Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Wild West day 26
We woke up the next morning and continued on down I-90 to Clinton. There, we took county road 102 through the scenery then route 348 over to Pittsburg where we picked up State Hwy 1. We followed Hwy 1 back to I-90 and follow I-90 to Cardwell. There, we left I-90 (I hate interstates) on State Hwy 2 through some more scenery. The name "Big Sky Country" when referring to Montana is a legitimate moniker.
I chose the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park for our next night because they would have electricity and a shower house available. It has been a hot dry time for the area and A/C and a shower sounded good.
The caverns were apparently quite a draw as there were several RVs parked in the visitors center while their owners toured the caves. And, lots of cars stopping in for tickets then proceeding on up to the caverns. Joyce and I did not visit the caves, however. We've seen rock drip before and besides Joyce can't walk far and Ditto wasn't welcome.
Once in the campground, it was apparent the main attraction was the caverns and not camping. The campground, though clean enough, was a bit bleak in the hot sun. Shade was thin (nearly non-existent), so I put out the awning and we opened to door for some fresh air. The open door did not last long. The mosquitoes were a bit too friendly and we had to close up and fire up the A/C. After supper, I headed down to the shower house just to check it out. As I had mentioned, Montana has been suffering a drought for some time. I guess that prompted better control for water usage because the sign said "Shower - $2 for 4 minutes". I wasn't that hot or stinky.
I chose the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park for our next night because they would have electricity and a shower house available. It has been a hot dry time for the area and A/C and a shower sounded good.
The caverns were apparently quite a draw as there were several RVs parked in the visitors center while their owners toured the caves. And, lots of cars stopping in for tickets then proceeding on up to the caverns. Joyce and I did not visit the caves, however. We've seen rock drip before and besides Joyce can't walk far and Ditto wasn't welcome.
Once in the campground, it was apparent the main attraction was the caverns and not camping. The campground, though clean enough, was a bit bleak in the hot sun. Shade was thin (nearly non-existent), so I put out the awning and we opened to door for some fresh air. The open door did not last long. The mosquitoes were a bit too friendly and we had to close up and fire up the A/C. After supper, I headed down to the shower house just to check it out. As I had mentioned, Montana has been suffering a drought for some time. I guess that prompted better control for water usage because the sign said "Shower - $2 for 4 minutes". I wasn't that hot or stinky.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Wild West day 25
At Wilbur, Wa, and after a wonderful meal served by the campground and after a good nights rest, we picked up US Hwy 2 and continued east toward Spokane and to the Idaho chimney.
Our next stop is Quartz Flat campground in the Lolo National Forest in Montana. Yep, we crossed Idaho near the narrow chimney and here we are in Montana.
Another pleasant surprise. We pulled into a rest stop and found this park hidden behind it. It was a well kept park with very few campers. Nice and quite...except for the Interstate traffic a few hundred feet away on one side and a railroad nearby on the other side. But, neither were bad. The camp host came by and used his satellite finder to help me locate where set my antenna. Nice guy. He visited for a while but then left us alone. I think before the night was over, two or three more campers moved in, but none close to us.
Ditto and I made a couple of walks around the park, once to carry the trash to a dumpster and once again because it was a nice walk among the pines.
Our next stop is Quartz Flat campground in the Lolo National Forest in Montana. Yep, we crossed Idaho near the narrow chimney and here we are in Montana.
Another pleasant surprise. We pulled into a rest stop and found this park hidden behind it. It was a well kept park with very few campers. Nice and quite...except for the Interstate traffic a few hundred feet away on one side and a railroad nearby on the other side. But, neither were bad. The camp host came by and used his satellite finder to help me locate where set my antenna. Nice guy. He visited for a while but then left us alone. I think before the night was over, two or three more campers moved in, but none close to us.
Ditto and I made a couple of walks around the park, once to carry the trash to a dumpster and once again because it was a nice walk among the pines.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Wild West day 24
Nice campground (North Cascades Newhalem Creek National Forest), but leaving the campground was the payoff.
What a pleasant drive through the North Cascades, heading on over toward the Columbia River basin. I was looking forward to seeing the Grand Coulee Dam, but was pleasantly surprised to see the Chief Joseph Dam first. I wasn't even aware it existed and it's not a small thing.
The Chief Joseph Dam is the 2nd highest power producing dam in the US and the largest operated by the Corps of Engineers.
From the Chief Joseph Dam, we headed on down highway 17 to the Grand Coulee. Holy cow! Two of the largest dams in the United States just a few miles apart!
