2 RV's to Medford OR
... spending the night at Post Falls ID
Breakfast. They did have eggs and sausage but I went for yogurt. I did find two non-peach flavor out of the two dozen in the fridge.
1st thing I did this AM was correct my opps from last night. I had left me drugs in the RV and didn't feel like going back out at 10 PM so I did that this AM.
And I had mentioned to dispatch about the OR and WA permits so I sent an update to dispatch on what the issues still are.
When I was getting my pills, I could already see the hills against the morning light. But 'first light' was not supposed to be until 7:15 so that is when we planned on leaving the hotel.
When BB first got her eyes done, all was good. Now that it has been a couple of years she is starting to notice that first/last light until sunrise/set is getting hard to drive. But if traffic isn't bad and the turns are few, it works.
First stop was supposed to be a rest area just west of Livingston. A mile past the mile marker I realize I missed it so we pull off at the next exit. I don't remember seeing it but sometimes I space out ... but not that far out.
BB is the one that makes our list of stops. And she remembered just before we got here that this rest area was ... east bound. And we are heading west. So ...
1st stop is the Albertsons in Belgrade. The DOT has closed the rest area in Bozeman, forever. And Pilot has closed the Flying J at this exit. So a grocery store it is. The new Pilot at this exit is a couple of miles down the frontage road on the other side of the freeway.
The Pilot does have an exit to it for the east bound traffic. Not so easy for the west bound.
2nd stop was the Pilot in Rocker for fuel. We are not getting a discount here so just enough fuel to get to Missoula. We each put in four gallons. Plan had been to then park and eat ... but a few miles before our stop I remembered the 4B's in Deer Lodge. :)
BB agreed that she could wait that long to eat. There is supposed to be an Arby's here but no sign on the building or on any other signage. There is a McD's and Subway and these MT Pilots are Town Pumps and they usually have pretty good shelf food.
I did call the WA Port of Entry and they said I need a permit over 1,000#. Different than the 1,200# the permit company says.
3rd stop is 4B's. This place is busy, by no line waiting. I got soup and a piece of pie. BB got a cup of soup and a dinner salad. Their tomato soup is why we come here. Down side today is it was so hot that my tongue is still sore eight hours later. I had though of having two bowls but we need to keep moving. This is already an extra stop. Pie was French Silk. I thought about getting a piece of lemon meringue pie but decided one piece a day is enough.
Somewhere today we hit fog, thick fog. I could see about 1/4 mile in any direction. We were in and out of the fog many times all the way to Post Falls.
4th stop is the Loves in Missoula for fuel. Things have changed. The Loves is new, not sure we've stopped here before. Next to it is the TA, that used to be a Ma-Pa truckstop with a 4B's inside. And next to that was Ma-Pa hotel with an attached restaurant. After 20 years of being a Ma-Pa hotel, it is now a Motel 6. And that restaurant is now a dispensary. I used to stay at that hotel when this corner was the only thing at the exit.
Now across the freeway there is a Pilot that's been there five plus years. And across from that is a Ma-Pa truckstop that has a Wheat Ridge Deli ... our go-to food at this stop. But new here is a Taco Bell in their parking lot.
Not much for wildlife today. One eagle and lots of cows.
Before we get to the exit scale there is a sign that says our rest area is closed. I hadn't though they had got that much snow but later when we drove past there was still maybe four feet in the parking lot area.
So when I saw the sign, I pulled off at the next exit to talk to BB. She says she will be OK to do the 180 miles without a restroom stop. So back on the freeway.
This scale says 26,000# and over must exit ... so we sail on. At some point in the next 20 miles I realize the 2nd reason we wanted to stop at the rest area. To wait until our ID permit is good. Seems I planned that, or didn't plan that, awful close. We are early so I follow the slow trucks up the hill. Timing was close enough, we crossed the state line with less than five minutes before we should have.
Before we get to Post Falls we see a pile on the oncoming traffic. They are getting ready to two a semi tractor away. The trailer is somehow upside down on the opposite/ditch side of a four foot high concrete wall.
... and about here ... CRACK ... four work pickups had pulled on the freeway ahead of me. Very load crack but can't see any damage on my unit yet.
Today, coming into Coeur d Alene I was wondering why people think this is such a beautiful area. Well for travelers, it is likely the first tree lined lake they have seen in the last 1,000 miles. :)
I-90 brings back lots of memories. Our family came out west in the 1960's when they were first starting on it. And I brought my kids on a trip west in the early 1990's and they were still working on it.
5th and final stop is the Sleep Inn in Post Falls. BB had not made a reservation because we hadn't stopped. Plenty of room. Down side of this one is the only close food is Zips. A fast food burger place. It is a major local chain out here. They were around when I was out there 40+ years ago. We walk there, food's OK.
There is also a Mexican place in the old outlet center across the street. One of only a couple of retail businesses in that mall. The rest of the mall has been vacant for 20+ years.
And at this exit ... the Ma-Pa hotel I have stayed at is now a Red Lion.
There is a walking trail right next to the hotel but we got here right at sunset and it was dark before we were done eating. Nice trail. As flat as it is, I am guessing it is an old rail trail.
Load board
US - 95
IA - 4
MN - 4
WI - 5
Tomorrow - less than 500 miles. 1st stop will be a Maverick for fuel. Their posted price is less than any discounted fuel we get. Then two Loves and one rest area before the hotel.