clark fork, idaho

1955 Nash Metropolitan restored by the lodge owners

 We left Priest River this morning around nine o'clock and arrived at Clark Fork, still in Idaho, around three o'clock. We are now at the Clark Fork Lodge where we will spend the night. It's a nice lodge right along the Clark Fork River which flows into the Pend Oreille Lake. All day we've been along the Pend Oreille River or Lake. Lots of water and lots of beauty as well.

At the entrance of the Clark Fork Lodge is this super nice 1955 Nash Metropolitan. Bill and Chele, the owners of the lodge did all the work from the body work to the upholstery. It sounded like Chele was the motivating factor behind this project. No matter who started it, the restored vehicle, with 60,000 original miles, looks like a brand new 1955 Nash Metropolitan right off the showroom floor.

The ride was rolling hills with no major climbs along the way. At places, the shoulder was mighty skinny but drivers here were very courteous and kind to us out-of-towners. While I've got the word kindness on my mind, let me say thank you to the kind folks in Washington. What a great bunch of folks. Everywhere we went, people wanted to know where we were going and why. We heard a number of responses like, "Are you crazy?" but that's to be expected. In a way we probably are crazy but the folks along the way encouraged us on and we're still Goin' to Maine. So thanks to the folks in Washington. May God bless you bunches.

Tomorrow, we should be rolling into Big Sky Country Montana. There are many miles to cover there, unlike the Panhandle of Idaho. We will probably take nine to eleven days to cross Montana. It will be a ride with a wide variety of terrain and landscapes ranging from mountains to plains. We'll cross the Continental Divide somewhere up the road. We'll also go from Pacific Coast Time to Mountain Time tomorrow. We may just have to have a celebration of some kind!

For supper we went to eat at Squeeze Inn in downtown Clark Fork. This is the real deal hole-in-the-wall, mom and daughter restaurant. All I can say is the food was extremely good. You'll have to understand that I'm the one in the family who says, "Food is food, it just comes in different sizes, colors and shapes." Here in Idaho I ordered, are you ready for this? Three tacos. I've never had tacos quite like this but they were so good. So good. Margaret had salmon. Phil and Gale had tacos and an enchilada. Kevin had pepperoni pizza and Becky had something with words in it that I've never heard before and cannot spell! It was all super good. And . . . we splurged and had something chocolate, ice cream, pecans, and hot fudge chocolate poured over the top. It was a fun (and very healthy) time. Any weight I lost pedaling for the last nine days is now back but it was worth it.

While Phil, Becky, and I were pedaling, Gale and Margaret visited Sandpoint, Idaho, 25 miles from where we are now. They ate lunch at Baxter's, did some shopping, and went to Greasy Fingers Bike Shop. Margaret bought me a new flashing red light for the back of my bike and a t-shirt, of course. She also got a few decals, one of which will go on the car top carrier and two that will go on a storage cabinet in my shop. She said they were birthday presents (August 4) but she'll forget!

Let me close with one of my favorite verses of Scripture simply because I believe this is one of the driving forces in my life for whatever I do, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

Pedaling and happy in Him.