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We were driving along Hwy. 174 for a bit yesterday. Right
outside Omak the low prairie hills are covered in desert grasses,
little stubborn tufts of pale green holding on tight to their
hard-fought piece of earth. This side of the Cascade range is worlds
apart from the luxurious tree covered land to the west. The land and
towns look parched, water and business dried up just the same.
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Driving along, we see billboards for someone running for
Sheriff...it seems there are more signs than there could ever be
people here.
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Abruptly, around the junction to Hwy.2, desert turns into
farmland. There are miles and miles of what I believe to be wheat
fields, deleted by the horizon to the north and south they run along
the Highway, gently sloping up and down on subdued hillside terrain.
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Wilbur, Creston. Davenport, Reardan….small townships casually
mopped up by desert heat.
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Rusty grain silos mark the boundaries of farms, mountains in
the distance
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We drive through township after township, one has a Corner
Café, it seems to be in charge of the only corner in town…
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Spokane comes after going by an AFB, complete with housing
and all. The closest street to the compound was called Rambo Street.
They must have been kidding.
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It might be true that Spokane is the second largest city in
the state. While it might be true that it is the business center for
the eastern part of Washington, it is nothing compared to a real
city.
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From Spokane we drive through Idaho and on into Montana.
Route 90 takes us clear through the whole state, beautiful
mountains, Lookout Pass, Exit 0, and we are in Montana.
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Somewhere on the road to Missoula we stop at Two Mile River
in the middle of nothing, next to a little creek. That’s where we
spend the night. At a place marked for fishermen with a fish and a
hook. As we walk up to the river carved into the mountain, we see a
snake making its way down the steep bank. Since I don’t know
anything about snakes I am cautious and keep the kids close. It
could be perfectly fine, but then, I don’t know.
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We have dinner and put the kids to bed. It takes forever to
get the chickies to sleep. They could benefit from a normal routine.
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I think we have to switch our watches forward one hour to
Mountain Standard Time.
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I spoke with my mother today. I was afraid she’d be worried
not to have heard from me in such a long time. I called her on July
12, thinking we’d only be gone for about 6 weeks…she was happy to
hear that we are all great. Of course we had to buy a phone card in
order to be able to call Germany, b/c my phone isn’t enabled to make
calls to Europe. Dominican Republic is fine but nor Germany…
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The girls are both loosing teeth on this trip. Julia her
first one altogether. She just turned 6, magic happens…
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I am ready for home, but I don’t want to waste this wonderful
opportunity for the kids…
