Day One: Steve: Waterfalls, Ginkgos, and Running on Empty

10:38 a.m. After a decent night's sleep - and having a wonderful dream busted up by the phone jangling me awake on the nightstand - Deb and I left Seattle on our most fabulous journey. Woo! Hoo!

What a perfect day! Sunny skies, perfect mid-70s temperatures, and light traffic on the roads. Deb and I are determined to miss the superhighways and not miss the intracacies of this country. Nothing more than 4 lanes.

First rest stop about noon at the Indian John Hill Rest Area across from Mt. Stuart.

Deb: 'I've fallen and I can't get up!'

Passed over the Columbia River in Vantage, WA, and was impressed by its size and scope. Then came the first of our unexpected treasures: the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park. Gee, Jeff's all-time favorite tree preserved in stone. How could we NOT stop for a visit? Apart from the fiberglass dinosaur, this was really a learning experience and full of gorgeous panoramas of the glacial remains and the Columbia River.

The interpretive center (the place with all the information) is located on a high point overlooking the river. Peering over the cliff into the river one could see the geese floating on the crystal clear water above the river algae. You could also see the mucka humungous fish swimming just below the surface.



DEB: I especially liked a display of petroglyphs, which was down a gravel path and past a sign warning that "This is rattlesnake country." Uh, and where are the petroglyphs but in a rocky cliffside right where SNAKES like to get a tan! Thanks for the warning!

From there we drove through the farmlands of Eastern Washington, also known as the Land-Where-There's-No-Cell-Phone-Reception-So-Don't-Get-Bitten-By-A-Rattlesnake-Because-There's -Not-A-Hospital-For-Fifty-Miles. It also means that when you are on an important conference call with the Boston Gay Games 2014 committee, well... telepathy would be a great superpower. Fifteen minutes into the call and my bars all disappeared and got exed out. Sorry, guys.

The best was up ahead, thanks to knowledgeable Deb. We sidetracked to Palouse Falls, a little known geological gem of a place. It's just a hair's breath away from nothing and - oh, you should check your gas gauge before heading down that final dirt road - but worth walking to if you need. It's Washington State's version of Angel Falls and just spectacular, as this photo shows:



After gawking for a half-hour we set our goals on reaching a service station before the service station would need to come to us. Coasting down the hills we made it on the final fumes. I'm not sure AAA helps a lot when you've got no phone reception anyway...

Refilled the tank in Washtucna and resumed our drive east, through the wheat fields and wheat fields and alfalfa fields and wheat fields and wheat fields and former wheat fields covered in dust and more wheat fields. Surprisingly - despite the sarcastic tone - they were quite beautiful, their subtle tone differences juxtaposed against the tractor paths making for an ever-changing vision.


Lewiston, Idaho: The confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers

Although our initial goal was to make it to Missoula this first day, we decided to call it quits in Lewiston, Idaho, for the night. Camped out in the Inn America ($67/night plus free internet and continental breakfast!), took a short recovery rest, then went to dinner at the local bistro, McMullen's. The Crispy Chicken Salad was one of the best meals I have ever had. Yes. Right here in Lewiston, Idaho. Not a famous potato in sight.

I am hoping that my skills formatting this damned blog will improve as the week passes. If not, my apologies to those who expect more. Get over it.

Tomorrow more adventures! Yay!