We left Whidbey Island Wednesday morning and headed for the mountains. Rather than take the fast route along Rte. 90 we went through the North Cascades. I'd driven over the mountains with two of the boys in 2003 when we went to visit Leslie and Cady and remembered the drive as being spectacular. We were not disappointed.

We stopped briefly on the eastern side of the mountains in Winthrop and the saddle-topped bar stools at the coffee shop that I remembered from 13 years ago were still there.

The car, which I have named Whidbey did a very admirable job getting up and down the mountains.

Once you get over the Cascades the sky opens up, the ground flattens and the horizon moves far, far away. It's beautiful.

We spent the night with our friends Kevin and Debbie in Spokane. They think of their city as one of the best kept secrets in the country and I'm inclined to agree. There are tons of bike paths up and down the countryside, the city is very walkable, there are farmers' markets every night of the week and music festivals all summer. The weather was hot (low 90's at dinnertime) but the air is dry and clear. I could definitely see going back for a longer visit.

Today (Thursday) we drove across the top end of Idaho and into Montana as far as Bozeman. The countryside is straight out of a John Wayne movie.

I love this town too. They shut down the main street every Thursday in the summer for live music, the people here are incredibly friendly and our hotel (the Lewis and Clark Motel) has free wine and hors d'oeuvres in the lobby.