Coeur d'Alene

Two couples on Harley Davidson Road Kings set out from Seattle on Friday, July 25th for a ride through the North Cascades and eastern Washington toward Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.


Rugged peaks of North Cascades National Park.


Folded geology of Marblemount

We followed the course of the Skagit River, passing a number of lakes climbing up the pass and back down the other side, all controlled by dams like Diablo and Ross, built in the 1920s and 1930s as part of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, providing 25% of the electric power for Seattle!


The jagged peaks in the distance belong to Silverstar Mountain, at over 9,000 feet! This is the view from the lowest (driving) point through the mountains of North Cascades National Park, Washington Pass, at 5,477 feet... quite a thrill (and chill) on the motorcycle.


A long, winding descent down the eastern side of Washington Pass showed us some beautiful lakes and landforms. The photo above is a classic, U-shaped valley carved by the slow grindings of a broad, deep glacier.


While this is a classic V-shaped valley cut by the downward force of a narrow, fast river. The drop-off to the river far below was about 4,000 feet.

East of the pass we found ourselves in sunny, rolling foothills on the way to Winthrop.


We stopped every 2 hours to hydrate (and the reverse), enjoying places like the town of Winthrop, with its "Old West" theme. It is a popular destination for local (Seattle-ish) travelers. It reminded us a little of Leavenworth, only with a very different theme.






Happy as a clam on the motorcycle. I attempted throughout this journey to capture a self-portrait of Ken and me. It was easier when I just gave the camera to someone else.


After Winthrop, the rolling hills became more gentle in slope, and drier, giving way to terraced ranch lands.

The sky over Omak as we pull in to the best accomodations in town, the B.W. (aka Best Western).


The B.W. had a gym and a pool, where I worked the kinks out of the first day being on the motorcycle. Rested and fed, this is Ken and me with "our" bike outside the hotel on the morning of Day 2.




Jess and Rene, the other couple we're on this grand tour with. You may remember them from last year's ride to Tahoe. They have 4 kids.


Dry plateaus and intermittent forests were the scenery...


...until we reached the Pend Oreille River near the Washington-Idaho border.


Colville is a lovely place for fuel, the last stop before a long ride down to Newport.


The weather was sunny and beautiful, and the bikes were running smoothly as the world passed by their passengers.


We passed a group of about 20 Model Ts on their way to Spirit Lake, Idaho.


Doesn't it look like we're standing still? This fellow waved and smiled as if he remembered his days on a Harley.


At last! Independence Point, Coeur d'Alene!


The four of us in front of the Coeur d'Alene resort.


Our hotel at the resort... sweet! This resort is known for its world-class golf and its famous "floating green." None of us played golf (difficult to bring clubs on a Harley), deciding to relax in the sun and on the water.


This 20 year-old Chris Craft wooden boat with twin 350s took us from the hotel to a private beach on the other side of the golf course. Not bad!


Just for giggles I swam to the end of this pier and back while the others laid in the sun and drank beer.


The next day we rented a boat and explored the waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene.


This is Jess at the helm.


Ken is remembering his days fishing in Alaska. Yeah, it was just like this.


There were some incredible houses on the lake shore. Check this one out... I always wanted a house with my own navigational marker!


Ken and me enjoying the stern between swims.


After two days on the lake, we were ready to hit the road on motorcyles again... this is the back of Ken and me leaving lovely CDA.


This time we drove west through Spokane and into the rolling hills and flat farmland of eastern Washington.


The environment was surprisingly quite diverse and scenic...


...likely owing to irrigation.


We came this way home so that I could see the massive Grand Coulee Dam, which we are approaching here. You can see the power stands and lines of Electric City in the distance.


Ken and me at the Grand Coulee dam. This is the largest electric power producing facility and the largest concrete structure in the U.S., and it was built in 1933! This is the last photo I have of our motorcycle trip because the camera died somewhere in the desert near Electric City. Imagine all that power around and not a drip of charge for a camera battery. The irony! Thus I don't have pictures of our final overnight stop and swimming at Lake Chelan, or our trip home over Stevens Pass in the rain. But trust me, it was incredible! Next stop, Oklahoma!