Made it to Idaho today

We left Portland today & traveled a historic and scenic Highway  30 that was built in 1915.  The first stop was Vista House built in 1917. A lady there told us that during WWI, they used to watch for subs on the Columbia River from there. We drove on the road past four waterfalls, parking the car and walking to most of them. We are lucky that the former land owners had the foresight to donate the scenic areas to the state of Oregon. The falls were: Latourell, Multnomah, Bridal Veil, & Horse Tail Falls. I found it interesting that we had viewed Bridal Veil & Horse Tail Falls just outside of Valez, AK. After seventeen miles and several hours, it was time to get on the interstate. We went on I-84 and for an interstate, it was very scenic. We saw tugboats, barges, dams and a paddle boat, following the Columbia River. At the start of I-84, there was a sign warning us of wind gusts and strong crosswinds. We were lucky that we experienced very little of either one.

The terrain started to change to a desert like appearance. After we got on Highway 730, it changed again, looking like Midwestern farm country. We followed the Columbia River until after lunch when we followed US12. US12 is part of the Lewis & Clark Trail that we followed earlier in our trip.  When we went past Waitsburg, there were rolling hills again. Traveling through farm country, I saw some interesting names like Pie Plant Road and Lower Hog Eye Road (I never saw Upper Hog Eye Road.) The only animals cited today was quail. They would run to the edge of the road as we rode by.

Today was the first day in about 4 weeks that we drove with all of the windows open. Ray felt something on his leg & brushed it off on me. It was a wasp. We quickly stopped and got rid of it before either of us got stung. A little while later, a bumble bee flew in hit the back of Ray's head. It was dead on impact. No bee stings then either but somehow lots of little tiny, I think aphids? were all over us. Again we stopped and got rid of the bugs.  Hopefully that is the end of the bees!

The cars ran well today. We will spend the night in Lewiston, Idaho and continue on to Montana tomorrow.