BACK IN THE U.S.A.

We’re on the road again and it feels good.  The weekend was rainy at home so it seemed like a very appropriate time to be packing up and heading out.  We had been slowly loading the trailer throughout last week and it didn’t take long on Saturday to get the remaining things done including food in the fridge and freezer.  We had to be more vigilant this time (unlike our two or three week vacations) with leaving the house “winterized” by turning off breakers, unplugging electronics, emptying the salt from the water softener, turning off the water and draining the lines as much as possible.  We have radiant heat from water pipes in the basement floor and that system had to be shut off as well.  We were awake early on Sunday morning (couldn’t sleep due to excitement) and were on the road by 8:15.

Being a Sunday morning, traffic was light and there was no one else at the border crossing.  Boy, that was the easiest crossing we’ve ever made with a RV.  They asked a few questions and we gave them a list of the fresh fruit and veggies that we had on board and the guy who went inside to check didn’t take anything away from us.  That was it and we were on our way within 10 minutes.

We drove south on US 395 through Colville and Chewelah, WA and then took US state highway 231 which heads south to interstate 90 west of Spokane.  It was an interesting road through wide valleys, across the Spokane River and then through open rolling fields but it was a bit slow.  We probably won’t take it again but it is nice to know about that route.

Once we got on I-90, the weather got drier and when we turned onto US 395 to the Tri-Cities (Richland/Kennewick/Pasco, WA) it was quite pleasant outside.  US 395 is a great highway; 4 lanes and divided just like the interstates.  We went to the Franklin Country RV Park which is in the TRAC complex (trade show and convention centre).  There were only 5 vacant sites so we took the first one which was easy to back into.  It is a nice RV park that is close to shopping and services but some of the sites are back to back.  Not so good for rigs like ours where you have a large back window.  Oh well, for one night, you can keep the blinds down.

It was really windy when we set up and it continued that way most of the night so we didn’t have a really great sleep.  We were up and on the road just after 9 and the weather was cloudy and windy, but no rain, and the temperature ranged from 8 to 12 depending on the elevation.  We connected to I-84 and drove southeast to Fruitland, Idaho where we are spending the night.  We shared the driving and stopped at a couple of rest areas.  Hey, look at the snow on the mountains in the distance.

Heading for Jackpot, Nevada tomorrow.