Full disclosure…..these missives were initially written on an earlier trip, but they are SO definitely worth repeating!!!
I’d love to say we awoke with the dawn, had a hearty and timely-served breakfast, and then were on the road by 7, per our plan. We ignored the alarm. Went to breakfast in historic downtown Butte. However, Thursdays in Butte must be taxing on the wait staff. Rolling her eyes at me, our waitress made sure I knew that I was quite an imposition. Rachel reminded me to be more like Buddy in “Elf” and less like Jovie, his mistrustful girlfriend. So our crappy cup of coffee paved the way for a truly delicious, however lengthier-than-necessary-to-cook breakfast. And we kept our cheerful dispositions all day.
Previously, around 5 a.m., I had awakened remembering why we were staying in Butte in the first place. (even without your reminder, Uncle Bob!) Our Lady of the Rockies is the second largest statue in the United States, and it sits on the Continental Divide. (I told you I was tired last night!) Anyway, after breakfast we sought it out, only to find that it was a bus tour visitation beginning at 10 and ending at 12:30. We didn’t think we could handle any more time in Butte. We hit the road. We saw her through the smoke-filled haze of wildfires occurring that year and said a prayer.
The drive. Wildfires in Washington made for a hazy drive the entire day. The sunset last night was gorgeous due to it, but you could smell smoke today. The roadkill report weakens. We did see a rug on the road. Yesterday we had seen a blanket. Our scientific conclusion is that it is better to be a skunk on I-90 than a home furnishing. The allure of roadkill reporting is waning. Trust us, there is little glamour in that job.
We each got a nap in today, and Daughter got to navigate the entry into Idaho, where the road took a deplorable turn, where the time zone changed to PST right on the border, and where Methodists make good coffee. Our first rest stop proved they can do a fabulous job of hosting guests in their state! We welcomed the caffeine. Thursdays are the Methodist days, but we failed to learn of any other denominational days. However, if you’re ever in the state on I-90 on a Thursday, you are in luck!
Lunch – a huckleberry shake – in Coeur d’ Alene. More smoke and an eventual turn off the interstate brought us closer to our destination: the Yakima Valley. As you may guess, our late start prompted our late arrival, and we were lucky to find our first vineyard, Chandler Reach, only closing 20 minutes after we arrived. We also made it to Apex, the one we had discovered on YELP. They stayed open for the first time ever – until 6 pm tonight. We were the only ones there, but grateful to have visited two beautiful places. Fortuitously, the woman at Chandler told us the pass was closing for rock blasting at 8 pm. This was new to us, as we had no idea we were going to pass through a pass. (When you’re from Colorado, you can ask, “Where are the mountains?’). Knowing our skill at delay, we decided to plant ourselves in Prosser.
Prosser is Geneva, Nebraska-sized. Our dinner was secured at the local grocery store, and then eaten in our room at the Best Western Inn at Horse Heaven. It is a gorgeous room, big enough for a family of 12, has the standard double locks on the door, and we enjoyed the pool after dinner. You probably thought we wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves, arriving so early at a place of lodging! Ever forward-thinking, we also secured a DVD rental from the local mart – “Grand Budapest Hotel.” We skillfully handled the rewiring of the TV and computer to get us going. We actually relaxed and enjoyed the extra hour we gained heading North by Northwest. Tomorrow – we conquer the pass and head into Lynnwood, where family anxiously (or tolerantly) awaits us!
Oh, Rene J…you are so clever! Now if you could only figure out how to get more readers?