Another year, another road trip - I've still got a few weeks to catch up on with the blog though. Felt a bit guilty when Andy's father rang during the week to check we were OK because I hadn't posted any photos for a while. I'll get those up progressively over the next few days, wifi connections willing - but the photos will have to wait until we're home again as they're on the network.

First task on the list for today was to bolt down to Puyallup - I did a couple of last minute touch-ups on my entries for this year, and then Andy drove me down to the fairgrounds to drop them off. Two entries this year - one called "Bargello Beauty" and another called "Hexagon Wheels". Both are far more intricate than I've attempted before, but there are still things I could have done a little better ... I'll be interested to see how things fare this year.

Our trip this year feels quite different with a nearly-12mo in tow! Mum & Dad were a bit stressed this morning as we packed out cases, our methods are a little more haphazard than theirs but we still managed to fit everything in the car. Just as well we've upgraded from the Jeep, I don't think we'd have managed to fit everything otherwise. Very strange to wave Mum & Dad goodbye as we drove away, instead of the other way around!

The drive through Snoqualmie Pass was a real contrast from our trip last year - instead of snow and ice, everything was brown and dry - even after our mild summer. We crossed over the Columbia River and saw a turnoff to a 'Wild Horse' Monument ... several metal sculptures of wild horses out on a hill overlooking the river. Andy grabbed the camera for a few photos, and Isobel had some afternoon tea after having a bit of a snooze over the pass. The temperature was a fair bit warmer than we've been used to in Seattle, especially after a couple of hours in an air conditioned car.

We arrived in Spokane and found the hotel - apparently we were lucky to get a room for tonight, the hotel is booked out so we must have found one of the last few rooms when we booked earlier in the week. We found a family restaurant in walking distance for dinner - let's just say Isobel had a nicer dinner when we did, and hers was cold out of the jar ;-) Very average food, and we're going to avoid that chain from now on! We gave Isobel a bath and put her to bed in her portacot - once she quietened down, we tiptoed out and popped down to the lobby to plug in the laptop for email. We've brought the baby monitor along with us, and I was amazed to discover it was able to still pick up the base station in our room on the third floor from the hotel lobby!

Many of the hotels here have a cute practice of putting out cookies and milk in the evenings, so Andy and I have grabbed a coffee and some bikkies while we catch up on emails. We seem to have survived our first day - assuming Isobel sleeps through reasonably well tonight (at least better than she did at Whistler over Easter!). Tomorrow we're off to Butte in Montana via Idaho - another five hours' drive or so. Hopefully Isobel will enjoy the ride tomorrow as much as she seemed to today.