"I roamed the countryside searching for answers to things I did not understand."Leonardo da Vinci

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"God made the country, and man made the town."

William Cowper, The Task

A sublime, sunny Saturday afternoon was spent gadding around the Arcadian surrounds today. We drove up to the Canadian border, only 60 miles away from our home. The entire drive was framed by a picturesque panorama; such a splendid sight. Northern Idaho is by the far the prettiest part of the country that I have seen.

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A sojourn in a bucolic town led to us finding some whimsical little stores.


At a quaint and cozy bookstore, with a resident cat, I purchased "Pere Goriot" by Honore De Balzac, one of my favourite writers.
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We then perused some gift stores finding all manner of pricey trinkets and home wares. One store had a gorgeous coffee lounge at the back with cakes, gelato, brilliant cappuccino and even a substantial lunch menu. With couches and benches it looked very chic and reminded me of something I would find in Brunswick Street, oh so trendy and arty farty. I loved it.

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A trip to a local gunshow was also on the agenda. Normally those shows are a hotbead of subversive types wearing ridiculous quasi military get up, despite being old and fat. This one was quite small and the folk attending were a much more laid back lot. More Kenny Rodgers types with the beards and cowboy hats rather than the G.I Joke cammo wearing freak type. The guns were very different too. Lots of wooden, older style rifles, not a single Uzi in sight, shame!

"Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds,

Exhilarate the spirit, and restore

The tone of languid nature."

William Cowper

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