Washington: Spokane part 2 and Idaho
The Dashboard Professor (aka homeschool)
Spokane is situated on the east side of Washington just at the Idaho boarder at the rise of the Coeur d’ Alene Mountains at the western foot of the Rockies. The Rockies angle west by northwest up into Canada and south through western Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. With Spokane flanked by mountains to the north and east, the city is a valley where historical fur trade, prospecting and logging have occurred and that’s just the last 220ish years. The Salish speaking Spokane Tribe inhabiting the region for centuries before that and were integral in the expansion efforts of the US, as well as some less than honorable treatment in the name of progress as America expanded west.
The topography south is called the Channel Scablands, which is both channeled and scabbed by what is believed to be a series of massive ice age floods. Not specifically “thee” biblical flood as we and others might think when we hear “biblical flood” but one of great scale like a dam collapsing, only there were no dams in the area. The theory is that an ice dam formed by glacial ice roughly where the Spokane Valley is today created a lake on the north and east side of the Rockies in Montana and Canada. On more than one occasion, according to geologists, the ice dam collapsed allowing a mass of water approximately the size of Lake Erie and Ontario to flood through the Columbia Plateau and eventually out to the ocean through the Great Columbia River. Pretty sure this was the plot line of one of the Ice Age movies with that crazy squirrel but also seems to fit the geology in the giant riverbed like delta carved across the landscape to Spokane’s south and west. Add to that the pieces of granite mountain rocks, big ones, washed miles across the plateau from their mountain origins. Pretty incredible to imagine. With glaciers receded to the higher elevations in the Rockies (aka Glacier NP) in more recent history, the result for modern US and Native Americans tribes is a Spokane Valley that became the crossroads for trade, as well as some good and not so good American moments.
Lewis and Clark found significant help here in their efforts west and back home, making the Shoshone and Nez Perce substantial partners in the expansion of the US west. Unfortunately, the Nez Perce relationship turned to war when the US Army moved to evict the Nez Perce from their land as part of the expansion west. While we did not make it to the Nez Perce Reservation to learn more, it’s clear this valley and surrounding land is a relatively remote location yet a truly important and valuable passage way in native and colonial American history.
For now its the Diller’s home and playground, especially the site of the 1974 World’s Fair!
Spokane Falls
Gondala ride out over the Spokane Falls was a fun $15 ticket for 15 minute ride.
Somebody like it a lot!
Native American art and history are scattered throughout the downtown area. The Spokane people considered the salmon sacred and journeyed to the falls seasonally for their salmon fishing and to celebrate their provision to the tribe.
Above the falls there are numerous cascades around the Riverfront Park.
Diner at Anthony’s Restaurant… we all had the salmon :)
Liberty Lake Park was a routine stop for some energy expenditure and socialization.
Ice Age Park downtown was also a great stop to play and find some hour long friends.
The Clock Tower was originally built in 1902 related to the railroad but was recommissioned and utilized as a center piece for the 1974 World’s Fair.
Hard to imagine what Robert is thinking about but he did like the lights on the River Front Pavilion :o)
Spokane is host to the world’s largest 3 on 3 basketball tournament, Hoopefest. The finger prints are on a number of the area parks and basketball courts.
This art installation was commissioned for Washington State’s Centennial Celebration of Kids. Robert thought it was definitely celebratory to slide down the handle.
We did a drive through Gonzaga University and loved the sky above St. Aloysius Catholic Church on the west side of campus.
ItsDillerTime Notes
Experiencing the different mountain ranges of the west coast has been educational and awe inspiring, especially as Floridians. Anything elevated in Florida is usually a landfill so we’ve really enjoyed the real deal 😉👍😎 From the jagged wall-like Sierra Nevada’s to the Alpine volcanic Cascades, the RV has been tested and passed the climbs and hairpin turns portion of the west coast run too so we remain thankful for a well built diesel carriage for our trip. The Rockies are going to test things a bit more but they are also pretty special so we head east with great anticipation!
