Our first duty for today was to get our waste tanks emptied by the honey wagon. The park failed to mention that this work is performed by an independent contractor but they did tell us we were number five on the list of clients for the day which we speculated would put the wagon at our trailer around 10:30 AM. The failure to mention that, as an independent contractor, his day could commence at any hour and today that hour was 12:15 PM. By 2:00 PM, we were freed up for some optional activities.

So, we took a cruise northeast of our campground so we could check out the scenery. We started by passing the Skagit Casino, a big Native American operation on Bow Hill Road. The joint looks a lot like a gigantic wood castle. They sell discount tobacco and we have already stopped in there once because a roll of five tins of Copenhagen costs $23 at the shop there and about $42 anywhere beyond 500 feet down the road. I thoroughly enjoyed not paying those pesky tobacco sin taxes so liberally applied to purchases elsewhere in Washington.

We wandered east for about 15 miles through beautiful forest and pasture lands until we emerged at WA-9 northbound. From there we passed through the tiny towns of Prairie, Wickersham and Saxon, a little city called Acme, Comar and finally Van Zandt where we took a loop to the east on WA-547. We somehow ended up on a twisty lane called Mosquito Lake Road which was, strangely, free of mosquitoes. We looped back to Bow after admiring the marvelous scenery in this country.

There are loads of really unique houses, bizarre Americana items and magnificent views in this part of the state. This locale is sidled up to the SW flank of Mount Baker, a giant volcano that today cleverly remained hidden from our sight by low clouds. Maybe next time.

See photos. Click the link. https://photos.app.goo.gl/6Ygjybtxt8gr8K1b6