#159 Sep 2017 Back to the Ocean

In Canada, between Vancouver Island and the Mainland there are many small islands collectively called the Gulf Islands. Just to the south in Washington, similar islands are called the San Juan Islands. 

Same geography, different countries.

We have done very little exploring in Washington and arranged to meet Sue and Bob in Anacortes on Fidalgo Island.

They introduced us to historic downtown.

Anyone walking down the street in Anacortes is bound to be greeted by a figure or two – whether other people are around or not.

Anacortes artist Bill Mitchell has spent over three decades creating more than 150 murals placed throughout town.  They primarily feature local residents of varied backgrounds. 

Some stage and screen stars also adorn the walls.

Some of the "murals" are even more realistic.

Cap Sante provides a beautiful view overlooking the area.

 

Massive arbutus or madrona trees top the outcropping.

 

When the tree matures the orange-red bark naturally peels away in thin sheets.

In the fall the berries dry up and have hooked barbs that latch onto larger animals for migration.

Since the 1850s the lumber trade has been a major maritime industry in Anacortes.

Logging is still part of the local economy.

 

Refineries now cover much of the land previously logged.

The refined products are shipped by rail,

Or piped out to be loaded onto ocean going ships.

 

We stayed in the Swinomish Casino RV Park with an oceanside view of the sunrise.

A great blue heron and myself were the only ones outside watching a boat cruise past, backlit by Mt. Baker.

It was worth getting up at 6 AM to see more herons searching for the best spot to patiently wait for their next bite.

When I turned back to the RV I found an unexpected sunrise.

 

Each unit looked so different that I had to identify our RV by the map on the side.

#158 Sep 2017 North Cascades WA

September 8^th we left Penticton and headed for Washington State. Due to the forest fires in BC and Washington we waited until the last day to decide on our next route. We were fortunate that there were no road closures on Highway 20 across the top of Washington.

Our first stop was in Winthrop where restored frontier buildings line Main Street.

We always look for a local restaurant/pub when we travel. The Old Schoolhouse Brewery certainly hit the spot on a lovely summer evening.

The next day, on our way back to the motorhome we were detoured by a road closure. We missed a turn and ended up on gravel, washboard road but what a view!

There was a Classic Car Show in town that attracted many visitors.

There were unexpected attractions such as this covered wagon on a rooftop.

The drive through the north central mountains of Washington was stunning even with low clouds and a light mist.

Washington Pass at 5477 feet provides a spectacular view of the valley.

In 1893 the new state of Washington attempted to build its first official highway to be used for hauling ore out of the mountains. Four years later most of it washed away in floods.

Three new routes were surveyed until 1932 another new route was explored. It took another 25 years of surveys and debates until this last route was chosen. Through Washington Pass an entire roadside cliff was created in a single dynamite blast and bulldozers hooked end to end to clear the debris.

After 10 summers of construction the North Cascades Highway opened in 1972. Because it was the first proposed and last completed it is both the oldest and newest cross-mountain highway in the state.

Fall was well under way this high in the mountains.

Tunnels tempted us around the next corner.

.