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

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 8

I headed out early today (5:45 am), because of the heat wave in the northwest. The days are long here, about 5 am sunrise and 9 pm sunset. Luckily it cools off nicely overnight, so I’ll continue the early departures and avoid the really hot late afternoons.

The Centennial Trail I rode today is very nice, almost all flat and almost all bike paths separated from roads. Parts are rail-to-trail, following the old Milwaukee Road. It goes along the Spokane River to the Coeur d’Alene Lake, and it was really nice to have views of the river during the ride, and to see the lake at the end.

The Centennial Trail

Spokane River Views

The Trail Crosses From Washington To Idaho

Coeur d’Alene Lake

As I stared riding, I saw this cute marmot. In Spokane, the trail goes through one of the University of Washington campuses, and also through Gonzaga University. I think this little guy was on one of the campuses.

I Saw A Marmot!

When I finished the ride and took off my helmet (which I’d bought just before the trip), I found myself with a serious case of helmet hair!

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 7

I returned the rental car in the morning, and rode back to the hotel, crossing the Spokane River on the way.

Upper Spokane Falls

There’s a nice park here, and this is where I will start tomorrow morning on the first segment of my bike trip, so I rode a ways to scope it out. On the way a critter scampered across the path, and someone told me it was a marmot!

I also visited a bike shop to check my tire pressure before my ride tomorrow. Luckily they were open. Spokane is really nice but one thing I’ve learned is that many places here are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

In the evening I treated myself to another Long Island Iced Tea on the Davenport Terrace. I’d intended to not post any more pics of the trains that passed, but then a Rocky Mountaineer rolled by. What can

I say?

The Rocky Mountaineer

Coeur d’Alene Bike Trip - Day 6

I got up early and packed up, including putting the folded-up bike in the car hatch.

I left at about 6 am and stopped at a cafe along the way for breakfast, getting to the hotel in Spokane at about 2 pm. It’s about 85 deg today and feels humid, and a continuing heat wave in the west means it looks like I’ll be having some pretty hot bike rides. Luckily on a bike there is always a breeze which helps immensely.

In Spokane I crossed the street to the Davenport, a super fancy old hotel where the nice young front desk man gave me a temporary pass to go up to the 4th floor terrace. I sat up there sipping a Long Island Iced Tea, on a sweltering day, watching the trains go by. Heaven!