More of the Selkirk Loop - Sandpoint, Idaho - 8/7/17

More of the Selkirk Loop - Sandpoint, Idaho - 8/7/17

Picture the face of a clock … that is the Selkirk International Loop … two countries and two states.  We’re staying at Blueslide RV Resort in Cusick, WA … approximately at 8 o’clock.  Nelson, BC was at approximately 11 o’clock and Balfour, BC at approximately 12 o’clock.  Our next destination was Sandpoint, Idaho at about 5 o’clock on the imaginary clock face.  We had wanted to visit Sandpoint as another possible vacation location along the Selkirk Loop … and because our friend, Regina, had always urged us to visit it.

Again, we left Bambi to wait patiently at Blueslide, WA as we made our way further along the Selkirk Loop to Sandpoint to check it out.  This is beginning to sound like a travelogue … not intentionally, but our plans for hiking have been altered by the heat (mid-90s in Sandpoint) and the air quality with the smoke.

We started our Sandpoint adventure at the City Beach, walking around a park area jutting out into Pend Oreille Bay and gathering place for families to spend time playing in the water.  We found the Pend Oreille Bay Trail and walked the bayside trail between the communities of Sandpoint and Ponderay (so American to anglicize the French word, Pend Oreille … you can hear me groaning).

It is hard to capture the impact of the fires … the picture below shows the layers of mountains across the water that can be barely glimpsed and the larger mountains beyond are invisible in the haze.

We then walked through the renovated cannery building and into the town center.  One thing that we can always do is eat and found our way to Baxter’s for another tasty lunch before more wandering through the town.  We did find the true “town square” … and decided that it was time to head back home to Bambi …

Shout-Out to Regina:  We finally made it to Sandpoint and it was a treat!   With al of the waterways, we fully understand why you had wanted to consider us all moving there.  I can picture you in your kayak on the waters with Jim in his canoe with your blue heeler in the bow. Thanks for the recommendation!