Saving the best for last! Finally reaching the end of our journey, west to east and east to west, along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. We started early this morning from the Plummer Point Marsh in Heyburn State Park and rode to the west end beginning or ending of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. This section climbs (3% grade) up through a picturesque, steep-sided canyon, Plummer Canyon, to the final stop on our journey … and a simply delightful coast downhill all the way back.
The trail ends at a park established by the Coeur d'Alene Indians. About 15 miles of the trail runs through their reservation. Interesting side story, the Coeur d’Alenes Indians forced the removal of approximately 15 feet deep of contaminated soil that would have been the foundation for the trail and the had the soil replaced with uncontaminated soil before the asphalt trail was laid … so, the section of the trail that runs through the reservation is safer, less toxic, than the areas that we had been running along off of the reservation (may be one of the rare situations in U.S. Government-Native American history where the Native Americans negotiated a better deal for their welfare).
We zipped along the way back … barely having to pedal … in the shaded, cool of the steep canyon walls and tall pine, fir, cedar and yew trees … and happy in the knowledge that we had completed 144 miles of the trail (west to east and east to west).
We celebrated with running into St. Maries again to do laundry, post to Bambi’s blog (only reliable connection in the area) and to pick up rib eye steaks, salad fixings and a bottle of red wine.
We ate well tonight! Bambi appreciated the fact that we cooked outdoors and didn’t fire up our stove top.
Bambi also apologizes for the delays in posting. He hates to disappoint his loyal readers, but we really were out of connectivity range at Heyburn State Park … and Bambi is eager to get on the road again.
4 comments:
Hail our intrepid heroes! A worthy accomplishment and delightful sharing of the experience. It's also really nice to have good friends who still enjoy red meat and wine!
Can't wait to hear what's next. Glad you have Fritz and Bambi to carry you forward...
Wondered what happened to the blog. Now I see - you guys finally got back to civilization!
Great trip. Thanks for sharing.
I feel sort of bad for Fritz--- here Bambi is getting all the air time; without Fritz, where would you be?
You're right ... Fritz gets little credit for all of his work. Here's a shout-out to Fritz: Thanks for handling all of the transportation chores! And, Bambi reminds me that it is his blog ... and that Fritz is the stoic, Teutonic type.
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