Travel Issues in Current times

 My last few blogs were about accessibility in Yellowstone National Park. But traveling along the roads has some ups and downs, too. We left from Bellingham, Wa, in the North west corner of Washington State. We can't drive straight east as there is no pass. But we could travel south on the 5 to the eastern part of Seattle and turn east there on the 90. We took the 90 straight to Cor D'Alene in Idaho.

When the weather is good, there is a road that winds through the mountains and gets to eastern Washington before turning south to pick up the 90. That is the 2. The 2 has a couple of rest stops up the mountain and turns East from Burlington instead of Seattle. Longer but more scenic.

On our way home from Yellowstone, we missed the last rest stop on the 90 and had to drive through awful traffic north. If I had known I would have taken the road to Burlington. It wasn't just the awful traffic, though. We encountered a mob of homeless people who had taken over the rest area when we finally got north of Marysville. It was a bit intimidating so we ate lunch in the car and hurried on.

The Burlington path, 2, would have put us out onto the 5 north of Marysville/Everett. So we would have missed the awful part of the traffic. But the situation at the rest stops has become so bad that the Highway administration is shutting down all rest stops north of Seattle to the Canadian Border. This closure will last until spring 2022.

As a driving society, these rest stops have become a necessary part of the trip. Toilets. Areas to eat lunch and stretch. Walk the pets. Or even rest your eyes for half an hour. These rest stops have become winter homes for the homeless. Toilets. Running water. Dry shelter and electricity. Trees for privacy. Flat areas for tents. Room to have friends and park your car.

We did not encounter any homeless people east of Seattle or in Montana or in Idaho. Or in Wyoming or at Yellowstone. But the situation on the west coast is dreadful. And it is so bad that traveling people are having to carefully plan their travel to accommodate their needs and avoid trouble, traffic, inconvenience and road work. Many of the common fast food chains have shut down their restrooms and dining areas for take out only. Gas stations have shut down their restrooms. Night or weekend travel is more precarious. 

For Accessibility, this means needing to take what ever you can get when ever you can get it. Or get a motorhome or trailer with facilities. Very Expensive option. Or don't travel in winter. Eduard and I have counted on Rest Stops on all of our trips. We now have to plan better and find options.