Our Journey East - Day 2 ... Thurs. July 25th ... Deserts and the Pursuit of Internet

We awake early to our resort location ... pavement and trucks at the rest area.  Get all in order and head out.  We notice that the airport was no where to be seen .. but, alas, windmills.  Red lights adorn the tops, no doubt.  Couldnt see them at midnight !  (PS .... CLICK on pics for enlargements)

Windmills ... common sight on our trip.  Go Green.  No Airport though... 

We had passed the originally planned turn off, so carried along and detoured along the river to meet up with that route.   The motorhome turns out to be what is called a Wide-body model.
That leaves about a foot on either side to the white lines !  A bit tricky at times to stay in the lane, but practice makes it easier.  Construction lanes are a test !

The Pursuit of Internet

I had done some investigation on-line about US cell and roaming rates.  Canadian Telco companies commit 'crimes', in my view, for the charges they apply to roaming.  For instance, last year, I took an ipad on a trip to Seattle, used it very briefly, all in perhaps 30 minutes of use.   A bill of $1000 was applied.  Criminal.

So .. once burned, twice shy.  We stopped in at Walmart in Richland, Wash.  Check the Map here.  The people at Walmart were helpful, but didnt have exactly what I wanted.   There was a $50 for 5 GByte date plan - that should work.  Pay for it and walk through initiation on the phone with T-Mobile.  Get all the way to credit card .... AH - no US Address.  Sorry.  Refund.   Suggest to try other Walmart in Pasco.  The lady there was very helpful, showed me a $30 pay as you go with one month unlimited data - special to Walmart (sold out at other store).  Great, thought I.  My iphone had been unlocked by Telus ($35 fee to flip a switch ... more on telco 'crimes')  An hour later, on the phone, trying to get this setup and hit a brick wall.  Dang.  Suggested to go across street to AT&T store.  So ... off we go.  Chat with AT&T rep. who gets on phone with "manager" ... yes, we can do that.  Gives me a Cell card to put into ipad.  We call up for initialization ... get all the way through to Credit Card and BANG .. - no US Address.  Sorry.  Refund.  Everyone very apologetic... and everyone not really very informed on their own products and services.  A complete waste of 3 hours, putting us well behind.

On the way out, we stop at Russ Dean Family RV store .... big operation in Pasco.  YES !  They have the inline filter to replace ours which had a large crack in it and prevented us from using water until then.  Ah ... one thing goes right that day !  Small blessings.  We'll take 'em !

We run hard through Oregon heading up the hills through the mountains and beyond, heading into Idaho.

Open terrain in North Oregon.. Mile after Mile

Finally out of the desert-like conditions found in mid Oregon !

Finally ... Catching some green !  and Construction.

Stop at about 8-9pm when we arrived at Mountain Home, Idaho.  Very nice spot, recommended by an RV park in Boise that was full.  Set up full hookups, dinner, some wine, and off to bed.

One more down.

Cheers
Astrid 'n Steve