No Cell Service so Playing Catch-Up

Last location: Farewell Bend State Recreation Area; Huntington, Oregon (elev. 2,100 feet)
Current location: Hood Park CoE Campground; near Kennewick, Washington (elev. 375 ft )

all pictures taken with Nokia Lumia Icon 929 cell phone

Thru Stop #12

I only stayed on night at the Farewell Bend Campground and did not have a reliable cell signal. The signal was like a revolving door, one minute no signal, the next minute 4G-LTE. It was so unreliable I couldn't post to the blog. I didn't venture into town because it appeared there wasn't much there so I just hung around the campground for the evening. Farewell Bend is located on the banks of the Snake River before it heads into the interior of Idaho before coming back west to join the Columbia at my next campground. This campground is where the pioneers on the Oregon Trail camped and said their "farewells" to the Snake after following it for 300+ miles. Except for lack of cell service, it is a good campground.

The trip from Twin Falls to here has a dramatic change in landscape. From barren, to high desert with scrub brush, to super sized irrigated fields of crops, to tall trees and everything in between.  

This is southern Idaho headed north. The interstate is still a few dozen miles away. That is the Snake River to the right.

On I-84 now. The landscape was surprisingly flat and stretches where no crops were being raised nor cattle running. 

Beginning to see some mountains in the distance.

The Snake joined the interstate before the exit to Farewell Bend Campground

Freedom and Liberty in Farewell Bend State Recreation Area.

This was just a short walk from my campsite. That is the Snake as it makes its way to the east before turning north and comes back west at my next campground. 

I arrived here at Hood Park yesterday afternoon. Wouldn't you know it, they have a mini-heat wave going on here. The temperature for yesterday and today is 103 degrees. Luckily, the humidity isn't very high so the heat index is only 106. Something isn't right when I'm using the words "luckily", "heat index 106" in the same sentence. I'll be staying here for three days so at least the third day is cooling down into the mid 90's. Some much for going to the Rockies for cooler temperatures this summer. 

Getting on I-84 after leaving Farewell Bend

The mountains are beginning to show themselves more and more.

These smaller rolling hills were in the middle

The rolling hills have their own type of beauty.

I got lucky and took this picture of an abandoned house along the interstate. I've seen these everywhere in the country,,,, must mostly west of the Mississippi River.

My typical "long highway" picture.

Finally trees started showing up. I haven't seen tall trees since leaving East Texas.

More tall trees. I miss them.

Campsite at Hood Park. Not bad for $12.00 a day (senior pass).

Hood Park is located near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. I saw the Columbia River again yesterday. It has been a few years since I've seen her and she still looks great. She is one of the top three great looking rivers in the lower 48 of the U.S. After making this post, I plan to take the river road to see more of her. 

I'm off to do some exploring before the temperature gets too high. By the way, this Pacific Time Zone has me messed up real good. 

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.