One of my friends has been down convalescing for the past couple weeks, so she hasn't been able to meet us for our weekly Friday ramble.
That said, earlier this week when we were chatting she said she had healed up enough that an easy hike was definitely a thing she wanted to attempt and was up for.
The choice for a get back in the walking shoes hike was obvious, The Pend Oreille Bay Trail.
I've done a post or two about the trail in years past, but today's stroll provided me with fall color and impending seasonal weather change photos that I just had to share.
The Pend Oreille Bay Trail is a flat, lakeshore hugging trail that is wide and well cared for. It's a 1.5 mile easy stroll that is perfect for anyone who wants a scenic ramble, needs to exercise a pet (or toddler), or wants to walk three abreast and BS with friends whom they really get along with well.
Okay, there was a spatting couple on the trail this morning, but I mean, humanity exists in many states...
That said, if you like dogs, the Trail is a blast too. My friends always make fun of me because every dog we come across runs up to me and says hello. I never pet anyone's pet without permission, but boy do other people's pets not reciprocate that behavior. (Can you tell I am really upset about that馃槈)
One sad thing about our trail has to do with our community's changing face. For years you just parked at the trailhead by the lake's edge and got along to walking. Now you have to park next to a massive condo that is under construction and resist the gentrification sucks grumbles that threaten to erupt. I am not anti-growth, it's just sad in a way to see a place that everyone could access, rich, poor, and other, slowly be eroded by rampant, unchecked greed.
As we were walking I spied the first plastic poo bag sitting like a trail mile marker beacon on the side of the trail. Over the 1.5 mile stroll there were no less than four of them randomly and unceremoniously dropped on the trailside. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE!
What cracked me up about it is there is a trash can at the trailhead, so I was like, why? Next time we hit the Bay Trail I will bring a garbage bag with me in case I come across such things.
But, people being inconsiderate heathens didn't detract from the absolute elated skip in my trip. I had fantastic company, my friend is on the mend, I absolutely adore fall color scenery, And after weeks and weeks of unrelenting sunshine, I am actually very pleased to get some rain. The shades of gray on Lake Pend Oreille were quite seemingly.
I even think the spatting couple made up. I could tell by their dog's behavior, he seemed much more relaxed when we passed them on the way back.
Because that's how the trail works, you walk 1.5 miles out and 1.5 miles back. The end of the trail is marked by a sign that announces the slag nastiness of the old refinery. The friends of the trail group are working on dealing with that so the trail can connect more of the community together and offer more places to meander.
Because meandering on land that belongs to us all is pretty freaking awesome.
Also, I like to walk with friends in fun places, because that also usually means that we are going to go get some good grub afterword, and today was no exception. A piping hot bowl of homemade clam chowder on a rainy day was like a cherry on my very best good day sundae.馃槉
And if you are ever in Sandpoint, Idaho, I wholeheartedly recommend taking a stroll on the Bay Trail, especially if you like dogs and scenery!
And as most of the time, all of the images in this post were taken on the author's seriously thankful it currently isn't inside a plastic dog poo bag iPhone.
