Monday, July 26, 2010

Day 10: Missoula, Montana to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho


Hot day on road from Missoula. We make an early stop at Alberton to check out a bookstore - the Montana Valley Book Store - where we chat to the lady owner about cats, cycling in Europe, the price of mops in Wal-Mart and the state of the universe. We stop on the highway and chat to a couple in a caravan who are fundraisng for Habitat for Humanity - they are intrigued by the smart car and also tell us how the "Silver Valley" is adapting to mine closures - "We are in the tourist business now." We proceed to St Regis and mooch in the antique stores where you can buy a vintage plow or a depression-era glass jug. Similar stores in Wallace, which has an intact old town centre but the effect is rather spoiled by an interstate flyover. I have read much about the labour wars in the Coeur d'Alene and look forward to exploring this old mining region.
More thrift store bargains on arrival at Coeur d'Alene - we are now on Pacific time and lose an hour while we wait for our motel room to be ready.

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