The bookstore was really cool. Books everywhere. Crammed in from floor to ceiling. I have never seen so many books in such a small place. Each row had its own overhead light. As you walk into the row, you turn on the light you need.
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| Alberton |
Since we stopped at this dumb tourist attraction, we decided to check out the historic nursery I figured it was from the days of people going west, they were helping to bring plants from the east to the west. No, I was wrong. I should have known. Forest fires play a big part of life in Montana and Wyoming. This nursery raised Pine trees to replant burned areas. They replanted 3 million a year back in its hayday. There are still rows of mature pines back behind the buildings, but it was just too hot to hike. The people were very nice. I wanted to buy somehting but there was nothing i wanted so I stuffed 4 bucks in the donation box and away we went.
Next stop was Wallace Idaho. We had heard this was a fun little historic mining town to check out. As our luck would have it, it was the Wallace Blues Fest this day. Most of downtown was closed and there were food and drink vendors set up. One block was fenced off, with a $30 entrance required, but we could hear the band perfectly from outside the fence.
Kelsey spotted the mine tour. We asked what the temp is in the mine? 55 degress they asid. SOld! we were off on the mine tour. The tour took us in 500 feet or so, it didnt go down or anyting, just inside a big rock. The tour guide gave us history, including the Sunrise mine fire that killed 90 some people in the 70's. He explained how that changed US mining and showed us the new safety equipent. He also showed us the drilling equipment, which is quite loud!
After the mine, we ate and left Wallace. Kelsey fell asleep and I knew she wasnt too interested in Couer DeAlene, but I exited off the freeway anyways. I threw on my suit and jumped in the lake! Kelsey took some pictures. We found the vacation rental we had a few years back for a family reunion. They removed the hot tub in the back. My kids plugged the pump with sand from the lake, I am sure we weren't the only ones to do that!
Finally we made it to Spokane. We turned a short drive into a full day! We pulled up to the Hotel. The Monvale. It was in an old brick building. Two thoughts entered my mind. One, does this place have A/C? two, Is this place haunted?
The lady at the front desk was very nice but seemed to have some trouble with the reservations. The two men who were ahead of us, came back down and said they had reserved two queens, yet ended up in one King. I was worried we would meet the same fate. To my surprise, we had two queens and the room was very nice. High ceilings, they must have been 12 feet! nice beds, nice soaps. Outside our room was a common area that went up to a sky light a few floors up . It was a beautful hotel.
I went out for a walk, and counted all the shuttered businesses before I came to one still open. Spokane is a little late on economic recovery it seems.
We went to dinner at the Spagetti Factory, only 2 blocks away. I joked how it has to ne one of our birthdays as that is the only reason people go there. Sure enough, every table was celebrating a birthday! We ate a good meal.
On the walk back, I wanted to go to River Park, but Kelsey was tired.. I was too,. We headed back to the hotel. There was a big group in the lobby when we got there. The frond desk lady said to us that we MUST join this tour.. It was the Ghost Tour! I was right!
She told us of the stories she had heard while wokring there. Nothing too scary and she herself had never seen anyting odd.
As the tour set out, the tour guide informed us it as a two hour tour. I handed our borrowed ghost finder tool to another group member and we walked to our room. Besides, the M's are on!
We watched the Ms win again!
Day 7.
We hit the road around 8:30. Stopped in Ritxville for fast food breakfast and I kept the pedal down. We exited off at 18, and I drove over the Tacoma bridge. The time is about the same as waiting for a ferry, and in fact, I was able to get on the 2:05 boat! So driving around saved me a whole ferry. That's totally worth it.
The trip is over. I sadly said my goodbyes and departed. On the way home, we talked of returning next year. There is so much more to see! I hope we can do it again. Until then, I can look back fondly on the greatest trip I have ever been on with the best travel partner!
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| View from room in Spokane |
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| faded downtown map on sidewalks all over town |
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