Day 3: Ginko State Park

We have really lucked into great weather during our travels. We awoke to another stunning day…clear blue skies and the weatherman announced a high of 97F in Yakima today.

We left our hotel and started driving towards our next stop, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. Here’s the view out the front windshield of the car: Carl the Bat hanging from the rear view mirror (wings closed as its daytime and he only comes out at night), Spunky hanging out by the GPS, and if you look hard enough you might even be able to see all the bugs splattered across the front windshield.

We were amazed at the scenery. Its was like all of a sudden we were back in the desert and the snow capped mountains and evergreen forests from yesterday just vanished. I had no idea parts of Washington State looked like this! (view from side window)

Along the way we stopped at a gas station to fill up with gas and try to clean the remnants of the bug holocaust on our front windshield. Alas, no squeegies in sight so the bugs remained, but they did have some delicious, local, Yakima Valley fresh picked cherries so we got some of those.

The guys at the gas station also gave us directions to Ginkgo State Park, which was probably good since it was not off the main Interstate and I don’t know how well it would have been marked, since we almost missed it.

As always…while on a road trip across the United States…be on the lookout for something dangerous that can bite or sting you…

We set out along the Interpretive hiking trail, where we saw some huge pieces of petrified wood that were exhibited behind metal grates embedded in the ground along the trail.

Petrified Walnut...

the walking trail...

Flora & Fauna

We looked for petrified wood along the way…we weren’t sure but thought we might have found a few pieces (but I doubt it). After about an hour, I was getting hot and I didn’t even think I could correctly identify petrified wood even if I found it, so it was time to go. We were kind of surprised that there really wasn’t much to this State Park, until we found out there was another part of the Park

which had a small museum and informative displays, and larger pieces of petrified wood that were much nicer and out in the open – much better than the ones we saw on display behind grates along a dusty rocky trail.

There was also a gift shop and gem store and washrooms…which were conspicuously absent at the other part of the Park we visited.

Spunky was happy to find some petrified wood too…

and some ancient cave drawings...

Oh no! Look out for dinosaurs, Spunky!

The Wanapum Reservoir on the Columbia River…near the town of Vantage, WA.

The Vantage Horses…a metal sculpture of a herd of horses high on a desert hill overlooking the small city of Vantage and its bridge over the Columbia river

Dirt Devils...

Just after Spokane, Washington, we drove across the State Line into Idaho…

About 10 minutes drive further along I-90 we arrived at Coeur d’Alene, ID and checked into our hotel, then headed into town to check out a Hamburger joint I found online that has been around for over 100 years...

No frills, no fancy toppings, no sides: just fresh hamburger with cheese, pickles, and onions. Good burger, Spunky liked it.

We went for a walk along the main streets of downtown Coeur D’Alene…nice little resort town. It was very lively and lots of people were walking around and eating in outdoor cafe’s and restaurants, clearly enjoying the gorgeous weather, the water front and the many shops and restaurants. There was something for everyone...