Go Northwest!

Enjoyed a beautiful day in Seattle. First stop was along the east shore of Lake Union to catch this shot looking west at houseboats, the lake and Queen Anne Hill in the background just as the float plane was taking off. Had found a small open space between ample shrubbery to get a good view. The spot is near the water’s edge on Fairview Avenue East between E. Newton Street and East Boston Street. GPS coodinates: N 47, 38.2427; W 122, 19.7696.

Having crossed Snoqualmie Pass and still heading westbound on I-90, I have high hopes of catching one of Seattle’s spectacular sunsets from perhaps Alki Beach or Golden Gardens Park.

Seen here is but a glimps of what I’m hoping for. But I do kind of like this one and particularly the reflection off my Jeep’s hood.

The shot was taken at a sign on the left denoting the South Fork Snoqualmie River approximately half way between the Snoqualmie Pass Summit and the town of North Bend. GPS coordinates: N 47, 26.2541; W 121, 38.8913.

Construction delays when I-90 temporarily closed for blasting.

Travelers crossing Washington State’s Snoqualmie Pass during weekdays may find a section of the highway on the east side of the pass closed due to blasting in a construction zone.

Twice I found the section closed between the hours of 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM on a Tuesday and a Thursday. Had I been 15 minutes earlier when this photo of westbound traffic was taken, I would have avoided the backup and arrived in Seattle 45 minutes earlier.

But it was a pleasant day and the backup provided a chance to stretch the legs, relax and enjoy the respite from driving. This westbound scene is about one half mile from the south end of Keechelus Lake and about four miles east of Snoqualmie Pass summit. GPS coordinates: N 47, 19.4264; W 121, 19.5852.

Travelers unfamiliar with Snoqualmie Pass might like to know that it is a popular year-round destination offering skiing, cross-country skiing and tubing in the winter, and hiking, backpacking and climbing during the summer. For more about the Pass and its many recreational opportunities, check out our web site at Snowqualmie Pass.

Driving westbound on I-90 toward Seattle and wondering if the darkening sky portends rain. About to cross the Cle Elum River and just ahead is the exit to Roslyn, a small town on the east side of the Cascade Mountains that served as the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska in the long-running TV series “Northern Exposure” that ran for a total of 110 episodes from 1990 to 1995 on CBS.

White Bird Canyon and the town of White Bird in the distance as seen from a pullout near the White Bird Summit Lodge.

Go Northwest! attended yesterday’s General Membership Meeting of the North Central Idaho Travel Association (NCITA) held at the Whitebird Summit Lodge and Guest Ranch, Grangeville, Idaho and came away impressed by all the many things to do and see in that area of the state. At the top of the list are the amazing opportunities for outdoor recreation including hiking, backpacking, fishing, canoeing, rafting and jet boat trips.

In additional to those activities, the area plays host to numerous festivals and events sponsored by various local groups including the several chambers of commerce representing cities and towns of the region.

And if you are looking for scenery, consider that North Central Idaho is home to several scenic byways, the deepest river gorge in the country (Hells Canyon) and the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 (Salmon River of No Return) plus numerous wilderness areas and thousands of square miles of forests.

To learn more about the region, you also can visit our web site at gonorthwest.com and follow the links to our pages on North Central Idaho.

Members of the North Central Idaho Travel Association listen to presentations and hold discussions about plans to promote the region to vacationers and other travelers.

It’s not unusual to see old dilapidated log cabins, barns, tractors and other early-day farm and ranch equipment when traveling the highways and byways of Montana. But this is the first auto we’ve seen to become a home to a young tree. Maybe you will see it too between the towns of Three Forks and Ennis when traveling toward Yellowstone National Park via US Highway 287.

Fall has arrived at the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge in Spokane County in northeast Washington. Established in 1937, Turnbull has been successful in providing productive breeding and nesting grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge is located within an area known as the “Channeled Scablands” formed by ancient volcanic activity and glacial floods that produced a number of sloughs, potholes and wetlands yielding suitable habitat for migrating and breeding waterfowl.

McKenna Creek provides a few minutes of pleasant paddling quite different from the lake paddling as canoeist near the completion of a 72-mile circuit of a chain of 11 lakes in Bowron Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia.

The park, which is located about 85 kilometers east of the town of Quesnel, is a beautiful setting of deep lakes and high mountains popular with both kayakers and canoeists. Campgrounds are well maintained and have campfire pits or areas and strong metal bins for protecting food from bears. Some campgrounds also have primitive cabins.

McKenna Creek, Bowron Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia.

The Great Fountain Geyser of Yellowstone National Park is a favorite location for photographers wanting to capture a colorful sunset. The geyser, which erupts to heights of 75 to 150 feet every 8 to 12 hours, is located on Firehole Lake Drive between Madison Junction and Old Faithful. You can expect to have a lot of company at this spot due to its well-know popularity.

The geyser erupts to heights of 75 to 150 feet every 8 to 12 hours.

Homes in Depoe Bay, Oregon line the cliffs of the Oregon Coast just north of Whale Cove. The view is looking north from the picnic area at the Rocky Creek State Wayside. GPS coordinates: N 44, 47.14; W 124, 4.42.

Homes at Depot Bay, Oregon overlooking the Pacific Ocean.