Our Wicked Walkabout

Or so it was supposed to be.

This morning we were just going to drive the short distance between Spokane and Issaquah, a bedroom community outside of Seattle.

That was the plan. It was only a 4 1/2 hour drive.

Until we hit the construction. Which took 1 hour and 45 minutes to pass through.

We left Spokane later than other days as we needed to take “fill time” before our next checkin. We had a leisurely breakfast, and met a Canadian couple who were driving to Ontario. They had started in the Kootenays, as their daughter just had a baby and they were heading home. We compared notes.

Off we headed again west. Suddenly we were in the Columbia Plateau. It was more prairie like than the prairies! Super flat, and filled with “crop circles” as the farmers used irrigation systems to water their fields.

My little painting of the day tried to capture that, not sure I was successful, but here it is.

We had lunch at a rest stop and changed drivers. There was a sign telling us about wildlife, not that there was any. Only truckers and drivers 🤣

Off we headed again, just as Rick has settled down for a good nap, and gentle snoring was heard, I saw this amazing “scenic view” and luckily there was a viewing area.

Poor Rick’s nap was cut short.

But we both agreed it was worth it for the views of the Columbia River, and Ginko Petrified Forest State Park!

And we did see some native wildlife! Lmao!

Off we headed again, thinking we would arrive at our motel still early, but close enough for an early check in.

As I drove, enjoying the scenery, and the gentle snoring beside me. I watched the arrival time change… creeping later and later…. Almost 2 hours later… oh oh.

And then we hit it.

Almost 2 hours later we finally cleared the bumper to bumper crawl, and 45 minutes later, were checked in and having a pre-action calibration (aka a drinkie)

We looked for somewhere to eat, and fill up for tomorrow’s drive. Conveniently, the Costco gas was only a few blocks away. Not much of a line, but hard to find the entrance… we had to take two tries.

Then off to Malarkey’s a local sports bar.

The Seattle Sea Hawks were playing the San Fran 49ers. So it was an enthusiastic crowd in the place, and much cheering, that unfortunately turned to tears by the time we left!

The special that night was flank steak “on a stick” as our animated server Morgan so eloquently called it. (the menu called them Marinated Flank Steak Skewer) they were apparently very popular, as there were only three left, and we got ‘em.

So we ordered some wings later. SPICY!!!🌶️

A fun evening, and home to our motel for some TV, (which I fell asleep to) and bed.