What a difference a day makes.....

After a good nights sleep at Inn America , awoke to a clear possibly sunny day, but it was cool. She who should not be named had checked out this hotel on TripAdvisor. Doesn't have a good rating.

Went down to the now mandatory breakfast to find there was only 3 tables in a very small crowded breakfast area. Two of the tables was taken up with one family of 6 kids (even their parents were standing to eat). Decided to grab our breakfast and eat in our room.

Checked out, and gassed up (price of gas here was $2.45 per gallon. So cheap. Half a tank of gas cost around $15. Wow.

Drove to the historic part of town. Very quiet traffic wise. Parked at the library and walked down to the 5th post (an historic marker where in the late 1800's a family ran a ferry across the Clearwater. On a usual day of business he made US$250/ day. That would make him very wealthy in the late 1800's.

We walked along the levee (stop bank) that protects Lewistown from the lake that was formed when they constructed a dam. The level rose 35 metres, so hence the levee. There are a number of dams and locks from this point down stream. It allows large ships to come this far inland (Lewiston/Clarkson has to be one of most inland port in the US. Walked along the levee to the Lewis and Clark centre. It overlooks the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. It is also marks the spot where they and their discovery army camped (before heading west into Washington State and the west coast.

Walked back to the Nez Perce County Museum, spent close to an hour looking at their exhibits. It is a very crowded (collection wise) but informative. Told the usual tale of European deception and eventual harm to the local Indian tribes (they are now called the Nez Perce, they however had another name for themselves. Usual story, move to a reservation or face the wrath of the US Army. Initially the locals won a numbe of battles, but eventually were wore down and subdued. The last remaining bands that wouldn't submit were trapped 40 miles from the Canadian border (where they were going to seek shelter). The Chiefs and other significant Warriors were arrested and shipped back east to Fort Leavenworth. There is more to the story, but you can Google it. Needles to say the most important chief was Chief Joseph (both Snr and Jnr). The Europeans felt very intimidated by Joseph Jnr, he was tall, well built and bowed to no one.

 The bridge to Clarkson across the Snake.

River boat (like the steam boats of the Mississippi) about to dock at Clarkson pier.

Small square in historic Lewiston. The Idaho Hotel once stood here-burnt down some time ago.

From the museum we walked around town....very quiet, we were the only people on the street. Found the Democratic HQ and discussed whether we would go volunteer and man the phone lines for them... No, not our election.

Time to quite Lewiston. Followed Rte 12, which is known as the Lewis and Clark NW trail. For about 120 miles we followed the Clearwater River, before turning away to climb to the LoLo summit (Bitterroot Mountains), over the other side lay Missoula, Montana (a change in time zones-Mountain time).

The drive beside the river was excellent, light traffic, a few trucks, but could maintain 55 to 60 mph. The river was very full of fishermen. Some in waders up to their waist, others in motor boats and still others in oar paddled boats- all fishing for steelhead fish ( a rainbow trout that spends a few years in the ocean before returning to spawn etc. 

 Clearwater River.

The day was sunny and clear with a temp hovering around 14 degrees C. We passed through two Indian reservations with a town in each- Kamiah (where we lunched) and Kooskia. 

Halloween in Kamiah.

Also past a larger town called Orofino (fine gold), didn't stop as it was across the river. Stopped at the LoLo summit at a visitors centre. Very informative. Should mention we noticed a significant number of evergreen trees (pines or spruce or???) were all very golden brown. We assumed that indicated a dieting off. Forgot to ask the rangers at the LoLo summit centre.

Must be a bit volcanic around here as we came across the LoLo hot springs (looked pretty run down). From the summit we headed to LoLo (had to watch out for moose and elk -just saw one elk). What I did notice was the posted speed limits. 70 mph(daytime) and 65 mph (night) and on a normal NZ type road. We counted at least 7 little white crosses on the side of the road.

Found our hotel for the night (EconoLodge), checked in and relaxed. Evening meal at an Irish pub (had a good plate of bangers and mash) followed by a local light beer.