July 3, 2007.

We are going to stay in Pair-A-Dice RV-Park, in Creston, British Columbia. $26.71 gravel interior roads, FHU including cable. This is an OK RV Park.

A scenic drive on US 95 in extreme northern Idaho viewing grain, hay & hops fields.

North out of Sandpoint, Idaho on US 95 loads of hay

We are moving the motorhome from Sandpoint, Idaho to Creston, British Columbia today. As we head north out of Sandpoint on US 95 we can tell we are in hay country as well as lumber country.

Hay fields fill the valleys while timber rules the mountains.

The importance of hay is captured in this picture with one 18-wheeler load of hay disappearing on the extreme left side of this picture then the last two 18-wheelers in this picture are loaded with hay.

Northern Idaho Grain field

Northern Idaho grain in the valley.

Northern Idaho hay operation

Northern Idaho valleys seem to be covered with hay operations.

Northern Idaho grain field

In Northern Idaho US 95 threads its way though a beautiful green valley full of grain fields.

Northern Idaho Pastorial scenery with hay and barn

Northern Idaho hay and old barns team up to produce spectacular scenery.

Northern Idaho Hay and grain

Northern Idaho farmers are in the thier hay fields working from daylight to dark.

Extreme northern Idaho

We are now within one mile of the Canadian border.

Northern Idaho hay and grain

Earlier in the day we actually crossed the Canadian border. Now have traveled east to Yahk in British Columbia and are headed back into the US. Most of this route is through northern Idaho forest but occasionally we get a view of the valley below.

Northern Idaho Hay and grain

After crossing the border we followed US 95 south probably 15-miles until it intersected with SR 1. This is the same route we took into Canada earlier today, but this time we are in the Saturn and are going to take some side roads down into the valley to check out the hops fields. I know that the largest hops field in the world, over 1,800 acres is located in northern Idaho straddling the Idaho, Canadian border.

Northern Idaho hay and grain fields

Northern Idaho hay, and grain fields dot the valley but hops fields are eluding us.

Northern Idaho Grain elevators

Northern Idaho grain elevators.

Northern Idaho hay and grain

This is just a breathtaking view of northern Idaho hay fields juxtaposed against grain fields and huge rolls of hay.

Northern Idaho grain elevator

Northern Idaho grain elevators come in all shapes and sizes.

Northern Idaho hay operation

Northern Idaho hay operaton.

Northern Idaho hay

In northern Idaho it seems like farmers are working almost every hay field in the valley.

Northern Idaho hay

The fellow in the red shirt is driving this hay rig. He is stacking one row of hay while the yellow arm on this side of the vehicle is placing a new bail of hay on the wagon.

Northern Idaho Hay machinery

This northern idaho hay machine has the pick up apparatus on the right side of the vehicle.

Northern idaho hops

Finally we locate the northern Idaho hops fields. We did not get to them until we got to within one-mile of the Canadian border. Hops are grown on a trellis. Hops looks like a vine to me with one plant growing up a string like a pole bean.

The only thing I know of that hops is used for is a bittering agent in beer. Supposedly hops balances the sweet taste of malt. Now you know what that bitter tangy taste is.

Northern Idaho hops field

This is what a Northern Idaho field of hops looks like. I do not know if "hops" is used for anything but the beer brewing process.

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