Week 522 - Western Washington Welcomes - 08-15-2016

Western Washington Welcomes

After a great week of visiting friends on the Olympic peninsula, we took a ferry to Whidbey Island. We visited friends in Stanwood and then onto Chelan.

1) Our sardine and the sardine can "Salish". Ferries are fun. The trip from Port Townsend to Coupeville on Whidbey Island takes 45 minutes and saves a 100 miles of slow moving traffic. See more about traveling by ferry at Ferry Photo Collection

Ellen and Mandy enjoying some "alone time". It is from hard to impossible to take dogs on planes, trains and buses. But the ferry welcomes your pets (in their designated areas or dog pack).

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and a EA-18G Growler flying over the MotherShip.

1) Deception Pass as viewed from the bridge between Whidbey to Fildago Islands. 2) One BIG patriotic flag at a local business.

1) Passing over the Swinomish Channel on the way to Clint and Jackie's in Stanwood, Washington.
2) The MotherShip tucked in for the night at their new house.

After a night of catching up we headed to a private Pickleball court. Clint and Ellen were the top players. Pete enjoyed himself continuing to practice his southpaw Pickleball skills.

Clint and Jackie have been such great hosts for years in Rancho Mirage. We were thrilled that we could help them settle into their new house in Washington. 1) The four boxwood plants needed to be transplanted across the driveway. 2) Ellen works with Mandy to remove the rocks and pull up the heather plants.

The job is almost complete as the gangs puts the finishing touches on the new area. We try not to show our hosts faces in compliance with their witness protection program!

1) Clint and Jackie like Mandy and in Rancho Mirage she has the run of the house. But, understandably, she needs to stay outside in their new place. 2) Mandy heads home thinking "Jackie used to call me Boo Boo. Now she has someone new. I heard her say she had a new car pet.".

As Pete's mom used to say "guests are like fish and after three days . . .". So we finished a few projects and rolled to the east to Leavenworth, Washington. Our pull-in sight at Icicle River RV Resort had a great view down on the Wenatchee River. Don't pull too far forward.

The Bavarian village of Leavenworth was inspired by California's Dutch-themed town of Solvang. But, it was founded a few years before Solvang! Leavenworth was originally the home to the Great Northern Railroad. When Great Northern moved its headquarters to Wenatchee, Leavenworth began to run down and lose residents. In the 1960's, restaurant owners Ted Price and Bob Rodgers created a committee and visited Solvang. They returned and began transforming Leavenworth into the Bavarian-themed village it is today.

A sampling of the current architecture.

The city plaza and the window display for the 5,000+ items in the Nutcracker Museum.

Our last stop for the week was to visit Colly and Wally, close friends for over 40 years. 1) Driving along the Columbia River and 2) approaching Lake Chelan. This lake is beautiful with water as clean as your swimming pool. Well, maybe not your pool!

The MotherShip slipped nicely behind their house on the mountain that overlooks Chelan Falls.

Colly has worked at Tunnel Hill winery for over 10 years. We visited Tunnel Hill and you should too. We also visited Lake Chelan Winery. In 2009 during our visit, there were eight wineries. Today, the Lake Chelan Winery Association lists 25. Lake Chelan Winery was fun, its store is full of thousands of things you don't need.

One such item is this sign. Wally agrees with this sign but Colly thought maybe a neck massage would hurry up the honey-dos.

We have met wonderful people in our life time. When folks learn that we have been traveling for over 10 years, many ask "What is your favorite place?". The answer is always The People. The Lord has truly blessed us.

With love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy

Photos from Aug 2016