Our new glasses had arrived at the Woodinville Costco so this morning we took the half hour drive over there to get our new specs before returning and loading up our stuff for departure. We pulled out of Monroe at about 11:30 and turned east on scenic WA-20 for the trip over Stevens Pass to Leavenworth.
The first thirty miles were pretty flat as we followed the Skykomish River into the Cascades but once we got close to Stevens Pass, the road got pretty steep and we did the last 5 or 6 miles at about 40 miles per hour while pulling our large trailer. As usual, our Charlotte performed admirably and soon we were at the top and starting the long decline into Leavenworth.
The scenery on both sides of the pass is magnificent. The east (downhill) side is markedly different than the west side. The west side has fir trees and heavy brush, the east has pines with little forest floor vegetation. The east side has more exposed rock mountain surfaces and it is pretty plain that the earth is still making changes in this part of the world. After dropping from 4000 foot elevation at the pass to about 2000 foot elevation, we turned north on WA-207 for about 10 miles to Leavenworth RV Resort, another Thousand Trails facility situated about 8 miles as the crow flies or about 20 miles by road from Leavenworth. Leavenworth RV Resort has full hookups, a big lodge with wi-fi, a store, a laundry and pools, all surrounded by mountain views and tall pines.
Peggy’s nephew, Ian, lives in Cashmere near Leavenworth so we called him and he suggested we meet at a restaurant named Munchin Haus in Leavenworth for dinner. About 5:00 PM we departed the campground and drove into Leavenworth which is a gorgeous little town done up in a German alpine village motif. All the businesses are located in nice Bavarian style buildings throughout the whole town. Even McDonald’s looks like it is from Munich.
Once we arrived at the restaurant we encountered Ian and his wife, Bree, along with their baby daughter, Ani. We had never met Bree nor Ani before but we were delighted with the results. Bree is a federal firefighter (as is Ian) and she is sharp as a tack in addition to being gorgeous. Ani was sitting next to me at dinner and, initially, was concerned that I was a funny-looking stranger with a deep voice and she spent some time giving me the fish eye before deciding it was possible I was okay. She was a very sweet kid during our dinner only making noises indicating she was comfortable and happy.
The restaurant was just the kind of place Peg and I like; outdoor dining in a place with an assortment of sausage and wurst to choose from in addition to great beers on tap. The food was excellent as was the beer. The prices are very reasonable, particularly because Ian picked up the food tab using the excuse that we had fed him when he came to visit us in San Diego in the past. I don’t remember being particularly generous but it was great that he paid.
We drove home after dinner via a route Ian suggested up Tumwater Canyon. He was correct – the drive alongside the Wanatchee River passing through this basalt canyon is truly gorgeous and we will be passing down this way again during our six days here in this remarkably scenic section of this stunning state. Six days here may be insufficient to see all the exquisite scenery around this area.
There is a couple pictures if you click here