Moving into Washington State

Thursday, June 29, 2017

  

Today we left behind the RV Park in Redmond where RV’s had been arriving the past couple of days for a dog show this weekend.  We could not believe it when a small RV pulling a small camper trailer pulled in in front of us.  That was interesting in itself, but when dog after dog after dog kept coming out of the RV (a total of 10), we were flabbergasted.  Not only 10 dogs but 6 of them standard poodles and the other four probably standard poodle puppies about 6 months old.  The couple set up numerous wire cages and put two standard poodles in each and one with the four puppies.  Amazing.  Not sure I would like traveling with that many dogs in any size RV.  One was enough when we had Trixie.

Our travel north into Washington was beautiful.  Lots of views of the snow capped mountains, a beautiful river alongside in places, lots of lush green forest and the closer we came to the Columbia River, lots and lots of orchards.  Not sure what kind of fruit, but I would guess probably apples as I know they grow lots of apples in Washington. 

The bad part of the drive is that it is mostly all two lane highway though there are many, many passing lanes along the way.  Highway 97, 26 and 35 are all heavily traveled roads not only for cars, but semis as well as RVs of all sorts.  Trying to come onto the highway is any of the towns along the way without a stop light is a long wait because vehicles are spaced together so closely. 

We had quite an argument with “Mildred” our GPS today about whether we should be on any of the roads.  I had done my research in the truck atlas to make sure we could travel all of the roads and was assured by it that we could.  However, Mildred said we were too long and too heavy.  She was especially distressed when we crossed the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks, OR over the Columbia River into Washington.  We forged on ignoring her whinning and crossed this narrow bridge without incident. 

We had to go west in Oregon on I-84 (the highway runs along the beautiful Columbia River and mountains making it a most enjoyable drive) to go back east in Washington to our campground as there are four low tunnels just east of where we are staying.  While the truck atlas says we can clear it and apparently semis do it, the campground and my old roommate said “don’t try it”, just go west and then back east on the Washington side.  It’s safer.

 

Looking from I-84 across the Columbia to Washington

Arriving in Washington, we drove along the narrow highway along the river toward our RV Park located away from the hustle and bustle of life and into a serene and peaceful spot in the mountains among the trees.  This serene spot will be our location for the next week. 

Met the neighbors next door who also own a Tiffin Phaeton like ours.  We compared notes on problems, etc.  Not only are they from Texas but own a casita at the RV Park in Kerrville where we were last year and will be again this year.  As well, they are acquainted with the couple who were located next to us at the Park last year.  Small world.  Who says you have to live in the same place all the time to make friends or meet people who know who you know.  We plan to see them again this fall when we arrive in Texas.