Home on the Rain

DAY NINE: Spokane WA to Sammamish, WA

OK, so it's not raining here at all but we thought it'd sound clever to give a nod towards our home region's stereotype for rain. In fact, it is quite lovely here in Sammamish, WA--after unloading the trailer, "M" came over to get "K" and we ended up going to Mexican in Redmond with my Dad and...I need time to decompress from such a long and fantabulous journey.

3300+ miles, 12 states, no speeding tickets, no lost car keys or stolen items, clear sunny weather daily, so many new folks along the way, and a whole heck of a lotta fun. We have arrived!

A few pics from today--I am beat for now. Will add more later, so don't forget to let us know you are reading!

Good hydrations: this plastic garbage bag was FULL of our plastic bottles for recyling. We really absorbed lots of H20 and also fizzy drinks. Our booze bottles are not in here because they are glass, which gets a different bin and all. Thanks to Shanley for offering to recycle stuff in Spokane!

The triumvirate strikes again in Spokane...

Starbucks, Spokane: after an incredibly complicated time getting our drive-thru order settled with the baristas, "K" mused, "If I had left a tip, I'd be scrounging in the tip jar right about now to take it all back...!"

I bet this is what you think of when you picture "Washington, The Evergreen State", huh? But did you know WA is a massive producer of WHEAT, wheat and more what?



Swheat! Off Highway 2, east of Spokane. It's hard for us not to have Wazzu flashbacks in this kind of landscape...





Then the terrain starts to change...

We only have THIS far left to go...!

This is the only traffic holdup we experienced on our entire trip...(here: between Ephrata, Quincy and Vantage, WA)

...we are NOT amused by this situation.

Yes, there really IS a George, Washington. Complete with the 'Martha Inn' (now accepting credit cards).

What? You don't believe me?

Heading down towards Vantage, WA to the Columbia River to get on I-90. Still windy on this part of the drive just like it is every time one drives here, no matter how many years pass between such journeys.

Roll On, Columbia! ("I haven't been here since...the last time I was here." --Lisaopolis, 09/2007)

The Columbia River (at Vantage, WA)

Hark! What's that I see in the distance? It's Mount Rainier. A welcome reward for scaling the seemingly neverending Vantage Hill

Ellensburg, WA.

Quick trek to the Thorp fruit stand, Thorp, WA. "K" is considering leaving her husband for me because I'm always willing to stop for coffee, at fruit stands, and at general rural and/or folksy points of interest. Look, I don't make the news, I just report it.

Fresh and fragrant!

Getting closer to western WA...

Yay, the Cascade Mountains!

Lunch stop at McKean's for burgs in Cle Elum (since I am, after all, Little Lisa "H", of the Cle Elum "H's"). I think the ladies who work there just get crankier with each passing year. But the burgs do not disappoint.

Remember the 10,000 Silver Dollar bar knick-knacks I told you about yesterday? My new $3.00 ring has totally already turned my finger green, the piece of crap...

Madge's very last mountain ascent (up towards Snoqualmie Pass)

...and for the second time on the trip, she passes another vehicle.

Oh ya we are almost home.







Down we go...

Between North Bend and Snoqualmie

North Bend, WA: last turn off to a McD's iced coffee

Redmond-Fall City Hwy, woo hoo, almost there...

Home in Sammamish, WA: see? The trailer was actually totally empty the whole time...

Just kidding!

We hope you have enjoyed our travel blog--we have way more stories and classic one-liners than are humanly possible to post here since we were usually pretty tired after each day of driving. But it sure has been fun to share some of them with you. Anything else you want to know about the trip? Your comments, please!

Goodnight!