We Landed at Sam Owen on Lake Pend Oreille

Our 'dog beach'

After driving all day from Caldwell, ID we finally made it to Sam Owen CG about 20 miles east of Sandpoint, ID.  What a long day... lots of road construction on Route 95...long delays and stoppages made for over an hour late in arrival.  We were concerned that all the walk in spots would be taken... with good reason as it turned out.  In Sandpoint we encountered more traffic backups due to trees being down close to the roadways.  It looked very much like a tornado had been through the area... seemed strange.

 

Exploding trees

We found out that 2 days before a wind storm had popped up out of no where and tore down a large number of trees across power lines.  The Sandpoint fireboat had been sent out for a water rescue and the 4 firefighters had to be rescued as well when  their boat was swamped.  We thought that maybe the campground could be closed since there seemed to be so much damage in the area.  Thankfully it was not the case, but several large trees had been taken out by the storm.  Talking with several other campers it was 'some storm with trees exposing and falling down.'

Someone was sleeping in that blue hammock

We found the last site in one section... it had just been reopened after cleaning away storm damage.  Glad we were not here when all heck broke lose.  The tent would not have been a place we'd want to be inside of with trees falling around us.  Beautiful site though and close to everything we need. 

One interesting note... we're outnumber by all the Canadians.  The place seems to be a favorite destination from those in Alberta, Canada.  Seems about right since the border is less than 50 miles away.  Everyone around us is from Alberta and have been coming forever... did not expect that.

The lake...Pend Oreille was formed back in the Ice Age by glaciers moving south from Canada.  Is is thought that these glaciers had formed an ice dam across rivers in what is now Montana.  When the glaciers broke apart the area was flooded by huge walls of water.  It is one of the deepest lakes in the US...1150 feet deep in some parts.  The amazing thing is that it is warm enough for swimming...even Bill.