The Long and Winding Road.....

(From Denise)

Leaving Lewiston, Idaho we continued on the Lewis & Clark Trail, crossing the river into our 11th state, Washington.  (Keep in mind - these photos have no filter.)

Smoke.  Layers and layers of smoke.  

Wildfires in Washington sent hundreds from their homes 

and smoke covered the eastern half of the state. 

It wasn't long before we were in the scablands (appropriately named), a desert like environment where the wind blows, and blows, and blows and the road signs continue to remind you, "No Services the next 86 miles." We've been on many roads carrying the same warning, but on these roads, heed the warning while cycling.  

The scablands led to the Columbia River Gorge, where the winds raged.   

While the gorge was beautiful, the winds were now commanding our attention. We began to see windmill farms along the ridges....for miles and miles and miles.    

In eastern Oregon, wildfires spread through the area, including sections of the Trans America Trail.  With 20-30 mph headwinds in the Columbia River gorge, rainy weather & thunderstorms moving in to cover western Oregon and wildfires scattered in Washington and Oregon, I pulled out our Oregon map, got online and we left the Lewis & Clark trail behind heading south.  Through Mt. Hood National Forest...

To Sisters, Oregon and the Cascade Mt. Range

South of Springfield/Eugene to Cottage Grove.  What a blessing to spend today waiting out the rain with family!  Thank you Uncle Alton and Aunt Shelby for sharing your RV with us!  Dry shelter, wonderful food and time with family!

Tomorrow morning....we head west.  Where will we finally reach the Pacific Coast? 

We'll find out tomorrow!  Stay tuned!