Coeur D' Alene and the Old Mission

We parked at Blackwell RV Park in Coeur D' Alene for three nights. Not a lot of time to see the area considering we spent the afternoon that we arrived getting a new spare tire. That was Thursday. Friday we slept in late and worked around the RV. Before we knew it, the morning and half the afternoon was gone so we spent the rest of the day relaxing and attempting to catch our breath - we are at a higher elevation and I can really tell it.

Saturday morning was our last chance to drive the area so mid-morning off we went in search of the Coeur D' Alene Old Mission. After a short but beautiful drive west on I-90 there was the mission, sitting high up on a hill.

This mission was designed by Fr. Antonio Ravalli who also did a lot of work on the mission including some of the paintings, wood carvings and the alter, which is made of wood, but he painted to look like marble. Fr. Ravalli was born in Italy in 1812 and came to the Pacific Northwest as a ordained priest in 1843. The building of the mission started in 1850 and was completed in 1853. The history of the mission along with interesting facts on what type and how many tools were used to build the mission is available at: http://www.idptv.state.id.us/buildingbig/domes/cataldo.html

If you drive I-90 through Idaho, don't miss stopping at the Mission. Very worth the time.

We continued our drive on Rt. 3 (a scenic drive) and detoured to Harrison where we had great burgers at One Shot Charlie's, a combination bar and grill that is housed in a very old building. Harrison is a very small town, don't blink when you drive through, but was bustling with people as it has a large mooring for boats and all the boaters seem to like coming to Charlie's.

From there we continued our drive and connected back with highway 90 which our campground is on. Heading back north toward Coeur D' Alene we passed so many wheat fields and they were all very large. I was really surprised at just how much wheat is grown in this area. Some where already baled and stacked, others baled while others were waiting to be mowed and baled. With all the views of the lakes and rivers in the area and they wheat fields it was a absolutely beautiful drive.

We are now in Butte, MT where it is so smoggy from the wildfires in the area. Fortunately there are none nearby - otherwise we would be moving. I'll be glad to move though as I find it harder to catch my breath. Not sure if it the smoke or the elevation - over 5,000 ft. Maybe it's the weight, but I'm not going there - LOL! Besides I have no problem at sea level!

Pictures from Coeur D' Alene will be posted soon at the picasa web site.