[Durty Nelly]

So I'm walking out of the stadium and I run into Cam's mom and dad.  As we walked together to the parking lot we talked about how fun it is for them to follow her basketball career.  They said that Cam has been fighting a cold and wasn't feeling well tonight.  I noticed in warm up that she seemed a little lower energy than usual.

We talked about how everyone on the team seemed to like each other and how happy they seemed.  Interestingly, they said that the team is just now starting to really come together.  They said that there has been some struggles earlier in the season with team cohesion.  That was news to me, but explains some of the off games we've seen.

I told them that they should play with Cam in the Family Division at the Spokane 3-on-3 Hoopfest.  They said that both of them have really bad knees and can't play anymore.  They seemed like really nice people.

---

Here's my travel story . . .

WSU is situated in the Palouse and has the reputation of being "in the sticks."

I'm coming from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and driving to Pullman.  I plug-in the WSU coliseum in Google maps on my phone and it gives me the route.  It's a little under 2 hours drive.  Apparently the fastest route to the basketball arena avoids going through downtown Pullman.  I'm not sure how much time it saves since Pullman isn't exactly a grand metropolis. 

About 90 minutes into the drive, Google tells me to make a right turn.  I dutifully follow the instructions and a couple of miles later find myself on a dirt road.  For about 10 miles I drive on a dusty pot-holed gravel road!  Then I turn left onto Highway 27 and proceed to Pullman.

So, yes, WSU is in the sticks.

I drove the back roads of Benewah, Kootenai, Shoshone and Latah counties growing up.  Not too bad on the western side of the counties with their rolling hills and wheat fields.  The twisty roads in the eastern parts of the counties going through the mountains is a different story and are to be avoided, particularly at night and in the winter.  I wouldn't trust my GPS in most of North Idaho or Eastern Washington.  Many "dirt" roads are not open/maintained in the winter.  I had a summer job working for the Idaho Dept of Lands, and we were sent to open roads (remove fallen trees, unclog culverts, and identify maintenance issues) in order to have access in case of fires.

You have not been in the sticks if you think Pullman is there.  It has traffic lights and multiple McDonald's.  Visit Avery, Enaville or Elk River in the summer to be in the sticks.

[Durty Nelly]

So I'm walking out of the stadium and I run into Cam's mom and dad.  As we walked together to the parking lot we talked about how fun it is for them to follow her basketball career.  They said that Cam has been fighting a cold and wasn't feeling well tonight.  I noticed in warm up that she seemed a little lower energy than usual.

We talked about how everyone on the team seemed to like each other and how happy they seemed.  Interestingly, they said that the team is just now starting to really come together.  They said that there has been some struggles earlier in the season with team cohesion.  That was news to me, but explains some of the off games we've seen.

I told them that they should play with Cam in the Family Division at the Spokane 3-on-3 Hoopfest.  They said that both of them have really bad knees and can't play anymore.  They seemed like really nice people.

---

Here's my travel story . . .

WSU is situated in the Palouse and has the reputation of being "in the sticks."

I'm coming from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and driving to Pullman.  I plug-in the WSU coliseum in Google maps on my phone and it gives me the route.  It's a little under 2 hours drive.  Apparently the fastest route to the basketball arena avoids going through downtown Pullman.  I'm not sure how much time it saves since Pullman isn't exactly a grand metropolis. 

About 90 minutes into the drive, Google tells me to make a right turn.  I dutifully follow the instructions and a couple of miles later find myself on a dirt road.  For about 10 miles I drive on a dusty pot-holed gravel road!  Then I turn left onto Highway 27 and proceed to Pullman.

So, yes, WSU is in the sticks.

I drove the back roads of Benewah, Kootenai, Shoshone and Latah counties growing up.  Not too bad on the western side of the counties with their rolling hills and wheat fields.  The twisty roads in the eastern parts of the counties going through the mountains is a different story and are to be avoided, particularly at night and in the winter.  I wouldn't trust my GPS in most of North Idaho or Eastern Washington.  Many "dirt" roads are not open/maintained in the winter.  I had a summer job working for the Idaho Dept of Lands, and we were sent to open roads (remove fallen trees, unclog culverts, and identify maintenance issues) in order to have access in case of fires.

You have not been in the sticks if you think Pullman is there.  It has traffic lights and multiple McDonald's.  Visit Avery, Enaville or Elk River in the summer to be in the sticks.