Biking the Hiawatha Trail

Just one of many bridges we got to go over.




A couple of weekends ago, McKay and I decided we wanted to bike the Hiawatha Trail on the Idaho/Montana border. The trail used to be used by trains and was the only way through the northwest to the eastern states. Since then , they have ripped up the train tracks and have turned it into a bike trail. You begin the trail by biking through a completely pitch black 2 mile tunnel with water trenches lining the sides of the tunnel. I don't quite know how to describe the fear of my life when all you have is this tiny, pathetic headlamp illuminating the ground no more than a foot in front of you. However, the trail was absolutely breathtaking as it wound through trails, tunnels, and over bridges. The views were spectacular and the best part was once we got to the bottom of the trail, we got to ride a shuttle back up!

I did learn something new about my fearless husband. He is quite clumsy on a bike. I suppose it would be quite a challenge to get all 6'5" of his body to operate a bicycle properly. In one of the tunnels, his headlamp went out, causing him to loose his balance and crash into the side of the tunnel which consisted of jagged rocks. He had some macho looking cuts to prove it! Oh the things husbands do for their wives!

Boating at Priest Lake

We got to spend this past weekend at one of the prettiest lakes I have ever seen - Priest Lake! Some friends of ours invited us up to their cabin. We spent all Saturday tubing, boating, and playing in the water. My new goal is to convince my husband that we need a boat by the time I am 30. I love boating! Although we all payed for it the next day.

In case you haven't heard, huckleberries are a big deal in the Northwest. If you have never had a piece of huckleberry pie, you haven't lived.

Other Celebrities - KXLY Blog

I was pondering yesterday as I sporadically watched the gaudy spectacle that doubled as Michael Jackson’s memorial service. I was pondering on something I found interesting. (So interesting in fact that I am blogging about it).

My subject of pondering: What other public figure, in any genre, will generate this kind of worldwide attention (deserved or not) and/or this kind of media attention (deserved or not) when they pass?

Certainly when a former President dies the air waves are deluged with biographies and stories of the man’s life. That’s a big deal. But beyond current or former Presidents, what other celebrity’s passing would cause the world to stop for a few days.

It would have to be a ridiculously famous person. Someone everyone knows, and a fair number of people LOVE. Someone who is more famous than just the average celebrity.

My initial thought was Paul McCartney. When he dies, especially if its somewhat unexpected, that will be a big deal. He’s a Beatle for goodness sake. And he has stayed famous and relatively ”unweird.” (Could that help his cause in our little pondering game, or hurt it?)

What about athletes like Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods? They are certainly figures that transcend their specific profession.

My wife came up with, maybe the best answer I’ve heard, Oprah. She is the one of the richest and most influential women on the planet. She blazed numerous trails and is someone huge numbers of people look up to.

Or maybe this is the pinnacle–no other death, aftermath or memorial service will rise to this level of spectacle again. That’s what some people I’ve spoken to maintain–that no one’s death and life will get this kind of attention, from the media and the public again, ever. Perhaps they are right, but it seems like these things have a way of outdoing themselves over time.

Thoughts?