With apologies to the Soggy Bottom Boys, anyone living west of the Cascade Mountains in Washington has been wondering where summer is since the start of, well, summer. They called last month Junuary. We left Washington today for 21 days of driving across most of the country. We’re only going here:

Not twenty miles from home we came across rain and the temperatures dropped down into the mid-fifties. We keep hearing the rest of the country is sweltering. But until we crossed the Cascades, we treated these as rumors. But when we did get over to the other side, wow! Summer! Warm, hot even – just like we remember from being kids. We love it!

Today was actually one of the longer drives we will take. We made it to Boise, about 535 miles. The traveling was quite easy and we felt fine when we arrived. As we found last year in Europe, the car totally rocks for covering many miles, quickly and in comfort.

We’ll stay here for two days and then head into Wyoming. Looking forward to it!