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. 

Meridian, Idaho

Arrived here from Jackpot on Sunday.  No internet in Jackpot and it’s too slow here to post a large blog so I’ll post it when I get better internet.  Leaving today for Soap Lake, Washington.  Weather beautiful and sunny so a good day so far!

Alamo, Nevada to Jackpot, Nevada and then Meridian, Idaho

533 miles total.  On day one from Alamo to Jackpot it was a long one at 353 miles.  We left Alamo at about 8:30 am and we guessed we’d get into Jackpot around 4:30pm and that’s what happened.  We had a brisk head wind the whole way so it was a tiring day.  Lots of traffic including RV’s heading north.

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Leaving Alamo and the horses are saddled up and loaded in stock trailers to head out for a days work on the range.

As we head north they are still growing hay in the desert because….they have water.

Coming through the White River Canyon.  This is prehistoric and the water is long gone although you can see where it would have been.  It would have been a massive amount of water.

I have taken many pictures of this area but I’m always tempted to take more.

Doesn’t look real.

 

Maybe something’s living in that cave.

As we climb spring disappears.  Too cold here yet for leaves on the trees.

We stopped in Lund for fuel and the fellow in the station said it got down to 9F three days ago with a howling wind.  Wednesday I guess.  He said that was cold for the middle of winter never mind for April!  5580 feet so it’s high here. 

We turn right off 318 and head north on Highway 6 towards Ely.   You haven’t gone far before you can see the  tailings from the Ruth Mine.

Coming down from the high mountain pass heading into Ely.  No snow at the edge of the road and lots of Juniper. 

Highway 93 heading north out of Ely.  We have stayed here many times and really like it.  I did a blog in 2012 that you might enjoy. http://kathyericstravels.blogspot.com/2012/04/buy-ticket-and-ride-train.html

Passing through McGill just north of Ely which was the smelter site for the Ruth mine. 

Highway 93 splits and you can go left which we do or right to Wendover and East to Salt Lake City, Utah.  If you are from Alberta you might go that way or you might go East at Twin Falls, Idaho.  Shortly after the turn the very high Ruby Mountains appear to the west.

Lots of deer and antelope migration through here.  There are very tall fences and then overpasses built for them to travel over the highway. 

Closer to Jackpot the rocks are once again beautiful.

We have finally stopped climbing and are heading down into Jackpot.

 

Starting to green up here.

  Jackpot, Nevada.  We arrived in Jackpot around 4:30 pm and Cactus Pete’s RV park was almost full.  Anytime we’ve stayed in the past there weren’t many rigs.  

The little trailer parked next to us is a cowboy’s house!  Eric had a chat with him about the area.  He’s worked for every ranch around there and just loves the open country.  He said you could go cross country from Jackpot to Utah.

By 6pm the park was full and the last rigs had to park out in the parking lot with the trucks. 

We went over to the casino to have a buffet dinner but there was a 20 minute wait so we opted for a restaurant.  Food was less than mediocre.  

We didn’t leave the park until about 9:30 am on Sunday morning and there weren’t many rigs left.  Only 179 miles to go to Meridian, Idaho. 

Closer to Twin Falls and the trees are in flower.

We left highway 93 at Twin Falls and turned left onto old highway 30.

Coming into Buhl and it’s green and pretty.

Our fuel stop in Buhl at the country store. 

A pretty little town. 

As we travel along the sheep are grazing by this old house.

 

Coming into the Snake Canyon and it’s green.  No shortage of fertilizer here.

Look at the rock.

 

Lots of waterfalls.

Over the Snake River.

The boulders are thick here and you couldn’t farm.

Downtown Hagerman.

 

Amazing landscape.

We left highway 30 and got onto I 84 at Bliss.

A high mountain prairie as we travel along. 

 

 

That little white line is an old concrete irrigation ditch that could still be in use.

As we came into Boise the traffic got busier and the lanes increased until we were up to four.  Just south of Meridian there was a huge amount of construction and it got really confusing when we got close to exit 44.  There were signs telling you to stay right if you wanted to leave the interstate and stay left if you wanted to go through.  Just as we were making that decision a truck pulling a travel trailer came close to side swiping us.  He started to change lanes without looking….missed us by about an inch and then swerved left and carried on.  We now had a concrete abutment dividing us from the through traffic and hoped we’d end up at our exit.  Luckily we did. 

We were parked at about 2:30 pm and it was sunny and nice.  Lots of rigs in the park….heading north just like us.  

We asked what was going on with the concrete paving on the interstate and apparently they are digging it all up in this area due to pot holes.  We have never come through the Boise/Meridian area without huge road construction.  Stressful!

So….two nights here and then on to Soap Lake, Washington which will be another really long day.