Kathleen's Window: Time to Head West- April 2018

April became a transition month. We left Kissimmee Prairie at the beginning of April and drove north to stay with our daughter and her family in Maryland. After a couple weeks catching up with family, friends, and appointments, on April 16^th, we started the journey west. Our first night was in a Flying J in Smithton, Pennsylvania. We awoke to snow, winds, and sleet again! The second night we arrived at the Mothership, the Airstream Factory in Jackson Center, Ohio, and their free campground called the Teleport. Our two year warranty on the trailer covers everything, and staying at the factory guarantees good, quick service. We made an appointment so they were expecting us, and e-mailed ahead of time the problems to be addressed. The main problem was the heat pump that refused to air condition the trailer. Luckily we were out of Florida before that turned into a serious issue. Besides, winter refused to leave Ohio, and we were greeted with a crust of snow on the ground. After the trailer was hooked up to the tractor at 7 am and taken into the service bay, we spent the day touring the Airstream Factory. Both mornings we had breakfast with the local farmers at The Heidout next door. After two nights there, the next morning we left in the snow.

Ugh! More snow!

The tractor collects the Airstreams each morning for repairs in the factory shop

The service bays- Greg talks with our tech.

The Factory floor.There's a lot of pieces in these trailers!

Leaving the factory in another snow squall

We raced west trying to get miles behind us and get out of the cold and snow. Surprisingly, the northern route looked better than farther south this year. Plus, we needed to end up north in Washington. The following night found us at a campground in Davenport, Iowa. Temps in the 20's made us glad for an electric hook-up. The next night found us boondocked in the rain at the Archway information center and museum along I-80 in Kearney, Nebraska. We plowed on through a dreary day crossing Nebraska to reach Cheyenne, Wyoming and an overnight stay in The Sierra Trading Post parking lot. Before reaching Cheyenne, we made a quick stop at Cabellas in Sydney, Nebraska for a bowl of hot chili! There were still snowdrifts on the sides of the road from record breaking snow earlier in the week.

Climbing up into the mountains of Wyoming

The following day found us chasing warmer temperatures to Salt Lake City, Utah after a 28 degree night in Cheyenne. First we had to cross into the mountains of Wyoming and the highest point on I-80. Getting on the western side of the Wasatch Range finally brought some warmth! We stayed the night at Willard Bay State Park on the Great Salt Lake. We found Spring! The trees were leafing out and the early flowers were blooming.

The Lincoln monument where I-80 crosses the old Lincoln Highway

Sunny and warm along the Great Salt Lake

Next stop, Idaho. That night we spent at Bruneau Dunes State Park outside of Boise. Then by April 24^th we were in Southeastern Oregon. We'd finally found warm, dry weather and weren't due at Cape Disappointment until May 1^st. Time to take a few days for a breather. It would be a fairly short haul up to the park after our long, fast journey across the country.

Following the Snake River to find Bruneau Dunes

We spent three quiet nights at the BLM campground at Chickahominy Reservoir outside of Burns, Oregon. We had no hook-ups, just a peaceful westward facing view across the water, the surrounding prairie, and the stunning sunsets.

Sunset at the BLM's Chickahominy Reservoir

Wide open views of the Oregon high desert

We decided it was time to start moving north to the Columbia River Gorge. From there we could follow the river to Cape Disappointment. After discovering that my brother on his Pacific Northwest wanderings before his summer job at Glacier National Park, was traveling near the Gorge, we agreed to rendezvous at the Plymouth Park Army Corps of Engineers campground on the Washington side of the Columbia across from Hermiston, Oregon. We spent three nights along the mighty Columbia and made plans for Brian to meet up with us again at Cape Disappointment.