Today we are leaving Cascades and heading back towards Idaho. This morning is 52 degrees but no wind at all at Diablo Lake Overlook - what a change from yesterday! Still low clouds.
But more blue skies as we move east, toward the "dry side" of the park.
We stop to admire a few more cascades along the highway. The park is truly aptly named.
By the time we reach Washington Pass, the sun has come out and we have beautiful blue skies! The air is so clean and fresh, with just a hint of pine!
Above is some "heather on the hill". (Brigadoon)
Below us is the "ribbon of highway" we will continue on. (The Highwayman by Sir Alfred Noyes).
We stop in the small town of Winthrop, where one man's vision has created quite a cute little old west town. A big tourist draw, too, though not too busy today. Every building adheres to the plan.
Wooden sidewalks lined with shops.
Masks in place!
A few of the shops are open today, so we are able to pick up some Huckleberry gift items and post cards. Post cards are becoming a thing of the past, but we like to send them, especially to our grand daughters. They like getting mail and we like staying in touch!
We pick up coffee and cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven at a spot called Sheri's Sweet Shop that has some nice outside tables that aren't busy. Yum! 😋 Our first time eating at a restaurant in ages.
Just east of Okanagon, we see Johnny Appleseed and other orchards with nets again. It will be a while till the apples are ready, but it looks like many of the cherries have already been picked. Too bad they aren't for sale here.
Here we begin new road as we head more or less east, to the panhandle of Idaho. Very wooded area and lots of logging trucks. There is one stop that has a short trail with information about logging. In the 1920's water power and horses, locomotives and trucks were used. The railroads did a lot of logging too, to make railroad ties for their expanding networks. The workers were paid $.45 an hour, which was pretty good pay back then.
On the trail I talk briefly with a couple from Michigan who are sampling the huckleberries along the way. They are purple when ripe (the berries, not the couple😊).
Sherman Pass Overlook is a pretty spot as we cross the Kettle River Range and Sherman Creek. It is a high mountaintop with scattered trees, but plenty of sunshine reaches some great flowers! Quite a bit of fire damage in surrounding area. I just realized I didn't take any pictures except the flowers!
These are so intricate and delicate! I'm surprised I haven't seen jewelry modeled after them.
A few critters enjoying the flowers too.
We decide to stop at Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, which has a nice dirt road driving loop. The Pend D'Oreille name is very prominent in this area, as we will see a river and a huge lake with that name as well the county and area in general. The name is French for "earloop", or "hangs from ears" and was so named because of members of the Kalispel Tribe who wore dangling shell or bone earrings.
A pretty drive which is almost park-like for a while with tall trees and cleared underbrush. Then it get wilder and more natural. We stop to check out McDowell Lake, as well as some beaver ponds.
There are various narrow roads off the loop, one to an equine area and others to who knows where with deep ruts and road-wide puddles - don't ask how we know this.😏
Though this is home to many animals, they are all on siesta break this afternoon.
About 4:00 we come to Cottonwood Campground and decide to stop here for the night (still in the refuge). There are a few primitive sites marked only by fire rings and clearing. We explore a bit before settling down for the evening. Nice bridge and stream nearby, and - you guessed it! - more flowers.
We set up our chairs under the trees and have a snacky dinner of tuna, cheeses, crackers and an apple. Quiet night. Sound of silence (Simon and Garfunkel).
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