Saint Regis KOA (Leaving)
By 6:45 am I was sure it was rain. It was just getting started, but when I looked at the sky I could tell it was going to last a while. I quickly made the decision to try to get everything packed before it got too wet. I dragged the tent under the nearest tree, moved my bedding and accessories from the tent to the back seat of my car as-is, then got the tent rolled up and my bicycle loaded before their was too much damage.Thats when the down por started.
I decided I would head for the KOA in Spokane a little early and hope the skies would clear on my way west. They did not. By 8 am MST (7am PST) I was in Idaho, by 8am PST I was near Coeur De d 'Alene. I drove through the interstate 90 business loop hoping to find a nice place to have breakfast. I did not find one. However, I did hear an interesting radio advertisement. It was really slick like those old K-Tel commercials where they keep saying "and thats not all, you also get..." The advertisement was for something called the donor program. They were looking for women from 18 to 25 interested in making "Big Bucks." "Tired of that dead end job?" Theven had a testimonial, "I earned enough money to take a nice vacation." The donations they are looking for are babies. "Yes you can make big bucks, just get pregnant and give us your baby 9 months later and we will give you enough money to take a nice vacation."
Maybe there are is an extraordinary need for this service in the CDA area. It being the white supremicisist, skinhead, neo-nazi and survivalist capital of the world. Maybe these groups are having trouble recruiting women and need new recruits to brainwash from infancy. But at least have some tact about it. Maybe I could do some quality work in local radio advertisement because most places I have been it was pretty bad. This was the worst.
I stopped at a Burger King a half hour later just across the Washbington border. I placed my order with a young man about 25, probably fresh out of college with a real professional attitude. I assumed he was the manager. I paid my bill and got my order number. Behind me an old geezer with his own 44 oz cup which he had just filled with ice and soda order 5 breakfast sandwiches while the clerk took a simultaneous order from the drive through. I got my soda, sat down and waited for my number to be called. A few minutes passed and the car at the drive through drove off with his order. A few minutes more passed and I heard the clerk call the geezer by his first name to let him know his 5 sandwiches were ready. Then they got to talking about going to the chirpractor and how old Bill was doing.
I stood up and approached the counter with my patented I am going to kick your behind stare that I have never followed through with. The clerk saw me and quickly rushed to fill my order. I was waiting for him to say it was "just up." He said he was sorry and that he gave me extra hash browns to make up for it. That really mkes up for me being the invisible man everytime I go to a restaraunt. I went back to my table and sulked my way through my breakfast.
Back on the road I was in the middle of a downpour. It was hard to see through the windshield it was so bad. I turned off at the Spokane KOA to find what looked like a small city park in the middle of a residential neighborhood with no cover at all. I checked my map and decided to head for the Winthrop KOA near the North Cascade National Park. It specifically mentioned bike trails nearby so I was hopeful. I was also hopeful the rain would clear as I went west. It did.
I stopped for supplies at a Walmart and got most of what I needed. I stopped for gas and to use the restroom after exiting the Interstate on to highway 2. I got the gas but the restroom was a health hazard (literally). I informed the clerk and got out of their as quick as possible. Being thankful I have not had to deal with that situation in years and wondering about how something like that could happen. Was it an accident? Did someone do it on purpose? If so, what could be their possible motive?
By 11 am the skies had cleared as I passed through rolling fields of grass and wheat. I stopped at the Safeway in Davenport and got the rest of my supplies. By 12:30 I was at the Grand Coulee dam and in high desert country with its characteristic pine trees, sage brush and brown grass. I passed through one final storm on the way to Cheif Joseph Dam. I checked out the state park there. They wanted $22 per night to camp in what amounted to an open city park. I moved on.
By 3pm I pulled into the KOA at Winthrop. The staff was professional and nowhere near retirement age (unlike most of the staff I had seen at KOAs). I found a secluded spot literally right on the bank of the Methow River and proceeded to set up camp. It was warm and sunny and I had a good feeling about the place.