From the front seat of the truck

We headed out from Prosser with more sunshine and warmer temps than we have had for a long time. Across 82 to 84 - the grapes and horses gave way to plains and hills and vistas. The starkness of this land is almost hard to absorb. It is both empty and full. Harsh and soft. The golden hills with charcoal and green rocks that form short ledges jutting out like chins as if to say we have been here long before you and we will be here long after you are gone. Even in the truck it seems quiet. When you stop - if not for the sound of the wind it would be quiet. Not silent, just smooth. The short stout grass blows as if in a stiff salute to the forces of nature around it. The sage brush scents the air with an aroma not even close to that found in a bottle. While it is not someplace I would want to live, I see much to explore and capture in photos.
This vista shot was just East of Prosser.
Oregon has a law. It is that you cannot pump your own gas. This was something we didn't know. Supposedly it is because of jobs. It keeps more people employed. Felt strange to let someone else do it but they are adamant about it.

We traveled through Washington and into NE Oregon and saw the changes from those around Seattle. Here there are glades and valleys of grass in between the trees. Great open spaces surrounded by pines. I looked for a great bear to walk out and stare at me. But, we have not seen many animals this trip. A pheasant almost crash landed into our windshield but I don't really think that counts.

As we were coming down out of the mountains we came around the curve and this stunning site greeted us. I think these are flax (suggested by Vicki)  very sweet smelling and filled with bees doing their level best to gather pollen. From this location you looked west into these craggy peaks and turned to the East and had smooth hills covered with wind turbines.

 

 I napped after lunch and awoke to what looked like the same place. Who knew there were this many thousands of acres of grassland? Then we turned off  and headed to Craters of the Moon. At first glance it looks like millions of oreo cookies all crumbled up and laying on the ground. Then you get out and look at it - you can't look away. It is seeing something 2000 years old in detail. The rock on top that looks like a pebble is melted into and stuck to the one below it. And over the years bits of moisture and dirt have settled in and plants have grown. But, it is a barren wasteland in so many ways. The color just looks DARK like the most fertile earth on the planet until you realize it is lava/stone. It has oozed up out of the earth and spewed down on it's self.
We arrived at Bill & Vickie's about 9pm and after a great home cooked dinner crashed! Headed out today to Warm River - the HUGE trout sat there looking like you could reach down and grab them.

  

This was our view of the Grand Tetons from the west - did you know that Tetons translates as "breast"?

Then off to Mesa Falls. in the Targhee National Forest - the upper falls. This is just a gorgeous place!

Original early 1900's cabin restored - gorgeous inside and out and fun to see all the exhibits.

This is a a stunning view!

Ric caught these on the porch of the cabin. The trilling sound could be heard even above the falls for many feet away.

Shadow and Baetis giving Ric some help on the sofa. They said he was moving his lips when he read!

Post Seattle

Well, we are off from Seattle today. Absolutely LOVED the weather. Today was the first day I sweat since arriving. That is the way weather should be. 40's at night 60's in the daytime. Rain every other day. My dream weather. It is green, lush, and I have to say that we have experienced some of the most polite human contact in our lives. They drive a bit aggressive - but only saw 1 road rage in all the driving. The politeness and friendliness was beyond anyplace we have ever visited. And, they are laid back. It took us a couple of days to tone down our aggressive get it done attitude only to learn that they seem to always be there to help if they can. Sandee's neighbors brought us cookies and beans and ham and tamales - all home made and one of our sales customers from Tibet, gave me a beautiful bracelet his father made. We are not in Kansas anymore! And, surprise - they have wonderful target ranges. Ok, I am not sure if this is heaven, but this is what my heaven would be a lot like.

Anyway, we at at the Canyons restaurant in Bothell a couple of nights ago - here is the beautiful mural on the wall. Great beer, good burgers and a nice place! Understand the corn fritters and BBQ are good will have to try them next time!

So, with much tiredness and a bit of regret, we left Bothell and headed west on Highway 2. It is a beautiful ride. We stopped just an hour away and this was our view  - the moss and ferns and twisted limbs were almost surreal. I am sure I saw a pixie and his friend Gerald gnome. But, we all know, you cannot capture them in pictures.

 I just missed a train crossing this one - the river is so full from run off and the sound is the white noise dreams are made of. Great river rocks - have a couple in the car from this wonderful place about 200 yards off the highway.

 Three high school girls came walking up the river - just out of school up here - and they each waded out into the "cool" water - rushing past their legs with high pitched giggles. They were taking each other's photos with a cell phone. I applaud their bravery and wish I could go back and be 17 and silly again. Their laughter added to the trill of the symphony made by the river as it rushed to lower elevations over rocks and trees and life.

