(from Tamie)Isn't it a shame that the Pacific Inland area of the U.S. is so barren ... so bland ... so unremarkable (check out the pics below for evidence).
I mean, really.
Bobby and I are having a ball here on this trip for
The Christian Chronicle. Yesterday we woke up Pacific-time-early at our hotel in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and then discovered that the appointment we had in Eureka, Mont., was at Mountain-time-later. Make up an hour on a 200-mile one-way trip? Piece of cake.
Actually, we were only 30 minutes late, and that was because we didn't turn right at the pile of rocks - they were all inside the rotors of our rental car at that point!
We ooh'd and ahh'd all the way to Rex and Michelle Smith's home. I've seen a few pretty places in the fall, but Idaho/Montana/British Columbia are the most organic, unspoiled, unscripted and yet absolutely breathtaking places to soak in the season. The colors defy description, the rivers and streams are clear and the mountains completely captivating. I was so exhausted last night after 10-12 hours on the road (who really knows with all the time changes?) but I'd do it all again today to experience more of God's country.
Incidentally, God must be praised for restraining the 10-point buck that we encountered roadside as we rounded a sharp curve. Majestic creature + tiny rental car + two hapless foreigners would have = big time disaster. But oh was he beautiful (if not tasty, as most people here would add).
Here are a few other highlights from our first full day here:
1. Lunch at the Smiths' home. I consider myself a country girl, but I have never felt more urban than I did yesterday as Rex Smith recounted how he shot a black bear in his back yard - from 30 feet away. That's basically a walk to our mailbox. Bobby shared a moment with said bear, who I imagine looks a lot less intimidating now.
The Smiths - including 15-year-old Danielle, who I wanted to load up and bring back for my own selfish, conversational pleasure - are a wonderful family, and we really enjoyed Clifford Utter and Chuck Watts as well. I'll save the details of the day for Bobby, who is writing their story, but what a family. We had a fantastic time visiting with them, hearing stories about life and faith in a picturesque and yet isolated place for those who want to live out and draw others to New Testament Christianity. (Note to college recruiters: Snatch up Danielle while you can. She is amazing, articulate, brilliant and incredibly missional. I found myself introducing her to Brady, AB, Bethany and every other 15-year-old I know as she spoke ...)
The bear that Bobby affectionately calls Smokey has a fun story of his own. In this part of the world lots of bears and other fun animals are carved into trees (LOVED the buzzard in downtown Eureka, btw). The Smiths bought a home in the area that had one of these bears carved way, way up high in a treetop, not low like most animals. They loved the bear. So did the previous owner, who Rex says tiptoed onto the property one night, sawed off the tree, let the bear fall into the back of her truck and booked it out of town. The reconciliation was this new bear, carved by someone whose name I don't know but used to do such things on the Tonight Show circa Johnny Carson. Isn't he fantastic?
2. During our lunch, the Smiths mentioned their home was only 10 miles or so from the Canadian border. Drat, I said, remembering I had taken my passport out of my computer bag and stored it in the desk at home, never dreaming we might have the time and proximity to visit on this trip. Not to worry, they said - I could cross the border with just my driver's license. Of course, that was all the info I needed at the time, and we happily sped off toward British Columbia.
The border patrol asked a few polite questions (which Bobby said I answered really nervously) and then opened the gate to his country with instructions for us to have a great dinner in Fernie and enjoy ourselves. Well, OK. And thanks!!
We drove the 40 miles (actually, we drove kilometers because we were in Canada and you're not allowed to drive miles) and looked around this cute little resort town. Oh my goodness. Snow on the mountains. Leaves that looked as though they were a week or so ahead of the Idaho/Montana leaves and the most gorgeous tunnels, rock formations and other natural beauty. My jaw actually hurts today from my mouth just hanging open yesterday.
On our way out, we made a pit stop under the Maple Leaf Golden Arches and then headed back for the good ol' homeland. Bobby cracked some joke about them having to let me back in. Ah hahahaha, we both laughed.
We pulled up to the window and I smiled at the agent, handing him Bobby's passport and my driver's license. He did not smile back.
Fast-forward 10 minutes. Bobby and I are standing inside the building now, our rental car parked in a special lane for losers (me) who don't have more than one form of identification. Our pockets emptied and turned inside out, our ankles exposed, agent No. 2 had now pulled our car inside the building of shame to completely inspect it. It took a long time. I watched her through the double windows as she scrutinized the engine, pried pieces off the door and out of the trunk to inspect for whatever she was inspecting for. It was comical, but only because WE are US. I mean, I know they don't know us, but milk chocolate is my idea of an illegal substance. Bobby and I had to keep from making eye contact so we wouldn't bust out laughing and thereby look either guilty or unstable.
About 30 minutes later, after Bobby endured harsh bladder restriction punishment, she came back in and quizzed us about our reason for being here. We explained it all again. "But you don't have luggage?" she said. "It's in our hotel," we replied. After showing reservation and receipt info, we were finally freed.
The moral of the story here is beauty comes at a price. Be prepared to pay, in some sense, for any trip you take to Canada, even if you only take memories. ;o)
