Washington, Again

Cindy, Eric and I drove down to Seattle so they could pick up a car for the second part of their vacation. They got to experience my world. Many years ago I left my passport in a bank in the South of France. I didn't notice until we were outside Avignon. So I reported it in Paris. My friends and I enjoyed an evening with the Gendarmes while I completed some paper work. The friends went on to tour Paris while I went to the American Embassy. There I sat with Roman Polanske and his new child girl friend waiting to get a replacement passport. Since then, I have had to explain my life to every official guy who looks at my passport. Eric and Cindy got to join me this time as we crossed the American border into Washington. Cool.

I spent a few days with Maureen again while I had repairs done to my car. I found a place by Googling. It was great. The man even fixed my car door that has been closing on my shins for years. We experienced our first sunny days since this trip started. Maureen and I went to a small body of water to feed the ducks. Stephanie was home as well. It was a pleasure to see her again. She was very young when I spent this much time with her. Stephanie is finishing her last term in college. Hurray! She wants to teach, so it isn't over yet. But the worst is probably over.

Karen arrived on Sunday and we headed out to Moscow, Idaho the next day. The Cascade Mountains are between Seattle and Idaho. They were beautiful and green. There had been snow there before I went on my Alaska trip. Luckily, the road was clear while we were driving. We drove through the Palouse. This is a wheat growing region to the East of the Cascades. They grow a lot of different grains. Peter has said that all of Dijon's mustard seed is grown in Montana. That isn't exactly true. We saw a lot of mustard in the Palouse. Beautiful.