Another cool sunny morning with the temp about 60 F. We took our time getting everything together because we only had about an hours drive up to Frank & Ruth’s house.
We got on the road a little after 10 and traffic was light. The scenery from yesterday was just as magnificent today, all the pine trees and mountain views, This kind of scenery is not in Michigan or Florida. It is hard not to keep taking pictures.
We arrived in Leavenworth and there was enough time for lunch so we stopped at the Heidelberg Drive In. We had been there 3 years ago and the food was very good. Leavenworth has made a big effort for the town to look like a Bavarian Village, and the have done a good job. even the businesses and the way their storefronts are presented take the extra steps to bring across a Bavarian Feeling.
After lunch we went to Frank & Ruth’s house. the house is just outside of town And they sit on top of a hill with magnificent views of the Cascade Mountains. We had a great visit and spent a couple of hours telling and listening to stories. Frank & Ruth have been in the Leavenworth area for about 45 years, and 40 of them in the this house. Lots of good talk, but we decided to get on the road again toward Seattle.
There were 2 ways to go to get to Seattle. We decided the scenic route through the Wenatchee National Forest was the best. This route winds thru the Cascades as it makes its way west. The Wenatchee River follows the road. It is just amazing to see all this mountainous land mile after mile. We were in the mountain area for probably 40 to 50 miles. Donna and I discussed her return to Pittsburgh and it was decided that if she left tonight instead of tomorrow she would have an extra day to recover before she had to go back to work. It also allowed her to get back to Eastern Time before she was fully acclimated to Pacific Time.
As we approached Seattle the traffic kept getting worse and finally on the Interstates the traffic was stop and go and we still had 20 miles to the airport. we finally did arrive but I think it took us almost an hour more than the GPS originally estimated. A lot of traffic for the time, 6 to 7 in the evening. The airport was also very busy but things went well an Donna got on her way.
Kelso & I were headed north and I wanted to be far enough north that we did not have Seattle traffic tomorrow. We finally ended in Mount Vernon Washington, about 70 Miles from the airport.
The Pictures below are of the Wenatchee National Forest except for the last is Seattle Downtown.
Downtown Seattle