On The Oregon Trail

Day 34 Vancouver WA to Spokane WA

300 miles

We took a nice 45 minute walk this morning. Just a block up the street from the RV park is a lovely city park.

One thing about this part of the country is that they provide plenty of parks, walk/biking paths and sidewalks for their citizens. This one is in the area called 'the Orchards' and the park is Orchards Park. The rhododendrons are in full bloom, I'd forgotten how beautiful they are, they don't like the heat of the south.

It's like the calendar has been turned back a couple of months, the spring flowers I enjoyed in March are blooming here. Lilacs are another blossom I miss in the south and they are in bloom now. On the back side of the park is a street with modest houses. One has an owner with a flare for spring flowers...had to take a picture.

We headed EAST on I84 (Columbia River Hwy.) which runs on the Oregon side of the mighty Columbia River through the Columia River Gorge. This is a spectacular drive. We went this way in 2004 and remembered how beautiful it was.

As the river travels east the wall of the gorge become less lofty. Agriculture is big, especially orchards in this area.

When the highway reaches Boardman Junction I84 becomes The Old Oregon Trail Highway. A short time later we got on I82 and US395 and finally I90, which we'll be taking tomorrow in Idaho and Montana.

We arrived at the KOA here in Spokane around six o'clock. Headed out for some groceries at WalMart. Jim was tired from driving, and even at his best, he's soooo NOT a good WalMart shopper. He gets so aggrivaed waiting at the registers, I don't think he'll ever learn to just chill and not worry about getting through the lines, eventually you do...He's like the *WalMart Police*

It's COLD tonight, in the 30's now at eleven o'clock. As usual we're within sight of a railroad track. Our joke is that if we're looking for a campground, just follow the railroad tracks and we'll find one! Train going by right now...OY!