What a day. We have traveled through huge cherry and apple orchards all the way from the mountains to Grand Coulee Dam and beyond. Then about 25 miles southeast of the dam we stopped for the night at Country Lane Campground and RV Park. What a surprise. Initially, it was just another place to spend the night located on our path through Washington. It was a nice looking park though nothing special. It was a husband and wife operation. The husband drove around on a golf cart and he led us back to our site. Then the unexpected. He showed us a menu and said the park had "RV room service"! What will they think of next? Joyce ordered a hamburger (no imagination) and I ordered a chicken fired steak with all the trimmings. Not long after we got set up, here he came back with covered hot plates containing our meals. He set them out on the campsite picnic table on real plates with real flatware, salt and pepper shakers, the whole nine yards. I don't remember if we ordered drinks. So, we had a sit-down dinner after a long day and it was delicious. Some time later he came back around and bused the table and that was that. No dishes to wash or table to clean up. Outstanding!
Later we observed both the husband and wife taking pictures of a huge 40' diesel pusher motorhome across from us. Later we were told that was the kind of motorhome they wanted and that they were soon to retire and be on the receiving end of campground services. I hope whoever buys their campground can keep up the good work. Ya never know when we might be through there again and if ever we do, you can bet we'll stop just to see,
What a pleasant drive through the North Cascades, heading on over toward the Columbia River basin. I was looking forward to seeing the Grand Coulee Dam, but was pleasantly surprised to see the Chief Joseph Dam first. I wasn't even aware it existed and it's not a small thing.
The Chief Joseph Dam is the 2nd highest power producing dam in the US and the largest operated by the Corps of Engineers.
From the Chief Joseph Dam, we headed on down highway 17 to the Grand Coulee. Holy cow! Two of the largest dams in the United States just a few miles apart!
What a day. We have traveled through huge cherry and apple orchards all the way from the mountains to Grand Coulee Dam and beyond. Then about 25 miles southeast of the dam we stopped for the night at Country Lane Campground and RV Park. What a surprise. Initially, it was just another place to spend the night located on our path through Washington. It was a nice looking park though nothing special. It was a husband and wife operation. The husband drove around on a golf cart and he led us back to our site. Then the unexpected. He showed us a menu and said the park had "RV room service"! What will they think of next? Joyce ordered a hamburger (no imagination) and I ordered a chicken fired steak with all the trimmings. Not long after we got set up, here he came back with covered hot plates containing our meals. He set them out on the campsite picnic table on real plates with real flatware, salt and pepper shakers, the whole nine yards. I don't remember if we ordered drinks. So, we had a sit-down dinner after a long day and it was delicious. Some time later he came back around and bused the table and that was that. No dishes to wash or table to clean up. Outstanding!
Later we observed both the husband and wife taking pictures of a huge 40' diesel pusher motorhome across from us. Later we were told that was the kind of motorhome they wanted and that they were soon to retire and be on the receiving end of campground services. I hope whoever buys their campground can keep up the good work. Ya never know when we might be through there again and if ever we do, you can bet we'll stop just to see,
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Wild West day 23
Deception Pass was our favorite haunt over 50 years ago. The Deception Pass bridge was beautiful and the area around it almost mystic. Located on the southern side is Deception Pass State Park where we stayed this trip.
Here's an interesting shot taken of my GPS while at the park, demonstrating the location next to the water. The zigzagging white lines are the campground lanes.
Bridge over troubled waters
Here's an interesting shot taken of my GPS while at the park, demonstrating the location next to the water. The zigzagging white lines are the campground lanes.
The actual pass is the narrows between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands. There are actually two channels with a small island called Pass Island in between. The bridge makes a couple of hops across the full pass. The following shots were taken from the small island as it offers the easiest access...and 52 years after we first visited the pass, we needed easy access.
Along the shore across from where we stand now is where Joyce and I would often go. We walked down a mossy covered rock strewn path through fern patches and big trees. Eventually, working our way out on huge boulders down along the water channel. We'd climb out on the rocks and fish for Ling Cod using shrimp for bait. We caught a LOT of fish. When the tide slowed, so did the fishing and we'd do other things young newly weds might do in the seclusion of the woods. Hey! Where is your mind? We'd go pick wild flowers and gather pretty pine cones, of course.
Bridge over troubled waters
The tidal current that flows through these narrows becomes very strong as the tide sweeps in and out. We once watched a fishing trawler sit in the middle of the channel chugging away against the current, hardly moving at all. Finally, as the tide slowed, it slowly picked up speed and continued on out to sea. In the following photo, taken today, is a boat laboring about where we saw the trawler in it's struggle years ago.
Returning lovebirds enjoy a sentimental journey. What happened?!!!
We left Whidbey Is. taking the Deception Pass bridge to Fidalgo Is. and on to the once sleepy little town of Anacortes. It's not so sleepy any more, but we found the fishing wharves and docks we used to visit long ago. In a parking area along the road was an interesting display.
Go ahead, count the lines. The plaque says the tree was 970 years old. I started to count them, but fell asleep. Tree age lines are as bad as sheep.
We took hwy 20 on from there across the Cascade Mountain Range, camping at the North Cascades Newhalem Creek National Forest campground part way across.
Next stop, Grand Coulee Dam
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