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Alaska
2023
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I get checked out
of my cabin and wait until we can go down to the vehicle deck. We finally
dock and it's time to get out of Dodge. |
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I can tell that the four days
of rest has made a big difference for me as I make my way out of Bellingham
proper. I'm in a lot better physical shape getting off the ferry than
I was getting on the ferry. In fact, one of the riders that got on with
me had commented
"You were in pretty bad
shape, weren't you?"
and I was.
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It's a reasonably
short day of 360 miles or so from Bellingham to Todd and Kari's house in
Seven Bays. I have to get on I5 for a little part of the journey but ... |
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the traffic
is not too bad - or at least not as bad as I expected. |
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Fortunately I'm
not on I5 too long until I come to lovely highway 20. |
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It's a lovely run
through the foot hills and through ... |
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interesting places like the
town of Concrete.
Amasa
"Peg-Leg" Everett was one of the earliest settlers and in 1890,
the townsite was platted by another settler, Magnus Miller. Shortly thereafter,
a post office was established and the town name changed to "Baker."
In 1905, a settlement across the Baker River came into being due to the
building of the Washington Portland Cement Company and was named "Cement
City." After the Superior Portland Cement Company plant was built
in Baker in 1908, it was decided to merge the two towns. Inhabitants of
the new community settled on the name "Concrete" and the town
was so christened and officially incorporated on May 8, 1909.
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I've been this way
before and I always enjoy it as it is a lovely part of the State of Washington. |
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This area is know
as the "American Alps' and though it does not have the elevation of
the European Alps, it is still very pretty in its own right. |
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Sometimes highway
20 takes takes your through a shady cathedral of trees and then... |
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you're weaving your
way between steep canyon walls. |
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I remember this
old steam engine
the last time I was through here ten years ago. |
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And having ridden
this way before this sign says it all - it does rock for the next 10 miles
- and then some. |
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There is tunnel
to pass through then ... |
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a lovely lake to
pass by on the right ... |
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then one on the
left. |
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The rugged scenery
is a pleasant backdrop to a great road to ride on two wheels. |
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Sometimes the mountains
just barely peek over the trees ... |
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sometimes they are
just out in plain view ... |
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and sometimes they
just rise way up in majestic fashion. |
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Now this is an 'Alps
Worthy' hairpin where it looks like the road is doubling back on itself.
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Then it's just a
series of wonderful sweepers running down the mountain side. |
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I somehow never
get tired of looking down the valleys to see the rugged mountain tops on
display. |
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Soon I come into the interesting
town of Winthrop.
In 1883,
the lure of gold brought the first permanent settlers, three of whom were
James Ramsey, Ben Pearrygin, and Guy Waring. Waring stopped at the forks
of the Chewuch and Methow rivers in 1891. His family settled into the
"Castle" (now the Shafer Museum). Although Waring is the acclaimed
founding father, the town is named after Theodore Winthrop, a Yale graduate,
adventurer/traveler, and author. The town was rebuilt after a devastating
fire in 1893. Waring's original Duck Brand Saloon was built in 1891. It
survived the fire and is now Winthrop's Town Hall.
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They have done an
excellent job of preserving it's original pioneer store fronts and such. |
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There's an interesting
suspension bridge just east of town. |
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The next town is
named Twisp but the origin of the name is still a mystery. |
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I pass by another
area that has suffered a raging forest fire and the scars still remain. |
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One of the things
I remember when I came through here before was the netting that they put
over their orchards. I still don't know the purpose of it just as I didn't
know ten years ago when I came this way. |
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Then I am up into
what I call the high desert where the landscape turns from vivid green to
dry brown. |
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But at least in
some sections a life giving river provides the needed water to make the
areas green. |
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The road stretches
on and on and is often shrouded by tall evergreens. |
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Soon I descend down
toward Lake Roosevelt and the Columbia River. |
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When I hang a right
off Highway 20 onto Highway 25 I come into some very fresh chip and seal
- which I hate. |
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When they say 'Loose
Gravel' they ain't kidding at all as BlueBelle is doing some dancing around
on it. I start sweating bullets because if I drop her I'm probably a goner.
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Thankfully I finally
get back to good pavement and I breathe a big sigh of relief. |
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I find Todd and
Kari's place with no problems and thankfully my mirrors have already showed
up. Todd has all the tools I need and I make short work of installing them
on BlueBelle. At least I will have good rear view mirrors on the rest of
my journey back to the Holler. |
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Their puppy dog,
Maggie, has decided to take a wait and see approach to this strange talking
feller that has showed up at her house. |
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The view from their
deck is just gorgeous and I really enjoy it. |
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Todd takes me around
for a little tour of Seven Bays. He tells me it was originally built as
a retirement area and interestingly enough many of the homes border the
local landing strip and have plane hangars for their garage space. They
can just roll out of their 'garage' over to the landing strip and take right
off. |
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They have fixed
me a wonderful supper that I thoroughly enjoy and I thank them for their
many kindnesses they have already shown me. |
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We sit out on their
deck for a spell and enjoy watching the sun slowly sink behind the mountains. |
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Just as Todd gave
me some excellent route modifications on the way to his house, he gives
some more great ones on the way out. As I've said before there is no substitute
for local knowledge when it comes to roads and other such stuff. With my
routing updated, I settle down for a pleasant route into the Land of Sleep. |
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