Nendels Inn Yakima

... glad we went. THen we trekked two hours further north and back into Idaho to Couer D'Alene Cellars where Shaner also worked and tried some more wines! Also amazing!

Finally we made it to Ellensburg, WA just before Seattle to call it a night before we make the rest of the trek to VanCity while the rest of the country stuffs their faces with Thanksgiving Dinner.

... we are planning to move to. I cannot wait to see what that part of the world is like. I have never been any closer than Orlando and that was just for two days during a business thing (I worked for a company that manufactured those bouncy houses for kids parties and we had a convention, LOL). I wonder if we will have time to pick out any presents ...

... done, we drove up to Pike Place Market (where they throw the fish) and had a very nice lunch.

By the time the coach was ready, we had missed our appointment at Cummins in Renton, WA, to have the air filter replaced. They suggested that we continue on to their facility in Yakima, WA, which was right on our way. We called Yakima and found the filter in stock. Our arrival time was right at ...

Hello again!

We are here! In Washington...the state, not the city, you can all keep breathing and not worry that we've been driving EAST for the past 5 days instead of west! A few little notes....

1. Skip the Montana Old Prison Museum....it's totally not worth it and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to get the plague from the spores I inhaled there!

2. Rav's a wonderful vehicles....and are good at climbing hills....especially if you name ...

... around and stretch our legs a bit.

Our plan was to get to the Best Western in Leavenworth, WA, but when we got off the highway in Ellensburg, there was a brand new Hampton Inn which had only been open one month, so we hurriedly called and canceled the Best Western (fortunately, they were really nice about it).

Chris went in search of food while I ...

... we headed up to a place where we could taste a sampling of Washington wines from the porch of an old villa with fantastic views over gently rolling hills planted in vines and fruit trees, and marmots. Pure misery, as dad would say.

Back in town, we enjoyed an authentic Italian meal at a place called the Olive Garden. The menu said all its chefs trained in Italy, and we believed it.

N.

... scenario quickly approached as we got closer to what would be our lodging that night. With concrete slabs and wooden cots, these stuffy, smelly, hovels would not be acceptable. We imagined something overlooking beautiful scenery with maybe a campfire; instead we would have to hear the sounds of tractor trailers filled with Rainier ...

... experience over a few months. They will be young men before I have an opportunity to really know them as children. I rode with David, Connie, and the 'tough guys" over to Midway airport in Chicago. We met the Bear, who flew up for the weekend. She did not know I had arrived in Saint Joe. I think she was pleasantly surprised to see me.

It's a good idea to buy whatever kids are selling from a card table in their front yard 5-30-92 Beside the Lochsa River, Idaho Mild, clear Saturday morning came in under a clear sky with cool air and a warm sun. Open roads lay ahead. There were no cities to jostle through...and it felt good. I moved back up US-95 to US 12 and headed east again toward Montana. The Clearwater Mountains loomed on the right. Straight ahead I faced the Rockies. A ...

... events over a couple Ranier beers at the local tavern. At midnight the local studs still raced their autos, stereo systems and loud exhausts in full competition, up and down, back and forth on the highway just outside our window. I am constantly amazed at what people, especially young males will do to amuse themselves when they are bored. Cruisin' the main drag is a phenomenon of American culture, a courting ritual for weekend nights, especially in small towns.