SCABLANDS---WHEATLANDS---A DEAD MAN TALKING

I'VE MENTIONED LAKE MISSOULA---an ancient lake created by an ice dam and containing 500 cubic miles of water that broke loose in a single day creating the world's greatest flood---rushing across the landscape of southeast Washington--sweeping away everything in its path and creating a vast eerie wasteland called the scablands. Read about: here

I drove into the scablands

a few miles to get the flavor of them.

Imagine that vast flood sweeping across here.

Spent the day in Sprague, Wa. A wheat/railroad town once larger than Spokane. Walked around town chatting with folks and researching in city hall.

At a rest area I met this terrific guy: Steve Borejko a Canadian philosopher and motorcycle racer. We talked a whole afternoon away

Across the way you can see where the scablands end and wheatlands begin

At exit 231 I parked for the night at this dead end road. A strange and lonely man came by on his 4 wheeler to invite me to his campground across the freeway. I politely declined but got his story. Summary: He's been stuck for 30 plus years operating an old Stuckys shop. Never saw a Stuckys?? Never ate ate their famous pecan roll? Here's what they looked like

Next day on a whim I visited the dying town of Sprague, Wa. Chatted with some folks--got intrigued--spent some hours reading the town history in city hall. Learned this town was once larger than Spokane.

Wheatlands---You are looking at the breadbasket of America.

I got entranced and decided to spend a night in its midst---found a remote road with a view and settled in. Only one car came by.

Spent the next day in Ritzville --Library and around town. A small touch of irony that the town has a Ritz theater. Chamber of commerce lady said that it's possible that ritz crackers get their name from the local-- especially fine-- wheat.

A retired guy who sliced a model T lengthwise and mounted it on his garage.

And now we come to the DEAD MAN TALKING part. I came here looking for this very spot. This is Columbia park in Kennewick, Wa. and that is the Columbia river. Right there---is where a skeleton was found by a bulldozer operator--and set in motion one of the great legal battles of our time---Scientist versus Indians. Turns out "KENNEWICK MAN" was 9000 years old and WAS NOT AN INDIAN. And to the world's astonishment HE LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE PATRICK STEWART--captain of the star ship enterprise.

Here they are side by side. Isn't that amazing?

Ahhhh yesss sweet people---do you get the drift of the controversy? Who really---were the first people in America and where did they come from? Read the story here :