Bagging Number 49

We left Cascade Locks via the Bridge of the Gods, which is a grated toll bridge that leads into Stevenson, Washington.  I was unable to grab a picture of the state sign, since the end of the bridge ended at WA-14, a 55MPH state highway.  the sign was plastered on a concrete barrier at the edge of the westbound lanes.  Too risky, and I still have the Washington/Idaho border to try and catch that later...

WA-14 runs along the northern shore of the Columbia River for about the same length as I-84 on the south side.  We rode it until it intersected with US-97 about 60 miles up river.  It started off very scenic, running through stands of pine and tunnels through rock where the cliffs reached the river.  After about 20 miles, the trees disappeared; not gradually, but like a switch was thrown and the trees were gone.  I thought maybe fire had destroyed what was there originally, but there was no sign of that.

We headed north on US-97 to the intersection of US-2, north of Yakima.  This section of road offered all types of landscapes.  We started climbing immediately after heading north, past wind farms on barren hills.  The climb offered some nice sweeps all the way into Goldendale, WA.  A nice vista was had right before we entered town, as we were able to see the four snow-capped mountains (volcanoes) all at once - Mt Hood, Mt St Helens (what is left of it), Mt Adams, Mt Rainier.  Really cool...

We climbed again out of Goldendale, past pines on the hills to our right, which became bare again as we descended into the Yakima valley. Wapato, consisting of fruit farms, is the first town you come across in the valley.  This being the day after Independence Day, fireworks trash covered every street corner along US-97.  Must have missed one hell of a party!  At Yakima, US-97 runs with I-82 for about 40 miles, and then 5 miles of I-90.  Once of off the interstate, the route climbs again into the Cascades.  Here, the pines were tall and the air was cool.  It wound its way up and down hills into the Wenatchee National Forest.  So far, the best segment on this route, if not this trip, with the last 30 or so miles seemingly to head downhill.

It was about 1:00 local time by the time we hit Cashmere, which is where this day was supposed to end.  Over lunch, we decided to stretch the day and try to get as close to Glacier National Park over the next couple of days so we can start the Going to the Sun Road as early as possible.

We headed east on US-2 towards Spokane, thinking we could find a place to stop along the way.  One thing that we finally realized, as we cruised past fields of wheat and rapeseed, is that there is nothing between Cashmere and Spokane besides fields of wheat and rapeseed, so we ended the day just west of Spokane...

Should be any easy ride into Montana tomorrow...