Yakima, WA August 30-31
We stuck to back roads from Whidbey Island to Yakima, WA leaving about 9:15 am and arriving Yakima at 3:30 with only a couple of short stops. Fantastic scenery most of the way on a route that took us through Mt. Ranier National Park.
Room at Ledgestone Hotel in Yakima was exceptional: large bedroom and master bath are separate from
spacious living room/kitchen area; with easy chair, sleep sofa, stove top, oven,
fridge, coffee maker and microwave.
Very good dinner at Carousel, a French restaurant in downtown Yakima, housed in
and old warehouse with brick walls and high ceilings. The dining
room in which we ate has one wall, painted by a local artist, that replicates a
cave painting from Lascaux. Other walls are exposed brick with paintings by the
same artist and a carved carousel horse. Enjoyed our conversations with our server, Sean and the Carousel's owner, John Ostler.
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| A Page from Carousel Menu |
Started the next day with a six-mile hike on Cowiche Trail, a Rails-to-Trails project through a canyon featuring basalt cliffs and a meandering stream.
On the trail, we said hello briefly to a family of six (grandparents, parents, and two toddlers being carried) who were going to veer off on a side trail to walk to Wilridge Winery, which we intended to visit by car after our walk. Pete mentioned that it was an uphill climb and a few minutes later pointed out where the trail heads off. When we later arrive at the winery, we ended up sitting next to them and they complimented us on our judgement to drive rather than walk. At this point, we noticed that the grandfather was wearing flip-flops. Before we left, Pat suggested that we offer to drive one of them to their car and the invitation was accepted. Turned out that the father, who rode with us, is a general surgeon recently recruited to the Yakima hospital. After dropping him at his car we motored to Johnson Orchard to buy produce to take with us to Bend. The selection, variety, quality, and freshness overwhelmed us and we bought lots.
Lunch at Norm’s, in the same block as Carousel, was so-so. Returned to Carousel for light dinner of salad and onion soup.
On the trail, we said hello briefly to a family of six (grandparents, parents, and two toddlers being carried) who were going to veer off on a side trail to walk to Wilridge Winery, which we intended to visit by car after our walk. Pete mentioned that it was an uphill climb and a few minutes later pointed out where the trail heads off. When we later arrive at the winery, we ended up sitting next to them and they complimented us on our judgement to drive rather than walk. At this point, we noticed that the grandfather was wearing flip-flops. Before we left, Pat suggested that we offer to drive one of them to their car and the invitation was accepted. Turned out that the father, who rode with us, is a general surgeon recently recruited to the Yakima hospital. After dropping him at his car we motored to Johnson Orchard to buy produce to take with us to Bend. The selection, variety, quality, and freshness overwhelmed us and we bought lots.
Lunch at Norm’s, in the same block as Carousel, was so-so. Returned to Carousel for light dinner of salad and onion soup.
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