Saturday, July 23rd 2011
After an ill-favored commute to Seattle and a less than user friendly Budget rental car service the GPS guided the way to my favorite cousin’s home in Tacoma but not before stopping for dinner at the famous Southern Kitchen restaurant in Tacoma. This foodies Mecca operates like a diner and offers delectable treats more commonly found in southern states. The fried chicken was great but the home cooked macaroni and cheese was second to none and the peach cobbler should be classified as a controlled substance.
1719 6th Ave Tacoma, WA www.southernkitchen-tacoma.com
Curt and Roxane found a noble home that gave me the feeling of being in the company of wisdom. It is a grand historic home build in the late 19th century. Roxane has created a master art gallery within. One is treated to a view of Puget Sound from its lofty heights where there is a quite balcony to sit in peace. This small location is like a meditation alcove.
I met my second cousin Paul for the first time and we all had a fun time at the local Pub.
Sunday, July 24th 2011
Today we enjoyed a nice stroll along the shoreline of Point Defiance Park and toured the rose garden then indulged in a wonderful lunch at Anthony’s dockside. The cook was generous with crab in the seafood linguini.
Later in the day, another loved one and I also visited not far away. Afterward Curt, Roxane, Paul, and I spent quality time together. Roxane’s cooking was an outstanding dinner treat.
Monday, July 25th 2011
The Ford Fusion at the beginning had 935 miles on it.
Early during predawn, I left for adventure. I selected less traveled roads as my pathway to the mountains. The welcome temperatures of 70s during the day and 50s during the evenings embraced me each and every day during the adventure. The mountaintops were even more refreshing. Route 18 from Tacoma east to route 203-north lead me to my first stop at Snoquaimie Falls but the fog and mist obscured the spectacle and the lower viewpoint was closed. The water flow all over the region is thunderous from heavy snowmelt. I then took route 9 north to Mount Baker Highway route 542. The trek to Mount Baker is lengthy. Along the way is Nooksack Falls. The water gushed over the edge in a deluge of aquatic power. The viewpoint is too close and fenced in. It was difficult to make an acceptable image under the circumstance. I did the best my skills would allow. The road to the mountain is embellished with all manner of wildflowers, Foxglove, Lupine, Shasta daisy, Fireweed, Indian paintbrush, Columbine, and Mountain lily. This startling wildflower display is omnipresent throughout the region. Once at the picture lake location, fate denied me the opportunity to make a good image of Mount Shuksan. The Mountain is a grand snow covered spectacle. I took a record shot just to say I did it and began my return trip down to route 20. The Mount Shuksan picture lake shot is not worth the trek in if conditions are not perfect. Setting up for the preferable lower afternoon light is challenging in that one would return to base in darkness along the mountain pass road. A place called the “Eatery” near Glacier at Skagit River Resort on route 542 was my lunch stop and the reward was wild morel mushroom soup.
The next stop was Cascadian Farms near Rockport. The 28-acre farm is nestled along route 20 in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range. Its roadside store offered, hot out of the oven, blueberry muffins that I just could not turn away from. A perpetual drizzle ushered me along route 20 going to the Cascades. I made the most of it by stopping at several roadside country stores. Some had gas, some had pay phones, and only a few offered anything special to eat. Upon arrival at the Buffalo Inn in Marblemount, I decided to take my rest. The Buffalo Inn is clean and basic and seems to be the only reasonable lodging near to the parks western entrance. The Buffalo Restaurant across the road is costly for unknown reasons and I decided not to patronize it. Gloomy weather settled into the region and I took my rest.
Tuesday, July 26th 2011
North Cascade National Park is an underdeveloped national park with few amenities. The park is also shared with the regional electric power company and electrical towers vandalize its mountains along with hydroelectric damns creating its lakes. The eastern section of the park does not share the western side’s regrettable status. The grandeur of the mountains, look down with a narrow gaze in displeasure at the revolting collar strangling them. Heavy early morning mist vales the wilderness.
Ladder Creek Falls near Gorge damn was closed for renovation much to my chagrin as it is one of the key attractions on the western side. Unrelenting logging trucks parade through the mountains.
Evergreen trees blanket the region with a lush coat everywhere I look and the clean scent of pine fills the cool air. The luxuriant forest gives one the feeling of what it must have been like in primeval times.
Huge banana slugs, about six inches long, slither among the ground cover. Torrents of snowmelt rush down the river. It is a whitewater rafters dream but also dangerous; drift to the left or to the right at your peril.
North Cascade National Park is an underdeveloped national park with few amenities. The park is also shared with the regional electric power company and electrical towers vandalize its mountains along with hydroelectric damns creating its lakes. The eastern section of the park does not share the western side’s regrettable status. The grandeur of the mountains, look down with a narrow gaze in displeasure at the revolting collar strangling them. Heavy early morning mist vales the wilderness.
