50 States Day 40

Day 40 Lewiston Idaho to Leavenworth, Washington 312 miles

"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."

~Thomas Jefferson

Scizophrenic weather may be our undoing. Clear skies deteriorated into black clouds that dumped rain with a vengeance. The temperatures swung from the low seventies to the low fifties. Don the Gerbing gear? Plug it in? Fiftten minutes after a decision may prove it wrong.

Leaving Lewiston we climbed perhaps 2,000 feet switchbacking up with an almost steady view of the city and the Snake River below. The farms undulated over the landscape a deep green reminiscent of Ireland. I've never been to Ireland, but it made me think of it anyway. 

As we rolled through Colfax Quilter Girl spotted a fabric store, so we stopped and she shopped. This shop rates low on our list, as the lady wasn't helpful or creative at all. QG got one piece of fabric and a letdown. Back on the road.

Miles later the land levelled and reminded us of Kansas again. And Washington, like Idaho, seems to always have a river handy. The Snake, Columbia, Wenatchee and Icicle Creek paralleled the roads, providing lovely entertainment. 

I am willing to look like an idiot. As we rolled through Quincy, QG said, "Doesn't Paul work here?" Paul, our oldest son, does. We screeched to a stop, called him and went to dinner with him. There's some forward planning! We'll see him and the kids on Saturday in Seattle. We planned that. Lots of family and friends in Seatttle, as we were born and raised there.

We rolled into Leavenworth at 7:30 P.M., much later than our intent. Worth the price of having time with our son. However, our first foray to (PP!) Thousand Trails was an eye opener. It's called Thousand Trails Leavenworth, but was actually 27 miles beyond. Now we're outrunning darkness! We wound through the Cascade Mountains between towering trees on both sides. Thousand Trails at last! 

We set up the tent in a hurry. Since it's so cold, we got the quilt out of the cover. It got soaked from the slush/snow in Stanley! QG the quilt rescue girl got to work and found the laundry. 

It's 11:45 P.M., and it's been a long day, yet rewarding. We rode through some cold weather and plenty of hydroplane-producing rain, but got to our destination unscathed and dry. Thank God for good gear. The little heater is taking off the edge, and it's time for a night of blissfull sleep, to the tapping of random raindrops on the roof.

What a great 59th birhtday.