15 Years

A huge part of our lives has been shaped by our love of venturing out in the truck camper. Over the years I’ve written more than 350 blog posts about our home away from home and all the adventures that come with it. Every trip feels like a small reset, a chance to breathe a little deeper and enjoy the outdoors.

Back in 2011, I wrote about one of our favorite hidden campgrounds on Bell Bay overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene. We visited that spot many times and got to know the camp host, Jim Vallintine, quite well. Jim was one of those rare hosts who made camping easier — he’d let us call ahead to see if any good sites were open. Knowing we had a spot waiting for us made the drive down a lot less stressful.

That all changed about 15 years ago when the campground switched to a reservations‑only system. Jim wasn’t interested in taking on the extra responsibilities, so he retired, and with the new system came a lot more traffic. Without Jim and without the ease of dropping in, we slowly drifted away from Bell Bay and started exploring other places.

Fast forward to our latest trip. Rayelle and Mike Anderson had reserved two nights at Bell Bay and invited us to join them if we could find a site. We checked online, found an opening for the same two nights, and just like that, another adventure was on the calendar.

In the days leading up to the trip, we prepped the camper and gathered supplies. On Friday morning, we loaded up and hit the road. We took I‑90 to the Rose Lake exit, turned right, and headed toward Harrison. Bell Bay Campground sits 7.2 miles north of this town along the lake.

When we arrived, we drove to our reserved site. It wasn’t the nicest spot, so we slowly cruised through the rest of the campground. As we passed our old favorite site, Linda noticed it was available for both nights. That was all the encouragement we needed. We headed straight to the camp host’s site, explained the situation, and were able to switch to the best site in the campground. Even better — the Andersons were camped just across from us.

It felt like a lucky score, and we wasted no time getting settled in.

Rayelle and Mike arrived around 5 PM, and while they went about setting up, Linda and I grabbed our chairs and took in the panoramic view from our site. It has to be one of the best views we’ve ever had — wide open lake, quiet shoreline, and soft evening light. Once both camps were settled, we gathered out on the point and enjoyed drinks and snacks as we caught up on the past few weeks.

The next morning we wandered through the campground to see how things had changed. Even though we hadn’t been there in 15 years, it was almost exactly the same. Bell Bay is still a rural campground — pit toilets, downed trees, and a general low‑maintenance feel. The restrooms were clean, and the trash was emptied regularly, but beyond that it could use a little TLC. Still, the simplicity is part of its charm.

Later that morning my Watch Duty forest fire app sent an alert. A small fire had popped up about ten miles upwind from Bell Bay. Within a couple of hours, four firefighting seaplanes began making runs, scooping water from the lake and flying right over our site to drop it on the fire. It was an impressive response — ten rr eleven passes in total — and then the skies quieted down. A short while later, the app announced that the fire was contained.

As we were sitting out chatting afterward, we had a surprise. Larry and Mary Wright, who have a lake cabin just down the road from the campground, came strolling by our site. They were with a couple, Bill and Kim, who we had met back in our running days. We all stood around for a while, catching up on each other's lives. It was a nice, unexpected reunion and added a little extra warmth to the day.

The weather, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as warm. It was windy and noticeably colder than the past few weeks — the kind of chill that makes you realize fall has quietly arrived. The breeze kept at it, but we were still able to sit out and enjoy our visit.

Sunday morning came quickly, and we all packed up and headed for home. As we drove back over 4th of July Pass, Linda and I agreed that the site we ended up in was absolutely worth the drive — one of the best views we’ve ever had. And as always, Rayelle and Mike were fun to be with, making the whole trip feel easy and familiar.

It was good to be back at Bell Bay after all these years. Some places just stay part of your story.

DB/AI

Camping at Bell Bay

When the pioneers were heading west they would send out scouts to blaze the trail and find the best areas in which their group could set up camp.  In the modern sense of the word our scouts did the same thing.  John and Loretta Sutherland loaded up their camper and Scout, their dog, and drove down to Bell Bay on Thursday and established our camp for the weekend.  In doing so the Sutherlands base camp, infamous #14, was claimed for the party of truck campers. 

Linda and I were able to leave Coeur d’Alene early Friday morning after loading the gear in the camper, attaching the boat and making sure we had everything you could possibly want with us.   Our game plan was developed and we had talked it through, I would drive us down to Harrison and unload the boat then Linda would drive over to Bell Bay with the truck and trailer.  In the mean time I would drive the boat quickly over to the docks at Bell Bay and then walk up and then park the trailer and camper for the weekend.  Everything went flawless!  The only minor glitch happened when I finished up putting through the no wake zone and I hit the throttle. I made the classic beginner boaters mistake, I looked up over the windshield and immediately lost my hat!  I circled round and picked up the hat with my fish net and was off.

