Driving to Ocean Shores from Sandpoint takes a lot longer
than you would think. Google maps have several options and obviously, being
touristy, I like to take in the scenery. Except, for most of the I-90, there
wasn’t much to see. Once out of the mountain ranges, the girls were clicking
away on their electronics and I studied road signs and the rippling hills of
gold. Mile after mile after mile of blistering heat and air-conditioning.
 |
| Along I-90 |
 |
| Coming into Yakima with Mount Rainier distant |
Things really didn’t get interesting until Yakima where the
fire danger suddenly became very obvious. As I took in the distance view of the
Cascade Mountains and Mount Rainier, I suddenly paid attention to the nearby
roadside next to the Yakima River, which was on fire and billowing smoke. Crews
were monitoring the progress and rafters were still tubing nearby but that
nixed my idea of a rest stop in this location. However, I had decided to
venture our van off the I-90 and onto US 12 just to see some more beautiful
scenery in the mountains.
 |
| Forest Fire |
In Natchez, a stop became rather more critical. The
thermometer was reading 36 C and the natives were getting restless in the back.
We stopped at Thompson Farms Fruit Stand that also claims to be a museum, gift
shop, wine tasting venue and purveyor of fine jams, dressings and so on. It had
a complete old fashioned soda shop in the back and I was enchanted. Is that a
Tiffany lamp I spy? I still don’t know. I did wander out with four bottles of
local wine, so I guess the museum got me after all.
 |
| Old soda fountain in Natchez |
 |
| Couldn't resist |
However, it was too freaking hot to stay outside long. I
wandered over to my new favorite invention: the road side coffee shacks and got
a large iced coffee to go. It didn’t last long but at least we started climbing
into the hills following a river. It was a very inviting river, but common
sense prevailed and we kept going. Until common sense went out the window due
to the heat and we stopped at Rimrock Lake, Horseshoe Cove to watch the boats
and get wet. The beach is tiny but very functional. However, the funniest part
of the stop was to watch my youngest toss a stick to a dog, and then race the
dog for the stick, only to have the dog completely baffled as to why he
couldn’t find the stick.
 |
| The addiction continues! |
 |
| Rimrock lake |
The mountains were in clear blue skies and the views were
amazing. Sure enough, at Mount Rainier, the stop was necessary as it was as
clear as I could imagine, with just a bit of haze. Snap went the camera and
then down the hill we went. Don’t expect cell reception until you come out the
other side, there is none so don’t crash!
 |
| Mount Rainier of course |
 |
| Add caption |
The drive was relatively uneventful after that. The roads
wended their way to the coast and we stopped in Aberdeen for dinner. Yelp said
Billy’s so there we went. I wasn’t disappointed. The ambience was fabulous and
the history behind the businessman gone over to greedy murderer was rather
gangsta reading. There were old style lamps, paintings and shipwreck maps. Add
to that fabulous food that was very tasty including my yak burger and it was
well worth it.
 |
| A Kissing Frog or Wisher Something or other |
We reached Ocean Shores at 9:00 just in time to get keys for
our rooms at the Windjammer Condominiums. Don’t ever be late here as the
receptionist had no intention of waiting until 9:01. Nor did she have any
intention of answering the phone earlier in the day when I called. Sigh, since
then, I can tell you the other staff have been wonderfully friendly and
accommodating, but it was a rather rough start. It is also very cloudy and cool
here…a nice break from the heat.
No comments:
Post a Comment