My Second Monday Drive

Going for a drive may well become a weekly habit for me! Last week's outing to Schweitzer Mountain and Sandpoint were so refreshing, I decided to head out with the grandpuppy again yesterday morning. This time we drove to the Silver Valley area of Idaho, so named because of its history of silver mines. First stop was the Cataldo Mission, a Jesuit mission established in the mid-1800s.

The mission itself is Idaho's oldest building. It was built from 1850-1853.

The parish house (1887) stands nearby. I didn't bother to crop Louie out of the photo, because you might need to see a cute dog picture right now.

We walked down a grassy path to the Coeur d'Alene River. A half-scale grist mill stands at the top of the slope.

A view across the river.

I'm not sure what variety of tree this is, but it had little red buds. I'm always looking for signs of spring!

I thought it was interesting, the way this tree trunk grew in a spiral.

Just a mile or two further east is one of many trailheads for the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, a rail trail that runs from Mullan to Plummer. We probably only walked for a mile on it, and most of it was along a pond or wetland. I saw a small blue butterfly, some tiny white flowers, a duck, and several turtles basking on some logs. (See next photo.)

If you look closely you can see one or two turtles. Most of them plopped into the water as soon as they realized someone was nearby.

Back at the trailhead, I puzzled over these leaning trees. Perhaps the winter winds bent them that way long ago.

There were only two other visitors at the Cataldo Mission, and they left shortly after I arrived. I encountered one family along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, and a man was just heading out on the trail with his dog when we returned. So there were very few people out and about, and it was a lovely expedition.