Centre of the Universe

    Our RV site number at Christina Lake Golf club was number 5.  When I had phoned to reserve the spot, the lady said that she was putting us in her favourite site.  She was not wrong.  Site 5 was the last site overlooking a gully.  There were not many campers, but even if it was full, we would have had someone only on the one side.  It was very private and quite large.  I was sorry to have to hand back that golf cart though, “let me tell you”!  It was great fun to drive around in.  We even saw a big deer crossing the road in front of us on the way to the golf club for dinner.  Of course I was not quick enough to grab my phone to take a photo.  I always wonder how people come upon an accident, or see someone doing something that could be newsworthy and are able to capture everything on their phone cameras.  How do they do that??  They must go through life with their cellphones in their hands!

     The border into the Laurier Washington is about 5 minutes down the road from the golf course.  The border guard looked like Arnold Schwartzeneger, and looked pretty grumpy.  He asked what we were bringing down for food.  It was easier to tell him what we didn’t have in the trailer.  We have been across the line enough to know not to bring dairy, fruit, vegetables and sometime chicken or meet (depending on weather Canada is having an avian flu or mad cow issue).  Of course he never asked about booze, because what crazy Canadian would bring booze across when they can buy it so cheap in the States?  I later found out that Ray had brought some wine across! 

    The first part of the drive down towards Spokane was very isolated.  We thought we might be the only ones on the road.  I often wonder what brings people to live in these remote areas such as Barstow or Boyds.  There is literally nothing in these places. Run down mobile homes that appear to be abandoned, but have newer vehicles parked nearby or a dog roaming around.  What do they do for work?  The people, not the dogs!!  We followed the Kettle River down  to Kettle Falls, where the river meets up with the Columbia river forming a huge beautiful lake called Roosevelt Lake.  Lots of houses around that area. After being stuck in a traffic jam on the I90, due to an accident for about half an hour, We arrived in Wallace Idaho at approximately 3:30.

Center of the Universe

     Wallace Idaho is a quaint little town.  With beautiful old buildings and American flags billowing in the wind.  The town is nestled in a small valley in the Coeur d’Alene National Forest which is in the county of Shoshone and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States.  With a population is less that 1000 people, it is hard to imagine that is in one of the richest silver districts in the country.   There is no mining in Wallace these days, but you can take a tour of the underground mine.  There are four museums, live theatre (shows depicting the early days of Wallace).  The tourist guide indicates there are a number of unique shops, dining and two microbreweries.  What we saw though was a number of abandoned buildings and hotels.  About four “antique” shops, two hardware stores, a beautiful court house, grocery store, police station (with a lookout on the top corner of the building(?)) and one store that appeared to be a men’s clothing store with new products.  I really hate to see these once bustling towns, now with abandoned run down buildings.  Such history and now such waste.

Courthouse

One of the old hotels

     Wallace is rich in silver mining and was at one time the biggest producer of silver in the United States.  As in the gold rush of the far north, the success of the town in the late 1800's brought not only workers, but alcohol , gambling and "women".  

Wikipedia says it best:

"A mining community with a "work hard, play hard" attitude, Wallace became well-known for a permissive approach toward drinking, gambling and decriminalized prostitution. From 1884-1991, illegal yet regulated brothel-based sex work openly flourished because locals believed that sex work prevented rape and bolstered the economy, so long as it was regulated and confined to the northeastern part of town.  Throughout the rest of the country, progressive era politics drove red-light districts underground, but madams in Wallace enjoyed unprecedented status as influential businesswomen, community leaders, and philanthropists. Between 1940 and 1960, for example, an average of 30 to 60 women came into town to work in one of the five well-established brothels.The town currently continues to honor these historic roots, with its Oasis museum dedicated to the history of sex work: housed in a former brothel, curious tourists or nostalgic former patrons can tour the upstairs, which has been preserved as it was when the women left.[29] The former Lux Rooms has been repurposed into a boutique inn, and it also has many elements preserved from its brothel roots, including floor-to-ceiling gold veined mirrors."

     In 2004 the mayor of the day (Ron Garitone) dedicated Wallace as the "Centre of the Universe".  A monument, which happens to be a manhole cover in the middle of the intersection of 6th Street and Bank Street, was "erected" (how do you erect a manhole cover?).  Is it really the centre of the universe?  Well Mayor Garitone said at the time, "you can't prove otherwise".  So I guess until someone can prove otherwise, then it is so.

We are off to Montana,,,,,,

Lori and Ray