LAKE POWELL to ANACORTES to WENATCHEE

We are on our way to one of our old haunts at Anacortes in northwest Washington. On our way we will stop at Lake Powell and McMinnville, OR.

LAKE POWELL

We left Tucson and headed for Lake Powell where we are the co-hosts of a motorhome rally from the Tucson Drifters, a club that we belong to in Tucson. The rally is the last of the season and is our jumping off point for the rest of our summer travels.

This lake and the surrounding area contains many geological formations that are really spectacular, especially the natural bridges and slot canyons. The float trip down Marble Canyon, downstream from the dam is well worthwhile. As is the trip to Rainbow Bridge and the most famous of the slot canyons, Antelope Canyon. (Hint: Set the white balance to the fluorescent range when taking pictures in the slot canyons if you want to get the same effects you see in all the magazines and the shot below)

Left: The view looking out over the lake from the Wahweap Campground.
Right: Antelope Canyon, the main slot canyon in the area.

Left: Looking back to the dam from the float trip down Marble Canyon.
Right: Hickman Bridge, one of the many in the area. (photo: Graham Davey)

McMINNVILLE, OR

We stopped by McMinnville to see the "Spruce Goose", the famous flying boat created by Howard Hughes. It was originally built in Long Beach, CA. After a brief one mile flight during a taxi test it was stored and never tested further. Later is was displayed next to the Queen Mary. It was to be scrapped and a group in McMinnville "saved" it and moved it to the Evergreen Aviation Museum. This is the largest flying boat ever, as can be seen in the photo. The restoration done here is excellent.

ANACORTES, WA

This is a return trip to Anacortes for us. You can see our previous trip here. The weather was not as nice this trip as last time, but we managed to have a great time anyway.

We returned to Friday Harbor in the San Juans, but this time we also stopped at some of the other islands. There are numerous small villages scattered around the islands, many of which can only be visited by private boat. The San Juan ferry system visits the larger ones, and that is how we were able to see them.

We also went into Seattle to see the "Underground" that is under the streets around Pioneer Square. This whole little area is where Seattle started and is full of interesting history. The tour of the underground was not very interesting visually, but the stories of the history and the people that made it were well worth the trip.

Left: Our waterfront site at Fidalgo Bay RV Resort. We got here before the Memorial Day crowd.
Right: Pioneer Square building where the underground tour starts.,

Old bar where the underground tour starts

Left: Old bar where the orientation for the tour is given.
Right: Lopez Island, one of the islands serviced by the ferry.

Left: Shaw Island
Right: Orcas Island

LEAVENWORTH

Levenworth is a small town just north of Wenatchee where they have adopted the look and feel of a Bavarian village. The archetecture and decorations make you think you are in Bavaria. Even the signs are all in the Gothic script used in that part of Germany. There are many shops that sell all kinds of Bavarian merchandice and most of the eateries have decidedly german fair to offer.

The whole town is a tourist destination, with all kinds of "gotcha" shops to explore and spend some money in. Even so, it is a fun place to visit and have some really good german food.

It was raining the day we were there, but even so, we had a good time. Especially since we had met up with some friends from Tucson. We had learned that they were going to be there via email the day before and so we called them and set up a meeting.

Left: Main street, Levenworth on a rainy day.
Right: Having lunch with some friends, Graham & Alison Davey, that we met up with unexpectedly.

ROCKY REACH DAM near WENATCHEE

Rocky Reach Dam, on the Columbia river just upstream from Wenatchee. This is one of many power generating dams on this river.

This dam has a nice Vistor Center and a couple of well done movies. It also is the home of a museum that tells the story of the area and its development including the time when the indians were the only one there.

The dam has a large fish ladder and a place where you can view the fish as they migrate upstream. There were only a few salmon moving upstream when we were there, as it was too early in the season. There is also a fish ladder (a large diameter pipe) that allows the young fish to migrate to the ocean without going through the turbines. This pipe is routed to a location far away from the turbine outlets because the Northern Pike have learned that they can get an easy meal by hanging out in that area.

Left: Turbines and generators within the dam
Right: Fish ladder for upstream migration.

List