From here we wound around nice curvy roads where you wondered what vision was about to greet you - up and down over passes and through valleys. We stopped at money creek to take this photo and Ric found 55 cents - guess it is a money creek.
At Yakima we stopped at Mel's Diner. It is a 24 hour blast from the past diner. Good diner food. Ric had the open faced roast beef and I of course did breakfast. Other than the view of Mt Rainier and Mt Adams, we passed through Yakima without notice but this was good food

We wound up in Prosser , Washington. Never heard of it? Us either but, the Best Western is very nice. And we drove through the little town and wish we had time to try out about 3 diners/drive ins and great looking bar. The land around here grows great grapes and hops vines but for me, the barren mountains and hills filled with sagebrush and desolation are just too open to want to spend a lot of time here. I am sure there is a beauty in the starkness but my cottage tree desire makes this too barren for me. I understand they have wine tasting and raise some beautiful horses here and the airport in this small town showed that jets are the way to travel.
Well, off for the night! More adventures tomorrow!

Friday in Seattle

First day of Sandee's sale was today. This was a different type of estate sale. First, we only had about 3.5 real days so, it was not set up as perfect as we would have liked. But, no one pushes or shoves. No one is aggressive, they are polite and while they would like things for as little as possible, if they don't like the price they just say thank you and set it to the side. And wonder of wonders, they don't mess up the linens. I know, it is hard to believe, they know how to refold what they look at. All in all, a very friendly bunch of customers.
It started out cooooool and cloudy in the 50's. (My kind of weather) and we had a gentle rain most of the day. Would have liked it to be dry but . . . after all this is Seattle! Enjoy the coolness for summer in the midwest is waiting!
Ate at The Keg http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/en/locations/WA/lynnwood/lynnwood-keg/

This was at dusk, in the rain - so the colors are funky. Very nice interior - fireplaces burning brightly everywhere and some of the best staff I have seen. That place runs with precision. And, the food was very good too! We had steak - of course and salads, veggies and baked potatoes. Nicely done.

Sorry for the crappy photo - I turned the flash off so I wouldn't look like a dweeb and this is what I got!
The mist rolled in tonight and the coolness is so refreshing. Air has the aroma of evergreens and everything feels clean here. Have to say I love it. When we got back to the hotel there was a group in the hot tub and the steam was rising with their laughter - looked chilly but wonderful.
Well, off to shower and perhaps even a bit of rest before day 2!

Wednesday in the big . . .

Ok, today was . . . well, a work day. Just here in great weather rather than the midwest. I don't want to rub it in but we start out the day with long sleeves and vest and then slowly de-layer and then after the sun sets re-layer. Ok, maybe just a bit of rubbing it in.
We got to experience/enjoy a wonderful shiatsu treatment today by Mike Shimizu in Seattle. Neither of us had been for this before but WOW! We are both hooked. I am amazed at how we feel and it is 1:17am and still going. Maybe not quite the energizer bunny but . . .
Tomorrow is our make it or break it day - lots to do.
Hope Seattle likes our style of sale - this one is just thrown together but you do what you can, with what you have, where you are!

Seattle Tuesday

Ok, update time. Just working and eating. That can't be bad, right? Hotel is great - wonderful bed and pillows and those great cookies that I snag when we get in late! Tonight they even saved 2 for me!
We have been setting up the estate sale - long week but ok.

Yesterday we ate at Burgermaster - an old fashioned drive in - you turn your lights on when you want to order and when you want them to come pick up the tray and you pay when they pick up the tray. Very different and it was pretty good. They had peanut butter milk shakes so I was in heaven

Seattle has gone out of their way to make things look natural. They plant trees and shrubs and flowers and sometimes it is actually hard to see the buildings or know what is in an area. This is a garden at the Burgermaster

You drive street after street here in Bothell and this is they way it looks. Lush, green, flowering - very different from the midwest.
So, not to be outdone by Monday, today we ate at Crystal Creek Cafe. It had an old fashioned airplane theme and was pretty good. These are all close to where we are working and staying - such fun finding new stuff.

In the Seattle area, the people appear very laid back but not while they are in their cars. On the road, they are hell. But in the restaurants, everything is smooth. and a bit slower than we are used to. Who knew that the midwest would seem hyper?

Ate dinner at Sandee's new place tonight - home late! Gotta try for some sleep!

