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6/18
On our way to Anacortes. On the road at 8:30 am, heading for Hwy. 970, then onto Hwy.97 thru Wenatchee, then picked up Hwy 2 in Leavenworth into Everett to the I-5 to exit 230. About 195 miles through the Cascades to Anacortes. Beautiful day with sunshine, still chilly in the 50’s and NO WIND. We would wind our way through some very pretty landscape climbing a few grades. After ascending the first one, we found we were on a downhill that never seemed to end. Miles of curving down, down, down. Didn’t realize we were high enough to go down so far. We wisked through tiny towns. Enjoyed driving through the Bavarian town of Leavenworth. Town’s cute, scenery is superb. After a couple more up & down, down, downs, we left the Cascades. Once back on I-5, we rejoined multi-lane, fast moving traffic once again. After 2+ weeks of being sequestered in forest & single lane traffic, reality was a shock.
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Down, down, down. We descended at this degree for miles on the curving highway. Note the snow covered peak. For it, we get to go up, up, up.
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The pretty town of Leavenworth has all buildings done in Bavarian architectural style, even the McDonalds. The scenery around the town is some of the prettiest we’ve seen.
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Rushing rapids on the river seen just after leaving Leavenworth.
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Just another snow-capped mountain on our way down, down, down to meet up with I-5
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This picture has several elements of interest. In the right foreground is a yard sale sign, but doesn’t say where. Then, there is the officer with his cell phone firmly held to his right ear. And, last, there is the green sign indicating the ‘reformatory’, a term not heard in California for many years. Oh, and how about that barb-wire fence separating the highway from the houses? Or, is it the other way round?
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On arrival at the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort, Anacortes, the sun was still shining, the scenery captivating and our waterfront site perfect. (Very pricey here at $45 + tax a night, but after a few hours, you don’t care.) Best of all, there was Anne, relaxed in a lawn chair, warming in the sun, while serenely reading a book. After our grinning greetings, we discover Ted, in his one-man pontoon boat, is out fishing at a lake nearby. So another warm greeting when he returns. They told us of the different wildlife here, including a bald eagle that we saw not 10 minutes later, loons that we saw a couple hours later, a couple of seals, herons and so on. The Canadian geese were swimming offshore. Looked like about 6 adults & 20 juveniles passively swimming away from the campground toward what appears to be some sort of refinery for oil or oil products. We then watched the Wednesday sailboat race coming out of the marina across the bay. We have also seen larger ships doing whatever they do as they hover near what is possibly a transfer station for ship-to-pipeline. Will try to find out more. Ted & Anne spoke of their time here. Their weather has mirrored what we’ve experienced so far in many ways except they get far more rain here. This has been a very unusual weather year so far for the northwest and the news reporters never stop talking about it. Nor do the weather reporters. Strawberries growing here should be ripe. They haven’t begun to turn red yet. The weather is delaying spring emergence of plants, flowers & crops. So our dreams of fruit stands loaded with cherries are on hold. Sunset brought another beautiful surprise. Just behind the refinery, clouds parted over a huge mountain in the Cascades many miles away. Absolutely stunning! As the sun set shining towards the mountain in the background, with the refinery lights coming on in the foreground, it was such a treat for the eyes. The camera, however, had trouble memorializing this sight. This campground is under the ownership & management of the Samish Indian Nation. What beauty they share with us.
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Our home for the next week.
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Our site includes this view of Fidalgo Bay out our front window. When the tide is in, the water rises to the edge of the rocks. There are mussels in the water’s edge & that is what attracts the various birds, seals, etc. I’m sure there are fish involved in the attraction also.
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Well, here we are, living the good life. I don’t think it gets any prettier than this. Our ribbon spinner is spinning happily atop the coach. Again, when the tide is in it covers the gravel area on the right.
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