BS"D

ROAD TRIP!

Friday, July 30th - Packed up the '86 Escort with everything conceivable & headed off for the Great Whirlwind Cross-Continental Trip of 2004. Left late, so only made it to Spokane, but what a trip getting there. I had not seen Eastern Washington since 1980 or thereabouts, so had forgotten how unapologetically stark the landscape is. It's beautiful. Beyond Cascadia I found flat, square farms (which had their crops thoughtfully labelled) fading into expanses of ochre & rough sage. Rolling brush & scrubby promontories (that one's for you, Dad) dropping off immediately into the Columbia River. Hard to believe all that water comes from my country & ends up here.
It was getting late so pitched the tent at a KOA & readied for Shabbes. Ahh...Kampgrounds of America. I remember staying at these frequently as a kid with my family exploring the continent during summer holidays. Still clean, well-maintained & family & pet-friendly I see, not to mention affordable :D
As the sun was leaving our sky & the mosquitos were awakening for their first meal of the evening, I bentsched licht & welcomed the Shabbat by the picnic table. After dinner, when the exhaustion set in, sacked out in the tent & had many many dreams.

What is the missing letter in Yud, Shin, Vav, Hey, Hey, ____?