During her all-too-short time on this Earth, Noble Fur accompanied me on five cross-country journeys between my home in Georgia and my summer jobs in the Northwest. Today’s adventure covers part of the trip home in October, 2018. These pictures were taken the day before the Wild West pics featured in the diary two weeks ago:
PWB: Noble Fur Fridays - Making Tracks in Montana
Whenever I took a break from driving, I would try to select an area that Noble Fur might like. Usually this meant being away from people and traffic noise. Woodsy locations were always better than wide open spaces. On this particular day, Noble Fur was a bit antsy, and she kept trying to hide in bushes and under porches. You might notice that she is wide-eyed in some pictures, and crouching in others. When she appeared to be uncomfortable, I’d cut the walk short, and let her retreat to the comfort of the truck.
First stop of the morning was along State Highway 3 in the Idaho panhandle, at a park where the highway crosses the Coeur d’Alene River. The location is about six miles south of Interstate 90.
Fall is in the air, and the cottonwood leaves are beginning to drop. Enlarge.
Now please look my way, so I can get a better picture (and she did — see the diary’s lead picture). Enlarge.
Looking out over the river valley. Enlarge.
I wanted to get a majestic posing-on-the-rock pic, but the location was too open, and she was ready to return to the truck. Enlarge.
A short time later, I took a quick break in Wallace. Noble Fur didn’t like sidewalks, so she stayed in the truck.
Street scene in Wallace.
If you’re going to promote your city, there’s no room for humility.
Next stop was a popular tourist trap in western Montana.
Noble Fur would have been more excited if the attraction was 50,000 cans of tuna.
My true destination was next door, a historical tree nursery.
Historic Savenac Nursery. Plenty of trees for Noble Fur, and not many people. Enlarge.
Kitty paused in the parking lot, and then explored the grounds.
The yellow trees in the distant hillsides are western larch, a species that loses its needles in the fall. Enlarge.
One of the old buildings at Savenac Nursery. Enlarge.
This spot was too open, and kitty headed for the trees. Enlarge.
Closer to the trees. She’s more comfortable now. Enlarge.
In the trees, the way she liked it.
Some old piece of equipment, I forget what it was. Probably for planting seeds or seedlings. Enlarge.
Looking off the porch of one of the buildings. Enlarge.
One last look at the woods before hitting the road. Enlarge.
Information about Savenac Nursery:
The historic nursery was founded in 1907 as a Forest Service tree nursery. Nursery operations concluded in 1969 and now the site is used for cabin rentals and a visitor center.
The Savenac Visitor Center occupies what used to be the administration building of the tree nursery when it was active and now provides a welcome respite for travelers going east or west. With its Cape Cod style of the architecture, the center is not only fun to visit, but an aesthetic treat.
Forest Service web page for Savenac Nursery
