Road Trip - Mt. Vernon to Portland 05-26-18

Back on I-5 for the long drive to SCalifornia.  You are probably tired of hearing about the traffic, but today was the worst if one was traveling north, it looked like one long parking lot.  Fortunately, I was going south, but there were still stretches of bumper to bumper traffic and frequent dead stops.  One thing about the drivers here, they don't do the kamikaze stuff that is so common on the freeways in SCalifornia.  Nobody zipped in and out of lanes, trying to get ahead of everyone else.  And nobody passed on the shoulder that I saw.  The day was gloomy and clouds low, but not a drop of rain. However, the pictures are not very clear - I'm already missing those bright blue skies along Hwy 395.  I stopped for gas at Arlington and for a Starbuck's at Tumwater.  Just accidentally on the same block as Ruby Street Quiltworks, a VERY nice quilt shop, that I visited on a trip about eight years ago, with a large and varied inventory.  I spent an hour and I'm not going to tell you what the "toll" was.  I did get carried away.  But mostly I drove at speeds from 20mph to 75mph for about six hours to stay at Comfort Inn near the Portland airport.  I've a date for breakfast with two Portland friends I haven't seen for too long.  

The rhododendrons are just at their peak and are loaded.  These pictures are all in Mabel's neighborhood.  

I don't remember the bright red ones from my childhood, but I guess they were there. 

But I do remember these trees with the bright yellow leaves, but not their name.

This is the dogwood I am familiar with, the petals have a rounded edge with a little dip in the center of each petal.   A later image will show one that is new to me. 

The Skagit Valley, famous for growing tulips also grows veggies and forage crops.  It is a very flat countryside with stands of dark conifers for contrast. 

Dark sky, dark forest, a farm house tucked into the edge of the trees. 

Ah-h-h, here is Seattle from the southbound lanes of I-5, with the Space Needle on the right. 

 Overpasses, some under construction.  But look at the backed up traffic in the northbound lanes, curving up around the hill. 

This one is out of order, I think it was near Tacoma.  The back up on the northbound lanes extends to the right side of the picture. 

Boxcars, flatcars, RR overpasses seem to be the prime graffiti locations. 

 This old Rainier beer facility has been re-invented as something else - an entertainment center, maybe.  It is right against I-5.

Miles and miles of this view, creeping along.  The "motto" is:

 "Your Hometown, National Carrier".  

The southbound view of Tacoma Dome.

This type of dogwood is new to me.  Very pointed petals. 

Those I saw were more a bush than a tree. 

Down the route of the Columbia River which is to the right behind the trees. 

Near Kalama it is very close to the highway and currently very full of water from mountain snow melt. 

Too much traffic for picture taking going over the river and into Oregon where the road construction starts on the south side of the river.  So glad to be off the road tonight.   But I am going to have to wear my earplugs. 

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Road Trip to WA 05-25-18

Back to May 22nd. After spending the night at Holiday Inn Express in north Vancouver, WA.   I didn't remember that it was going to take so long to drive north to Mt. Vernon, and I had not anticipated such heavy traffic until I got to Seattle.  But the traffic was very heavy all the way up.  And then there is road construction. 

My luck, the first thing I came to was another "cone zone".  They are everywhere.

Rolling hills, lots of trees, and traffic.

Once very common on highways in the Pacific Northwest, I only saw these two logging trucks on this entire trip. 

And the logs are skinnier and shorter.  When I was growing up we would see logging trucks with just one tree taking up the entire load.  Those trees are long gone. 

If you look at a map of Oregon you will see a lump sticking up into Washington right on the coast.  This is because the state borders follow the Columbia River which suddenly changes directions flows north just beyond Portland.  This allows ocean going ships to travel way inland (this is at Kalama) and they can be seen from the I-5 all the way up to Longview, WA. 

It is startling to see these big ships so close.  The hills you see in the background are in Oregon.  

I stopped for gas at the first Arco station I saw and then stopped in Napavine, WA, where I saw a Starbuck's sign.  Guess I am just a Starbuck's junkie!   

