Roadie Packs Up

Our "Roadie", aka Lead Singer, guitar, just got the VW bus packed.  OK...it's not a bus, and it's not a VW.  It's a BMW, X3.  Red.  Big Sun Roof, which will be open all the way to Lyle.  When I say "packed", I mean as in "there is no room for me", the drummer.  I am going to be ridin' outside that sun roof.  Let's review what the lead singer and drummer have nestled snugly inside their band sleigh.....keep in mind that we pawned off  4 amps on to Bobi Hendrix. 
Bass drum, rack toms, high hat, 2 cymbals, 2 large congas, 1 tambourine, 3 mics, 6 music stands, keyboard, mixer, big box of gear, chords, tarps, 2 guitars with cases and one cowbell.
We're off and ready.   Wait a second.  There isn't room for me.  The Roadie is going to take the congas and the keyboard over to Bobi Hendrix.  I guess the Roadie decided that the drummer should ride inside for the the trip to Lyle.
By the way, if you need exact precise directions anywhere...call on Lefty.  Mapquest and Garmin are not sufficient.  Here are the directions to Lyle. You gotta read these...Think: Woodstock / Yasgur Farm. 

  DRIVING TO LYLE / SNOWDEN ROAD 98635)



VIA I-90 (the scenic route)


Take I-90 east to Ellensberg. Pass the Canyon Road exit and take the last Ellensberg Exit 110 (97 South to Yakima). Yakima is half way. From Yakima continue east on 82 toward Richland. (82 and 97 are the same road at this point), thru Yakima. Just past Union Gap take exit 37 (97 south to Goldendale / Bend) . This Yakama Indian Reservation road has occasional brief traffic lights for the next 12 miles as you go through Wapato and Toppenish (lots of fruit trees, plus too many stinky cows much of year). If you need gas, stop in Toppenish because it is 50 miles of town-free mountains from Toppenish to Goldendale. For food or gas, go left at the Fort Road light. The Fort Road light is the last light before 97 turns right towards Goldendale.


From Toppenish, take the Hwy97 right fork to Goldendale, 50 miles and about 45 minutes away. The road becomes a very nice two lane mountain hwy with occasional truck passing lanes in the mountains. Goldendale is about 200 miles from Bellevue and 45 minutes from our place.


From Goldendale continue south, still on 97. In 10 minutes you will start to see huge white wind turbines everywhere as the road begins to wind down into the Columbia River Gorge and turns west. About 15 minutes from Goldendale you’ll pass the Biggs junction on the left which would take you across the river and towards Bend. But continue straight (west) on the Washington side, on what is now Hwy 14. In 5-10 minutes you’ll pass Maryhill Winery on the left. You are now about 30 minutes from our house in Lyle. As you continue west, you’ll pass the tiny town of Wishram scattered above and below the cliffs (across the river is the historic Indian “town” of Celilo). Drive past the left turn onto Hwy 197 that would take you to The Dalles. Continue on 14 about 10 minutes to a couple of 40mph tunnels drilled through the rock. When you exit the tunnels, you are in in Lyle. The River Rat is halfway through town on the left. To get to our place, continue through town and cross the concrete bridge over the Klickitat River.