.All Trips / Idaho / North America / Pacific Northwest

Idaho’s Roaring Lochsa River

00 Lochsa River

Idaho has some outstanding whitewater experiences for rafters and kayakers, but few compare with the Lochsa (pronounced lock-saw) River, especially for those looking for a string of seemingly endless rapids.   Apparently the fishing is also great, but most people come to run the river, especially in late spring when the water is at its best.  At times of peak flow, many of the rapids are class VI (at the limits of navigation), with at least 60 being graded as class III – IV (medium to difficult).   The water passing through the river at peak flow is twice that going through the Grand Canyon.
The name Lochsa is a Nez Perce word meaning “rough water”, and rafting it is not for the …

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“Pic of the Week”, February 7, 2020: A Winter’s Day in Idaho

02 Fresh Snow in the Rockies

While driving through the mountains in the winter can be risky, on a clear day it’s an absolute pleasure to do so, especially if there’s been some recent snow.  These photos were taken in in southern British Columbia and northern Idaho.

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)

 

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.All Trips / Food / North America / Pacific Northwest / Washington

Spokane’s Pig Out In the Park

00 Pig Out In the Park (2)

For six days every year, ending on Labor Day, Spokane’s Riverfront Park fills with food vendors, music stands and people.  This annual event is known as “Pig Out in the Park”.  It marks the end of summer, the beginning of the school season and fall.  It’s a popular event that’s been around for almost 40 years.

Admission is free for those who just want to listen to one of the dozens of musical acts performing on the concert stage.  But the reason most people come is to enjoy great food.  This year there were 47 food vendors selling everything from lemonade to teriyaki to sausage dogs.  Seems everyone was carrying around several food items as they looked for a cool shady …

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“Pic of the Week”, July 12, 2019: World’s largest Wagon

Radio Flyer (3)

A popular spot for families visiting Spokane’s Riverfront Park is this interesting piece of functional public art, a massive Red Flyer Wagon, the largest of its type in the world.

Built at a cost of $36,000 in 1990, and made of 26 tons of steel and concrete, it stands 12 ft high and is 27 ft long.  The wagon is designed to be a slide and you’ll often find lots of kids waiting in line waiting to use it.  It can hold as many as 300 people. 

I like the simplicity of the piece.  I had a small version of this type of wagon as a child and used it to haul around all kids of things, from vegetables in my mom’s …

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North America / Pacific Northwest / Washington

“Pic of the Week”, May 24, 2018: Trans-Canada Airlines, Seattle

05 Seattle (15)

One of the world’s great plane museums is Seattle’s Museum of Flight.  We’ll visit the planes inside on another day; today I wanted to focus on a airplane that caught my attention from the collection of aircraft outside the main museum building.

The plane is a Lockheed 1049G Super Constellation.  This airplane was delivered to Trans-Canada Airlines — Canada’s national carrier which ultimately became Air Canada — in 1954.  It was among the last of commonly used propeller aircraft, with jet engines soon to dominate commercial air travel.  This particular plane, after providing passenger and later cargo service, was converted into a cocktail lounge and lunch bar in Toronto before being restored and added to the Museum of Flight’s collection.

It is …

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Duncan Garden, Manito Park, Spokane

Duncan Garden (12)

Spokane is a small city in eastern Washington state.  It rests between two great mountain ranges, the Cascades to the west and Rockies to the east.  Generally it is a place people drive through instead of being a travel destination.  But it is in a lovely setting and does have several sites of interest, like Manito Park on the city’s South Hill.

Within Manito Park you’ll find Duncan Garden, a classic 3 acre European Renaissance-style garden (characterized by mirror-image symmetry, a central water feature, and geometric planting beds).  During the summer months the garden includes many beds of assorted and colorful annuals, making it a popular spot with locals.  The flowers are largely planted by volunteers.

Duncan Garden, Spokane

Duncan Garden, Spokane

The garden was originally called …

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“Pic of the Week”, February 8, 2019: Downtown Baker City, Oregon

01 Baker City, Or (3)

I’d driven past Baker City in northeastern Oregon a number of times before finally visiting it — twice — in one year.  One visit was a relatively quick one, just driving through to see the historic district while on a road-trip.  For our second visit it was our destination for viewing the 2017 Solar Ellipse as it was in the path of totality.

Baker City is relatively small, with around 10,000 residents.  The community lay along the famous Oregon Trail and really took hold after the railroad came through.  By 1900 it was the largest city between Salt Lake City and Portland.  It rests between the picturesque Wallowa and Elkhorn Mountain and the setting is quite pretty.   The city …

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.All Trips / Car Culture / North America / Pacific Northwest / Washington

Great Cars Along the Highway: Ford Sunliner, Spokane

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Came across this lovely old car parked in a shopping mall in Spokane.

It’s a Ford from the early 1950s that seems to have been reworked somewhat, especially its grill, making it a little hard to pinpoint.  I expect a 1952 or 1953 vintage, but a lovely classic  convertible.  I found it interesting that it has its old dealer plaque, Stoddard-Wendle.  Wendle is still a popular Ford dealership in the city. 

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)

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