Well, I didn't have a very good sleep last night...luckily Steve did! We actually both woke up at midnight when a semi pulled into the pull-out...great, just what we were afraid of. But he didn't stay long...whew! I had a hard time getting back to sleep after that...and then I was awake again a couple of hours later. There wasn't all that much night traffic on the highway but I guess there was just enough to wake me.
Needless to say, we were up early...and with no internet, we sat with our coffee not having anything to do...gee, it's amazing how you get used to things. Our usual morning is coffee with Steve on the iPad and me on my laptop. Well, we didn't waste much time this morning...coffee, dressed and cleaned up, things put away, slides in...and we were on our way by 6:45 immediately crossing the border int Idaho!
It was a cold, blustery morning as we headed north, continuing on highway 95...
After many months in brown deserts all the greenery seems foreign...
Beautiful scenery even on a dull day...
Snake River...
We passed a huge horse ranch with a couple of spectacular homes on it...along with riding stables, etc...looked pretty impressive!
When we reached I-84, we hung a left and headed west. There were a bunch of old military vehicles for sale parked in a field as we entered the interstate. There was even a rocket launcher in the middle of the pack...
It wasn't long before we were back in Oregon...stopping at a Denny's in Ontario, OR for breakfast. It's been a long time since we have been out for breakfast!
Back on the road again...look at all that green!
Snake River again...
Last time we came through here we saw a Deer wading across...
An old dilapidated cement plant...
See the railroad tunnel?
We're just coming down into Baker City...some blue sky, but look at those nasty clouds ahead!
Getting a little too close to snow for comfort!
Luckily we had a snow plow pull in front of us...
A few miles past Blue Mountains Summit (elevation 4193), you guessed it...we hit snow. It wasn't big white fluffy stuff coming down but more like a pounding snow/hail squall. Just as we got into the thick of it the snow plow pulled off in front of a car that had done the same. This is when the pucker factor kicked in for both of us! We were on our own following in the tracks of the semi ahead trying to keep our momentum going up and up, not knowing how long this would last...
I'm pretty sure this is the first time Buster has had snow accumulate on his windshield!
Luckily by the time we reached Deadman Pass, it had stopped and the sky was brightening up again. Steve told me much later that the truck had lost traction for a couple of seconds back there...Yikes!
I love the warning signs...there are three of them (I missed the first). Second Warning 6% downgrade for 6 miles...
Last warning, you dummies! You're going downhill now...got it?!! LOL In all of our travels we've never seen warning signs like these...
And down, down, down, we went...
The first runaway lane ahead...
The second runaway lane ahead...
The highway heading up down below...
The pictures just don't capture how steep this section of highway is. Once you get to the Casino and look back this way it just looks like a non imposing hill...
We took the exit for the Wildhorse Resort and Casino and pulled into the truck stop to fuel up ($2.08/gallon) and then continued onto the RV parking at the casino.
It was about noon when we pulled in next to fellow RV Dreamers Allen and Donna Ferguson. Luck would have it that we would both be here at the same time...one last visit this season! After quick hugs and handshakes, they went back into their motorhome leaving us to get set up. The wind was howling and it was freezing out! Again, I did a minimal set up since we are only here for one night while Steve got the propane tank out. Yup, we are definitely going to need our propane heater again!
We had a relaxing afternoon, getting caught up since we have an internet connection again!
At 4:30 we met Allen and Donna and went over to the casino. We enjoyed drinks in the Sports Bar and then went to the buffet for dinner. We had a wonderful time catching up with Donna and Allen...so glad that our paths crossed again!
After dinner, Steve and I decided to have a go on the slots and make our donations...our limit was $10 each. About 40 minutes later Steve was down his $10 and I still had $5 left, but I cashed in as well and we walked back to the trailer. The wind had died down but it was still chilly out! However, we had some pretty pink clouds...
It was about noon when we pulled in next to fellow RV Dreamers Allen and Donna Ferguson. Luck would have it that we would both be here at the same time...one last visit this season! After quick hugs and handshakes, they went back into their motorhome leaving us to get set up. The wind was howling and it was freezing out! Again, I did a minimal set up since we are only here for one night while Steve got the propane tank out. Yup, we are definitely going to need our propane heater again!
At 4:30 we met Allen and Donna and went over to the casino. We enjoyed drinks in the Sports Bar and then went to the buffet for dinner. We had a wonderful time catching up with Donna and Allen...so glad that our paths crossed again!
Ugh, I bet the pucker factor was in full force! We lost traction going up a mountain during a snowstorm outside of Laramie Wyoming our first year and vowed never to do that again!
ReplyDeleteYes it was. It's one thing when you're on level ground but trying to keep your momentum going up a slippery mountain road is not fun.
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