The land of the NEZ PERCE
Before dawn I was ready to hit the road, awakened a number of times by the rumble and growl of the big trucks. Soon I learned to park at the very start of the parking area, where the trucks rolled in from the road, their engines in idle - rather than at the other end where they were revving up to go back to the road! I also became somewhat accustomed to the sound of hasty urination as the truckers saved themselves a trip to the bathroom. Oh well.
On to the east I was amazed to see a veritable army of power towers marching in all directions. It looked as if the McNary Dam must supply the whole West with power! It was truly impressive and I almost lost my way again looking at them. The main road headed southward toward Pendleton, but I decided to head toward Clarkston through Walla Walla, WA. I had heard of the famous sweet Walla Walla red onions and wanted to taste them. And, indeed, all along the road there were stands selling both the red onions and large bouquets of garlic. I bought a sack of onions and a large bunch of garlic and drove on to Clarkston.
Before Clarkston, on route 12, I found Chief Timothy State Park on the Snake River and pulled in for my first "real" camping experience. Because my rig was small, the utilities were not quite right for me. I either needed a longer hose for the water, or a longer sewer line. I felt as if EVERY eye in the campground was watching me ... this dumpy, white-haired woman struggling around with sewer lines and water hose. I decided that I would increase the length of the sewer line, since I didn't have another hose (making a note to get another hose). I pulled out the extra piece of sewer line and tried to connect it to the other one. Cursing under my breath, I wiggled it one way and then the other, without success.
Face flaming, I went inside and fumed, while I had a cup of coffee and puffed steadily, staring at the little blue cap on the wall which reminded me to think first. Finally I got out my book about full-timing and started to read the section on sewer connections. Hah! They suggested pouring hot water over the plastic sewer lines to expand one to accept the other. Of course! I boiled a tea kettle of water and took it out and poured it over the one section. POP ... it fit together with ease! I quickly finished the setup and went inside again.
Frankly, I was a little taken aback that no one had bothered to come over and lend a hand or extend some advice. "Going to be a long, lonely trek it looks like.", I thought. Later on, I learned that all one has to do is show the least interest in the others and they will pour out to help you, but they respect the privacy of others to the point where they will sit and watch, until there is an indication that you want help.
That day, however, I sat and pouted, feeling generally ticked off at all of them. The Snake River was about seventy - five yards away and a family of half-grown Canada geese were waddling along the edge. I watched them and calmed down. My neighbors on either side had picnic tables set up and hordes of kids running and playing all around. I sat inside and glared at them (they couldn't see me, of course) All of a sudden, a whole mess of sprinklers came on and wet them, their noisy kids and all the picnic stuff!!! Another giggle for my log !!
I knew there were mountains coming up soon and I wondered how the RV would handle them. So I spent some time reading my maps and checking the elevations. It looked as if route 12 would take me through the Nez Perce Historical Park and go over Lolo Pass, one of the lower ones. This would also take me through Lewis and Clark Expedition trails of the early 19th century and I looked forward to seeing this lovely park.
There was a different feel to everything as I entered the ancient forest. There was very little traffic and the road more or less followed the river eastward.
It was hot, so I stopped in a shady area to have a cold drink. It was quiet and I was awed to think of the Lewis and Clark group struggling through these mountains, led by Sacawajea, carrying her small child.
Imagine my surprise when I suddenly became aware of a strange sound. Curiously I watched the river; and around a bend, hell bent for leather, there appeared a jet ski! My visions of the past popped and fell in pieces to the ground. Ahhh, well, it had been mine for a bit...
View Guestbook
© 1997
Comments welcome at
Get your own Free Home Page