OR to WA to ID

Nice calm night, distant train whistles but peaceful and quiet.  Woke to the sight of a huge barge sliding through the now calm waters of the Columbia River, right outside our bedroom window!

Good morning Barge on the Columbia River, OR

  

We are on a mission today to cover some serious miles so we’re up and on the road by 10 am.  Leaving Boardman, we say goodbye finally to Oregon, it feels like we are leaving family/friends or even home! Oregon has been good to us, we’ve had an awesome time here, we enjoyed the State, the people, the climate and of course no sales tax.  

Pretty much straight away we are  on the I 84 north and drive across the state line to WA.  The landscape is dry, arid, tones of gold and brown.  

Welcome to Washington State

Arid countryside

The first big city in WA is Kennewick then as we drive further north east, Spokane.  We only see this city from the interstate but it looks like just another dirty, old city, although they do have good shopping by the looks – outlet shops, malls and the usual chain stores. Not far further though is the charming little city of Spokane Valley, more outdoorsy - fishing, rafting, kayaking,  hiking trails, picnic areas and swimming holes. It’s also an agricultural centre, apparently with cliff side wineries and award winning restaurants, would like to spend more time here.  But just a few miles further we cross the state line into Idaho, to Lake Coeur d’Alene where we stop for the night.

 I got the photo, again!! 

Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Idaho is still widely known as the Potato State  (one third of the USA’s spuds are grown here) but the largest industry is actually the science and technology sector.  However Idaho is officially the Gem State because every type of gemstone has been unearthed here, and it is the only place in the eastern hemisphere where deep red garnets are found in any quantity.   Who would have thought!

It’s been a big drive today and we have covered a lot of territory in our quest to get to Helena, Montana before the end of the week. We are looking in good shape for that!

The weather has settled, sunny and a mild 23 C so very homely.  The only blotch on our 'happy place' is the bloody front jack has spat the dummy again.  The new connection literally spat off this afternoon as we were setting the jacks and hydraulic fluid sprayed absolutely everywhere!!  It would appear we need to replace the hose this time, not just the connection, and dang it all, it is the long one right from the front! Also we checked, it probably isn't covered by our new warranty : (   But we have googled a couple of places to check out when we get over to Missoula in Montana, the next big town before we get to Helena.  Montana is also tax free so that might save us some $.  The joys of being full time RV'ers : )