Ladder Creek Falls near Gorge damn was closed for renovation much to my chagrin as it is one of the key attractions on the western side. Unrelenting logging trucks parade through the mountains.
Evergreen trees blanket the region with a lush coat everywhere I look and the clean scent of pine fills the cool air. The luxuriant forest gives one the feeling of what it must have been like in primeval times.
Huge banana slugs, about six inches long, slither among the ground cover. Torrents of snowmelt rush down the river. It is a whitewater rafters dream but also dangerous; drift to the left or to the right at your peril.
Well, the day was not a total disaster. The weather cleared just enough for me to soak in a glimpse of the eastside mountains. I was able to practice my art on a plethora of waterfalls and wildflowers. Colorful Larkspur grows in profusion along the eastside of route 20 going to Winthrop. I had to pull off to the roadside and make some images. I noticed in my travel that not many pullovers are available. This is something that should be remedied by the park service.
I stopped in Winthrop to enjoy lunch at Three Finger Jacks Saloon. Winthrop is a tourist theme town set in an old west style. Route 153 from Winthrop onto route 97 south should be designated a national scenic byway. The rolling hills and mountains along both sides of the road are spectacular; so much so that I almost smashed into a family of mountain goats strolling across the road. Route 97 is the apple orchard capital of the world; I never saw so many apple trees in all my born days. It is the Napa Valley of Apple trees. Roadside fruit stands can be found every few hundred yards. The Methow Valley is very scenic and well worth the drive. However, the opportunity for good compositions in photography would require more time to explore.
As I progressed, the northern section of the Wanatchee National Forest, route 97 south, has much evergreen kill off from that nasty bug. Hope is that this plague will not spread to other surrounding lush green forest.
At this point in my adventure, I decided it was too much to try and make it to Mount Rainer and looked for a layover in Ellensburg. I found a dubious place called the Rainbow Motel. I stopped and booked my $52/night room. The room was interesting but I managed to get a good night sleep without any encounters of a third kind. Up the street at 201 West University Way was the El Caporal Mexican restaurant. The dinner was basic but good. Ellensburg has three or more cheap motels and the one I should have booked would be the Thunderbird Motel close to city center.
It was an arduous but also spectacular trek from the Cascades to Ellensburg so I took my rest.
Wednesday, July 27th 2011
All of route 12 going to Mount Rainer is like a national park. It was very impressive. Clear creek waterfalls along the way are reminiscent of lower Yellowstone Falls. It was a cool morning going to the volcano. The fee to enter the park is $15.00. There remains six feet of snow at Paradise but the parking lot is open. The wildflowers along the way up were nothing less than brilliant. Indian paintbrush and countless unknown flowers stun drivers with a kaleidoscope of color. Snowmelt cascades surge down the mountainside feeding swollen rivers below. I noticed that numerous loan bicyclists and cross-country hikers tour the parklands and many are young women. I drove back down the mountain to Packwood and enjoyed lunch at the best Burger joint in the village.
As I explored the park, I discovered a cascade with a convenient parking area nearby. I found the cascade to be all we photographers dream about. Climbing down among the moss-covered rocks was dangerous but the payoff was well worth the risk. Close by a wildflower that I have been curious about was found. The noble wildflower Beargrass was proudly exhibiting its blossoms along the stream. I made several images then decided to check if they had a scent and to my surprise, the faint aroma of sweet rose caressed my olfactory receptors. The flower is tall off the ground with a globular white tassel at its top. Later I walked the trail of the patriarchs where huge cedar trees tower high above among moss covered timbers and ferns. A splashing stream flows through the grove.
I stopped in Winthrop to enjoy lunch at Three Finger Jacks Saloon. Winthrop is a tourist theme town set in an old west style. Route 153 from Winthrop onto route 97 south should be designated a national scenic byway. The rolling hills and mountains along both sides of the road are spectacular; so much so that I almost smashed into a family of mountain goats strolling across the road. Route 97 is the apple orchard capital of the world; I never saw so many apple trees in all my born days. It is the Napa Valley of Apple trees. Roadside fruit stands can be found every few hundred yards. The Methow Valley is very scenic and well worth the drive. However, the opportunity for good compositions in photography would require more time to explore.
As I progressed, the northern section of the Wanatchee National Forest, route 97 south, has much evergreen kill off from that nasty bug. Hope is that this plague will not spread to other surrounding lush green forest.
At this point in my adventure, I decided it was too much to try and make it to Mount Rainer and looked for a layover in Ellensburg. I found a dubious place called the Rainbow Motel. I stopped and booked my $52/night room. The room was interesting but I managed to get a good night sleep without any encounters of a third kind. Up the street at 201 West University Way was the El Caporal Mexican restaurant. The dinner was basic but good. Ellensburg has three or more cheap motels and the one I should have booked would be the Thunderbird Motel close to city center.
