Tuesday - June 24

 Hello from  Spokane, WA.    We had a very enjoyable day in Coeur d'Alene.   We were up early (this pacific time and 3 hour difference from eastern time zone has been a challenge + mountain time (Idaho Falls).    Mark suggested we go back to the Coeur d'Alene Coffee Co where we ate yesterday and loved the baked goodies (raspberry and almond buns).   Today they had totally different pastries and sandwiches..   Mark had the burrito and I had a huge cinnamon roll....both delish.   It was only 7ish, so we had our Ipads and just enjoyed this nice ambiance for awhile.

More pretty blooms downtown

Walked downtown - we both did some retail therapy and walked on the trail for a bit (Mark's foot is much better).   Back to the hotel for awhile, checked out and loaded up the car.   We had reservations for the 12:30 boat cruise (90 minutes) on Lake Coeur d'Alene - wow!    Absolutely beautiful day and spectacular scenery.   Ryan and Erin had recommended this.   We could be inside, outside, on top deck or wherever we wanted to roam - boat was only about 1/3 full.   

Our tour boat

So much gorgeous scenery

This resort on the golf course is very swanky - each condo is 6,600 sq. ft (none currently on the market).

Two boat slips and 2 lifetime memberships to the golf course which has a floating green are included

Feeling very blessed!

And then we were off to Spokane (35 miles).    Settled in our hotel and then found Frank's Diner (trip advisor ranked it #3 of 689 restaurants).   It has been in business since 1906 and the vintage rail car was so neat.    I had the 1/2 Reuben and fresh fruit; Mark had the meatloaf sandwich with mashed potatoes/gravy.    Everything was delicious!

Frank's Diner

Elegant dining (back in the day, but still in very good shape) serving good ole comfort food with breakfast available all day

Drove to the airport to get our bearings for tomorrow.....we'll be up very early for our 5 AM flight to Denver; then to Cleveland and drive back to Port Clinton.   

What a whirlwind, but sooo fun and exciting trip for us - the highlight being Ryan and Erin's wedding.   Such a treat to travel thru Utah and Idaho and snowy Montana (that was NOT a treat), but very pretty country!   

We were in Spokane in early July of 2020 (traveling for 10 weeks out west during Covid).   It was fun to reminisce about what we did and similar areas we saw as we drove around.

It's only 5:30 as I'm finishing this up, but nighty night from Spokane!

Monday - June 23

 Coeur d'Alene (coor da lane) is just thee most charming town - we had a fun day starting with coffee/delicious pastries at the Coeur d'Alene Coffee Co (recommended by Erin).    What a cool place but then we saw many coffee shops around town.    Last August, Erin and Ryan visited this town and told us how much they enjoyed it - also Mark's brother Tom and Beth have been here!    If you have a bucket list, add this to it!  😊

The weather was MUCH better than yesterday and very pleasant walking around downtown - Mark found a shirt and cap to buy and we just meandered around the shops and restaurants (there are LOTS).    

We had lunch at Dockside (part of the beautiful Coeur d'Alene golf resort) - great meal topped off with huckleberry cobbler!    Huckleberries are BIG in Idaho.

Very good stuff!

After lunch we walked around a bit more - there are several wonderful trails in the area.   Mark's foot was hurting so we came back to the hotel and rested a bit.   No dinner tonight - still stuffed from lunch.    We did watch online Mass from Immaculate Conception in Port Clinton since we missed yesterday.   Father Jonathan was out of town for a 40th anniversary of his friend's ordination in Cincinnati.    The priest from Put in Bay said Mass.

After Mass there was going to be a procession outside for the feast of Corpus Christi, but because of the extreme heat, it was going to be a very short procession.    We took part in that a few years ago and then enjoyed a nice lunch with other parishioners.

Erin, Ryan and "Karen" our new grand dog

LOTS of red geraniums around the resort

And all around downtown, the light poles have flowers and flags!

Philip and family visiting Old Faithful in Yellowstone today

There was a fatal accident yesterday on I-90 in Montana which caused the big delay....

Sunday - June 22

What a day.......we left the house with Anne at 6:50 and dropped her off at the airport.    We continued on as we had a big day of travel heading to Coeur d' Alene for a few days.    But.....did not realize that most of today's travel would be thru Montana and when the rain started and then turned to sleet and then snow.......YIKES.....not good.   It was downright ugly and we had yucky weather for a big part of the day.

