Ross and I escaped the rain and clouds for a few days. We drove to Southeastern Washington, part of The Palouse region, which is hilly wheat and lentil country. I really like the word "Palouse." Its origins are apparently unclear. Some attribute it to the Pelus tribe that used to live on the land. Others say it's an adaptation of the French word
pelouse, which seems logical since pelouse means "land with thick short grass." Maybe both are right? Either way, the whole time we were in The Palouse I felt like we were tiny creatures crawling on the back of a huge beast. In the places that the wheat had begun to sprout the land glowed green. Last year's shorn crops bristled. "Palouse" makes me think of a rolling wheat pelt.
My favorite part of Moscow, Idaho was this gorgeous grain elevator.
Ross and I often find ourselves scoping out college campuses. On this trip we saw 2--The University of Idaho and Washington State. They're in neighboring towns, nestled against their respective borders. The University of Idaho campus is a mishmash of architectural styles--leaded windows, concrete, brick, archways, particleboard, bland utilitarian 70s boxes...they had it all.
The administration building was lovely.
The next day Ross and drove into the tiny town of Palouse. From there, we rode over the hilly back of the beast.
I'm looking forward to a summer Palouse ride, when the beast has grown back its soft, green pelt. Or even better--a fall ride, when the pelt is long and golden.
We saw a couple of cool drive-thrus, but never at the right time for partaking of their treats...Honestly, I think this portrait of Woody discouraged me from dining here.
The pheasant's wings flashed on and off.
We drove into Oregon and along the Columbia River Gorge. I remember the Gorge really well from a trip I took with my family when I was 13 or so. In fact, it's one of the only things I remember from that trip. Somewhere around this viewpoint, we drove back into rainy weather. If this particular storm was any indication, they get heavier rain in the Gorge than we do in Seattle.
There are a bunch of campgrounds along the river. Camping does wonders for Ross' hair.
And finally we reached Portland. We drove straight to Ampersand, where Myles had just opened for a day of business.
So Myles had to work. But we snagged Carey for a beer up the street. The rain even stopped for a while that evening.
Grading papers is a lot less painful when done on a rooftop on a sunny afternoon.
Ross began his attempt at world domination by claiming most of Africa, but in the end he lost it all.
Also this month: the Rancho Bravo Taco Truck opened a new shop in our neighborhood. It's in the old KFC. When were you last in a KFC? Rancho Bravo plays no music. They do not take up much space in the gigantic kitchen. Sometimes they wash the windows. Often the line is very, very long. The hot sauce and the mole are delicious. And Molly Moon opened her second ice cream shop just across the street from the taqueria. Salted caramel! Waffle cones! Balsamic strawberry! Trouble, trouble.
