Next

 We continue......Our drive through the North Cascades was more of the same.   And by that, I mean more stunning scenery, high craggy mountains, huge, fragrant pines and ferns, lakes, streams and unbelievable vistas.   Yadda, yadda, yadda.

I'll spare you the hundreds of photos, you get the idea.   We loved the drive.    

We stopped in the little artsy town of Twisp for a few days.   Our suite hotel (Twisp River Suites) sat right on the river and our rooms and screened in porch were delightful.   

our view

The property was filled with flowers and quiet places to sit and enjoy the rushing river.    Homemade breakfast treats were offered each morning and wine in the late afternoon.  

 

 

sunset every night

 We had no schedule, nothing we needed to see particularly so we took advantage of the location and did a lot of relaxing.   Honestly, I think we were suffering from an absolute overload of stunningness (I just made that word up....) and magnificence.   

   There were a couple decent restaurants in the quirky little town and some unusual art installations.     We did some exploring of the surrounding mountains and river valley, drove up to check out Winthrop (and had an ice cream, Pam and John!) and its nice State Park, etc.

Our last overnight stop was in Wenatchee, less than 100 miles south.    On our way, we stopped for lunch at a lovely winery on Lake Chelan.   

Tsillan Cellars was not on my radar, our choice to stop there was made purely because their sign caught my eye, their name was interesting (Tsillan = Chelan!) and the fact that we were hungry!

What a wonderful spot.   I don't know whether we liked the wine or the food or the views best. 

     

Our hotel in Wenatchee was a typical Holiday Inn and Suites.    In other words, nothing special, easy to get to, and very clean.   You know what you're getting, and you get it!       We spent our few days there exploring the nearby mountains, State Parks on the Columbia River (for future stays), farm stands and massive orchards. One day we took a short drive to check out the German themed town of Leavenworth.

I was trying to insert a picture of the acres and acres of undulating, cloth covered orchards, but the google gods will not let me, sorry.....

Ok, I guess they will let me....hmmmmm

Leavenworth was, as expected, too Disneyesque for us.    Everything was perfect, neat, clean, exactly as you might see in Switzerland.   Everything was touched by it.   The laundromats, the grocery stores, the gas stations, everything was painted with scenes of rosy cheeked children in lederhosen or embroidered skirts, mountain scenes complete with folks playing monstrous Alphorns, houses with overflowing flower boxes. herds of sheep on a snow peaked mountainside, and every type of nutcracker you could ever possibly imagine....     A carriage clopped through town pulled by a beautiful chestnut Belgian gelding, driven skillfully by a zaftig maiden.

we loved the beer

 

Wenatchee was our last overnight stop, as we made our way back to the Spokane area.   We drove along Banks Lake and passed Steamboat Rock State Park.   Once again, the scenery was fantastic, but very different.

Steam Boat Rock

end of the  road

Now, I think we're caught up to real time.    We're in McMinnville, Oregon in the midst of one of the most prolific wine regions in the country.    We're staying at the Old Stone Village RV Resort next to the huge Evergreen Aviation Museum and across from the airport.    You-know-who is in his glory.    We'll be here for the first day of a 3-day airshow so this is a happy house.

at Trellis

Where's Annie?