Clarkston, Washington: A very restless night, with the air conditioner blasting air just so we could breathe. Last evening the smoky smell was mostly abated by remaining indoors with the air conditioner running, but this morning we woke at 6a due to a heavy smoke smell.
We checked the forecast and the air quality. It had gone down to 175 overnight (from nearly 300). Still terrible and dangerous, and the golf club called Dave to tell him the course had been closed due to the poor air quality. That was a decision we didn’t have to make. Our tee time was cancelled. The RV still needed a good cleaning, so we decided to suck up all the gnasty gnats with our fully-charged vacuum. I think the little jerks had an orgy in our shower stall and maybe reproduced? They were everywhere - STILL.
Window screens were vacuumed. Everything was washed off. Floors were mopped. Place was sparkling, and I sprayed the few remaining hung-over party-goers down the shower drain. All the while, we caught up on the laundry, towels and sheets before other campers were even awake.
The RV park gave us our money back when we checked-out one day early. (That was nice; it’s not their fault the sky is smoky and the golf course has closed.) The air is clearer east of us, so we pointed our shiny clean camper thatta way, sadly driving through miles of burned grain (winter wheat, barley, corn and emmer are grown here) fields along Highway 11. 8000 acres burned last week. (That fire is NOT the source of the smoke currently.)
The route took us through Milton-Freewater and then into Washington, where we passed into Walla Walla and drove through the pretty University campus. We stopped for lunch in Dayton. Dayton is one of so many cute little agricultural towns on our route. We have passed through here previously to see their pretty courthouse, an historic train station, and a nice museum (everything but the courthouse were closed today and we happily had no business at the courthouse). I made sandwiches and we enjoyed them at Flour Mill Park.
About noon we reached our Mother Road: Highway 12. This road travels about 2500 miles from Aberdeen, Washington to Detroit, Michigan, and we plan to follow it over the next few weeks (but not all the way to Michigan!). As we continued east, the air seemed clearer - but not clear. The air quality did drop into the 80-level though. The terrain did not change much. Wheat fields. Wheat fields. Wheats fields. Farmers are starting to harvest their grains, so it was interesting to watch the massive machines patrolling over the landscape.
Problem is, we had no where to go. Our reservation in Clarkston, Washington did not begin until tomorrow (Wednesday, 22 July). We thought about stopping at any of the campgrounds on Highway 12, but none looked very promising. Our phone calls to the Premier RV Resort Clarkston (sister of the resort we patronize in Eugene, Oregon) were not answered, so we waddled in and they did give us a site for one night. We will move to our reserved - front-in Snake River view - site tomorrow. Dumb luck, as this place seems FULL.
As soon as we arrived, My Driver took off on his bicycle. I wouldn't have exercised in this air quality, but I am not My Driver. He did not work out this morning in smoky Pendleton, so he was itching to get out after chauffeuring me all day. Dave reported the bike path as fantastic. The bumpy parts are carefully marked with white paint, so you can avoid the divots.
There is an American Cruise Lines ship in port tonight. These small ships (150 passengers) sail from Astoria, Oregon to Clarkston, Washington. We have never taken one of their trips (though Dave's mom has) and maybe we need to add this to our itinerary... except we have been to all the places they visit in our RV over the past 25 years, so maybe not? Maybe we should take one of their east coast itineraries? Have you sailed on this cruise line? Comment below.
Dinner was super easy tonight. Boil ravioli, heat chicken stock with a parmesan rind. Make a salad with a tomato and an avocado (plus an anchovy fillet). Done.
After moving to our new campsite in this resort tomorrow morning, we will explore a bit on our bikes. Hope the smoke stays away, as is predicted.
Dishes are done. Dodgers won.
Until my next update, I remain, your neat & tidy correspondent.
Campground Information: Premier RV Resort Clarkston