It's all about Spokane

[pdedse]

The NE corner of Washington has always interested me.  This week it was time to stretch the CB's legs and head for Spokane.  I've visited Spokane once before, driven through a few times by car, but really wanted to explore the surrounding area.

Monday, Aug. 18


I was all set to take camping gear and make this a big circular route, heading into Canada a bit, but then a friend who works with a hotel told me that he could get me a really great rate at a hotel at the Spokane airport...$45 a night.  Hmmm...lug camping gear around, look for spots, pack up each morning, or...


But it would change my plan and routes.  My body voted for the above and I decided I could live with various mini-circular routes around Spokane.  

Hilight section of Day 1, hiway 821 between Yakima and Ellensburg


Just before beginning the above section, had to stop to appreciate the apple groves and production. 






Then the fun part of the day








It's a relaxing feeling to know that you have a place lined up for the night, that you don't have to scurry around looking for a camp site.  It allowed me to stop and smell the roses, or rather visit a fruit stand


Santa María wasn't there, but Mario was.  He had the equivalent of Mexican country music blaring full blast, but lowered it so we could hear each other talk.  In a land full of apples and peaches...he had neither!  Only some nectarines and every other fruit imagineable.  I asked how much for two promising nectarines and he said no charge!  Then I saw the selection of papayas and they are my favorite fruit.  But we both looked at each other thinking, yeah, too big for motorcycle travel.  I told him where I was heading and he said "looks like there's room in your backpack"...so it was $5 for the papaya and nectarines.  Then he practically insisted that I accept a bottle of water--made me wonder if I was looking haggard as the afternoon was warming up.

Took that fruit break in Odessa
 


Leaving the fruit orchards behind, I begin to experience the vast wheat fields of eastern Washington


Recently harvested field


I grew up in Kansas and the western half of the state has a fair amount of wheat, so I was feeling a bit nostalgic.  At the hotel, dropped my luggage and realized I didn't have to repack everything till Friday.  Spent the evening planning Day 2.