July 28-29, 1998
Spring CanyonWe started off our trip by leaving our house by 11am. We got to our Brother-in-laws, got the truck packed up and were off at 12:30pm. We made several stops before heading out of town.
Our destination for this trip was Spring Canyon. A national park service campground just above the Grand Coulee Dam, on Lake Rosevelt.
The reason we choose This place was that we all really wanted to see the Laser Light Show at the Grand Coulee Dam. We had heard that this area was rather hot, with few trees. You could say it was a desert.
The drive down to the camp area was rather pretty. From Spokane we drove out of the city and found ourselves surrounded by fields of wheat and barley. In some fields it was being harvested and looked as though someone was giving it a hair cut. In spots along the road wheat would be on one side of the road and barley on the other. It was just a slight difference in color, but the most beautiful colors. Shades of gold as the light would bounce off the grain.
We finally found the road to Spring Canyon campground at almost 3pm. We drove down about a 2 mile curvy road. The area around here had very few trees. Then you got into the campground and there was like a patch of trees. Several times we drove around seeing if there were any vacant spots. This unlike Noisy Creek, was a large campground. I'd guess at least 100 sites for tents and RVs. The spots were VERY close together! I for one was not impressed. We kept driving in the loop until we found 2 spots next to each other at the edge of the cliff over looking the water down below, under the parking canopy.
We scarcely had enough room to set up our two tents. Each site had to have been about 8 foot by 12 foot, if that. Of that triangle of asphalt the pick nick table sat on, then a small patch of grass. The next day a worker at the campground said that your tents were actually supposed to be set up on the asphalt part. I don't know how they expect you to manage that! Our tent has to be staked down in order to set up. It was very hard to get our plastic stakes into the hard ground. Most of the ground was a bit of grass covering hard rock underneath. Luckily our companions had a few extra metal stakes for us to use.
By the time we were all set up, it was so hot and everyone was very cranky, tired and hot! We all decided that we had to go down to the lake for a swim. I was told over the phone that it was within walking distance, but it was actually too far. We all packed into our companion's truck and drove the short distance. The temperature that day was around 105 degrees. Way too hot.
Just as the camp ground was crowded, so was the lake. People packed into every available spot. No pick nick tables were available. But we didn't care. Before we even got the blanket spread out, the kids stripped off their clothes and were heading for the water. The adults weren't far behind! The water was actually lukewarm, but still much cooler than the air outside of the water. We all cooled off and had a good time.
We headed back to the camp site at about 6:45pm or so. We had to still drive down the road several miles later that night to find the damn, and the Laser light show, which started at 10pm.
I learned a lot from the last trip. I wasn't going to spend my entire time here cooking for anyone. I planned hot dogs, chips, and salads bought from the deli. We also had beans, so all I had to do was throw hot dogs in some boiling water and put the beans in a pot to heat up. We were eating, way before our companions who I guess thought they needed a gourmet meal. They prepared hot dogs, and hamburgers. Making special orders for each person. Not me! We were done eating and cleaned up before they even starting eating.
At 9pm we again packed into the truck for the short trip down the road to the dam. As we got closer, we could see how massive it actually was. The dam is just over a mile across. There was seating near the dam and speakers to hear the narration. It was the story of the Mighty Columbia River and how the dam got there. It was such a great show! The kids didn't move not once. You could see the adults squirm, being uncomfortable from sitting on concrete benches, but the kids didn't seem to care. The show was about an hour long. I would definitely recommend that if you are in the area during the summer time, come on down and see this show!
Back at the campsite at 11:30pm, the kids settled in for bed. The men got ready to go do some night fishing. The kids were out in less than 5 minutes. It was still hot, but at least a breeze was blowing a bit. Our neighbors were loud and obnoxious for hours. I finally decided that I was going to bed, turned out the light, and they decided to do the same. Finally quiet, for a while. The men got back after about an hour without one fish. My husband had finished working the graveyard shift, when we came up that morning without any sleep, so he was bushed. I think he was asleep before he hit the pillow.
It wasn't quiet for long. All night people in cars and trucks were coming and going. I could here backing buzzers, and people talking, someone even honked their horn! I wasn't real impressed with this campground, but this is what we had to work with, so I had to deal with it.
Touring the dam
The next day we got up and drove back down to the dam. We took 2 different tours of the dam and learned about the history and how the dam works. Both tours are free and run every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour. On the one tour you ride on this grand glass elevator down into the bowels of the dam. My Sister-in-law doesn't like elevators and this one went way down there, so she wasn't happy. The tour was informative. You saw neat views, and got chances to take interesting pictures. A good side trip, but not as fun as the Laser Light show! -And I hear it's even grander on the 4th of July!
We got back to camp and again decided that we would go take a quick dip in the lake. The quick dip turned into a 3 hours swim. We came back, packed up and were out of there by 3pm. Heading home, off in the distance we could see smoke. It was a fire, but we didn't know exactly were it was. We rode home comfortable in our air-conditioned car while our companions packed into their car and had to keep the windows open for lack of air conditioning. The wind was blowing hard, a hot dusty wind. We got home by 6pm and I was exhausted. The wind followed us home and it had to be at least 102 here too. Our house was hot, we were hot. I was glad to be home all the same.
That we needed to buy some metal tent stakes, we need some better coolers. Our ice melted before the first day was up. Luckily we didn't have much food left. That popular destinations pack as many people into as little space as possible. That with so many people, don't expect more than 5 minutes of quiet at a time. If it weren't for the side trips on this trip, I would really be complaining. This is probably our last trip for the year.
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