Damn...I mean, DAM!
I’m at the Grand Coulee Dam, but there’s a story to how I actually arrived here. If you don’t want to read the story, and just want the satisfaction of the pix, then quickly go here: http://offramp.exit83.com/photos/
So this morning, I discovered that my cell phone is actually fried, contrary to what I thought yesterday. So I hoofed on up to the Cingular store again, and this time, their customer support was on par with what I’d expect — shitty. After telling them my power problem again, they told me not to worry, I will get a brand new phone for free in 1 to 2 business days. Not what I wanted to hear, as I was leaving in an hour for my road trip. After talking to a customer support rep on the phone for 60 minutes and discussing my situation with the people in the store, I was left with 2 choices. 1) Take no phone on the trip, as a new free phone will arrive in 2 days at my house, at which time Ellen would need to Fed Ex it to me or 2) buy a new phone for $350, move my account to Cingular from ATTWireless, and create a new phone plan that is worse than what I have today — but I’d have a new phone immediately. Crap. I decided that option 1 made the most sense, so I went home and sulked. Luckily, Ellen said we could just trade phones (SIMs and all) and that she’d just bring me the new phone when she’d meet up with me in NYC. Yay…I was saved. So, if anyone is trying to get a hold of me, call Ellen’s phone number, not mine.
With that ordeal taken care of, I went outside to set up the car. Took one pic of the bacon, and I was on my way. My route took me north on I-5 and off to US-2. In theory, that should be the last time I see an Interstate until I reach Philly…but we’ll see. Read on.
My first stop was a quick bite to eat at the Sultan Bakery. You may have heard me brag about the Sultan Bakery in one of my other trip reports. Little cup of Chili and some coffee and I was off again. The scenery in this part of Washington is spectacular, and I wish I could have taken more photos for you to see, however I did happen to stop at Steven’s Pass and the road to Leavenworth to snap a few shots. In that second pic, you’ll notice the burnt out ridgeline from the big fires they had in Leavenworth a few years back.
Finally, I made it to Leavenworth, and all the bavarian goodies it had to offer. I quickly downed some ice cream, walked around a bit, bought the first of my cheesy trinkets (the Ass Magnet!), and then had to take this final pic as it would have made Beavis and Butthead proud. Leavenworth is so ridden with tourists, that I couldn’t wait to leave.
As the miles starting passing, the landscape started changing. I left the mountains for the farming highlands. It was gorgeous, until all of the sudden….construction. WADOT has signs claiming that they are doing construction on US-2, and that there might be a little gravel so be careful. Holy crap, what an understatement! There was no construction going on, they just decided to tear up the entire road FOR 28 GOD DAMN MILES. It was all gravel, and normally, I wouldn’t care, except that I was in my beloved Porsche. I was trying to be so careful to dodge rocks that were being kicked up by other cars until some idiot decided to pass me. If I ever find that jerkweed, I’ll probably hurt him severly. As this idiot was passing me (oh did I forget to say he was too close to me as well?), his car kicked up a piece of gravel and hit the bullseye that is my windshield. Yep, that fucker put a chip in my windshied. I was pissed for the next 20 miles til I pulled over and changed my music from mellow Garbage to angry Green Day. The one funny moment was when I realized what a “shocker” was, and for those of you analyzing this in a naughty way, no its not sexual.
Finally, my GPS was telling me that I was close to Grand Coulee Dam. Nice! I made a quick stop at the Gerhke Windmill Garden where there is an assembly of windmills made out of recycled goods. I drove down the hill and then viola, I saw the dam. 
I checked into the Columbia River Inn, and immediately went to the diner across the bridge to eat dinner. I had homemade meatloaf with special ketchup (regular ketchup mixed with brown sugar!). Afterwards I went for a walk, bought a six pack of Rock and called it a night. Apparently, there is supposed to be a laser light show tonight on the dam. We’ll see if I’m still awake to see it. I don’t know where I’m off to tomorrow, hopefully there won’t be any damn gravel.