We’d be doing it differently than in the past. Our notion: find a cheap motel where people can stay, within striking distance of the heart of Spokane, go for some good but not ferociously pricey eateries for the duration, go ride the carousel in the park, ride the gondolas across the falls, and otherwise hang out and have a good time. We’d be joining the party over in the motel venue, like any con, for hanging out and having refreshments from a cooler in some lucky person’s room; and then have a finish-up barbecue over at our place beside the pond, granted the number of attendees isn’t crazy. We’re not up to arranging kayaking, and some of our folk don’t like the water, but there are still some nice things to do. Any interest out there? Spokane, for those of you who’ve never been here, is easily accessible from its airport, or from I-90, which runs through town. We know the I-90, I-40 and I-25 routes, and we somewhat know I-80. It’s 2 nights on the road, Dallas to Spokane; pretty well the same from OKC, though some crazy people do it in one: the leg from Buffalo WY to Spokane is a very long drive.

The whole I-90/I-25 route is very scenic, passing Yellowstone by two separate entrances; and it’s generally beautiful, through several very tame mountain passes and piney woods. What we call an inexpensive motel is Motel 6, or its equivalent.