Saying Goodbye to Clarkston

Today is the last day in Clarkston, Washington - will be heading to Pendleton, Oregon tomorrow.  Some thoughts about this area.....

Sunset over Snake River

Clarkston/Lewiston is a relatively large city for western US (more than 7,000 people in Clarkston and 32,000 in Lewiston, Idaho) but has a small town feel to it. We wonder if it is a nightmare for taxes for people who live in Clarkston and travel to Lewiston to work and vice versa - crossing state borders.  If there is an area of wealth, it must be in the town of Asotin which is south of Clarkston, don't see it here.  But.  People are out doing things, kids riding bikes, boaters, bicyclists, kayakers, a lot of small mom-pop businesses, an international airport (services to Canada), a feel-good town.  Winters are very cold but little snow (goes to 30 below).  They get the winter wind blasts from the upper prairie of Canada.  We spent most of our down time in Clarkston and traveled over the Snake River to Lewiston for shopping. They have most of the regular stores that you see in a large city, and of course all the tourist stuff.  I could live here - was very comfortable.  Except....

Riverboat

With a large wood processing plant - Clearwater Paper - the smell at times is awful.  Thankfully we are on the western side of the mill and only when the wind shifts does it smell.  When the wind shifts at night from the east, thankfully it is chilly enough at night that we keep the windows closed and keeps the smell out.

Have loved being here at the marina, fun times watching the action......fishing boats, barge and tugboats going by, a riverboat, hearing the sounds of the boats (shrouds hitting the masts of sailboats), and of course watching the RVs come in and out.

Learned a lot here - more about Lewis and Clark and putting places read to actually being there. Saw some beautiful sunsets, and visited a very scenic area - Joseph, Oregon.  Fond memories of the area.