Our Spokane exploration began downtown at the Riverfront Park, which is a partially engineered part of the Spokane River. As the smallest city to ever host the 1974 World’s Fair, Spokane needed some centralized space for the fair and the downtown defunct logging peninsula was converted into an island where hydroelectric power and entertainment took center stage, not to mention a picturesque view. Using the natural volcanic rock and some engineering the Spokane Falls became a scenic feature off the west side of the island for the World’s Fair. The river is the hub and the 43 traffic and 23 pedestrian bridges in Spokane highlight the river as Spokane’s pride and joy. We enjoyed a short $15 cable car ride across the falls and back to get some pictures and played at the kids park for a few minutes despite the 95+ degree heat. Later in the week with some cooler temps, Robert got some social time at the Ice Age Floods Playground and the boys some time hooping at a local park. We also enjoyed multiple stops for a swim in the Spokane River further up stream, as well as some great sunsets!
Mechanical Update: As we mentioned in our Part 1 post, the hydraulic jacks were in for repair during the first week here and the parking lot of the RV dealership was home as parts and repairs were completed. Then a 1/4 mile moving day to Liberty Lake RV for our remaining time to get Michele home for her Uncle’s Celebration of Life. There is never a good time to loose family but we are thankful Michele could get back to Florida for Uncle Don’s service. 🙏❤️🩹🙏
We also explored into Idaho, just a few miles to Coeur d Alene Lake and a Great Lake sunset. It’s a beautiful lake town and worth a stop if you’re ever passing through. The RV repairs left a $3500 dent in our budget so we didn’t rent a boat to tour the lake but saw from shore why it’s a great spot to boat! We explored Liberty Lake just outside Spokane and enjoyed some county trails and deer. All in all, nice stop in Spokane and Idaho for all and with working jacks we’re up the mountains to Glacier National Park!
The Spokane River was a cool stop for a number of the 95 degree days while we were in Spokane. The heat broke toward the end of our stay but the river was still nice.
The Spokane Valley has some great sunsets!
We got our rig washed while waiting for some repair parts.
Our last week was in a nice Liberty Lake RV Park on the south-east side of the Valley.
Michele has done a few “in-door” activities for the boys at malls. It’s a homemade scavenger hunt with riddles to find the shops involved. It’s one of the few things the boys actually collaborate on… might have something to do with the prize money for a completed hunt but at least they aren’t hunting each other. Great job MOM!
Another great sunset out the RV door.
This is the sunrise… at 5:20am on our way to drop Michele at the airport to fly back to Florida for her Uncle Don’s Celebration of Life service. Sad reason to be up but a great sunrise to send Michele off into the skies!
Priority boarding is good!
Art project for school today! Pottery painting.
Sunset at Couer d’ Alene Lake!
Ok this one was not Vince’s choice but was a U-turn while on the phone with Michele in Florida. Vince was on the phone and the boys asked if they could “try coffee” …. :o)
Local Farmer’s Market in Lake Liberty!
Phase 1 complete for our recent batch of rocks… mostly quartz with some jasper and a couple agates.
Peyton found a boulder out in the Spokane River and stood on the water.
Found a 5 in river lobster and Jayden tried to catch it unsuccessfully.
Lots of basketball for the boys!
Lake Liberty was a pretty stop and spot to hike!
The creek fed into the lake on the south side and created a large grassy marsh area. Vince thought it looked like the field in Jurassic Park where the Raptors hunted…
Some deer and 3 fawn.
From the hillside we could see the Spokane Fire burning west of Spokane… big fire!
All were excited for Robert learning to shoot hoops… yes it went in!
And the boys wrestling… fighting… ok wrestling.
Vince experimented with some breakfast biscuit quiche… they were pretty tasty.
Jayden getting some school work done on his final projects for Sophomore year… yeah we’re finishing through summer.
We say goodbye to Washington and add 2 more states to our travel map!
