Riding the Cascade Range

 

While the motel we stayed at in Keremeos last night wasn't the worst I've ever stayed in, it's in the bottom three. When a bathroom sink won't drain and the drywall around the shower has rotted out, you know you've made a mistake.  However, we got through the night and headed out at about 8:30.  We stopped at Spotted lake which looks like an alkali lake with circular formations in it, and a viewpoint that provides a panorama of Osoyoos Lake and the town of Osoyoos.  After crossing the Richter Pass, we rolled in to Osoyoos and headed for the Canada/US border. 

 

 

 

Small roadside lake

 

Raw BC majestic beauty

 

Spotted Lake

 

Spotted Lake

 

Dream catcher at entrance to Spotted Lake

 

 

Osoyoos Lake

 

Osoyoos Lake

 



Customs officers have a great deal of power and while the all know it, some are real jackasses and attempt to make people crossing the border feel like they are criminals while others a totally professional.  WE ran into one of the latter this morning and crossing into the US was smooth and easy. 

 

The plan was to run down Highway 97 to Omak then head east on Route 20 from Okanogan to Winthrop.  Route 2o is a secondary highway but the speed limit is 60 mph (100 kph).  There are plenty of straigthaways and curves and the ride is a lot of fun on a motorcycle.

 

We stopped for a while in Winthrop.  The town looks like an old western town with the buildings all having false fronts and made with rough boards.  The business names are done in faded looking paint.  The effect really works.  Jim and I checked out a few places and I bought a bottle of Ruud Awakening IPA at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery.  We also sampled some of the local home made ice cream.  Delicious!

 

 

Wnithrop street scenes

 

Boardwalk in Withrop, WA

 

Good beer here



 

We left Winthrop and began the climb into the mountains.  About fifteen miles outside of the town we came upon a sign which included the four words that strike terror into the heart of every biker; 'Fresh Oil, Loose Gravel'.  We were into it very quickly.  The oil hadn't been on the road very long because it was glistening in spots and I could hear rocks being picked up on the tires and hitting my fenders.  For SEVENTEEN crappy miles.  When we stopped in a pullout after getting past the road project, we picked tarred rocks of the floorboards, exhaust pipes, oil cooler, and even the saddle bags.  Fortunately they didn't leave a mess.  I don't know why but that's the way it worked out.

 

As we climbed higher we were surrounded by steep mountains on either side of the highway.  Above 4500 feet we were into piles of snow beside the highway.  It was July 1st for God's sake!  We continued to climb and topped out at 5400 feet before beginning the descent to Burlington. 

 

 

Waterfall in the mountains

 

Summer snow

 

Jagged peaks

 

Looks like a fortress wall

 

July snow

 

Surrounded by rock

 

Standing in the summer snow

 

More snow. At least three metres of it.

 

More incredible beauty

 

 

Climbing into the mountains at about 5000 feet.

 

The North Cascade Parkway is a fantastic motorcycle road with many corners rated as 25 and 30 mph (40 and 40 kph) but we were able to do most of them at a slightly higher speed.  We passed a pullout that has a plaque that tells about the summer in the 1950s when Jack Kerouac spent a summer being a fire watcher isolated on a mountain top where he had lots of time for writing without distraction.

 

 

 

 

Lake Diablo

 

Because of the terrain here this is prime hydro country so Seattle Light and Power built two power dams in the early part of the last century.  Lake Diablo was created by a dam and the water that flows into it comes from glacier meltwater.  From the observation point the water is a beautiful pale blue colour.  The road continued to snake through the mountains until we came to Gorge Falls.  The water tumbles off the side of a mountain into a narrow gorge before finding its way into Ross Lake which was created whe the Ross Dam was built to proved power for the Seattle Light and Power Company.

 

 

 

Gorge Falls



 

Further on, in the village of Newhalem, we came upon a 1927 Baldwin steam locomotive which was used to transport construction materials for the construction of the Ross Dam.  The locomotive was left to deteriorate until 1971 when volunteers refurbished it to running condition again although it is on static display and doesn't appear to have been under steam since that time.

 

 

 

Seattle Light & Power #6 at Newhalem, WA

 

We continued west toward Sedro Woolley (great name for a town!).  Before we arrived there however, we saw a herd of elk in a field just off the highway.  There were several bulls, and some cows and calves.  Some were grazing while others were lying down and slumbering in the afternoon heat.  I stopped to take some photos then we continued in to Burlington.  The original plan was to go on to Marysville, but Jim & I decided to call it a day so we got a room in the Stirling Motor Hotel.  Good beds, A/C, and good Wifi.  Much better than last night.

 

 

Herd of elk near Sedro Woolley, WA

 

 



Tomorrow the plan is to ride to Everett, head east on Highway 2 and go as far as we can.  So far the weather has been great, if a bit hot, and the riding has been terrific.  This is starting out to be another epic road trip.