It was a nice trip but a fairly short one from Moses Lake to Soap Lake. Both are also towns but Moses Lake is much larger. Soap Lake is at the south end of the Grand Coulee and the lake is know historically for its mystical healing properties. It is very high in mineral content. This whole area was formed thru volcanic action, glacial action and then gigantic flooding due to the melting glaciers. We noticed the big hills looking terraced but not by man. These were created from the floods and glacier action and also there was an area we passed with just huge boulders out in the field and these were swept down by the Ice Age Floods.
Monday morning Bob and I had to go for my final eye doctor appointment and he gave me a good bill of health. I also had to get my hair trimmed, find a post office, eat lunch and run some other errands. By the time we came back we had to get ready to go to the Grand Coulee Dam which is an hour away. Marvin, Dee, Bob and I went in our car and we went earlier than the rest of our caravan people because we wanted to take a tour inside the dam. We arrived in time and there were only four other people besides the four of us. They had us go thru metal detectors and there was a guard wherever we went with the guide. They took us on a tour of the generator room and then up on top of the dam. They took us over to the dam in a large van and just as we got to where we could see the spillway they opened the control gates and water started coming out. It was so beautiful. It was not clear but white like frothy milk coming over the dam and they opened them all. Even our guide was surprised. He said they had done that only 5 times since 1980.
Just a few facts: It is the largest hydropower producer in the U.S. It is the 4th largest producer in the world. It is one of the largest concrete structures in the world--it contains nearly 12 million cubic yards. With that much you could build a highway from Seattle to Miami. It was built to control flooding on the Columbia River but also to provide water for irrigation and power generation. It is significantly larger than Hoover Dam. After the tour we found a place to eat called Pepper Jack's which was good. Then we went back to the Visitor's Center and watched 3 different movies they had about the area and looked over all their exhibits. At 10pm they did a laser light show and audio on the running water of the dam. It was really quite spectacular. We were all tired by the time we got home.
Today was a busy day. We washed and car and the entire coach. The tour leaders checked over both the coach and the car to make sure we were in top notch shape for the trip. Each coach and car has a large yellow sticker on it with a different number for each coach. We have also been having a small get together every afternoon just to get acquainted with the ones here. They say that we are going to meet up with some others yet also. I also did the laundry today. I think we are both very tired. Marvin and Dee went into town today for lunch and to run errands. Tomorrow us 4 will go have breakfast and then separate to do some other chores. We have a orientation meeting tomorrow afternoon that will last for a good while. Bob still has a couple of things he must do to the coach and then on Thurs. we head out.
I will try and keep up the best I can but we never know how good our internet connections will be in each spot. Best wishes to all who are keeping up with us as we travel.
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