day 1 vancouver to pend oreille river washington
The first rule of long road trips is its gotta be a new route. But there isn't
any for me within a couple of hundred miles of Vancouver. I90 out of
Seattle didn't appeal so I opted to leave this dull country at
Grand Forks. The stretch from Princeton to Keremeos along the Similkameen
and the high pine country around Rock Creek keeps this drive alive.
Wanted to cross at Midway and avoid detour north to Greenwood
but missed 5pm US customs closure.
Wasn't until Colville WA that I hit new route -
a good one thru Colville Natl Forest at sunset.
Pissing rain since Vancouver stopped and the sun came out for the rest of the trip.
Foolishly passed up high terrain Natl Forest campsites in the fading light.
Ended up camped beside the Pend Oreille river in a roadside turnout. Little
used road and no state-trooper-ballbuster rousting me out of bed to check my ID like
near Missoula on the '98 trip.