Sequim Daily Photo

Dry Falls

Grand Coulee was the destination of our recent trip east of the Cascades. We were on a low key geologic pilgrimage to explore the features of this fascinating area where a significant part of Washington State’s formation is laid bare.

Dry Falls, above, is a broad illustration of volcanic forces and ice age flows that formed today’s dramatic landscape. Over three miles wide, the falls was the site of catastrophic flooding at the end of the last ice age when a massive ice dam burst northeast of this region. It is estimated that the water flows through the Grand Coulee and Dry Falls was ten times the current flows of all the rivers in the world today. It has carved out a region of basalt volcanic cliffs and bluffs peppered with small lakes. I’ll show you more of the region over the next couple of days.

‘Tis the season

It’s the season of cruise ships. More precisely, it’s time for the parade of cruise ships that sail back and forth to Alaska. They sail through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, stopping at Port Angeles to pick up or drop off a pilot. Some days you can see three or four at once. Locals call them the cruise ship races. So far we haven’t seen anyone water skiing behind these babies.

Farmlands

Eastern Washington has beautiful farmlands. As you drop down from the Cascade Mountains into towns like Cashmere and Monitor there are beautiful orchards along the Wenatchee River. But once you drive onto the Waterville Plateau heading toward the Grand Coulee you’re greeted with scenes like this.

I liked both versions of this scene. Do you have a preference?

Dr. Pierce

We drove through Waterville, WA on our recent excursion. A small, historic town in Washington farm country, two barns had signs touting Dr. Pierce remedies. Unlike a typical ghost sign, this one looked current and maintained.

Who was Dr. Pierce? In the late 1800s he successfully marketed mail order remedies for a variety of ailments. Click here and here for more information.

At the window

This little goldfinch was at our window the other day. It was too cute to not attempt a portrait.

Scale

Here in the western U.S. the eastern sides of our mountains are dry. Stripped of wetter forest lands they can offer a longer view and different perspective.

See that tiny white dot at the bottom of this shot? It’s a barn though it almost looks like a rock that’s tumbled down the mountainside. Humans don’t look quite so big and important at this scale.

Der, das and Leavenworth

We stopped in Leavenworth on our way to eastern Washington. It’s a small town in the Cascade Mountains that has styled itself as a Bavarian village. The Cascades cooperate with craggy spires and a dramatic backdrop.

The town is adorned with lots of murals, hanging flowers, and ornamental woodwork. Above is a Starbucks entrance unlike any I’ve seen before.

Businesses seemed to embrace the “das,” “der,” and “haus” theme. Leavenworth is the first place I’ve ever seen lederhosen sold. And now I know where to go should I be in the market for gnomes.