was able to get into my room.

In the evening I treated myself: An old hotel across from where I stayed, the Davenport, has been gloriously restored. It has a fourth floor terrace that looks south, with a view of the surrounding neighborhood including lots of swell old brick buildings, and best of all, and elevated track with substantial train traffic. I bought a Long Island Ice Tea at the bar and took it up to sip in some shade (it was evening but still quite hot), watching the trains roll by. I actually did this the previous two days I was in Spokane also.

This is the last day of bike riding for the trip. Now it’s just a matter of reversing the steps I used to get to Spokane.

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 12

Another day of getting out early to avoid the heat. I left Harrison at 5 am. The path followed the shore of the lake, then crossed it on a bridge.

Early Morning Along Lake Coeur d’Alene

The Bike Path Uses An Old RR Bridge To Cross The Lake

There was an osprey nest on the bridge.

The path was flat to the bridge, then it was a nice climb to Plummer, about 1.5%. This is the west end of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.

End Of The Trail

From there I rode US-95 north to my hotel at the Coeur d’Alene casino. US-95 was a highway but surprising nice, with gentle grades, a wide shoulder, and rolling hills and farmland. 

US-95 North From Plummer

Scenes From US-95

I got to the hotel at 8:30 and rested a bit. Since it was still early, I rode another while to check out the beginning of tomorrow’s ride. I rested the rest of the day, to get ready for my final day of biking.

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 11

Sherry the B&B proprietor served us a delicious breakfast, after which I rented an incumbent bike for a couple of hours from the local bike shop (the Cycle Haus).

The Incumbent Bike I Tried Out

I rode it a ways up and back on the bike path, which goes along the southeast side of the lake at this point.

The Trail Goes Along The Coeur d’Alene Lake For A While 

I had fun riding it, and I can see why people like them. It seemed like it was lot easier on my bottom and my neck. After I’d finished, I brought my own bike in and had them check tire pressure and spray some WD-40 on the chain, in preparation for tomorrow’s ride.

On the way back to the B&B, I passed a little park where a fellow was giving a talk about reptiles to a bunch of kids. He’d brought along a tortoise and a large boa for them to see.

Fun With Reptiles!

It was another hot day, so I went for a short swim in the lake in the afternoon. Back at the B&B, Sherry had made some refreshing peach ice tea, and a berry cobbler. Yum!

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 10

To avoid the afternoon heat, I left Kellogg at 5 am. This was another wonderful bike ride, mostly flat with some gentle downgrades now and then. It was sunny today, but there was lots of shade from trees. It continues to follow the Coeur d’Alene River.

Views Along The Path

Lily Pads In Bloom

On the ride I saw a deer spring across the path in front of me, a few Great Blue Herons in marshes along the path take flight as I approached, and a moose!!

A Great Blue Heron Taking Flight (Barely Visible In The Center)

Another Barely Visible Critter, This Time A Moose

I got to Harrison at about 9:30. This is where it starts to go along the southern side of Coeuer d’Alene Lake.

As I Neared Harrison, Coeur d’Alene Lake Came Into View

An Osprey In It’s Nest On The Coeur d’Alene Lake

I stayed at the Osprey Inn, a charming bed & breakfast. They have three cats! One is Gideon, who is 20 lbs, and is an American Bobtail, with some bobcat in him. He blessed me with an hour of Cat On Lap.

The Osprey Inn

My Room

A Little Bird In A Birdhouse In The Porch

COL With Gideon

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 9

I was shuttled by Lou the shuttle guy to Mullan, the east start of the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, in the morning. I started riding about 11:30.

Starting Out

East Start Of  The Trail Of The Coeur d’Alenes

He was also shuttling two ladies to the Route of the Hiawatha bike path, which is a very scenic 15 mile path. 

The ride down to my hotel in Kellogg was marvelous, with a gentle downhill grade. I got into Kellogg about 2:30. Luckily the day was cooler than had been predicted.

The trail follows the south fork of the Coeur d’Alene River, and because it is built on the old Northern Pacific RR line, I’ll be going across some old NP bridges along the way.

River View

I Ride Across Some Northern Pacific Bridges

I stopped in Wallace, a really neat old mining town, where an NP train station has been restored. I got a swell tour from a docent there who knows a lot about the history of the area, and of the railroads. There was a lot of mining, especially silver.

Downtown Wallace

The Wallace NP RR Station

I Saw This Incredible Customized Hearse In Wallace

When I got to Kellogg, I took a ride on the ski resort gondola, up to the top of Kellog Peak.

The Silver Mountain Gondola

A View From The Top Of Kellogg Peak