Lewis and Clark State Park (Dayton, WA)
I passed some nice campgrounds along the river before I exited montana. One thing I had noticed about Montana's rivers is they seemed to flow very rapidly, but still be smooth on the surface. They were dark green with a lot of wide open access. There were not a lot of trees surrounding the streams. I know they are still high at this time of year, butthey just seemed to be tranquil.
Soon after I crossed into Idaho, a large female deer came bounding on to the road from a steep hill to the right. At 70 mph I was able to slow enough for her to reach the other lane, but just as I got even with her at about 10 mph I noticed a fawn was trailing her and just arrived in the dithc about ten feet ahead of my car. He panicked and ran in every direction at once. I did everything I could to come to a complete stop, even though I had just passed a camper. Finally, the fawn ran back up the hill and all was safe. I stayed until the camper showed up to ensure they slowed down to prevent them from zooming by unaware of the fawn.
I have seen at least 50 deer dead along the side of the road on this trip. In one place near the Kilpchuck campground in Washingotn they had the statistics up for how many drivers had driven on the road versus how many deer had been hit. I don't rmember the figures but it was pretty high. The campground host had told me the local saying is (using his best yoda voice): "If you have not hit a deer yet, you will. You will!" Just south of Twisp, Washington I saw four dead deer in the ditch within 50 feet of each other. When I had arrived a weeke earlier there was only one. I had seen a few deer grazing near the river in that area earlier in the week, but there were none when I left. Of course if you want to take the practical view, sounds like they don't do enough hunting up there.
It was a very hot day. I had a craving for that burger, onion rings and huckleberry shake meal again. I arrived in Priest River, Idaho around 11:30 am. As luck would have it a 50's diner right on the highway advertised huckleberry shakes. I stopped ordered my meal in an absoultely deserted reataraunt. Before I sat down there were 12 people waiting to order. I paid $10 for this lunch and kicked myself a little for doing it. Not just because $10 should be 3 days worht of meals for me, but because I knew I ws giving into comfort food urges and I would not be satisfied afterwards.
It took me at least 45 minutes to get through Spokane all due to construction. The area after Spokane was lined with miles and miles of golden wheat fields. They really faascinated me. Each stalke of wheat was like a single pixel on a giant TV screen or computer monitor.
Due to construction work and the fact they had turned the road into a one lane highway for three miles, I waited 15 minutes and a hot glaring sun to turn south on highway 261 towards the state park. I drove three miles after the pilot car left us and was stopped by another flagger at a one way road. There must be a better way to do this. I waited 25 minutes in a hot glaring sun. My driver's seat began to smell again.
Finally we were off. Unfortunately we were behind 5 large grain trucks that could not go over 45 mph. I was getting frustrated. The trucks turned off the highway at the same exit for the State Park. Thanks a lot. The state park was a disappointment. The tent area was just one big grassy area and pick your own spot. I knew the minute I did that, a group of 30 people with 8 tents would show up and circle my siite. I drove to the beach area. Even though it was in the same complex it was at least a mile away from the camp iste. No one was using the beach so I changed into my trunks, and took a little dip in suprisingly shallow and warm water. I ws not having a good day. It was 3 pm. I moved on.
I was thinking maybe I should drive to Pullman and get a motel. I had never been there, but it was out of the way. By 5 pm I arrived at Lewis and Clark State Park near Dayton, Washington. It was a small campground with great barriers of trees and bushes between sites. It was $15 per night. I paid my fee, had a nice chat with the hosts, donned my trunks and headed for the "river." The river was a creek in my book. It was very shallow and swift and hardly satisfied my need to cool off.
I took a shower and saved 50 cents by not using hot water. I was out of mosquito repellant so I rode my bike 5 miles back to Dayton and obtained what I needed. It was a nice flat ride. I enjoyed it even though it was hot and muggy. I gotr to view some very spectacular wheat fields up close. I knew I had passed this way the week before and I wondered if the wheat had been golden brown or green at that time. It was golden brown now. I spent the evening trying to finish Simulacrum. I was thinking I could make it to Portland and called M&R to arrange a visit, but had no luck.
I rechecked my map and decided that I may want to try the McKenzie river the next day. I had not campoed there yet and it was close enough to Cottage Grove to let me get in and out quickly. Also, it may give me a chance to do a little reminiscing in some of my old stomping grounds in Springfield. I would want to look for books in Eugene also. I only had one left after Simulacrum. Tomorrow was another day I would have to find a place to stay.