Today was Earth Day and I'm back on the road this week. My job requires that each of us 5 compliance officers cover a portion of the state. My area is all of North/North Central Idaho. Geographically, it's a huge area and this week I am visiting the North Central part, starting by traveling to Grangeville, which is 5 hours from my home office. It's a long trip, but a beautiful one. Here are a few photos I caught during my travels. Whoever started Earth Day just had to be inspired by this beautiful area....
This is close to home. I'm approaching an area referred to as the chain lakes. The entire trip entails traveling this 2 lane highway (and you thought they were extinct!) It can get pretty exciting, what with the random wildlife (or logging truck) jumping out in the road ahead of you. Amazingly, this highway IS THE road connecting North and South Idaho. Those of us who travel it regularly lovingly refer to it as the Goat Trail.
The chain lakes are exactly what they're called - a "chain" of lakes. The previous picture is near Rose Lake. This is a shot of Killarney Lake. Such a beautiful area!
Here is the "city" of St. Maries. This is a logging town; of course, nowadays there isn't nearly as much logging as there was "back in the day"....
You simply can't leave St. Maries without throwin' a shout out to the Lumberjack!
This is Lake Chatcolet. If you look closely, you can see a bridge in the background. We cross that bridge on our bike trips as we pedal from Harrison to Plummer.
This is the town of Plummer, on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. As you can see, it's a big party town :).
As you continue south, the mountains settle into the rolling hills of the Palouse. This was taken not far from Moscow - Home to the University of Idaho (go Vandals!). Just across the border the Cougars of Washington State lie in wait....(of a new basketball coach).
I stopped to take this picture of Lewiston at the top of Lewiston hill. This steep and winding hill always provided excitement for a bus load of high school kids headed into town for a basketball game!
Here's a picture I took just south of Lewiston, approaching an area referred to as Lawyer's Canyon. Take a close look and you'll see a beautiful old train trestle nestled into the hillside.I couldn't end this post without including a picture of "Earl", one of several beautiful pieces of art that greets me each time I check in to my motel here in Grangeville. The picture does not capture the true beauty of this piece. It is fashioned with some type of steel. When the light shines on it just right, the buffer swirls incorporated by the artist makes the piece appear to be 3-D. A truly talented artist! Good night, Earl, and good night, earth!
A full moon on an early spring evening can be particularly beautiful in these old mountains....
Ah, the beauty of an Osprey. So majestic - So graceful. The Osprey (
But wait! What have we here? This is no carefree Osprey out for a leisurely soar...Not at all! This is a hard-at-work female, building her nest in preparation for her soon-to-be family!
"Where IS he?" she wonders. "He KNOWS I needed him home this afternoon to guard our colorful siding from thieves!" "I'm ALWAYS the one who ends up doing ALL the work! Well, if he ever decides to wander back here, he's going to get a BIG piece of my mind; that's what HE'S going to get!"
"Yea...I got it made in the shade. I believe I have time for another quick soar around the block!"
"
The ostracized Osprey flew....and flew.....and flew.
But each time he flew by their nest, she only turned her back at his pitiful attempts to apologize.
...Until he resigned himself to the fact that tonight, he would be sleeping on the guest wire. 
