With clearing skies, we left Willard Bay S.P. and traveled a short distance on a side trip to Golden Spike National Monument. It was really nice to get off the interstate for awhile and see the back roads of Utah. Being from railroad stock made the Golden Spike experience one of special meaning and wished that my (Aimee's) Dad could have been with us to enjoy. The history of our nation's transcontinental railroad meeting was just one more example of amazing endurance.
We made to the border of Oregon staying in the small town of Fruitland, Idaho (?). Sorry that we were too early for any of the fresh fruits and vegetables that would be for sale later on in the year. Early to bed and off to an early Friday start, enabled us to stop for lunch at one of the many Oregon wineries along the Rattlesnake Wine Trail. After putting about 450 miles under our belt, we pulled into Eddie, Karin, and Joanna's on Mercer Island, WA about 7 pm. It was SO GOOD to see them finally on their turf after only seeing in GA for so many years! BEAUTIFUL HOME, GREAT FOOD AND GREAT FELLOWSHIP!! Saturday brought with it cloudy skies but little rain until late. They were absolutely GREAT TOUR GUIDES also! We headed out to Olympic National Park by way of the Kingston/Edmonds Ferry across Puget Sound out to Olympic Peninsula . First stop at a restored port -Port Gamble- to see old buildings and neat views of the sound and on to Port Angeles which is a working port for cargo for lunch overlooking the water then a great hike through looming ephiphyte covered Douglas fir trees to Marymere waterfall. The water is cold, clear and fast. Lake Crescent is a glacier formed lake and we hiked next to the shore. A lodge is nearby and Columbia black tailed deer graze on the lawn, unafraid. Ed drove all day and we got in late. Today we met Leah and Ryan for brunch at the Seattle Space Needle-600 ft up with a revolving restaurant that completes a revolution every 45 minitutes and all of Seattle can be seen. Great brunch-prix fixee.
Plans for Wa part of trip have changed because of snow and closed roads. The North Cascade highway won't open until after Memorial Day so Winthrop and the Methoow Valley will have to wait for another trip and Mt Rainier still has all of its campgrounds closed for another week as well as are the nearby national forest campgrounds. Surprised to find so much snow so late but a full service campground is open at Packwood so we should be able to see some of Rainier. We wanted to try some dry camping before Canada but we will go ahead without a trial.
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