Today's 60-mile ride started mostly flat alongside the Columbia River. After 15 miles we crossed into Washington, leaving Oregon for good, and a few miles later the river turned north as we turned east. The photo is Sandy's view just before we said goodbye to the Columbia River.
Our route took us into Washington's wine country. Unlike other vineyards we've seen elsewhere, those here are in otherwise desert land, relying on irrigation for their water. The green spots in the brown landscape are spectacular.
Before reaching Walla Walla we stopped at the Whitman Mission National Historical Site. Dr. And Mrs. Whitman came out here from New York State in 1837 to found a mission to the Cayuse Indians. She was the first white woman to make the entire overland trip. The mission struggled for 12 years before the Indians decided that that the white men were a source of disease and a potential threat to their way of life (can't argue with that), and they killed the Whitmans and several others. Between recriminations and more disease, the Cayuse became almost extinct.
Walla Walla is a very pretty town. The downtown area, has probably 30 wine tasting rooms for the various wineries, and also many wine bars.
After one week on the road we have logged 370 "map miles" plus another 30 miscellaneous miles. Our altimeter shows just over 16,000 feet of climbing and we haven't even reached the mountains. Our legs feel good and we are having fun.
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