RV7 Flight: Sandpoint, Idaho, August 2013

We decided to fly to the North Idaho resort town of Sandpoint, where we hadn't been in four years.

Because the distance between the airport and the resort area is a two-mile walk, we decided to stash our fold-up mini bikes in the luggage compartment.

Here we're flying over the beautiful little town of Sandpoint, that is a beach resort in summer, and a ski resort in winter. We have many happy memories of skiing at Schweitzer Mountain Ski resort, and eating pizza in Sandpoint afterwards for dinner.

Here's a picture of a vacation home with a hangar below it, just off the Sandpoint Airport runway. The developers have many lots for sale, however only three lots have sold since we first became aware of it four years ago, and no homes other than the prototype have been built. We didn't check to see what the lots are selling for; no interest. But real estate in Sandpoint is pricey. We did see some home listings for anywhere from $275,000 (a shacky cabin) to $3.5 million.

 
Leaving the airport on our minibikes, we discovered that there are bikes for use by pilots. They have four of them, and you just need to call ahead and reserve them.

It was about 2:00 pm when we rolled into town, hungry for lunch. A line was coming out of our favorite restaurant, Spuds (see other post) and so we ate at Bricks & Barley instead. And discovered that about 300 bicyclists were passing through Sandpoint. Apparently, they come from all over the U.S. They sign up for a seven-day tour. This one took them all over Northern Idaho. They cover anywhere from 60-100 miles each day. Most of the people looked to be about our age, and boy, did they ever look fit. Skinny, like Marathon runners. Maybe a lot of them were.

Apparently the tour group organizers also plan for people who aren't quite so physically fit, and there is a truck that follows along behind. If someone runs out of energy for the strenuous mileage, they can always ride in the truck. The tour group company also sets up porta-potties and showers, as well as tents for everyone, in the campground where they're spending each night.

There were also plenty of bikers. Sandpoint was hopping! And it was so hot, sweat was rolling down my face.

Hubby wanted to get a picture of me on my minibike. Wherever we go in these, people ask about them. Kids and women love them. The guys? Meh. Too girly for a guy. They're a little harder to balance, and they're really not comfortable for long rides (10 miles is my limit), but they're great for what we use them for--short jaunts, and the ability to store them in the back of our airplane.

Note the cloud layer behind me. That's where the airport is, and hubby was keeping an eye on that all afternoon. Our plan was to be off the ground again at 6:00 pm. Or sooner, if the clouds continued to darken or roll in.

We spent some time sitting on the beach and watching the sailboats and swimmers. Hubby wanted to take a pix on his cell phone of a sunbather in a string bikini, to send it to a friend as a "you should see the views" joke. I told him in no uncertain terms that I do not want him to have a pix like that on his cell phone. I would buy a string bikini and wear it for him, if he thought that was a good idea. He liked that very much.

At a public restroom, we discovered some beautiful ceramic artwork done by the city's 4th graders.

More of the same. Isn't it lovely?

We decided we were thirsty, and so went into this emporium for a tasty treat.

Hubby bought a 20-oz iced mocha. I bought a 12 oz blended Teramisu drink that was quite yummy. We seldom drink coffee or eat sugar, and so this was quite enough for us.

After our treat, we went back to the park for a while and then it was time to go. The tents were being put up for the bicycle tourists.

Here, we're getting ready to take off. Darn, but the clouds really did darken and roll in. We were feeling the first gusts of a storm. Fortunately, the 20-30 mph wind was blowing straight down the runway. Unfortunately, it wasn't steady wind, but gusty wind.

Okay pardners, grab that bronc, hold onto your cowboy hats, and get off the ground. Hubby said it wasn't the kind of takeoff you ever want to do unless you have to. But he has several thousand hours' worth of flying behind him; he's a capable pilot, and so when he said "it won't be fun, but we can do it," I was okay with it.

See? We're off the ground. Once off the ground, the turbulence mostly ended.

Goodbye, Sandpoint.

Sandpoint is on Lake Pend'Oreille. Here, we've gone south toward home, and are flying beside Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Bye bye to another great flying adventure.