We left Ruby's after a great breakfast! It was misting/raining and the clouds were so low that you could almost touch them. It was really beautiful and my pics did not do a big of justice. Headed West and landed in what is some of the most beautiful country. Following the river through mountains watching the curves in the road and the snow on the peaks. We roared through Idaho much too quickly and decided to take I90 into Seattle. Ok, it is probably faster. But it is some of the least attractive country we have seen. I am used to rolling hills of farm land in Kansas, Oklahoma and even Wyoming and Montana. This is just arid and blah. If you want to film scenes from the post-apocolyptic imagination - this would be a great place. And the wind was blowing so hard it made the Oklahoma wind seem like a light breeze.
We finally stopped in Moses Lake for lunch. First we went in a local place that was packed. It had cafe in the name so it must be good, right? After having our iced tea order taken 2 times and being told it would be about 10 minutes to get that, well Burger King Saved the day. But, have you seen this? Burger King has a "bacon sundae". Really?
Anyway, we headed out into the wind again and crossed the least pleasurable part of Washington state. In fact, it is hard to believe it is Washington. Hills of scrub and then you come around a bend and there are tons of huge wind generators/turbines. Huge! Making lazy circles in the sky. If we hadn't been flying up and down hills at 80 mph we might have got a pic. But then we would have had to stop in the wind!
Anyway, as soon as you start getting closer in to Seattle it starts looking like earth again. Overcast most of the day when we were going through the pretty country.
Arrived and Country Inn had our room - very nice - we are only 1 of 2 rooms tonight so quiet and nice. Cool in the 50's and yet, someone was swimming in the pool when we arrived.

We visited Sandee's old and new home and ate at a kicken restaurant "The Rock" wood fired pizza. The interior is warehouse and rock and roll. They are a micro brewery and the beer is mild and pretty good and the pizza was quite good too!

Butts are dragging tonight and glad to get out of the truck. Feeling very guilty about leaving Bailey at home - have never wanted a type of camper/van more. Wish she could read this and know that we miss her and will be home. So hard to explain to pets about this complicated life we humans weave.
Conversations on this trip are enough to write a book on! Wish I had a recorder! Hope all is well in your world!

3 Days on the Road

Ok - a little behind with updates. Rapid City was in the rear view mirror and we headed west to open country and Wyoming! Last time we were here there was not snow - the snow makes these peaks - they should always have snow.  They are the Big Horn Mountains. Wyoming has a great welcome center - on I90  with this great Bronze out front.

A little further west there was a sign "Scoria for Sale" - perhaps all of you know what that is. I was curious. Lava rock - who knew that ugly red stuff they sell for landscape comes from here and looks like this before the pulverize it.

We found a great little town called Story. After weaving around and down into a valley it is lush with aspens and pines and we ate lunch at theWagon Box Inn. Burgers and French Dip. Food was ok but location was divine. It was as if you were in another place. Sign on the deck where we ate said "No Dogs on Deck" - about half way through lunch a beautiful black and white Australian shepherd comes out from the kitchen area and heads to the back of the building. He didn't stay on the deck!

When we headed back to I-90 we saw this hidden waterfall - there are wonders all around you here.

We arrived in Bozeman and stayed at the Rainbow Motel. Locally owned it is the old fashioned type where you get to park in front of your room. All was clean and quaint. Ate dinner at Famous Dave's BBQ. We were in Bozeman 4 years ago and really like the town. It has a college and has a nice vibe to it. Both young and old mix and the downtown is great. Old buildings still in use and updated mixed with the new.

We left this morning and headed west to Butte. We had never been to Butte before but it is quite a town. The history is alive here and the "old" town has been restored and is being used. We drove up the hill into old town and found a wonderful farmer's marked blocking the street. This town could have become decrepit but the city council seems to be improving it rather than letting it go. Tiny OLD houses from the hey day of the copper mines in the late 1800s are painted and lived in. The first mine is right across the street from the Federal Court House.

We ate at the City Cafe which is in the walkout windowed basement of one building and had a hearty breakfast.
West to Anaconda for gas fillup. Another cute little town to drive through. Although I am pretty sure that the bathroom at the Conoco has not been cleaned in at least 30 years!
At a rest stop just East of Missoula we found these cute items. Walked down to the river and beaver had been busy

And lovely forest roses - you could smell them - seemed like bees would love the aroma!

Tonight we sleep in Missoula at Ruby's. Nice clean hotel room with FAST internet and nice hot water. We ate at a Mexican restaurant called Rowdy's. It was ok. Drove through old down town and wish we had more time to spend there. Didn't get a pic of it but they have the COOLEST tunnel! This town is great and wold love to spend some time here. This is the view out our hotel door.

Some cute metal art in front of Rowdy's.

Well, thats all the news thats fit to print tonight! See ya on the flip side.