Stretching Our Eyes in Eastern Washington

August 9-17, 2019
Cashmere - Electric City - Wilbur, Washington

We've headed east from Seattle a couple times, but this time we're taking the more northern Hwy 2. Bill has wanted to see the Wenatchee area, and after seeing Mona Lisa's recent photos of the Grand Coulee area I knew that was the route for us!

Our first stop is in the little town of Cashmere, WA. Known for aplets and cotlets - confections made from apples and apricots, there are acres and acres of orchards. The Cashmere Mountains look like their name - soft and smooth.

Cashmere Mountains on a hazy day.

Orchards fill the valley along the Wenatchee River.

The Chelan County Fairgrounds has a nice RV park with level dirt and grass sites and open skies. Pretty views of the surrounding mountains.

We take a couple day trips to the good size town of Wenatchee to the east, and Lake Wenatchee to the north. Summer catches up with us here and the temps in the mid-90's brings heat haze to the area.

High winds on Lake Wenatchee

The town of Wenatchee sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers.

Love this on the back of an adventure truck camper.

Wenatchee River

Peshastin Pinnacles State Park, popular with rock climbers.

Our next stop across Washington is Steamboat Rock State Park on beautiful Banks Lake. It's a scenic drive, especially when we get to the water at Hwy 155. 

Miles of golden fields.

Hwy 155 along Banks Lake.

Columbia River basalt cliffs.

With 50 amp, FHU asphalt sites, surrounded by natural beauty, this state park is exceptional. Large well maintained grass space around each site in the Bay Loop is appreciated as the park is very full. Most sites are maxed out with 8 people, although our neighbors are a quiet couple with two well behaved dogs in a small tent. 

Steamboat Rock SP

The day we arrive is Ezra's fourth birthday - already! We talk with him on the phone, and later get pics and video of him opening our presents. His party is later this week.

Ezra sporting his new birthday shades.

I was only able to get a couple nights here, so we spend Tuesday, Bill's birthday, seeing as much as we can. We already know we'll be back for sure.

A long lake with miles of rugged shores.

Several people recommended we see Dry Falls - for good reason! Not only uniquely stunning, but an interesting geological history.

During the ice age this area changed numerous times. The Columbia River flooded and it's course was altered. Many miles of Montana was covered in water, blocked at the south by a large dam. When the dam broke, a flow up to ten times the combined flow of all the rivers of the world came over these basalt cliffs and emptied into Idaho and eastern Washington. Evidence shows the water was 300 feet above where I was standing when I took this photo.
Amazing!

Dry Falls, when active was 3.5 miles wide and 400 feet tall. It was the largest falls in the world.

The birthday boy enjoying the fascinating geology.

The protected lands here include a trail along the bottom of the gorge.

Lots of columnar cliffs.

Deep Lake is one of three small lakes below the falls.

We don't do anything different for our birthdays, everyday is a celebration of life for us. Calls and texts and Facebook wishes for Bill come in all day - always feels good to be remembered by so many :-)

A small nursery herd stops by.

While Bill hooks up the Jeep leaving the state park, I laugh at this covey of quail babies making three attempts to cross the road. They're soooo cute!

On our way to meet up with Bill's best friend, we need a couple nights before our reservation in Couer d'Alene. Goose Creek RV Park in Wilbur, Washington, is just 40 miles on Wednesday. A nicely maintained, small town park, it has the worst hookups we've ever had. 

The elevated sewer (if we'd realized how bad it was we wouldn't have hooked it up) is in the center of the site so you hook that up first, then back over it to hook up water which is deep in a hole, and electrical. Lots of dips and holes in the asphalt, but I'm able to get level. The nice shade tree blocks our satellite.

Surrounded by the most serene, golden wheat fields, there's not really anything of major interest here. Nice for chilling out during hot afternoons and getting a blog post written. 

Wheat fields in the gloaming.

In the afternoon Bill hangs out at home while I spend a couple hours driving through the fields I find so beautiful. Wild grass prairies are my favorite, but wheat fields are a close second. This area is all about the golden waves of grain.

Still small areas of wild prairie.

After months of coastal and forest locations, these wide open spaces give us the opportunity to stretch our eyes. Eastern Washington is so diverse with the lakes and rivers, the fascinating geological stories, and the agricultural abundance. The people are laid back and friendly. 

Homes range from multi-level beauties to humble smaller single stories - most all have at least one boat. Auto repair shops out number both eateries and churches. We learn interesting things about humidity levels ideal for harvesting wheat :-)

As we prepare for our move into Idaho, Bill gets a phone call that changes our plans. Not a huge surprise, but sad nonetheless (his mom is fine).