This was our long day, about 350 miles planned. We packed up and left Dayton at 6am. We didn’t plan to leave so early, but that’s when we were awake and ready to go. Breakfast was to be had down the road, so no problem.

The morning was clear but cold. We drove to Colfax, and had breakfast at the Top Notch Café. Great hash browns, all fresh, not frozen.





Spokane was where REI was, and I went to exchange my sunglasses. Now, first a word about Google Maps. They gave me the correct address for REI, but said it was 5 miles down Division Street from where I was. So, I dutifully rode north on Division for 5 miles, through retail HELL, and found no REI. Upon calling REI, I found out we were actually pretty near to it when I first googled the location. Five miles BACK through the heat and traffic, and I had glasses in hand. They were an extra $50 because the pair I had before were a clearance color, and I had to pay the difference. Sunglasses are just made of plastic, right? I don’t care if they are polarized (actually, polarized lenses are incredibly good things), they are not worth $129. I just thought I’d trade straight across. But no. Oy vey.

We saw a B-52 over town. I have no idea how to tell one airplane from another, but I travel with an Air Force consultant at my side, and have it on good authority. Cajun is so convenient!

Colville. It’s actually really pretty out there, a big green valley. We looked for oil for Cajun’s Harley (though he really didn’t need it, he wanted to be prepared), to no avail. We got a lunch suggestion from a woman on the street. Outside of town, we had good burgers at a little sports bar.

Gnomely took a break to go prospecting.




In the valley, we saw some interesting things. First was a towing company called God-Fearing Brothers Auto Sales and Service. It was just out there, on a huge billboard. One billboard and a few other very large signs. Just in case you worried that you were getting towed by or sold a car by Satan-Serving Sisters or something, I guess.

The second thing was a huge billboard (are there non-huge billboards?) with a happy couple on it, and a caption reading, “Marriage is good for your checkbook balance”. The sponsor was something called Marriage Friendly Communities, www.marriagefriendlycommunities.com. I looked it up on the internet, and it is a community service program run through DSHS on a federal grant, but it is almost blatantly Christian and moralistic. Maybe I’m just sensitive to the idea that marriage is the only choice if you are young, pregnant and making a huge decision. Anyway, the classes offered included “Marriage Recovery”, as well as offerings for pregnant teens and their inseminators/boyfriends/passing fancies. I had a feeling that Planned Parenthood wouldn’t be setting up a satellite clinic any time soon.

North to Kettle Falls. We found out there are no falls there. None called Kettle Falls, at least, and the other falls are dry. Westward, ho.

At Tonasket, we stopped to have a soft-serve ice cream cone. It felt amazing (there’s that word again). Just needed to rest and cool off.

Sherman Pass, at 5575 feet, was our highest point in the trip. WooT!

We headed west through Omak and finally to Carlton, near Twisp. We parked at the motel, put on our bathing suits, and hit the pool with Gnomely. Finally, a swim!



But no, the water was freezing, and we just plinked around a bit before making dinner and watching some crime drama TV. After a 12-hour day, sleep is so welcome.





Yes, we were on the road for 12 hours today. But the thought of the most beautiful, and shortest, and last day of the trip was an inspiration.