Mike and Pat

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Day Seven - In Coeur d’Alene

Moved to Silverwood RV Park north of Coeur d’Alene.  They had one site open for one night only so we’ll need to go somewhere else tomorrow - thinking about Farragut State Park just a few miles north.

Pat called her childhood friend Debbie and arranged to meet her and some of her children in a local park.  We met up with them and had a nice visit for a couple of hours.

By the end of the day we’ve pretty much decided to drop Caldwell, ID (Pat’s sister) from the itinerary and start heading back to Portland where Andy and Naomi will meet us and pick up Elliot.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Day Six - Loooooong Day!

Poor Elliot had to put up with a really long travel day. He did really well - kept himself occupied. Only asked “Are we There Yet?” twice - okay, maybe a few more than that but he did great.

I started the day with finding a geocache across the highway at the day use area. Elliot and I drove back to nearby Waitsburg to get some milk and ice - managed to slip in 3 geocache hunts before returning to camp!

Headed out intending to camp somewhere around Pullman, WA but nothing looked all that good so decided to keep going toward Coeur d"Alene, ID. Spent a little time shopping in Moscow, ID and drove through WSU campus. Tried to stop a Ferdinand’s for ice cream but couldn’t find a place to park.

At this point we decide to find a campground somewhere between Moscow and Coeur d’Alene on Hwy 95. I look on the map and see Mary Minerva McCroskey S.P. about 50 miles south of Coeur d"Alene. Seemed like a plan anyway. Well, we turn off the main highway and head for the campground and the road quickly changes to gravel, then gravel with many potholes, then to winding dirt - not looking good! After six miles we finally arrive at a sign stating you are now at the campground and there was nothing but VERY primitive sites that were basically a wide turn out along a dirt road! Turned around and went all the way back to the highway. Took over an hour because we couldn’t drive very fast on the rough road. [Note - click on the park’s link above and read the part about the road being not recommended for RV’s!! - it pays to research ahead of time, yes?] We limp into the little town of Plummer, gas up and head straight for Coeur d’Alene - it’s now 8pm! We find a nice Good Sam RV park (Blackwell Island RV Park) just to the south of Coeur d’Alene and get set up by 9pm.  Drove 226 miles today!

Despite the long day and a cranky driver we managed to find some humor in the adventure. To make fun of the frustrating trip to Mary Minerva McCroskey S.P. we came up with the phrase “Yer gettin’ on my minerva’s” spoken with a bad New Yawk accent! It would be used frequently throughout the rest of the trip.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Day Five - Heading East

Said our goodbye’s to the fam and headed out to parts east.  Stopped in Walla Walla, WA to get a few groceries.  While in Walla Walla we went to the Whitman Mission National Historic Site - very interesting.  Stopped for the night at Lewis & Clark Trail S.P.  25 miles NE of Walla Walla on Hwy 12.  No electrical.  Campground is nestled among the cottonwoods along a creek.  Really warm this evening.  Started a fire and roasted marshmallows for smores!  Oooey Goooey!