Last Stop in Washington

On Sunday a very short drive took us to the Lake Sprague RV Park, in Sprague, WA. I had no idea what to expect other than a park right on the lake.

Sprague was a small burg with a downtown of large, lovely buildings, a neighborhood of bungalows and  two-story Victorians, a beautiful brick church on the hill, and a couple roadside stops on the highway.

Watching over what's left of the little town

The only thing left is the gas station and burger stop on the highway, the old market downtown, about two dozen houses, a bank, and the church. All of downtown is boarded up, half of it closed to any street access, it feels more like a movie set.

This lot had about 30 very cool, old cars and trucks

Remember little places like The Viking?

Dying downtown

We had the park to ourselves with the delightful woman who lives in her house on the property (ring the doorbell if you need anything), and maintains everything on her own. She is a delight and one reason we would stay there again.

The other is how pretty it is. After our off-ramp location for the last week, this grassy site beside the water was perfect. Quail, duck, geese and pelicans entertained us while the sunsets were beautiful.

Lake side in Sprague, WA

So funny looking

Serene evenings

The geology of the area is unique and we spent our one day driving around the rock outcroppings and through the rolling hills of plowed wheat fields. It is all fenced, private range land so we could only enjoy it from the car with almost no places to pull off for photos. The tall rock walls in the distance looked like rows of large Tootsie Rolls - very different!

We are taking Hwy 395 to SoCal and could have driven into Oregon on our first leg. Most would have.

But we are living this life because we want to see things we haven't seen before. We would have missed this pretty little lake, the interesting landscape, and the small dying town looking like it has so many stories to tell.

What Was I Thinking?

Friday Bill feels much better and ready for a day trip. Mount Spokane State Park is about 25 miles from the RV park, and seems to be a perfect destination on a day that would see temps in the 90's in the city. Seems to be.....

Leaving I-90, the drive through Prairie City is beautiful. Golden hills with large homesteads and horses grazing, it is a delight on a perfect blue-sky day.

The elevation gain is subtle as you head into the park. Soon we are back in the forest with Western Red Cedar and Aspens lining the road. At the viewpoint I'm surprised to see how much we climbed from the valley floor.

As in other state and national parks we've visited, signage is not great at Mount Spokane. When we come to the ski-lift there are workers doing repairs to the building and nothing and no one else there. The road continues but only goes to a condominium complex <weird>. 

We stop at the ski lift area to look around. I couldn't believe how steep the mountain is here, it looks straight up. I figure there has to be a park road on the other side. A gradual, wide, real, road to the top.

Mount Spokane summit waaaaaay up there

There is a small campground - tents only with a large covered group area and a large bathroom with flush toilets and sinks.

Tent site

We find North Summit Road which sounds like a road that goes to the summit. We've become road trip geniuses.....

It starts out in the trees, a decently wide road. It quickly gets very steep. Then it gets very narrow. And steeper. Then the trees disappear. There are no guard rails. At the sharp turns there is no visible road ahead of me. Just wide open blue skies to no where. Breathing is getting difficult.

It's not the altitude, I'm truly terrified. Of course Bill offers to drive but knows I couldn't handle the passenger seat either. There's no going back. Hell, going forward is sketchy. It seems to go on forever, steadily climbing.

Thankfully before I hyperventilate or my fingers break from gripping the wheel like a vise, we reach the top. I pull as far away from the edge, lean the seat back, and calm myself.

Bill checks out the summit which is the top of the ski lift and the radio towers we saw from the bottom. The bottom of that really steep mountain. What was I thinking coming up here? 

Mount Spokane summit, waaaay up here (this parking area is about six times wider than the road)

At least it is a nice 72 degrees......

I seriously consider walking back down, but as I regain my equilibrium I know I can just take it slow. Much of the fear was from not knowing what was "next".

Strangely, going down is a lot easier. A lot. I actually take a quick peak a the view. Which is breath taking in a much healthier way than the trip up. I laugh at myself and thank Bill for putting up with me. Can you imagine being in a car with a freaked-out psycho behind the wheel? He's a saint.

A couple stops for groceries and a bite of lunch and we're back home.

I think I might have an issue with heights......

Solo in the City

Our drive from Moses Lake on Sunday took us through miles and miles of wheat and corn fields.  With another day left of the holiday, most folks were staying put one more night, and we had the highway nearly to ourselves.

We have been extremely lucky landing in good RV parks this summer. Unfortunately our luck turned somewhat in Spokane Valley. Trailer Inns of Spokane's website is a serious piece of creative writing. Our site is 30 yards from the off-ramp for Business 90, on asphalt, with a few trees - one that blocks our satellite dish. Pulling in, the first row is all much older, sad, permanent rigs, and not welcoming at all.

The green freeway Exit sign blends nicely with the trees outside our rig door

It is noisy, dusty, and ugly, but I do feel safe here, the price for the week is fine, and the location is what we needed. They can't all be A+ locations, and I've found plenty to enjoy away from the park.

