Weise's World

Our main vacation this year took us up to Idaho to join friends at a house in Hope, Idaho along Lake Pend Oreille. Over 1,000 miles to get there travelling north through California and Oregon (9 hours), then heading east along the Columbia River (3 hours) and then north to Spokane (2.5 hours) and then cutting over to Idaho (2 hours)… The trip was nice for the first 10 hours and the last 2.5 hours --- but those 4 hours in the high plains region of Oregon and Washington --- UGH! Of course, we didn’t drive it all in one day, we took 2.5 days getting there (we left the evening after a swim meet!!) and two days coming back home. But if you know me then you know I don’t like any areas that have the words “grade” or “pass” or “summit” when combined with “elevation” signs and I don’t like areas that include the large power generating windmills – both of which were part of this trip!! But we survived the trip. More about the trip home below.

The house we stayed at was great! Three stories, great view of the lake and trees off the back porch, home theatre, fire pit, hot tub, etc… Definitely relaxing to sit outside in the evenings and chill out. The weather was fantastic, we went over the 4th of July week when the hot spell hit and Folsom was near 110 degrees --- Idaho was in the low 90s and the 80s. Perfect!

Tuesday we spent at Silverwood theme park and Christian was on cloud 9… He loved the Panic Plunge but the highlight was Aftershock! A hanging roller coaster that brings them up nearly 200 feet – facing straight down, then launches them down at 65mph into crazy loops, corkscrews and turns pulling up to 4.5Gs and brings them up another 200 foot tower so they are facing straight up --- and then they do it all backwards. Check out this YouTube video of the ride... We also spent time in the waterpark, it was fun day for everyone.

 

 
    

Wednesday we spent the day in Sandpoint (little town on the north shore of the lake similar to Nevada City) and enjoyed the various small shops and spent time at the City Beach. The lake appears to be primarily a basic boating and fishing lake with limited water activities. Everyone we met and talked with were extremely nice and welcoming. Thursday was the fourth of July and the little town of Hope, population 86, put on a great fireworks show over the lake – over 20 minutes long!! We camped out there next to other families from the area and lit off some fireworks with them, tossed the football around and made some new friends.

Friday we travelled to Coeur d’Alene - The largest city in northern Idaho and apparently known for golfing, though it is on Lake Coeur d’Alene and known for being a lake city. We spent time exploring the various shops and hanging out at the lake. The lake here was a lot more active then Lake Pend Oreille was. Sea planes, para-sailing, tubing, skiers, jet skis/wave runners, etc…

I was on the lookout for wildlife, especially Moose. I never saw one, but I did get a QUICK glimpse of what I believe to be a bald eagle and then we saw a magnificent deer near the house. 

Saturday we hit the road home, taking time to enjoy the better parts of the drive home. We stopped at several waterfalls (Horsetail Falls, Multnomah Falls and third one) near Portland, a great stopping point to enjoy Mother Nature.  

Sunday we completed the journey home driving through the Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. Another fun stop where you get to walk through a zoo (including a bird cage you can go into and interact with the parakeet’s and other small birds – I had one crawl through my shirt trying to find a spot to nest)… We got home later at night having enjoyed the past 9 days with family and friends.