Sunday - July 5

Bye bye Wilbur - Hello Wenatchee.   Today we had the warmest weather in a long time......at one point, it hit 91.    But that will change as the 60's are coming the next few days.    But it was a very good day - we left Wilbur around 9:30 and stopped in Coulee City (1/2 hour down the road) at the Banks Lake Brew and Bistro - cute coffee/breakfast shop and enjoyed a cinnamon roll (me) and ham burrito (Mark) + coffees back in Flo.    After that, my techie guy got us set up via the phone to computer to TV to watch Mass from Boston with Father Reardon.

Back on the road and what gorgeous scenery -  breathtaking views of the mountains and saw so many campers, RV's and boats (guess most traveling home after the holiday weekend).    Camping is BIG time out here.   And then we were into apple orchards and they are BIG time out here.   In fact, Wenatchee is the "Apple Capital of the World"!!!    

We are actually in Monitor, WA tonight between Cashmere and Wenatchee in a pretty campground "Wenatchee River County Park".    After settling Flo in around 2ish, we took off for Leavenworth (16 miles west on Route 2) - a charming Bavarian town that our friend, Martha recommended.    She's been here 2 x (both at Christmas time) and said it is wonderful.    Well, summer time was a real treat with all the flowers, neat architecture and bustling shops and restaurants.    

We love Frankenmuth, Michigan which is another Bavarian community but Leavenworth was extra special as we were surrounded by the mountains!    Enjoyed a wonderful late lunch at Sulla Vita and ate outside under a large red umbrella with widespread tables.    Loved dining al fresco with our wine/beer and excellent meals - meatballs with pasta (Mark) and scallops with artichokes, red peppers and bacon.    And of course, crusty bread.....all excellent + leftovers!    Inside dining was not available, but we much prefer outdoors anyway.    

We walked down Front Street past all the shops (sooo neat) - just about everyone was wearing masks and in Washington, you are required to wear one to enter shops - however, as always the case, rules don't apply to some people....    We did not go into any shops.

Leaving Coulee City

The first of MANY apple trees today

We followed Lake Entiat for miles - huge and beautiful

Charming Leavenworth

Thank you, Martha for steering us to this wonderful little village

Mark's entree

My scallops

Chocolate a l'orange - awesome and shareable

Back to our campground, did Zoom with 9 of the siblings and caught up with Liam and Connor's baseball weekend - Liam's team was 1-3 and Connor's 2-2.    

Walked in this very pretty campground on a perfect Sunday evening.....here are some more beauties as we are surrounded by the start of the Cascade Mountains

Route 2 - our well-traveled highway

Have a safe, healthy week!

Saturday - July 4

Happy Birthday America!

244 years STRONG!

Beautiful day in Wilbur....after breakfast, we took off for the Grand Coulee Dam about 20 miles northwest of here.   What a pretty drive.    We drove a perfectly straight road for 12 miles and then lots of curves and hills (rocky and grassy terrain) and near the Colville Indian Reservation   The dam is quite something and much larger than the Hoover Dam.    The amount of concrete used would build a highway from Seattle to Miami.

    It provides more electricity than 3 Hoover Dams and provides power for 4.2 million across 11 states and Canada.

We parked Big Red and walked towards the dam and then back into town.    The visitor's center and the paved walkway + upper bridge road are all closed.    We met no one along the way.    A few people were in the town of Grand Coulee where we stopped for iced coffee and shared a big ole delish chocolate chip cookie from the Voltage  Coffee House.

Here are some sights we enjoyed...

 

Mark's hometown - Dixon, IL has "Dixon in Bloom" with their magnificent petunias every year.   Although there's no "Petunia Festival" this year, my friend, Shirley and her committee have once again made these blooms soo very beautiful all over town!

Dixon in Bloom

 

The Blue Angels flying over Mount Rushmore last night!

My heart is bursting with pride!

We watched the 4th of July celebration from Washington, DC tonight - WOW!     So much patriotism as the flyovers were announced by Rob Ryder (friend of Ryan's) whom we've met at air shows.  And all that awesome music. It was a beautiful tribute to our country and such a pleasure and proud moment to savor it all before we're back to remembering the turmoil we are all facing.

No fireworks here in Wilbur......so, we watched the "Salute to America" from Mount Rushmore last night.    My oh my......phenomenal with thee best music.   If you didn't see it, highly recommend it - blew us away!!!    God bless America!!!

Friday - July 3

Woke up to bright sunshine and a high of 75 - love it!!!    We had breakfast, exercised and then gradually got our stuff together for departure around 9:30.    We really enjoyed our time in Spokane and impressed with all we saw,  but time to move on.  A nice short day of just 77 miles west on Route 2.    It was one of those "On a clear day, you can see forever"....as the flatlands were all around us - but way way back in the distance, some mountains.    We passed fields of wheat, canola and a lot of scrub brush.

Stopped in Davenport for coffees (never a problem finding a coffee shop up here - they are everywhere) and today's was called "Some like it Hot Espresso".   

Wilbur, Washington will be home for next 2 nights - just a little town of 846.   We are at the Goose Creek Campground with a few other campers here with us.    Debbie, who checked us in, mentioned "The Farmhouse" just a short walk away for great breakfasts/lunches, bakery and espresso"....   Say no more, Debbie!   Ha...

