Tom & Jan step into the Wayback Machine

 

We have always loved our road trips. Lots of fun and adventure and memories. This time, we hit the trail to  recreate several trips from our wonderful past. I-84 is a great way to get out of town and miss all the traffic of a southbound route. We went east to Biggs junction and turned left.

"Stonehenge! 'Tis a magic place." -Nigel Tufnel

Looking back toward the bridge at Biggs and the Columbia River

The re-creation of Stonehenge after crossing the Columbia is about the closest we’re going to get to the center of Druid culture. It’s spiritual, eerie and it’s free. 

Maryhill Museum

Next door is the Maryhill Museum. Closed at this time but we wandered the beautiful grounds and took in the artwork. Both locations are close enough to home that we’ve been to visit several times. 

Soap Lake, known for its healing waters

On the grounds of Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort

We stayed a couple of nights at Soap Lake Natural Spa and Resort, at the southern end of the Grand Coulee. Cabins have Jacuzzi tubs with the option of filling with mineral water taken directly from the lake. Relaxing!

We really enjoyed soaking in the mineral water baths (photos not available, sorry)

We drove north from there through amazing scenery and geographic wonders like Dry Falls, talk about going back in time. This was the site of a gigantic waterfall during the floods that ravaged Washington and Oregon at the end of the last ice age. 

Dry Falls: Ten times as wide as Niagara (10,000 years ago)

Continuing our magical mystery tour, we drove through Coulee City where we camped in about 1984 with our kids.

The Grand Coulee

Grand Coulee Dam in 1974, when there was enough water behind the dam to operate the spillway

Grand Coulee Dam today

We spent a while at the Grand Coulee Dam and sang along with Woody Guthrie.  Don’t worry, we got a short nap while watching the film at the visitors center.

The Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington

Palouse Falls

After leaving the coulee and on our way someplace else, we detoured to Palouse Falls. Amazingly beautiful, yes?  Kept to the path because this is rattlesnake country. Little known fact: they are known as the “Gentlemen of Snakes.”

There was a World’s Fair in Spokane in 1974, so we took our VW Micro Bus on our first real vacation as married people, and went to see the sights. 

Postcard from our 1974 visit

1974: Who are these children?

This time around, the Toyota did a better job of getting us there. It’s a really nice city with the beautiful river running through it.

Fair site today.  They took the tent off the US Pavilion

1974: The falls of the Spokane River

Today: We took the bucket ride to get a good look at the falls...

Then down hundreds of steps for a photo op

After the fast food and take out we’d had on the trip, it was a pleasure to sit down in the Davenport Grand Hotel Ballroom for a delightful lunch. 

The Historic Davenport Hotel

Next day, it was farewell Spokane and other places in Eastern Washington and hello to the land of mountain greenery and cascade scenery.  

Tasty Travel Tunes

Back in Time - Huey Louis and the News

Stonehenge - Spinal Tap

Grand Collee Dam - Ramblin Jack Elliot