These roads are just gorgeous and we're heading into Idaho shortly. I picture a brief pause in the "gorgeous" part for Idaho. We keep driving and I see a bird above our heads and it has a white head and Adam and I almost simultaneously shout A BALD EAGLE! The kids missed it but it was so cool! What timing on our part. We keep driving along and at some point enter Idaho so seamlessly I don't even see a difference. I had pictured I would be splattered in the face with potatoes or something, but nope, just more gorgeous scenery. There are also lots of side routes/roads today which were part of the original Route 2. These roads are my favorite and allow us to go a bit slower and enjoy the scenery.
Wildlife was not done for the day as we pass by a male deer! Very handsome. Adam also spotted an Osprey nest and got a shot of the mom and babies! We then are driving down this smaller road near a farm when a turkey family starts crossing the street with TONS OF BABIES!! They are so cute and I snap some pictures while simultaneously yelling at the parents for not making sure all the babies made it across safely. The parents crossed first and never looked back! Rude.
We also see another set of deer on one of these backroads and they cross in front of the van. I stop to see if I can snag a picture and one stops and stares back at me. She let me get a few shots before she ran off. She was curious and sweet.
We stop for lunch in Idaho at a local spot (see Adam's blog) and as we walk in there is a woman eating lunch with her bird. I think a kind of parrot? Yup, we're definitely in Idaho. We get inside and the waitress tells us it will be a 45 minute wait on food. We aren't in a rush so we sit. There are lots of great pictures on the walls of the local scenery. All too expensive to buy, but still great to view. We have a pretty good lunch and enjoy the break. The ladies room was out of soap and about 14 people told the waitress this. She kept pretending she was going to refill it and had no intentions of doing so. Thankfully, I bring hand sanitizer everywhere with us, but unfortunately, we had already eaten lunch when we found out this place was soap free...
On our way out of town, there is this cool bridge but it is covered with wooden boards at the bottom. I'm scared we can't drive on it but another few cars go so we keep with our adventure theme and successfully get over the bridge!
After a long day of beautiful wildlife and strange human Jesus wildlife, we get to Washington and the hotel and see there is no parking. ha. We pull up to the valet, get everything out and hand over our 2 week old lived-in van to the valet. I apologize as I had him the keys and tip. The hotel is incredible. Really unique with a lot of charm and in the theater district of Spokane. Also right down the street is a restaurant that celebrates LGBTQIA+ and is called 'The Gilded Unicorn'. It has unicorn mac and cheese and we are so excited to take Abby there....only to find out it was closed for the night due to maitenance issues. wah wah. Oh well, we find another local spot and have a wonderful dinner.
We had back to the hotel, and I go to use the restroom but there is no toilet paper on the roll and I need to call in help for someone to grab more toilet paper. I am all too familiar with this scenario as this is the third time on this trip I have refilled toilet paper at the hotels, and the 4 millionth time in my lifetime. This entire family refuses to change toilet paper rolls. Sometimes it is not done at all, sometimes the roll has one square gently balancing on it as if to say 'I didn't finish the old roll, I left one square'. Sometimes someone even goes as far as to take out the new roll, but it just SITS on top of the old roll. Nothing changed and it feels like home.
Summary: Wildlife is more easily found on sideroads and in restaurants than parks, still no one knows how to change a toilet paper roll, gilded disappointment.