 We got Flo settled and walked to The Farmhouse- what a treat....excellent lunches and good-looking bakery goodes and all the coffee treats for tomorrow?    We had our masks, tables were well spread apart and just a few other customers.    I had a grilled cheese on grilled sourdough with bacon and tomato; Mark had the patty melt and then homemade pasta and homemade potato salads.

Lemonade and iced tea with "paper" patriotic straws and flags!

These drinks were excellent, too!

Back to Flo with some leftovers, took naps, read and just enjoyed a leisurely Friday afternoon.

At 4, we walked downtown - not much to see and very quiet this Friday afternoon of a holiday weekend.    Most of the businesses are closed (permanently)  and those still surviving, were closed.

Actually, the only thing open was a family restaurant.

Chinese leftovers for supper!

Have a safe, fun 4th !!!

Thursday - July 2

Woke up to a 54 degree, dreary, cloudy day.....it gets light really early up here - around 4:30ish!    Still adjusting to these time changes, but no problem sleeping like babies!!!

So, had some cereal and off for some Spokane adventures.    We checked out Manito Park which is 90 acres and 4 gardens of beauty just minutes from downtown.   The Lilac Garden would've been something to see, but those pretty trees are past their prime.   Onto "Rose Hill" and roses, roses, so many gorgeous roses.  

I took lots of these luscious blooms (every color)...

Me standing amongst one of several rose patches

Walked to the Japanese Garden - darn....it was closed cause of Covid (shortage of staff)?   

Mirror Lake

Left the park and on the hunt for some coffee/treats?    Besides Starbucks, there are a lot of other coffee shops, so....found this very cute spot downtown and got coffees/caramel long john for Mark and blueberry/lemon scone for me) to go - good stuff!!!

Sweet Frostings Blissful Bakeshop

Next up was in the heart of Spokane where we had to drive around a bit for parking - lots of parking garages, but not tall enough for Big Red.    We found a public lot and then hoofed it across the Spokane River (lots of bridges) and enjoyed strolling thru Riverfront Park.

The dam over the Spokane River

Pretty pink posies

Rushing water

Upper falls

Walked across this bridge

This ginormous wagon was in the park - Luke, Maeve and Blair would've loved climbing up the

ladder in the back and sliding down the front!    Should've had Mark stand by the tire which was well over his head!

We left the Riverfront and drove to the campus of Gonzaga University 

Very old, charming campus founded in 1887

And then it was lunch time.    As we were driving around and since we've been here, we've seen lots and lots of Asian restaurants and thought Chinese would be good.    So Trip Advisor suggested Mr. Wok close to our campground.    Stopped and picked up egg rolls, sweet 'n sour pork, orange chicken and fortune cookies - excellent and enough.

We read our books and took naps this afternoon - finally, around 5ish, the sun came out and stayed out!    Tah dah.   Warmed up to 71.

Maeve is flying a kite in the meadow in her pretty dress

Fun times with Pa (and Nana) catching a big ole frog

Liam had his first game of the season today - although his team lost 13-9 (came back 2x to tie), it was great to be back "playing ball"!!!

Hope #19 has a fantastic season!

Walked around the park tonight - gorgeous evening!    Tomorrow is a travel day heading

 to Wilbur, WA

Wednesday - July 1

48 degrees and rain to start the day here in North Spokane!    Burrrr.....

Welcome July!!!

The heart of summer and so much fun to be had (normally)...ball games, backyard barbecues, picnics in the park, family vacations, reunions, fried chicken, burgers, brats, hot dogs, homemade ice cream, icy cold lemonade, outdoor concerts, swimming, fireworks, and on and on!    Definitely a different summer for many folks with vacations and so many other normal events being canceled!

Lots of rain overnight and off and on during the day +++ cloudy, chilly and windy all day long!   Mark made pancakes, I did the bacon and we enjoyed our hearty breakfast before running some errands including a Wal-Mart grocery pick up.   What a busy place with all 13 pick-up slots full.    

We also stopped at Brews Bros for coffees.    The past 2 times we've gotten coffee, the barista has asked if we would like a straw?    A straw to drink coffee?   That's a new one!   We say "No thanks" and that was that!    Well, today, they automatically put 2 straws in each of our coffees?    It was fine.....Mark did not like drinking that way, so....took his out!    Just a different thing in these parts!

A new way to drink coffee

Back home, put away the groceries and then Mark took me to Salon North for a haircut with Jessica.    I walked next door to Jonathan's Nail Spa and got a mani-pedi.    All were great experiences and loved every minute!   Mark got his hair cut by Rachel later this afternoon.   We are good to go now for awhile!   

It appears that North Spokane and surrounding areas are all up and operating!    We just aren't feeling comfortable to dine inside yet.....

So, tonight we had chicken tenders, wild rice and salad.    It's still windy and chilly out (59) but we did a glimpse of the sun around 5ish.

Did Zoom with Claire - missed Kathy.    Always fun to catch up on all the news!

Mark and I went for a walk around the park.....nice!    The sun shining makes all the difference!