Leaving Seattle, we adjust our sights and follow ‘Plan B’ heading our VW Camper north toward Monroe. By the time we get there, both the bus and us need fuel, so we take the first exit and head into town.  By-passing a couple of gas stations, Tommy spys a Shell that looks good to him and he pulls in. It looks nice and clean, but we discover it isn’t open….yet. Apparently is is brand new and they are just putting on the finishing touches before opening. No wonder it is so clean!

We drive on up the street searching out another.  About a half mile further on, we find another older looking Shell station. This turns out to be a happy find!  While Tommy fuels the ‘61 Westy, Julia checks out a little restaurant attached to the gas station office.

Curious by the name and it’s advertising of  “Cuisine of India – Take Out” (Indian Cuisine…??? at a gas station?) ‘The Clay Oven’ is a pleasant surprise with an inviting inside dining area.

The menu is intriguing and the little bowl on the reception counter offering a ‘mouth freshener’ mix of roasted fennel and sesame seeds  (which we haven’t seen since a Washington D.C. restaurant experience) we are convinced that this is definitely a place to eat!  We enjoy a delicious and satisfying lunch of excellent Indian curry, paprika calamari and special Indian ‘bread’.  This is a totally unexpected discovery in the Washington Cascades, and especially at a gas station!! Pleased with our find and with happy satisfied stomachs and a bus with a full tank of gas, we settle back in our trusty Westy, ready to brave Stevens Pass and the climb over the Cascades!