We spent so many summer vacations and summer weekends on the Columbia River with our girls. It's awesome to be back and enjoying a lot more luxury than what we could afford in those days! Here are some throwback photos from the old days.
Before Daroga, we spent a week in Seattle at an RV park that massively exceeded expectations. Cheryl found Lake Pleasant in Bothell thinking it was close to Seattle - and I think both our expectations were low since urban RV parks are usually sketchy at best. This one was both very convenient plus clean and scenic. "Vacation mode" dropped away as soon as we got into town and the logistics of trying to catch up with as many friends as possible kicked in. It was so fun to catch up with everyone but its also the first time in a month + that either of us paid any attention to our calendars!
Sorry for the lack of pictures but you all know who you are and what you did to my liver!!! :)
Then it was off to Eastern Washington with our first stop in Leavenworth. This was my bad. Booking sites to get it done vs. doing the research to find a good spot yields dramatically different results. This stop was an overcrowded, dusty, broken down mess that was 30+ minutes out of Leavenworth. Possibly the worst park we've stayed in yet. The lack of pictures likely reflects our attitude while we were there and we've since agreed that there is no reason to stay in a dump when we have so many other options.
Leavenworth is a cool tourist stop. The food and beer scene is still thriving and the Bavarian theme makes it entertaining. There are endless outdoor activities (some of the best mountain biking in the region) that draws in a fun crowd. We hiked the Iron Goat Trail (https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/iron-goat-trail) that is a remarkable hike. It follows a retired Northern Pacific rail line was built during the steam era and allowed steam trains to cross the Cascade mountains. It's a great hike that is annotated with signs along the way that explain the engineering and challenges in both building and maintaining the route.
Food and a beer is a great reward after a good hike and Leavenworth delivered! I do worry a lot for the restaurant industry in the northern states once the weather changes to fall and winter. Leavenworth has a bunch of streets blocked off for outdoor dining. When the weather changes in a few weeks - and it changes very quickly up here - the restaurants are going to have minimal options again. (This link is priceless and sums up my thoughts perfectly - Thanks Crissey!!)
Heading to Daroga has always been exciting for our family and this was no exception! Whenever we cross from Western Washington to Eastern Washington, the political winds shift. Eastern Washington is conservative farm country and is dominated by signs for republican candidates this time of year. We've been making the drive for 20 years and there is a dramatic change this year. Four years ago, there were Trump signs everywhere! This year there are lots of signs for the republican candidate for governor and the various other races but it's very rare to see a Trump sign. I'm not sure what it means but it's a stark difference from 2016.
Daroga State Park is an easy four paw winner!!! For many years, we'd pack up half the house and shuttle tents, coolers, bikes, and anything else we could fit onto an island campground that is spectacular. Its 3-4 acres of trees and grass in the middle of the Columbia that gets some use during weekends (it's pretty near full for Labor Day) but we usually had the entire island to ourselves during the week. We're about a half mile away in the RV park now but this may be the best site we've stayed in yet. Huge amounts of space, spots are separated by trees and grass and a million dollar view of the river. I miss waterskiing!
A big plus for Daroga is its proximity to Desert Canyon - one of my favorite all time courses. Cheryl and I got an early tee time on Tuesday and both played good rounds of golf! I love the course but it has always taken its toll on me. I was happy to finally post a good score on a course I enjoy so much.
Today its on to Cheryl's annual family reunion at Lake Chelan...
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