Glorious sun, 60-degree temperatureshelp North Idahoans thaw out

It wasn’t even noon and yet the temperature on the sun-kissed Rathdrum Prairie neared a spectacular 54 degrees. Chatter filled the Links Golf Club parking lot as golfers admired the clear blue sky.

Friday marked the first day of the official season, as Darrell Hull, the club’s director of golf, booked tee times: 240 people swung from their shoes at the Links on Friday. Although the course has been open for a week, Hull ran 11 a.m. shotgun times, where golfers started all at once at different tees.

Rob Taylor, a garbage truck driver for the city of Spokane, paused to take in the sun.

“Normally in February you’re not golfing yet. It’s usually snowing or too cold,” Taylor said. “It’s a treat to be here in February.”

Plovers sprinted between parked cars while friends caught up on winter happenings. A sense of camaraderie permeated the course.

Steve Richardson plays the par 73 course three to four days a week with the same group of 15-30 guys.

“Everybody’s got a little spring fever,” Richardson said. “They’re anxious to get outdoors.”

Across the county in Coeur d’Alene, the clear day reflected in the deep lake.

David Trout took a stroll around the boardwalk before driving to Spokane to catch a plane home to Portland. Trout grew up on the shores of Lake Dillion in Summit County, Colo. Staring out at the clear blue water, he felt a fierce homesickness for the lake town where he grew up.

“I lived on an inlet on the lake,” Trout said. “It had a similarly spectacular view, surrounded by mountains.”

Families skipped rocks across the satin surface of the water. Office workers ate their lunches out of Tupperware on sun-golden park benches.

Freshly clipped yellow daffodils stood in vases on the white mosaic patio tables at Woops! Bakeshop on Fourth Street.

Ilene Moss, owner of All Things Irish, and Carson Rhodes of the NYC Piano Bar visited between their storefronts as Moss planted bright primroses in the flower boxes beneath her store’s picture windows.

“I hope it’s like this for the St. Patrick’s parade,” Moss said, cheerfully.

Moss organizes the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Coeur d'Alene in addition to many Celtic-inspired events throughout the year. Rhodes eagerly awaited a delivery to get his New York deli up and running on the sidewalk patio of his restaurant. It was easy to see why.

The sidewalk teemed with locals and visitors alike, all looking hungry. An almost summer buzz filled the late winter air. People cruised sun splattered Sherman Avenue with their windows down and their radios turned up loud.

“We’re going to walk until we run out of sun,” Beverly Crawford said as she strolled through City Beach with her daughters.

“The lake is still cold,” her daughter, Lyla Crawford, said with a giggle.

“Snow is in the forecast,” said another daughter, Kaylee Dinkel.

Snow in the forecast or not, this February day was a greatly appreciated slice of spring.

At the Links, Jim McCarthy eased up to the tee, took a swing, and sent the ball sailing down the fairway.

“Good hit Jim, nice one,” the group echoed as they lifted their bags over their shoulders and began their long, luxurious walk.

“I could get used to this,” McCarthy said, blinking into the bright sunlight.