Washington surprised us with its extremes today. When we started out, we were in a mountainous region. The first leg of our travels led us through Kettle Falls and Sherman Pass. We reached altitudes of 5000 feet and the air was cool and pure. After the pass we rode along Roosevelt Lake. But as we descended the mountain it really was all down hill.
We got into the arid lands between the mountain ranges and the temperatures rose to 100 degrees. In this area there are cattle ranches and somehow farmers have managed to irrigate patches of apples, cherries and peaches. The rest is rocky sagebrush wasteland. We were burning up and out.
Then The Cascades! The temperature dropped by 15 degrees almost immediately. Our bodies were quenched by the cool mountain air and the snowy grandeur of The Cascades. As we reached higher elevations, there was snow on the ground, edging the road. Imagine....80 degrees and you're 10 feet from a snow bank (and you had just ridden from Hell's own heat). Snowy peak after peak greeted us at each turn. Then we switchbacked down to Ross and Diablo Lakes- lakes so glacially green they appeared unreal.
As we rode down the mountain the temperature increased again, but surprises awaited at every waterfall when the air chilled us. The cold melting snow, rushing down the mountain created a cool spa surrounded by lupine and foxglove.
Tonight we are in Sedro-Wooley at a small motel where the class of 1982 is holding their reunion. I think there are about 20 people attending.
When you are far away from home and a random drunk in a bar says "Oh- you're from Joisey - are you like the people on Jersey Shore?", you tell them that no state is defined by one area. Visit Washington and then you will know!
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ReplyDeletehow can you take in so much beauty, it must just over take you
DeleteBetsy, your blog is Fantastic!
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