It was an arduous but also spectacular trek from the Cascades to Ellensburg so I took my rest.
Wednesday, July 27th 2011
All of route 12 going to Mount Rainer is like a national park. It was very impressive. Clear creek waterfalls along the way are reminiscent of lower Yellowstone Falls. It was a cool morning going to the volcano. The fee to enter the park is $15.00. There remains six feet of snow at Paradise but the parking lot is open. The wildflowers along the way up were nothing less than brilliant. Indian paintbrush and countless unknown flowers stun drivers with a kaleidoscope of color. Snowmelt cascades surge down the mountainside feeding swollen rivers below. I noticed that numerous loan bicyclists and cross-country hikers tour the parklands and many are young women. I drove back down the mountain to Packwood and enjoyed lunch at the best Burger joint in the village.
As I explored the park, I discovered a cascade with a convenient parking area nearby. I found the cascade to be all we photographers dream about. Climbing down among the moss-covered rocks was dangerous but the payoff was well worth the risk. Close by a wildflower that I have been curious about was found. The noble wildflower Beargrass was proudly exhibiting its blossoms along the stream. I made several images then decided to check if they had a scent and to my surprise, the faint aroma of sweet rose caressed my olfactory receptors. The flower is tall off the ground with a globular white tassel at its top. Later I walked the trail of the patriarchs where huge cedar trees tower high above among moss covered timbers and ferns. A splashing stream flows through the grove.
Forest routes going south to Columbia River Gorge from Randle snake through primordial forest cloaked in moss and fern. Foxgloves wave in the cool winds beside the road.
Once in Cascade Locks, I crossed over into Oregon on the Bridge of the Gods. The community of Cascade Locks is a small native river town. I should have lodged at the Bridge of the Gods Motel since it was a better-looking establishment but I already booked a room at the Columbia Gorge Motel. Sometimes it is better to wing the lodging on trips such as this one; it allows more freedom and is not much of a risk.
Thursday, July 28th 2011
Very early, I began my Columbia River Gorge- waterfall photography- workshop- practice run. Since Multnomah Falls is the grand daddy of them all I went straight to it. I had the park to myself and captured many photographs. I noticed that the day looked to be sunny so my working window was limited in the early hours. This is because bright-unfiltered sunlight reflects harshly off the white waters of the falls and thus renders them un-photographable. I moved on to many other falls along the gorge; nine in all. I then stopped at Oneonta trailhead. Parking is limited at this spot. The reason it intrigued me was it is a mysterious narrow gorge within a gorge with high walls on both sides leading back into an enchanting moss blanketed unknown. In order to take the trail I needed something I lacked, a pair of water shoes. One must climb over a logjam at the gateway of the narrow slot. I climbed over with care lugging the baby (camera) with me. After going over to the other side of the log jam deep water blocked my way. Perplexed and disappointed I turned back unable to proceed.
The day was yet young and not being one to waste precious time, I decided to take the long road to Mount Hood. The path taken was route 35 south from Hood River to 26 west and back north to Battleground Washington. It was a long adventurous ramble but well worth it. It was a clear day and the mountain came into view in short order, its grand snow covered ramparts looked magical across the forestlands.
I stopped along route 26 in Zigzag Oregon to have lunch at the Zigzag Inn. How could I pass such a place by? The spaghetti lunch was surprisingly good. I was stuffed, but could not resist ordering the mountain berry cobbler. All of this driving and hiking makes one crave carbohydrates.
I drove up the road leading to the base of Mount Hood where a sky resort is located. It seemed to be springtime in the fields as small ground hugging wildflowers were in full bloom everywhere. I hiked all over looking for good compositions to fill the foreground with the wildflowers and have the mountain as the background. It was not easy to do.
Along route 26 are many groves of cherry trees and other fruit trees as far as the eye could see. The GPS lead me to Battleground Washington without any problems. The Best Western in Battleground is a far cry better than previous lodging. I searched for a suitable dinner establishment and decided to try out the local Chinese restaurant named Silver Dragon on West Main Street. My sixth sense gift at finding good places to eat did not let me down. The traditional Chopped Suey was great and comes recommended.
Friday, July 29th, 2011
My plan today is to make it back to Tacoma before nightfall. I had to make the most of such a pleasant sunny day so it was off to Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument. The road back into the Monument area was long and hard but worth the trip. I traversed up a road that leads to the Volcanic Gorge area. Once there, I parked the car, purchased a day pass for $5.00, and started my hike into the gorge. A colossal lava flow worked a path into the gorge and a cerulean cascade surges through it. Volcanic rock is all over the ground and large mounds of it tower above hikers along the path. I was very happy to see this place. A suspension bridge leads one above the gorge. Looking down I saw the waters etch their course through the volcanic stone. I picked up a few small fragments of volcanic stone to keep, knowing that at one time they lived within the heart of the earth.
