It’s getting to be a habit. Leaving late, that is. Today it was 9:02. What happened to those 7:30 days? Anyway, we started by heading South on Highway 93 for black coffee and mocha at an espresso shack in Lakeside, Montana. Further South in Ronan, Montana we stopped for ice and a Subway takeout for later on. Really nice drive along Flathead Lake to a right turn onto Highway 212 and then 16 miles to another right onto Highway 200. Just before the turn onto 200 we passed the National Bison Range and saw a large herd just off the highway. I have enough bison photos, so didn’t stop. What I am missing is a photo of a moose.
At this point the highway heads basically Northwest through a long valley, with the Flathead River on the right. A couple of miles before reaching Paradise, Montana the Flathead joins the Clark Fork River coming up from the South. For those not familiar with the Clark Fork (not to be confused with the better know Clarks Fork), it is the largest river by volume in Montana. Along its 360 mile course through Montana and Idaho it takes on water from the Blackfoot, Big Blackfoot, Bitterroot, Flathead and Thompson Rivers. That’s a lot of water.
Continuing on Highway 200, with a now rather large river following along, we started looking for a lunch stop and finally found a park beside the river in Thompson Falls, Montana. Nice little park, great view of the river and a great herd (swarm?) of small blue dragon flies.
We continued on following the river, passing two dams and a number of small towns until we reached Idaho. A few miles later we passed through the town of Clark Fork, Idaho and the end of the Clark Fork River at Lake Pend Oreille. That is it’s the end unless you are one of those who believe the river continues on to the Columbia River, thereby increasing its length to over 470 miles.
Skirting the Northeast shore of Lake Pend Oreille we reached Sandpoint, Idaho and our motel. After checking in we parked downtown and a short walk took us to Jalapenos (not peppers, the restaurant) where we sat in the shade for a pair margaritas (Barb’s on the rocks no salt, Bob’s blended with salt.) Checked out the menu and decided to come back and share chicken fajitas for dinner. Did.
One thing you see along highways in Montana are small white crosses placed wherever there has been a fatality. In the seventeen miles after our turn onto Highway 212 there were seven of these crosses. Seven. That’s one fatality every 2.4 miles. This is a two lane road, mostly straight, in good condition, way out in the country with little traffic. The speed limit is 70.
Tomorrow we are off to the wine country of Central Washington. 233 miles today.
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