Saturday, May 14, 2016

Bonners Ferry – Getting Ready to Cross the Border

River passing under Montana highway 200

We had a very quiet, good night at Trout Creek…well worth our $12, that’s for sure.  We knew that we could check in at Bonners Ferry at noon, and it would be a 2 hour drive…so we left at 10 am.  Around 10:10 I ask Marcia how it is that we could get to Bonners Ferry by 11:08, which is what the GPS said.  Totally forgot that we would be back in the Pacific Time Zone…so I slowed down, Marcia got the camera out and started taking more river pictures.

Lake Pend Oreille

Did not take long before we entered Idaho, and we gained an hour, and Lake Pend Oreille came into view.  Back in 2012 we camped in Coeur-d'alene, did a day trip up to Bonners Ferry, passing by Lake Pend Oreille on the way. This is what I wrote about the lake back then:
This lake is 65 miles long, and the fifth deepest lake in the United States.  On the southern end is where the Farragut Naval Training Station once stood, and that area is now Farragut State Park.  The Naval Station was, during WW2, the second largest naval training ground in the world.  The lake is still used by the Navy to test large-scale submarine prototypes because the depth of the lake give acoustic properties similar to the open ocean.
We talked about wanting to drive around the lake some day..well, today was the closest thing to that.

Lake Pend Oreille   Lake Pend Oreille

Found a turnout along side the lake and we sat there for awhile just enjoying the view. 

Lake Pend Oreille

Some people have a good view each and every day…but I like the idea of having the ability of changing my view as often as we wish.  To each their own.

 Carriage House Inn & RV Park

For today and for tomorrow we have this view.  We are at the Carriage House Inn & RV Park in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.  At $33 per night it is not too bad, considering there are few RV parks in Bonners Ferry, and it is directly across from Safeway, where we already took advantage and got a week’s worth of stuff.

Mugsy's Tavern & Grill

And the BEST thing about our revisit to Bonners Ferry was another visit to Mugsy's Tavern & Grill.  Back in 2012 we ate here and met Danielle, the owner, and her daughter who was entering her Junior year of High School.  They moved from New Hampshire and had moved to Idaho nearly 10 years ago now.  Her daughter just finished her sophomore year at the University of Idaho, and will be home for the summer working with her mom.  Danielle said that since they bought the restaurant, which is named after a dog who is now on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, that business has been good with good growth each year.  She did remember us, and gave us a hug as we left.  And again, it was one of the best burgers I have ever had without having to cook it myself. 

Sunday we plan to head north into Canada, where we will visit Banff and Jasper before heading to Dawson Creek, where Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway is located.

6 comments:

  1. You're getting close!!!! And taking almost the same route we did!!

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    1. This route is 15-20 degrees warmer than going on the east side of Glacier, that's for sure. I will have to reread parts of your blog for that trip.

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  2. You really are moving! There's a great boat ride on Maligne lake just south of Jasper.

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    1. Will look into it, might be a bit cold for that, we will see.

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  3. Been to Bonner's Ferry. Love that part of the US. My real favorite is Stanley, ID "where the middle of nowhere is somewhere". See more at www.placesoffthemap.com

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    1. We both LOVE Bonners Ferry, will have to look into Stanley some day in the future. One good thing about living in Bonners Ferry is that if a politician was to come to the area, in 30 minutes you can be in Canada! Speaking of which, headed north tomorrow to Banff. Love your website Robert.

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