Gone West 9 towards the border again.

Gone West 9

Seattle over the Chinook pass to the Columbia River.

We pulled on the reins and gee’d Jucy into gear and headed out of town (city) in the direction of South (with a little touch of East) towards Mount Rainier; it is big enough that you really are unable to miss it, but you can take a wrong turning. We travelled out and then got onto the HW towards Ellensburg, WRONG DIRECTION JUCY! We readjusted the Satnav and so got onto the right road, towards Enumclaw and along HW 410. This was once a trading route the old Naches trail that brought goods over the Cascade Mountain range.

The HW 410 would take us onto the 97 and then right down to the state line crossing the Columbia River once again, but not before we travelled one of the most spectacular routes that we would encounter. The route is also a bikers paradise, with the boys on their Harley’s and leathers, following the course of the White River, so called because of its milky colour caused by the large amount of very fine ground down (by erosion) sediments and rock. 

The road leaves the river with its spectacular waterfalls and climbs up above the snow line to 5430 ft were it crosses the High Chinook pass, with Mount Rainier towering another 9000 ft above. 

We stopped at the top to take some photo's, have a wee in the toilets and Linda to cool her sweating palms.

Then road descends to follow the Americas and Naches Rivers, it was wonderful spectacular drive (at times Linda doesn't think so).

The White River

Just one of the many waterfalls along the route.

After we descended from the over 5000 ft pass we headed South through some nice scenery before turning south onto HW 97 and ended up for the night at Yakima Sportsman State Park.

It was getting late when we got in, but the well-kept camp ground was not overly full, we got a nice spot (a nice spot for us is being within easy distance of the showers and toilets). We got our "rig" set up ( I had heard the Americans calling their set ups "rigs" so that is what ours is) and I had a walk around the camp site, I thought I would just photograph a selection of the different camper styles. 

A full hook up, power (50 amp), sewage, fresh water and TV

Most have another car with them so they can go into town.

A trailer with pop-outs

A couple of twins, pop-outs both sides, awnings, BBQs, the works

One of the" Por Folk's" Models

A "Por Folks" trailer

Piggy Back Style

The Tenter's

The mother and baby tenters

It is amazing from the fully inclusive (we have even seen them with external TV under the awning), to the single pup tents (real campers), we sit comfortably at the lower end of the scale. 

I call us a tent on wheels.

There was also a lot of bird life on and around the site so they got a their mug-shots taken as well. The next morning the air was full of song,so I had a walk to the small lake that was part of the site and photographed some of the birds, water life and the environment around it. I love my morning walks before the rest of the campsite comes to life, peace and tranquillity.

A female American Robin collecting nesting material

Trying to attract a bride

He obviously has a one as he is collecting nest material

What you looking at?

Suspended animation

Morning tranquillity

A Bird in the hand???

Ink Caps raising their heads

A Beavers work is never done

The Lake

Coming into land!

A mother Duck and her brood

A mother water turtle and her brood

The eyes, the eyes coming out of the primordial deep!

We saddled up and we drove down the 97 to Wapato and popped into the Yakima Nations Museum, if you do happen down this way, please take the time to call in and read the sad story how they were robbed of 90% of their lands. We spent a good 30 minutes following the history of this proud Native American people. We also bought some small souvenir’s, I bought winter moccasin boots for my still unborn grandson, a pin for my hat and a couple of other things (space is limited for carrying larger souvenir’s).

The Library and Museum of the proud Yakima Nation.

Some of the artefacts that give lie to the term Nobel Savage, they are Nobel but certainly not savage!

I got the nice people in the shop to sit for a photo for me. I asked was he a chief, lady on the right said no way, that’s me, he is my husband, point taken.

We then got Jucy into gear and headed out of the wonderful Yakima museum and down the 97 passing through what is left of the Yakima lands until we hit the town of Maryhill Right above the mighty Columbia River, the Satnav insisted that we should pass it by and take the main highway across the Columbia River, but I was not going to be bossed about by another woman.