WSP Assists Traveling German Family After Disaster

CATHLAMET, WA — A German family who for the past year has documented their road trip across the continental U.S. and part of Canada experienced a brief delay on their journey last week when just two miles from entering Oregon, the 49th state on their adventure, their truck and RV spilled over into a ditch outside Cathlamet, Washington, on State Route 401 in Pacific County.

Thanks to the generosity of a Washington State Patrol trooper, however, the Fischers of Oldenburg, Germany, were given a place to stay free of cost until they could get back on the road.

As shown in their YouTube.com video diary, 50in365, the Fischers arrived in Florida in August 2018, where after some brief challenges they acquired their truck and RV and set out to cross a vast portion of North America in one year. Just past their 320th day of travel, around 4 p.m. July 5, while heading south from their stop in Olympia, Benjamin Fischer pulled over along SR-401, believing he'd struck something on the roadway.

As Benjamin pulled the caravan over to the shoulder the RV sunk into the soft ground, which then gave way, tipping both the trailer and truck into the ditch. Fortunately, neither Benjamin nor his family — his wife Melanie, sons Jakob, 15, Linus, 10, and Eli, 7, and daughter Emilie, 13 — was harmed. However, their truck and RV were totaled and their personal belongings were scattered across the ditch.

After Washington State Patrol arrived at the scene to assist the family in collecting their things and figuring out next steps, WSP Sgt. Brad Moon reportedly took it upon himself to offer the Fischers a place to stay at his Cathlamet home while they arranged to get back on the road.

"The trooper was so helpful," Benjamin told Patch. "I don't know what we would have done otherwise."

Offering the Fischers space at his in-laws' property, Moon helped Benjamin and his family get sorted after the disaster.

"We just saw a family in need that had just lost nearly everything, and we felt that we could reach out and help them," said Moon. "It’s just doing my job and helping in any way we can."

Throughout the July 4 weekend, the Fischers and Moons shared a home, doubling the Moons' household of six to 12. The Moons shared their games, stories and meals, and treated the Fischers to true Washington State hospitality — and even got to join the Fischers in celebrating Benjamin's 42nd birthday July 7.

Incidentally, neither Washington nor the U.S. in general were unfamiliar to Benjamin and Melanie. Both have duel citizenship in Germany and the U.S. after living in Utah and Washington for several years.

In fact, Benjamin was first introduced to the U.S. when he came to Washington as an exchange student at a Bellingham-area high school. Later, both he and Melanie attended colleges in Utah. During his last year at Brigham Young University, Benjamin said he won a "Green Card lottery," and from there the couple worked toward attaining full citizenship.

Eventually, the couple moved to Seattle, where Benjamin worked for Amazon before taking their U.S.-born children, Jakob, Emilie, and Linus, back to Germany to be near family, where they've all lived for the past nine years.

Because the children were much younger when the family moved to Europe, the yearlong trip across North America for the kids has been almost like seeing it for the first time, Benjamin said. To make it educational as well as fun, the family has visited national parks in just about every state, where the kids have participated in the National Parks Junior Ranger program, earning roughly 60 badges by demonstrating their knowledge of U.S. parks during the course of their trip.

Their experience with American hospitality hasn't been exclusive to Washington either since heading out from Florida a year ago, Benjamin said. One moment that stands out in his mind was around the end of November 2018, when the family was traveling through New York City and got caught in heavy snowfall.

While attempting to cross an icy bridge, the Fischers' caravan became stuck, alongside several other vehicles, including a 15-passenger van and a FedEx truck. While considering how to escape the predicament, Benjamin said a large group of men "came out of nowhere" and began helping free the stuck vehicles.

"It was amazing," he said. "They showed up, moved us along, then disappeared before we could even say 'thank you.'"

Some interactions weren't always positive, Benjamin said, noting specifically experiences with American mechanics, but otherwise the trip has been great, he said. So great, in fact, the kids actually want to stay; but alas, all good things must come to an end at some point.

The final leg of the Fischers' trip will see them cross Oregon and possibly enter California, where they hope to visit the Redwoods before heading to Utah and flying back home to Germany. After the incident with the caravan, however, Benjamin said their plans are still sort of fluid.

To follow along the Fischers' incredible trip, and see how their journey has played out so far, visit their YouTube channel, 50in365.