One of my favorite places

I'm soooo excited that Maddy is going to be a Coug. The time I spent at WSU was some of the best years of my life. Of course I said yes when Cindi ask to go with them to Pullman.

We started with a walk up to the CUB, home of the bookie. It is on summer hours so it was closed, but we found another place to buy great Cougar gear.

After the shopping we set up camp. Yup, we are tenting it this weekend while Maddy gets a taste of dorm life.

For dinner it was on to an old favorite of mine and a new favorite of the Lucas', Sella's.

Maddy's choice because she loves their pasta Alfredo.

She is right, the Alfredo is amazing, but the Thai pie is also quite good. You would be surprised how awesome peanut sauce is on pizza.

After dinner it was time to check Maddy into orientation and her dorm room for the next two days. She decided it would be cool to trundle the bed and she was determined to make it happen.

It wasn't easy but it was fun to watch.

The Palouse

The rest of the drive we enjoyed the rolling hills of the Palouse and the swaying of the wheat fields.

Maddy is anxious to get to Pullman and do some shopping at the bookie.

Quote:

Cindi-In my next life I'm going to live on a  dryland wheat farm. I'm going to quilt and make cookies and read all day.

Othello pit stop

Sometimes you have to trust your friend when she says:

Quote:

Cindi-Let's get burritos for lunch at this little place I know. It's ghetto, but they're only $3!

I was skeptical and not sure the place was sanitary, but I went for it.

It was delicious and just the right amount of spicy.

The place is in Othello, WA. It's a Mexican market with a café inside.

You must try it on your next trip to the Palouse.

Summer Fest, Royal City, WA

We rolled into Royal City with just enough time to say hello to Cindi's brother and kids who where running a food stand and then hit the Main Street in time for the parade.

This parade is a total slice of Americana.

The Boy Scouts and Mayor lead the way. The grand marshal rolls up in a beat up old Bronco. Next you get every emergency vehicle in a hundred mile radius.

There were horse groups and the school band and cheer teams. We also got to see the most distinguished young women from area towns. 

I feel like every politician from miles around was also in this parade.

One of the best things we saw come down the road was the mariachi band and the dancing horses. Also, you can't have a small town parade without a tractor.

My absolute favorite thing about the parade, the thing I thought was funniest was seeing the PUD vehicles roll down the street. Why? 

After the parade we took in more of the festival flavor. Maddy and I got glitter tattoos.

We enjoyed some curly fries from the family stand.

We voted for our favorite quilt at the quilt show.

We also ran into lots of Cindi's old friends. This lady, Chris Mianecki, had some very serious college advice for Maddy.

Quote:

Chris-I'm not being a bitch, I am a bitch.

Road to Royal City

I'm on the road again, this time with Cindi and Maddy. Our final destination is one of my favorite places, Pullman, home of the WSU Cougs! Maddy will be attending school there this fall and she has to attend an orientation this weekend.

Our first pit stop brings us to our first Starbucks of the trip. Traveling with Cindi means lots of Starbucks stops.

We are hustling to Royal City this morning, the place where Cindi grew up. This weekend is Summer Fest in Royal City and we are hoping to catch the parade. Cindi's elementary librarian is the grand marshal so it is a big deal that we get there to see it. 

We just went through Vantage. We have 20 minutes to go 17 miles. Of the few State Patrol in the area one is Cindi's ex-step brother and the other is an old friend.

Home sweet home

After being stuck in the Spokane Valley for four hours this afternoon getting home was all we could think about. Besides personal commitments we all had the next couple of days there was traffic issues ahead to think about.

In Ellensburg they were closing the on ramps to return to the freeway. We had minutes to spare for a gas and bathroom run. It was a record breaking pit stop.

On the pass they close the highway to do blasting at 8pm. We passed that area at 7:45!

We got lucky today and we're glad to be back.

Rob didn't waste any time going for that stress reliever.

While the boys unloaded the trailer I ran to get the dog. We were so blessed to have S'more staying with the Butlers while we were away. 

S'more had such a great time with you Lynnette! Thank you so much for taking such good care of him. Oh, and sorry about the loaf of bread. S'more says, "thank you for the loaf of bread and if you hadn't been so attentive I would have gotten those mini donuts too!"

Rob, of course, was so happy to be reunited with his puppy. It didn't take long before the long drive and the stress of the truck issue knocked Rob right out. His snuggle buddy was right there with him. They have assumed this position before. 

It's nice to be home.

The road home

We set out about an hour later than we had hoped this morning. The rides yesterday really beat up our bodies and sleep was fitful. We set out to look for a truck stop with a McDonald's near by.

We found one just a couple miles short of the state line in Post Falls Idaho.

A couple note worthy things about this roadside stop...

Skylar has an ordering routine for his McD's breakfast. It has always included cinnamon melts. Recently, at home he discovered McD's stopped selling them. In Idaho, they still have them. This McD's also had something I had to try, Twix Mcflurry! Yes, it was delicious. I also include here a picture of Skylar in the middle of his little pancake ritual. He always orders hot cakes from McD's for breakfast then, he goes through a 5 minute process of preparing them just so. Once they are ready, it takes him less than 30 seconds to eat them.

We got ourselves barely 15 miles into Washington when an alarm goes off in the truck and there is smoke coming out from under the hood. Luckily we were able to get off the freeway safely and into a large parking lot right away. Rob yells, "get out and grab the fire extinguisher, I smell diesel!"

By the time we find a garage that will take it right away and get AAA on it's way Skylar and I are ready for some stress eating!

Rob drinks beer when he's stressed and he couldn't do that so Skylar and I were eating for him. 

Rob left with the truck and Skylar and I stayed with the trailer with our next move unknown.

I just happen to be wearing this sweatshirt today I got it at Boo Radley's earlier in the trip. All of our bases were covered if we had to stay another night, but we were crossing our fingers.

Three hours later the truck was fixed and we were back on the road.

When you are heading down the highway and see the familiar landscapes, you know you're on the home stretch.