SCABLANDS---WHEATLANDS---A DEAD MAN TALKING

I'VE MENTIONED LAKE MISSOULA---an ancient lake created by an ice dam and containing 500 cubic miles of water that broke loose in a single day creating the world's greatest flood---rushing across the landscape of southeast Washington--sweeping away everything in its path and creating a vast eerie wasteland called the scablands.  Read about: here                                                                          

I drove into the scablands

a few miles to get the flavor of them.

Imagine that vast flood sweeping across here.

Spent the day in Sprague, Wa. A wheat/railroad town once larger than Spokane.  Walked around town chatting with folks and researching in city hall.

At a rest area I met this terrific guy: Steve Borejko a Canadian philosopher and motorcycle racer.  We talked a whole afternoon away 

Across the way you can see where the scablands end and  wheatlands begin

At exit 231 I parked for the night at this dead end road.  A strange and lonely man came by on his 4 wheeler to invite me to his campground across the freeway.  I politely declined but got his story. Summary: He's been  stuck for 30 plus years  operating an old Stuckys shop. Never saw a Stuckys??  Never ate ate their famous pecan roll?  Here's what they looked like

Next day on a whim I visited the dying town of Sprague, Wa.  Chatted with some folks--got intrigued--spent some hours reading the town history in city hall.  Learned this town was once larger than Spokane.

Wheatlands---You are looking at the breadbasket of America.  

I got entranced and decided to spend a night in its midst---found a remote road with a view and settled in.  Only one car came by.

Spent the next day in Ritzville --Library and around town.  A small touch of irony that the town has a Ritz theater.  Chamber of commerce lady said that it's possible that ritz crackers get their name from the local-- especially fine-- wheat.

A retired guy who sliced a model T lengthwise and mounted it on his garage.

And now we come to the DEAD MAN TALKING part.  I came here looking for this very spot. This is Columbia park in Kennewick, Wa.  and that is the Columbia river.  Right there---is  where a skeleton was found by a bulldozer operator--and set in motion one of the great legal battles of our time---Scientist versus Indians.  Turns out "KENNEWICK MAN" was 9000 years old and WAS NOT AN INDIAN.   And to the world's astonishment HE LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE PATRICK STEWART--captain of the star ship enterprise.

Here they are side by side.  Isn't that amazing?

  Ahhhh yesss sweet people---do you get the drift of the controversy?  Who really---were the first people in America and where did they come from?  Read the story here :

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Stayed the night and moved on along the north shore of the Columbia River

A lovely, lonely road

with about a thousand wonderful windmills along its edge.  It's 83 miles across here without a service station.

RANDY RUMINATES:  I'm on my way to a mystical, spooky place where I will do a daring deed.  Stay tuned.

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