December 31 - To the Horizon


Wake up to the mostly-overcast skies of Walla Walla,


but it could be worse: not much fog or rain, and -- while cold -- no freezing temperatures or snow.  


So off again to Starbucks


then


the pull west,


along 12,


again through Lowden and


Touchet,


touching


down


to


Wallula Junction,


but then Cascade-ward,


over the Columbia,


lonely


Benton


County,


yet


once


more


against


the Horse Heaven Anticline (Cow Hell Syncline?),


fog


frost


anon


upon


each


limb,


sky


clearing


and


Canyons


rising


up


Yakima


River


Valley,


up


the


Ellensburg


Divide,


contouring


above


a


major


declivity


to


the


northeast,


over


Manastash


Ridge


(2672),


towards


the


Bar 14


Ranch


House.


After re-supplying,


back


on


90,


ascending


past


Cle Elum,


spectacular ridges


and


ominous clouds looming,


along the shores of the


Lake Keechelus


Snowshed,


compromised visibility at Snoqualmie Pass,


ice,


misty


mounts


downslope


into


ruburban


Seattle,


across


watery


Washington,


north


on


5


to


another branch of the


coffee empire,


meeting up with Nathan and


Claire,


who guide us


to our


overnight


accomodations... 


a


palatial


houseboat,


a



floating


mansion


on


the


east


bank


of


Union,


with


panoramic


views


within


and


without.


From here,


it's


off


to


the


Center with Harriet and grandchild,


through the Armory,


beneath


dancing,


for


ice


skating,


where


our


young charge


proves a natural;


then


International Fountain viewing in the chill night air,


hot drinks at yet a third familiar-and-continued-amazingly-overcrowded situation,


towards a climax of quirky Space Needle fireworks ... Happy New Year!... continuing at markalburger-2014.blogspot.com.