From the Interpretive Center at Dry Falls, we drove along Route 2 west bound. The road took us across the top of the plateau and miles of farmland. It was a surprise to see the fields on top of the dry scrubby terrain we had just come from.
The image below shows the scablands and the fields very well, and it also shows the purple Route 2 that we drove:
Here are the photos that I took while driving along:
Leaving the scarred coulee to connect with Route 2, you can see the canyons from up above.
Within a couple of miles, farmlands appeared. Many had erratics scattered in the fields, the tell-tale sign of the floods that swept these boulders hundreds of miles with the rushing torrents.
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the large boulder is an erratic that was deposited here during one of many torrential
ancient floods across this area |
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mile after mile of fields with more erratics scattered throughout...they must
be a challenge to plow around and are too large to be moved |
In the far distance, the foothills of the Cascade range appeared.
But first, we crossed Moses Coulee, descending to the floor of the carved out canyon and then back up again to more farmlands.
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| the gigantic rift in the earth ahead of us |
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| driving through the coulee |
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| basalt columns clinging on |
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| climbing back out of Moses Coulee |
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| evidence of lava layerings and tilt |
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| more farmland on the other side of the coulee |
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| mountains in the distance |
The final ten miles from the quaint town of Waterville to the junction of route 97 along the Columbia River was spectacular. Here we found ourselves winding down a 7% grade, weaving our way through mountain folds, dropping 2,100 feet in a mere 7 miles, straight down. I was glad that the road hugged a mountain slope to my right on the way down.
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it was hard to click as we twisted and turned but here you can see the
steep downgrade |
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| first view of the Columbia River at the base of this road |
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the runaway truck ramp is a safety feature in case brakes fail... though I did
wonder what would happen if one of those trucks was behind us coming down
this two-lane highway.... |
As we turned north on route 97, there was yet another dramatic change in scenery. We were surrounded by velvety, dry and brown mountains, yet hugging this narrow corridor along which the Columbia flowed, we entered a strip of never-ending orchards and vineyards, planted in every available spot of land. It was a sea of green tree and vine tops. Many of the trees were laden with red apples, waiting to be harvested.
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| tree tops for as far as the eye could see |
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| packing crates waiting to be filled |
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| a narrow corridor of orchards and vineyards between the river and the foothills |
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| red apples waiting to be harvested |
The mighty Columbia River, as ancient as the turbulent geology surrounding it, meandered lazily along with us. As soon as we saw the rust colored bridge, we were at our next destination, Beebe Bridge Park just a few miles before Chelan.
We had heard so many rave reviews about this park that we decided to see what the fuss was all about. Run by the Chelan Country public utility district, this park is a gem right on the banks of the Columbia River. It has boat ramps, a playground, tennis courts, large fields, and also an RV section with water and electricity. And if you are 62 and older, during the current off-season, it is $15 per night.
Here we are all set up and ready to relax.... you be the judge about whether this is the gem that is spoken about among us retiree RV-ers, but we plan to spend at least a couple of nights here.
In just 75 miles, we traveled an entire spectrum of landscapes, from scarred and charred dry and barren ancient coulees and dry falls, through miles of rich farmland, and through steep mountain slopes down to the river gorge thick with orchards and vineyards.
We had heard so many rave reviews about this park that we decided to see what the fuss was all about. Run by the Chelan Country public utility district, this park is a gem right on the banks of the Columbia River. It has boat ramps, a playground, tennis courts, large fields, and also an RV section with water and electricity. And if you are 62 and older, during the current off-season, it is $15 per night. 
In just 75 miles, we traveled an entire spectrum of landscapes, from scarred and charred dry and barren ancient coulees and dry falls, through miles of rich farmland, and through steep mountain slopes down to the river gorge thick with orchards and vineyards. 
