First off, a big thank you to Rachael & Charles, Kristina and Kathleen for hanging out and showing me the wonderful hospitality of Seattle. You people are awesome!. Before I left Seattle I visited the Gum Wall. Left my mark, of course. Kathleen took me to visit the Troll (sickness!) and the Gas Works Park on Saturday which was awesome. Later on that day we went to a computer science potluck (Kathleen is a grad student) where I proceeded to drink lots of beer while trying all of the dishes people so graciously brought. It was the best eating night of the trip I've had so far. The after party went well too and it was a perfect last night in town.

I took 90 over Snoqualmie Pass, a beautiful passage full of green trees and gorgeous vistas. The mountains were enormous and enveloped me while I continued eastward. Once I left the mountains I was confronted with the endless plains of eastern Washington. Bushes and wind turbines dotted the horizon, turning the landscape an eerie yellow.

I came across a galloping horse sculpture near a river which offered a spectacular view. I climbed the hill and took some horsey pictures. Shortly after my stop I got off US - 90 to go to Soap Lake: a lake so-named for its natural concentration of minerals and nutrient deposits. I arrived, rubed some mud on my face (had to) and got back in the car. I decided to go north and meetup with old highway 2 which took me east to Spokane.

I got into Spokane last night around 6 and drove around looking for some landmarks. I found Gonzaga University (I never actually knew where it was located, now I'm walking on hallowed Adam Morrison territory). A few blocks from campus I parked my car and listened to the football game while making the backseat and trunk area into a bed. It was raining so I didn't go out on foot and ended up just laying in my backseat reading a scary book until I dozed off.

Currently I'm in the Gonzaga student services building using their internet and enjoying the many students passing by rushing to their next class. I'll be here for a few hours and then it's off to Missoula, Montana to stay for the night. Yellowstone will hopefully be on my list tomorrow!

The plethora of conservative/religious/country radio stations has made it convenient for me to enjoy the silent (beyond the Wendell's rattling) breeze greeting me over every hill. At one point I woke up around 2 am in my car and sat up. I had some time to think. I felt like I was the only person awake in the world. Unknown darkness around me, unknown destinations in front of me. Am I running from something? Am I running toward something? Becoming comfortable alone...