Prosser, Washington

The high desert is such unfamiliar landscape to us. Prosser sits 700 ft. above sea level in a wide valley between the Horse Heaven Hills and the Rattlesnake Hills. The hills have no trees! There are no trees in the valley save for the few that have been planted. Tumbleweeds blow over a dry, parched landscape. That said, a lot of irrigation turns eastern WA into a lush, green agricultural mecca. Vineyards thrive...nine wineries are within walking distance of the Park and dozens of others in the immediate area. Huge, hillside orchards produce cherries, peaches, apricots, apples, plums and pears. Hops for making beer grow on sturdy, tall, wooden frames. The Yakima River meanders through downtown Prosser providing the much needed water. Wine is plentiful, reasonably priced and ever-flowing. Thrown in for fun, a chocolate-covered-cherry factory is around the corner from the Park and right on the paved, bike trail. What a great summer we're going to have!

I've been in denial; we are actually here to work. Egads, did I say work? During our year of glorious travel and never-ending freedom, we encountered many full-time RVers involved in this thing called "workamping." Loosely defined, workamping requires a few hours of work, usually at an RV park, in exchange for a full-hookup site...and some extras. We perused the Workamper.com web site, sent in our resumes, had a phone interview and wala we're hired. I think Al and the kitties have become dizzy with the traveling and conspired to spend some time stalled in one place. :)

The sun rises in Prosser, WA as it does in other places, and I'm not usually witness to it. Ok, I never witness it. You can imagine my surprise at being awakened by a blazing light at an obscene hour of the morning. I have only to lift my head slightly off the pillow to see the glorious sunrise every day!

Lilacs are blooming beside rhododendrons and beautiful dogwood trees. Trees, plants, bushes, flowers, fruit and vegetables that I associate with specific parts of the country seem to all be growing here. The word on the street is the asparagus harvest will be any day now.

There appears to be some discontent among our fellow workampers. I'm sure it will work out.