Tumwater, WA to Soda Springs, Idaho

We get a fair AT&T connection here in Soda Springs.  The problem is that I’m getting no chance to really spend time at the computer since my aunt and uncle want to sit and talk to us a lot.  Well….we did come to visit them after all.   So, I’m doing my best to get a couple of posts in while we are here and a little bit of time to read some other blogs.

We left Tumwater Tuesday morning at 5:20 on our way to southeast Idaho.  We took I-5 to I-84 in Oregon and then headed East.  The ride through the Columbia River Gorge was beautiful.  We didn’t really stop to take any photos since we had a lot of ground to cover to get all the way to Soda in one day.  Toward the end of the scenic Columbia River Gorge area I did snap this one pic which I thought was interesting.

We began to see those wind machines stationed like sentries along the tops of the mountains.  These are a permanent part of our American landscape now, so we may as well get used to them.

                                                           Annie was happy riding along in her cozy bed while we drove through Oregon.

We stopped at one of the many roadside rest areas to use the facilities and eat our picnic lunch.  When you have to stop and use one of these is when you really miss traveling with your RV.   We had no choice on this trip, so you just do what you have to do!

As we drove on into Idaho, the weather began to look a bit threatening.  We could see rain clouds off in the distance and wondered if they’d get to us.  Soon enough we had some rain spatters on our windshield.

                                                           We did see a bit of a rainbow a few minutes later.
Sometimes we’d have a bit of clearing before the rain spatters would start again.  It wasn’t a big storm and it didn’t slow us down.  We kept moving East.  We picked up I-86 after the Idaho Falls area and turned toward Pocatello.  In “Pokie” we connected with I-15 South for a few miles.

At Exit 47 on I-15 we turned East onto Idaho State Route 30 toward Soda Springs.  It was only about 33 more miles now.  We passed a lot of ranch land and farm land throughout the area.  They grow wheat, barley and alfalfa here.  A few potato fields, but most of those are over toward Idaho Falls.

We got to my Aunt Anne and Uncle Lyle’s house around 8:00 pm (1 hour time difference) and after driving 818 miles.  Only crazy people drive that many miles in one day.  We hadn’t been here in 3 years so it was nice to see them again.

 

                                                                      This is Aunt Anne who is recovering from knee surgery and will be 89 in November.
                                                                        This is Uncle Lyle and he married my aunt in 1996.
                                                           Aunt Anne has always been a great cook and had fixed us a big meal.
By the time we finished eating, talked for a while, and then went down into our basement bedroom suite it was past 10:00 and we were beat.  Bruce checked the computer and we saw some comments left on the blog, but I was too tired to do anything about it. 

Today we spent all day talking and catching up on activities and vacations and family stuff.  I tried to get some time to make a post on the blog….but just couldn’t get away.  We’re only staying until Friday morning, so it was more important to be with the family than sit at the computer.  So, I’ll catch up on stuff in a day or two.

I’ve taken a few pics of the town of Soda Springs and will make that a post tomorrow if possible.  It is a small town of less than 4,000 people.  Nice place to visit…but…you know the rest of that quote.

Hope everyone is having a great week.

Until next time…..so long for now!