10/16/2015
Leaving behind the Rocky mountain range meant we would be at a lower elevation. It translated into warmer days and more smiles. I started my morning in Kellogg with an interview with a reporter named Josh from the local paper: The Shoshone Press. I knew the path to Rose Lake was relatively short so I took off when the afternoon rays of sun were strong. Until then Crystal and I relaxed in the trailer. I fed my body calories and she played games to sharpen her mind.
I continued on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes/Northern Pacific trail. It would have led me all the way to Coeur d’Alene but Crystal and I would have had to take two entirely different routes. The solution was simple. I would run to Rose Lake by trail, we would camp in the town, and I would run a bit of freeway the next day. The first town after Kellogg was called Smelterville. I read on a sign that had been placed along the trail, that it was once the largest producer of lead in the world. All the mines I had passed made me imagine the days of the gold rush. I envisioned a time when Levi Strauss first cut up his denim tents to make jeans for miners. Progress and change happened in the blink of an eye. In that same blink of an eye I missed my turn off the trail. It was in Enaville and overshot the intersection by a mile. The worst part is, I had actually stopped in the spot where I was supposed to turn and I used the restroom.
The sides of the trail began to lose that secluded feeling as I moved westward. The density of the forest lightened and all the casinos had disappeared. Crystal joined me on the route and ran with me for a couple miles from the town of Cataldo. We had no shoulder to run on for most of the way but there wasn’t much traffic to speak of. The weather had become surprisingly warm and the birds were out playing. They even chirped music for my nature playlist.
Rose Lake was not too far in distance and there really was no town to speak of. Crystal and I reunited at the little service station next to a restaurant. That was the extent of the businesses. The property had more than one sign that read “No Overnight Parking”. Crystal was not so easily discouraged. She took a moment to ask the clerk of the service station if we could park our vehicle on the property. They said yes. I chuckled when I thought about her increased confidence. It seemed like just yesterday approaching people intimidated her.
Right after I left Rose Lake the elevation began to rise again. The incline seemed like a fifty degree angle. It wasn’t too bad on the legs. Looking at speeding vehicles whiz by made my heart jump into my throat. I climbed for about six miles before hitting the peak. The Fourth of July summit was somewhat vacant. I’m sure the ski lodge in the area had wished for an earlier snow. Their loss was my gain. The strong rays kept me in good spirits. I topped out at a few feet over three thousand in elevation. After that point I let gravity carry me downhill. Eventually I found an opening in the fence and hopped on the centennial trail. It traced a scenic route around Lake Coeur d’Alene and I was happy to put the extra miles on the feet. I felt that preventive maintenance would allow more miles in the long run. The trail along the freshwater lake smelled like autumn. It was the scent of dried leaves on cool light breezes. The trail carried me all the way into town.
When buildings supplanted trees, I had to switch my running mindset. I had to dodge people, mind flashing lights, and navigate the concrete jungle. The downtown area was filled with places to eat and interesting shops. I was just happy we had made it to a place where we could properly celebrate Crystal’s birthday. Of course the first order of business was to fill our tummies.
That evening, Tomato Street Italian restaurant donated our meals. I had no doubt it was the best Italian Restaurant in Coeur d’Alene. A basket of garlic bread was set before us. The soft buttery bread practically melted in my mouth. My eggplant parmesan tasted very hearty like a steak. It texture was tender and the cheese was ample. I ordered the dinner portion and I managed to savor every bite of food on my plate. Crystal also had a treat. She ate the Shrimp Agosta and she said the cream sauce had a delicious lobster flavor. With our appetites satiated it was time to head to Tamarack RV resort. It would be our first comfortable landing spot in the town. 
Leave a reply