Linda proceeded to Bell Bay campground where John and Loretta were camped.  The Sutherlands met me at the dock and we tied up the boat. By that time Linda had arrived and we all worked to get me backed into our spot and get the trailer off and in its weekend resting place.  Once all that was complete we had some lunch and settled in for the weekend.

After lunch John and I headed for the boat and we went out fishing.  We motored down towards Harrison fishing for Kokanee as we went. We picked up a few but we came to the conclusion that we were going a wee bit too fast.  I started the kicker, but it was not running very well.  John confirmed that he felt it needed adjusting so we shut it down and headed for Thompson Lake.  I have an appointment on Tuesday to get the motor checked so I wasn’t disappointed; I kind of figured it needed some attention.  We fished the afternoon away.  John caught a nice small mouth, but I haven’t fished enough to be able to get into the lake and massacre the fish. That will come with more time on the water and a lot more experience.

As it got a bit later in the day we headed home where the ladies were sitting in the sun and reading.  We ate dinner that evening and sat around the campfire, John and I talking about fishing, my boat and our next adventure Linda and Loretta rolling their eyes and smiling.

Saturday Linda got up and went for her usual morning run.  She ran south on the road leading to Harrison.  When she was about halfway to her “out” distance she spotted something just off the road in the woods.  She said “My first thought was that it was an emu, and then as I looked longer it looked more like an elk or moose!”  She said it turned and ran and when that happened she was able to rule out Emu.  With this announcement we all started laughing.  We were all wondering how she could mix up an elk or moose with and emu.

John and I went out trolling for Kokanee and Chinook salmon. I did the Kokanee thing; John tried for the big guys. Once again it was clear that we needed the kicker motor.  We had hits and caught fish when we were trolling into the wind, downwind we were a bit too fast for those little guys.  About 1 PM we called it quits and came into get some lunch.

While we were out Beth dropped in for a visit and a chance to catch some sun at our magnificent view lot. John and I arrived to find the three ladies lounging in the sun drinking margaritas.  Everyone sat around telling stories and enjoying the day.  Linda recounted the Emu encounter for Beth’s behalf and someone asked Linda if she was sure it was and emu and not and ostrich. Linda didn’t really know the difference so Beth Googled up Emu Vs Ostrich and we all learned much more then we want to about the two flightless birds.

As the afternoon grew shorter Beth had to leave and make her way back to Post Falls.  Just a few minutes later Linda got a text message from Beth.  She said she had spotted an emoose along the road into town. It confirmed that Linda had come across a moose that morning as she ran.

Linda and I loaded Kobi up into the boat and we took a slow cruise down the lake.  It was Linda’s second time in the boat and Kobi’s first so we went slow and let both get accustomed to the boats sounds and movements.  We were only out about an hour; both of my guests did quite well in the boat.  Kobi was a bit nervous when we hit higher speeds.  Linda was a great help when it came to docking the boat.

Again, at the end of the evening we all sat around the campfire until all the wood was burned.  It was a beautiful evening and by 9:30 PM we were all ready for bed.

Sunday we got up and everyone put their gear away. John and Loretta left Bell Bay first, we followed close behind.  I drove the boat over to Harrison and Linda met me there with the camper and trailer.  We loaded the boat with no problems and drove back to Post Falls.  The entire trip back was spent planning out next outing.

Best River Trip We Never Had

We were back from our Bahamas trip only two days and we had to gear up for a potential trip down the Lower Salmon River. When I was in the islands I got a message from Jacob Rothrock that the water levels were not good, too high! When we returned I watched the levels recorded at the gage at Whitebird and noted that he was right. The water needed be drop considerably before I would take a group of new bees down. On Tuesday evening of the Thursday put on week, I called the trip a no go and asked everyone what they wanted to do. Of the four couples all but one decided to come over to Coeur d’Alene and ride bikes instead.

Linda and I shifted our focus and laid out a plan that would keep everyone busy and give them an opportunity to ride some of our destination bike trails. Our focus would be on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, and the Hiawatha Trail.

The group arrived on Wednesday night and we went and bought a Nate’s Pizza to eat while we made our plans and packed our gear. Linda and I were a bit behind due to the switch from boats to wheels, but we were able to get it together enough that we didn’t show too much stress.

