6 hour trip NORTH to Bellingham...how'd that happen?

June 4th, Saturday: Yes, we are heading back north to MORE wine country...just a hiccup in the layout of the plan, but traveling a different route and a better chance to see more of the country. We stopped at a couple of very charming antiques shop called the THE RUSTIC ROOSTER ANTIQUES & HOME DECOR and for some authentic Mexican lunch at El Caporal before we hit the road. hile browsing we spoke to the owner of a charming little antique shop--it seemed that everyone we spoke with from waiters to shop owners knew someone from WI and close to where we live in Appleton. The owner suggested to take HWY2,  said it was gorgeous and it WAS--beyond words! Who would believe this State is so beautiful with snow cape mountain tops and deep ridged valleys and winding rivers and streams! Each turn or the hwy was breathtakingly beautiful--just no other way to describe it. The roads were clean and traffic was minimal.

Antique shop decorating ideas

TEMP DROPPED TO 57 from 67degrees

Our highest elevation was @ Stevens pass @ 4k feet

Our first sign of vegetation and green was Wenatchee Valley when we met HWY2

The Heart of Washington...home of premium wines and world famous apples.Located in the Heart of Washington State on the sunny side of the Cascade Mountains, Wenatchee is a short drive from Seattle and Spokane. More importantly, its' location is a vacationers dream. Wine touring, antiquing, fruit stands, hiking, biking, river rafting, golfing, fishing, and festivals. Our next stop was Levenworth--A bavarian style little Germany with shops & cafes....

Houston...we have a problem!

June 3, Friday: Ok, so now we have a problem...we're buying wine bottles weighing 3+ pounds @ to take home and our airline would only allow our baggage to be #50 or pay a fine. Some of the wineries would not ship to WI. and some would...so we decided to go through our luggage and send home via UPS, things that we clearly over packed--it was cheap to send! So, now we wanted to transport at least 8 bottles so they wouldn't break. Jim figured out that PVC pipe cut to two bottle length and bottles covered in a sock and placed head to head would work beautifully and fit comfortably in our already default 12lb (pound hog) suitcases! We also bought a fishing 50+lb scale to weigh our luggage with these containers and would help to figure out how much to send home. Can you stand it?? TWO brilliant wino's worried about how to send wine home, unbroken...Jim, MENSA wants US!

So today we strolled through a farmers market and decided that the park/trail along the river would be a perfect place for a cookout picnic instead of a huge dinner out. We checked out the area and found several areas with grills and picnic tables. We bought a couple of steaks from the farmers market, some vegetables and paper plates--it was a gorgeous evening. Lots of runners, walkers and dog walkers. The evenings are longer, it doesn't get dark until at least 9pm. Some kids were still swimming in the outdoor pool and it was nice to people watch. I did have some issues with some seagulls who had a way of calling all of his friends, but I had an umbrella I would snap at him to scare them away. Dinner was fabulous! tomorrow we head to Bellingham area with a few stops on the way.

Found a spot

 

 

Right off the path and scenery of a Steam Riverboat

Just a very relaxing evening!

Lazy Days are Good Too!

Terra Blanca

June 2, Thursday: Our morning was poky--our new digs was the Days Inn in Richland. It was very nice, quiet and close to everything. We had a nice breakfast at Shari's (a very popular chain). We realized that it was "Senior skip day" at the local High School because the place was gradually filling up with tweens with silly conversations and laughs and giggles and teenage awkwardness among friends--(the poor waitresses). This was our first time there and despite the crowd, our breakfast was on time and good,...(and they played good music!)

Bought the hat...

We had gone to several wineries in the Prossor area yesterday with beautiful views: Terra Blanca was first. It was high on a hill just a breathtaking piece of land. The winery and vineyard are on 300 acres, 80 of which are planted with grape vines. The Mediterranean-style facility on the southwestern slopes of Red Mountain overlooking the Yakima River comprises the tasting room, event facilities, barrel caves, bottling facility, and crushing/fermentation production areas. I let Jim do the tasting, you see, I liked everything! I didn't swallow, like someone I know...

Another cluster of wineries is off the highway east of downtown Prosser, at exit 82. There's a bit more ambiance out this way, and wineries like Kestrel Vintners (2890 Lee Road) make the most of it, using clever landscaping to create pleasant outside seating areas. Kestrel also provides light lunches and has an impressive cheese case, and indeed, the wineries in this area are working together to make this corridor a food-lover's destination. For example, on Friday nights from April to October, Kestrel, Snoqualmie, Desert Wind, Hogue Cellars, Heaven's Cave, Alexandria Nicole Cellars, Cowan and Mercer collaborate on a "Sip and Stroll" - the wineries stay open until 7 p.m., many offer nibbles and bites, and if you visit all participating wineries and get a card punched, you're eligible for a prize.

