Saturday was spent organizing for takeoff and filling Sek in on my island visits. Bus was happy to be back in Brooke’s place and headed straight for his favourite rug. I got my laundry done and called Rogers to make sure I would have phone coverage in the States. It seems the $7 a day Roam Like Home thing kicks in automatically. When you think about it, it isn’t really a deal but it is kinda hassle-free – or at least I thought it was.
We took off by around 9:30 Sunday morning in bright sunshine and a promise of hot weather. At the U.S. border a very young, very stern-faced fellow asked me for my passport. He took a good look at Buster and I and waved us on. He didn’t even want to see Buster’s papers. So off we went down Highway 5 towards Seattle. That’s when my phone’s GPS quit working. Damn! I was afraid of that.
My mission now was to buy maps and figure out the route because I hadn’t paid close enough attention when I checked it on my phone in Vancouver. You would think gas stations would carry state maps – NOT! Eventually I found a sporting goods/hunting/fishing store and got Washington and Idaho State maps.
Meanwhile the highway had slowed to a crawl. I guess everyone had gone away for Father’s Day weekend and were now headed back to Seattle. Another stop to check my maps where I found a smaller highway south – Highway 9 – but even that one was slow. So I headed east on Highway 2 (I would have to go east eventually anyway) and pulled over in Monroe at a cute little cafe. Across the way was a very pretty lake with a number of kayaks paddling up and down. I was starved and I had to check my maps. The young woman running the place suggested I stick to the scenic Highway 2 since it goes through the mountains via Stephen’s Pass and was her favourite route. She thought it might be a bit longer but was well worth it. I picked her brains about my failed GPS and between the two of us figured that I needed to turn on data roaming.
So now I have my GPS working again. Thank goodness!
She was right about this scenic route. It is lovely with beautiful towering mountains and rushing streams. I decided to grab a campground by 5 pm and settle in for the night. I think Bus was just as happy too. We are camped right beside a stream – reminds me of Merrit, B.C. There are no lovely showers at this campground though. The place is called Thousand Trails but I can’t find it on the map. I don’t think we came very far today. One thing about this campground – the mosquitoes are really thick.