Spokane Valley is home to Bill's best friend Tom, and that's why we're here. Tom and Jill and daughter Laura came over Sunday evening to see our home. Always so fun to share our dream - they loved it :-) Dinner and a nice visit at their home rounded out the night. Forgot to take pics again.

Monday was a beautiful day with cool temps and bright blue skies. We spent the day at their house, and another friend, another Tom, joined us around 6:00. It was his truck that would take the three guys to Montana for their fishing trip.



Bill and Tom unloading Bill's stuff

Best friends enjoy a brew

Hope Tom's truck is big

Tessa, Laura and Jill relax in the sunshine

The guys headed out early Tuesday morning, leaving Tessa and I to keep busy for a few days.

A quick breakfast and we were out the door by 9:00, headed for Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane. Formally the location of the city's rail yards, the area along Spokane Falls was cleared out and cleaned up for the 1974 World's Fair. All that remains of the original buildings is the 1902 clock tower.  The 100 acre park includes a pavilion, a sculpture walk, a vintage carousel, and several other both natural and creative highlights.



Spokane Falls

There are several places in the park to enjoy the beautiful and powerful river

Many ways to enjoy the water throughout the park



Whimsical art

Inspirational art



Interactive art

Clock tower with beautiful chimes heard all over the park

After our first all-girls night in the rig, Tessa and were up and out early Wednesday morning. The plan was to see the museum, but the day was so beautiful that I headed east on I-90 instead.



Our destination in Post Falls, Idaho

 

Most of you know Cabela's is very much like Bass Pro Shop. There was a huge display of animals from the Northwest on a mountain in the middle of the store, but no aquarium at this one. I didn't find what I was looking for and was soon back outside.

 

Where the day was getting even prettier. I checked the map and saw Couer d'Alene was only 12 miles east. Let's go there!

 

Although back in the forest, it once again looked very different to what I'd seen before. Couer d'Alene is a beautiful place. Along the highway is mostly new development, but the older downtown is wonderfully quaint with small local businesses.

 

Downtown Couer d'Alene

The North Idaho Centennial Trail runs through two college campuses in town, and along one side of Lake Couer d'Alene. I found a parking spot and Tessa and I got a good 40 minute leg stretch along the water. We need to bring the trikes here!

 

Great bike trail



Several shaded resting stops along the way



Beautiful views along the water



Signs of Fall in Idaho



Just as we got back in the car, Bill called to say he had gotten sick overnight and was flying into Spokane that evening. I was bummed that his big fishing trip was a bust, but glad he was coming home.

 

Needing sleep more than anything, Bill stayed home on Thursday while I headed back for more solo time in the city.

 

The Northwest Museum of Art and Culture (MAC) is currently featuring 100 Stories as a very creative way to display both large and small "exhibits". Story 1 is in Walla Walla, Washington, and Story 2 is the Grand Coulee Dam. Yes, large exhibits are included! Stories 16 through 22 are on the museum grounds and include historic homes, large sculptures, and views of Mount Spokane (the largest).

"The Navigators"

 

View of the mountain at the tip of the "6"

 

Historic Campbell House

Inside, the stories include artifacts, documents, photos, interactive displays, and other exhibits. They are not in chronological order, or by subject matter, which makes for a unique experience of "just learning the story". The information provided is very concise, making me want to read each one. 

 

One man's unknown Story in the Cuban Missile Crisis

Missile launch control panel

The friendly skies in 1960 - love the uniform!

Mammoth jaw unearthed in Eastern Washington

A young man's Story about his father



Preserving a sad but important Story

There is also an exhibit of local, contemporary artists. From wall-size collages to miniscule pencil drawings, it is a very eclectic mix.

 

Interactive multi-media

Film of work on pillars

Some times I just don't "get" it

  

The first museum piece I've seen put up with push pins

On the way out I found my favorite (note he's already cut the first bar)

The Browne's Addition historic district is a beautiful neighborhood of Craftsman, Colonial, Victorian, and other styles, making for enjoyable shaded exploration just outside the museum.

 

History for sale across the street from the museum

We're not big college basketball fans, but every March Bill roots for Gonzaga - the perpetual under-dogs. The campus is in the middle of the city, spread out between business and residential districts, a mix of historic and modern buildings. I took a short walking tour of the pretty campus.

 

Several city streets drive through campus

St Aloysius Church is the center of the school

Home court

Spokane mixes old with new everywhere you turn. Historic railway bridges over the river and modern glass pedestrian bridges over downtown streets. Elaborate brick and mortar buildings along side flat concrete and steel structures. Stately manors and apartment complexes. Old hotels with original fixtures and new hotels with lobbies the size of the old hotels.

 

Historic and modern business district

Hotel on the corner

Hotel on two city blocks

I enjoyed getting to know Spokane a little better. Not a bad place to spend some solo time.