Meridian, Idaho to Soap Lake Washington

The little pile up of markers at 4 on my map are where I have to encourage Map Point and the GPS to travel the route I want to go.  They both think they know better!  We like to travel the east side of the Columbia River and we travel from the Stanfield exit to get to the Columbia Highway on “Kathy’s Bypass route!” 

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We left Boise/Meridian about 8:15 am yesterday and it was sunny with no wind.  Tuesday had looked like the best day to travel as Wednesday had wind in the forecast and …..we hate wind!

Hooked up and ready to go.

Looking toward the exit from the park and the flag is limp….just the way we like it!

Heading down to the Snake River just before Catfish Junction which is just south of Huntington.  Fellow RVers Croft and Norma have stayed at the Catfish Junction RV park and liked it. 

South of Baker city.  We’d like to stay here some time but….it’s usually too cold. Right now….unusually warm.

 

We fueled up in La Grande.  Onward to Deadman’s Pass and then Cabbage Hill.

It is 17C ….we usually pass through this area at just above freezing….7C would be a more usual temp.  Just lovely!

Coming up and over towards Pendleton and we are sharing the southbound lane as we head north.  The northbound lanes were closed for about 15 miles as they repave.

 

Back onto our two lane northbound lanes and we share it with a truck carrying hay.

Over the pass and heading down Cabbage Hill at a steep 6% grade.

From Idaho north there is smoke everywhere.  It is coming from wildfires in Siberia with a little dust thrown in from China.  You couldn’t see the hills in most areas that we passed through.  It affected Washington, Northern California and Oregon.

Down from Cabbage Hill and heading north through Pendleton, Oregon.  This is one of the worst areas for wind….today….none!

Pendleton is worth a look sometime although we usually just pass through. 

Leaving Pendleton.   I carefully cleaned the windshield when we fueled up in LaGrande but the bug hatches splattered us along the way. 

At Stanfield, Oregon we left I 84 to head north on 395 and then onto my shortcut on South Edwards Road north to the Columbia River Highway.  

South Edwards is a rural farm road that is an easy shortcut.  Here we see Bison.

Pretty.

And then a herd of belted Galloway cattle a very old breed that originated in Scotland.

  Very distinctive.

Heading along the Columbia Highway.

Stopped for lunch.  You can’t see much downriver because of the smoke. We are either in Oregon or Washington here…close the to the border.

Looks like there is nothing past that spit of land but it’s just the smoke.

 

Once again….pictures of the geology. 

It is a very interesting landscape….at least to us!

Green here as well. 

You can see the pulp mill in the distance.  Stinky. 

An old stone bridge no longer in use.

We left the Columbia highway, travelled north past Othello,Washington  stopped for fuel in Moses Lake and were into the Soap Lake Resort about 4:30pm.  A long day but we had no issues which is a good thing. 

The Soap Lake Resort is now the “Smokiam” RV Resort and is under renovation.  It has another new owner with big plans and you can look at their website if you are interested.  We booked three nights for $45 with our Passport America discount. 

A very windy night.