August 2, 2026 (Sun.) - Downtown Coeur d'Alene.
We had no real plans today. The air quality kept getting worse (AQI = 158 – Unhealthy), and the sky was thick with smoke.
Lynn was up at 0545 but skipped her morning walk — the smoky air made it an easy decision. Kirk was up earlier than usual at 0815, thanks to a chorus of neighboring dogs barking nonstop. The upside of an early start: plenty of time for him to make breakfast! His sausage‑and‑egg muffins were, as always, excellent.
We relaxed through the morning and headed out around noon to run a few errands. Kirk needed a hitch lock for the new Rock Tamers and a refill on his prescriptions. North 40 Outfitters had the lock, and we had to drive over to Hayden for Walgreens since the CDA location wasn’t an option for his meds. On the way, Lynn spotted a Raising Cane’s — her first since leaving California — so lunch was an easy choice. It was packed with families, clearly the post‑church hot spot, and the food was just as good as she remembered.
We were back at the RV by 2pm under very smoky skies. Fires all around the region — especially near Spokane — were pushing smoke into Coeur d’Alene, so we spent most of the afternoon inside.
Around 6:45pm we stepped out into an orange‑tinted sky and headed downtown for dinner. We hadn’t realized the 34th Annual Street Fair had just wrapped up at 5pm, so streets were still closed and crowds were still drifting through the area. One restaurant quoted a 45‑minute wait — clearly everyone had the same post‑fair dinner plan. We wandered through a few shops and eventually ended up at Tito’s Italian Grill, where the food was good and, most importantly, no waiting!
After dinner, we walked the lakefront area. The air quality was still “unhealthy” (AQI = 188) but it felt good to get out for a bit, stretch the legs and see some fun sculptures.
A quiet day of errands, smoky skies, chicken‑based joy, and a little exploring.
Weather – High 79*, Low 57*. Winds 5-10/19 mph. No rain, no humidity. Air quality = 188 (Unhealthy).
Traffic – None.
Food – Tito’s Italian Grill – good. Raising Cane’s – always good.
Notable – Downtown CDA.
August 3, 2026 (Mon.) - Relaxing in CDA.
Another day with nothing on the agenda — just us, the smoke, and whatever the air‑quality gods decided to throw our way.
Lynn was up at 0630 to a cold-ish morning (50*) and a “very unhealthy” AQI of 201. Kirk slept in until about 0930, clearly unfazed by the apocalyptic haze outside.
Breakfast plans took us to Jimmy’s Down the Street — proudly featured on Diners, Drive‑Ins and Dives, and they make sure you know it. A giant sign on the door announces, “Guy Fieri likes our Pecan Rolls!” We arrived at 10am and snagged a table right away. The pecan rolls were enormous, practically a structural feat. We forgot to order one with breakfast, so we took one home like responsible adults who understand dessert can be a separate event. Even the coffee mugs have Guy Fieri’s face on them, complete with the episode number. The inside was fun and patriotic, with a flag stretched across the ceiling and old license plates covering the walls. The California plate was the only one with bullet holes…Hmph! Breakfast was excellent: chicken fried steak for Lynn, a three‑meat omelet for Kirk.
After breakfast we attempted a scenic drive along the lake. It was scenic… and smoky… and not actually a loop. The road dead‑ended, so we admired the hazy lake, snapped a couple photos, and headed back to the RV. That pecan roll was going to be lunch! Ok, more like our after-brunch snack.
We were back around noon and split the pecan roll — delicious, massive, and absolutely a meal on its own. The afternoon was spent hiding from the smoke until cabin fever kicked in around 3pm. We walked down to the lake, found an alcove, and soaked our feet. A giant crane drifted by, and a duck stopped to snack on blackberries straight off the bushes. Who knew ducks ate berries??!
The rest of the evening was quiet. We tried watching Rise of the Conqueror and bailed after ten minutes — that was enough. Mortal Kombat II was the backup choice: not great, not terrible, but at least watchable.
A low‑key day of smoke, snacks, and small surprises.
Weather – High 77*, Low 48*. Winds 1-3/10 mph. No rain. Slight humidity. Air quality was ‘very unhealthy’ (201).
Traffic – None.
Food – Jimmy’s Down the Street – very good.
Notable – Jimmy’s Down the Street, relaxing by the lake.
Screen time – Rise of the Conqueror (not good). Mortal Kombat II (ok).
