Douglas Fir Campground, Washington

2019-09-12

For most of the trip we have not had cell service, which is strange because we have had Sprint service in Canada, Colombia, and even in the Amazon! All of those questions that get so easily answered are just left blank. Like what’s the weather? When is my visa bill due? How’s my brother doing, or my brother-in-law? I wonder if that cat ever made it on top of the refrigerator. These are things we need to know. Come on Sprint, get it together.

As a side note, on our way down the mountain, Kim heard the familiar ding that meant “she had mail.” I quickly pulled over, and for a brief moment we stayed glued to our phones as all of life’s questions got answered!

On the plus side we are in a really magical place. Yesterday morning we drove up to Mount Baker. We had read that the view was spectacular, but all we found was a heavy thick fog that limited our visibility to a few hundred feet. Still there was mystical quality that made us whisper.

On the way up the mountain we visited the Nooksack Falls, and even in the dry season they did not disappoint.

Then, after we had returned from a damp and drizzly hike, I set off up stream. I thought that our little slice of heaven on the river was great, but it was even more spectacular up river.

Sitting around the blazing campfire, Kim and I agreed that it had indeed been a great day.

Douglas Fir Campground

2019-09-11

We almost didn’t come to this campsite, but Kim insisted that after site seeing all day we travel the extra 1 1/2 hour trip up toward Baker Mountain in north western Washington. In this case I was the “Nelly Negative”. “It’s going to be too late! Too crowded! To far! I wined on and on, but Kim was resolute.

Our site is right on the rushing Nooksak River.

Lucky us, as this is one of the most perfect campsites that we have been in so far. It has every thing. Towering Douglas firs, a raging river, and very, very few campers.

We are even getting the hang of comfortably sleeping in the back of the rented Dodge Caravan. Each night we are more and more comfortable, and with two weeks to go, believe me when I say that that is a good thing.

2019-09-10

Sadly we had to leave Don and Laurie and head out to spend the remaining two weeks roaming around Washington.

We drove west for about two hours and found the perfect campsite at the Pearrygin State Park. The town of Winthrop, just about 5 miles from the park is built to look like an 1800’s town complete with wooden sidewalks and fake wooden facades, but also with gourmet coffee shops an bakeries. We had been planning to eat our breakfast out at he park looking out at the lake. That is until Kim spilled half a bottle of wine inside our minivan/ camper. After some pretty fast cleanup we decided to head to town for a hearty breakfast.

Afterwards we drove about an hour through the beautiful Cascade Mountains and came to rest at the stunning Colonial Creek Campground in the Cascades National Park. After a nice long walk along the lake, we settled into the back of our now Cabernet smelling home. What a great day!

Curlew State Park, WA

2019-09-08

Yesterday we visited 3 ghost towns that were along the Canadian border. The first, and the best was in Bodie. Nothing much was there except the ruins of an old mining town. Even thought it was right on the road so little traffic came through that we had the place all to ourselves.

Here is Don trying to get just the right angle

A slightly over processed image of one of the interiors. What fun!

Here is Kim taking a picture of me taking a picture.

From Bodie we drove on to the next ghost town called Molson. After Bodie we all felt that it was just a little too slick. We had a picnic lunch among the ruins and then drove on to the next ghost town called Nighthawk which was even less impressive. Even though we didn’t even get out of the car, we all agreed that the drive was stunning enough make us all happy as “pigs in ……. !”

Just one of the impressive views along the way.

Tomorrow we leave for the Cascade National park.