Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Cashmere Washington to Post Falls Idaho, A Study of Contrasts, Dust and Water, Hills and Prairie

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Mid July    2013    (read that year carefully, ok??)    Man and I were making our way east. We spent a few nights at Cashmere Washington and then, headed to Post Falls Idaho. We spent a few nights there.  But, first I need to show you the beauty of western Washington, from the front seat of Jolly at 55 MPH, maybe 60, maybe 65 at times.  

We saw a few more bridges, to my delight:


The tall evergreens on every mountain are gone, the hillsides look different.


Now and then, we drive along rivers, this is still the Columbia River, near Orondo, Washington. Google Photos provides locations from reading the GPS codes on the digital photos I upload.  I find it interesting that not all the photos seem to record the location. Maybe sometime I'll research that issue.




40 MPH for the next mile, OK, we can do that.


For me, so many times, it is about the contrasts.  The soft hillsides, very little foliage, almost no stones/rocks/boulders, and then, bam.  And, look at the shapes, square like presents.  Oh, ya, presents for Carol.


And, then - - - -


And, the geography changes once again.


Yes, these photos are presented in the order they were taken.  What's that hazy brown stuff?  (Yes, this photo is out of focus.  I thought my eyes were seeing things too!  LOL)


OHHH, dust storm coming up, front and center.  Don't worry, it was small and short lived and presented no issues to our safety.


Water!  Banks Dam area.  We stopped there for a picnic lunch.  It was a great place for a break.


Near Hartline Washington, more dust disturbances.




OK, so, I was fascinated. Michigan is not open for miles, with little or no trees.  The landscape was just fascinating, as were these little "dust tornadoes".


Isn't this picturesque?  Neat farm, home, barn, silos and fields as far as the eye can see.


More dust.  A farmer hard at work.  This was near Almira Washington.


Several more farms.  OK, I love the roofs on those barns in the foreground, I mean, what's not to like?


LOVE me some barn photos!






And, just before we drive into Idaho, the Spokane River.


Our drive today was almost 200 miles.  We would have dinner with RVing friends while here and I did a wee bit of Lashbrook research.



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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Leavenworth Washington, Flowers and Nutcrackers

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence



In July of      2013    Man and I were traveling east through the state of Washington, headed to Glacier National Park and home in Michigan.  One of our short stops along the way was Leavenworth Washington.  The City website has a nice review of their history. Briefly, in the 1960's they decided to remodel their hamlet in the form of a Bavarian village in an attempt to save their economically failing town.  And, as they say, the rest is history.

Man and I enjoyed walking around town, a nice German meal (and some German beer, of course), the flowers and the Nutcracker Museum.







This was just one small portion of the Nutcracker Museum.  Seriously, you could be lost in there for hours and come out smiling.


















And, of course, the "pose with the nutcracker" photo, which is of course, required, mandatory.


The flowers were lovely, the nutcrackers were fun, the meal and beer, yummy.  A nice day in Leavenworth.  The next day, we would roll again, easterly.




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Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Stevens Pass, The Bridges - - -

Copyright 2017, CABS for Reflections From the Fence




In July of     2013    Man and I were in Washington State, heading east towards Glacier National Park and eventually Michigan.  This day of travel took us from Falls City, via 2, aka Stevens Pass Highway.  It was not necessarily the most direct route, I have no idea why we chose it (wink wink).

We started out about about 97 foot elevation, and would hit around 4,000 (4,035 on our GPS).

The story of the day was "bridges, water, bridges, water", and no blue skies.




It was a misty, cloudy kinda day, with it's own beauty, the mountains hiding.


Did I say, I love bridges?  How bout double bridges??


And, seriously, I have no idea what this was, but, we went under it.


This hood/dash board capture is a frequent part of my photos, I usually crop out.  See the reflection/glare at bottom left.  UGH.  SIGHHH



We pass through many National Forestry/lands areas.  OUR lands!



What follows is a photo taken that is also quite normal, out of focus.  LOL  Speed, proximity, how soon I see the "subject", how fast can I get Sony to zoom and focus on said subject.  This is a semi-fail.  Happens.  I love the rusty look.


Did not take off Tana's roof, we are about 13 foot 3 inches now, at this time maybe 13 foot. She got taller with the installation of the independent suspension about 18 months ago.  The 13' 9" is at the low side/point.  Knowing us, Man sorta drifted over the middle line, can't be too careful, eh??


Now and then, we see a waterfall on the side of the road. (Photo seriously photo-shopped/cropped.)


Photo seriously zoomed and cropped:


What I remember thinking about this stretch of road was how tall the trees were and how green, and how it would be a nightmare pollen season for me!  LOL


Another example of the reality of rolling photography at 45 to 60 MPH, close range.  But, you can see Tana back there!


We would spend the next 2 nights at Cashmere Washington.




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