Friday, June 13, 2025
Day 13
Gillette Lake, WA TO Priest River, ID

Miles: 70.22
Elevation: 1,677
Time: 6 hrs 03 minutes

Total miles: 602.30
Total Elevation: 30,578
Total Time: 64 hrs 04 minutes

Falling asleep to the sound of a fire crackling…the scent reminiscent of campfires past and the deep, intoxicating warmth it lends, our night’s rest was deep and peaceful. Beams of sunlight rained through the clouds across the morning sky as we embarked on a new day.
Our journey led us down a long descent, early so cars were sparse. We heard there may be road work and that we may need to take a detour. And so it was. At the intersection where we were to turn right, we turned left, traveling away from our destination. Uncertain how far we would need to travel or what services we would find, we continued in a relaxed and sustainable pace. We stopped at the Tiger Historical Center and spoke with the volunteer there who gleefully gave us details about our detour. She was a spry 82 years old! Over the bridge and on the other side, we continued into a headwind. Slow and steady.
Big Foot is a ‘big’ deal in this area and there is a huge event scheduled for this weekend-an annual event. We were told to expect increased traffic and some wild off road vehicles as a result. We did see some ATVs but nothing too extreme. Mile after mile ticked on as we meandered along Lake Pend Oreille. We continued to look for a place to get second cup of coffee and it wasn’t until 2:11 PM when we arrived in Usk did we find one!! It was a lovely break! We decided to return to the north side of the lake as traffic was less. Long valleys and meadows dotted the landscape with occasional farms. We saw our first turkeys roaming the road’s edge. It was nearly 5 PM when we crossed out of Washington and into Idaho. Woohoo! State number two! We arrived at our home for the night at a whimsical ’bear themed’ inn. So fun. And clean. With great coffee the following morning. Dinner was at The Settlement, just a few steps away. What a great experience! I love nothing better than seeing people passionate about their work. Every single staff person was moving as fast as they could with expertise! To date, the best meal we’ve had. And, several gluten free choices. It was awesome! A quick run to the grocery store for ‘road’ snacks and breakfast food for the morning then back to the room to prepare for the next day. What new and exciting adventures would we uncover?!
Only tomorrow will tell.