Route of the Hiawatha and beginning our tour on the Coeur d’Alene Trail!

Route of the Hiawatha and beginning our tour on the Coeur d’Alene Trail!

We left early this morning and headed to MT to the ski resort and then to the trail—7.3 miles of riding through 10 tunnels and over 7 trestle bridges—it’s all a gentle downhill.  The first tunnel is 1.66 miles and completely dark.  You need headlamps and lights to see your way.  Water drips down on you and along the sides of the trail.  You see in the dim light the stalactites hanging down from the roof.  

Deer at the end of tunnel! 

The nominal fee to ride this trail is an incredible value.  So many families on the trail as it is downhill.

We LOVED it!

Took the bus back and rode through the long tunnel again back to our vehicle.  

Then we drove to the start of the Coeur d’Alene Trail at Mullan and left the vehicle there and biked back to Wallace (Paul biked back uphill to get the vehicle).

Here is a map of the trail we are setting off on!  Excited to see how this goes this is our test for a bigger bike trip later this fall--inspired by this list!

Claire's "dancing shoes" that she insists on wearing EVERY day.
Time for some new shoes!

Mommy's sunglasses

Rain, rain!  Really after experiencing no rain for months it starts raining the day we plan to leave on a long bike trip.

Paul shuttled the car to Harrison.  Just us and our bikes now.  The rain cleared up as we pedaled out of Wallace under the overpass.  We were off.  So exciting and a bit nervous we set out.  We arrived at a Farmer’s Market.  AMAZING Pecan Pie bars.  Laura got stung by a bee—but the stop was great. Then on to Kellogg and we began to learn more about the history of this area--it is a troubled mining history.  

Trailside stop

Playground!

We stopped at a playground where the kids played—they love playgrounds.

There was a war monument in Kellogg at the park that was striking.  What was striking was that there were all of these empty slots for those who had yet to lose their life in future conflicts—the future holds death to protect this land. 

There is a large downhill bike route on the ski hill…see all kinds of downhill bikers.  We went by on a pump track and Nolan was so excited. 

 Nolan pulled the kids for about 25 miles on the trail!  It is like having a Sherpa!  Love kids with strength and energy!

Trailside View

We camped near Caltado, ID at a improvised campground.  We did not know but this area and the trail is funded in part by a settlement due to the superfund site.  Yes, this is one of the largest superfund sites in the nation.  There are signs along the trail next to the water that tell you to use caution near the water and the shoreline because of the residual contamination. The story of environmental damage and the impact that it has had and continues to play is coming to us bit by bit.  A great portion of the economy of this region is now made up of clean-up efforts.

Lot's of hand washing and we are not letting the kids play next to the creek--which is a shame because this is a beautiful waterway.  At one time though the waters were not clear as they are not--they were milky white and the creek was sometimes referred to as "lead creek".  There are people on the water, in the water and the family at the campground said that all of her kids play in the stream--but it is not to be for us.

How can communities look at development that future generations do not pay the price for?   Something to ponder as we pedal by cordoned off areas filled with contaminants.

Idaho, Idaho

Staying in Wallace, ID for two nights.  We had lunch at the historic Red Light Garage then we set off for the Silver Valley Mine tour.  A local specialty is the huckleberry shake.  The mine tour was realistic and authentic.  The kids were very excited to ride in a trolley.  The trolley had smooth wooden seats—no seat belts or guard rails and drove us at a short distance at 40 mph up the highway to the mine.  The maybe should have been a hint—basic tour/safety items are not in place on this tour.

The tour was held in the actual mine by an actual miner.  He was a VERY enthusiastic guide who loved demonstrating the equipment used in the mine at full throttle.  He just would start up the equipment and as the tour did not provide ear plugs we got the full immersion experience of being a miner—in regards to ringing ears.  Claire liked it.  Nolan learned he never wants to be miner.

We cruised back at highway speeds to Wallace on the trolley and learned that the entire town was to have been eliminated by the interstate and the the town worked to get the town declared a national historic site—thus the interstate goes over the town. 

Under the interstate in Wallace, ID

We are camping at a place that was started by an Alaskan who has moved back to ID and also has a brewery onsite. Paul and Nolan got a tour.

It is awakening that a town known for all of the silver mined from it has so little to show for all of the resources that were taken. 

