Lake Coeur d'Alene

The area along hwy 20 just south of Grand Coulee was fairly scenic. I picked up highway 2, and then I 90 at Spokane. At Stateline (between Washington and Idaho), I stopped at the Cabellas and purchased my non-resident invasive species registration sticker. (The money goes to help pay for their invasive species program. Many states out west are now requiring this “extra tax” on non-residents, as residents are paying for it through their boat registrations. $30 seems to be the going rate.) Then at the first rest stop in Idaho, stopped at the invasive species inspection station that all watercraft must stop at. Passed with flying colors. Then again, they don’t care too much about boats coming out of the Pacific Ocean. However, the Wisconsin registration gets the full inspection if I was going west from Wisconsin, rather than east from the ocean! Launched at Higgens Point boat launch. Nice launch area, and can park up to 48 hours at $7/day. Online park information says $14/day for non-residents, but the sign at the launch just showed the pricing of $7, so that’s the pricing I used. :-) I cruised up to the public docks near the city center and met my friends, Jim and Marti. We walked up to a coffee shop, and then back to the boat to go for a boat ride. They directed me down the Spokane River pointing out interesting sites and facts along the way. Then over to the marina they keep their houseboat in. After that I dropped them back off at the city docks, and came back past Higgens Point to pick up a mooring ball in Beauty Bay. Very pretty shoreline here. Watched a float plane come in and take off this evening. It was a bit breezy today, but at least no big ocean waves. Cloudy and cool as well.Read more