Day 21 - July 02, 2015

As we departed Packwood we continued to see beautiful

scenery . . .

and although the landscape began to change as we traveled east . . .

and the vegetation along the side of the highway began to

change, and then . . .

it lessened some more, and finally  . . .

it was no more.

(All in Western Washington State)

In Sprague, WA.

July 02, 2015.  Overnight in Liberty Lake, Washington.  Headed east.

We began the day in Packwood, Washington where we once again ate breakfast sandwiches from the local IGA.  I am beginning to like 'em....considered ordering two....

It was cool when we left Packwood, with a temperature below 70 degrees.  We climbed out of the valley as we rode, reaching a little over 4,000 feet in elevation, and when we descended to 1,000 feet, and it was suddenly hot again.  We stopped in Yakima for a break and then followed the Yakima River north through the valley which is where photos four and five above were made.  We continued north until we got on I-90 East.

Our ride to our destination was uneventful, but it was again hot, but not as hot as some of the temperatures we saw crossing the Arizona and California desert.  The northwestern part of the US is experiencing unusually warm weather.  That is considerably different than when Doug and I came though here in late June of last year.  At that time we were seeing strong thunderstorms and light snow flurries at night.

Tomorrow we are going to visit a friend in the area, and then on to Missoula, Montana for the evening.  Mileage wise tomorrow is a short day, but it will be a day filled with some interesting things as well.

Another good day.