The area around Tacoma was particularly slow due to road construction. 

Going under an overpass and seeing the Tacoma Dome off to the left. 

First sight of Seattle. 

And the speed restriction zones. 

...Slower..

...Slower....

Sometimes the traffic opens up and you never know why.

Then the Express lanes peel off to the left and the roadway goes down.

And down, under the city of Seattle. 

And comes our on a high bridge over some body of water.  At the time I came through there were only a few cars and mostly big trucks. 

Further north I can see another snow capped mountain.  I tried looking it up on the road map, but the print is so small I can't read it!

And then the traffic picked up.

They do have an advanced public transportation system up here.  Double decker buses are not something I see much in SCalifornia.   Have I talked too much about traffic on this day's travel?  That is what was most prominent and I needed to keep my eyes on the road so couldn't do much photography off to the sides.  The journey was twice as long and, I think, the traffic was at least twice as bad as driving from Placentia to San Diego.  On a Friday afternoon! 

I love this old tree that is found in a rest stop just before reaching Mt. Vernon.  You can read its story below.  I enjoy stopping to see it when I drive up here.  

It came to this location in 1971. 

This map shows its journey. 

A roof was added to protect it from the weather. 

I asked this guy's wife to take my picture to demonstrate just how large the tree stump is. 

One awesome remnant from the forest that once covered this country. 

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Missed a few days 05-23-18

Many apologies.  All is well and I arrived at my destination yesterday - with friends Mabel and Mac in Mt. Vernon, Washington.  But I have been having computer problems - again - and last evening when I went into my pictures to catch up and post, the battery on my mouse died.  Although I carry a couple spares I didn't check them before leaving home and they have been in my computer bag for too long and they also were dead.  I will have to stop somewhere today to buy a new supply.  Meanwhile I have borrowed from Mabel. 

I hope I can keep my computer going this evening so I can try to catch up with notes and pictures of the last two days.  But I need to get ready now to go with Mabel to see a few people I know up here and a bunch that she knows.  The weather is gorgeous so I know we will see the snow capped mountains and vast meadows and fields in the sunshine.  GREAT!  I am so happy I made this trip and am enjoyed the driving and the views.  But not the computer pains.  

I saw Seattle.

But then I drove in the Express lanes which go underground through downtown and cross the water on this multi-level bridge.  So, I didn't REALLY see Seattle - just a glimpse, but light traffic in the express lanes at about 2:30pm.  It was a breeze - never thought I would say that about Seattle!  However, the long slow drag up from Vancouver, WA, where I spent the night was exhausting.  Stop and go.  

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Wordless Hot Wednesday 07-01-15

In Northern Washington 05-05-15

I drove on up to visit friends in Mt Vernon, WA, and discovered I could not get online at their house.  Tried everything I could think of and am now at the local Starbuck's hoping they don't close before I am finished with this blog post.    Oh, oh - she  says 10 minutes.  

Still in Portland I wondered what kind of a tree has purple leaves.  This is directly out the window at room 1350.

I think the rust colored trees are copper beeches.

Of course, my most favorite trees are the shaggy Douglas Firs. 

There are spring blossoming trees blooming all along I-5 in Washington.

And many trees just leafing out in their spring finery.

There is more Scotch broom than I have ever seen  before.  On the dashboard I always have little bits of vegetation, stones, shells, etc.  It drove my late husband nuts!

And then there was the Mattress Ranch on an access road along I-5.  Something about buying a mattress from a store with cows, horses and pigs doesn't appeal to me.

I missed the sign that said 60 acres for sale.  I wonder if the entire 60 acres is covered with Scotch broom and Douglas Firs.

. 

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Even the entrance to the military base is engulfed in Scotch broom.  

Lots of daisies along the way.  This photo was from an exit I made to stop for gas.

About Seattle the sun came out and there were beautiful clouds in a very blue sky.

I groaned when I saw this sign, but turned onto the Express lanes and came out on I-5 above the wreck.  Phew!

 

Starbucks is closing so I must end.  More tomorrow sometime.