Follow the least-snowy roads!?
But,
which way?
West on 12 into the
Walla Walla Valley, past Waterbrook,
Lowden
Hill,
Touchet,
up
against
the
Horse Heaven Hills
to
Wallulu.
Over the Snake and
Columbia
to 84
and a
supply stop in Benton
(mostly to alter the chemistry the windshield fluid, which is frozen),
onward
up
the
Yakima Valley,
through
Union
and
Selah
Gaps
rising
to
Umtanum
Ridge,
roller-
coastering
east
of
the
Canyon,
final
ascent to
Manastash, and
down to Ellensburg and I-90.
And
now,
are
the
weather
reports
reliable?
Will
we
be
able
to
get
over
the
Cascades?
Well,
it
looks
like...
Yes!
Downslope
as
fast
as
we can
(ye icefalls!),
in the continous,
ominous beauty.
Issaquah
petrol and
monetary stop,
then charging across
Lake
Washington
to
Seattle,
south on 5 (Mt. Rainier!),
southwest rising to Highland Park,
and
ultimately
dropping off Claire
home with
Nathan,
Joyce, and
Barbara --
for a lovely dinner and
spirited conversation.
Miles to go before we sleep,
however --
ending up
in an
icy
Portland. 52nd day of summer down south, high up 1 to 62
Walla Walla, 25 / The Dalles, 29
Seattle, 39
Portland, 35 / Troutdale, 34
