Tag: washington
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Port Angeles: Gateway to the Olympics
Another promising day that begins in La Push with a quick stop at Rialto Beach. Back on Highway 101 we head north and then go west with the highway. If the Olympic Peninsula were a square we’d be in the upper left. The highway, unfortunately, doesn’t hug the coast but cuts inland bypassing the northwest…
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Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend
We descend Hurricane Ridge on the same windy road we came up. The only difference is there’s more traffic as the day has worn on. The line at the park entrance has gotten longer. We avoided this line by purchasing a 7-day pass at the Hoh Rain Forest. We’ll head east on Highway 101 without…
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Summer’s last road trip to Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands
For every day of rain there’s four following it that are hot. On Friday it poured more than the previous three months combined. We got over two inches, close to a record for an August 14 day. The rain was accompanied by lightening that sparked numerous fires in the eastern part of the state. As…
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From Grand Coulee to Leavenworth on Highway 2
One last glance back at Coulee Dam before we start back home. We go at our own pace becausenobody’s behind us pushing, pushing, pushing. However, we’ve got to make good time because I told Michele we’d be home by noon. With the dam behind us, we breeze through three towns whose existence is owed to…
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Grand Coulee Dam
The goal lay ahead; Grand Coulee Dam. I’ve wanted to come here since talking to an older lady some 30 years ago when Curt and I lived off the Hood Canal. She went on about her husband working on the Coulee Dam. Every other sentence had the words “Grand Coulee” and she was boisterous as…
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Colville: Welcome to the Reservation
Kettle Falls turned out to be a remarkable place of mountains, valleys, forests, and small towns. Thenthere was Lake Roosevelt; huge and wide with hardly a boat on it. Where is everyone? This area marks the farthest point east on our giant loop. Looking at the map of Washington we’d be near the upper right…
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Kettle Falls and a step beyond to Colville
In my haste I had us staying in Kettle Falls. The name comes from a location on the Columbia Riverwhere the Indians would gather and catch salmon. The falls hemmed in the fish for easy harvesting. Only after making reservations did I find out that the falls are under water. They are no more. They…
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The road less trampled: Omak, Okanogan, Tonasket, and Republic
With the North Cascades behind us we drop into the high desert of Eastern Washington. Temperatures will reach and exceed 100 degrees in the next couple of days. At State Route 97 we head north through the towns of Omak and Okanogan. From here on out it’s small dusty towns with the road leading right…
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Snoqualmie Falls and the Salish Lodge
I’m still in denial that summer ended. I come from the land of endless summers. There is a point where summer actually ends. Signs start with the changing color of the leaves with an initial burst of color. This is only a precursor. Then a time of blandness and dull colors mark many of the…
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The Hoh, Hoh, Hoh, Rain Forest
Everything we’ve done on this day is a run-up to the Hoh Rainforest. I believe we stopped here on our 1972 trip to Canada. We didn’t stay long as I remember, but long enough to get an eye full of the rainforest. They call this a temperate rainforest instead of a tropical one. Storms come…
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Leaving Yakima for Toppenish and Zillah. Where?
With a continuous snow storm and two kids down with the noro virus, we contemplated the situation. We can go back in the direction the storm had already passed, stay put and wait it out, or move forward. Neither option sounded right and check out time approached. A better, fourth option emerged to re-evaluate and…
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Palouse Falls, scablands, and Ellensburg
Another full travel day. This time on state route 26 heading west through the scablands in the central part of the state. It’s straight through with a couple of planned stops. In Colifax we hit a thrift store and take a look at the codger pole. The pole commemorates a football game played between rivals.…
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A Forks in the road
We’re making our way up the Olympic Peninsula, traveling on the western side with mountains on our right and the Pacific Ocean to our left. We’re returning to Highway 101 from a short visit up the Hoh River. Our next stop is the town called Forks. Those familiar with the Twilight novels and movies will…
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Day trip to the Hoh Rain Forest
The Hoh Rain Forest is reason enough to explore the western side of the Olympic Peninsula. The drive along Upper Hoh Road penetrates a good 18 miles up the Hoh River and deep into a primeval wilderness dominated by massive conifers. With annual rainfall reaching 170 inches, the forest is fertile and thriving. A couple…
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Lake Quinault and the Valley of the Rainforest Giants
We’re moving along Highway 101 from Ocean Shores to La Push. There’s a lot to see and more time is needed. With precision and quick execution, we just might manage some sightseeing along Lake Quinault. But once in the Quinault Valley, it’s inconceivable that we can just turn around and leave. Being the off-season, it’s…
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From Grand Coulee to Leavenworth on Highway 2
One last glance back at Coulee Dam before we start back home. We go at our own pace becausenobody’s behind us pushing, pushing, pushing. However, we’ve got to make good time because I told Michele we’d be home by noon. With the dam behind us, we breeze through three towns whose existence is owed to…
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NO TURNING BACK: RANDLE AND THE ROAD TO MT. ST. HELENS
No turning back. Though the thought crossed my mind between the snow and the noro virus sweeping through the family. On this trip we headed south to Mt. Rainier and then east to a small town called Randle, the gateway to Mt. St. Helens. When the mountain blew up on May 18, 1980, it was…
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Gum Wall at Pike Place Market
The gum wall part of an alley below the bustling market. People chew gum and then stick the gum onto the wall. It’s become a big touristy thing to do. Sort of like the love lock bridge in Paris only gushier. In a way it’s public art which Seattle is big on. Pa, Wendy, and…