Slipping into Washington

Mine Disaster Memorial

2019-09-15 (Sunday)

With about one month left of our travels, we made our departure from the state of Montana after two weeks there, and headed toward Washington. Of course, for that we had to go through Idaho, but that was only about 70 miles of I-90, so no problem. We had the usual beautiful Montana scenery until we got to I-90 before that, though. We stopped at a huge tourist “trap”, an enormous gift shop next to a casino. I went inside to get a milkshake, but spent some time going through the gifts. I came out and told Joe, “We should probably head for home now, it’s time. I couldn’t find a single thing to buy in that enormous store!” I did, though, get a chocolate malt, and that was scrumptious! We got onto I-90 at that point, and 30 miles down the road, we crossed into Idaho, and into Pacific Daylight Time. So we are now 3 hours behind “home.”

We would most likely not have stopped at all on that 70 mile stretch of Idaho, but for some reason, our tire monitor began shrieking. We took the next exit, a mile down the road, and could find no problems with the tires. However, the stop put us into a historical spot (Idaho actually had a historical marker very frequently along that 70 mile stretch.) This one was in commemoration of a terrible fire in the country’s largest silver mine. 61 men died in the tunnels of the mines. The statue and marble plaques at the mine site along the highway were a somber reminder of the danger miners face to recover the metals hidden deep in the heart of the mountains.

After that stop, we drove through Coeur D’Alene, Idaho and over the border into Washington. We passed through Spokane, and headed for our planned stop, the Northern Quest Casino. We knew it was a free overnight stop. I was somewhat taken aback when we got here, though. For one thing, it was huge and very glitzy. For another, it was evident that something was going on here besides the casino. There were a dozen RVs and lots of cars, and people were tailgating. This was not the usual way we find casinos.

There was a sign that RVs needed to check in at the desk to stay overnight, so after getting lost in the very upscale hotel area, I found my way through the large casino (including table games and OTB, unlike the many “casinos” in Montana which feature only a few slot machines.) I signed in at the security desk, and asked what was going on. Well, tonight there’s an outdoor concert in the outdoor amphitheater (it’s behind the casino/hotel, so I didn’t see it) by the country group Old Dominion. The parking lot is now completely full—we were most fortunate to get here when we did! We are parked along the edge with a lot of other RVs, out of the way. And i suppose it will be a bit noisy when the concert is over and the crowds leave. But meanwhile, we are all set.

Tomorrow the plan is to go to the Grand Coulee Dam. I have to think it’s the influence of my father in me that I am so “into” locks and dams. I’m very much looking forward to it.