OK, so I had the date wrong on my last entry.  It was the 17th, but we were in Bellingham, so I was half right.  Today is Sunday, and I think it’s the 20th - but I’m not sure.

To pick up where I left off, in Spokan, Washington, we left there early because they were forecasting a “severe storm” for Seattle and area which would mean snow in the Pass between there and Seattle.  So we happily said good bye to the second worst hotel/motel of the trip.  We are rating them.  Worst was an America’s Best Inns and Suites in Sheridan, Wyoming, next worst was an Econoline in Spokan.  Best were Best Westerns with Comfort Inns coming in a close second.  The best of the lot, a Best Western in Bellingham was $89 a night and an absolutely great room and hotel.

Back on subject.  We left at the crack of dawn only to get lost and end up at the Spokan airport.  Friendly cop got us back on track and we headed west.  Some of the most unpopulated arid land we’ve seen on the trip.  Lots of sagebrush growing and not much else.  A few tumbleweeds were racing across the highway as the winds picked up.  The landscape gradually got a little less arid, and irrigation systems bigger and bigger.  A nice seasonal touch came with the Christmas light scenes at the front of a lot of the irrigaters.  The decision has been to go as far as the mountains and then make a decision about the pass.  It was snowing by the time we got there.  Jack said we would keep going till we saw a place to pull off - a restaurant or hotel.  Well of course you get in these high mountain passes and there are no pull-offs other than chain up areas, no restaurants, no hotels.  It got icy and slushy and was snowing hard.  A constant uphill for miles, but the little Rialta just kept chugging along and finally we reached the summit.

The long downhill run was the worst driving.  Its steep, lots of curves and goes on for several miles.  And it was still slush and ice.  Jack was pretty tense by the time the snow turned to rain and the road levelled out.  What makes this such a tense, difficult drive is the trucks, amount of traffic and the fast pace.  Even in the mountains they are passing, which means blowing you about and covering you with slush or spray.  

Anyway, we stopped for lunch, at a really neat little restaurant on a golf course.  It was raining so no golfers. Then we decided to get north of Seattle before rush hour started.  Hah, its always rush hour on these big highways.  Jack had big ideas of getting into Canada that night but we decided to get settled for the night and head to the campsite in the morning.

Remember if you want to get in touch its julie@seacroftpei.com

Stay warm, healthy and happy

Julie