The first rule of long road trips is its gotta be a new route. But there isn't any for me within a couple of hundred miles of Vancouver. I90 out of Seattle didn't appeal so I opted to leave this dull country at Grand Forks. The stretch from Princeton to Keremeos along the Similkameen and the high pine country around Rock Creek keeps this drive alive. Wanted to cross at Midway and avoid detour north to Greenwood but missed 5pm US customs closure. Wasn't until Colville WA that I hit new route - a good one thru Colville Natl Forest at sunset. Pissing rain since Vancouver stopped and sun came out for the rest of the trip. Foolishly passed up Natl Forest campsites - usually either free or ... well always free for me. Ended up camped beside the Pend Oreille river in roadside turnout. Little used road and no WA State trooper ballbuster rousting me out of bed like near Missoula in 98 to check my ID.

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