Day 3 - Saturday, Oct. 3, Central WA

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I spent a pleasant night camping near the Ginko Petrified Forest State Park, then drove up early to the top of the butte where it is located. The park opens at 6:30 AM and closes at dusk.

Walking around these ancient beauties, which look like trees, but feel like stone, I felt an immediate need to sing to them. While waiting for the interpretive center to open, I did a little painting with some watercolors from an old art kit (faint paint, hard to capture the sheen on the water.

During this journey, you will see me go from a novice at artwork, web design, video production, etc., to hopefully something a little more accomplished. I will attempt to let my awkward, learning side show, rather than let my need for perfection prevent me from posting things.

I enjoyed the interpretive center, with its slices of over 20 kinds of petrified trees. I forgot to take a picture, but there was a funny sign on one of the glass displays that said, “ Please don’t lean on or hit the glass, it petrifies the trees.”

I left Vantage at about 11 AM, and with a gas fill up at "only" $6.89 per gallon, I headed for Missoula, MT, arriving after several rest stops at about 7 PM running on fumes. [Oh! it is so challenging to stick it out and not take the first exit after the little gas pump lights up.] 21 gals @ $6.30/gal.

I stayed at a Hipcamp site which is offered by a very friendly and knowledgeable woman named Jennipha. The RV space is right next to her Old Frat House lodge across the street from the U of MT which was celebrating Homecoming. It was fun to hear the cheerful, excited chatterings of young folk passing by late into the evening. I plan to stay here one more night so I can catch up on blogs, figuring out this website stuff, and get a little sightseeing in.