We are back on schedule after our disappointment of missing Glacier National Park. We spent one night each in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. We are now in Utah. The mountains are just beautiful. We are at a state park campground with Willard Bay just a short walk away. We are very excited to be staying here two nights, as every other day of our trip we have had somewhere to drive in the morning.
The trip really is amazing. I know I keep saying that, but there is no other way to describe it. Washington has been our least favorite state so far. They were just not very friendly and although we traveled through it for the better part of a day, there was not ONE Welcome Center. Then, when we stopped at a Wal-Mart for the night, we found out that we could not stay there. Apparently, the people who own the houses on the other side of the 8ft white fence did not want people in campers sleeping in their RVs on the other side. The Wal-Mart staff were quite nice about it, but it still stunk. So, if you are in Washington, stay away from Kennewick. L
So we back tracked 20 minutes or so and stayed in Pasco, WA. The Wal-Mart there did let us stay and they were nice enough. We did manage to find a few postcards, but ended up leaving the state without a bumper sticker or a Christmas Ornament (we are collecting them). We also did not end up seeing a single “site” because we had not researched them (as we did not expect to be there for a whole day) and there was NO information and no one to ask. Sad really.
Fortunately, Oregon (or-e-gun, as we were told) was much more friendly. There was a great Welcome Center. It even had a campground on a pond (wish we had known about THAT when we were having trouble at Wal-Mart!). The woman at the Center recommended The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and it was a great little museum. We got in with our Federal Pass, which was extra nice. James and Elena earned the title of Jr.“Wagon Master” , by doing the Jr. Ranger program there. We really wanted to stay longer, but we had gotten a flat on one of the rear tires. We had put air in it a number of times, but this time it was really FLAT.
We drove to the nearest town, Baker City. We went to a place called Les Schwab Tire and they were GREAT. They took the tire off, fixed the leaky valve and put it back on in less than 20min. THEN they said it was “on the house” and sent us on our way with well-wishes for a fun vacation. After such a disappointing day in WA, this small kindness really made our day. Oregon was a very nice place, and we got TWO stickers for the back of the RV and a key chain (because we did not like any of the ornaments we found.
From Oregon, we drove back into Idaho. I didn’t really expect it, but Idaho is very beautiful. We went to see the Craters of the Moon National Site. It was unique…it is the remains of a volcano cause by the hot spot that is now Yellowstone. For miles and miles there is black lava rock. We learned about volcanoes and geology. We also learned what kinds of animals and plants live in this area that seems like a “waste land” but isn’t. Laurinda, James and Elena did the Junior Ranger programs, but we stayed so late at the park, the Welcome Center was closed, so we have to mail it in for them to get their patches. The landscape of the park is truly the most unique I have ever seen. The best park of the park, however, is likely the caves. The older kids and Tom climbed through several of the caves. There are no lights and no guides or such. One just climbs down and explores. Flashlights were a big must, as the caves got dark, cool and damp REALLY fast! This park was definitely worth the extra driving time to see it.
Today we went to the Idaho Potato Exhibition, in Blackfoot. Do yourself a favor and skip this one if you are in Idaho. The staff was not friendly, the exhibit was only mediocre and the free baked potato their website claims to offer is really just a box of dehydrated hash brown…I didn’t even know one could DO that…bleck. Overall, though, we really did like Idaho.
That is it for now. The kids (and their parents) are glad for a “down day” tomorrow. Hope you all have a WONDERFUL 4th of July weekend. We miss you all and will be thinking of you this weekend as we miss a Webster fireworks for the first time in 10 yrs. For those of you who are coming to the house anyway, we will be thinking of you especially. Happy 4th Everyone!
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