We stopped in Lima, Montana (200+) at the Janzz Java tiny coffee house - we had our coffees and breakfast sandwiches as the snow came down.   Weather was just so unpredictable all day long.    We had a major delay of 1.5 hours (bad accident) an we took 2 different detours (1st one took us on back roads that were rough and winding and ended up turning around cause of lots of standing water.)    And then there was all the construction.   So, a very long day - 9.5 hours.   The last 60 miles were back in Idaho and we changed to Pacific time.   

We arrived in Coeur d' Alene around 3:30 (Pacific time) and settled into our hotel room and then walked to dinner at Anthony's.  (Prawn cocktail, Alaskan halibut and steelhead trout). It was very good and this area (Riverstone) is lovely.    Can't wait to explore it all tomorrow.

Some more pics from yesterday on the ranch runway...

Grandma and Grandpa with the littles

Anne, Erin and Ryan

Philip, Maeve, Erin, Ryan, Annette, Luke

Blair, Michael, Erin, Ryan, Brooke

Us with our son and new daughter-in-law

Our kids are here and there tonight - Michael, Brooke and Blair spent the day in Park City, UT and will fly home tomorrow; Philip, Annette, Luke and Maeve are in Jackson Hole, WY for a few days and Anne is on her way back to Bloomington flying from Idaho Falls to Phoenix to Peoria.   The newlyweds are clearing out Erin's house - Ryan returns to Memphis tomorrow and Erin and Karen (Golden retriever) will start the long trek across country to NC on Thursday.   

And a few pics from today's weather...     June 22, 2025 traveling in Montana

Zoom tonight was with 9 of the family - we talked about the wedding; the death of 94-year old Sister Rosemary who founded Misericordia where our niece Jennifer (Doris's daughter) resides in Chicago, the extreme heat in the Midwest, the difficulty in getting a handicapped sticker for Joan, etc., etc.    Missing Sharon and Tom.

Brady returned from his 5 weeks in Rome last night!    What an adventure he had...

Florence, Italy

The Amalfi Coast

So thankful to Mark for all the stressful driving he did - we sure saw some gorgeous scenery but the roads were winding and twisty and of course, the nasty weather, construction, delays, etc.   

And that's it for tonight folks....nighty night!    Have a great week!

Saturday - June 21

 It's Ryan and Erin's wedding day - cool and windy but the sun is shining!    Philip and Michael went for a walk and brought back very fresh bagels from Panera and Duck donuts.   Nice start to the day!

We girls sat around the kitchen table discussing Drew and Tessa's wedding.....fun!   

We all went downtown to the Farmer's Market - it was huge with some neat vendors and lots of food items.   Anne and I got a coffee/hot chocolate and we all meandered around with big crowds - Erin had told us this is a Saturday event every week from May to October - definitely one of the biggest and best we've seen!   Some of us enjoyed honey corn dogs - so big and so yummy!

 Michael, Brooke, Blair, Pat, Anne, Maeve, Luke, Annette, Luke

Enjoying honey corn dogs

Mark was photographer

We stopped at The SnakeBites for some adult beverages and sat outside.   I took Maeve and Blair around the block - some very cute shops.    Mark, Anne and I walked on the green belt walkway - Idaho Falls is a really cute town! 

Idaho Falls

Back home and time to get gussied up for the wedding.   

And then we were off  the wedding at the 7N R Ranch in Ririe, Idaho.    Ryan and Erin were married on the runway (appropriate for a pilot? ) 

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Chamberlain

More pics and details coming tomorrow!

Friday June 20

 Mark and I were up at 3:30 AM and left for Cleveland at 3:53.    Big day of travel but all went well.    Arrived in Idaho Falls around 2:30 after some stops and delays with traffic/construction.

Philip found a great 6-bedroom house for all of us....we came directly to the house when we got to town.   Anne, Michael, Brooke and Blair were here.   Erin and Ryan stopped by and later, Philip, Annette, Luke and Maeve arrived from their big trip getting off the cruise ship earlier with flights from Vancouver to Seattle to Idaho Falls.    

Luke was not feeling well, so Annette stayed home with he and Maeve - bummer....rest of us (Ryan and his friend Tom Frosch) joined us at Smokin' Fins for dinner.   Great place - on home and while the younger kiddos stayed up to visit, Mark and I retired early (still on eastern time).    Erin's friends flew into town this afternoon from TX and FL.

Pat and Tom (Ryan's Blue Angel boss)

Maeve and Blair enjoying the hot tub

Tomorrow is the big day.....Ryan and Erin's wedding!    Cant wait...