The Rascal Diaries: 7/5/14 Changes

Into the plains! Prepared for a long hot day through the belly of Washington, we were pleasantly surprised by what we found.

Since we have had so many dam fine days, we decided to visit Grand Coulee. After about an hour of wheat and cattle, we turned off route 2. The way to the dam can only be described as desert. Unfarmable, even sage struggled to survive. Fortunately we were riding on a partly cloudy day, so there was some relief from the heat. Then the terrain began to change and we descended toward Lake Roosevelt, the reservoir created by backing up the Columbia River. A few trees grew, but rock formations began appearing also.

Down we rode to the dam. A massive structure built to irrigate the West, for the purpose of drawing settlers to farm, it also provides hydro-electric power and serves to aid flood control. Begun in 1933, the mile wide, massive concrete structure, helped to put thousands to work during the Depression.

Changing our route to follow the lake, we were treated to an unusual scenic drive. Still in the desert, sage lined the road, but beyond that, starkly beautiful mountains rose on either side of the water. For miles we paralleled the lake, delighting in the purple hues and unexpected shape of the outcroppings.

Back on route 2, we were in for some miles of one point perspective through sere terrain. Lack of clouds pumped up the heat as we raced toward the Cascades. Just visible on the horizon, they tormented us for hours with their cool snowy peaks. At Waterville we stopped at a village picnic table for a quick lunch. Cooling breezes saved the day.

Back on the road through cherry country, we passed huge orchards and packing facilities. So different from the tundra we had just ridden through, these irrigated farms, tempered by the Columbia, produce some of the best fruit in the States. Rainer cherries are our favorites and out here, they melt in your mouth.

Finally, closer to the mountains, trees began to line the road. Drawn by their shade, we quenched our thirst for greenery by stopping for a second picnic in a cool grove. Through Leavenworth, a touristy Bavarian town, then into the Wenatchee National Forest and upward toward Stevens Pass. Again, another change! Riding by a mountain stream, we were blasted with air so cold, it left us breathless. We climbed toward the snow, giddy from our release out of the desert. For hours we had been seeing this snow and after 110 miles we had finally arrived!

Over the pass, we rode down through small towns as civilization began to reappear. We landed in Gold Bar where we snagged a room with a jacuzzi that faces the snowy mountains. We have officially arrived in the Cascades.

A day of changes, we experienced much of what this state of multiple personalities has to offer. Onward to the coast, we will search for even more facets in this gem. What makes our rides so memorable is the unknown. Each day unfolds with unexpected encounters and each adds to the patina of our journey.