Oregon Day 1

We left home on June 7th, from BC and drove into Washington. The first part was pretty boring, it's a 4 hour trip to Spokane which we have done many, many times, and then another 3 to Kennewick, where we planned to stay the first night. However, nothing starts a trip out like looking for gas in a place where there are no gas stations.

Let me explain. Steven always wants to find the best deal on gas, plus he says, why fill it up and pack all that weight? Better to wait until it's low and then fill it. So we pass through Spokane...pass through a few other towns...pass through a place where I say: "This looks like the last town coming up, after that, nothing for quite a while." This town, on the map, was called Lind. We see a sign that says LIND-2 MILES and it points off the freeway.

Off we go...2 miles, more or less, and we are in this creepy little town, population about 200 and tumbleweeds rolling down the street, a few empty looking old buildings and not a soul in sight, never mind any sort of recognizable gas station. How can you get lost in a place that's less than 10 blocks from end to end? *sigh*. Finally we spot a huge, metal building with 2 pumps out front...no sign, no other people. We looked at the pumps and there was a sign saying: "No MC, Visa, Discovery, American Express. No debit." ?what? I went inside where a fellow was talking on the phone, he ignored me for a few minutes, then explained that it was a fleet gas station and that we could get our gas around the corner, up the hill.

We drove around and around, and finally found a live person, of course he didn't speak English, I think he was speaking Spanish, who told us that the station was around the corner and up the hill. Jaysus! We eventually found it, no one worked there, you had to pay by credit card and you get a maximum of 18 gallons. Strangest thing I ever did see. I guess they figure that 18 gallons would get you to the next town, and maybe gas was at a premium here? Anyhow, we filled up and got the hell out of Lind. And Steven never let the tank get belwo half again. Not that I said "I told you so" or anything....

We crossed into Oregon and decided the stay the night at Boardman, a pretty little spot with a beautful campground right on the Columbia River at the start of the Gorge. But WINDY? Holy Cow, the wind was strong enough to blow me over, but we set up out little home, BBQ-d some pork chops and curled up for a good night's sleep, tummies full and gas tank full, and pleased that this peaceful (albeit WINDY) spot only cost us $23.85.

Crooked, wind blown trees.

Beautiful spot, so green and clean.