Crater Lake National Park

We drove through Crater Lake National Park--the west rim was closed due to fires.  We met many hikes were were not able to hike the Pacific Crest Trail due to the fire--so disappointing to have to skip one of the most scenic sections.  We drove the east rim and it was beautiful!  Paul and Nolan got into a snowball fight and we had a picnic next to Crater Lake!

Happy Birthday in Oregon!

After 1.5 months in California and driving almost end to end we left the state.  We drove through Sacramento and had a wonderful breakfast and played at a park with an amazing playground then we headed to Ashland, OR.  

Too much time together?

We celebrated Claire’s 4th BD a day early as Laura had work meetings most of the 2nd.  Luckily Claire is still too young to know :-/ Paul and Nolan snuck out and got some BD decoration the evening before and we decorated the room (the room with air-conditioning, bedding and mattresses!) with crepe paper and banners to surprise her.  We went to breakfast at the hotel with Claire taking her flowers that Paul got for her with her all day long.

Her new BD dress and flowers!

We are staying at this amazing retro hotel that has a wonderful breakfast and is on beautiful grounds.  We went to down and walked through Lithia Park.  

Paul and Nolan biked around town and that evening we went out to eat at the hotel restaurant so that Claire had cake and ice cream.  She was SO excited!  

Happy 2nd Birthday at Yosemite

We stayed outside of Yosemite--the closest we could get to the park.  We left at 5am to drive to the park with our bikes for a day of exploring the park via bike.

Neil posed for a birthday picture under "El Capitan" the Claire and Nolan joined him for a "family cheese" as Neil likes to say.  We had a picnic breakfast in the meadow looking up at El Capitan and then biked through the valley.  The granite cliffs towered 3,600 ft overhead.

For lunch we went to the historic Majestic Yosemite Hotel and celebrated with cake and ice cream.
We completed our loop at went back to the campground to cool off at the pool--it is 109.  Sleeping with out air conditioning is a challenge in the little cabin.

We had breakfast for dinner--bacon on the grill and pancakes and eggs before Neil opened his gifts.  His favorite gift was the toy sabre tooth tiger.

The following day we left at 6am with our bikes and a new plan.  Swimming at the park!  Seeing this park by bike is amazing and the way to see the park.  We had lunch on the granite sand beach and watched as people floated down the icy cold river--unfortunately you have to be 50lbs to rent a raft so Claire and Neil are out but we went swimming in the cold, cold water. So amazing floating in the water, surrounded by sequoia's and towering cliffs.  In all a perfect day.

Camping near Santa Cruz

Happy Campers after a "no driving" day!

Change of plans.  The fires in the Big Sur halted our plans for camping and hiking there.  We were tired of driving each day so set up camp at a KOA near Santa Cruz.  S'mores, popcorn and a relief from the hot temps are welcome.  

Camping at KOA

After a no driving day filled with biking, swimming and jumping the kids went to bed early.  There is a little train that goes around the campground in the morning--as soon as Neil hears it he starts running as fast as possible his little legs flying to catch it.  



Today we drove through some seaside coastal towns and then to a 1880's steam train that goes through a native redwood forest.  

The mist falls into this entire region each afternoon.  At night it is foggy that everything is obscured.  You get damp walking to the restroom from our cabin.

Misty Nights

San Simeon Elephant Seal Rookery

Male elephant seals filled the rocky beach. They slept, taking breaks from resting to throw sand upon themselves and to fight for a spot amongst all of the other seals.  They sounded as they were burping and belching as they fought for dominances.  Claire liked their long noses.  This for sure was a highlight of the trip.  It was amazing to watch these seals.  The smoke from the fires in the area is getting worse--we changed our plans.  No camping in the Big Sur or hikes due to the fires.  We had a wonderful lunch and a beautiful drive even with the smoke.

Avila Beach

We visited a wonderful farmers market and watched the animals, bought items for dinner and then ate ice cream while watching the the alpacas fighting.

We drove to Avila beach one of the nicest little beach towns and had dinner on the beach.  The kids played on the playground and then moved to the sand and then started to play in the water.  The water was cold but that did not stop them from getting soaked and playing in the sand.  We watched storks snatching fish out of the water as the sunset.  The kids were shaking because they were so cold when we left for the hotel.  It was a beautiful evening.