Day One

Washington State is the 18th largest in the country, 71,300 square miles, and I traversed it today from the northwest corner to the southeast corner.

The drop down from Snoqualmie Pass to the Palouse is always a stunner. The Palouse is beautiful. Its name derives from  French-Canadian trappers meeting up with local indigenous people—the Paloatpallah—became Palouse.

It is known for its voluptuous low rounded hills formed by post ice age silt, and for the great quantities of wheat, barley, and lentils grown and shipped worldwide.

It is a long but beautiful trek leading to the Astoria-Megler Bridge spanning the Columbia River from Washington to Oregon. It is 4.1 miles long—formerly—the longest truss bridge in the U.S.  The Columbia River is so vast it felt like crossing a sea!

It was a long day. I was tired when we—Brandy and I—arrived at the Finch in Walla Walla.

The Finch is an old motel made young and hip for today’s low-budget traveler. Nice art and colorful grounds made for a fun though brief stay.

The Saffron restaurant is near the old Courthouse, a majestic 1854 structure with a classical statue of Christopher Columbus on a plinth in the courthouse lawn. In 1911, the statue was given to the city by the local Italian community. 

My Walla Walla friend Judith went on to explain that he’s standing there because Italian immigrant farmers brought the starts for Walla Walla Sweet onions along with them. When they said, “Don’t touch that statue.”  City fathers listened. 

Adjacent to the courthouse stands the now boarded-up former Jail. Easy for managing the miscreants before and after their trial. Curious what the fate of the jail will be.

Early to bed after a wonderful dinner at Saffron with my Fishtrap friend, Judith Johnson.