Our surprise winery was a  little place at the end of a long windy road situated on the same lush ambiance of vineyards. As we reached the end of the road...there were barrels flanking either side...It looked like a shack when we reached the end of the one lane road. There was a sign that said "Old School Wine Tasting" aka Blackwood Canyon Winery. A scruffy guy walked out to the car...asked if he was open and he replied and turned away..."of course" We walked in to a very dusty room with old calenders and yellowed newspaper articles/maps hanging on the walls--among other things. The front counter was covered with dusty bottles and a couple of used unwashed wine glasses. He disappeared for a moment to turn on this Jazzy music and Jim was brave and started with the whites...but this eccentric, very knowledgeable guy was filling Jim's glass a little higher than most and Jim was swallowing....Oh boy...this was only the whites...he had Red, Rosé, Ports and Desserts to go and a couple of sample of each...He explained his European process...and Jim was impressed after each glass...and we know why...(hic)... it seemed if a wine was questionable, he would microwave a brat or serve a very strong cheese with it...I thought everything taste like bourbon...I wasn't impressed. Also noticed that the wine was not in the correct labeled bottle...We bought 2 bottles one Port and the other probably vinegar... We were told later that this guy was once a great winemaker, but had since declined....Oh and we could take a dog (tied to a tree) if we wanted it on the way out. Byeeeeeeeee!

Whine Country!

June 1, Wednesday: (1) whine... RED MOUNTAIN WINERY'S DO NOT SHIP TO WISCONSIN...what?? It's illegal?? Yes, the Wisconsin wine distributors have a monopoly. They lobbied our legislature for (outside the State) wineries not to be able to drop ship wine to Wisconsin....But, some do anyway...

(2) whine...We arrived at our Quality Inn and were not impressed...I mean who would be after the B&B's we stayed in earlier. Quality should not be in this hotel title...it was very noisy and all the floors were carpeted but wooden....our floor squeaked as did the floor above us...and we were on the second floor. People were coming and going all hours of the night...very annoying!

(3) whine...As we learned more about wine country, we found that since there are seasons of grape, apple and cherry picking and constant keeping up with the orchards/vineyards, there was a climate of migrant culture that are dangerous and our hotel was located; if not in that territory, pretty darn close. Jim found 3 unused bullets outside the back door near our car that weren't there when we arrived. He turned them in to the front desk only to hear that another guest had also found some earlier too...  Yakima, Kennewick and Prossor (tri-cities) have dangerous Mexican gangs. It's prime area for this when vineyards hire cheap labor and year-round housing off the vineyards. The suggestion was made to go to Richland County...trail and parks all along the city and it was safe--so after two nights at Quality Inn...we checked out! Who knew??--Not knowing this at the overview sight, I think my gut feeling was right about those guy...although it wouldn't take a rocket scientist....just sayin.

Now that was worth the view huh??

On the Road Again...

JIM

May 28th, Saturday (My blog is out of order).... While traveling back to Port Townsend, we saw a lot of bicycle riders but this day we saw two riders struggling to get up a hill all dressed in rain gear just outside of Raymond WA.  It was a beautiful sunny day. The sign entering town calls Port Townsend a "Victorian Seaport and Arts Community." Port Townsend is host to several annual events such as the Wooden Boat Festival, Kinetic Skulpture Race, and the annual blues and jazz festival.
Boating and maritime life are central cultural elements in this port town, with regattas, weekly races and a multitude of recreational opportunities. The marine trades industry is an anchor economic driver for the community, with highly skilled, world-renowned trades people. The port is home to many classic wooden boats, and gets visits from many others seeking repairs.
By and large an artist haven, downtown there are many galleries and two artist collectives. There is a strong monthly Arts Walk and a plethora of classes, workshop and trainings.
Port Townsend also holds a growing independent film festival in September. We saw the same bicyclist going home to the B&B....Really--this is fun? REALLY????

May 29th, Sunday: we walked the Rain Forests
May 30th,  Monday: did more of the Rain Forest and Forks
May 31st, Tuesday: (I drive), Our last day with Eden by the Sea. We packed our things and head south toward Seattle and further yet south to wine country--Caught a ferry in Edmond to Kingston and waited in a long lines of vehicles. $15 fare, there are gas tankers, cars, trucks you name it it's waiting to roll on to the ferry--maybe 300 cars and vehicles? It was very organized and fast assembly--most people stayed in their cars--looked like three decks--VERY smooth ride. Drove through Seattle, this day was a 6 hour trip. Seattle was raining off and on and was beautiful. Lots of hilltop homes and valleys--expensive place to live---traveling HWY 90 through beautiful mountains views and forests. Heading more easterly, we are entering south of Easton more of a desert climate (high desert) 2000ft. It's flatter (like WI) more farming & irrigation sprays.

Getting on the Ferry

Traveling through wine country, vineyards are HUGE, acres and acres of rows and rows of vines of grapes, cherries and apple orchards. No tall trees or lush greenery like the other side of the mountain, just rolling hills and wild sage bushes everywhere. Our 6 hour trip is almost finished--next destination is a four night stay in the Quality Inn in Kenniwick part of the tri-city wineries. We stopped at a overview site in the middle of nowhere and another car pulled up, not next to us...but close. Jim wanted to take pictures on the overview (which was beautiful) but I had a sinking feeling about the 6 young Mexican guys (that really had nothing to be doing on this overview) and started coming out of their car...I asked Jim to hurry, I really wanted to get out of there--there was no one else there but us and I just had this vulnerable feeling. Jim stayed close to the car and took his picture just outside the drivers seat....only took a couple shots and we left.

