Last night on the road

Changing plans a little bit. I spent a couple hours exploring Coeur d'Alene including visiting the floating golf green that a previous employer engineered. Nice small town that grew up and became very spendy. Lots of new money here. Did not spend that much time in Spokane as I then spent another three hours at Cabella's. Good God. This is how you do retail. Headed east to Ellensburg, had some decent B-B-Q and then visited the Iron Horse Brewery as I had a bottle of their Quilter's Irish Death with my dinner and it was delicious. Picked up a case of assorted bottles and yes, they go through distribution so I'll see if our local beer reps can get some. A very tasty and well crafted beverage. Right next to the brewhouse was the Ellensburg Distillery. They were closed but I peered through the door and saw two beautiful pot stills -- must be about 300 gallons each. They are using the same 600 gallon dairy tanks that I have for the cidery -- great minds think alike... The plan change is that I decided to head up 97 to Route 2 and over to I-5 that way instead of stopping off at Seattle City Light. I have a couple other things I will need from Seattle for the blacksmithing so I'll do a special day-trip down in a few weeks. I am spending the night in Leavenworth, WA -- it is a bit of a tourist trap but a fun one. Have breakfast, walk around for an hour or two and then head back to the store. Tomorrow is payroll and I traditionally run that so it will be back in the saddle for me. Altogether, it has been an awesome and much-needed time away from things and a fun road trip. Over 6,000 miles covered. The usual spew will return in a day or two. And photos, lots and lots of photos...