What a welcome!

We were on the road out of Ellenburg by 8.01 a.m. The countryside was a lot like the prairies until we got closer to Idaho and the trees started showing up. Dennis spotted a brand new Cabelos Store at Post Falls just across the Idaho border. It has only been open a couple of weeks. And of course we all found something to buy. We got ourselves a new campstove for the motorhome. Have shopped in two Wal Mart Super Centres, they really do have everything! So what we forgot the first time we found the second time. Even remembered to get a notepad to make lists!

Called my cousin Vicki from Post Falls and she gave us instructions to meet them on the parking lot of the church up the road because they were concerned about us being able to back into their driveway with our 61.5 foot setup. Little did they know that Dennis being a trucker backs up as well as he drives ahead! What a nice place they have here and what a welcome they gave us! Vicki had dinner all planned and it was delicious and then they had purchased tickets for the winter light cruise on Couer d'Alene Lake. The boat cruised down the lake with all the lights being displayed and the destination was the North Pole. Santa and Mrs Claus were waiting to greet everyone at the North Pole. I think he had a list of all the kids on the boat and greeted them by name! He lit up a giant Christmas tree with over 50,000 lights on it as well as a whole vistal of other light sculptures. The Christmas tree was so huge it had toys under the tree such as a full size boat, hummer and car etc. Fabulous show! The light show on the lake is supposed to be the largest light show in North America. What a treat. A big thanks again to Vicki and Steve for being such wonderful hosts. What a great way to start a trip! When we got home to their place they showed us a side projected show of their vacation on the Adriatic Sea on a sail boat around the Croatia area. What architecture! Every nationality that ever captured them over the centuries shows up in their architecture. Thanks again Vicki and Steve.