We traveled through what was called Rattlesnake desert--and it was DRY and barren. SO different than driving just an hour back.

 NOTHING BUT NOTHING! CEPT SNAKES!!!

The Holiday Weekend

May 27th, Friday: Following Hwy 101 we went through little shrimp festivals setting up for the holiday weekend finally making the turn through Sequem (pronounced SQUIM) http://www.visitsun.com/webcams.html 

 Sequim’s ideal weather is the envy of other coastal towns and all of Western Washington. Sequim is located in one of the most beautiful spots in the world. The soaring Olympic mountain range decorates the city’s southern border and the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca create a northern boundary. Sequim’s ideal weather is the envy of other coastal towns and all of Western Washington. Average high is 72's and lows in January the 32. US comfort level is 44 and Sequim is 89.  But on our way to Port Angeles eagerly arriving at our second destination Eden by the Sea B&B. http://www.edenbythesea.net/edenguesthouse.html

Our room was the La Pièce Élégante. This B&B just steps away from the Strait of Juan de Fuca--beautifully designed in a french-country decor. The backyard views of the mountains we can watch fisherman, commercial cruises ships, and barges pass...it was so quiet and peaceful. We unpacked and head to dinner for a Alder Wood Bistro in Sequim. The chef runs his restaurant out of a one story house, with an open floor layout. Local artist artwork hung on the walls. Hand-crafted, Wood-fired cuisine using local producers who practice sustainable and organic methods. Jim had his halibut served on a wooden cedar plank...I had lasagna. 

Front Entrance

This was our room view

Our room was the far left set of windows

Backyard Overlooking the Strait

From the back

 I realized that I did not take any pictures of the inside but I have posted a link to their web site.

Filling in the Blanks!

magic key

I thought that my journal this trip would really help with the sequence of events, but as I tried to read my chicken scratch from a moving car...I've left out some things. I want to mention that we bought and simple auxiliary cord so that we could listen to our own music either with the iPod or our smart phone and listen with the car speakers. The car did have satellite radio but we didn't seem to get it in the mountains...it was easier to connect to Pandora. We had an electrical recharger with several different types of ports and connected to the car outlet--we could then recharge camera batteries and iPod, iPhones all at once or one by one...pretty cool!  We had a GPS connected for all destinations--Thanks Brian!!-- we could schedule the approximate time of arrival in all cases find restaurants, gas stations and points of interest...it didn't recognize newer "round-about" screamed "RECALCULATING--RECALCULATING--RECALCULATING!!! I thought for sure I heard "Dorothy" murmur a some derogatory undertones in between her RECALCULATING. I have to say, we did put approximately 2,100 miles on this car... and none of those miles were wasted.

We also purchased a small collapsible cooler for day trips, stores plastic spoons/knifes and paper plates, fruit and of course...chocolate! Our intention was to toss it at the end of our trip but for $8, it's perfect to keep in the car.

As we were traveling through Shelton, we did stop at one casino (and of course, it was against every fiber in Jim's being to be there)--but he was a trooper and found a machine he liked... Jim played $1 for at least 1 hour on a 10¢ machine. I wandered throughout the non-smoking section but I totally had bad Ju-Ju from the start. I lost $25 dollars... :(
When I found Jim at his same machine, he was up $27 and just as pleased as could be...he showed me his winning strategy and the option of the "touch screen" option--that was until I touched his WINNING interactive screen...Oops, you guess it...after that...he lost, lost lost...we left the casino with our tail tucked. He got over it...

Mallard Cove Inn

I also forgot to tell you that...the beautiful Mallard Cove English style B&B?...well we almost burned it down...not on purpose. In our beautifully designed room of blue and white was a fireplace. Our luggage was on luggage stands mine was along one side of a wall and Jim's was set in front of the fireplace. On our day we arrived, we were playing with the light switches..."what does this one do... what does this one...." and it was odd that one did nothing...(click, click) what the...oh well...well Jim went down to the library to read and I took a long hot bath with lighted tea candles...and lavender...ahhhhhh and afterward walked out from the bathroom and felt that the room was warmer than my normal "hot flashes" I moved Jim's suitcase cover to close it...(to open the french doors leading to the patio for some air) and saw that the fireplace was on... The suitcase outside pocket so HOT that it was changing shape...yes, it was MELTING...I did NOT happen to mention this to the lovely owners...and ...ehem...neither will you!

And...just so you know... Elvis is still alive! We happen to come into a town looking for a cup of coffee. We found that after 3pm the town closes down...but we found Slater's Diner located in Raymond WA off of HWY 101 or maybe we were in the "twilight zone" but it was a blast from the past. Our waiter was Jansonwhited.net Multiple-time World Championship Finalist Elvis Tribute Artist. The music was so nostalgic and yes, I knew the words to all the songs!!

Diner

So Charming

a little blurry

A champ and the food was great!