Wenatchee, WA - Sep. 29 - Oct. 4, 2008
On September 29th we left the Columbia River Gorge and drove 175-miles north, arriving back on the shores of the Columbia River at Confluence State Park in Wenatchee. Confluence State Park is absolutely beautiful. It is situated at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers, with full hook-ups and huge sites. The park includes a boat launch, beach, playgrounds, wide expanses of lawn and the 11-mile Apple Capital Loop Bike Trail runs right through the park. What more could one ask for?
"Why did we go to Wenatchee?" one might ask. When we traveled to Italy in 2003 we met a couple from Wenatchee and they were so proud of their hometown we wanted to see it - well, that and the apples. Wenatchee Valley is a lovely area situated on the banks of the Columbia and flanked north and west by the Cascade Range. The area is rich in outdoor activities from fishing, biking, hiking, whitewater rafting and alpine and Nordic skiing. This is a noted fruit-growing region. While it is famous for its apples, it also produces pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, melons and berries.
Out first expedition was to the Visitor Information Center and a short exploration of flower-bedecked downtown Wenatchee, which maintains its main street, hometown appeal. Across the river, East Wenatchee has a less attractive strip-mall feel.
We made good use of the Apple Loop Trail both as bikers and pedestrians. The trail is adorned with public art as it traverses several sprawling parks and wildlife preserves along the west side of the Columbia. It then crosses the river and continues on the east side through rolling grassland and riparian forests before once again crossing the river to complete the loop.
On Wednesday we arose bright and early and drove 35 miles north to Chelan to catch the Lady of the Lake for a four hour cruise up Lake Chelan to Stehekin. This pristine, 50.5 mile glacier-fed lake is 1.5 miles at its widest and 1486 ft. at its deepest point, making it the third deepest lake in the US. Roads extend less than halfway to the headwaters of Lake Chelan at Stehikin, so people and supplies must arrive by boat or barge. Beyond the end of the road, rugged peaks rise over 7,000 feet from the lakeshore. Vacation homes and vineyards adorn the south end of the lake, while the north end is heavily forested or still bears the scars of several large forest fires that have swept through the area.
Unfortunately, on the day of our cruise the Forest Service was clearing underbrush so the upper end of the lake was clouded in smoke, which obscured our views of the North Cascade National Park. We enjoyed our cruise, but agreed that a winter or spring trip would probably be more scenic.
One of the many pleasant surprises we encountered in the area was the Ohme Alpine Gardens perched on a bluff high above the river valley. These gardens were definitely a labor of love. In 1929 Herman and Ruth Ohme purchased forty acres of land for an orchard. Included was a craggy, dry, desolate, rock-strewn bluff with a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River valley. Over the next five decades the Ohme's built and perfected their beautiful 9-acre alpine garden with its towering firs, waterfalls, cascades, and grottoes. The garden is now owned by Washington State Department of Parks and Recreation, and is maintain by Chelan County. It is a 'must see' if in the area.
On our last full day in the Valley we drove up to Leavenworth for the first weekend of Octoberfest. Leavenworth is a former railroad and lumber town that has recreated itself as a Bavarian Village and is now a popular tourist destination. Leavenworth's 'bavarianization' started in 1965 and today most everything in the town reflects the Bavarian theme - from the cuisine and architecture to the cuckoo clocks. While the town is charming and the surrounding mountains beautiful, we felt it to be a bit forced.
We had been in Washington since the end of July, about 2.5 months. We had traveled up the west coast, around the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound to Seattle, then north to Mount Vernon and the San Juan Islands. We then traveled south to Mt. St. Helens and Vancouver, up the Columbia River Gorge and north again on the east side of the Cascades to Wenatchee in central Washington. The Northwest proved to be a fabulous place to spend the summer, but it was now time to move on. On October 5th we pointed the Beast east and headed to one of our favorite towns, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
