Saturday, July 31, 2021

Plan C - Back on Highway 2

 July 20-25, 2021
Cashmere - Wilbur, Washington


Our turn around route takes us back through Marysville, Washington, for the sixth time in two weeks - probably don't ever need to return :-)

I didn't realize that when we took Washington Highway 2 last time we missed the section between I-5 and Cashmere, driving I-90 and Hwy 97 to Cashmere instead. As part of the Cascade Scenic Loop, this is definitely the better way to go! Our Tuesday drive is beautiful, including miles along the Wenatchee River. The skies are still blue with a little heat haze. 




Cashmere is a beautiful small town surrounded by fruit orchards and smooth beige hills (looking just like a cashmere coat). Takes a bit to reprogram my brain to recognize brown after months of so much green!

This route takes us through the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth where all the businesses are decked out in similar architecture and signage. Lots of tourists enjoying the sunny day.



We once again stay at the Chelan County Expo Center with 50 AMP FHUs on level grass sites. Essentially we're back in a big open field. 

Good dog TV here.

One of our days we check out Icicle River RV Park (crowded with small sites), and discover a beautiful drive into the surrounding mountains. A well-maintained road with several campgrounds for tents and small trailers follows the river through a deep canyon. 







Friday we're back on Hwy 2 for two hours through miles and miles of serene wheat fields. We can definitely stretch our eyes in these wide open spaces.  Sadly we've also caught up with the smoke :-( By the time we pass Dry Falls visibility is seriously impacted.




Wilbur, Washington, has two RV parks and we try a different one this time after experiencing a very weird utility set up last time.
Country Lane RV Park is on the highway (the back-in sites are actually just a couple feet from the road) with 30 AMP FHUs on level dirt and dry grass sites. Our pull-through has open skies which gets pretty hot although we're happy to have satellite. 

Along with the heat, the smoke gets worse over the three days we're here. A couple drives with the AC on take us into some interesting places.

Fort Spokane Visitor Center is still closed.

Most of the grounds are vacant now.

The trails are so dry they crackle.

Amber pine cones dot the ground.

Scary dry.

The fort eventually became a school for local tribes. Teaching them to farm the area is credited for the large agricultural community that now defines the area.


Smoke along the Columbia River


Vintage structures next to a very busy boat launch in Lincoln, Washington,




The RV park has "room service" from their little cafe which we enjoy one evening. It's one of two eateries in the little town! 

I love the many shades of gold in the surrounding area. There seems to be new building and developing in the little towns, it's encouraging.







On Monday we head for the big city and visits with great friends, getting a short reprieve from the thick smoke. 



16 comments:

  1. The west certainly has had too many significant fires this year. Seems to be either smoke or flooding along our path.
    So enjoy the North Cascades as you pass through

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    1. It's so sad that such a beautiful area continues to be devastated by these lightening strike fires. They're doing a great job of saving structures, but the forests are burning until it rains.

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  2. Those are some gorgeous photos Jodee! I so love the golden fields and old barns…and running water is also a real treat! So sad about all the fires and smoke…it’s been a devastating season in many parts of the country.

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    1. We always enjoy traveling through these rural agricultural areas. Just not with the nasty smoke :-(

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  3. I. hope you tasted "Billy's Burgers" on the east side of town...Plenty of room for ANY! size rigs....
    I always try to help the small town businesses stay alive, especially after last year.
    I was on my way to the CDA Elks as I usually do on trips headed N.E. from Chelan.
    Have Fun!

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    1. Darn it, we didn't try Billy's although it was doing a bang up business each day! Next time for sure. Such a great area to travel through.

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  4. Loved your "drive". Next year we're coming into Spokane from that direction.

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    1. Good plan. I think from now on we're going to do this area in late spring!

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  5. It's so hard to see how incredibly dry it is up there...especially since we are now so green and damp in AZ.

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    1. I am glad that at least Arizona is getting its normal monsoons this year!! Will be nice to come back to greener views.

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  6. So sad to see the Smoky hazy skies and how Brown everything is. Those icicle River shots were a real contrast. I can't believe being somewhere for the sixth time and an only two weeks. Very funny. You'd think you really like it or something.

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    1. Oh man, we felt like Groundhog Day!! I was afraid going down Hwy 2 that something was going to make us return to Marysville :-)))) Sadly we haven't found clear skies as another fire started here at Flathead Lake the day we arrived.

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  7. The fires out there have given us several smoky days here in Michigan. Love those infinity road photos, Jodee!

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    1. There's so many of them just in Montana that they're generating enough smoke to circle the globe like Mt St Helens :-(( It was a real treat to see those long vista highways while we could.

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  8. Such a beautiful area! Bummer about tgst darned smoke but lovely canyon drive.

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  9. I am far behind but enjoy your travels through some of my old stomping grounds.

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