Our plan hinged upon finding a place to camp that we could use as a base to launch our assaults on the local trails. The best option was getting four spots at Bell Bay Campground and making that our home for the four nights of riding. To make sure we had spots, Larry and I drove our camper down early Thursday morning, hoping to get the spots we needed or to rent the group site if it was available.

Because we were early and it was Thursday, Larry and I snagged three of the best spots at the campground. The fourth spot was available, and there were several choices. At about 11:00 am Linda led the rest of the group in to their weekend retreat.

Larry and Art had campers so they set up in two nice spots. Geo and Zoe were in a tent so they grabbed a nice tent spot that overlooked the lake. We made our favorite spot the gathering place and moved our camper into it.

Once everyone was settled we loaded up and drove into Harrison and rode seven miles upriver on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s. Everyone was amazed at the beauty and how unique the trail was. It was a great start to the four days of riding.

On Friday we got up early and lay siege on the Hiawatha Trail. Everyone was excited because they had heard so much about the ride. Linda elected to stay home, only because she didn’t have a bike with good tires. She only had her skinny tired road bike and that would not work on the gravel trail we were riding. Art drove his truck with the bikes and Geo drove their van with their gear. The trip was a total of eight hours in length, two hours to the trail, four hours on the trail, and two hours back home. The day was clear and sunny and everything went very smoothly. Our only glitch was that we had to wait at the trail head for a half and hour while they evacuated a woman who had gotten disoriented and run into the wall in the Taft Tunnel. Once that was cleared up it was smooth sailing to the bottom and the bouncy ride back up to our rigs.

Once we were home we baked two Dutch ovens of lasagna and had a wonderful meal. Everyone turned in around 9:00 pm, another early morning awaited us.

On Saturday morning everyone was up and had breakfast before 8:00 am. The ride de jour was from Harrison, to Plummer and back.

Labor Day, Bell Bay

The Labor Day weekend came upon us very quickly this year. That weekend signals a change for us. Linda is back to work on Tuesday, the weather usually changes from hot to cool, and we start camping in different areas each time we take an adventure in the camper. After Labor Day, many of the forest service campgrounds are closed for the season, including Bells Bay, so we just find other spots to set up and camp. This is made easier due to the calming of the crowds. People just don’t camp as much after the Labor Day weekend, and we take advantage of the quiet.

This weekend we had our final reservations at Bells Bay. The camp hosts, John and Roseanne, will be closing the place after Monday. They plan to camp host again, but will be doing so somewhere on the Oregon coast. With them gone and the friendly reservation system no longer allowed, it might be hit and miss when it comes to getting spot #13 or any spot at all.
The Sutherlands rolled the dice and because of their efforts were able to secure a spot at the Bells Bay campground for the weekend. They arrived at the campground and set up at about 11:00 AM. We were a bit later leaving Cd’A at about 3:00 PM. We were in no hurry; we just wanted to let the stress of the week drift away.

We met John and Loretta and talked for a while, and then Linda and I went to the camper and made a dinner from a recipe Emily & Alex gave me. The creation tasted super fresh. We ate over at the Sutherlands camp site; the tostada creation was a big hit. John and I made plans to go fishing early in the morning so we turned in at about 9:00 PM.

The next morning John and I hooked up his boat and headed to the boat launch where we set our sights on catching some Bass or Pike. Once on the water we set a course up the Cd’A River to Anderson Lake. We fished the north side first and I got three hits, then we went to the south bank and fished that area. It wasn’t our day and we were skunked. I just know I need to put in more fishing time, you can’t expect big fish to jump in your boat the first time out. It would have been nice to catch one though.

We returned to the boat launch, a bit wet, but safe. While we were on Anderson Lake the wind came up and we had to bounce our way out of the river mouth and across to the take out.
The evening meal was a family gathering. Julie and Jack Dolan/Green dropped in to visit and added to the pack that Beth and Bill brought up from the boat dock. Bill’s daughter and her two friends joined all the old folks around the fire and we had a very enjoyable time. Surprisingly, once everyone left, the camp was very quiet and we got a great night’s sleep.

On Sunday Linda and I drove around and found several Geocaches. We enjoyed the day together and had lunch at the Round Lake boat launch. There are so many areas that can be explored, you just have to get out and drive, hike or bike.

When we returned to camp Heather and Mandolyn joined us for dinner. We fixed a Dutch oven pasta dish; Heather brought a strawberry cream pie. Heather brought her dog, Amie, and she and Kobi chased and played. After dinner we talked for a bit and then our guests had to leave to drive down to St. Maries where they were going to celebrate Lumberjack Days by watching the big fireworks. Linda and I stayed in camp and read. We were asleep by 10:00 PM.