Red States Driving

We're home. Eastward Journey The trip odometer tells us that we covered 8,404 miles in our little excursion. Across and back. One small rock chip on the windshield, patched in Atlanta. One stop by a cop for speeding in a tiny town in rural Idaho on day 27, with only a verbal warning. Thousands of memories. Would we do it again? You bet. We both agree it was a wonderful trip. Genial people the entire way. Thirty different states, and the District of Columbia, in the following order: Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, [back to Georgia, Atlanta], North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, [back through Idaho],  Washington, and home to Oregon. Return Leg 1 Final Leg Home I called this blog Red States Driving because that is what we were go...

We got in a little late last night but we now have a day off to taste excellent wines in an excellent wine growing region . If we hit all 140, you would probably find us in the Emergency Room. We went to 4 wineries today and tasted, and bought, some very good wine. What we failed to do, was take some pictures. However, Vickie took pictures on her walk with Linda this morning. These were on the campus of Whitman College. Walla Walla is gorgeous in the spring. The vineyards just had bud break, and this weeking is the Spring Wine Release. What are you waiting for? Tomorrow we will be home.

Sunday Afternoon in Idaho We had a great night last night with Vickie's old friends in Helena. It was much like last month when I met up with my old roommates Craig and Brad. Over 30 years, but it was also like we just saw each other yesterday. Real frienship endures all things. Time is inconsequential. We headed through Missoula to the Mountains of Idaho; the Lochsa and Selway rivers merging into the Clearwater. We stopped several times to see the rafters and Vickie got these shots. Retirement means you don't have to care about schedules. We picked up Linda Norris in Helena, so for these last few days we are the Three Musketeers. All for one, and one for wine. Driving through these mountains smelled of home, and long ago. One of the best adventures of my life was in 1978 when I spent 6 days on the Snake River in a dory exploring Hells Canyon, from the bottom. Just before the Snake gets to Lewiston, Idaho, it is joined by the Salmon River which was calle...