Road Trip: The First Leg of the Journey to the Retreat

The area south of Spokane along Highway 195 is known as The Palouse. Today I traveled the first leg of my journey to McCall to the retreat. The stretch of landscape from Spangle to Pullman was glorious today with the green fields contrasting with the white clouds and blue sky.
I pulled off here to catch the rolling hills with the ribbon of highway cutting through the middle.
Here is looks like I was a lone traveler driving through the Palouse. Actually the road was pretty busy with road construction, cops catching speeders ( glad I set my cruise control), and slow moving farming vehicles.
Each time I stop in Pullman I have to go to Brused Books. It has an incredible inventory of used books and I always find titles that I have been searching for. When books are piled on the floor and laying sideways on top of others on theshelf you know browsing is a necessity. It is well-organized and the workers are very knowledgeable which helps even more.

My friend lives on a hill with this view of Washington State University. She also looks down on this community garden. Many gardeners were tending their vegetables and flowers this evening.

Same Time Every Year: Reading/Writing Retreat in McCall

Retreat: to find refuge, rest, seclusion, privacy, solitude, quiet, introspection, space, withdrawal, connection, relaxation, contemplation... a safe, nurturing place... from Judy Reeves, The Writer's Retreat KitThis will be the third year my friend Bev and I have organized a Reading/Writing Retreat for the Northwest Inland Writing Project through the University of Idaho. It is held the same week each year at the field campus at McCall, Idaho on the beautiful shores of Payette Lake. It starts tomorrow and runs through Friday. It is an incredible opportunity for teachers and writers to gather for four days of unscheduled reading and writing time. Many choose to work on academic writing. Some take the opportunity to read and discuss books on writing. Others work on personal writing. Writing workshops are conducted each day. Our visiting author is Lori Wallin, an author and instructor at North Idaho College in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Each day ends with a reading by one of the writers.

This gives you an idea of the rustic setting. Our writing room is to the left. The campus creates an atmosphere reminiscent of summer camp. The cooks ring a bell for meals and everyone eats in the dining room together ( other adult groups are also here at the same time). There is campfire every night where our group has the opportunity to talk, share writing, and enjoy each others' company.
This will be my home away from home this week. Last year I spent lots of time sitting with my laptop writing memoir pieces and gazing out the window at the lake. It was a very productive time. I am off to Pullman today and then the road trip to McCall begins tomorrow. I will be posting from the retreat all week.