Washington Trip
July 29 - 30, 2004
Days Fourteen and Fifteen

July 29 - Thursday
Day Fourteen
Spokane
30 Miles


Rode bicycles in and around Spokane and saw some lovely sights.  Below is the entrance to the Spokane Train Station.  The rail here was constructed in the late 1800s. 



We stopped off to take a tour of the Campbell House, which was designed by Kirtland Cutter and Karl Malmgren and was built in 1898 for Amasa B. Cambell, his wife Grace, and their daughter Helen. Campbell made a fortune in mining exploration and operations in the Coeur d'Alene mining region northeast of Spokane. 




The tour was set up so that each attendee was also a participant, playing the role of either a family member, friend, or servant, and reading from a script. Here, Tom is playing poker with a bunch of big wigs from the late 1800s.



We rode back into town after our tour and took a picture of the sculpture that commemorates Bloomsday, the largest timed road running race in the world.  50,000 people attend each year, and this sculpture depicts 40 runners.  Who are those two dorks in the helmets, trying to be 41 and 42?



Here's a picture of Tom taking a picture of the Spokane Convention Center.  You can do anything here from getting married to attending the opera.



At the Riverfront Park, you can find the Louff Carrousel, which was built in 1909 by Charles Louff.  The carrousel has 54 horses, one giraffe, one tiger, and two chariots.  It's beautifully preserved and thoroughly enjoyed to this day.



Also at Riverfront Park is the historical Clock Tower, which was built in 1902, as part of the Great Northern Railroad Station.  For more, click here:  http://spokaneriverfrontpark.com/clock_tower.asp





July 30 - Friday
Day Fifteen
Trail of the Coeur d`Alenes, Idaho
32 Miles

We rode into Spokane from Paul and Christie's and rented a truck. We drove out to Plummer, Idaho and parked. Took out the bicycles and headed down the Trail of the Coeur d`Alenes.
At the beginning of the trail is what we like to call Loghenge.  See why?




Here, you can see a bridge we passed over. This used to be a swing bridge, but it was redesigned and made high enough for boats to pass under, using a design not unlike ski-slope moguls.



But please remember...



We got off the trail at Harrison and ate at a great little restaurant called The Landing.



Back to riding after our meal.  This rails-to-trails path is beautiful; it stretches for 72 miles.



Look at the "stair steps" of the bridge.  What a fun downhill ride this was!



And, what a fun way to complete our trip across Washington State and into Idaho.  Thank you, Tom.