This is a two-part series about attending the annual Northwest Outdoor Writers’ Conference.

The annual Northwest Outdoor Writers’ Conference is always informative, usually in several ways. There may be a fishing tip, a writing suggestion or a discussion about a controversial issue or all three.

I have been a member of NOWA for over 30 years and my wife, Garnet, has been a member for over 20 years. We are now considered to be in the active-retired status, this after the required number of years in regular-member status.

About the organization

NOWA is a society of professional outdoor communicators including magazine and newspaper writers, book authors, editors, photographers, radio and television broadcasters, videographers, illustrators, and artists, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in outdoor journalism.

Subjects not only include fishing and hunting, but boating, camping, hiking, wildlife viewing and all other activities that take place outside the front and back doors. Members are also increasingly involved in environmental issues and the preservation of wildlife habitat and wilderness areas.

Territory

NOWA represents a broad geographical area of the northwestern United States and western Canada covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories.

Goals

This writers’ group seeks to further the improvement and ethical development of professional communications skills; provide a network of professional assistance and support for all members.

Driving to the conference

Garnet and I pulled out of our driveway on Wednesday, April 27 and headed west on I-90 and then turned south heading for our final destination of Diamond Lake, Oregon and the 43 rd annual NOWA Conference.

These days we do not conduct power-drives of six to 10 hours. Instead we divide a lengthy drive into two days, with a break along the way. We decided to spend the night in Madras, Oregon on this trip.

This allowed an overnight stop after about four and a half hours, leaving a two and a half hour drive the next day. The scenery along the way is always interesting, no matter where we travel.

We traveled I-90 past Kittitas and turned left and headed south just before Ellensburg. The Ram skirted Yakima and passed through Toppenish and the Yakama Indian Reservation. We passed over Satus Pass, along the edge of Goldendale and down the hill to the Columbia River, crossing over the bridge to Biggs Junction.

The country between Biggs and Madras reminds me of the drive from Moses Lake to Spokane, lots of wheat. There are a few small towns with few businesses, such as an occasional antique store. One small town, Shaniko, is known as an Oregon ghost town. It has an old hotel, which looks rather nice in a 2007 YouTube, but has now closed.

We arrived at our motel in Madras after spending around six hours on the road, roadwork delays causing more time expended than expected. Sometimes it is fun to explore a town, checking out local unique restaurants and then deciding where to eat.

However, we were tired, so picked up a bucket of chicken, with biscuits, coleslaw, mash potatoes and gravy. The meal was consumed in our room. This easy-to-purchase meal also provided leftovers, which served as our evening meal the next day.

Garnet has several travel bags containing items for eating meals on the road. These would have been called picnic baskets in past years. They make eating in the motel room or on the road easy and more pleasurable, as everything needed is at hand, after pulling food out of the cooler. She has packed plates, cups, wine glasses, salt, pepper, hot sauce, cutting board, knives and much more.

Although the bucket of chicken came with all the utensils and plates necessary for a meal, more often than not, something pulled from one of these bags will make the meal, any meal, better, such as hot sauce. Sleep came easy this night.

Our drive from Madras to Diamond Lake was expected to take two and a half hours, so we didn’t hurry to get up and pack for the next leg of our journey. This allowed me work time on the computer, while Garnet and little Brenda Starr, our 4-pound Chihuahua, sleep another hour or two.

This motel provided my breakfast of scrambled eggs, with two link sausages, along with a glass of orange juice, served in the motel lobby. A piece of toast and a blueberry muffin was delivered to Garnet upon my return to the room.

Next week: Attending the 2016 NOWA conference.