As usual, I had preconceived notions about what the countryside up the north side of the Columbia River above Grand Coulee Dam looks like so I had grim expectations of a drive through that country. In accordance with what typically occurs in this situation, I was completely wrong. I expected nothing but rolling hills with wheat covering them. There was a little bit of that but the rest was gorgeous.
We started out the day doing the laundry but, due to Peggy’s efficiency with this onerous task, we were soon done and had the bulk of the afternoon for exploring. We initially headed back southeast toward the bucolic Wilbur but we turned off before we got there only missing our concealed turn once before we got on the correct road east. After just a few miles we turned north on WA-21.
We were in wheat fields with an elevation around 2500′ for a bit but soon the road dove into a canyon and down to around 1500′ where we found the Keller Ferry. The ferry is operated by the state and is free. It takes about 10 minutes from the time you get on the ferry until you drive off on the other side of Lake Roosevelt which is what they call the Columbia River above Grand Coulee Dam. There is a very steep hill pulling up and away from the ferry. Right after the hill, the road turns away from the Columbia and skirts the Sanpoli River which I had never heard of before today. Bluffs, lakes, rivers, forests, pastures, mountains and prairies can all be found along this road and the really great part is they are all only about 5 minutes from each other. There was one strange bit along this road. For about 3 or 4 miles we crossed through what looked like a migration of grasshoppers or locusts or death bugs ambling across the road and away from the river. There were some big specimens in the group and they made little popping noises as we drove over the dozens we squished.
We continued up WA-21 until we came to Cache Creek Road. There we turned west and crossed a little 3200′ pass before descending into Nespelem. Again, this road is a great one for scenery although it does have some extended climbs and descents. Some corners have speed limits of 20 mph or slower. We successfully navigated the curves and soon arrived in Nespelem.
Nespelem is an ordinary tiny town and we did not spot anything interesting there so we turned south on WA-155 back toward Grand Coulee Dam. More spectacular scenery was lining the road as 155 passes down the east side of the Columbia River below the dam. We crossed the Columbia near Elmer City, climbed the grade alongside the dam and drove into the town of Grand Coulee where we stopped for diesel.
We were just about to leave the gas station and head back to our Invader a few miles south in Electric City when a little hobbit of a woman came up to my passenger window to offer us help despite us never requesting any. She seemed perplexed that we did not need any help but that didn’t shake her belief that she should explain to us that she has trouble remembering the names of the local municipalities, she has many interestes and lives nearby. Many subjects continued to be elaborated upon while I was desperately giving hand signs to Peggy to start the truck and leave. After a while, Peggy finally had heard enough disjointed bits of data and started our diesel motor, put it in Drive and got us away from the fountain of information. It was a narrow escape.
We took a few pictures along the way and you can see them if you click here