On the way back to Tacoma, I discovered in Woodland the Old Oak Tree restaurant and stopped for lunch. The Halibut fish and chips were scrumptious. They are famous for their cinnamon rolls.
Upon my return, family gathered at the table and enjoyed an outdoor patio dinner. If Tacoma ever has a Cherry Pie contest Roxane will win a first place ribbon.
Saturday, July 30th 2011
Upon returning the rental car, the agent wrote 1415 miles added to the original 935. That is an average of 283/day. It is not preferable to drive so laboriously during a vacation but without wings how else should one see such spectacular countryside?
The return flight home was uneventful.
The End
Once in Cascade Locks, I crossed over into Oregon on the Bridge of the Gods. The community of Cascade Locks is a small native river town. I should have lodged at the Bridge of the Gods Motel since it was a better-looking establishment but I already booked a room at the Columbia Gorge Motel. Sometimes it is better to wing the lodging on trips such as this one; it allows more freedom and is not much of a risk.
Thursday, July 28th 2011
Very early, I began my Columbia River Gorge- waterfall photography- workshop- practice run. Since Multnomah Falls is the grand daddy of them all I went straight to it. I had the park to myself and captured many photographs. I noticed that the day looked to be sunny so my working window was limited in the early hours. This is because bright-unfiltered sunlight reflects harshly off the white waters of the falls and thus renders them un-photographable. I moved on to many other falls along the gorge; nine in all. I then stopped at Oneonta trailhead. Parking is limited at this spot. The reason it intrigued me was it is a mysterious narrow gorge within a gorge with high walls on both sides leading back into an enchanting moss blanketed unknown. In order to take the trail I needed something I lacked, a pair of water shoes. One must climb over a logjam at the gateway of the narrow slot. I climbed over with care lugging the baby (camera) with me. After going over to the other side of the log jam deep water blocked my way. Perplexed and disappointed I turned back unable to proceed.
The day was yet young and not being one to waste precious time, I decided to take the long road to Mount Hood. The path taken was route 35 south from Hood River to 26 west and back north to Battleground Washington. It was a long adventurous ramble but well worth it. It was a clear day and the mountain came into view in short order, its grand snow covered ramparts looked magical across the forestlands.
I stopped along route 26 in Zigzag Oregon to have lunch at the Zigzag Inn. How could I pass such a place by? The spaghetti lunch was surprisingly good. I was stuffed, but could not resist ordering the mountain berry cobbler. All of this driving and hiking makes one crave carbohydrates.
I drove up the road leading to the base of Mount Hood where a sky resort is located. It seemed to be springtime in the fields as small ground hugging wildflowers were in full bloom everywhere. I hiked all over looking for good compositions to fill the foreground with the wildflowers and have the mountain as the background. It was not easy to do.
Along route 26 are many groves of cherry trees and other fruit trees as far as the eye could see. The GPS lead me to Battleground Washington without any problems. The Best Western in Battleground is a far cry better than previous lodging. I searched for a suitable dinner establishment and decided to try out the local Chinese restaurant named Silver Dragon on West Main Street. My sixth sense gift at finding good places to eat did not let me down. The traditional Chopped Suey was great and comes recommended.
Friday, July 29th, 2011
My plan today is to make it back to Tacoma before nightfall. I had to make the most of such a pleasant sunny day so it was off to Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument. The road back into the Monument area was long and hard but worth the trip. I traversed up a road that leads to the Volcanic Gorge area. Once there, I parked the car, purchased a day pass for $5.00, and started my hike into the gorge. A colossal lava flow worked a path into the gorge and a cerulean cascade surges through it. Volcanic rock is all over the ground and large mounds of it tower above hikers along the path. I was very happy to see this place. A suspension bridge leads one above the gorge. Looking down I saw the waters etch their course through the volcanic stone. I picked up a few small fragments of volcanic stone to keep, knowing that at one time they lived within the heart of the earth.
On the way back to Tacoma, I discovered in Woodland the Old Oak Tree restaurant and stopped for lunch. The Halibut fish and chips were scrumptious. They are famous for their cinnamon rolls.
Upon my return, family gathered at the table and enjoyed an outdoor patio dinner. If Tacoma ever has a Cherry Pie contest Roxane will win a first place ribbon.
Saturday, July 30th 2011
Upon returning the rental car, the agent wrote 1415 miles added to the original 935. That is an average of 283/day. It is not preferable to drive so laboriously during a vacation but without wings how else should one see such spectacular countryside?
The return flight home was uneventful.
The End
