After our adventures in Glacier, we got into Coeur d’Alene, ID later than expected. The sun was getting low over the ‘cuddly’ trees (Nick thinks that the big, full pine trees look cuddly from a distance, but I can only imagine trying to hug one! Ouch, prickly). I had thought it would be fairly easy to find some sort of campsite around the huge Lake Coeur d’Alene, but apparently most of the waterfront areas have luxury homes on them with no space to spare for camping. The sun was about to set, so when we spotted a place that listed camping on its sign, we turned in and pitched our tent.

We found a great restaurant out on the lake and enjoyed the colors of the sunset on the clouds that seemed to be growing by the minute…not great when you’re planning on sleeping under a thin sheet of nylon (or whatever it’s made of). We watched the storm rage off in the distance, with awesome lightening lighting up the sky. It looked like it might just miss us – we crossed our fingers and tightened up the rain fly when we got back to camp.

Unfortunately the place we ended up staying was pretty much a dump. Our site was revmoved from the motel/RV sites a bit, but right next to a main road. The bathroom – disgusting, falling apart, just dirty. I can handle dirt where it is supposed to be – out in the woods, for example. But when you are in a place that you’re paying money for is just trashed and gross, no fun. We did a quick teeth brush in the morning and hightailed it out of there. The town is really cute, though, and there are some really nice neighborhoods for sure. Have to give it it’s credit!