Coeur d' Alene, Idaho (Blackwell Island RV resort)

     Last year we couldn't get a site at Blackwell Island RV resort, booked up completely.  This year we called ahead a week and a half before our planned arrival and got a site for 5 days and wanted 7 days....still on a list to try and get those last two days.  Blackwell Island is the nicest RV park in Coeur d' Alene and we ended up getting stuck (they way we felt about it) at a place called Tamarack RV which was 95% filled with full time locals and when that's the case the places are usually pretty trashy.  Blackwell's is right on the lake, not really an island but Coeur d' Alene Lake on a side and the Spokane river on another, and has a beach area and all kinds of water craft rentals etc.  As a matter of fact we have reserved a 24' pontoon boat for Saturday for an outing/picnic on the lake with friends Jeff and Margene.  We're happy we were able to get the 5 days and hope for the additional 2 days but whatever, we either stay 5 days and leave or stay a couple of extra days.
     As I've mentioned before the best part of a trip like this is not having time tables or schedules to meet and having to be somewhere at or by a certain time or day.  We have always started out with a schedule to be met because of the two family reunions in Iowa  and then are free to roam if and when we feel like it, but booking RV sites seem to be a must anymore if you want a good one.  With all the motor homes, 5th wheels and pull behinds on the roads now days good RV parks and sites a usually full and reservations are becoming a must.  We like the idea of driving down the road and if we feel like stopping for the night no matter how early we do so and at that time look for an RV park or resort (as a lot of them are calling themselves now) but then a Wal-Mart parking lot may be all you can find.  We don't mind that for a night here or there, but for a few day or extended stay not a good idea as you can imagine.  It seems no matter the price of gas the highways and byways are being filled with recreational vehicles more and more.
     Back to Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.......We like it here and enjoy our visits, we jumped right in the first day and played golf and ate at our favorite Italian restaurant and now on our second day we're playing golf once more but only 9 holes today.  We'll find our way down town to roam the shops and sites for the likes of us tourist, this is another nice down town area with fine shopping and eateries along the main street.  Oh yes and we'll be indulging in a "huckleberry shake" from our favorite little ice cream shop just up from down town.
     Friday will probably be a ride over to Spokane, WA.( it's like 5 or 10 miles) for the day and just some putzing about and then getting preparations made for the picnic on the lake  with the pontoon boat.  There should be some good pic's on FB of our day on the lake so be sure and check those out come Sunday or Monday.
     Starting to really miss the kids and grand-kids quite a bit, face time works for a bit but just not the same and having them jump up on my lap, but it won't be long and we'll be heading back.  It's hard to believe we've been on the road for 47 days already but it really is just over half way of our scheduled 3 month trip, so there's still a lot to see and do between here and there.