Larch Tree

Eastern Washington is sunny throughout the early and mid-fall, and the landscape is washed in a beautiful orange. In later Autumn – right now – most of the leaves have fallen but the larch trees are turning gold. They are the only pine tree that changes color and drops its needles. I saw Larch (also called Tamarisk) in Washington and Idaho as I drove back to New Mexico last year. This year I see them turning to orange in my little forest beyond the hay meadow. Fog settles over the trees on some mornings, and last we night we had our first serious rain. It is time for that rain here, and before long it will turn to snow. When I decided to stay until the end of October, I knew that it would be iffy in terms of a possible snow-storm. I got lucky. For my remaining few days and nights, rain will fall but not snow. Nighttime temps will remain at or above freezing.

I voted already! In Washington, everyone gets a ballot in the mail. I read the election book and was prepared by the time I got my ballot, so I marked my choices and sent it back. I heard on the local news that ballots are already coming in and in record numbers! I have high hopes that this election will tame the Trump beast by reducing his power in Congress and the Senate. Voting by mail seems so civilized compared to driving to a polling place and waiting in line. Each person can track their ballot online thanks to unique scans codes printed on each ballot. I tried to imaged pitfalls to mail ballots but, other than a ballot getting lost in the return mail, I can’t find any. Besides, you don’t have to put it in a mailbox. All the libraries have drop boxes too, which is where I left mine. Here is the status of my ballot from the Spokane County Voter website:

 Sequim, where I am heading, is much smaller than Spokane, but there will still be plenty to do. Besides, I will have access to a ferry over to the San Juan Islands or to Seattle! Can’t wait. Once again, I will move 3 vehicles: the car, van, and RV. I will pull out with the van and RV then take the bus back to get the car. It’s only around 300 miles this time, compared to 1800 miles between Deming and Spokane! This week, I dropped the car off at Kerry’s house where it will be safe until I get back. This is another reason why I am narrowing my roaming range. Moving the fleet takes some advance planning.

Staying here two months was a good call. I had fun with my sweet grandson and enjoyed being near a city. This is also where I started my Adult Children of Alcoholics journey, and that is something quite special even though it doesn’t always feel that way right now. Still, I am antsy to start the next adventure. It will take me on a new route, across central Washington on I-90, up and over the Cascades via Snoqualmie Pass.   I took I-90 into Eastern Washington several times but jumped off in Spokane so the drive will be all new to me. Right now snow and cold temperatures in the mountains should not affect the RV (low temps could freeze my water lines, even while driving).